<div align="center"><font size="7"><font color="Purple">WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS GAME 1</font></font> http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/radoslav_nesterovic"> [b]O 16.2 points per game, 3.6 assists per game, and 11.2 rebounds per game Nesterovic: 5.5 points per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 6 rebounds per game O'neal is clearly better. Stronger and quicker, he should give Rasho hell. The only way to stop him is make him shoot FT's. If Shaq cant hit those, then it will be a long series for him and possibly the Lakers. Advantage: Lakers Keys to the Game <u>Los Angeles-</u> Perimeter D/Transition D Smart Decisions with the ball Make the Spurs shoot FT's, they are a horrible FT shooting team Bench play Malone needs to match up with Duncan on Defense and Offense <u>San Antonio-</u> Try the Hack-A-Shaq, he shot under 30% I think in the first series Bowen needs to make Kobe struggle again Manu needs to take advantage against the Lakers second team Give Duncan the ball because he is quicker than Malone, and help Rasho guard Shaq Prediction I think L.A. will come out trying to make a statement in game 1. Kobe is the best player in the league, and I think he will have a big game, and a big series. I take L.A. by 3 and L.A. to win the series in 6.
This is going to be a good one. I think we're going to be able to determine who is going to win in the game by the end of the first quater. I think both teams especially the Spurs is going to come out real agressive and try to attack Shaq. They know that Rasho has no chance against Shaq and what would be a better way to help Rasho by getting Shaq in foul trouble early in the game. I expect Duncan to have a typical game, 20 Points 10 Rebounds 5 Dimes nothing more nothing less. I see the Spurs winning Game 1 by 7. Ginobli and Parker is going to be the key to help the Spurs win the game. The Lakers dosent really have anyone to contain Manu and Tony. Derek Fisher is their best bet but there is no way he can hold both of them down. In order for the Lakers to win they need Gary Payton to step of defensively and lower their production. As for Bowen he needs to try and hold Kobe under 30 Points if they can do that....They will be fine. I'm personally rooting for the Lakers and I believe that they will win the series. But the Spurs had a nice long break and they're rejuvenated and I expect the home crowd to get into real early.
This will be a very tough series to call.. The Spurs are still the team to beat, and as a diehard Laker fan, that kind of makes me nervous. Everything goes through MVP Duncan, and he always gets the job done. For the Lakers to beat the Spurs, they need to contain their role players, since Duncan cannot be stopped. And for the Spurs to beat LA, I feel they need to contain Karl Malone. He's the X factor in this series because he can kill the opponent. He dropped 30 points in round 1, and he's dying for a ring. Look for the old man to come out strong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post"> Tony Parker clearly has the advantage statistically, but he does not have the playoff experience that Gary "The Glove" Payton has. </div>Throw that playoff experience out the window. Look Parker did last year as a 20 year old, led his team to an NBA Championship. Payton has yet to do that, although he has never had a Tim Duncan on his team. He does have a Shaq, a Kobe, and a Malone so he has no excuse this year. Parker still has the edge until Payton proves he can hang with this young star. Spurs win game one and win this series in 6.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Throw that playoff experience out the window. Look Parker did last year as a 20 year old, led his team to an NBA Championship. Payton has yet to do that, although he has never had a Tim Duncan on his team. He does have a Shaq, a Kobe, and a Malone so he has no excuse this year. Parker still has the edge until Payton proves he can hang with this young star. Spurs win game one and win this series in 6.</div> Kills me to say this BUT you make damn good sense :thumbsdow Lakers could get upset this year, but its always good to keep high hopes
I think Karl will come out strong in this game, along with Kobe and Gary. I just dont' have a feeling Shaq will have a big game offensively in game 1, but I do think he'll play good D. This is the Spurs home court and all so I'll give them the respect they deserve, if the Lakers want to win this one they have to play good throughout the game, and not go on droughts both defensively and offensively. I'll take the Lakers by 6 on this one, in a close game throughout.
I have the feeling that the Spurs may take game 1, just because of the hot streak they are on, but you must have faith. Lakers by 2 tomorrow and they win the series in 6-7 games--I hope!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MarquisX:</div><div class="quote_post">is this a Lakers thread or the Spurs' ??</div>Its a game preview. Laker_Fever posted this in the Lakers forum but I copied it and put it in here as well. Any thoughts on the game?
The Spurs close out the quarter on a 16-2 run and lead 21-14 at the end of 1!!!! Parker flew right by Bryant...I love it!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Fundamentals:</div><div class="quote_post">oh boy. what a low scoring game. Parker is just too fast for anyone in this game.</div>I am so amazed at how fast he is. He doesn't appear to be that quick but no one can stay with him. Kobe looked like his feet were nailed to the ground. The Spurs are up by 8 at the half. The Lakers are shooting 28% from the field and the Spurs are shooting 45%. The only thing keeping the Lakers in the game is free throw shooting. I believe they are 10-17 while the Spurs are 1-9. Looking foward to a great second half.
Spurs win this one by 10! The Spurs absolutely dominated the 4th quarter with great defense. What a great start to the series for the Spurs. 16 Wins in a row! Key Match ups: Parker/Payton: Advantage Parker Malone/Duncan: Advantage Duncan Shaq needed to have a huge game and he came up way short. His free throw shooting is really hurting the Lakers. Popovich has won 11 straight playoff series when his team wins game 1. Out of the Lakers/Spurs 11 playoff series, the winner of game 1 has won the series EVERY time.
Blast you Spurs. It was a great team effort by the Spurs and could've have crushed the Lakers like the Great Rudeezy was saying if the Spurs at least made 65% of their freethrows. It's amazing how Timmy struggles from the line like that when he shoots those from that range on a consistent basis. Luckily that didn't come back to haunt the Spurs in the end of this game.
Not a prefect performance from the Spurs today, Hedo shot was badly off and overall the offense wasn't as good as expected but the defense was simply amazing in that last quarter. Bruce Bowen did a great job as always on Kobe, he had his moment in the 3rd but Bruce got back and forced Kobe into some very bad shots and Spurs fed off that and get some easy fast break buckets. What can I say about Tony Parker, he Owns GP and the whole Lakers team. They can't stop him from attacking the basket, thats the difference Oh and the fact year after year Malone still gets punked by Duncan. Spurs take a 1-0 lead, can't believe the next game isn't till wednesday. Poor scheduling by the NBA once again.
The Lakers can forget about Tim Duncan. If they have any chance of winning the series, they need to find a way to stop Parker. It's not just his speed that hurts them. Its the fact that when he gets in the paint he draws alot of attention, and causes alot of havoc. The Lakers even tried putting their best defender on him which is Kobe Bryant and what happen...Same results. Parker gets to the paint with ease and does what ever he desires. But that was one hell of a game by Tony Parker. Did you see how he was taking charge of the game. He was even screaming and Duncan to set a screen. Man Tony Parker is going to be something... As for Gary Payton. I know its hurting him inside. This young punk Tony Parker is running all over him and he can't do nothing about it. Since Gary Payton obviously can't guard Tony Parker he better try to step up his scoring at least. He didnt do a DAMN thing on the court. He just stood there to look good. Gary Payton is always talking about how he's hungry for a ring. Well he better start playing like it. If I were Phil Jackson I would have him come off the bench and start Derek Fisher.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Tony Parker kept the San Antonio Spurs in it until Tim Duncan and the defense won it. Parker sped to 20 points and nine assists and Duncan scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, when the Spurs shut down the Los Angeles Lakers and rolled to an 88-78 victory in Game One of their Western Conference semifinal. The third-seeded Spurs regained control after losing their grip on the game in the third quarter and overcame the second-seeded Lakers, who uncharacteristically lost their poise in the final period, committing 10 turnovers. "They did a great job pressing us the whole game, and I think fatigue caught up with us at some point," Lakers coach Phil Jackson admitted. Parker could not be contained by Gary Payton or any of the other Lakers guards. He repeatedly got inside LA's defense with dribble penetration and created offense for himself and his teammates. "I was just playing in attack mode and played aggressive and tried to get something for myself and my teammates," he said. </div> <div align="center"> Full Article </div>
