1. What do you feel the Spurs need to do to win this series? 2. What advantages do the Spurs have over the Lakers and vice versa? 3. Whats your prediction? I think a big key for the Spurs will be to win Game 1. They are on a 15 game winning streak and they need to keep that going. They are an experienced team now but a Laker victory in Game one could be somewhat demoralizing. Tony Parker is the big key to this series for the Spurs to be victorious. He must run the offense like he did against the Grizz, push the ball consistently and never let the Lakers defense rest. If he can continue to penetrate the defense at will, he will break it down and create open shots for others. There is no way Payton will be able to contain Parker. If the Lakers have to start sending double teams to Parker, it will open it up for everyone to take advantage. Tim Duncan must stay out of foul trouble. Karl Malone will use every tactic he can to get TD in foul trouble. TD has to dominate this match up. When the double team comes he needs to know when to pass and when to score. If TD and Parker both win their match ups, the Spurs will be in GREAT shape. Bruce Bowen must contain Kobe Bryant. He is not going to shut him out but he must make Kobe take low percentage contested shots. He has done a brilliant job in the past but this is a whole new season. If Bowen stops Kobe from going off the Lakers will be in deep trouble. I am predicting the Spurs in 6 games. They are playing like a championship team and I don't think the Lakers will have an answer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post"> 3. Whats your prediction? </div> Skipping to the most relevant question of the three: Lakers 4-2. Karl Malone = The Hunger. Kobe Bryant = The Vengeance. The championship is coming home to Los Angeles, where it belongs; I guarantee you.
For Spurs to win this series Tony Parker needs to continue to shoot the ball well from the outside and attack the pick and roll. Payton is not quick enough nor is his defense that good anymore to stop TP from attacking the basket. I wouldn't worry about Duncan getting into foul trouble, he is a very smart player and not even Karl Malone could force it to happen. We all know Karl will try and smash someone with his elbows but If that happens in comes.... Kevin Willis He can take care of Malone in that department. I'm not worried about Kobe going off as I expect Bowen to hold him to under 45% for the series, Spurs only worry will be If Derek Fisher, Deveon George and Kareem Rush are consistantly knocking down their jump shots. Thats the only way I see Spurs losing this series. Spurs having homecourt advantage is further proof why I think L.A will be send home for the 2nd straight yeae by Timmy and co Won't be easy as to me this is the real NBA finals, Lakers aren't playing great which will play into the Spurs hands but they are a team who can turn it on, which they will have to do for them to even compete in this series. This should be a great battle. Game 1 is on sunday
I think the Spurs can win this series but it will be tough.They have to contain Kobe so that means Bruce Bowen will probally be guarding him like last years playoffs I think that is the key to the series contain Kobe and they will win the series.I say 4-3 San Antonio
Y'all are forgetting Ginobili. I agree that Parker and TD have to step up, but remember the game against the Lakers when they went into 2 OTs? If he plays like that we can surely win
1. To win the series, Parker needs to feed the ball to Duncan on the post then look for an open spot in the 3 area. Duncan for the two points or Parker for the three ball. Works all the time. 2. The Spurs have the most consistent player in the NBA. He'll drop 20 and 10 at least each and every night. They also have Parker who'll give the Lakers' PG the fits and they have the real Kobe- stopper, Bowen. The Lakers have 4 future hall of famers and that's their advantage. 3. Spurs in 6 games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">1. What do you feel the Spurs need to do to win this series?</div> From my standpoint: JUST BEAT THE LAKERS. I don't care how and I don't care if it's pretty. Just get it done please. I t makes me nautious to think that the Lakers could tie the Celtics for most Championships ever, by assembling what is essentially an All-Star team. I doubt I'm going too far out on a limb by saying that the Spurs have the support of the entire Celtic Nation. Beat 'em like they owe ya' money.
The key to this series? Point Guards. We all know that Tim, Shaq and Kobe are gonna do their thing (regardless of being guarded by Bowen). But like a lot of people said in this thread Tony Parker is primed to eat up Gary Payton and Derek Fisher. If the Lakers can sucessfully contain Parker and those high pick and rolls they have a good chance to win it. But Parker has owned the playoffs so far and I don't see him slowing down one bit.....unless Kobe guards him. Tough series but I pick the Lakers in 7
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">But Parker has owned the playoffs so far and I don't see him slowing down one bit.....unless Kobe guards him. </div>Than who will guard Manu? Who will Payton guard?
1. What do you feel the Spurs need to do to win this series? The Spurs need to rotate Rasho, Kevin , and Rose on O'Neal and make him work on both end of the floor. Shaq will have to play the pick on roll if not Tony and Manu are going to the basket and that will break down the Lakers defense one way or the other. Shaq will have to be tired down so we can exployed his weakness. no one can stop Shaq and kobe but no one can stop Tim , Tony and Manu so that will offset each other. If Kobe tries to play Bowen one on one just to prove that no one can stop him (just look above at Courtvision he know who is the best Defender name Bruce Bowen) that will play into our favor. 2. What advantages do the Spurs have over the Lakers and vice versa Spurs Tim, Tony and Manu and a great bench Lakers Shaq and Kobe 3. Whats your prediction? if I could make my prediction true it would be spur 4-0 but i can't so it may go spurs 4-2 i can't wait
That is a very good point Oneinpower. Parker can run the pick and roll all day with Rasho. Shaq is one of the worst players in defending against the pick and roll in the league. And with Shaq out on the perimeter the Lakers will have no shot blockers inside.
I honestly dont care for Tim Duncan or Karl Malone, but I think the Lakers have a big time edge in this series. I also want the Lakers to win bcuz the spurs r the boringest team to watch on TV <u>EVER!</u> I dont think the spurs have a chance at all tho. The Spurs advantage is probly Ginobili n das all cuz he da only excitin player n das it. The Lakers got Payton wit defense, Kobe n Shaq wit defense <u>and</u> offense. Plus too dey get da bench. Lakers goin smash in dis series. If they don, den da Lakers suck big time. <font color="Red">Please attempt to use proper grammer.</font>
Your grammar is horrible but as hell. You can't really let your dislike for the Spurs blind you. The Lakers are an old team and it wouldn't be much of an upset if they lost. But of course I'm still going with them, but it's going all the way to 7 games in IMO. If the Spurs wanna win, they better do it in at least 6.
Three keys for the Spurs: 1. Exploit the bench: "San Antonio has a much better bench than the Lakers. Manu Ginobili is really a fine basketball player. Robert Horry, as always, has been exceptional in the playoffs. He will be a key, because he'll get a lot of minutes -- he obviously strives on the pressure of the playoffs and enjoys the playoffs. And it's an interesting matchup for him; who are the Lakers going to put against him off the bench? "Plus, someone's also got to match up against Hedo Turkoglu. Turkoglu's such a good ball-player, and at 6-10 he creates a tough matchup. Is Devean George going to guard him? Slava Medvedenko? It's tough either way, because Medvedenko can't go outside and guard Turkoglu, but George gives up some size to Hedo. I just think San Antonio has such a big advantage off the bench." 2. Tony Parker: "I think another key is the play of Tony Parker. He's really stepped up his game. He was sensational in the first series. His ability to penetrate and kick it out, and his decision-making has gotten a lot better. If he is making his outside jump-shot, it's going to be very very tough for the Lakers. "Gary Payton, I suspect, will draw this assignment. It'll be interesting to see if Payton can stay in front of Parker and limit his penetration. I don't know if he can. A few years ago he could, but I think he's lost a step or two at his age." 3. Pick and roll: "One of the weaknesses for the Lakers is their ability to defend the pick-and-roll. I suspect that the Spurs will come out at the top of the key and Parker will run the pick and roll, and whoever Shaquille is guarding will try to create that space or that mismatch. "For all the great things Shaquille does, I think he's vulnerable when he has to pick up a small, quick guard around the top of the key. If San Antonio is successful at creating that mismatch, and Parker can get into the lane and penetrate, I think it will be a nightmare for the Lakers." Final prediction: "Ultimately, while my heart is in Los Angeles, I think San Antonio right now has a better basketball team. I have to pick San Antonio. I think it'll be a hard-fought series. I'd be surprised if it didn't go six or seven games. "Also, I think the winner of this series represents the West in the Finals. I don't think that Minnesota or Sacramento can beat either of these teams in a seven-game series." http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/goodrich_040430.html
How the Lakers/Spurs series will go: Game 1 - Lakers win Game 2 - Spurs win Game 3 - Lakers win Game 4 - Lakers win Game 5 - Spurs win Game 6 - Lakers win Lakers 4-2.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MarquisX:</div><div class="quote_post">sartre2025, eat your word...</div> I got the order wrong, but my prediction is falling into place. <font color="Red">Baiting is not allowed. Keep that in the Lakers Forum.</font>--<font color="Blue">Rudeezy</font>
No need to be posting that here... or anywhere for that matter. San Antonio is a tough team and has certainly given the Lakers trouble, and we pulled this game one off by the skin of our teeth.. Bad sportsmanship sartre2025!!
