LA in 6 or 7. The key for LA will be for Payton to take Parker to school. Neither of those guys will be able to stop each other. The difference is that Payton can do it from the post-up position. LA's problem against SA will be that they must close out well to the SA shooters. Although LA singles Duncan more than anyone I've ever seen. If Malone can limit Duncan to about 20 pts a game, LA wins. OTOH, SA will need Duncan to make LA pay for staying at home against him. Duncan also must avoid turnovers if/when he is doubled inside after a spin move. Parker and Ginobili will need to push the tempo up.
I wouldn't be so quick to count the Lakers out. Kobe will tear Bruce Bowen a new one and lead the Lakers to atleast 2 victories. However, I do feel the Spurs will prevail in 7.
I cant wait to see Bowen stop Kobe! this is gonna be sweet! As long as the damn Fakers loose! and as it is written just about everywhere I go in San Antonio.......GO SPURS GO! ugh...I cant believe my life came to this...
It's going to be tough for the Spurs against the Lakers this year with Malone being present along with Shaq and Kobe. Payton is capable of having a good game or two. Horry can't match up with Malone. Malik Rose is short but stronger. Kevin Willis has the size but he isn't a good defender. Shaq will have his way with Rasho but help defense can slow him down. Kobe is feeling more confident this year because he has greater support. If Manu and Bowen slow him down the Spurs will probably win. I also think the Spurs are going to miss Steve Kerr's shooting and the backup PG help that Claxton brought. I think the Lakers will win in 7 but I want the Spurs to win even though I don't like them.
All Malone does anymore is run and shoot jumpers. He wouldn't even post up against Taylor. And if Horry could do a half way decent job against duncan, I think he can stand on the perimeter and guard Malone.
Lakers in six. Lakers could very well implode and lose this one but I think they will get it together and win. Tim Duncan has shown actual fear of Shaq in the playoffs before, I am looking forward to seeing him duplicate this once more.
I predict a spurs win in 6. I believe they have the right group of players that can beat the mighty lakers. Duncan > shaq. Say whatever u want but i believe duncan is the better player over all. Parker is tougher matchup for payton and fisher becoz hes smart and dribbles less. The x factor in the series is manu. Kobe will have his way against bowen but hes going to work hard and he may get injured in one of the games. Karl will have a bigger series but it will not be enough. Payton will be a disappointment coz he just cant guard parker. The bench will be a key and spurs have the advantage because of its deeper bench. Coaching is another factor and i believe that popovich is a better reader game situations than phil and he has carlesimo as his asst. All in all, its going to be a great series and i cant wait to see it. Go rockets
Spurs in 5. 1 for the a-hole Laker homer refs. Hopefully, Pops will sic Bowen on Karl. Hi-yah! Sweep the knee, sweep! Lakers were exposed weak in their series. Spurs - were not. Spurs are just a much better team top to bottom. They play team ball. Lakers iso. Iso sucks.
Agreed. I am not a Spurs fan, but I see them winning in 5. And then moving on all the way to the Championship.
what they need to do is put Kobe on Parker, and Payton on Bowen. I don't see how the Lakers could lose if they did that.
This could be actually a good strategy at certain points in the game, but parker is too quick for kobe if phil is gonna have kobe guard him the entire game. Kobe will be worn out with bowen who probably plays defense as good as one can against such an explosive scorer like kobe and then having to guard arguably the fastest player in the nba on the defensive end. And I think Pop would put in ginobili in this situation because then bowen would slide over to the SF spot and then payton would have to guard ginobili and payton cant keep up with him the entire game. Personally i think the biggest matchup will be Hedo vs the lakers SF. Hedo is a great shooter and will put the ball on the floor and the SF spot is the weakest position defensively for the lakers. And also the pick and roll with rasho since he can hit a 15-17ft jumper and try to bring shaq out a bit. My predicition is spurs in 6, but spurs will jump to a 3-1 lead
Personally, I'd love it if the Spurs win in 4 or 5, but I think that's a pipe dream. The Lakers have too much talent to get knocked out that quick (the bastards). I still think the Spurs are too strong a team and will win the series, but the Lakers will probably push it to 6 or 7. I predict 6 -- take it in LA. The better team will always win out over better individual talent in a 7 game series.
Spurs in 6, should be a great series but the Lakers have no shot. Anyone else find it a little odd that the Hornets/Heat series is about to go to game 7 yet the 2nd round is already beginning for others. What has David Stern done to the playoffs, first he makes the 1st round best out of 7 then he screws around with the times of games, horrible
