Lakers VS. Spurs
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... said 03/03, 06:51 PM
the Champs from last year VS. the up comeing Lakers. If they play in the playoffs I would pick the lakers. L.A. is the currently tied in the standings with the sppurs for first place and are comeing off a huge win where the beat the Mavs in overtime. The Lakers are a young high flying team with tons of talent while the spurs are an old team who knows how to win in the playoffs but I think that with Kobes new found leadership and the addition of gasol the lakers would beat the Spurs this year in the playoffs if thry end up playing each other.
Stauff Nation TB said 03/03, 07:13 PM
Kobe's new found leadership? So he wasn't leading when the Lakers three-peated?
The Spurs are one of the most experienced teams in the NBA, and the main bulk of the team have stayed together for years. Once they reach the playoffs they're going to have the stability and calmness needed to reach the Championship. I'm confident they can.
The Lakers have the upper hand offensively, with Kobe hitting 28.2 PPG, Gasol hitting 19.2 this season and Bynum, Odom and Fisher all averaging over 10 PPG. team average= 107.8 PPG.
The Spurs offensive numbers aren't as high. Ganobli leads the team with 20.6 PPG, followed by Duncan, Parker and Finley. The team averages 96.1 PPG
"Well then, how will the Spurs beat the Lakers?" you may ask.
HOWEVER,
The Spurs have a much better defense, giving up an average of 90.8 PPG, while the Lakers opponents average to score 100.7 PPG. A final bound team needs to be good on both sides of the ball. Lakers are the best on O, but their D is mediocre.
The Spurs are a balanced team that are good on both sides of the ball. Combine that with their good bench, chemistry and experience and I think they have what it takes to beat the Lakers.
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... said 03/03, 07:18 PM
Yes Kobes new found leadership, dont get me wrong i am the biggest Kobe fan you will find but Shaq was the leader of the team when they won those three championships. Kobe cost them the chapionship in the finals when they lost to the Pistons and prob another one or two when he made Shaq leave. Kobe has never been a leader before untill this year his teammates enjoy playing with him and they have the best chem in the L. I like both teams but the Lakers are the better team this year and the Spurs have never won two in a row.
Stauff Nation TB said 03/03, 07:27 PM
Ok...
All you said to defend you pick was "Lakers are the better team this year and the Spurs have never won two in a row."
1) How are the Lakers the best team in basketball? You can't just make statements without backing them up at all. Don't get me wrong, I think they're one of the best, but you can't just go ahead and say they are without any facts backing up your opinion.
2) How is the Spurs past championship runs relevant to their playoff run right now?
You really didn't give me much to argue, so I'll close up my arguement with that I guess.
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... said 03/03, 07:34 PM
They had alot of the same players as they did before. the lakers are 12-2 with Pau on the team and just won ten in a row. they also just beat the Mavs in overtime getting 52 from Kobe Bryant. Kobe has proven he rewards his teamates when they play well but when they dont he can still take the game over. The Spurs had a player like this in TIm but now he is ageing and not capable of takeing a game over like Kobe can.
Stauff Nation TB said 03/03, 10:21 PM
First of all, Kobe's not exactly young either. He turns 30 in August. Duncan is 31. Not much of an age difference. You can still produce in an older age. Duncan is still scoring almost 20 pts a game.
Just because the Spurs are getting older doesn't mean they won't play as well. With age comes more experience and wisdom. You won't see any of the Spurs vets making bad passes or screwin up on defense.
These guys have such good chemistry together, as well. None of them are selfish or have been accused of being selfish even (the Lakers can't say that)
They've had their fair share of NBA Finals experience as well, don't you think? And unlike the Lakers, where only 1 or two players have a lot of experience, almost this whole team does.
So the Spurs have a great starting lineup, good bench, lots of experience, great defense, great offense, and a desire to prove something. The reigning NBA Champs aren't considered the favorites. Think they're out there to prove something?
The Lakers have a great MVP candidate (what's his name again?) a great offense, pretty good surroudning players, and that's about it according to you. Yet they'll beat the Spurs. You havent really sold me.
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Comments (21)
Kobe hasnt won a playoffs series since Shaq left
Goodell: 41 days and counting | 03/03/08, 06:52 PM
Report Offensive CommentHe has not been on a good team
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... | 03/03/08, 06:56 PM
Report Offensive Commenta good enough team to make the playoffs...
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/03/08, 07:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment"spurs are an old team who knows how to win in the playoffs" If they know how to win in the playoffs, what makes you think they'll loose, jw
I Am Ghost | 03/03/08, 07:11 PM
Report Offensive Commentbecause this year they are too old and the Lakers got better while the Spurs got worse
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... | 03/03/08, 07:19 PM
Report Offensive Commentthe lakers got better and the spurs got worse...hmmmm???
last year at this time (March 2nd) the spurs had one more loss then they do this year....
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/03/08, 07:26 PM
Report Offensive Commentlol KOBE
Ny | 03/03/08, 07:28 PM
Report Offensive Commentyes they got worse they are older and when you watch them they look slower lol NYfan07
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... | 03/03/08, 07:35 PM
Report Offensive Commenthow can they be worse when they have a better record right now then they did from last year???
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/03/08, 07:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment**** the last championship of the Chicago bulls was their best ever (72-10) were they getting worse becasue they were older than the 95-96 team?
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/03/08, 07:38 PM
Report Offensive Commentno because there players were not playing worse look at TIMs stats and Parkers stats
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... | 03/03/08, 07:41 PM
Report Offensive Commentthats why its a team...they can drop there stats but other around them can be better....
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/03/08, 08:04 PM
Report Offensive Commentlol who around them got better?
Problem, Ghost, Phantom... | 03/03/08, 08:07 PM
Report Offensive Commentspurs win. no thought about it. Cavs beat the pistons and the celtics go to play the spurs in the finals
Chris5 | 03/03/08, 11:49 PM
Report Offensive CommentChris you are UBELIEVABLY STUPID!!!!! the cavs will never beat the pistons or he celtics and the Spurs will not beat the Lakers as long as kobe bryant is onthe basketball court with Odom Gasol and Bynum. 2nd best starting 5 in the league behind Boston.
larryhughes says go Lakers | 03/03/08, 11:53 PM
Report Offensive Commentthat second best line-up lost 2 of 3 to the spurs....and that 1 win was by 3 points...with a duncanless spurs
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/04/08, 12:30 AM
Report Offensive Commentcorrection 5 points...in LA
Steveo16220 says:30 days left | 03/04/08, 12:32 AM
Report Offensive CommentA couple of things...
First, Steveo, the last season of their run with Pippen, Rodman, Jordan, etc. (97-98), Chicago was 62-20. The year they went 72-10 was Rodman's first year with the team (95-96). They actually DID regress record-wise during each of thier last three title runs. Secondly, compairing the games LA and SA played this season is almost meaningless. The Lakers actually should have swept the Spurs last season, but the one game that LA lost to San Antonio was due to Finley hitting a LONG three to send the game into overtime. They miss that three, and LA sweeps the season series. Does that mean that LA should have won the title last year? In 00-01, the Spurs handled the Lakers during the regular season, but when the playoffs rolled around, the Lakers flat out OWNED the Spurs in the playoffs and swept the series. Boh teams are also much different roster-wise than they were when the teams played earlier in the season. Playoff basketball is an entirely different beast than the regular season. It's all about match-ups and coaching, and not so much about players being tired because there aren't any games on back-to-back nights. If both teams are healthy, the Lakers have the better roster of players, but San Antonio has more experience. That being said, if Bynum comes back and plays at a high level, LA is going to be a tough out, no matter who they play or how much playoff experience the roster has. How much playoff experience did Golden State have last season when they beat the Mavericks? How about Utah?
Hoffa The Great | 03/04/08, 03:22 AM
Report Offensive Commentlarryhughes, I'm not saying that I think that Cleveland will beat the Celtics or Pistons in the playoffs (I don't), but that doesn't mean that they won't. Nobody thought that they would beat the Pistons last year, either.
Hoffa The Great | 03/04/08, 04:02 AM
Report Offensive Commenti'm tired of hearing about experience hell even the spurs started out inexperienced its not like they played in the playoffs inside their mothers womb and was born with the experience, even duncan had his growing pains and the lakers have experienced their own growing pains for 3 years..this year is as good as any for the new look lakers..they have the youth, the desire and most importantly the talent to put it all together for a championship run..
donny 2008 WC champs | 03/04/08, 10:31 AM
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