Alright, Spurs and Lakers fans alike. What are the keys to your team getting a victory in the 1st game?
From my point of veiw, here are some keys for the Spurs winning game 1.
1. Win the 1st quarter. The Hornets gave us hell and now we have a 2 day turnaround to play the Lakers. Kinda sucks but, it's the playoffs. I think the Lakers; due to the 5 day rest will be a bit "rusty" for the 1st quater. This is the best chance for the Spurs to get the W. They need to take advantage of the "possible" rust from the Lakers rest and build a nice 1st quarter lead. I would like to get a double digit lead by the end of the 1st but, who knows......
2. Feed Timmy. Everything starts and end with Tim Duncan. That's why they won game 7. Stats don't tell the whole story. Duncan had a hard time "getting going" in the last series because of the constant double team. Luckily, I think the Lakers will do a lot less of the double teams against him. This should give him an ample of opportunitys to get going and draw fouls on their big men. This will also open up the 3pt shooting.
3. Win the coaching mind-games. Coach Pop needs to realize when to call time-outs (which he does....most of the time) and when to rotate the players in-and-out of the game. I loved the stratagy of different subs ever single time-out. I think it was very effective and it kept the "old-legs" of the Spurs fresh.
4. Contain Lamar Odom. This is easier said than done. IMO He's a better version of David West. When the Spurs containted/limited David West, they had success. The same can be said for Lamar. I think if we can at least limit him, then we can steal game one.
Couldn't agree more with feeding Timmy. Duncan has the possibility of dominating this series. Even if LA brings the doubles, it is not nearly the defensive team the Hornets are. You're already alluded to Odom. Personally I don't see him as being the equal of David West. I think we need to do the same thing we did with Chris Paul against Kobe. Make Kobe a scorer. I don't care if Kobe is going for 40 a game as long as his teammates are stagnant. I think Bruce can play a lot of straight up man D against Odom. Odom is not the inside player IMO that West is. He gets his interior points as a consequence of fast breaks and not posting up. I'm really more concerned with Gasol. If Bruce can play a lot of straight up D against Lamar, we can employ some double on Gasol. Derek Fisher et al beat us, the more power to them.
Offensively, Tony needs to be the master of the paint. He clearly is superior to Fisher at beating him off the drive. If LA brings collapse D to stop him, TP has got to be ready to dish. And not just to 3 point shooters. Live by the 3; die by the 3. Take the fouls or put up shots and let Timmy, KT, Obero, etc crash the boards.
Call me dumb, but i think Bowen will get harrased by Odom if he was to guard him. 6'10" with those long arms and can cut/slash like there's no tommorow.
btw: i hope bowens reputation as a dirty player stays away from this game, as i want no part of that with Kobe's finger
I really hope Phil doesn't go bench crazy in fourth just b/c we have like a 16 point lead (if we have one). That proved wise in Utah game didnt it?
i think what really needs to happen is B ruce staying out of foul trouble so he can be in Kobe's jock. feed Tim, I dodnt think the Lakers will double like the Hornets did. Get pau in fould trouble. Then its just basics, make open shots, and play Spur defense.
Repeat as world champions? Not the right formula: blowing 20 pt lead..Your team rated, one of top defensive teams, in Nba? Especially on the road, constant pressure on key players like Kobe, so he cannot dictate offensive plays, especially in the fourth quarter. Tim Duncan should sue for lack of support in ist game with Lakers, his teammates should be charged admission, with few exceptions allowed. Predictions: Lakers in 6
