Sunday, May 18, 2008

Up Next of Lakers: Spurs or Hornets

Posted by Regnard Raquedan
OK, admit it: You never thought the Los Angeles Lakers would be waiting for an opponent for the NBA's Western Conference Final when the season started.

But after putting away a very tough Utah Jazz team in Game 6 at the very hostile EnergySolutions Arena, the Lakers are waiting for either the defending champions San Antonio Spurs or the upstart New Orleans Hornets in the next round. But how do the Lakers match up with their potential opponents?
  • New Orleans Hornets - The Hornets go where Chris Paul goes and they are still playing in the playoffs because of his stellar play. Add the good frontline players in David West and Tyson Chandler, the Hornets have a very young core that can beat teams on both ends. The Lakers and Hornets split their regular season matches and Chris Paul was great on two games and so-so on the other two. Peja Stojakovic had enjoyed some success with the Lakers and he'll give the Lakers problems if they were to meet in the conference finals. However, David West and Tyson Chandler have not really dominated the Lakers the way they usually do to other teams, and Pau Gasol was effective against them.

    If the Hornets advance, the Lakers should try their darned best to contain CP3. If they thought Deron Williams was a problem, Chris Pail would be a playoff disaster. Lamar Odom and Gasol should continue to exert pressure down the blocks and give Kobe Bryant options. Speaking of Kobe, he should make short work out of Mo Peterson on the offensive end.

    One more key: the Lakers second unit should be better then the Hornets' bench on paper, and the series could be decided on this end.

  • San Antonio Spurs - Like the Hornets, the Lakers split their season meetings with the Spurs. The defending champs are always a challenge to any team but they have shown signs of slowing down and as they have struggled against the Hornets. Tim Duncan will be their cornerstone, but point guard Tony Parker has killed the Lakers numerous times in the past, this season included. The bench is filled with grizzled veterans with extensive championship experience and "dirty" tricks to boot.

    If the Spurs advance, Tony Parker will be the main problem on offense, and the Spurs team defense will surely stifle the Lakers offense a bit. The Spurs will also try to frustrate the Lakers on and off the court.

    The Spurs play like the Utah Jazz, and may give the same problems the Lakers encountered in Game 3 and Game 4 of their series-- physical play, strong guards and disciplined offense.
If you ask me, the Spurs are the appropriate opponent for the Lakers but the Hornets make for better basketball. The latter match-up would also be a breath of fresh air from the stinkers in the playoff in the past (*cough* Spurs-Pistons *cough*). More importantly, I think the Lakers match up better against the New Orleans Hornets.

My predictions: Lakers over Hornets in 5 or Lakers over Spurs in 6.


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4 comments:

  1. Hey, nice Lakers posts. I really enjoy your blog, and it's good to know there are other free-lance Lakers journalists out there. I've got my own Lakers page on Blogger; you should check it out some time

    http://werewolf-barmitzvah.blogspot.com/
    ReplyDelete
  3. There is one thing about Bob Horry we all know: He knows how to win a big ball game. Whether it be by hitting a game winner or changing the course of a series in his favor by making a dirty foul, he's the go to guy. I remember when he was a Laker, I didn't see him as a dirty player. He was just known for hitting clutch 3 point baskets going back to his days in Houston. Well, here we go again: The LA Lakers Vs. The defending Champion San Antonio Spurs. Wow. I can't believe this is where we are. Lets forget for a second about the way the year started for the lakers and where they are now and lets focus on the fact that the Spurs found a way to make it to the Western conference finals despite being blown out and and beaten badly by the both teams it played in the playoffs this year. Wow... I was almost sure they would be eliminated by now. But those Spurs are tough man. They are scrappy, and with a guy like Bob Horry on your team, you have a weapon that few teams have. I don't much appreciate that weapon any more. Gone are the days when I admired Horry for his seven Championship rings and his uncanny ability to hit the big shot when it mattered most. Welcome now the era of Bob Horry the Jerk. This guy is really looking like an a-hole to me at this point. I know most of you have seen the highlights of his most recent hard foul against David West of the Charlotte Hornets: Its been replayed over and over again but I can't watch it without wondering how the league can overlook that kind of dirty play and not take action against him. Last year was even worse. Horry takes out Steve Nash in one of the most dirty plays I've ever seen and because the Phoenix bench jumps in the protect their guy they lost their top guys for a crucial game seven. David Stern penalizes both teams instead of seeing more clearly that that was a premeditated attack by Robert Horry that did exactly what he planned for it to do: Set the Spurs up to win the series and ultimately the championship. What a joke. The rules are the rules but sometimes a situation needs to be looked at as a singular event that has to be handled in as special way. The league and David Stern have no problem handing down stiff penalties and consequences to players, coaches and refs who violate it's rules but when the rule book helps out one team while destroying another (see Mike D'Antoni's subsequent firing) I think things need to be more thought out. I respect the Spurs very much and I am very scared of the prospect of them facing the Lakers this year. But on the other hand, if the Lakers are really the best then they should beat the Spurs this year...this is if Robert Horry doesn't find a way to take a cheap shot at Bryant, Gasol or Odom and cripple the lakers chances with some ridiculously hard foul that should get him suspended indefinitely (but won't). I mean hey, you have to respect his rings but lets play basketball here, not ice hockey. I see the Lakers taking it in seven with a Sasha Vujacic head butting Horry on his final last second 3 pointer that rims out... Getting both knocked out of the game: Sasha with the tech and Horry with a concussion. Go Lakers.

    Sean Douglas
    myspace.com/seandouglas1
    labelgrade@gmail.com
    ReplyDelete
  4. There is one thing about Bob Horry we all know: He knows how to win a big ball game. Whether it be by hitting a game winner or changing the course of a series in his favor by making a dirty foul, he's the go to guy. I remember when he was a Laker, I didn't see him as a dirty player. He was just known for hitting clutch 3 point baskets going back to his days in Houston. Well, here we go again: The LA Lakers Vs. The defending Champion San Antonio Spurs. Wow. I can't believe this is where we are. Lets forget for a second about the way the year started for the lakers and where they are now and lets focus on the fact that the Spurs found a way to make it to the Western conference finals despite being blown out and and beaten badly by the both teams it played in the playoffs this year. Wow... I was almost sure they would be eliminated by now. But those Spurs are tough man. They are scrappy, and with a guy like Bob Horry on your team, you have a weapon that few teams have. I don't much appreciate that weapon any more. Gone are the days when I admired Horry for his seven Championship rings and his uncanny ability to hit the big shot when it mattered most. Welcome now the era of Bob Horry the Jerk. This guy is really looking like an a-hole to me at this point. I know most of you have seen the highlights of his most recent hard foul against David West of the Charlotte Hornets: Its been replayed over and over again but I can't watch it without wondering how the league can overlook that kind of dirty play and not take action against him. Last year was even worse. Horry takes out Steve Nash in one of the most dirty plays I've ever seen and because the Phoenix bench jumps in the protect their guy they lost their top guys for a crucial game seven. David Stern penalizes both teams instead of seeing more clearly that that was a premeditated attack by Robert Horry that did exactly what he planned for it to do: Set the Spurs up to win the series and ultimately the championship. What a joke. The rules are the rules but sometimes a situation needs to be looked at as a singular event that has to be handled in as special way. The league and David Stern have no problem handing down stiff penalties and consequences to players, coaches and refs who violate it's rules but when the rule book helps out one team while destroying another (see Mike D'Antoni's subsequent firing) I think things need to be more thought out. I respect the Spurs very much and I am very scared of the prospect of them facing the Lakers this year. But on the other hand, if the Lakers are really the best then they should beat the Spurs this year...this is if Robert Horry doesn't find a way to take a cheap shot at Bryant, Gasol or Odom and cripple the lakers chances with some ridiculously hard foul that should get him suspended indefinitely (but won't). I mean hey, you have to respect his rings but lets play basketball here, not ice hockey. I see the Lakers taking it in seven with a Sasha Vujacic head butting Horry on his final last second 3 pointer that rims out... Getting both knocked out of the game: Sasha with the tech and Horry with a concussion. Go Lakers.

    Sean Douglas
    myspace.com/seandouglas1
    labelgrade@gmail.com
    ReplyDelete

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