Comments on: Game Preview & Chat: The San Antonio Spurs

By: anoni

anoni — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:06:11 +0000

We should have traded Evans for Hassell when we had the chance…

By: kwame a.

kwame a. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:33:57 +0000

Ginobli took the summer off. He’s played deep into the playoffs and in the summer in ’03, ’04 and ’06. Taking off the summer of ’07 will make him even more dangerous this spring in the playoffs.

By: Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:00:34 +0000

Ginobili made the laker defense look horrible. he was constantly picking it apart. what’s gotten into him???

By: Travis Y.

Travis Y. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:11:17 +0000

Did anyone see Kwame catch the ball at the free throw line and immediately make a move towards the basket? He dunked with authority. Where is that fire the other 47 minutes and 45 seconds? We all know Kwame has a gifted body but he just doesn’t realize his own talent. When he’s fouled he doesn’t have the presence of mind to adjust and get a basket plus the foul, he just throws the ball off the backboard and goes to the line. Is there anyway Kareem or anyone else on the Lakers can finally help Kwame or is that just a pipe dream?

Farmar looks great 2 MEAN dunks in the game, I ilke the idea of using Crit against the quicker guards. Let him learn now and see if he can contribute. If he is completely lost move on. It seems our penetration defense can only improve.

Finally, let’s not get all rattled up about this game. The Spurs are the champions and it seems that they have not missed a beat, but have improved.

Great execution and cashed in on the inept Lakers perimeter defense. They just hit their open looks, sounds simple huh? Ginobili is bringing it and has his confidence level setting on BUST YOUR @$$ MODE. This is not good for the rest of the NBA.

By: DMo

DMo — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:53:51 +0000

The Lakers have some issues to address, but let’s not forget who they were playing. The Spurs make a lot of good teams look bad. It’s what they do.

Tonight’s game is the big one. They know they got schooled last night. Let’s see if they come out with some fire.

And don’t be too hard on Mihm and Kwame… yet. Don’t forget, Kwame has played like 5 NBA regular season games in the last year and Mihm has played about the same in the last 2 years. It’s gonna take a little while before they return to form. Even so, those guys didn’t lose the game for us last night. Mihm and Brown only played a combined 21 minutes. Yes, Brown was on the floor for a big run, but so were 4 other players who weren’t doing their jobs. If we want to compete, we will need Kwame to be productive. Bynum can’t play 48 minutes a night. And I’m much more concerned about how we match up with teams like San Antonio in May than the middle of November.

By: Craig W.

Craig W. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:40:30 +0000

Carter,
You want quick? I suggest you look at Farmar. However, he is young and has to get his defensive legs together. He did play for Howland, so we know he has some foundation. I think Crit is more likely to develop into a 2, with some time at the 1, rather than replace Farmar. He would seem ideal to back up, then replace Kobe over time. I know that is heretical, but we have to think future to stay afloat. Right now he needs a crash course in defense – think D-Fenders anyone?

By: 81 Witness

81 Witness — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:36:43 +0000

54,

Please review Bowen’s stat lines. Kobe’s responsibility was to cover Bowen. If Kobe doesn’t get a block, will the ball automatically go in? 50/50, but probably not as his 2nd and 3rd blocks that game were contested by other players already.

When the Lakers played Phoenix, did Kobe continually leave Bell open? No.

PJ needs to stress the importance of covering your man and letting the big man contest the dribble-drive:

T-E-A-M D-E-F-E-N-S-E

By: Carter

Carter — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:16:48 +0000

53. Yes, Sasha and Cook need to go. Dead weight. They remind me of guys I play against in rec league bball.

On Kwame… his natural ability is there. But you can’t change who someone is. This is the fatal flaw in scouting. Recruits think they can “develop” a player with “potential”. Attitude and desire are a big part of being successful. Bynum has it, Kwame doesn’t.

I personally think Evans is a good backup for Kobe. He just needs more time to get into his rythm. He can’t do that with guys like Sasha and Cook taking up his playing time.

Luke can’t shoot this year. Maybe he got comfortable with his fat contract and forgot to practice in the offseason. Great energy, terrible rythm.

Java Critt will be our answer for the quick PG’s out there like Parker and Paul. I can’t wait to see this guy get more time on the floor.

By: Bobby Smith

Bobby Smith — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:08:09 +0000

53. (Paul)

I don’t mean to beat the Bynum-should-start horse to death, but not starting him so he will peak at playoff time is obsurd. This guy was a top pick in the NBA draft and is making millions of dollars. He has shown improvement every year and last offseason was clearly his most productive. He is producing at an extremely high level and he should be given the starting spot he has clearly earned. What more can he do besides damn near lead the league in rebounds/minute and shoot 58% from the floor. Sure he still has a long way to go, but given that our other two options, Chris and Kwame, are horric NBA centers, Bynum should clearly be starting and logging 35 min./game. That way come playoff time this team has chemistry, Bynum is in much better shape, and he will have learned all that much more. If management is going to hang their hat on this guy then the least they can do is play him. And by the way, I don’t even like Bynum that much and I’ve advocated “shipping him out” for a veteran big man. But facts are facts and the fact is this guy is producing and shoud be our starter and go to center. Enough with the childish psycological games, start the guy already.

And to all those that say don’t fix what ain’t broke, by that logic we shoud lower Bynum’s minutes so he will be even more productive….lol.

By: wilzuvsteel

wilzuvsteel — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:01:56 +0000

Last nights game was bitter sweet. They were able to stop Duncan but geez, Parker, Bowen, Ginobli, Bonner. How do you get beat by Bonner? He’s like another version of Cook. But we left all these jumpshooters open and basically played catch up all night. I applaud Kobe for his defense but nobody else stepped it up. Fisher played a bit out of control and they didn’t get their rhythm on offense at all. The Spurs definitely know how to play to their strengths. I think the Lakers are trying to find strengths besides Kobe’s scoring prowess. Odom should have scored more than Bonner, Bowen, and Ginobli. The combo of Fisher and Farmar should have slowed Parker. Fisher & Farmar only had 1 foul each?? Radmanovic was disappointing too. No help off the bench let alone trying not to be a defensive liability. He must go against Cook in practice. They share common skill traits. Basically nobody brought their A game for 4 quarters. We were teased for a quarter and a half. But even then we only scored 15pts in the 1st quarter. Kobe distributing the ball and concentrating on help defense just didn’t work against the Spurs. Kobe needs a 2nd scorer if we want to see consistency. Odom really has to step up. I’ve never seen a team that doesn’t try to expose the other teams weaknesses. Odom was being guarded by Finely. sometimes Ginobli. Odom just doesn’t get it day in and day out like say a Nash. Nash revels in the mismatch and makes you pay the price. The Lakers sort of glance at the mismatch and run the triangle to allow the Spurs to regroup. 12pts for Lamar the whole game. That is pathetic for someone who wants to be considered an all-star. What really makes me sick is watching Boston with their 3 all-star lineup still undefeated. While Kobe is here in the West trying to teach these guys how to win. How to make everyone around him better. I think that even Jordan himself in his prime would not be able to get this young team to the promise land. Jordan worked with an all-star on his side and veterans. I guess the coaching staff with all those years of experience is stil not enough to take this team to the elite status. I guess they think that Phil is going to babysit them forever or this is all they are capable of acheiving or Phil’s system is not suited for these guys and their potential.