Game #49 Preview: Spurs @ Lakers - MIB look to de-fang Mamba
by Joe deLarios on Feb 3, 2011 1:31 AM CST
in Game Previews
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PrintTuesday the Blazers young big man - LaMarcus Aldridge - dominated the Spurs interior and on occasion, mid-range as well. Lakers are known for their athletic bigs, Gasol, Bynum and Odom. Considering the Spurs defeated the Lakers earlier in the season 97-82, then the loss to the Blazers is arguably a fluke.
The Silver and Black look to rebound from their beginning loss as the Rodeo Trip continues - this time traveling to Los Angeles to take on our biggest rivals - the Lakers. Just stir up some of that rivalry, let's take a jog down memory lane.
Spurs win 1999 Championship!
"That's what I'm talking about 5-0"
No, it's not the playoffs - but every time the Silver and Black play the Purple and Gold, there will be fireworks.
Lakers sweep Spurs 2001
2002 Lakers d. Spurs in 5
2003 Spurs take Lakers in 6
2004 - .4 - ugh
2008 Western Finals - Lakers take Spurs in 5
This season.............
 San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Lakers Where: Staples Center When: 2/3/2011, 9:30pm Spurs Time - Timezone Converter Watch: TNT
By the Numbers
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Lineups
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Lineups
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Matchup Analysis
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Coach | |
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Intangibles | |
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Mojo | |
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Winner |
Starters
PG: Parker needs to dominate Fisher. Tony needs to have a big game and lead the team in the paint. Fisher has slowed down but is still wily.
SG: Manu versus Kobe. Two future Hall of Famers. Arguably the two best closers in the game today. Both can take over a game and both lead their team. Both are game changers and both get the Spur.
SF: RJ versus Ron-Ron. Someone wants to be traded and it's not RJ.
PF: Last meeting, the LOL Monster had an 'excellent' game. Pau Gasol was something approaching crap-tastic. Can it happen again?
C: GOATPUFF versus Bynum. Bynum might not play. If not, Odom starts. No one ever takes Timmy's spur but sometimes he has to share. It's only fair.
Bench
If Bonner was back I would say the Spurs have the advantage. Spur to Lakers unless Bynum is out - forcing Odom to start. If Bynum does play - LA gets the Spur. Neal has been in a slump since injuring his knee. Hill is breaking out of a slump.
Coaching
Top two coaches in the NBA - on any serious analyst's list. Both will be in the HOF. One has 11 rings with two teams the other has 4 rings with one. The debate goes on.
Intangibles
Free Throw Rate: Spurs differential of 7.2, Lakers 5.1
Mojo
LA is playing at home. In the last three games they lost twice and had to take out Houston in overtime. Spurs lost got smashed against the Trailblazers. Neal is not playing well. Bynum has a bone bruise in his knee. Matty B is still out. Ron-Ron is up for a trade. Tiago is not getting played. Spurs still have best record in NBA.
Prediction
Spurs by 2
Key(s) to the Game
Key 1 - Points in the Paint
Last game the Spurs outscored the Lakers 42-28 in the paint. The offensive charge was led by our 'wee Frenchman' with 28 points and 14 of those coming the paint. Right behind the Frenchman was the LOL Monster. Hauling down 15 rebounds and putting up 17 points.
Key 2 - Fast Break Points - keep the Lakers on their toes and get the easy baskets in transition before the defense has time to set up.
Key 3 - Hit the three ball. Lakers are tied for 29th in allowing opponents to take threes. San Antonio is 3rd.
Other Reading
Spurs
Spurs Planet - Our old friend Wayne Vore is back.
OPPONENT
Following Along
TV
TNT
Radio
WOAI 1200AM; Audio League Pass[streaming]
Online
As always, NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area.
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106 comments
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Comments
First.
::Pop smirk::
Fiddy, I chose to post it early. I gots my reasons.
Pop does NOT have special bonding exercises for the team on the Rodeo Road Trip.
Let’s fuck this duck swan.
Yo, I’m 6-11, but I just want to dribble through my legs and shoot jumpshots like a guard. - Marc Blucas on Tim Duncan
is it a black swan that looks like Natalie Portman?
It's a fez, I wear a fez now, fezzes are cool
-The Doctor
"The Spurs never go away. They’re the Freddy Krueger of the NBA. You turn around, and there they are again." - DP
A win tonight erases last night debacle. ( Wasnt really much of a debacle, but man, that word is cool ! )
[ "Duncan, the Spurs' 34-year-old captain, was aghast when Splitter told him he used to watch him as a kid."]
"I didn't enjoy that at all," Duncan said
I expect another superb start from Blair. You know Lakers will attack the post more than they did last time. So the Spurs interior-help defense will be tested again. Hopefully Pop doesn’t go small like he did vs. Blazers.
With Neal in a slump, I’m wondering if Anderson will receive an increase in minutes this game.
Offensively, the Spurs would be wise to not rely on the 3-ball too much. Points in the paint and free-throw attempts are more important.
agree that in the paint scoring and freebies are always important but what constitutes not relying on the 3-ball too much? 10 attempts? 20? 30+?
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
win please. ta.
comments may be 1 minute behind reality
matt bonner 4 MVP!
by sleep research facility on Feb 3, 2011 8:14 AM CST reply actions
Looking at the gameflow of the Houston-Lakers game on the Popcorn machine, and noticed there were two short stretches where Gasol sat for the Lakers and Hayes for Houston and Houston outscored the Lakers by about 14. With Bynum missing, the Lakers were going smaller while Houston would go bigger. Won’t make much difference if Bynum is back, but it seems to show that the best strategy to counter small ball by the opponent isn’t always to go small with them.
You all should take this as a compliment.
There are Boston fans actually rooting for LA tonight, because they’re legitimately afraid of not having HCA if the Celtics meet the Spurs in the finals.
This is a crazy backward world we live in right now. But I’m not one of them, since if I ever root for the Lakers, I’m 100% certain I would immediately spontaneously combust.
Please have Blair shatter Kobe’s knee cap, that would be great.
Go Spurs!
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
That is quite the compliment!
It's in the dictionary under D-E-F-E-N-S-E...I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be may be may be wrong, but I doubt it.
by SpursfanSteve on Feb 3, 2011 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
I rooted for the Lakers once when Kobe was out. When I awoke from my 2-week coma, I decided never again.
A win tonight would likely leave the Lakers Psychologically Devastated™ with regards to their chances in the West.
Free Tiago Splitter!
yep
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 3, 2011 12:33 PM CST up reply actions
Anyone know what the odds are for this game?
I voted that CHI would give the Spurs problem during the rodeo trip, but I am very concerned about the Lakers. Like any team in the NBA, they have the potential of coming alive at any time. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it happened against the Spurs.
"Rip it and grip it!" -Kevin Costner
I am hoping that sometime fairly early in the game (vs. the last 2 minutes) that Pop gives Tiago a shot at guarding Gasol and Anderson a shot at Kobe. Ideally they do great and the Spurs win the game. If they play horrible and the Spurs lose as a result, at least something is found out about them. The worst case is what happened against Portland where the Spurs lose and everyone wonders whether Tiago can or cannot make a difference.
I think Anderson has a lot of potential when it comes to defense. We’ve seen what he can do early in the season and it was great despite only practicing/playing for what like a month or 2?
Anderson on Kobe would be magic
But then who will Hill guard? I think this is his favorite match up of the season. And he does great.
(I’m not opposed to Anderson getting a stretch on him. Just give him Manu’s stretch instead of Hill’s.)
It's in the dictionary under D-E-F-E-N-S-E...I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be may be may be wrong, but I doubt it.
by SpursfanSteve on Feb 3, 2011 10:54 AM CST up reply actions
It will likely depend on if Bynum plays or not. They used Artest at PF a lot the last game while either Gasol or Odom rested. Their small ball lineup would then include Shannon Brown, Steve Blake and Kobe.
I saw Fisher and Blake on the court at the same time a lot for them against Houston the other night. I think Tony and George would just completely torch them if they try that again.
Free Tiago Splitter!
I think that,like it or not,Pop play Tiago tonihght :)
by MacedonianSpursFan on Feb 3, 2011 10:25 AM CST reply actions
yea, I think he’s gotta…if he wants to keep Timmeh alive for this whole trip, he has gotta play Tiago substantially
It's a fez, I wear a fez now, fezzes are cool
-The Doctor
I’m beginning to think Tiago stands a better chance of getting minutes once Bonner is back then when he is out. My reasoning is that Pop seems to continue to only use him once he has a good lead. Quite often, when the Spurs seem just about to get a sufficient lead Tim & McDyess start looking tired and the lead slips; therefore no Tiago. With Bonner back, they may have a better chance of building up the lead for Tiago to be played.
There isn’t anything sweeter than the 2003 video. Love that. Couldn’t you have pretended that 2004 didn’t happen though?
by Jordan Leithart on Feb 3, 2011 10:56 AM CST reply actions
Fuck it, Spurs by 20
"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili
by spursfan87 on Feb 3, 2011 11:28 AM CST reply actions 7 recs
Rec’d on principle.
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton
This
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 3, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
National game! Woo Hoo! Now if Pop will just play &erson some, I’ll be a happy lush.
With all due respect, gentlemen, we're not as crazy as she is.
Hey Cap! How cold is it?
(wind chill here yesterday was 10, if that makes you feel any better. “It’ll be a cold day in Hell”, etc.)
Free Tiago Splitter!
I’m freezing my black ass off here in College Station :P Supposed to have freaking snow flurries tonight and tomorrow.
CanNOT wait for the Texas heat to return. I’m not built for this cold weather nonsense lol.
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton
i know that’s right!
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 3, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
Is it ok to say “fuck la”? They make my blood boil—time for the Silver and Black machine to beat these fools down (again).
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton
as a Spurs fan, i think it’s always ok to say ‘fuck la’
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 3, 2011 12:35 PM CST up reply actions
Side note. Texas Tech had one of it’s best recruiting classes ever yesterday. We even stole two kids from OU, and that makes my heart warm on this cold day.
Nice preview AG, let’s hope all those videos bring the mojo back to the good guys.
Y’all were ranked 19th ;)
j/k, you know I gotta say something, Big50. Enjoy the game!
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton
I’ve been inspired by media day, so:
“uh, know what I’m sayin’.
I just wanna, ya know, keep it real & do what we do, know what I’m sayin’?.. ‘cause at the end of the day.., uh, noone can stop us but us; know what I’m sayin’?.. It is what it is & I just wanna give thanks for having the opportunity, know what I’m sayin’?…”…
…
GSG!
= •
by In the 666 on Feb 3, 2011 12:48 PM CST via mobile reply actions
The Lakers will CRUSH the F’ing Spurs tonight!!!
OK, in all honesty I look up and down the Lakers’ roster and I don’t see anyone who is playing all that well. (Except maybe Lamar but he’s no Lamarcus Aldridge.) So I don’t see any way the Lakers beat the mighty Spurs tonight.
But that’s OK. You guys enjoy being the champions of December, January & February. Have a freakin’ parade or whatever.
And oh yeah. . .STS!
Hey if repeating as champions were that easy even the Spurs could do it.
What’s up with Gasol? He started so strong this season, and now it seems like he’s fallen off a statiscal cliff.
With all due respect, gentlemen, we're not as crazy as she is.
Maybe fatigue from all the minutes he had to play early on, plus seeing Kobe back to his old 25-or-more-shots-per-game routine, may have led to him just not caring as much. I mean, he already got his big contract and two rings…
Free Tiago Splitter!
Yeah it might be fatigue or perhaps he’s even hurt (hamstring, whatever). Not only was Bynum out for a couple of months but so was the Lakers’ 3rd string center. Don’t ask me his name but let’s just say he makes me miss DJ Mbenga. (And tricking the Lakers into sign him was probably the Spurs FO’s best move this year. )
Even if Gasol is 100% physically I’d imagine he’s burnt out. Probably figures that no one else is focused so why should he kill himself.
Last year when he complained about not getting the ball inside enough, missed defensive assignments it didn’t do any good. This year he probably figures “why bother”. Hopefully he’ll they’ll all snap out of it.
Hey if repeating as champions were that easy even the Spurs could do it.
by olf on Feb 3, 2011 5:24 PM CST up reply actions
Classic AJ: “My teammates believe in me, Pop believes in me, the Lord Jesus believes in me…and that gives me a lot of confidence!”
I cant decide which one is my favorite:
these
or
this one
GSG!
"It's hard to see all my teammates working hard and have to sit there and watch the games." "Of course, the massages are nice." ~Tiago Splitter
by eastbaysd on Feb 3, 2011 2:08 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
this is on national TV? against the lakers?
Well, our losing streak will reach 2.
Even if it was against the nets or something we would lose.
"Kevin Garnett once described defending Tim Duncan as "trying to guard a tree"
Yup.
It's in the dictionary under D-E-F-E-N-S-E...I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be may be may be wrong, but I doubt it.
by SpursfanSteve on Feb 3, 2011 5:44 PM CST up reply actions
I see what you’re trying to do there.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 3, 2011 7:15 PM CST up reply actions
This game is too late and interferes with my lunch time.
Anyway, thanks for the preview, AG. I voted Bulls.
"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s what happens while you wait for moments that will never come." - Lester Freamon, The Wire
by silverandblack_davis on Feb 3, 2011 6:05 PM CST reply actions
Fuck you lunch time, man up and go hungry. A Spurs win is all the sustenance you need.
I did a lot of soul searching. I didn't find anything.
Yeah, who needs lunch anyway. It’s overrated. Breakfast is for champions.
"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s what happens while you wait for moments that will never come." - Lester Freamon, The Wire
by silverandblack_davis on Feb 3, 2011 6:59 PM CST up reply actions
“Manu fans shall not live on bread alone, but by every behind the back layup Manu gifts upon us”
It's in the dictionary under D-E-F-E-N-S-E...I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be may be may be wrong, but I doubt it.
by SpursfanSteve on Feb 3, 2011 8:27 PM CST up reply actions
i have interview later. so will not be able to watch the 1st half. hope the spurs will dominate early in the game. spurs by 6 in halftime then spurs win by 8.
let’s hope
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
The question of this game to me is whether Blair would be able to beast or not to beast in the paint. Also, Bynum can give them an edge if he is playing and playing well. Hopefully, Lamar Kardashian won’t have a kind of night Lamar Cusaldridge had against us.
"We just keep putting wins in the bag, kind of like picking strawberries." - RJ 2.0
I remember my grandfather telling me about the A-Train. “He had hands of stone, son but if you put the ball in the right place, he would make sure it would go in.”
of course you probably didn’t mean those memories! thanks Quincy!
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
What time zone are you in LD? UTC-4 or 3?
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 3, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions
So those of us on the West Coast have an actual chance to watch a game played on the West Coast.
Free Tiago Splitter!
Typical West Coast bias. :D
It's in the dictionary under D-E-F-E-N-S-E...I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be may be may be wrong, but I doubt it.
by SpursfanSteve on Feb 3, 2011 8:28 PM CST up reply actions
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