Not to chime in with the "I told you so's," I will simply let my article two weeks ago do that.
[ True Veterans]
The San Antonio Spurs will be facing the Los Angeles Lakers much to the chagrin of many fans ( true and fair-weather) of CP3 and the high flying Hornets. Not to worry though, this should be a great series that really showcases the two stars on the perspective teams.
Tim Duncan is called the big fundamental and, while watching him, you can see that the entire playing style of the offense draws from how he is covered on the floor. Against New Orleans, you saw him work the outside with the inexperienced West. While this slowed down his offensive production, he maintained his energy and was able to play hard down the stretch when his energy was needed. He also was able to work the boards more, as he is currently the best rebounder that's still alive in these playoffs with a 13.3 average.
This works well with the Spurs deliberate style of play because it allows Tony Parker to walk up with the ball and set up Manu Ginobli to either shoot it or deliver that extra pass to another player. This slows down the game and allows for the old men to rest their legs and use thier experience from 1 - 5 to create separation and create shots.
This strategy works well when playing against a team such as the Hornets. Their inexperience happened to be their downfall. The Suns, who had a lack of cohesiveness caused by the Big Diesel's arrival, really ended up in the same boat. This is not so for the soaring Lakers lead by Kobe Bryant.
A rested Kobe also reflects the Lakers as well. He is not called the best player in the league for nothing and he has proved it throughout these playoffs by cutting through defenses at will, averaging 33.3 points per game. This wasn't such a test against the "Greatest Team on Paper," the Denver Nuggets who play like a glorified NBA Street team. But. he also did it against the Utah Jazz in their building, a stronghold which mimics the best of Arco Arena when C Webb and M. Bibby were at the height of their careers.
The only question mark has to be his teammates. Pau Gasol isn't a question because he is shooting 56% from the floor. Derek Fisher has played well for a wily veteran as he leads the playoff season in steals. But you have other question marks such as Lamar Odom whose here-today, gone-tomorrow style of play really leads to rough spots against good teams as seen in the Jazz series. Not to mention the eternal underachiever Luke Walton who showed up against Denver...but became a ghost.
Now, down to the matchups.:
PG: Derek Fisher Against Tony Parker /// Advantage: Tony Parker
Derek Fisher played well against Deron Williams, but the difference between the two is that Parker is just better, more experienced, and playoff tested. He is better In every playoff statistic and is younger, with fresher legs.
Tony Parker
San Antonio Spurs
Position: G
Height: 6-2 Weight: 180
From: France
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 18.8
RPG 3.2
APG 6.0
SPG 0.8
BPG 0.1
FG% 0.494
FT% 0.715
3P% 0.258
MPG 33.5
Derek Fisher
Los Angeles Lakers
Position: G
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
College: Arkansas-Little Rock
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 11.7
RPG 2.1
APG 2.9
SPG 1.0
BPG 0.0
FG% 0.436
FT% 0.883
3P% 0.406
MPG 27.4
SG: Kobe Bryant Against Manu Ginobli /// Advantage: Kobe Bryant
Not even close, The best player in the league, dubbed by the Head Honcho ... Darth Kobe, is going to win regardless. Manu will actually feel some real defensive pressure for the first time in the playoffs as well.
Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers
Position: G
Height: 6-6 Weight: 205
High School: Lower Merion HS (PA)
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 28.3
RPG 6.3
APG 5.4
SPG 1.8
BPG 0.5
FG% 0.459
FT% 0.840
3P% 0.361
MPG 38.9
Manu Ginobili
San Antonio Spurs
Position: G
Height: 6-6 Weight: 205
From: Argentina
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 19.5
RPG 4.8
APG 4.5
SPG 1.5
BPG 0.4
FG% 0.460
FT% 0.860
3P% 0.401
MPG 31.0
SF: Lamar Odom against Bruce Bowen /// Advantage: Lamar Odom
I would give this to Odem, but seriously, who knows when he will show up. He also will be facing a staunch...and [read:dirty] defender in Bruce Bowen. Even though Odom has better stats...he's Lamar Odem.
Lamar Odom
Los Angeles Lakers
Position: F
Height: 6-10 Weight: 230
College: Rhode Island
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 14.2
RPG 10.6
APG 3.5
SPG 1.0
BPG 0.9
FG% 0.525
FT% 0.698
3P% 0.274
MPG 37.9
Bruce Bowen
San Antonio Spurs
Position: F
Height: 6-7 Weight: 200
College: Cal State Fullerton
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 6.0
RPG 2.9
APG 1.1
SPG 0.7
BPG 0.3
FG% 0.407
FT% 0.652
3P% 0.419
MPG 30.2
PF: Vladimir Radmanovic against Tim Duncan /// Advantage : Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan is the head of this team, and has been a force on the boards during the second season. Look for Duncan's points to go up against the smaller Radmanovic, who will need help to guard the bigger Duncan from going inside.
Tim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs
Position: F-C
Height: 6-11 Weight: 260
College: Wake Forest
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 19.3
RPG 11.3
APG 2.8
SPG 0.7
BPG 2.0
FG% 0.497
FT% 0.730
3P% 0.000
MPG 34.0
Vladimir Radmanovic
Los Angeles Lakers
Position: F
Height: 6-10 Weight: 235
From: Serbia & Montenegro
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 8.4
RPG 3.3
APG 1.9
SPG 0.7
BPG 0.2
FG% 0.453
FT% 0.800
3P% 0.406
MPG 22.8
C: Pau Gasol against Kurt Thomas Advantage/// Pau Gasol
Gasol takes this hands down. Not only is Gasol a younger, better, version of Thomas, he also has been playing tougher defense. Look for Gasol to run Thomas ragged up and down the floor spreading the floor with his range.
Pau Gasol
Los Angeles Lakers
Position: F-C
Height: 7-0 Weight: 250
From: Spain
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 18.9
RPG 8.4
APG 3.2
SPG 0.4
BPG 1.5
FG% 0.534
FT% 0.807
3P% 0.250
MPG 35.6
Kurt Thomas
San Antonio Spurs
Position: C-F
Height: 6-9 Weight: 235
College: Texas Christian
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 6.3
RPG 7.2
APG 1.0
SPG 0.8
BPG 0.8
FG% 0.492
FT% 0.663
3P% 0.000
MPG 22.6
Even though the advantage boils to a 3v2 tie, the Lakers clearly have the bigger advantage where it counts. Also having the best player on the floor at all times also helps your cause tremendously, as Kobe should do no less than 35 pts a game. When you add that the Lakers had much more rest and play at the Staples Center with home court, this advantage becomes more obvious. The Lake Show finishes this in 6, jumping into the Finals. Even so, this should be worth the price of admission.
I can't wait
I would have prefer the Hornets
Whoever wins will be the eventual nba champ
This is goign to be a way better series than the Eastern finals.