Has the nightmare begun?

[MRJONESIII]

I know we missed some shots and some of the lakers were out of they're mind tonight, but is the lack of another big going to rear it's ugly head in the playoffs?

[Flipmode Master]

Not really time to hit the panic button just yet...doubt Bynum or anyone is going to have 30 rebound night every game in a series.

[Jose_TheGenius]

the nightmare only begins if we don't play straight up man and not fake pressure the ball to leave guys open and Duncan guards Bynum.

for the life of me, i don't know why we gladly give Dirk J's over Blair and not give Pau shots over Blair?

[gwilly101]

If we can stay away from LA and Memphis in the playoffs our lack of size isn't going to be as big a deal. They're the only teams in the West that have front lines that give us problems.

[MRJONESIII]

I guess Kobe wasn't there to ball stall either. Tony didn't look comfortable, like he was too worried about getting his shot blocked. I kinda felt this coming tonight. Do you think resting guys a whole game is always smart? Maybe let them suit up and play, say a half, ala the pro bowl just to keep them right?

[Rzarector7]

Originally Posted by gwilly101

If we can stay away from LA and Memphis in the playoffs our lack of size isn't going to be as big a deal. They're the only teams in the West that have front lines that give us problems.

We get the 2nd seed and LA gets the third, we will be seeing them in round two, think about that.

[Jose_TheGenius]

Originally Posted by MRJONESIII

I guess Kobe wasn't there to ball stall either. Tony didn't look comfortable, like he was too worried about getting his shot blocked. I kinda felt this coming tonight. Do you think resting guys a whole game is always smart? Maybe let them suit up and play, say a half, ala the pro bowl just to keep them right?

it's a coin toss. you either keep them fresh or Manu breaks his elbow vs. PHX in a game to just keep him fresh.

damned if you do, damned if you don't. Pop's playing it safe.

[MichaelWi101]

Next game against the Lakers (or even against the grizzlies) I'd like to see Splitter start alongside Tim. For the life of me I don't understand this reliance on Blair against the taller front lines...I also think maybe, just maybe the Spurs saw Kobe sitting out and mentally relaxed.

[spurscrazed]

It is just One single game Lakers won. Give them credit and move on. No nightmare here...

Not a good win without Bryant because that is NOT what we will see EVER EVER EVER in the PO..

The PO Kobe will be dominating the ball and others will not see the light.

Although Bynum will be trying to play with such domination, but I doubt he will be that quick on defense next time.

World Peace will NOT play that great the next Spurs Lakers meeting in LA.

And Spurs players will hit their shots next time and execute better on offense. Spurs players will also work on a better deffense because someone not named Tim Duncan or KLeo will have to play some defense......

Pop and his coaching partners got SCHOOLED by Mike Brown. And that will not happen again!!!!!

Not to worry. Spurs will get the Lakers in LA.

[Rzarector7]

Originally Posted by spurscrazed

It is just One single game Lakers won. Give them credit and move on. No nightmare here...

Not a good win without Bryant because that is NOT what we will see EVER EVER EVER in the PO..

The PO Kobe will be dominating the ball and others will not see the light.

Although Bynum will be trying to play with such domination, but I doubt he will be that quick on defense next time.

World Peace will NOT play that great the next Spurs Lakers meeting in LA.

And Spurs players will hit their shots next time and execute better on offense. Spurs players will also work on a better deffense because someone not named Tim Duncan or KLeo will have to play some defense......

Pop and his coaching partners got SCHOOLED by Mike Brown. And that will not happen again!!!!!

Not to worry. Spurs will get the Lakers in LA.

That game in LA is on a third night of games though I noticed , damn.

[spurscrazed]

Originally Posted by Rzarector7

That game in LA is on a third night of games though I noticed , damn.

I guess Pop will have to manage the minutes and I noticed when the Spurs are in a rhythm they will be very tough to beat.

[b1gdon]

Originally Posted by MRJONESIII

I guess Kobe wasn't there to ball stall either. Tony didn't look comfortable, like he was too worried about getting his shot blocked. I kinda felt this coming tonight. Do you think resting guys a whole game is always smart? Maybe let them suit up and play, say a half, ala the pro bowl just to keep them right?

Not at all. Since they played on Sunday they had two days rest which is pretty standard for an NBA season. The Spurs have trouble with size and then WorldPeace and Gasol were hitting every jumpshot they put up. The coaching staff is going to have to go back to the tape and make some adjustments on the glass.

[grizzly_bexar]

Originally Posted by gwilly101

If we can stay away from LA and Memphis in the playoffs our lack of size isn't going to be as big a deal. They're the only teams in the West that have front lines that give us problems.

That's a big if.

[spurscrazed]

There is a chance LA Clippers would get the 3rd seed and Lakers get 4th. The gap is small between those two.

Spurs could be the 1st or 2nd seed.

[esparzar1]

WOW....didn't know you could have nightmare's from one game....smh..

[silvernblackfan]

Originally Posted by esparzar1

WOW....didn't know you could have nightmare's from one game....smh..

I still have nightmares from single games like, ”.5”, manu breaking his arm in the last game of the regular season, TD messing up his knee against the kings at the end of the season, just to name a few, haha

[Uwe Blab]

Here's the problem that I see. TP has always shied away from penetrating against the Lakers. He did it in 2004 and has done it recently. Once he started getting hammered by Karl Malone in 2004 it's like he's got this mental block. Even if he doesn't attempt a shot, at least penetrate and dish, but he doesn't do that either.

[grizzly_bexar]

One game can give me nightmares if it exposes structural flaws. I see that at work in this game, and it has nothing to do with Artest/Sessions/Blake going nuts. It's about Bynum and Gasol being healthy and confident.

[Bryhn]

I didnt watch, but why in the world does splitter only play 15 min and leonars only 20? Two of our better rebounders and defenders

[pessimist]

There should be some concern. I'm not sure how the Spurs will adapt to the Lakers packing the paint with Gasol and Bynum. While it doesn't totally negate Parker -- it will limit his points to jump shots and fast breaks.

Let's be honest. Blake, Artest, and Barnes won this game for the Lakers. They combined for 49 points. If they do that again next week, and the final game against the Spurs . . . and then again in a seven game series . . . then congrat-u-f-ulations . . they deserve it.

I believe that shooting percentages will eventually catch up with the Lakers.

[spurscrazed]

I am pretty sure almost 100% Pop is experimenting while at the same time Pop is trying to manage those minutes in this time of so many games in few days. For example Tiago had played only 15 min as some mentioned here and LEO only played 20 min.

The Spurs you will see in the PO or after this condensed game few days will be a lot different.

Pop does not want to reveal what he is preparing for the PO yet.

Plus don't ever forget that Kobe will totally change the lakers game plans.

[thebig3]

let the magician work, i mean the man got 4 trophies to his name must know something that we dont

[Jose_TheGenius]

Originally Posted by spurscrazed

I am pretty sure almost 100% Pop is experimenting while at the same time Pop is trying to manage those minutes in this time of so many games in few days. For example Tiago had played only 15 min as some mentioned here and LEO only played 20 min.

The Spurs you will see in the PO or after this condensed game few days will be a lot different.

Pop does not want to reveal what he is preparing for the PO yet.

Plus don't ever forget that Kobe will totally change the lakers game plans.

i don't mean this as an attack, but just a question: when has Pop ever been so "sneaky" to not reveal things for the playoffs? during the Big 3 era, no surprises in 2003, no surprises in 2005 since all season Manu got unleashed, and no surprises in 2007.

i get people wanting something to look forward to and Pop has had some good schemes and ideas, but i don't get where people think he's hiding something for the playoffs. wasn't that the case the last few years where people kept saying "In Pop We Trust" and we haven't won anything? i do believe he experimented with Blair on Bynum last night, one of the only times i've seen a legit experiment this year and i would be shocked if he tries that again.

again i think he's a smart man, but this whole "CIA Pop"/"Mastermind" stuff.....no idea where that has come from

[spurscrazed]

^^^^^ I don't know why people keep comparing this year with last year a lot of players are different and we have better winning streaks this year.

Last year was a failure in the first round because of the Spurs health. Manu was playing injured with hurting arm and TD had hurt his knee right before the PO.. Tony could not do a swat without a team. It is a TEAM thing.

This year hopefully the Spurs will enter the PO healthy and because of all the experience and the deep bench and all those players who stepped it up, with Pop's Adjustments and schemes Spurs will have a GREAT CHANCE of going deep in the PO and challenging any team.

The Spurs will have their (Destiny) in their own hand it is all up in the air for grabs....

[grizzly_bexar]

It's not Artest et al shooting a high % that won the game. It was the interior play. Artest/etc. could've had a sucky shooting night and they still would've won-- it just wouldn't have been a blow out.

[Uwe Blab]

The other thing to look at was the Spurs didn't shoot their average percentage. Which means more rebounding opportunities, which the Lakers obviously won. The Lakers will be tough, but it won't be the lack of a big man that kills the Spurs, it will be lack of a dependable scorer. Hopefully, they were just out of sync.

[Jose_TheGenius]

Originally Posted by Uwe Blab

The other thing to look at was the Spurs didn't shoot their average percentage. Which means more rebounding opportunities, which the Lakers obviously won. The Lakers will be tough, but it won't be the lack of a big man that kills the Spurs, it will be lack of a dependable scorer. Hopefully, they were just out of sync.

see, should've never traded RJ! i kid, i kid!

[Uwe Blab]

Originally Posted by Jose_TheGenius

see, should've never traded RJ! i kid, i kid!

In all honesty, although he's playing better than RJ, Jack has been underwhelming. Definitely not worth the 10 million.