Published: Wednesday - May 21, 2008
Words by Mike Monson
Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan Photo: NBA.com
First off, congratulations to Byron Scott and the Hornets for taking the defending champs to the Game 7. Not even the bookies in Vegas were betting on the Hornets to even make the playoffs at the begging of the season.
The final four is here and old playoff rivalries are back. Since 1982, the Lakers have faced the Spurs 10 times in the playoffs, sending them home seven times. The Spurs are 0-3 in conference finals against the Lakers, but two of those losses were in the 80s to the "Showtime" Lakers. The most recent was in '01 when the Lakers swept the Spurs.
I'm not expecting a Lakers sweep of the Spurs, but I am expecting technical well-coached basketball with the Lakers pulling it out in 7. However, as much as I hate the Spurs, I respect coach Popovich and the rest the Spurs, and expect them to give the Lakers a gritty series. The Lakers and Spurs split their regular season series, but neither team was healthy when they played each other.
The keys to victory for the Lakers are simple to figure out, but hard to actually do. They can't let Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili drive down the lane, and then kick it out to Bowen or Horry for an open 3. In their last meeting, Bruce Bowen nailed 6 on the Lakers. For the Spurs, they need to contain Pau, Lamar, and force the Lakers' bench into bad shoots.
The Celtics and the Pistons also have a history of playoff battles. I am starting to believe the Celtics are not going to choke. Their defense set up road blocks all over the court in Game 1, but still expect this to be a 7 game series.
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