We know where America's attention will be during the Conference Finals, don't we?
This is a match-up that pits the defending champions against the revival of a team with a great history.
The third-seeded San Antonio Spurs will face the top seeded Los Angeles Lakers.
Home court advantage has certainly been present during these playoffs. It appears that was the case during the regular season as well, as the Lakers and Spurs split four games 2-2, each winning at home.
League MVP Kobe Bryant seemed to have San Antonio's number during the regular season, scoring an average of 24.3 points per game. He also contributed a total of 18 assists and 17 turnovers in the four times these teams previously met.
Tony Parker led the Spurs in scoring against the Lakers during the regular season. He averaged 20.7 points per game. He matched Bryant in assists with 18, and only had five turnovers in the four times these two teams met in the regular season.
Only one ESPN expert, John Hollinger, predicts this series to be under six games. He thinks the Lakers will win in just five games.
Four other experts from ESPN (Abbot, Adande, Broussard, and Ford) all predict Los Angeles to win a critical Game Seven.
Stein and Thorpe of ESPN predict a Spurs victory in six games, while Sheridan thinks San Antonio will win the series in seven.
I predict a Lakers series win in six games.
There will certainly be many interesting subplots in this Western Conference Final matchup.
In all likelihood, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili will guard Bryant. Derek Fisher would have the job of stopping Tony Parker on the other end of the floor.
Whatever the case, the Lakers are certainly fresher than their opponents. They have played the fewest games of any other survivor in this year's NBA Playoffs.
The series will start Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
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4 months ago
I have a lot of respect for the SAS and this is going to be the series that tops all this year. Whoever comes out on top this one will win it all - no disrespect for the East but this is plain truth.
Analysis:
1. Hype of Bowen being able to stop Kobe will be proven untrue - again? Kobe will lay the hearsay to rest.
2. Key match up will be Fisher's defense vs. Parker's penetration. Fisher's done a great job on D Williams and I assume he will be effective against Parker.
3. TD will over power Pau and Phil will have to resort to trap defense against TD. Don't expect TD to lead SAS to victory. This is the battle of the coaching staffs from both teams. Edge will go to SAS's.
4. LAL will win the supporting cast battle. With Fisher, Walton, Farmar, and (YES) Arizaaaaaaaa. Most sports writer I read miss this factor: Ariza will be the KEY to this series.
Prediction: Lakers in 6.
4 months ago
I agree...Lakers in 6.
Spurs will play better this round granted the fact that they hate the Lakers because of Fisher.
Ginobili won't guard Kobe, if he does, Kobe will work him up so he has nothing on the offensive end.
IF Ariza plays, Laker D will improve and he will contribute. It'll be the typical Bowen on Kobe.
It'll be interesting how Duncan plays against Pau and how he'll handle the double teams. Lakers are quick to recover and have good perimeter defense because of their size and length.
Can't wait!
4 months ago
A lot of Lakers optimism here. I am not a San Antonio fan, but this team is a dynasty and is the favorite in this and any other playoff series until knocked off their throne.
Kobe is the best scorer in the game, Fisher pulls some kind of shot out of his ass from time to time, but guys like Odom and Gasol have yet to prove anything in Game 7 playoff situations.
Can you say the same about San Antonio? I swear, these guys live for clutch moments.
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