Ok.... Im a Spurs fan, and YES Im happy as hell about game one, but I wanna get some honest feedback on what you guys thought bout the game...
The first thing that comes to mind is Spurs missing free throws. The game would have been a 20+ point game most of the game if the Spurs could have simply converted their horrible HORRIBLE free throw shooting. I am scared that if SA doesnt at least get 65 percent, that I will come back and haunt them badly in a close game in LA.
2nd thing was how the Lakers, although didnt play particularly well in the first half, managed to hang around quite well. Malone was basically a non-factor the entire game. Shaq had a few good plays, but really has been a dissapointment during the playoffs, and GP is getting run around by Tony Parker, yet Kobe really caught fire and kept the Lakers strong throughout the game, along with Deveon George who basically IMO outplayed Turkalou 95 percent of the game.
3rd major factor is the fronting on Shaq. I havent seen anyone be successful doing that since he first came in the league, and I thought the approach worked very well for the Spurs.
Kobe had a freggin crazy 3rd quarter. If he can play like that 2 quarters instead of one, then were in for a helluva series.
Its my opinion, that this first game was defintely not the best both teams had to offer. However, the Spurs have a lot more room for improvement, as they played about 60 percent of their capabilities, while the Lakers play this way quite often.
Spurs in 5
Posted by: gr81
well you know I am not a Spurs fan, but I will give credit where credit is due. they played great Dfense in the fourth against LA and completely took them out of their game. they looked good, LA was forcing bad shots over and over, and they were unable to penetrate the lane and get a good look at the basket. We will see what happens when they play in LA thou. I bet they will come back for game 2 hard. If the Spurs can take game 2 thou, that would be a HUGE advantage!!
Posted by: austinite
Great defense, not afraid or overly impressed by the Lakers mystique any more. It seems like in the NBA one team eventually overcomes anothers domination, then dominates itself:
Sixers finally got past the Celtics in the early eighties
Pistons finally got past the Celtics then dominated for a while in the 80s
Rockets got past the Lakers
Bucks never got past the Celtics
Knicks never got past the Bulls
Bulls got past the Pistons
Now, the Spurs have gotten past the Lakers and I think will hold court for a while
