Let the games begin!
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Join us for Purple, Gold, and Blue at 11 am. We'll be talking Game 1 of the WCF with our guest, Michael Erler of the Spurs blog Pounding the Rock. Then it's some Blue with Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts. Click on the show widget at the side of the page, or go straight to our show window by clicking here.
After a weekend of kicking it and around 48-ish hours to debate their San Antonio Spurs opponents, tonight's Game 1 (6:00 pm PST, TNT) will finally grace roundball enthusiasts with its presence. Their WCF foes are a familiar bunch, a crew that's essentially turned itself into the NBA's version of old (but not too old) faithful. The proverbial "mix" typically has them in it, with a championship never out of the question (and lest we forget, these cats are in fact defending a title). In fact, this decade will likely be regarded as having belonged to one of these squads. In many ways, it's only fitting (if not necessarily ideal) that the purple and gold's championship dreams will require a besting of a team that can arguably be labeled the best.
So what's the upstart Lakers' game plan in order to help reclaim the last 10 years? For starters, match wit with extreme wit, as these Spurs rarely, if ever, take a misstep while on the court. Better be ready for some scrappy, contact-heavy play, because these Spurs ain't above trying to get under your skin. Try to take them out of their measured and methodical zone. And, of course, much will come down to who's shadowing which dude. From the big to the little, both squads offer more than their share of intriguing and generally tight matchups. Pau Gasol will find himself going mano y' mano with Tim Duncan on more than one occasion, but while it's easy to focus on the cache players, don't sleep on the Lakers' supporting cast when looking for a potential difference maker.
And remember, kids. It's not the typical 7:30 pm PST tip off we associate with Laker games. Set your watches, even if they're not as cool as the ones Kobe doled out. Probably not as sweet as the timepiece on Kwame Brown's wrist, even if it's different than his ex-mates'.
Yet one more reason Mike D'Antoni should have sought employment with the Bulls instead of the Knicks.
If you missed LO's feature in the NY Times, here you go. Also, there's a good interview with him on his website (pretty sure it was filmed yesterday).
Jon K,
How about "VIVA L'ARIZA!!" after every steal, block, slash, and posterizing dunk.
I'm am so giddy just thinking about Trevor Ariza's return. I hope PJ gives him a chance to play and TA capitalizes like he did when he first joined the Lakers.
VIVA L'ARIZA!!!
Posted by: 805 Laker Love | May 21, 2008 at 03:48 PM
I just finished watching LO's interview, and I just wanted to say we gotta keep that man in a Laker uniform!!! I know he's our third option, and next year will probably be our fourth option but he just brings too much to the table for us to let go.
He's a great teammate, leader, and gives us a type of player that no other team has. And on top of all that he seems like a good dude. I know he'll probably have to take a pay cut, but I want to see LO with this squad for years to come.
Posted by: Weave-Man | May 21, 2008 at 05:29 PM