Assessing the Spurs/Lakers rivalry with Land O’Lakers

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ESPN LA’s fantastic Land O’Lakers blog, helmed by the inimitable Kamenetzky brothers, invited Andrew McNeill and myself on for a PodKast to discuss tomorrow’s Lakers at Spurs tilt. The PodKast is available at the link above, but the magical powers of transcription have produced readable texts to whet your audio appetites.

McNeill, on the ramifications of Tim Duncan’s decreasing effectiveness against the Lakers over the course of a potential seven-game series:
“I don’t think it’ll matter all that much, just the way the Spurs’ offense has changed this year towards more perimeter oriented. His main job is to set a lot of screens, swing the ball, maybe catch the ball in the post and initiate the offense that way, but it’s not designed for him to attack the post like he used to do. He’s taking on more of the role of defense anchor, where he’s free safety in football, where it’s the guy behind the defense who’s directing everybody. He’s one of the most talkative defensive players in the league, which is why he’s so good and why the Spurs have always been such a good defensive team.

“He’s kind of taken on that as his major role, so even if he goes a seven-game series averaging 15 (points) and nine (rebounds), it’s not necessarily going to be a bad thing for the Spurs.”

More anticipatory goo at Land O’Lakers.  Don’t say we can’t play nice with our neighbors.

  • Jacques

    DeJuan was great last time against Lakers at SA. I hope he can continue that trend. Go Spurs!

  • Titletown99030507

    @Jacques, Uh I think you meant Splitter’s 5 min on Bynum. That’s what stuck out in that game. And oh yeah Blair was sitting in the fourth when Timmy and Dyess were playing their hearts out. Dyess is the one who won that game not Blair. Let’s see the reality of this for what its worth. Blair might be sitting again in the 4th come Sunday. This is not the Heat. Theyre playing length come Sunday. Not speed.

  • DorieStreet

    I predict the Laker bigs will go at Duncan and Blair early to accumulate fouls. I hope they can hold their own so no one else commits to sagging early, leaving LA to hit open threes. My only criticism of Friday night’s game was too much help defense when it was not needed.

  • Titletown99030507

    Blair will hold his own until the length becomes too much to overcome enter McDyess and possibly Splitter to help out on putting a big body on Bynum or Gasol. Splitter is the intangible in this game. If he can hold off Bynum or Gasol for a short spell to give Timmy rest than the Spurs should be able to come away with a win providing Bryant is controlled to some extent. But if our three point shooting is some what near to what hit the Heat then it wont matter even their bigs will have to come out some to the perimeter to help out and that’s where the slashers come into to play and even an occasional pick and roll by Splitter. If the shootings good there will be a lot of guys cutting to the rim.

  • Bankshot21

    Titletown you must have fallen asleep during the 3rd quarter of that game because Blair changed the entire complexion. After that game everyone on this blog was singing Blairs praises. He got a few big steals and had what was his best double double of the season up until that point.

  • zeanocril

    @Titletown99030507

    What Jacques was referring to was the “last time against Lakers at SA”. That means the last time we played the Lakers in our home court. And that was indeed the game that Blair had a huge one for us.

  • Bankshot21

    That was the 1st game @ home….My apologies @Titletown

  • rj

    i recall blair coming out with some serious defensive energy that sparked a big run for us in our second matchup. he forced a few turnovers on the post and did some garbage collection on the offensive glass. we may not have maintained the lead. but he gave us a shot in the arm when we needed it. splitter should see some time agaonst bynum. gasol is too crafty and will draw fouls. seemed like everytime bynum got the ball in the post when splitter defended him, he was denied a good look and gave the ball up for a jumpshooter.

  • ali

    I was reading the interview on the Lakers blog. Tim and Andrew you are all wrong. When it’s all set and done(i mean in the playoff), Tim Duncan is our main player both offensively and defensively. In a important series like the Lakers, Duncan has to carry us on the back as he is our only big man that could consistently be a game changer at both ends of the floor.

    Mark my words in the playoff he is going to average 38-42 mpg, and the offense will rely on him more than it goes through him now.

    to think about it thats the scary part about this team, our starters will be averaging way more minutes in the playoff.

  • SpurredOn

    On the issue of Spurs’ fans perception of the Lakers, I’d say for most of us it’s a complex rivalry. There is a level of “hate” born of respect as they have been the only ongoing West team to get in our way while also brining home the title for the past dozen seasons; I know most LA fans feel the same about the Spurs. There is a genuine hate born of the media viewing everything through Laker-centered glasses (much like the current Heat) and thus give no credit to our franchise while always making excuses for LA. There is a dislike of them being the anti-Spurs with all the drama, trash talk, and “look-at-me” on-court behavior (same as the Celtics). Lastly, there is the lack of respect we have for bandwagon Laker/Kobe fans which I presume long-time Lakers fans would agree about.