Advanced Scouting: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers - Who’s playing tonight?

Is it just me but does the league rescind too many technical fouls. Why have these rules for game suspensions when everyone gets out of them?

GO SPURS GO!!!

A positive is the Bulls game (8pm ET) is before the Spurs game tonight (1030pm ET), so they will know the result.

I’m hoping the Knicks can beat the Bulls, the Spurs rest v Lakers (and Lakers win so they don’t slip to #4) and then Spurs beat the Suns the next night to wrap up HCA for the entire playoffs.

Go Spurs!

I really think who plays will depend a lot on the Bull/Knicks game that happens to be before the Spurs/Lakers game. If the Bulls lose, then we can rest the whole bunch. Heck, are we allowed to play only 4 players :).

Lets hope Bulls lose the game, Knicks should be motivated to win tonight, being their final game at home and tomorrow they play against the Celtics in Boston.

I think we should go for the win here. First, beating the Lakers is more important, since we want to keep them in the 3rd seed. If they beat us tonight then beat the Kings, they’ll be tied with Dallas and would take the #2 seed because they own the tie-breaker. For the Lakers to drop to the fourth seed, Dallas and OKC would have to hop over them, which is pretty unlikely given the Lakers are basically ahead of both as it stands (because of the tie-breaker with Dallas) and their final game against the Kings is very winnable.

Then add on to that home court vs. the Bulls.

And finally, I don’t see how resting the starters four games before game one of the playoffs is at all important, especially given the three days between our final game of the season and the first game of the playoffs. As you point out, 3 days is plenty.

I, too, would like to see us take a bite out of the faltering Fakers’ collective confidence-levels, and also make up for that earlier loss (as Alix said). But keeping our starters in the game until the ‘bitter end’, I’m not so sure.
I also think that beating the Sunflowers tomorrow night is more important than tonight’s tilt.
I trust Pop to know how to approach these final two games, in any event.

“In summary, I see more reasons to rest the starters against the Lakers than against the Suns. This strategy appears likely that it will help the Spurs chances in the first round.”

This sums up my belief. Also keep in mind that the Spurs have had a relatively light schedule lately AND the Big 3 have played light minutes (in the mid to low 20’s over the past game or two). IMO, the big 3 plus Dyess should be in good shape to play serious minutes in the playoffs.

In the end, this game means very little ESPECIALLY since we have a back to back and play in Pheonix tomorrow. I say roll out Splitter, Anderson, Green, etc and see how they do against a struggling Lakers team. If they lose by 15pts or less, then it’s a moral victory (even though I don’t normally believe in those). On Wednesday we can play Phoenix at full strength to get us geared back up for the playoffs.

This game means more to the Lakers than the Spurs. Lakers are at home playing in front of Jack on national tv, and you know they need to pull off a significant win to get the media back on their wagon. Beating the Spurs does that more than beating the Kings. This game is a scrimmage for the Spurs - a chance to try different matchups for the games that really matter in a couple of weeks, should these teams face each other in the playoffs - and you know they’re gonna. I hope to see Splitter vs Bynum tonight. But really, this is a game where Spurs fans can relax and not worry about a W or an L. Vs. Phoenix..let’s make it a 3-point shooting match and have a blast.

I want to see a big game from Tiago tonight and even Blair.

We need these kids confident going to the playoff.
Tiago is crafty and draws foul, in need a real time practice on his free throw

GO SPURS GO

Having the best record in the NBA is not small thing. Moral and confidence lifting accomplishment. I think any team would benefit from it regarding everything else that can be said.

Have to agree w/ Timmay concerning home court in the finals. It’s more than just a game 7. And if you’ve been watching the Celtics and Magic, you probably know that the Heat and Bulls looks like the teams to beat in the East. There is a very good chance we would play the Bulls in the finals, and obviously, the Spurs should plan like they are going to make it. Otherwise, none of this matters. @ Therealkman- the Lakers need a win. They don’t want to drop to 3rd or 4th seed. I’d be very surprised if they rest there guys.

Tough call about who plays tonight but I do think it’s important that our main players (first 8 or so) have some success against the Lakers tonight, just to wash away the sting from the drubbing they took in the last game.

Of course the perfect scenario for us Laker haters is to have them finish 3rd and have to play Portland in the first round. Because it is so perfect, I’m sure it won’t happen.

Lots of Splitter today and tomorrow. I would like to see the team feeding Splitter going to the basket and also an inside game to boot all night long just to get those Lakers guessing until we meet them again in a few weeks. If Splitter has a big night that’s more for the Lakers to chew on for a while.

For giggles and laughs (and to see if you can refrain from throwing something at the TV), Spurs fans in the local/regional broadcast market tune in TNT at the beginning/halves/postgame of the double-header to see their take on the team. (I have no choice, so some of your come along for the ride.— :O

Posting before reading any of the comments. Sorry if it concludes with anybody else as repeating.

Spurs will focus on winning but not in the usual manner. They have proven to take some playoff bound teams to their limit with playing without the big three. The bench is ready for this type of game. Lets prove we are formidable and can be counted on.

Some close moments. Some resilience by the Lakers (Pride). But all in all a moment that can truly define this team going into the playoffs for not only themselves…but the doubt which can be suplanted in the minds of their upcoming opponents thus elevating the confidence of the entire team.

Nothing but positive can be taken from this game won or lost if the bench can hold their own during moments of drought from the big three.

Thank you Pop for resting the staters and playing the 2nd unit.

This was a good loss. LAL played all it’s bigshots and still we scored 93 points? Well done. (even though some of our reserves didn’t do well, I’m still content with this loss).

Now Dallas plays LAL, and all we have to do is focus on OKC. (MEM will beat the clippers and attain 7th seed, while NOLA will probably lose to the MAVs and fall to 8 again).