Get your pistols out. It is finally time for a good ‘ole fashion shootout, Texas Style.
“把你的手枪掏出来。这必定是德州方式的角逐。”
Wednesdaynight, the Lakers and the Spurs will engaged in a fight to see who willrepresent the NBA’s Western Conference in the 2008 NBA Finals. Whileboth the Lakers and the Spurs definitely deserve to be in here, theyboth have traveled extremely different roads to the NBA’s version ofthe Final 4.
Beatingthe Suns in 5 games, and the Hornets in 7, the Spurs are in the WesternConference Finals again. The Spurs are the ones everyone alwaysexpected to be here and are led by two time MVP Tim Duncan and 2007 NBAFinals Most Valuable Player Tony Parker, who bring experience and aChampionship luster to the plate.
Afterousting the Phoenix Suns last year in a highly controversial WesternConference Semi-Finals, the Spurs rolled past both the Jazz and theLeBron James led Cleveland Cavilers to their 4th Championship in 9years.
TonyParker is very quick and can provide huge problems for a defense. Hescores most of his points in the paint. Manu Ginobli is perhaps theirbest overall player. He does so much for his team; he attacks thebasket and has a nice outside jump shot that can be deadly late ingames. The Big Fundamental Tim Duncan is one of the most boring playersin the history of the NBA, however, he is perhaps the best PowerForward this game has ever seen. He does everything for this team, andmost importantly he is a winner. Brue Bowen’s defense is needed forthis team to succeed. In previous years he did the best job on Lakerssuperstar Kobe Bryant, but old age is catching up on him, and hisamount of success is important. Big Shot Rob, is adored by Lakers fans.He has struggled this year, but would love to do well vs. his oldrunning mates Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher. Other key role players likeMichael Finley and Fabricio Olberto will also impact games.
Nowa year ago, no one expected the Lakers to be in this position. Evenwhen this season began, if you would have said the Lakers would be inthe Western Conference Finals, you would probably been laughed at. TheLakers are one of the big surprises of the NBA this year. It’s such anamazing story, that you could take it to Hollywood, and the film writers would have turned you down saying, “That’s impossible.” Yet that is exactly the case.
TheLakers are eight wins away from the NBA Championship. The Lakers areled by Kobe Bryant, The MVP, the best of the best, the big mamba, KB24,Triple Ocho, the man. He is simply amazing and that’s all you canreally say about him. Derek Fisher at the point, provides championshipexperience and veteran leadership that is needed for a team to advancedeep in the Playoffs. Pau Gasol is the Lakers anchor in the middle. Heisn’t flashy, but he gets the job done. He takes pressure off KobeBryant and is one of the smartest players in the NBA. Most importantlyhe is unselfish, and a perfect side kick for Kobe.Lamar Odom is playing the ball of his life. He is no longer settlingfor jumpers, he instead is taking it hard to the rack, and cutting ashard as he can. His emergence gives the Lakers a triple threat attack.Vladimar Radmonivic, Luke Walton, Sasha, and Turiaf all bring essentialtools to the table. The Lakers need them to play well in order for theLakers to advance. The wild card for the Lakers is the return of TrevorAriza. If he can contribute anything to this team, that makes theLakers that must harder to beat. He is good on defense, and hisathleticism makes the Lakers that much quicker and harder to beat.
Thisis also a battle of two of the greatest coaches of all-time. The Popand the Zen Master will once again go head-to-head. They have met fourtimes in the postseason since Phil Jackson became coach of the Lakers,with Pop winning one and Phil Jackson winning 3. With both teams soequal, the role of the head coaches and coaching staffs will beextremely important in this series.
Somepeople are worried about the Lakers playing the Spurs in the WesternConference Finals. However to be the best, you have to beat the best,and there is no other team I’d rather see the Lakers face in theWestern Conference Finals than our old rivals from the Alamo.
Overthe last nine years, the Spurs have won 4 titles and the Lakers 3. Withall the history and unbelievable games these two teams have played, itis only fitting that the Lakers and Spurs once against face each othertoe to toe for a chance to reach the NBA Finals.
