Lakers-Spurs in the NBA Western Conference Playoffs: Two Would-Be Dynasties Clash

Of Dynasties and Destinies: The Shaq-Kobe Lakers didn't win enough championships to qualify as a Dynasty. The Spurs' quasi-domination of the league over the last nine years has not been consistent enough to qualify as a one. Yet these two teams seem to have had intertwined destinies for over a decade now, and both are now on the verge of becoming undisputed Dynasties.

The Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs have met many times in the playoffs over the last ten years. Each franchise has caused the other countless heartbreaks. Each has won it all at the other's expense. It may not be a classic sports rivalry, but there's certainly a long history and sometimes, antipathy, here. The series should be a war.

Both teams are coached by a modern master of the art. Phil Jackson, he of the nine championships rings, not surprisingly gets the spotlight. After all, he's from Tinsel Town, working for the biggest name in professional basketball (if not all of sports), with the biggest star the NBA has. Greg Popovich, meanwhile, with his "measly" four championship rings, is quite content to remain relatively obscure. Similarly, Tim Duncan is a future Hall of Famer, just like Laker great Kobe Bryant, but he is largely ignored by the national media. It might be because he's with a small market team, or it might be because he's just a low-key professional who has never carried on like a prima donna or been arrested in Colorado. Chicken or egg? You decide.

Both teams have great coaches and first class organizations, but that's where any similarities end. The Zen Master and his glitzy Lakers have Malibu Beach and Beverly Hills and Hollywood while Pops and his blue-collar Spurs have... what? The River Walk? The Lakers have brash and bling, while the Spurs have lunch pails and hard hats.

Should the Spurs win the upcoming series against the Lakers, then win the championship series against the Eastern Conference victors, they would repeat for the first time in their history. That would be five championships over nine years. Perhaps not the classic form of Dynasty, but arguably one none-the-less. Should the Lakers beat the Spurs and go on to win a championship, it would be one of the greatest Cinderella stories in recent NBA history, and possibly the beginning of a new Lakers dynasty. But lets not get ahead of ourselves...

In the East, the greatest Dynasty-franchise of all time - the Boston Celtics, winner of eight championships in a row (eleven in total) between 1956 and 1969 (not to mention the three Championships of the Larry Legend era) - might have something to say about who wins in the West. They too appear to be on the verge of a return to championship caliber basketball, and they're playing their traditional arch-nemesis, the Detroit Pistons - winners of the 2004 championship and back-to-back wins (their own mini-dynasty) in 1989 and '90. So whoever wins the West gets an East Coast powerhouse with plenty of laurels to point to but none being rested on.

Things are really heating up now in the NBA, like the surface of the sun - though strangely Phoenix is not in the mix. Didn't The Big Cactus declare that he was with the greatest team he'd even been with after coming over from Miami? Huh. I must have misunderstood. He is, after all. Misunderstood. Ahem. But I digress...

The New Look Lakers Are On A Mission And The Spurs Just Keep On Keepin' On

In a year where it was unclear if the league's greatest player would even remain with his team, where questions abounded and internal conflicts were rife, the Lakers have emerged as one of the great teams in the NBA and, by all appearances, a team that can contend for Championships for years to come.

With the early-season rise of Andrew Bynum, it appeared that once again the league's most glamorous franchise had secured the it's future with a talented, perhaps even dominant, big man. Kobe suddenly seemed very happy (winning will do that), Derek Fisher's return boosted morale (adding maturity, on-court leadership and moxie) and the improvement of many younger players made this year's Lakers the deepest in a long time. Then Bynum went down with a season-ending injury, and it appeared that all the pronouncements of imminent return to greatness were premature.

The Lakers quickly fell back to earth, and Kobe once again began to show signs of "the old Kobe" - this time not out of selfishness, but out of necessity. Without Bynum to anchor the center, Kobe was overmatched and Lamar Odom, as fine a player as he is, just was not aggressive enough to consistently be the two in a Lakers one-two punch.

All this suddenly changed with the arrival of Pau Gasol. In a brilliant strategic move, the unfairly maligned Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak - protege of the legendary and sainted Jerry West - pulled off the biggest trade since the departure of The Big Free Throw Misser. Only this time, it was one that was good for the team instead of being forced upon them. Suddenly, the Lakers were ascendant again, and despite the odds against them managed to pull into the lead and win the race to the playoffs in the West. The home court advantage their hard work and luck won could be the decisive factor in the upcoming series, because the Spurs will not go easily into the unquiet night.

While the Lakers rose for the second time in a wild and wooly season, the "old" Spurs soldiered on, just as they always do. It was not a great season by their standards, but it was sufficient. Pop, Duncan and the organization knew that experienced teams don't necessarily need to have home court advantage. It helps of course, but grit and experience count for more, and those qualities form the heart and soul of the San Antonio Spurs.

Once again, these old Western Conference adversaries meet in the playoffs. Which will fall to the wayside, and which will fulfill it's destiny?

The Spurs Have No Answer For Kobe and Lamar; The Lakers May Not Have An Answer For Parker and Ginobili

The forthcoming series has parallels on top of parallels, and many interesting match ups.

The Spurs naturally worry about no. 24. Who doesn't? There is no answer for Kobe Bryant, and Popovich knows and accepts this fact. He's the kind of coach who will single cover Kobe and live with what he throws down. He's used long-time stalwart Bruce Bowen in this capacity. He's one of the league's very best one-on-one defenders. Bowen has guarded Kobe about as well as anyone could over the years. After all, he is only a mere mortal and Kobe Bryant is, at times anyway, not of this earth.

However, look for the Spurs to throw the same kind of scramble defense against Kobe they threw against Chris Paul in the prior round. Their game 7 defense on the Hornet's point guard and key threat turned the series for them, and it may be what they need to do to stop The Black Mamba should he go on one of his unstoppable scoring tears.

Pop will try to make the other Lakers beat him, and unfortunately for him, there are other Lakers who can do that. Once upon a time, the Lakers were a one-two punch and some role players who might occasionally hurt you. Now the Lakers are a much more fully rounded team. Lamar Odom has begun to play with the killer instinct he's always lacked. Pau Gasol is adapting well to the tough, physical style of NBA playoff basketball. Vladimir Radmanovic and The Machine (Sasha Vujacic), Luke Walton and Jordon Farmar, Ronny Turiaf and D.J. Mbenga - all of these players can play, score and hurt the older, slower, mostly smaller Spurs.

Pau Gasol may be the difference for the Lakers in this series, just as he has been for the season. He'd never been past the first round of the playoffs until he came all the way West, though he'd been "one and done" quite a few times. In the first two rounds this year, the Nuggets and Jazz did him a profound service. They showed him how physical a playoff series really is, and with the help of his Lakers teammates he saw what it took to win.

Though he put up good numbers across the Lakers-Jazz series, the physicality of the Jazz bothered him. Ironically, he may find it easier against the Spurs. Their front court is slower than the Jazz, and he won't have to chase Mehmet Okur out to the perimeter on defense, meaning he can stay closer to home and block shots.

Gasol has the speed, athleticism and shooting touch to cause the Spurs unending grief. The only question is his will. Known as gifted but somewhat soft - he's long and lean and a European player, so this is not surprising - he has the chance to break out in this series. Even if Duncan guards him, he has better foot speed and an excellent passing touch. Gasol must play better than he did against the Jazz for the Lakers to win the series.

The Spurs, with the exception of Duncan, have a weak front line that doesn't score and doesn't block shots. The long and athletic Lakers do both. Though it appears Andrew Bynum will not be back this season, imagine the horror of facing a front line of Bynum, Gasol and Odom in the future! Two out of three is bad enough, and it should be more than enough to handle the Spurs' less-than-stellar front line.

On defense, look for Odom to guard Duncan. He's a bit shorter, but far more athletic, and has shown a tremendous ability to bother other power forwards. Duncan will still get his shots, and probably carry the load at times, but the length of Odom and the help of Gasol will bother him. Popovich will run screen-rolls to free Duncan as much as possible, and put him in the post as a passer watching for Ginobli to dive towards the basket and Parker to cut across the lane. Unfortunately for Duncan, he can't run way from Odom and shoot the midrange jump shot. It's a ploy that often works against old and/or slow centers assigned to guard power forward Duncan, but Odom will stick like glue.

On the flip side, Odom has the speed and athleticism to outplay Duncan. Up until recently, there has been a question about Odom's aggressiveness and desire to win. He has been known to no-show. But of late, Odom may have found himself and his place in the triangle offense. He's become a real handful to guard and a formidable rebounder and passer. And as many of commented, how many 6'10" power forwards can lead a fast break, make a sweet pass and hit a shot from downtown? Comparisons to Magic aside, Lamar Odom can and should make a huge impact on this series, just as he has done in the prior two, and the Spurs will be hard-pressed to counteract him. Clearly, the older, slower and smaller Kurt Thomas is not up to the task, and if Duncan is put on Lamar, Pau Gasol should have his way. It's a tough problem for the Spurs!

At small forward, VladRad has the size, speed and skill to be a dangerous threat to the Spurs, but has rarely shown the confidence. He often seems lost, which is an apt description for his once-vaunted shooting touch. His counterpart on the Spurs, defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, is capable of hitting critical three pointers and even occasionally driving to the hoop. If VladRad wants to stay in the game, he'd better do a good job on the smaller Bowen, or he'll quickly find himself benched in favor of Luke Walton.

Walton, the fourth year player, nominal Lakers sixth man and son of the great Bill Walton, was very effective against the Nuggets but disappeared against the rough-and-tumble Jazz. The Spurs should be more to his liking, and with his size and passing ability, he should have a good series against them spelling VladRad or even taking his place.

In the back court, Tony Parker is the formidable point guard terror for the Spurs. Fast, fluid and full of playoff experience, the Frenchman has learned how to master his position and exert his will. He's not the Parker of old, who was prone to miscues, mental lapses and turnovers. He can attack, seemingly at will, and has become highly proficient at tearing defenses apart with his lightening drives. And he can finish, just like his dangerous ally Ginobili. He's smooth and deadly, and Derek Fisher will be hard pressed to keep up with him.

Kobe will have to help out on Parker, and it is with this Spurs back court that the effects of another long-term Laker injury come to the fore. Trevor Ariza was brought in to play "D" on the big guards Derek Fisher can't handle. The athletic third year man is traveling with the team and has been practicing, and the Lakers are now saying he will cleared to play. This is a good thing for the Lakers, as they may need him to put the clamps on smaller players Parker and Ginobili. Kobe can't stop both of them.

When the Spurs are hitting on three-pointers, they are a force to be reckoned with. But like the Lakers, they are spotty at best. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Ginobili and Parker can take defenders off the dribble and are smart enough to do so when their shots aren't falling. Derek Fisher is the Lakers' steady answer on the long ball, and he's a terrific defensive stopper on small guards. Unfortunately, he's no big threat to the Spur's best back court players, and he's rarely a threat to drive on offense. Though he's hit some enormously important three-balls in his career, and will undoubtedly continue to do so, this series will test Fisher's abilities and possibly put him on the bench in favor of the larger, faster, more agile Vujacic.

Speaking of whom, Sasha's recent play, on both offense and defense, has drawn attention. Phil Jackson likes his new focus on "D" and his fearlessness. His outside shooting should be an important factor off the bench.

At shooting guard for the Spurs, Michael Finley is not the great player he once was, but he is a danger that must be carefully watched. Manu Ginobili plays the same position, and can either start or come off the bench in tandem with Finley. The two make a potent duo when Finley is hitting, and Ginobili's ability to drive, dive and cause havoc is well known. He's the "X" factor for the Spurs.

Of course, look for the great Robert Horry, former Laker and he of the seven championship rings (even more than Jordan!), to kill the Lakers with timely treys. In fact, he and old running mate Fisher could have quite a shoot out!

Last, but certainly not least, is Kobe Bryant. The league's new MVP will be coming to this series after a chance to rest his sore back and catch his breath. In his new guise as facilitator first and scoring machine second (no offense to Sasha V.), the league's best player will pick and choose the spots in which he wants to dominate. Look for him to set the tone early in games and take over in close forth quarters. Kobe won't have to have any 50+ point games in order to win this series, but look for him to have a game or three where he scores 30+.

Two Intertwined Destinies, But Only One Will Emerge

The series should be a brawl, possibly a nasty one. Both teams are terrifically talented, mentally tough and led by great coaches and all-star floor leaders (Duncan and Bryant), all of whom are destined for the Hall of Fame, and all of whom believe this is their year. In the end though, the Lakers have younger legs, more athletes and greater talent.

In terms of recent playoff experience, the Spurs have an edge. But one must not forget that between Kobe, Derek and Phil, there are 15 Championship Rings. Their leadership should be enough to carry jittery young teammates past the nerves that might otherwise handicap the team.

There's no doubt that the Lakers have surprised a lot of people by getting to the Western Conference Finals. Particularly after the Bynum injury, the Lakers were expected to fall back to mediocrity. Clearly, the Gasol trade changed all that. The Spurs, on the other hand, are doing what defending champs are supposed to do. They're steady, solid and playoff-wise. This series will be a clash of wills as much as it will be a clash of talent.

If the Spurs win, they will have reaffirmed their status as one of the great teams of the new millennium. It all depends on whether their "Big Three" of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili and perform consistently well, something the Lakers will do everything in their power to stifle. However, if they lose it may well spell the end of their Championship runs, at least as currently configured. It will be easy to find fault with an old, slow group of players if they don't get it done. Pop won't be fired, but should they lose look for the Spurs to make some roster changes before next year.

As for the Lakers, a series loss would still be a moral victory. Nobody expected such a young, newly minted assemblage of players to get so far in such a short period of time.

However, a Lakers win may spell the end of a current quasi-dynasty and the beginning of another. Most pundits feel the Lakers will have the best front court in all of professional basketball in the coming year, and a back court of Bryant and the perennially underrated Fisher is nothing to scoff at. Add to this the rising tide of young back-up talent, and we could be looking at a force to be reckoned with.

Destiny is a strange and unpredictable thing, but look for the Lakers to outlast the Spurs and win it in seven.