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Friday, March 28, 2003
Sayson: Containing the ‘unstoppable force’
By Homer Sayson
Second overtime
CHICAGO – When San Antonio spanked LA, 98-89, last Sunday at the SBC Center in San Antonio, completing a four-game regular-season sweep of the three-time defending champs, various Lakers fans raised the red flag of alarm.
Among those who were petrified was reader Anthony Ross Nanas (aross@ hotmail.com). He wondered: “Does this indicate that LA will be in deep trouble if they face the Spurs during the playoffs?”
San Antonio is a very versatile team, Anthony, and with David Robinson slowly getting back to form after back pains sidelined him, the Spurs will indeed pose a threat to the Lakers.
INEXPERIENCE. But given the big-game inexperience of San Antonio players such as Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Malik Rose and Stephen Jackson, I still can’t see the Spurs having what it takes to unseat a savvy Lakers quintet.
If anything, the Spurs will give LA an incredibly tough potential first-round series, one that could make Phil Jackson’s boys weary in more difficult sojourns to Sacramento and Dallas.
So why is San Antonio so successful against the Lakers?
Two reasons: The Spurs have been able to contain Shaq, while putting Kobe on a harness. So how exactly did they achieve that?
Slowing down Shaq is easier said than done, but this is what the Spurs have done against Big Daddy:
1) Defending him up front by putting either seven-footers Robinson or Tim Duncan against Shaq straight up. This while the quick double-team comes flailing from the weak side.
2) Take away the lob, which means to harass the ball carriers and deny Shaq his comfort zone. With the legalized zone defense, San Antonio can get away with it more so than other teams because of its quickness.
3) Keep him off the glass. Since one-third of Shaq’s production emanates from put-backs off offensive rebounds, it’s important to box-out the Big Diesel. Thanks to workhouse Malik Rose and the twin towers of Robinson-Duncan, the Spurs have the capacity to out-rebound LA, just like last Sunday (50-46).
Kobe did score 31 points in the loss, but not after hoisting 11-of-30 from the field. Bryant’s woes against the Spurs is not accidental. A banger named Bruce Bowen is the reason.
Bowen, in no uncertain terms, is not a Kobe-stopper. Nobody is. But the six-year vet from Cal State Fullerton is the only guy I’ve seen who has the quick feet to stay with Kobe.
Look around the NBA, when Kobe feints a move, his defenders are faked off of their pants all the way to Kuwait. Not Bruce. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound guard possesses the discipline necessary to keep pace with Kobe, to stay with him until he forces a shot.
Always remember, however, this is the regular season. When the post-season comes, do you really think Shaq and Kobe will remain on a leash? Here’s how a Chicago newspaper, the Red Eye, answered that question: “Hell, no!”
DOUBTING THOMAS. Still on the Lakers setback to San Antonio, Sherwin Uy (fairchildsemi.com) was amazed at the following: “1) Where’s the Lakers’ sticky defense, 2) teamwork is nowhere to be found, 3) Shaq is showing signs of insecurity over Kobe.”
Sherwin, the Spurs missed 46 of their 77 shots in that game against LA, how much more glue do you want from the defense? The Lakers’ help defense was so awesome they limited the Spurs just 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. The Lakers lost this one largely because they couldn’t get their shots to fall, going only 33-of-86 for a 38.4 shooting clip.
If teamwork is measured by team assists, then LA is guilty, having just dished 12 in that contest. But in so far as that “insecurity” charge is concerned, I don’t buy it. Unless you’re a behavioral scientist, Sherwin, I’d like to believe that Shaq is secure of himself. If you have three rings and $208 million in the bank, wouldn’t you be?
(Questions are welcome at homsay@hotmail.com)
(March 28, 2003 issue)
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