Lakers on cruise control
The Los Angeles Lakers swept the suprisingly pathetic San Antonio Spurs right out of the playoffs, but that was just a warm up for the defending champions.
By Bill Ingram Sports Central Columnist
Lakers - Spurs. This series had all the big names, all the big matchups, and all of the potential to be a knock-down-drag-out series in which the last team standing knew they had been through a seven-game war. David Robinson and Tim Duncan were ready to give Shaq all he could handle and then some. Kobe was going to have to face Derek Anderson and wiley veteran Terry Porter. Both teams had veteran supporting casts. I must admit that I was genuinely excited to see the series get started, in spite of the fact that I am not a particular fan of either team. Then the series started - or at least the Lakers started, where did the Spurs go?
The San Antonio Spurs did the best impression of a lame duck that I have ever seen. The team that led the league in three-point shooting couldn't buy a shot (13-59 for the series). The team that was best in the league at guarding against the three stood and watched as Kobe, Fox, Horry, and Fisher burned them time and time again from beyond the arch. Worst of all, was the play of former MVP David Robinson, who watched much of the series from the bench with foul trouble.
David Robinson left his family vacationing in Hawaii to fly to Orlando and prevent his friend and teammate from signing with the Magic last season. He told Tim Duncan that there were titles to be won in San Antonio and they could do it together. When the 2001 Western Conference Finals started, though, The Admiral docked his ship on the bench and watched Tim Duncan play one on five for much of the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers marched over the Spurs as if they were no more than a bump in the road. That road leads to another championship for the Lakers, at the expense of whichever team dares to come out of the East to challenge them. Neither Milwaukee nor the Sixers can hope to match up with the Lakers, though it would be entertaining to see George Karl pit his zone defense against Kobe and Shaq. If Fisher is hitting his threes the way he has been of late, no one can stop L.A. The broom has only begun to do its work. The Eastern Conference champs are next on death row.
Article courtesy of Sports Central
Lakers - Spurs. This series had all the big names, all the big matchups, and all of the potential to be a knock-down-drag-out series in which the last team standing knew they had been through a seven-game war. David Robinson and Tim Duncan were ready to give Shaq all he could handle and then some. Kobe was going to have to face Derek Anderson and wiley veteran Terry Porter. Both teams had veteran supporting casts. I must admit that I was genuinely excited to see the series get started, in spite of the fact that I am not a particular fan of either team. Then the series started - or at least the Lakers started, where did the Spurs go?
The San Antonio Spurs did the best impression of a lame duck that I have ever seen. The team that led the league in three-point shooting couldn't buy a shot (13-59 for the series). The team that was best in the league at guarding against the three stood and watched as Kobe, Fox, Horry, and Fisher burned them time and time again from beyond the arch. Worst of all, was the play of former MVP David Robinson, who watched much of the series from the bench with foul trouble.
David Robinson left his family vacationing in Hawaii to fly to Orlando and prevent his friend and teammate from signing with the Magic last season. He told Tim Duncan that there were titles to be won in San Antonio and they could do it together. When the 2001 Western Conference Finals started, though, The Admiral docked his ship on the bench and watched Tim Duncan play one on five for much of the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers marched over the Spurs as if they were no more than a bump in the road. That road leads to another championship for the Lakers, at the expense of whichever team dares to come out of the East to challenge them. Neither Milwaukee nor the Sixers can hope to match up with the Lakers, though it would be entertaining to see George Karl pit his zone defense against Kobe and Shaq. If Fisher is hitting his threes the way he has been of late, no one can stop L.A. The broom has only begun to do its work. The Eastern Conference champs are next on death row.
Article courtesy of Sports Central
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