Dynasty vs. Dynasty: Series 1
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by H Rock on Sat May 20, 2006 12:34 am
Keys in Game 7 for the Spurs
1. Get Joe Erwin the ball
Erwin has been nearly unstoppable all series, destroying anyone who dares to guard him. The Lakers have sent a full range of defenders at him, and only Goldberg has been able to limit him. Even that veritable giant has only been able to stop him from simply dunking every time through. Since the Lakers can't stop him, they have done to next-best thing -- take the ball out of his hands. They employed a zone in Game 6, which worked effectively, as Erwin took only 17 shots.
2. Get better production from the backcourt
The Lakers will be sure to send constant double-teams at Joe Erwin, and it is imperative that they hit from the outside to relieve the pressure, as well as penetrate and dish. Although Walker shot his usual percentage from behind the arc in Game 6, Ward shot only 2-of-11. And Mohammed and Jones, usually two reliable scorers, shot only a combined 8-20. That won't cut it in Game 7.
3. Find a better rotation
The Spurs lost their lead in the second quarter when they benched the whole first team, and sent in the subs. They couldn't produce at the level of the starters, and the Lakers never looked back after taking the lead. The Spurs don't have a great bench, and it's showed in this series. The starters have all played significant minutes.
They will also need to arrange their matchups better. Erwin, despite his speed and quickness, cannot keep up on the perimeter with the likes of Eliand, Gaston, and Owens. The Spurs briefly switched Erwin to center and put Ward on their forwards, but, amazingly, they discontinued that strategy, which really hurt their comeback chances. In the final game, this might be their best chance at containing the stellar play of the Los Angeles forwards.
1. Get Joe Erwin the ball
Erwin has been nearly unstoppable all series, destroying anyone who dares to guard him. The Lakers have sent a full range of defenders at him, and only Goldberg has been able to limit him. Even that veritable giant has only been able to stop him from simply dunking every time through. Since the Lakers can't stop him, they have done to next-best thing -- take the ball out of his hands. They employed a zone in Game 6, which worked effectively, as Erwin took only 17 shots.
2. Get better production from the backcourt
The Lakers will be sure to send constant double-teams at Joe Erwin, and it is imperative that they hit from the outside to relieve the pressure, as well as penetrate and dish. Although Walker shot his usual percentage from behind the arc in Game 6, Ward shot only 2-of-11. And Mohammed and Jones, usually two reliable scorers, shot only a combined 8-20. That won't cut it in Game 7.
3. Find a better rotation
The Spurs lost their lead in the second quarter when they benched the whole first team, and sent in the subs. They couldn't produce at the level of the starters, and the Lakers never looked back after taking the lead. The Spurs don't have a great bench, and it's showed in this series. The starters have all played significant minutes.
They will also need to arrange their matchups better. Erwin, despite his speed and quickness, cannot keep up on the perimeter with the likes of Eliand, Gaston, and Owens. The Spurs briefly switched Erwin to center and put Ward on their forwards, but, amazingly, they discontinued that strategy, which really hurt their comeback chances. In the final game, this might be their best chance at containing the stellar play of the Los Angeles forwards.
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H Rock - Posts: 864
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by Mark. on Thu May 25, 2006 10:17 pm
Looking forward to seeing the outcome, this is quite cool what you two have going here 
GOnna be a rematch after this series sometime?
GOnna be a rematch after this series sometime? 
"Money is options, not happiness, its what you do with those options that makes your life" - Conrad Bishop
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Mark. - Sweet Disposition
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by H Rock on Sat May 27, 2006 12:04 am
Since HonorGlow has told me he's swamped at the moment, I've decided to do the recap myself.
The blog of Zack Ferguson
Pre-game
Well, Game 7 is coming, and it's all about the nerves. Being the young team that they are, and we being the experienced team, I'll expect a few opening jitters will allow us to take the lead. Almost all of our guys have faced a Game 7, and most of the vets have played in a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. I know Goldberg has faced many a do-or-die game, but the rest of them I'm not so sure.
Just as well that we have the home-court in this game, because we're going to need everything we've got in this final game. I really underestimated the power of the Lakers bench. They just seem to get points from every last man.
Middle of the 1st Quarter
Well, I predicted a big start for us, but a 16-point lead before half the quarter was gone was not what I had in mind. But seeing that Lawson and Goldberg have yet to get out of their warmups, I'm not surprised. That double-digit lead isn't going to last long with those two in. Speaking of double-digits, Joe Erwin has 12 points and 9 rebounds in the first half. Talk about domination. This is amazing.
Halftime
Well, same ol, same ol. They came back by riding their two-edged sword, and Joe Erwin has had continued dominance. I think he's going for 50, minimum. Anything less than that will underscore the absolute owning he's done to the Lakers. Eisley, Brown, Gaston, Goldberg, it doesn't matter, He's tossed them aside like a rag doll.
But, as amazing as he has been, Lawson has matched him almost shot for shot. But we still hold the lead by five, because we have Walker, and they don't.
Start of 4th Quarter
Well, this game is developing into a game of mental toughness and guts. No double-digits leads, just back and forth. Or, actually, it's an Erwin dunk, a Lawson three, an Erwin hook shot, a Lawson drive. On and on they go. I think they're both going to end up over the 50-point mark.
Not, of course, that the other on our team have been shirking their job. Walker has been magnificent, keeping those double-teams honest with his long-range bombs, as has Ward. Then Mohammed and Jones both have had spectacular games, penetrating at will.
And yet, after 36 minutes of us throwing all our weapons at them, they're still only down 7. How much can I say about how effortlessly Lawson has been playing. He's knocking it down with ease. Plus, Goldberg is doing his part. And note to the rest of the league -- Gordon Owens will be an All-Star in about three years. This guy is very impressive to say the least. He has height, range, and speed. In short, he can play both guard positions, small forward, and a little in the post if needed.
4 minutes left in the game and series
Well, I think we've almost wrapped this up. A 30-footer that beat the shot clock has really ripped their heart out. Up 15, it'll take some special magic from Lawson to get them back into it.
Seconds to go
Well, this is crazy right now. Down 15 with 4 minutes to go, and they went on about a 15-3 run in four minutes, and now they're down by a single three-pointer. Who else will take it but Rashidi Lawson? They are about to inbound as we speak. They crowd has risen in unison...
Stay tuned for next week's exciting season finale...
The blog of Zack Ferguson
Pre-game
Well, Game 7 is coming, and it's all about the nerves. Being the young team that they are, and we being the experienced team, I'll expect a few opening jitters will allow us to take the lead. Almost all of our guys have faced a Game 7, and most of the vets have played in a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. I know Goldberg has faced many a do-or-die game, but the rest of them I'm not so sure.
Just as well that we have the home-court in this game, because we're going to need everything we've got in this final game. I really underestimated the power of the Lakers bench. They just seem to get points from every last man.
Middle of the 1st Quarter
Well, I predicted a big start for us, but a 16-point lead before half the quarter was gone was not what I had in mind. But seeing that Lawson and Goldberg have yet to get out of their warmups, I'm not surprised. That double-digit lead isn't going to last long with those two in. Speaking of double-digits, Joe Erwin has 12 points and 9 rebounds in the first half. Talk about domination. This is amazing.
Halftime
Well, same ol, same ol. They came back by riding their two-edged sword, and Joe Erwin has had continued dominance. I think he's going for 50, minimum. Anything less than that will underscore the absolute owning he's done to the Lakers. Eisley, Brown, Gaston, Goldberg, it doesn't matter, He's tossed them aside like a rag doll.
But, as amazing as he has been, Lawson has matched him almost shot for shot. But we still hold the lead by five, because we have Walker, and they don't.
Start of 4th Quarter
Well, this game is developing into a game of mental toughness and guts. No double-digits leads, just back and forth. Or, actually, it's an Erwin dunk, a Lawson three, an Erwin hook shot, a Lawson drive. On and on they go. I think they're both going to end up over the 50-point mark.
Not, of course, that the other on our team have been shirking their job. Walker has been magnificent, keeping those double-teams honest with his long-range bombs, as has Ward. Then Mohammed and Jones both have had spectacular games, penetrating at will.
And yet, after 36 minutes of us throwing all our weapons at them, they're still only down 7. How much can I say about how effortlessly Lawson has been playing. He's knocking it down with ease. Plus, Goldberg is doing his part. And note to the rest of the league -- Gordon Owens will be an All-Star in about three years. This guy is very impressive to say the least. He has height, range, and speed. In short, he can play both guard positions, small forward, and a little in the post if needed.
4 minutes left in the game and series
Well, I think we've almost wrapped this up. A 30-footer that beat the shot clock has really ripped their heart out. Up 15, it'll take some special magic from Lawson to get them back into it.
Seconds to go
Well, this is crazy right now. Down 15 with 4 minutes to go, and they went on about a 15-3 run in four minutes, and now they're down by a single three-pointer. Who else will take it but Rashidi Lawson? They are about to inbound as we speak. They crowd has risen in unison...
Stay tuned for next week's exciting season finale...
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H Rock - Posts: 864
- Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:32 pm
by H Rock on Sat May 27, 2006 12:07 am
Mark. wrote:Looking forward to seeing the outcome, this is quite cool what you two have going here
I haven't been here for the beginning, but I believe I am correct in saying this is an NLSC first, and probably NBA Live as well. Certainly the first time two dynasties this far advanced have met over the Internet. I'm making history, I can't believe it.
GOnna be a rematch after this series sometime?
We'll probably face off again after HonorGlow completes his ongoing 2020-2021 season.
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H Rock - Posts: 864
- Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:32 pm
how come no-one ever thought of this before..?
by H Rock on Tue May 30, 2006 11:19 pm
Well, game over, series over. And what a series it was. Lots of thrills, spills, and chills. Thrills galore in that comeback win in Game 5, and in Game 7 as well. Spills...well, it was certainly a physical series. Lot's a hard fouls, and not a lot of open layups in this series. And as for chills, there were certainly a few for Spurs fan when Erwin got injured. And some goose bumps as well when Walker hit that buzzerbeater in Game 5.
Despite the fact that I only played 15 minutes total in 7 games, I think that maybe that was for the best. After all, why spoil the greatness of guys like Kurt Walker, Joe Erwin, Rashidi Lawson, and Thomas Goldberg by trying to take the ball away from them. Great players make great moments, and that's certainly held true here.
I've watched from the bench all my basketball career, possible more than any other player. And let me tell you, this series has been the greatest I've ever watched from the bench. 2 great teams, 2 great cities, 2 great duos, 7 great games.
Ah, well, I'm rambling here. Let's see, where was I...the game, oh yes, the game. Well, let's see, 10 seconds left. No one was standing. Players on the floor, bench players, coaches, fans, none were sitting. It was a fitting ending, to say the least. Everyone in the building knew what was going to happen It ended as a two-man game, and those four men, Lawson and Goldberg, Walker and Erwin were the stars of the series, and it was only fair that to them the final defensive and offensive tasks were assigned.
Well, how do you describe the last play? A simple pick and roll, Walker fought around it, and Lawson unleashed. You could have heard a pin drop at the time. Those in the luxury suites could have heard the squeak of the sneakers, the grunt of bodies colliding, the cool intake of breath as Lawson came around the screen, and gathered his muscles for the final spring.
Strange isn't it, that you practice the pick and roll, the shooting form, bending of the knees, the release, all these little things all your life, and it all comes down to one play, one second of time. Does that seem fair? Basketball is decided by the roll of the basketball to one side by mere centimeters. Your whole life is decided by centimeters. Your life work is judged by whether those few centimeters turned for or against you. Sometimes I wonder why we attach such importance to such a trivial game that is decided by miniscule measurements.
Once again, I ramble. Back to the pick and roll, the spring, the release. I won't say it went in slow motion, because it didn't. Nevertheless, I could see the muscles tensing, the arms, legs bulging, the jaws tightening, all in just a moment. Then the release, the pure release that had given Lawson 47 points.
As the ball was in flight, the stadium was dead silent. To say that half of the stadium's population closed its eyes would not be an exaggeration. To say I closed my eyes would be strectching it, although I came pretty close. Have you ever felt the tenseness, the suspense. At that moment, the tenseness was almost too much, and was intesified by the fact that I was watching, not playing. How those four shining lights, the four stars of the series were feeling, I could not tell. Nervousness was never a problem for them all game long, and certainly not now.
Those in the luxury box could also hear the ball as it finally made contact with the goal. You were able to distinguish the sound of a swish and a clang perfectly. When the sound of it reached the general public, half of them let out a sigh of agony. Half of them let out their breath and opened their mouth to cheer. You could feel the pain of that half, and that team, and yet exult with the other half, and the other team.
(Note- I'm feeling so good about this that I almost don't want to give away the ending).
Despite the fact that I only played 15 minutes total in 7 games, I think that maybe that was for the best. After all, why spoil the greatness of guys like Kurt Walker, Joe Erwin, Rashidi Lawson, and Thomas Goldberg by trying to take the ball away from them. Great players make great moments, and that's certainly held true here.
I've watched from the bench all my basketball career, possible more than any other player. And let me tell you, this series has been the greatest I've ever watched from the bench. 2 great teams, 2 great cities, 2 great duos, 7 great games.
Ah, well, I'm rambling here. Let's see, where was I...the game, oh yes, the game. Well, let's see, 10 seconds left. No one was standing. Players on the floor, bench players, coaches, fans, none were sitting. It was a fitting ending, to say the least. Everyone in the building knew what was going to happen It ended as a two-man game, and those four men, Lawson and Goldberg, Walker and Erwin were the stars of the series, and it was only fair that to them the final defensive and offensive tasks were assigned.
Well, how do you describe the last play? A simple pick and roll, Walker fought around it, and Lawson unleashed. You could have heard a pin drop at the time. Those in the luxury suites could have heard the squeak of the sneakers, the grunt of bodies colliding, the cool intake of breath as Lawson came around the screen, and gathered his muscles for the final spring.
Strange isn't it, that you practice the pick and roll, the shooting form, bending of the knees, the release, all these little things all your life, and it all comes down to one play, one second of time. Does that seem fair? Basketball is decided by the roll of the basketball to one side by mere centimeters. Your whole life is decided by centimeters. Your life work is judged by whether those few centimeters turned for or against you. Sometimes I wonder why we attach such importance to such a trivial game that is decided by miniscule measurements.
Once again, I ramble. Back to the pick and roll, the spring, the release. I won't say it went in slow motion, because it didn't. Nevertheless, I could see the muscles tensing, the arms, legs bulging, the jaws tightening, all in just a moment. Then the release, the pure release that had given Lawson 47 points.
As the ball was in flight, the stadium was dead silent. To say that half of the stadium's population closed its eyes would not be an exaggeration. To say I closed my eyes would be strectching it, although I came pretty close. Have you ever felt the tenseness, the suspense. At that moment, the tenseness was almost too much, and was intesified by the fact that I was watching, not playing. How those four shining lights, the four stars of the series were feeling, I could not tell. Nervousness was never a problem for them all game long, and certainly not now.
Those in the luxury box could also hear the ball as it finally made contact with the goal. You were able to distinguish the sound of a swish and a clang perfectly. When the sound of it reached the general public, half of them let out a sigh of agony. Half of them let out their breath and opened their mouth to cheer. You could feel the pain of that half, and that team, and yet exult with the other half, and the other team.
(Note- I'm feeling so good about this that I almost don't want to give away the ending).
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H Rock - Posts: 864
- Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:32 pm
by H Rock on Tue May 30, 2006 11:21 pm
(But I suppose I'll continue 
)
The most perfect of games for Lawson ended in the most imperfect of ways. It must be heartbreaking for such a competitor to come back from such a large defecit, yet lose in the dying seconds.
Well, what can I say that has not been said. 2 great teams meet, and a truly great ending. Truly, I wish I could retire right now after being a part of such a titanic meeting.
Pictures
This halftime report tells the story of Lawson's and Erwin's dominance.
The Lakers saw this a lot -- Erwin dunking on three players.
The 7-6 Goldberg was often matched up against the 6-8 Ward, and he capitalized, scoring 22.
When Walker hit this 28-footer to put the Spurs up by 15 with 4 minutes left, everyone except Lawson and Goldberg thought the game was over.
)
The most perfect of games for Lawson ended in the most imperfect of ways. It must be heartbreaking for such a competitor to come back from such a large defecit, yet lose in the dying seconds.
Well, what can I say that has not been said. 2 great teams meet, and a truly great ending. Truly, I wish I could retire right now after being a part of such a titanic meeting.
Pictures
This halftime report tells the story of Lawson's and Erwin's dominance.
The Lakers saw this a lot -- Erwin dunking on three players.
The 7-6 Goldberg was often matched up against the 6-8 Ward, and he capitalized, scoring 22.
When Walker hit this 28-footer to put the Spurs up by 15 with 4 minutes left, everyone except Lawson and Goldberg thought the game was over.
Last edited by H Rock on Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:28 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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H Rock - Posts: 864
- Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:32 pm
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