I recently had an opportunity to talk with Rey Moralde of The No Look Pass. He is a huge Lakers fan and is probably the most rational Lakers fan I know. He and I had a conversation about Lakers fans not respecting or even recognizing the Spurs as a threat in the Western Conference this coming season.
Well as a huge Spurs fan I had to enter enemy territory and remind Lakers nation the Spurs are not going to lie down without a fight.
And for the record, Rey and I are good friends and not enemies. He just cheers for the wrong team.
Here is our conversation:
JEFF: Rey, I know your Lakers team are the reigning champions of the NBA and L.A. is the clear favorite but Lakers fans are forgetting about one team….the Spurs.
REY:As a Laker fan, I’m thrilled that the Lakers ARE loaded. But like… about five other teams are loaded. One of them being the Spurs. And this is why I don’t really hang with too many Laker fans; they’re delusional. They don’t think there’s any other team in the league. It’s like… they’re already crowning them. Championship games are played in June. I’m sure you know a little bit about that.
JEFF:I’m a huge Star Wars fan and the way Laker fans are acting remind me of Luke Skywalker in Episode 4 when he shoots down one enemy ship, turns to yell “I got him! I got him!” Well, Lakers fans allow me to be the Han Solo, “Great, kid, but don’t get cocky.” And cocky the Lakers fans are acting. Did they forget there are other teams in the west? But the Spurs are the Number 1 threat to the Lakers. Laker fans can’t be blind to that fact.
REY: Let’s see. Dallas has improved. Portland is more experienced. New Orleans might surprise teams again. Phoenix COULD be back. Utah is going to get healthy. And, of course, them Spurs are loaded. Although I still say that the Lakers are favorites but they’re only slight favorites to me.
JEFF: I will admit LA has a superior front court. Aside from TD and RJ not much left to contend with Odom, Bynum, Gasol. But need I remind you, Spurs have the advantage in the backcourt with Parker, Manu, and even Hill. And, yes, you did get Artest.
REY:Yeah, Phil is thinking of tinkering with a backcourt of Artest and Kobe.
JEFF: But who does Phil go to to cover RJ?
REY: Yeah, not sure if Odom can come in and do that.
JEFF:Even if Phil switches Artest on RJ, that leaves a defensive weakness for LA in the backcourt.
REY:Yeah, I mean… Derek Fisher is like 77 years old. And Jordan Farmar can’t even spell defense. Shannon Brown might put in some nice minutes, though…
JEFF: I am not here to believe SA will sweep the season series or even sweep LA in a 7 game playoff series. What I am here to do is to remind LA fans that they are sleeping big time on SA.
REY: I think it’ll be a fight. I won’t be surprised if San Antonio wins the West. Sure, the Spurs don’t have the length but they can probably outhustle and outmuscle the L.A. frontcourt.
JEFF: In essence, LA is in for a fight no a war w/ SA.
REY: It’s too early to tell, obviously. But I like those two teams going to the West Finals. And, by the way, I don’t wanna piss off Denver fans by not mentioning the Nuggets…
JEFF: Think about it, two of the best NBA coaches, Pop and Phil going at it and you think they won’t have their respective teams geared up?
REY: I really hope the Spurs stay healthy throughout.
JEFF:Same for LA. Farmar and Bynum were injured. And just like the Spurs with TP, LA has to monitor Pau’s minutes since he played in the summer for Spain. LA fans, you are getting cocky.
REY:You’re right. It’s going to be a war. I can’t imagine why Laker fans are ignoring the Spurs. Hill, Ginobili, Finley, Bonner, and Ratliff? Not exactly a sparkling line-up but these guys can get it done off the bench. That’s just the BENCH.
JEFF: Your team was taken to a 7-game series with a depleted Rockets team. Now imagine a healthy Spurs team.
REY:I haven’t even talked about Keith Bogans and Dejuan Blair. I sure hope L.A. stays focused.
JEFF: A healthy, younger Spurs team.
To read the rest of the conversation, click HERE to visit The No Look Pass. Expect Rey and I to do more of this as the season is underway. You can catch everything on the Lakers and Clippers and all of the NBA at The No Look Pass.
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