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The Western Conference’s Best Team: L.A. Lakers or San Antonio Spurs?



March 03 08

My AM Take: One embodies glitz-and-glamour. The other is blue-collar. One has a superstar who transcends the league. The other has a superstar who is unfairly compared to a robot because of his low-key personality.

Yes, I’m referring to the Western Conference’s two best teams: the L.A. Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. And yes, Hollywood and The River City are polar opposites.

The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, have star-driven talent. The Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, aim for text-book efficiency. Different styles, but both are highly effective.

Only one team can represent the west in the NBA Finals. Right now, who has the best shot of winning the Western Conference: Los Angeles or San Antonio? Read the post and let us know in the comment box below.

The Case for the Lakers …

  • Staples Center houses the best player in the world. Of course, Bryant is now content to facilitate for others or –like Sunday afternoon- he can still dominate when necessary. #24 is in line for his first MVP.
  • Staples Center also houses the best frontcourt in the NBA: Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. When healthy, this trio has the size and skill to give opponents fits.
  • Depth is a beautiful thing. The purple-and-gold has one of the league’s best benches; Phil Jackson can go ten deep, calling on useful players like Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, and Sasha Vujacic.

The Case for the Spurs … 

  • San Antonio is a perfect example of defense winning NBA Titles. With Duncan acting as the anchor, the silver-and-black stays near the top of the standings by stopping opponents.
  • Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are interchangeable All-Stars. Over the years, each has led the Spurs to playoff glory. And they are the defending champs.
  • Savvy veterans are a wonderful commodity. Last month, San Antonio added Damon Stoudamire and Kurt Thomas to a roster of experienced pros like Robert Horry, Fabricio Oberta, Michael Finley and Brent Barry.

L.A. or San Antonio? Who is the best team in the Western Conference? Get at us in the comment box below with your vote.
 
The AM Take is Oly’s morning thoughts on the NBA appearing Sunday through Friday on HoopsVibe NBA Blog. Errors can be attributed to the time and his need for another coffee.

[Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/do-it_do-it-now/373048494/]



43 Comments: The Western Conference’s Best Team: L.A. Lakers or San Antonio (...)

Posted by
Nathan
on 03.3.2008		 if healthy, its most likely going to be the lakers .
Posted by
Clayboy
on 03.3.2008		 Gotta love it! This reminds me of last year’s Dallas Mavericks. I must keep repeating myself: Regular season success does NOT equal post season success! The Lakers are an unproven in the playoffs. Year after year, the Spurs are forgotten until the playoffs. The "long in the tooth" term has been used for at least five years now. They keep winning. Until somebody proves otherwise...in the playoffs, the Spurs are the team to beat! .
Posted by
laker girl
on 03.3.2008		 lakers all the way http:// .
Posted by
10th message
on 03.3.2008		 It’s all about the boston celtics baby! best team no doubt! .
Posted by
LAKERS08CHAMPS
on 03.3.2008		 THATS ALL SAN ANTONIO IS A TEAM CONSISTING OF OLD PLAYERS DAT CANT EVEN TOUCH THE YOUNG AND MUCH QUICKER LAKERS A SEVEN GAME SERIES SEE THE LAKERS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF DA TUNNEL BEFORE THE SPURS TURN AROUND AND REALIZE THAT THE LAKERS JUST BEAT THEM AND ARE GOING UP AGAISNT THE CELTICS FOR THE FINALS AND CHAMPIONSHIP THAT KOBES BE LONGING TO GIVE US .....................LAKERS FAN FOREVER 08 IS OUR YEAR LETS GET READY TO PUT THAT 08 BANNER UP ON THE RAFTERS .
Posted by
heez
on 03.3.2008		 I’ll take a healthy LA with home court over the spurs this year! .
Posted by
SANTONIOALLTHEWAY
on 03.3.2008		 This is the perfect scenario, Spurs under the radar and peaking at the right moment, at the time where the ACTUAL SEASON counts (the months leading to the playoffs). To actually think LA with its drama-filled, misfit crew of deliquents called the Laker bench and the most selfish, big-mouth ridiculous franchise player known to man can be actually considered favorites to win it all is the most f-----stupid thing I have ever heard in my life. Do you f-----remember what the Lakers were the last three, four years since Kobe BEEF ran out Shaq? Do you actually think the same person who publicly humilated his own team, coach, organization and frachise (not to mention himself) can be considered the one to lead a team to a championship after whining like a little bitch that he wanted to be traded? Are you f-----kidding me? This is the biggest piece of s---I’ve seen, just because you got f-----Pau Gasolina for free and that fat a-------OVERRATED Bynum your going to be on the top. LA hasn’t done jack shit, has PROVEN NOTHING. So all you f-----bandwagoners, closet Lakers fans that dusted off their old Kobe jerseys and SA hatahs can listen up and listen good, LA can suck my big hairy balls. Tim Duncan is the BEST player since Jordan, and the Spurs is the best team of this decade, accept the facts. Substance over style baby, and defense and veteran bench all the motherf-----way. LA as a contender, haha what a bunch of shit. .
Posted by

on 03.3.2008		 ill take the lakers, this is the fourth article in 2 weeks asking who wins the trades? lal or spurs? gotta love this stuff .
Posted by
richtown
on 03.3.2008		 I would have to take the Lakers.. . I believe the Spurs are just a little to long in the tooth for the younger more athletic lakers. Similar to the 91 lakers against the 91 bulls, Especially of Bynum and Ariza can come back fully healthy from their injuries .
Posted by
JB
on 03.3.2008		 I’d say that over the last few years it’s been the Spurs time, but now it’s the Lakers time. I don’t think the Spurs could keep up with the lakers in a series. .
Posted by
BrooklynTony
on 03.3.2008		 Gotta love the new-look Lakers, but San Antonio is a proven team. Championships are the measure of success in this league and so far the Spurs are more successful than the lakers. . . and I’m a Lakers fan! .
Posted by
Fear The Alamo
on 03.3.2008		 Screw LA and the First Comment you must beat the Spurs and their defense. No easy task, watch them repeat and finally get the RESPECT THEY DESERVE .
Posted by
first comment ...
on 03.3.2008		 I’ll take the Lakers ... forget what SA did last year-that was last year ... Lakers baby! .
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Oly Sandor

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Oly Sandor

Daily take on NBA
Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More  






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© 2009 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NBA Blog : The Western Conference’s Best Team: L.A. Lakers or San Antonio Spurs? - Updated on 03.4.2008