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Originally Posted by Argento
O DOZER!!!!!!!!!! SHAQ is in trouble. We don't need big guys against the lakers, Shaq didn't stop Parker. Besides regular season 3 - 1 Timberwolves, they know how to deal with the Lakers, only question is can they make the transition in the "playoffs" (which I really don't think is any different from the regular season but ohhhh well).
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Actually Shaq and the Lakers, in particular Gary Payton did stop Parker. Hence why San Antonio is no longer in the playoffs.
There is a big difference in the playoffs. First the 3-1 record against the Lakers this year was run up against then while they were injured. Shaq, Karl Malone, and Kobe were all injured at various times during this season. The other difference is in the playoffs you have to beat a team 4 out of 7 times. During the regular season, one team may be playing at home, the other on the road with back to back games for example. You might have had a hot shooting night, and they might be due to have everything klunk off the rim.
However in the playoffs, there are no back to backs. You have plenty of time to make adjustments to whatever happened to be working "that one night." You have to find a way to beat the same guys over and over. The player rotations shorten so while you might have to beat a Kobe Bryant for 32 minutes during the regular season, you are going to have to find a way to stop him for 42 minutes during the playoffs.
It is a big difference. Karl Malone already stopped one MVP, he will stop another. Gary Payton can stop Sam Cassell. The Lakers have craploads of small forwards who match up perfectly with Minnisota. Kobe Bryant against Latrell, not even close.
Then again, you've got that middle. They don't even have a big body to attempt to just keep Shaq out of the key. Ervin Johnson is 255. Shaq is listed at 340, and almost all of that difference is muscle.
255, that isn't as heavy as Karl Malone. Ol' Karl is absolutely fit and trim and clocks in at 259. Karl is hugely muscle bound for a power forward. He is the guy for whom the phrase was created and yet Karl is dwarfed by Shaq.
The rest of the Lakers will hold their own and Shaq will be the absolute knock out punch. You try pushing a guy 90 lbs heavier than you out of the paint for 40 minutes a night across seven games.
Nick