Ginobili out for season (and playoffs)

[twinbree]

That really blows. I would've loved to see a Spurs/Lakers series when both squads were fully healthy.  Also, I would've had absolutely no issues seeing a Celtics/Spurs finals.

Spurs-Celtics is the dream finals for me, partly because Tim Duncan is one of my two favorite non-Celtics and because I live about an hour and a half from San Antonio. Can you imagine: Duncan-Garnett, Pierce-Ginobli, Parker-Rondo, Allen-Bowen. For seven games! A fan of basketball, as opposed to of Stern's hype machine, knows that would be a series for the ages, easily the best matchup since the 80s Lakers-Celtics finals.

Mine too. I've been hoping for that all season. As sweet as crushing the Lakers was I enjoyed the ECF more than the finals. For me it's just so much better watching balanced team basketball being played on both ends. To be honest I'm not that enthusiastic about any series involving the Cavs or Lakers I find both teams unwatchable. 
I hope Duncan will be fully healthy and the Spurs can get it together anyhow to make a good run in the postseason

[RAcker]

Ouch.

[xmuscularghandix]

the team that REALLY would scare me in the finals is now out of it i guess... too bad becuase it would be a hell of a match-up.

[mahonedog88]

With the article saying his ankle got worse, do you think the Spurs brought him back too early or didn't do the best of jobs managing the injury?

If that's the case, it makes the Celtics look like geniuses with how they're managing KG

[QuinielaBox]

Lakers could go 12 and 0 in the Western Conference to get to the NBA Finals. Nobody else really impresses me out there. Portland is not ready for the big time yet but they could surprise. Maybe George Karl can pull a rabbit out of his hat in Denver. Utah is solid and can maybe extend the Lakers to 6 in a series.

[Reggie's Ghost]

Lakers could go 12 and 0 in the Western Conference to get to the NBA Finals. Nobody else really impresses me out there. Portland is not ready for the big time yet but they could surprise. Maybe George Karl can pull a rabbit out of his hat in Denver. Utah is solid and can maybe extend the Lakers to 6 in a series.

I think Utah is the only other game in town now, I'm not buying Houston or NO.  Still, just like last year, it looks like the Lakers have a good shot of getting back to the finals before seeing a worthy opponent.  I will enjoy watching them realize all over again that they are not as good as everyone thinks they are, but I would have enjoyed watching them get beat up by good teams on the way.

A blow to the NBA...

[Drucci]

Well, that sucks.  I was hoping San Antonio would challenge L.A.  Unlike a lot of people on here, I don't mind the Spurs.

I feel the same. I was used to hate the Spurs because they were winning against Phoenix in every series but this season I thought that they were impressive and that they were truly an interesting team to watch.

This news sucks for them because their road in the playoffs will be much tougher. Sure, it's a blow for them and a good news for the Lakers but I'm not sure they are out of race because Ginobili won't play. Last year, in the Conference Finals, he played bad because of his injury so he was quite a non factor but still the Spurs could have win game 1 in L.A (if only they hadn't blown out their 15+ lead).

However, with Duncan not at 100%, I think they are in bad shape to win against the Lakers but we'll see, it wouldn't be the first time that they surprise us.

Anyway, I think that New Orleans is underrated, and I'm sure they could beat the Lakers if they meet in the playoffs. The Lakers are unable to stop Chris Paul and the Hornets have a good roster, they're just not as good as we expected them to be this season but in the playoffs everything is different, remember?

[SShorefan 4.0]

I think a big disadvantage that the Celtics had in the 80's was that come playoff time the road to the finals was extremely physical and tough; where as the Lakers for the most part had a much softer path each year.

It's shaping out to be this way again.

[Hoops]

Lakers could go 12 and 0 in the Western Conference to get to the NBA Finals. Nobody else really impresses me out there. Portland is not ready for the big time yet but they could surprise. Maybe George Karl can pull a rabbit out of his hat in Denver. Utah is solid and can maybe extend the Lakers to 6 in a series.

I think Utah is the only other game in town now, I'm not buying Houston or NO.  Still, just like last year, it looks like the Lakers have a good shot of getting back to the finals before seeing a worthy opponent.  I will enjoy watching them realize all over again that they are not as good as everyone thinks they are, but I would have enjoyed watching them get beat up by good teams on the way.

A blow to the NBA...

Let me tell you, I think Portland can beat LA. I don't expect it and I'm not predicting it, but Portland has given LA fits all year. Yeah, the Blazers are young, which leads to inconsistency, but they're also talented and tough. They only have to play 4 good games out of 7 to win the series. I'm honestly hoping the Blazers find a way to slide to the #8 seed because I think LA will be more vulnerable in the early playoff rounds.

[Mr October]

Lakers could go 12 and 0 in the Western Conference to get to the NBA Finals. Nobody else really impresses me out there. Portland is not ready for the big time yet but they could surprise. Maybe George Karl can pull a rabbit out of his hat in Denver. Utah is solid and can maybe extend the Lakers to 6 in a series.

I think Utah is the only other game in town now, I'm not buying Houston or NO.  Still, just like last year, it looks like the Lakers have a good shot of getting back to the finals before seeing a worthy opponent.  I will enjoy watching them realize all over again that they are not as good as everyone thinks they are, but I would have enjoyed watching them get beat up by good teams on the way.

A blow to the NBA...

Let me tell you, I think Portland can beat LA. I don't expect it and I'm not predicting it, but Portland has given LA fits all year. Yeah, the Blazers are young, which leads to inconsistency, but they're also talented and tough. They only have to play 4 good games out of 7 to win the series. I'm honestly hoping the Blazers find a way to slide to the #8 seed because I think LA will be more vulnerable in the early playoff rounds.

Portland has a history of owning LA in Portland. On the road though.... Portland isn't so scary. In the very least The Blazers should put some wear and tear on the Lakers - at least go 6 games. I hope they meet.

On top of that, i like the make up of the Blazers. They're very entertaining.

Ginobili going down takes the Spurs team with him. There is only so much Duncan can do. And Parker, is well... overrated. 

[silvershamrocker]

Crap is right. Laker's path just got easier. Let's hope Portland, Denver, or Utah can beat them...

[Ersatz]

This news sucks for them because their road in the playoffs will be much tougher. Sure, it's a blow for them and a good news for the Lakers but I'm not sure they are out of race because Ginobili won't play.

Having thought about it for the night, I tend to agree with you. They still have Duncan, the best team defensive player in the league (KG's great, but he's still second). They also have an explosive offensive player in Parker, someone who can score a lot of points, abuse Derek Fischer, and break down the Lakers' soft interior D. Plus they have wilyvets who are good complements to TD and TP in Bonner, Thomas, Gooden, and Bowen. Mason has to play out of his mind, of course. Not the most talented bunch, but easily the best coached and smartest.

[cornbreadsmart]

i never believed the spurs would take down l.a. but i thought they could give them a tough series like we will get from orlando AND cleveland (probably). crap.

[Who]

They also have an explosive offensive player in Parker, someone who can score a lot of points, abuse Derek Fischer, and break down the Lakers' soft interior D.

Tony Parker, by his standards, hasn't had an above average game against LA in two years. It's downright peculiar. Fisher gets lit up by almost every top point guard in the league .... but not Parker. Parker is right there at his normal numbers or slightly below during every contest.

The Lakers cause Parker problems, he just can't take over the game against them.

I keep expecting Parker to step up and destroy Fisher, but he does not do it.

[BASS_THUMPER]

i was watchin a lil of the and im not sure if spurs won but they didnt seem to be doin to bad without him