Home » NBA Playoff Predictions » 2008 NBA Playoff Predictions

2008 LA Lakers v. San Antonio Spurs Playoff Predictions

The New Orleans Hornets gave the defending champion San Antonio Spurs all they wanted and more in the Western Conference Semifinals, but the Spurs were able to gut out a game seven win to give themselves a chance to win another title. The number one seed Los Angeles Lakers, who made quicker work of the Utah Jazz, were waiting. Now, the two familiar playoff foes, will face off with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Find out who Jimmy Boyd has winning this series in this 2008 Western Conference Finals predictions article.

Get a 50% Bonus at BetUS!

Why the Lakers will win:

A big reason why the Spurs were finally able to corral Chris Paul was that Greg Popovich continued to make adjustments in how they defended him. Byron Scott never really changed what he was trying to do. So the experience of Popovich and the Spurs is eventually what won them the series. The Spurs won't have quite the advantage in those categories as Phil Jackson has coached plenty of championship basketball and Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher also know what it takes to win championships.

The Lakers also have the best player in the game in Kobe Bryant and now he has weapons that he trusts. The Spurs will have to be careful in how they choose to guard him as he is not afraid to find his teammates. Pau Gasol will be Duncan's biggest test of the postseason because of his ability to run the floor. Lamar Odom will also pose matchup problems. Bruce Bowen was able to guard Peja Stojakovic and take him out of the series, but Peja is a one dimensional player who relies on his shot. Odom, on the other hand has the ability to put the ball on the floor. Bowen and Manu Ginobli will both be undersized while trying to defend Odom so we look for him to have a big series. The X-factor could be the leadership and defense of Derek Fisher.

Why the Spurs will win:

The Spurs defied the odds by winning their semifinal series after being put in a 0-2 hole. That shows you the confidence that this team has. The Lakers have played the Nuggets and the Jazz, two teams which are not nearly as disciplined on both sides of the ball as San Antonio. The Lakers now will have to deal with a team that is great at controlling tempo and that plays the best defense in the league. One place the Lakers aren't very experienced is there bench. With guys like Brent Barry, Michael Finley, and Robert Horry coming off the bench, San Antonio has a cast of vets which have all taken big shots in the postseason.

Tony Parker proved to be too much for Chris Paul and the Hornets and I think he'll be too much for the Lakers also. Derek Fisher will likely defend him and try to make him a jump shooter, but that's the same thing that every team does and he still manages to get to the rim. If his jumper is going in too, he is unstoppable. Duncan is a smart player which commands a double team. If he is able to get Gasol in foul trouble early, the Lakers could be in trouble.

Prediction:

This was the year that Kobe got his first MVP award and this could be the year that he gets his first title without Shaq. The Lakers have had too much size and length for each of their first two opponents and I think that will be the case again. The Spurs were able to use their experience to their advantage against a mentally weak Hornets team, but the Lakers aren't going to let up if they put the Spurs in a hole.

Lakers in 7.

Other Series Predictions:

Updated May 19th, 2008