Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. preview Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup in Los Angeles. Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
Ready to talk Spurs, Lakers, Steve.
Kind of, I don’t know who’s playing.
Well, that is going to be question one.
Victor Wembanyama, not sure if he’ll go play yet.
But since Wimbys been out, the offense has still been very good.
They dribble the basketball a lot.
De’Aaron Fox can get downhill anytime he wants to.
Stefan Cassel is back.
He can go downhill whenever he wants to.
Dylan Harper is already an advanced driver.
With Wemy out of the equation, now opening up to more of this drive-heavy system for San Antonio, how equipped is this Lakers’ defense?
Can they deal with that?
Like, I think its going to be really an interesting clash of styles.
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With the Spurs’ offense and the Lakers’ defense.
Well, here’s the thing.
The Lakers, thank goodness, just played the Philadelphia 76ers and had To deal with Tyrese Maxey and B.J.
Edgecombe the sort of players trying to get downhill at All times.
So, we talk about the Lakers, it’s still gonna Be a mix of switching.
The question now becomes: how much help do they want to show?
The contrast now, uh, to your point, is a good credit.
The Spurs are a little bit different.
They’ve got three guards who will get downhill.
And are playing at a high level.
The Lakers have dealt with these kinds of teams Before, so we’ll see if it simplifies things for them.
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But it will present a challenge.
Now, on the flip side, Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, Stefon Castle, Stefon Castle, They haven’t guarded anybody.
This will be interesting to see how the Lakers are able to poke at some of the size elements.
Because we’ve seen what the Lakers have tried to do regarding just using Austin Reeves, LeBron and Luca in action together So how are they going to be able to contain that?
And can the San Antonio defense work there?
Now, it, It would be way fun if Victor Umayama were able to play.
But obviously, his health is more important, and that gets interesting because, Ok, Lakers are gonna show up on him, put wings on him.
Uh, Luke is gonna put him in pick and roll when he’s going to do all sorts of stuff.
So it’s a fun matchup either way.