The Los Angeles Lakers may have found the blueprint to impeding Tony Parker; the problem, of course, is executing the game plan consistently.
In four meetings, Parker is averaging 15.7 points a game while shooting a measly 41.5 percent from the field. Sustaining their defensive effort has been a minor problem; Parker's shooting percentage has improved by 13 points in the second half. Still, given the Lakers roster limitations — namely the absence of perimeter speed — it's rather impressive.
They are effective, according to Dave Miller, because of concerted team effort. Individually, the Lakers have many poor defenders and only a handful of truly talented defenders. To compensate, as Miller points out, the Lakers are leveraging multiple help defenders in Parker's line of vision. This strategy is commonplace in the NBA.
The difficulty, however, is simultaneously plugging weak-side action and misdirection. They've accomplished both, limiting the Spurs to 92.3 point per game — 11 points lower than their regular season mark.
If the trend continues — and it hinges on timing and execution — the Lakers will be competitive despite the ineffectiveness of their own offense, which has struggled to create open looks without Kobe Bryant.