Lakers Abuse The Spurs

Boy was I wrong when I predicted a close game last night. It actually was close - at least for a couple of minutes. The Spurs appear to be a very tired and disoriented team right now. That's my assessment of last night's game. I didn't expect to see a thirty-point spread at the end. The bookmakers in Vegas must be scratching their heads now. The Lakers cleared their bench last night half-way through the fourth quarter.

Manu Ginobili continues to have a bad series and Tony Parker was a bust last night too. The Spurs have lost their shooting eye and along with it, their offense. The Lakers continue to throw new looks at the Spurs defense with their smart bench rotations. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic are giving Ginobili and Parker fits with their quickness and tenacity. Derek Fisher must have at least five steals in the first two games. Lamar Odom and Kobe provide great offense forcing Tim Duncan to try and do it all offensively for the Spurs. In other words, the Spurs are seriously out-gunned right now. One San Antonio bright spot is Bruce Bowen. He never misses the baseline shot he takes from three point range. The Spurs ought to work that one more often. He's killing the Lakers from the same spot.

Now the series movies to San Antonio and unless I'm full of shit again (it's been known to happen) the Spurs will recover on their home-court. I've been saying all along about the importance of playing at home in the NBA and it might be the Panacea the Spurs need.

Someone on TNT asked Charles Barkely last night if the Spurs were tired or the Lakers were simply a much better team. Sunday we'll all get the answer. I predict a Spurs win at home. The series is being played as a 2-2-1-1-1 format so San Antonio is going to regret the one that got away last Wednesday at Staples Center. You can't surrender a twenty-point lead on the road and expect to survive what will most likely be a grueling seven game series. We'll find out tomorrow.