I wish I had started writing this pregame article in the third quarter of Game Six. It was a much simpler and quaint period in my life. The Lakers led by 19 points and all roads pointed to New Orleans. Five wide open Utah three-pointers and a by-the-skin-of-their-teeth three-point victory later, things still seemed okay. The Lakers were on their way to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2004.
Their opponent: to be determined. The worst part of the Lakers celebratory weekend was something they had zero control over: for the first time in the 2008 playoffs, the Hurrrrnets lost on their home court.
The crusty, wily, angry, scowling San Antonio Spurs, full of pride and gusto, exposed the young Hurrrnets and dashed their hopes of an inaugural voyage the Conference Finals and subsequently earned a trip to Los Angeles. A trip they had already packed for. The defending champion’s presumption and revelatory attitude reportedly yielded a night sleeping on the team charter plane rather than a Five Diamond Los Angeles hotel.
Entering these Western Conference Finals it is important to remember how these two teams got to this point. The Lakers come in after sweeping Denver in the first round, where they ran circles around the Nuggets and nearly made the team explode in frustration. They ousted Utah in six games, including 96 minutes of basketball where they never trailed with wire-to-wire wins in Games 5 and 6.
The Spurs knocked off Phoenix in five and effectively ended the Mike D’Antoni era in the City of Smoke. They then were taken to seven by the upstart Hurrrrnets, never losing a game at home. History aside and collective fears mounted, the Lakers will tip-off against the Spurs Wednesday night at Staples Center.
In all the hours I have spent wracking my brain over this series and what it could hold, I have realized that if it is not hard, it is not worth it. Cliché and trite, maybe. Without this West Finals against the Spurs is like playing Mortal Kombat and skipping the final fight against Goro.
So bring on the bird-like face of Manu Ginobili, the blank expression of Tim Duncan, the pockmarked face of Gregg Popovich and the crazy purple arm of Ime Udoka because as my friend B-Will says “You gotta beat the champs to be the champs.” Damn. That should go on a T-Shirt.
Playoff Update! -
The C’s ratcheted up a big victory in Boston taking a 1-0 series lead against the Pistonitas using a unique defensive technique which basically consisted of Kevin Garnett running up to the ballhandler and screaming in his face until the 24-second clock ran out. I will probably grow wings and eat a salad before a road team wins in this series.
Television -
National: TNT (Marv Albert & Doug Collins)
Radio -
Los Angeles: AM570 KLAC (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
San Antonio: WOAI 1200 AM (Bill Schoening & Paul Castro)
Injuries -
Lakers:
- Out: A. Bynum (Knee)
- Questionable: T. Ariza (Foot)
- Will Play: K. Bryant (Pinkie), D. Fisher (Foot)
Storylines -
Tempo: Pace is of paramount importance to the Lakers in this series. Control it and they will tire out the Spurs with their athleticism and ball movement. Play the Spurs style of slow-down halfcourt ball, and they’ll be getting their armpit hairs plucked out by Bowen and Udoka.
Close Out Three-Point Shooters: The Spurs have all sorts of dudes who like to spot-up for treys. Deny. Deny. Deny. It is simple: Bruce Bowen is going to go to the corner. Expect it. Manu Ginobili is going to hoist it up from the wing. Expect it. Robert Horry is going to punch Vladi in the face then step into a three. Expect it.
Varsity Challenge -
(Prize - A one night stay in Popovich’s pockmark on his left cheek.)
According to Spurs.com, their mascot Coyote set what career high against the Lakers on 12/17/97.
TLN’s Playoff Preview: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 4]
TLN’s Playoff Preview: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 3]
TLN’s Playoff Preview: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 2]
TLN’s Playoff Preview: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 5]
TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 5]
Loading ...
20+ Points: Kobe and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Turiaf, and Kobe.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher, Farmar.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar.
Point Margin: Lakers by 4.
Out On A Limb: TD gets kicked out for laughing — oh wait that’s not really out on a limb since that’s already happened, so how about Farmar outscorers Tony Parker?
good preview….gotta stop the penetrating and kicking, don’t want any “brokeback games” (ahh, gotta love PJ)
to answer the Varsity challenge, he set a recrod for hugs, an astounding 1118. haha, who records this stuff?
the spurs cayotes career high is 1118 hugs vs. the Lakers am I right
you take the right cheek
you take the left!
good preview!
dont forget to post your predictions people!!
at the top there the spurs logo is cut off so that it looks like it says “puf” hahaha
take heart if you believe in signs haha
20+ Points: Kobe and Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Gasol
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher, Sasha.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 6.
Out On A Limb: Bruce Bowen attempts to do something dirty and fails.
Were winning this one.
As well as the series.
Remember Phil Jackson is 24-0 when leading 1-0 in a playoff series..
Lakers Winn!!
Edit That..^
40-0
Make that 41 as of Wednesday Night.
-Phantomified.
One of the best game previews yet. Well-written. It was actually of worth to read.
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Gasol, Odom
2+ Blocks: Gasol
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher, Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 5
Out On A Limb: Ariza plays and dunks over Duncan
20+ Points: Kobe, Gasol, Odom
10+ Rebounds: Odom
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Odom
3+ Three’s: Fisher, Vujacic
Closest to Triple Double: Odom
Point Margin: Lakers by 8
Out on a limb: Fisher hits .4 again to end the first half : D
lakers by 15
4-1 in 5
20+ Points: Kobe, Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Odom
2+ Blocks: Gasol
3+ Three’s: Kobe
Closest to Triple Double: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 6
Out on a limb: Kobe makes a half court shot at half time.
out on a limb: how about WE WATCH THE EFFIN GAME instead of making silly guesses!!!!!!!!
out on a limb: how bout varsity chills the fk out and has some fun with the out on a limb picks.
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=-4_nWlfRZng
Get ready for the series
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Lamar,Kobe
2+ Blocks: Ronny,Gasol
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha,Radman
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar.
Point Margin: Lakers by 11
Out On A Limb: Ariza will posterize TD.
Oh,sorry,I wrote the same,as you wrote,lakersallday!
Well i say that Lakers when tonight….
game1 Lakers 117 spurs93
game2 lakers 109 spurs84
game3 spurs 110 lakers 109
game4 lakers 96 spurs 92
game5 lakers 104 spurs 95
Lakers in 5….Kobe averages 35+ a game….
Gooooooooooo Lakers….
Just inagine what we would do if we had bynum 100% back…We would sweep…. next year 70 + wins and 16-0 playoff record….
my buddy jai said that manu will gaurd kobe but lamar is is soooo good nobody cand gaurd him
HEY, AMONG MANU’S BIRDLIKE FACE, POPOVICH’S POCKMARKS, AND DUNCAN’S STOIC LOOK, YOU FORGOT TO MENTION PARKER’S SHAVED UNIBROW. DUDE’S GOT A BROW WITH THE SAME SIZE AS THE LANDBRIDGE THAT CONNECTS RUSSIA AND ALASKA. EVA CAN LAY ACROSS THAT UNIBROW AND LOOK LIKE SHE’S TAKING PICTURES IN THE AMAZON JUNGLE.
Spurs are floppers,especially the NO.#1 Flopper in the World
of Basketball,Manu.Their like Wrestlers when they turn bad,nobody likes them and they’ll do anything to win(including FLOPPING the whole series just to win)
4-1,LAKERS.com,We can thank The Hornets for tiring those older legs.
Anyone has the scoop on Drew’s surgery today and how long he’ll be out?
20+ Points: Kobe and Pau
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Pau
2+ Blocks: Pau
3+ 3-Pointers: Radman
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 13
Out On A Limb: Radman gets hot tonight
Go Lakers.
My prediction.
LA will win the first two games at Staples. Hopefully we can steal one in SA. Then we will close it in LA.
The other way would be just like the Jazz series. 2-2-1-1.
We’ll see.
is there anything official about ariza playing the game?
20+ Points: Kobe, Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Kobe, Odom
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Odom
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher, Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 5
Out On A Limb: Horry misses a crusial 3 pointer
I think Kobe and Lamars been hanging out a lot this season. The are using the similar words like: “tenacity” and “a little bit” . Pay attention in their interviews.
Well if thats the case then they are in good shape.
20+ Points: Kobe, Pau, and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Pau
2+ Blocks: Pau, Ronny
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher, Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 10
Out On A Limb: Radman realizes he’s getting paid a sh*tload of money and decides to actually play ball…ditto on Farmar
I think lakers will take care of business tonight
it’ll either be a close game for the entire 48 minutes…
or lakers will pull away strong in the 1st quarter and never look back…
i say lakers in 6…i think spurs might win both at home…
but if lakers steal one in san antonio, then it’ll be a 5 game series…
Its a funny feeling to me because for the first time in a very very long time we are the underdog. This is gonna be the toughest matchup for the Lakers…
We’ve proved people wrong before…lets do it again!
Here are my predictions:
20+ Points: Kobe, Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha, Farmar
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 9.
Out On A Limb: The Spurs’ Big Three gets ejected with 2 seconds left in the game and Big Shot Rob hits the game-winning trey.
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Kobe and Lamar
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Vlad and Farmar
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 12.
Out On A Limb: The staples center brings out wheelchairs for the old and rotten spurs!
Good work Andrew, as a fellow life-long fan, I applaud your work.
Best,
g
yay george!
see lots of people thinks LO has basketball hands …. well i do not think so with his heights and long arms i dont know how many times he missed easy lay-ups…..
lakers won!
lakers winn hell ye by 4…you could see spurms were tired in d fourth.
Anybody know why ARIZA is not playing?
lakers played like crap and still won…lakers are clearly the better team when everyone is playing well.