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West final game two: Into the flood again..
Posted by: SPQR on May 24, 2008 - 01:23 AM
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Alice in chains coined a great song line that went, "Into the flood again, same old thing it was back then..."
The Staples center should have played that song tonight as the Spurs were taken into deep, dark waters and drowned by offensive pyrotechnics and fast breaks from a Laker team that simply extended to this game what they did in the last quarter and a half of game one.
Derek, with his pride stung from his game one performance, set the tone right away; driving to the hole, resdiscovering his jumper and getting a quick seven.
Lamar also showed his bad intentions with his early dunk. You knew these two proud and talented veterans would show the Spurs what they missed in game one.
Adjustments are a part of a losing teams seach for anwsers when things go wrong, and Coach Pops two big adjustments spoke loud and clear where they are sitting in this series. Move one was starting Finley in lieu of Ginobli. This adjustment was really no move at all. A brief stint on the bench is not going to heal Ginoblis ankle, his finger, give him any extra energy to take Sasha out of his jersey.
Move two was even more of an indictment of the Spurs state of stategic bankruptcy. As ancient, washed up Robery Horry dragged his body onto the court, the announcers said Pops is determined to "use Horry more and use him earlier." When playing a shot player who hasn't made a shot or done a thing all year is big move toward victory, you are grasping at straws, and in this series Robert Horry is the shortest straw in the bunch. I didn't know wether to laugh or pity the Spurs when they went to the big adjustment. It's not 2003 Pops.
Like a windup doll who's spring is slowly winding down, the Spurs stayed with the Lakers for almost a half. It was in the mid part of second quarter you could see the springs start to pop in the Spurs mechanisms. Just like at the end of first game, they began to miss shots, slow down on defense, look lethargic and ready to be taken out. You just waited for the Lakers to start hitting some consecutive shots to get that death grip on them. It took them a frustratingly long time, but with about a minute to go, the onslaught came. Kobe and Sasha broke free and in the space of a minute the game went from tied to a nine point lead and the game was effectively over. We knew it, and you better belive they knew it.
The second half was just a parade of all the Lakers bring to the table when they have it going on. The Spurs had a front row seat to see the entire Purple and Gold procession move on past. Some of more interesting acts the Spurs got to witness: Farmar having his best game since the regular season. Lamar running the fast break and dunking again and again. And Trevor Ariza making his first cameo of the playoffs and hitting a jumper to boot.
Kobe Bryant's play tonight was mesmerizing for me and I want to single him out.
His mastery of the game is now so complete its frightening. He now reminds me of some feudal baron or Roman emperor watching over his kingdom and subjects with patience and a cool, calculating cunning. He doesn't make mistakes and never shows his hand to his enemies until its time for a killing stroke. Kobe could see in the second quarter the Spurs had bared their necks for the killing blow. He had played a nice even game up this point. When we got that nine point lead at half, Kobe showed his lethal hand. Comming out for the third, you could just see him thinking,"This team is done, all they need is a little push and they will pack it in. Why don't I just do some pushing?"
So what does he do? He comes out like a house on fire, gets seven straight points and let the Spurs know that any efforts they made to attempt a comeback in the second half would be useless. Why bother right? We have to come back on this powerful team....led by this player from another planet? Naw, lets just go home.
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players who ever lived and his mental acumen now is matching his prodigous physical skills. What a collossus he must seem to the players and coachs of the other teams. What do they think at night before they face him?
Is there anything for the Spurs to hang their hats on? Not that I can see. Even Parker and Duncan didn't seem to have any energy or enthusiasm. That big forward they have hasn't done a thing and more and more just seems like a body. Ginobili is totally out of his game. Do I feel sympathy for his ankle or finger problems? Seeing as we have one of the best centers in the NBA not playing for us the rest of the year-no, not at all. Too bad, Spurs.
The Lakers have now won one game when Fisher and Lamar were not on their games and a second when Pau was not. It's a testiment to our talent and flexability.
The Spurs, coachs, their fans and media will of course get cold comfort reminding themselves about the Hornets series. This line of fallacious thinking will be exposed in short order:
The Lakers are a totally different and more talented team in a lot of ways. The Hornets can match our youth and energy, but little else. We have a huge front line, that can score and pass. The Hornets have nothing resembling that. The different combination of players we can put on the floor is much more varied and effective than the Hornets can. The Hornets have three legit scorers who have to be accounted for: Paul, West and Peja. We have Kobe, Vlad, Lamar, Sasha, Pau and Fisher.
Kobe Bryant has demonstrated in two games, he can bend the Spurs to his will in any way he wishes...and the Spurs know it.
The Lakers are holding the Spurs to 34% shooting while shooting 60% against one of the best defensive teams in basketball.
Perhaps the biggest difference between this series (besides kobe) and the Hornet series is this Laker team has already done something in one game that the Hornets couldn't in seven. With the Hornets it was feast or famine. They won big at home, lost big on the road. They never went toe to toe with the champs till the last game, and they lost.
The Lakers not only went toe to toe with the Spurs in first game, they took the best shots the Spurs could throw; took them and fired back so hard they came back from a 20 point deficit to win. That Laker win was more impressive and had more impact on both the Lakers and Spurs than any of the blowouts the Hornets achieved.
The Spurs may win the next game or even the next two, but in the end this won't be another great comeback by the Champs. This team does not have the physical talent or any substantial adjustments to make to stem the advantages we have in so many areas. Lakers in five is my thinking at this point. No more than six.
Great to see Ariza back. Don't think we will really need him to win this series, but when we move on, especially if we play detroit who has lots of talented big gaurds, his athletcism and defense will be a great addition.
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Re: West final game two: Into the flood again..
by Dave on May 24, 2008 - 09:23 PM
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Nice Lakers Blog analysis article on game 2 SPQR!
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