Game Blog: Spurs vs. Lakers: April 4th

[Ice009]

Just look at Malik's energy on defense out there and tell me who else on this team could do that. Hill could, but with less size and strength. I'll take Malik over Mason every time.

Great win.

What did I say about Malik after that turnover. I said do NOT WORRY about Malik!

Mason Jr. is the one you need to worry about. I want Malik out there instead of Mason Jr.

Dice played great. I take exception to those that are bagging him. Dice is playing better. If you can't see that you are not watching.

[TampaDude]

Duncan owned Gasoft all day...it was so awesome to watch. :hat

[DPG21920]

Gasol had a great game.

[Seventyniner]

Replace Mason with Parker, and we've seen our 8-man playoff rotation.

PG: Parker, Hill
Wing: Ginobili, Jefferson, Bogans
Post: Duncan, McDyess, Bonner

Blair and Mason will get 8-10 mpg each, IMO.

[quentin_compson]

Dice waking up in the fourth quarter was crucial. He had some important boards.

[Ice009]

I would like to see Malik out there for that 8 minute a game role because I think his defense at times is pretty good.

[TampaDude]

Gasol had a great game.

Yes, Gasol did have a good game, but Duncan beat him on the boards and was +16...Gasoft was -11...advantage, TIMMAY!!!

[Spursmania]

Spurs Win..
http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/65/89229668.jpg
Easter Bunny Celebrates

:lol:lol

[raspsa]

Timmy and Manu were superb. But great credit to Mc Dyess for battling under the boards when the Lakers were threatening.. those rebounds were HUGE. Also RJ with a good all-around game, taking the ball to the rim, rebounding and assisting. Bonner too for hitting a couple of big 3s.
Great confidence builder to go with earlier wins. The team is coming together, specially defensively. Now if only they can stay healthy.. please..

[foodie2]

Good lord, I feel like I played all 48 minutes. I'm going to bed early.

[Banzai]

Congrats on the win...that Nets loss most definitely motivated them to give the next team they faced an ass whooping. Well until next time.

[duncan228]

Updated.

Spurs earn playoff berth in 100-81 win over Lakers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010040413)
By Beth Harris

The San Antonio Spurs want to do everything they can to avoid facing the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. They took a step forward by beating the defending NBA champions on their home court.

Manu Ginobili scored 32 points, Tim Duncan added 24 and the Spurs clinched their 13th consecutive playoff berth with a 100-81 win Sunday. They moved into the seventh spot in the West, a half-game ahead of idle Portland.

“They’re playoff-tested, so we want to stay away from them as long as possible,” Tim Duncan said of the Lakers.

The Lakers got a season-high 32 points from Pau Gasol and 22 from Kobe Bryant, but failed to clinch the No. 1 seed in the West and heard boos from their fans.

As a result, Cleveland earned home-court advantage through the NBA finals despite losing 117-113 at Boston earlier in the day.

“They controlled the tempo,” Bryant said. “We didn’t make shots. There were stretches with opportunities to get back in the ballgame and we just couldn’t put the ball in the hole.”

Richard Jefferson added 14 points and Duncan had 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who won their third straight and 15th of 20. They’ve notched recent wins over four of the NBA’s top teams: Cleveland, Boston, Orlando and now the Lakers.

“It was an unbelievable victory,” Ginobili said. “Two months ago, it wasn’t even in our wildest dreams to come here and win a game by 18 against the Lakers. But we’re doing better now and we’re playing hard. Our defense has really stepped up, and the difference was that we made the shots we had to make.”

Already without Tony Parker because of a broken ring finger, the Spurs lost starting guard George Hill to a sprained right ankle in the second quarter. He didn’t return after scoring six points.

“I’m a little worried about everything that’s coming up now without George,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, referring to road games against Denver, Phoenix and Dallas. “It’s going to be difficult to sustain that and have Manu play the point in all these games coming up. We’ll have to figure something out.”

Lamar Odom had 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, which had its seven-game home winning streak ended two days after beating Utah.

Ginobili continued the offensive tear he’s been on since the All-Star break with his 15th game of 20 or more points. After scoring a point in the third quarter, when the Spurs led by 15, he had 17 in the fourth.

Ginobili was especially lethal after the Lakers closed to 71-69 on Gasol’s putback dunk of Bryant’s missed jumper. He answered with a 3-pointer and then made two free throws en route to scoring another seven points and triggering a game-ending 29-12 run.

“We struggled for half of the season or a little more, but now we are playing better,” Ginobili said. “Even though we’re in the seventh spot and it’s not going to be easy, we know now that nobody’s that much better than us. So that’s a big thing in your head.”

San Antonio opened the second half on an 11-4 run, with Duncan scoring six in a row, for its largest lead to that point, 59-44. Gasol scored 13 in the third, when Bryant went scoreless.

The Spurs took an eight-point lead late in the second quarter, when Ginobili scored six straight before Keith Bogans capped the scoring with a 3-pointer that sent San Antonio into halftime leading 48-40.

The final minute of the half included double technicals on Ron Artest and Ginobili, and a technical on Bryant for arguing with referee Bennett Salvatore. Derek Fisher had to pull an animated Bryant away.

Artest sprinted to the sideline in disbelief at his call, the result of he and Ginobili tangling before an inbounds play. Artest then fouled Ginobili, who hit the free throws and dunked off Jefferson’s steal of Bryant.

“Even though you don’t like to get a T, it helps sometimes because they’re trying to mess with you and get you off your game,” Ginobili said. “That means that you’re important.”

NOTES: The Spurs’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 20-4. … Lakers F Luke Walton was scoreless in nearly 8 minutes playing for the first time since Feb. 10 after being out with a pinched nerve in his back. “The back felt good,” he said. “My timing was a little off, but that will come.” … The season series ended in a 2-2 tie. … The Lakers clinched their third consecutive and 21st overall Pacific Division title Saturday night with Phoenix’s loss at Milwaukee.

[TheSullyMonster]

Hey. Mahinmi didn't foul anybody this game!

[Borosai]

Odom will have nightmares starring Matt Bonner as Matt Bonner.

[duncan228]

An earthquake just rolled through where I am in Orange County. Guess the Spurs beating the Lakers really upsets Southern California.

[jimo2305]

An earthquake just rolled through where I am in Orange County. Guess the Spurs beating the Lakers really upsets Southern California.

lol wow rly?

:wow

[jimo2305]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/

was dat a tremor?

a 6.9 magnitude earthquake.. iw asn't even aware..

[duncan228]

Looks like there were two in Baja California, Mexico. One a 6.9, followed by a 3.3. Felt like a wave here, kind of swayed for a few minutes.

[Banzai]

hopefully Cali doesn't sink into the ocean.

[Creation88]

i would love to run into that douchebag laker fan with the edge-up i ran into at the Spurs/Lakers game here, today.

fuck you bitch! Go Spurs! Manu was awesome.

[superjames1992]

Dang, sucks that I missed this game!

[EricB]

Hey. Mahinmi didn't foul anybody this game!

Not enough minutes and was saying the whole time in his head "no fouls no fouls no fouls no fouls"

[The Truth #6]

Interesting to see Malik get thrown into the meat of the game in crunch time. Was Bogans injured? He had been playing relatively well today.

[mytespurs]

My question was going to be how bad was it???!!

Imagine my awe that the Spurs actually beat the Lakers....on the road???? :wow:wow:wow:wow:wow

I sooo want to believe but I'll keep my enthusiam in check. Nice win Spurs!

Forever,
the "doubting" mytespurs :hat

[Betsy]

I thought the game was great. :flag:
Plus Ginobili is better than Parker is. :p:

[LakerHater]

Man, I missed the game... FUCKKKK!

But I was reading the box score, Lacker bench= 4 points!! :lol

[Obstructed_View]

Anybody else think Hairston's goaltend on Kobe was decidedly Horryesque?

[Killakobe81]

mad props Spurs good win.

[jestersmash]

mad props Spurs good win.

Appreciate it, you're one of the few lakers fans (possibly the only one :lol) I respect on these boards due to your good sportsmanship.

I'll still say this, here's to hoping we don't face you all first round though. Lakers are too elite of a team.

[spurs10]

mad props Spurs good win.
Wow, a Lakers fan that's a good sport. Cheers man, and hope we don't see you guys again until the end of May. :toast

[Borosai]

Anybody else think Hairston's goaltend on Kobe was decidedly Horryesque?

When I saw the way Malik was guarding Kobe, I knew he was going to get a piece of the ball. It was late, but nice anyway.

[nbaman99]

By far the best win of the season. Manu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Manufan909]

I should get used to it, but bi-polar Spurs game threads amaze me every time. I couldn't help but laugh reading insults on Manu/Dice/Hairston, as well as the 4th quarter melt down, knowing what was to come.

[VivaPopovich]

wow, i wish we had been playing like this from the beginning

RJ finally contributing, especially when he ran the floor the moment the spurs got the rebounds

great game by timmy and manu

go spurs go