Rummpd
03-05-2011, 06:25 AM
Now that the pathetic Heat have left town bring on the surging LAL!
Sunday at San Antonio, 12:30 p.m. PT (ABC) (3:30 Easter)
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/16556/lakers-week-in-preview-feb-28-march-6
Unless they decide to forfeit the remaining games on their schedule, nobody is catching San Antonio for the top spot on the Western Conference playoff ladder. It's a reality the Lakers are speaking about more openly as they hit the stretch run. So Sunday's game doesn't matter when it comes to seeding (as pertaining to San Antonio), but could very well be a preview of the Western Conference Finals.
Because the Lakers and Spurs are veteran led and playoff tested, they're likely the pair of squads to whom home court is least significant among W.C. playoff contenders. Nor will either team read too much into the results of regular season matchups, so as it relates to looking ahead, it's almost a game better viewed without looking at the score. If the Lakers play a game similar in quality to their last-second loss on Feb. 3, cause for alarm will be limited, even in a loss. Should they get blown out, as it was the first time L.A. visited San Antonio this year, feel free to chew a few fingernails.
A good game whets the appetite for later this spring, when the teams could meet again. In the meantime, like every game they'll play from now until the end of the regular season, it's one the Lakers need to win as they jostle for position with Dallas, Boston, Miami and Chicago behind the Spurs. For that to happen, L.A. needs to find ways to score. In both meetings thus far, the Lakers were held below season averages for offensive efficiency. One big reason is San Antonio's work against Kobe Bryant, who has missed all but 13 of his 45 shots over two games this year against the Spurs.
Obviously if Kobe is more effective Sunday -- it's unlikely he'll be worse -- the Lakers stand a much better chance of winning.
Time to send the LAL to their 3rd consecutive loss to the Spurs: Spurs 105 Lakers 97
Sunday at San Antonio, 12:30 p.m. PT (ABC) (3:30 Easter)
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/16556/lakers-week-in-preview-feb-28-march-6
Unless they decide to forfeit the remaining games on their schedule, nobody is catching San Antonio for the top spot on the Western Conference playoff ladder. It's a reality the Lakers are speaking about more openly as they hit the stretch run. So Sunday's game doesn't matter when it comes to seeding (as pertaining to San Antonio), but could very well be a preview of the Western Conference Finals.
Because the Lakers and Spurs are veteran led and playoff tested, they're likely the pair of squads to whom home court is least significant among W.C. playoff contenders. Nor will either team read too much into the results of regular season matchups, so as it relates to looking ahead, it's almost a game better viewed without looking at the score. If the Lakers play a game similar in quality to their last-second loss on Feb. 3, cause for alarm will be limited, even in a loss. Should they get blown out, as it was the first time L.A. visited San Antonio this year, feel free to chew a few fingernails.
A good game whets the appetite for later this spring, when the teams could meet again. In the meantime, like every game they'll play from now until the end of the regular season, it's one the Lakers need to win as they jostle for position with Dallas, Boston, Miami and Chicago behind the Spurs. For that to happen, L.A. needs to find ways to score. In both meetings thus far, the Lakers were held below season averages for offensive efficiency. One big reason is San Antonio's work against Kobe Bryant, who has missed all but 13 of his 45 shots over two games this year against the Spurs.
Obviously if Kobe is more effective Sunday -- it's unlikely he'll be worse -- the Lakers stand a much better chance of winning.
Time to send the LAL to their 3rd consecutive loss to the Spurs: Spurs 105 Lakers 97