Game Blog: Spurs @ Lakers

[TampaDude]

Spurs couldve gotten this one playing their starters limited minutes and pushed LA further down the playoff ladder. But, hindsight, I guess.

That's just it...we don't want LA at #4.

[timtonymanu]

Oohh!!!! Kobe and that jaw come out. He's making a statement.

[Juggity]

Goddamn Kobe. We've got limited time now, but I think we still have a chance

[BoricuaCJA]

O well, was a close game but looks like Lakers are gonna win.
This game was satisfying nonetheless since it was close most of the game with our 4 best players having the night off.

[100%duncan]

pop doesn't want the lakers to be the 4th seed, that's why neal got benched

[Fireball]

Green not ready for the pressure. He's had great looks, but can't get anything to drop.

He looks for the 3 too much ... just like RJ ... get to the basket

[The Truth #6]

It's like Neal was sabotaging Pop's plans.

[Splits]

I have no idea why Neal went to the bench, dude was FEELING it! Did you see his reverse behind the back on the dead-ball continuation? Get NEAL back in there!

[Capt Bringdown]

All that fight and we still let Kobe get what he wanted. Oh well, I hope Bynum's knee is trashed.

[Death In June]

That's just it...we don't want LA at #4.They have the tiebreaker over OKC.

[Budkin]

Damn Split just can't get those hooks.

[100%duncan]

lol and that's the time out?

[TDfan2007]

Splitter just...so bad offensively

[Texas_Ranger]

Splitter's inside game is pathetic

[LakerHater]

What the HELL!!

[Budkin]

Damn great looks that just won't go.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

If Chris Quinn hits his jumpers tonight, we probably win this game.

[LakerHater]

Goodnight... Ball game!!!!

[TDfan2007]

Lakers putting it away.

[itzsoweezee]

this lineup is fucking horrible. popovich throws the game away in the fourth again.

[Budkin]

Shit over double digits.

[100%duncan]

nice game spurs, if the big 3 and dice played this we would have won by 20

[Juggity]

Game over. Whatever. Kinda hope Bynum is injured for a while.

[Budkin]

Now they're playing like the scrubs again.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

LOL Splitter just pivoted for no reason. He had a left handed layup and had beat his man with quickness, but he pivoted backwards to take a right jump-pivot-hook for no reason.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Its a crime the only difference between these 2 teams tonight is that the spurs can't buy a shot - when they did they got close and even passed them

[100%duncan]

splits owning gasoft

[Capt Bringdown]

Turd towers set Odom on fire. Pop waited too long to bring Splitter back in.

[Budkin]

Now it's going to look like a fucking blowout... let's score!

[TDfan2007]

lol now Splitter makes it.

[Budkin]

And 1 Splitter off rebound! Nice.

[timtonymanu]

Odom = Laker MVP today.

Of course Kobe will get the attention though.

[100%duncan]

damn get it down to ten at least

[DesignatedT]

Splitter has been real solid on the glass tonight. His offense has been pretty atrocious though

[Cant_Be_Faded]

the lakers have beat the shit out of our real rookie tonight

no mercy....refs been letting them do it too

Good to see James Anderson show more energy than he has all season. He will be a player for us next season, mark my words.

[itzsoweezee]

Turd towers set Odom on fire. Pop waited too long to bring Splitter back in.

Splitter was awful tonight. Blair and Bonner were not.

[100%duncan]

less than 10 please

[Budkin]

Nice defense there.

[Budkin]

Ja 3333333

[100%duncan]

now JA makes it, damn

[Budkin]

Yay within 10! That was awesome!

[Budkin]

:lmao Confetti!

[BoricuaCJA]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA at the confetti!!!!!

[SpurOutofTownFan]

didnt get the 5 Pop used in the last 5 minutes - was it necessary?

[TampaDude]

LOL dropping confetti... :lmao

[LakerHater]

Streamers.... WTF, did they win the championship!!??

[Texas_Ranger]

nice win.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Lakers basically scored 20 points in the 2nd half of the 4th quarter.

[100%duncan]

great game for our bench and incoming stars, a less than ten lost against a back to back champ was a great thing

[007nites]

Yes, we didn't lose by double digits

[TampaDude]

Yay within 10! That was awesome!

This is a win for us tonight, folks...make no mistake. :toast

[Juggity]

If Tony had played this game, the spurs would've won it...

[Ginobili2Duncan]

We had to try hard?! WTF Odom!!!!!!!!!

[SpurOutofTownFan]

odom said cockiness, overconfidence.. mmm

[100%duncan]

confetti lol

[Capt Bringdown]

Splitter was awful tonight. Blair and Bonner were not.
Is that you, Pop?
Splitter's D was far superior to the turd towers.

Our opponents love the turd towers.

[EricB]

Damn proud of that effort tonight.

[Budkin]

Splitter was awful tonight. Blair and Bonner were not.

No way... his defense and rebounding was great. Shots were off but he had good looks.

[100%duncan]

odom looks drugged

[Budkin]

Damn proud of that effort tonight.

Hell yeah! :flag:

[SpurOutofTownFan]

well it caused the lakers tons of sweat to beat the spurs' bench - it was awful

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Notice how Kobe does no interview.

Lamar does awkward interviews.

[BoricuaCJA]

lol at Odom thinking sooooo much while answering questions in the interview. It is like his mind is a lot slower than the average person.

[Crookshanks]

Lakers starters play significant minutes and only won by 9. Add to that, Bynum gets injured - I'd call this a win for the Spurs!

BTW - they're saying Bynum hyperextended his knee and he won't travel to Sacramento.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

haha reggie miller is a great koolaid drinker

[100%duncan]

for those saying splitter was bad tonight were blind

[Budkin]

I think this is the first time I've ever been pumped after a loss.

[Libri]

odom looks drugged

He seems brain dead.

[tdunk21]

tnt crew totally suckin laker dicks the whole game......lol

[DesignatedT]

haha well that was very entertaining. watching duncan on the bench was great.

[Mugen]

Funnest Game of the Year.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

most stupid group of words: "send a message" and "black mamba"

[TampaDude]

for those saying splitter was bad tonight were blind

+1 Splitter looked great. I'd love to see Pop try putting Duncan and Splitter out there together.

[EricB]

The Lakers very much have a Baghdad bob attitude goin right now. As does TNT for em.

[Budkin]

tnt crew totally suckin laker dicks the whole game......lol

That's because it fits the narrative of "will the Lakers get their mojo back?" There was like one mention of "hey the Spurs are the number 1 seed but no one thinks they will make it to the Finals.... now back to the Lakers..."

[TampaDude]

Funnest Game of the Year.

It's right up there with the game the Lakers lost to the Cavs. :hat

[Splits]

Pop threw this game. Pulled Bonner, who was FINALLY on fire, didn't play Hill in the last 6 minutes. RJ sat the entire 2nd half I believe. He threw it, doesn't want LA in the 4 spot.

[100%duncan]

+1 Splitter looked great. I'd love to see Pop try putting Duncan and Splitter out there together.

splitter and duncan would be a great defensive duo

[Fireball]

nice game ... time for breakfast

[TampaDude]

I think this is the first time I've ever been pumped after a loss.

That's because it's not really a loss. :lol

[Velo]

Pop was in training mode with his bench the entire night. Even Timmy was getting into the act. Only one that didn't perform well was Danny Green imo.Definitely the best loss of the season, and on a meaningless game no less.

[DesignatedT]

Splitter had good and bad moments tonight. Blair probably had the better game against LA which is surprising but I could see that going the other way if Bynum stayed in. I was very happy to see Tiago rebound like he did. He was very good. His defense was also solid but he really struggled offensively. It almost seems like the Lakers length bothers him more then it does Blair on that end of the court.

[timtonymanu]

Proud of these guys today. This was a win! Only thing we lose in this case is possible HCA against Chicago.

[TampaDude]

Pop threw this game. Pulled Bonner, who was FINALLY on fire, didn't play Hill in the last 6 minutes. RJ sat the entire 2nd half I believe. He threw it, doesn't want LA in the 4 spot.

^ this

CIA Pop is in control, folks! :toast

[EricB]

Pop threw this game. Pulled Bonner, who was FINALLY on fire, didn't play Hill in the last 6 minutes. RJ sat the entire 2nd half I believe. He threw it, doesn't want LA in the 4 spot.


No he didn't want a short handed group over exerting themselves.

Jeffersonplayed the third quarter and played it well.

[Capt Bringdown]

Splitter would be better passing that hoisting up that low-trajectory hook of his. Other than that, his defense was far superior to that of the turd towers.

The problem with Bonner/Blair is that they trigger runs by our opponents. Yet Pop seems only to focus on Bonner's 3's and Blair's spastic put-backs.

[EricB]

James Anderson had a sneaky damn good game. His D was good and his moves to get to the basket were phenomenal.

[Fireball]

Splitter had good and bad moments tonight. Blair probably had the better game against LA which is surprising but I could see that going the other way if Bynum stayed in. I was very happy to see Tiago rebound like he did. He was very good. His defense was also solid but he really struggled offensively. It almost seems like the Lakers length bothers him more then it does Blair on that end of the court.

Agree ... with the minutes we need from Splitter in the playoffs his offense will not be such a factor ... his defense is enough to award him with 15 minutes of playing time

[xtremesteven33]

Spurs are going to kick the Lakers ass if we meet them. Lakers look like shit. Theyre slow and not athletic enough on the wings. Theyre obviously not mentally in most games but the negatives are showing on the Lakers.

[Texas_Ranger]

lol Chuck.

It looks like we really suck when Denver would easily defeat us. Dallas is better and I guess Lakers and Portland are also way better.

[Splits]

No he didn't want a short handed group over exerting themselves.

Jeffersonplayed the third quarter and played it well.

When the fuck is the last time Matt fucking PoS Bonner hit 3 threes in a row and Pop pulled him? Seriously. Pop has MANLOVE for Bonner and he scores 13pts on 5/6 shooting, grabbing 3 boards, not turning the ball over in 23:00????

Pop plays Bonner in end of important game situations. He hasn't been on fire in 6 weeks. And he pulls him through crunch time? Where was Hill? Pop threw it.

[Pauleta14]

I love Charles Barkley!!!!!!!!!

The guy is illarious!!!!

Even George Karl must be laugthing right now...

[xtremesteven33]

Charles Barkley is insane. Choosing the Nuggets over the Spurs in 6 games???!!

WTF

[BoricuaCJA]

I think this is the first time I've ever been pumped after a loss.
I have to agree. I was laughing and jumping after every shot we made. We lost but a great game for us. Lakers are pissed!!

[Splits]

Spurs are going to kick the Lakers ass if we meet them. Lakers look like shit. Theyre slow and not athletic enough on the wings. Theyre obviously not mentally in most games but the negatives are showing on the Lakers.

Kobe quit on his team with 3 seconds to go before the half. He just picked up his 3rd foul and instead of sitting on the bench till the half, he selfishly walked into the locker room by himself, without a trainer, because he is a fucking selfish piece of shit. He is not a team player, nobody on that team even likes him since he jacks up so much bullshit and barely ever shoots 40% from the floor. He is a has been. This Laker team is, literally, a fake. They've become so exposed and are so vulnerable, I almost wish Pop wouldn't have thrown this game so we could have taken these fucking bitches out in the 2nd round instead. This team is dead. They just lost Bynum. I so fucking hope we have the pleasure to facestomp these Stern-pimped Lakers into extinction. Because after this year, when PJ is gone, they are a dead team. Let the Spurs take the first step on their throat.

[ElNono]

Well, expected loss all things considered... newlyfound respect for our depth... especially Neal... Anderson played well, and I kinda hate he didn't have more burn the last couple of months...

Again, I expected more from Hill.... kid is alarmingly inconsistent...

[Fireball]

Charles Barkley is insane. Choosing the Nuggets over the Spurs in 6 games???!!

WTF

i wish I could watch this :lol

i mean Barkley

[Pauleta14]

i wish I could watch this :lol

i mean Barkley

the whole crew was stuned and kept making fun of him...

Not cool, the guy (Chuck) seems mentally challenged ... :lol

[Budkin]

James Anderson had a sneaky damn good game. His D was good and his moves to get to the basket were phenomenal.

I'm really looking forward to his future with the Spurs!

[Budkin]

Charles Barkley is insane. Choosing the Nuggets over the Spurs in 6 games???!!

WTF

He picked the Nets over us in 2003, so....

[GhosTown]

The Spurs need to fire Pop tonight!

Not saying the Spurs could have won that game but they didn't have to give it away either towards the end.

What in the world was Quinn, Green and Bonner doing in that game in the final 4 mins.

Really??? Quinn Pop?

That was some bull$h!t.

So we couldn't see Gneal, Ghill, Tiago, Novak or Blair and Anderson??? Finish the game.

This fool puts the sorriest players he could find, into a 5 point game, with 4 mins to play.

Did Gneal not just draw 5 fouls on Artest and Kobe each. He pulls Neal out of the game and Green comes right in and hoist a bad 3ptr. Then Quinn comes in and turns the ball over, gives up an and one, I mean this $h!T is ridiculous.

Was Tiago not battling Gasol on the boards. Why was he not in there to finish the game.

This game shows exactly what I mean about good coaching and having a feel for the game. Pop is pathetic he can take his drunk ass somewhere because I am on to his crap. Just because you are playing the bench doesn't mean you don't coach to win.

The Spurs are not going to survive in the post season with this fool at the helm. Yeah he managed to keep mins down for the big 3, but managing mins, and managing a winnable game is two different things. I don't care if it was the bench. The bench played their hearts out to be within 5 points, and this dumb fool goes to the 3rd string with the game on the line.

Somebody rip the bottle out of this hand, before he does anymore damage.

[DesignatedT]

^^^ this is up for worst post of the year. full of fail.

[TampaDude]

The Spurs need to fire Pop tonight!

Not saying the Spurs could have won that game but they didn't have to give it away either towards the end.

What in the world was Quinn, Green and Bonner doing in that game in the final 4 mins.

Really??? Quinn Pop?

That was some bull$h!t.

So we couldn't see Gneal, Ghill, Tiago, Novak or Blair and Anderson??? Finish the game.

This fool puts the sorriest players he could find, into a 5 point game, with 4 mins to play.

Did Gneal not just draw 5 fouls on Artest and Kobe each. He pulls Neal out of the game and Green comes right in and hoist a bad 3ptr. Then Quinn comes in and turns the ball over, gives up an and one, I mean this $h!T is ridiculous.

Was Tiago not battling Gasol on the boards. Why was he not in there to finish the game.

This game shows exactly what I mean about good coaching and having a feel for the game. Pop is pathetic he can take his drunk ass somewhere because I am on to his crap. Just because you are playing the bench doesn't mean you don't coach to win.

The Spurs are not going to survive in the post season with this fool at the helm. Yeah he managed to keep mins down for the big 3, but managing mins, and managing a winnable game is two different things. I don't care if it was the bench. The bench played their hearts out to be within 5 points, and this dumb fool goes to the 3rd string with the game on the line.

Somebody rip the bottle out of this hand, before he does anymore damage.

You're a fucking retard.

[crc21209]

The Spurs need to fire Pop tonight!

Not saying the Spurs could have won that game but they didn't have to give it away either towards the end.

What in the world was Quinn, Green and Bonner doing in that game in the final 4 mins.

Really??? Quinn Pop?

That was some bull$h!t.

So we couldn't see Gneal, Ghill, Tiago, Novak or Blair and Anderson??? Finish the game.

This fool puts the sorriest players he could find, into a 5 point game, with 4 mins to play.

Did Gneal not just draw 5 fouls on Artest and Kobe each. He pulls Neal out of the game and Green comes right in and hoist a bad 3ptr. Then Quinn comes in and turns the ball over, gives up an and one, I mean this $h!T is ridiculous.

Was Tiago not battling Gasol on the boards. Why was he not in there to finish the game.

This game shows exactly what I mean about good coaching and having a feel for the game. Pop is pathetic he can take his drunk ass somewhere because I am on to his crap. Just because you are playing the bench doesn't mean you don't coach to win.

The Spurs are not going to survive in the post season with this fool at the helm. Yeah he managed to keep mins down for the big 3, but managing mins, and managing a winnable game is two different things. I don't care if it was the bench. The bench played their hearts out to be within 5 points, and this dumb fool goes to the 3rd string with the game on the line.

Somebody rip the bottle out of this hand, before he does anymore damage.



:lol

[duncan228]

Some post-game quotes.


Lakers end five-game skid, but lose Andrew Bynum to hyperextended knee (http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310412013)

Andrew Bynum awkwardly sprawled onto the court, staying down for an uncomfortably long moment. The 7-foot center then walked cautiously to the locker room with more than one teammate staring at his perpetually problematic knees.

The Los Angeles Lakers ended their five-game losing streak Tuesday night.

They'll find out what it cost on Wednesday.

Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, but Bynum hyperextended his right knee in the two-time defending NBA champions' 102-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs' role players.

The Lakers' hopes for a third straight title might have taken a significant blow when Bynum fell after stepping on DeJuan Blair's foot during the second quarter. Los Angeles' superb low-post defender will have an MRI on Wednesday while the Lakers wrap up the regular season at Sacramento.

Bynum downplayed the injury while walking comfortably out of Staples Center, and the Lakers are cautiously hoping for news that won't derail their playoff run before it begins. Yet it's tough not to assume the worst with Bynum and his rickety 23-year-old knees.

"There's always concern," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who acknowledged Bynum could be out for at least a few games. "We've seen him go down a couple of times that have been debilitating, so there's a concern. It was kind of a freaky play, but they usually are, and that's what basketball is."

Bryant describes the shot-blocking center as the Lakers' most important defensive player, and his absence from the 2008 NBA finals was one reason Los Angeles lost to Boston before winning the next two championship series with Bynum in the middle. Bynum had surgery last summer to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

"He allows us to be the dominant team we're capable of being," said Derek Fisher, who scored 13 points. "It's hard to think about not having him for any significant length of time. It was tough to see. He's so important to what we do, so to even think for a second that he might be out, the impact that would have on him after all of his work, it's tough to deal with in the moment."

Lamar Odom scored 23 points as the Lakers struggled to hold off the Spurs, who rested stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker with the Western Conference's top seed already wrapped up.

Pau Gasol had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Lakers (56-25), who will get the No. 2 seed in the West with a win at Sacramento or a loss by Dallas (56-25).

Gary Neal scored 16 points and Matt Bonner had 13 for the Spurs, whose four-game winning streak ended.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't worry about falling into a tie with surging Chicago (61-20) for the NBA's best overall record, yet his junior varsity nearly knocked off the discombobulated Lakers, who couldn't breathe easily until Bryant's 3-pointer put them up 96-88 with 2:55 to play.

"I think it showed the character, the heart that we have, and we're a pretty deep team," said George Hill, who scored 11 points. "We tried to give the best effort we could, and that's all you can hope for. All of us thought we could win. That was our whole motive going into the game."

The Lakers hadn't won since April 1, falling apart after a sparkling 17-1 stretch. They still haven't fixed the defensive execution issues that have plagued them this month -- but if Bynum's potential absence doesn't get the champs' attention, maybe it can't be got.

"Hopefully he'll be back soon, and we'll get him back at 100 percent and just keep plugging away," said Odom, who scored 21 points in the second half.

Bryant played with a short fuse and a scowl even before Bynum's injury. He earned his 15th technical foul of the season for arguing in the third quarter, picking up a T in his third straight game and moving right to the brink of an NBA-mandated one-game suspension.

Bryant punctuated the tantrum by punching a chair on the bench. If he gets another technical foul in the season finale, the suspension would be for the first game of next season.

If the Spurs and Bulls finish with the same record, every tiebreaker is even, so a random drawing would determine who got homecourt advantage in the NBA finals -- a nonexistent concern to Popovich, a four-time NBA champion.

Popovich plans to get Duncan back in the lineup Wednesday night in the season finale at Phoenix.

"It's a back-to-back, and I'd rather play [Duncan] tomorrow and not have such a long time before the weekend," Popovich said. "[The reserves] got some experience. I'm happy with what they did."

The Spurs' patchwork starting lineup included Neal, Hill and Tiago Splitter. The Lakers took an early 10-point lead but couldn't hold it, giving up a 13-1 run and going into halftime tied at 45.

San Antonio took a lead on Danny Green's jumper with 7:28 to play, but Odom's three-point play put the Lakers right back ahead.

Game notes
The Lakers played without backup point guard Steve Blake, who will miss at least two games after contracting chicken pox, and reserve forward Matt Barnes, who rested his sore right knee. ... Veteran C Theo Ratliff appeared in just his second game for the Lakers since Nov. 9, playing 2 minutes. He missed most of the season after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. ... Fans near courtside included Dennis Haysbert and director Adam McKay.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310412013

[GhosTown]

You're a fucking retard.

A retard sends the 3rd string into a winnable game. And a dumbass retard like you defends him.

[Borosai]

Both teams played hard.

[jimo2305]

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5710/spurssc.png
classic espn..

[Spurologist]

Odom: The best thing about our team is our depth

:rollin

[mytespurs]

They had turned to this game just as I was leaving the gym. When I saw the Spurs lineup, I :lol:lol:lol! It was like junior varsity against the big boys. I was expecting a double digit Laker beatdown of the spurs jv considering they've been in a mini slump and that they wanted to maintain the #2 seed. Pleasantly surprised the JV lost by only 9.

Was the game as close as the score indicates? Did PJ keep his regulars in most of the game or did he put in their bench?

[Splits]

They had turned to this game just as I was leaving the gym. When I saw the Spurs lineup, I :lol:lol:lol! It was like junior varsity against the big boys. I was expecting a double digit Laker beatdown of the spurs jv considering they've been in a mini slump and that they wanted to maintain the #2 seed. Pleasantly surprised the JV lost by only 9.

Was the game as close as the score indicates? Did PJ keep his regulars in most of the game or did he put in their bench?

Game was tied with 6 minutes to play. The Lakers were completely demoralized. Pop threw it. He pulled Bonner who was finally on fire, after 6 weeks of FFF------ fuck you bonner play. He also pulled Neal when he popped a 3 with 3 to play to pull us back within a possession. Pop, for whatever reason, literally threw the game. He has total manlove for Bonner and benched him while he was redhot.

[duncan228]

Five quick takes: Why the Lakers’ arrogance is misplaced (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/13/five-quick-takes-why-the-lakers-arrogance-is-misplaced/)
Tim Griffin

...I couldn’t help noticing how angry Bryant seemed to be during the entire game. Sure, he struggled through an 8-for-21 shooting night. He didn’t get much help from his teammates during much of the game. He picked up a technical and was lucky he didn’t get another one for his tirade on the bench after his first one. But he was fortunate in one respect. He didn’t have to face George Hill as much as usual with Hill starting at point guard. How angry would Bryant have been if Hill had been in his face for 15-20 minutes — especially added to all of the other slights and ills that happened to him Tuesday night?

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/13/five-quick-takes-why-the-lakers-arrogance-is-misplaced/

[Fireball]

Odom: The best thing about our team is our depth

:rollin


That comment was hilarious ... Odom represents 100% of the Laker depth ... although Brown and Barnes may have some good days

[TampaDude]

A retard sends the 3rd string into a winnable game. And a dumbass retard like you defends him.

Damn...you really are clueless, aren't you? :lol

[alchemist]

Game was tied with 6 minutes to play. The Lakers were completely demoralized. Pop threw it. He pulled Bonner who was finally on fire, after 6 weeks of FFF------ fuck you bonner play. He also pulled Neal when he popped a 3 with 3 to play to pull us back within a possession. Pop, for whatever reason, literally threw the game. He has total manlove for Bonner and benched him while he was redhot.
:lol I noticed this too, Pop pulled the plug

[TampaDude]

:lol I noticed this too, Pop pulled the plug

Yup...Pop clearly wanted to lose the game. Don't want Lakers at #4.