duncan228
05-24-2008, 11:42 AM
The same article had a different headline in my newspaper. "Don't Count The Spurs Out."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/game-spurs-vujacic-2051341-lakers-bryant
Though it feels like it, series not over yet
JEFF MILLER
LOS ANGELES — It's the first team to four victories, not the first to two, even if both triumphs are convincing for wildly different reasons.
No, a best-of-7 series can't be decided in three days, despite the hyperventilating media and the hyper-Kobe Bryant Lakers fans.
But if you must stick something in the microwave today, we'd suggest Game 2, a 48-minute dish that was done in 90 seconds Friday.
The Lakers beat the Spurs by 30, 101-71, but nine points really defined the difference between them.
"That was the key to the game," Sasha Vujacic said. "They stayed close for almost two quarters, but then we took that quick lead. That was kind of unexpected for them. That set them back a little bit."
Tim Duncan rose from 18 feet and hit a jumper that originally was believed to be significant because it tied the score 37-37 with 2:14 to go in the first half.
Turns out, the shot was significant but for another reason. It was the only moment when the Spurs actually mattered, actually were relevant to the goings on inside Staples Center.
And we did say moment because that's exactly how long the outcome of this game was a mystery.
After Duncan's jumper, this is what followed:
Kobe Bryant drove and dished to Pau Gasol for a successful layup.
Bryant drove and passed to Vujacic for a successful jumper.
Lamar Odom created space and left the ball for Vujacic for a successful 3-pointer.
Odom blocked a shot, leading to a fast break, leading to a Derek Fisher successful layup.
Unseasonable lightning, even striking the Southern California indoors Friday, a flash representing how swiftly Game 2 was game over.
"That stretch was huge," Luke Walton said. "That's what got us going. The starters were back in there and they opened it up for us for the rest of the game."
Nine points in roughly 90 seconds. Nine points, unanswered by the Spurs but the exact answer the Lakers were seeking. Nine points for a 46-37 halftime lead that felt much larger.
The Spurs closed to within seven early in the third quarter, but they were down double digits for good before the second half was even two minutes old.
By the start of the final quarter, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich already had moved on to Game 3, resting Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the hope they might put up more resistance next time.
For his part in the deciding second-quarter run, Vujacic was just grateful for the opportunity. Of course, the guy is a shooter and, as such, views every open jumper the way a child views Santa Claus.
"That's what I love to do right there," Vujacic said. "The chance was there, and I knocked them down. That's my job."
As perfect punctuation, the first half ended with Duncan not coming close on two free-throw attempts, grabbing the second miss and failing to score over Bryant.
He heaved a runner toward the basket as Bryant closed hard, Duncan ending up on the floor, Bryant pumping his fist and exiting as Staples Center erupted.
Sounded like thunder almost, the thunder following closely behind that Lakers lightning.
"We were going into the half with a pretty good finish there," Duncan said. "They ran off a 9-0 and really put us in a hole."
A hole, yes. But a grave? Not yet.
And that is what it will take. The Spurs won't be done until they're buried. Defending champions can't be simply dismissed; they must be dismantled first and then put safely away.
"We can't get hyper now," Vujacic said. "They're the champions of the NBA and we're trying to take something away from them. Down or not, they're still the champs."
So despite the stunning ability to overcome a 20-point deficit in Game 1 and the impressive appearance of a 30-point ho-hum in Game 2, the Lakers still are only halfway to the NBA Finals.
Remember, the Spurs lost Game 1 of their last series to New Orleans by 19 points. They then rebounded to lose Game 2 by only 18.
Suddenly, they weren't experienced, they were old; they weren't battle-tested, they were due to be bed-rested.
But then that series moved to San Antonio, the Spurs won four of the next five games and their obituary was rewritten as a celebration of their rebirthing talents.
"We have a lot more work to do before this is over," Walton said. "I'm sure the Spurs are convinced this series isn't over."
Certainly it feels like the Lakers will win the Western Conference. It feels like they're in charge and destined to advance. It feels like this already is over.
But it's not. Only Games 1 and 2 are done. And even if the latter ended in a snap Friday, the Spurs aren't broken yet.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/game-spurs-vujacic-2051341-lakers-bryant
Though it feels like it, series not over yet
JEFF MILLER
LOS ANGELES — It's the first team to four victories, not the first to two, even if both triumphs are convincing for wildly different reasons.
No, a best-of-7 series can't be decided in three days, despite the hyperventilating media and the hyper-Kobe Bryant Lakers fans.
But if you must stick something in the microwave today, we'd suggest Game 2, a 48-minute dish that was done in 90 seconds Friday.
The Lakers beat the Spurs by 30, 101-71, but nine points really defined the difference between them.
"That was the key to the game," Sasha Vujacic said. "They stayed close for almost two quarters, but then we took that quick lead. That was kind of unexpected for them. That set them back a little bit."
Tim Duncan rose from 18 feet and hit a jumper that originally was believed to be significant because it tied the score 37-37 with 2:14 to go in the first half.
Turns out, the shot was significant but for another reason. It was the only moment when the Spurs actually mattered, actually were relevant to the goings on inside Staples Center.
And we did say moment because that's exactly how long the outcome of this game was a mystery.
After Duncan's jumper, this is what followed:
Kobe Bryant drove and dished to Pau Gasol for a successful layup.
Bryant drove and passed to Vujacic for a successful jumper.
Lamar Odom created space and left the ball for Vujacic for a successful 3-pointer.
Odom blocked a shot, leading to a fast break, leading to a Derek Fisher successful layup.
Unseasonable lightning, even striking the Southern California indoors Friday, a flash representing how swiftly Game 2 was game over.
"That stretch was huge," Luke Walton said. "That's what got us going. The starters were back in there and they opened it up for us for the rest of the game."
Nine points in roughly 90 seconds. Nine points, unanswered by the Spurs but the exact answer the Lakers were seeking. Nine points for a 46-37 halftime lead that felt much larger.
The Spurs closed to within seven early in the third quarter, but they were down double digits for good before the second half was even two minutes old.
By the start of the final quarter, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich already had moved on to Game 3, resting Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the hope they might put up more resistance next time.
For his part in the deciding second-quarter run, Vujacic was just grateful for the opportunity. Of course, the guy is a shooter and, as such, views every open jumper the way a child views Santa Claus.
"That's what I love to do right there," Vujacic said. "The chance was there, and I knocked them down. That's my job."
As perfect punctuation, the first half ended with Duncan not coming close on two free-throw attempts, grabbing the second miss and failing to score over Bryant.
He heaved a runner toward the basket as Bryant closed hard, Duncan ending up on the floor, Bryant pumping his fist and exiting as Staples Center erupted.
Sounded like thunder almost, the thunder following closely behind that Lakers lightning.
"We were going into the half with a pretty good finish there," Duncan said. "They ran off a 9-0 and really put us in a hole."
A hole, yes. But a grave? Not yet.
And that is what it will take. The Spurs won't be done until they're buried. Defending champions can't be simply dismissed; they must be dismantled first and then put safely away.
"We can't get hyper now," Vujacic said. "They're the champions of the NBA and we're trying to take something away from them. Down or not, they're still the champs."
So despite the stunning ability to overcome a 20-point deficit in Game 1 and the impressive appearance of a 30-point ho-hum in Game 2, the Lakers still are only halfway to the NBA Finals.
Remember, the Spurs lost Game 1 of their last series to New Orleans by 19 points. They then rebounded to lose Game 2 by only 18.
Suddenly, they weren't experienced, they were old; they weren't battle-tested, they were due to be bed-rested.
But then that series moved to San Antonio, the Spurs won four of the next five games and their obituary was rewritten as a celebration of their rebirthing talents.
"We have a lot more work to do before this is over," Walton said. "I'm sure the Spurs are convinced this series isn't over."
Certainly it feels like the Lakers will win the Western Conference. It feels like they're in charge and destined to advance. It feels like this already is over.
But it's not. Only Games 1 and 2 are done. And even if the latter ended in a snap Friday, the Spurs aren't broken yet.