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I have a feeling something really, really bad is going to happen for the Fakers. Don't know what, but it's coming.
They think they can turn it off and on. It will catch up to them. Not to mention the oldest starting backcourt in basketball.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basket...,6166171.story
Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and others lead the way in Lakers' most impressive performance this season, a rout of the NBA's top team that starts a key four-game trip and signals to the rest of the league that the two-time defending champs aren't going away.
Reporting from San Antonio —
It took the Lakers long enough — endless months, weeks and days blending into halves, quarters and minutes — but they finally arrived for the 2010-11 season.
It was worth a double-take, if not a triple, the 48 minutes that signaled their interest in the rest of the season, a rout heard 'round the NBA, all opponents be forewarned.
The Lakers didn't beat the San Antonio Spurs. They pummeled them, leading by as many as 32 points in a 99-83 victory Sunday in front of a stunningly quiet, and quickly emptying, AT&T Center.
Andrew Bynum seemed to grab every rebound, Pau Gasol simply couldn't miss (even drilling a three-pointer, his first since 2008), Ron Artest was a comedian who happened to score eight points, and Kobe Bryant quarterbacked the entire operation.
The Lakers were free on offense and grinding on defense, winning their seventh consecutive game and holding the Spurs to 36% shooting.
Tim Duncan was a total nonfactor, scoring two points on one-for-seven shooting, and only one Spurs starter scored in double figures, Tony Parker with 14 points.
The Lakers had landed. The Spurs, uh, noticed.
"We couldn't make layups, threes, free throws, anything. And besides, they played more angry," said a beleaguered Manu Ginobili, who had six points on three-for-10 shooting. "We were a little, not soft, but waited to see what was going to happen and they came to get it."
The timing can't be better for the Lakers (45-19), taking the first step on a four-game trip that also routes them through Atlanta, Miami and, of particular interest, Dallas, which is still ahead of them for second place in the Western Conference.
If they play like they did Sunday, 4-0 isn't out of the question.
The Spurs and their league-leading record (51-12) looked confused all afternoon. They trailed after the first quarter, 34-13, and at halftime, 65-37, numbers that would stun the rest of the league.
"We caught them by surprise at the start of the game," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.
There were many surprises.
The coaching staff told the players beforehand to return to the tenets of the triangle offense — pass the ball instead of dribbling, think team play instead of one on one — and it showed.
Bryant had 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Gasol almost matched him with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Bynum continued his binge on the boards, taking 17 rebounds for a second consecutive game, one short of his career high, yet again.
Then there was Artest.
He flexed in front of an irritated crowd and kissed his right biceps after blocking George Hill's shot. Then he played peacemaker after Bryant elbowed Ginobili, pushing Bryant away before further issues arose. (It wasn't enough to stop Bryant from picking up his 13th technical foul. If he gets three more between now and the end of the regular season, he'll be suspended by the NBA for a game.)
Artest also chased a ball into the front row, creating a geyser of coffee that sprayed a cup-holding fan and rolled down the back of Artest's legs. Not that he cared.
"He's locked in. He's focused," Bryant said. "We all are. Ron knows exactly what we need from him. He's just going out there being aggressive and taking it to 'em."
Not everything was perfect, the Lakers leaving just enough work for Monday's practice in Atlanta.
Jackson wasn't thrilled that the reserves let San Antonio make a minor run in the fourth quarter, forcing him to reinsert Bryant and Fisher with 5:57 left and the Lakers up 22.
"I didn't like the way the bench was playing," he said. "They were settling for outside shots."
Whatever.
I have a feeling something really, really bad is going to happen for the Fakers. Don't know what, but it's coming.
They think they can turn it off and on. It will catch up to them. Not to mention the oldest starting backcourt in basketball.
Regular season game. More of an anomaly than a sign of things to come. This might actually help much more than hurt as the Spurs will not let their guard down against good compe ion. They'll be ready next time they face the Lakers. The Spurs have the track record and championship pedigree to prove it.
Lakers' size? Tough defense? Sure. But the Spurs will counter.
this was a statement game for la and they made it time for spurs to move on to the detroit
win some lose some--------move on
They have no bench really to speak of, I believe that will be their undoing.
Spurs always suck when it is an early start. Late-risers I guess!
Lakers got blown out at home by the Spurs on Easter and still won the championship last season. So I could care less what the LA media blowhards think.
We had a ton of open looks in the first half and they just wouldn't fall. That coupled with the Lakers hitting every shot they took was too much to overcome.
I'll never understand why people get mad at the Lakers for playing possum in the regular season. Newsflash: if you've made the finals 3 years in a row (and won 2 of them), what incentive do you have to play hard ALL regular season?
Why is tlong becoming a big hater and Laker sucker now?
TLong, we know the Blazers suck and haven't been relevant since the last time you got laid, 2001ish(?), but no need to sprout an erection whenever a team beats the Spurs in a regular season game.
Wrong forum tbh. The article describes the Spurs but is essentially non-spur related because it leads off of the Laker win more than anything.
LA media is trying to do blowjob.
Hmm, let's see. 3 straight finals trips and 2 straight les. Yup, this game is an anomaly, riiigght.
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