http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280413013
Spurs-Lakers Preview
By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS LLC
3:30 PM ET, April 13, 2008
Staples Center, Los Angeles , CA
ABC
The Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs haven't needed a first-place finish in the Western Conference to win NBA les in the past, but that certainly doesn't mean they won't be making a strong push for the No. 1 seed.
After securing the Pacific Division le, the Lakers host the Spurs on Sunday in a matchup of teams still in contention for West supremacy.
Los Angeles (55-25) and San Antonio (54-25) have won six of the last eight NBA les, but each team finished first in the West just once en route to one of its championships during that span -- the Lakers in 2000 and the Spurs in 2004.
San Antonio, which won the le after finishing third in the West last season, is perennially in contention for the conference's No. 1 seed. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is back in the mix after clinching its first Pacific le in four years.
"It's a pleasant surprise," said Lakers star Kobe Bryant, whose team wasn't expected to be in this position before the season. "It's a testament to our hard work and our unity."
Bryant, a strong candidate to win his first MVP award, had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Lakers to a 107-104 win over West-leading New Orleans on Friday night. It secured the Pacific for the Lakers, and also kept them within reach of the Hornets with two games to play.
"It's good to be No. 1," Bryant said. "This was the first step. We want to take another one Sunday."
Los Angeles is ensured of finishing no lower than third in the West by virtue of its division le, meaning it will have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. If the Lakers and Hornets finish with the same record, Los Angeles wins the West and home-court at least until the NBA finals because of a better record against conference opponents.
San Antonio does not have a better conference record than New Orleans, which it is also chasing for the Southwest Division le.
But the Spurs will have a tough time catching the Hornets if Manu Ginobili misses any more time. Ginobili, leading San Antonio with 19.6 points per game, missed Friday night's 95-74 win over Seattle due to a mild strain of his left abductor.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said that Ginobili is doubtful for Sunday's game, a contest that will likely determine if the team will remain in contention for the No. 1 seed.
"Like most every game in the West (it's) another big challenge," Popovich said. "You don't know what's going to happen in the West. You just have no idea."
San Antonio hurt its playoff position by losing two of three before Friday, averaging 71.7 points in that span. But the Spurs were able to bounce back against the conference-worst SuperSonics, as five players scored in double figures and they led by as many as 24 points.
Sunday's game will be the first of two straight San Antonio will play on the road, where it has won four of its last five. The Spurs will visit Sacramento on Monday night before ending the regular season at home against Utah two days later.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, will be playing the first of its last two regular-season games. The Lakers host the Kings on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles has won two straight and six of its last seven overall, but has dropped two of three against San Antonio this season.
Injury Report
SAN ANTONIO
· Manu Ginobili SG - Apr 12: Day-to-Day
· Brent Barry SG - Apr 11: Day-to-Day
LOS ANGELES
· Andrew Bynum C - Apr 12: OUT
· Luke Walton SF - Apr 11: Day-to-Day
Last edited by duncan228; 04-13-2008 at 12:34 AM.
So is Pop's Manu is doubtful meaning he won't play for sure?
Because the Spurs really need Manu for this game! The Lakers just beat the Hornets, they are on a roll! Plus Hornets/Lakers/Spurs/Houston are all fighting for spots 1, 2, 3, and one of them will be 5! The Spurs need this win! Plus it's a road game with high implications.
We need Manu for this game...
All I'm finding so far is that Manu is "day-to-day."
Manu is not coming back for these last three games of the season, he will be back in the playoffs, simple as that....
I'm so jazzed for this game! Staples Center is going to be crazy, I can't wait...
I don't care if we win at this point, doesn't matter who we get in the playoffs or who is home. Spurs are going to play Spurs basketball or they're not.
I expect the lakers to win. Hard to know though if that is good or not. It is up in the air on who'll be in the 2 spot.
If the Spurs concede the win to the Lakers, that's going to drop the Spurs down to #5 and get replaced by the Rockets at the #3 spot.
They'd get HCA when they draw the Jazz so that's about as good as it gets in the first round. CIA Pop?
The only bad side of it is they'll probably also be giving the Lakers the #1 seed so they'll meet the Lakers in LA to start the second round.
Well with no Manu we have no excuse for losing this game, but the Lakers have a nasty habit of playing to their compe ion. We can only hope Bowen doesn't hit 10 ing threes tomorrow.
Without Manu, we can't win against the lakers.
We are playing @LA and @Sac on a back to back.
We should tank the lakers game and give all we have to win the Sacramento game.
San Antonio
13 @LAL
14 @SAC
16 UTA
Utah
14 HOU
16 @SA
Houston
13 @DEN
14 @UTA
16 LAC
Spurs own the tiebreaker against Rockets and both teams have the same record with 3 games left.
Denver is on a b2b vs Houston
Houston is on a b2b vs Utah
If Houston win @Denver and lose @Utah (+win vs Clippers)
If San Antonio lose @Lakers and win @Sacramento
Then here are the standings before SA vs Utah.
3 Houston 56 26
4 Utah 54 27
5 San Antonio 55 26
If Spurs win the Jazz game then
3 San Antonio 56 26
4 Utah 54 28
5 Houston 56 26
It means (3) San Antonio vs (6) Phoenix in 1st round.
If Spurs lose the Jazz game then
3 Houston 56 26
4 Utah 55 27
5 San Antonio 55 27 (HCA for Utah)
It means (4) Utah vs (5) San Antonio in 1st round with HCA for Utah.
If Spurs lose the Jazz game and Suns win their last 2 games (vs GS & POR) then
3 Houston 56 26
4 Utah 55 27
5 Phoenix 55 27
6 San Antonio 55 27
It means (3) Houston vs (6) San Antonio in 1st round.
Last edited by timaios; 04-12-2008 at 11:39 PM.
hey guys, i didn't want to start a thread with this question but i was just wondering if anyone could help out a little, i looked around some but couldn't find the 'where amazing happens' ad for san antonio that i saw the other night after the game. i was watching nba tv a little while after the game. have any of you guys seen it, it was the first time i had. just wondering if any of you guys knew if it was online somewhere.
From what it looks like, the Lakers will be #1 in the West tonight since Hornets are losing to the Kings.
Kings are a pretty darn good team, too bad they had so many injuries this year.
If the Kings close out and beat the Hornets, you can bet the Lakers will come out firing tomorrow to hang on to the #1 seed.
I see that.
I haven't found it online, the best I can do is this.
thanks i appreciate your help, the one i saw the other night was all spurs, w/there was a pic of the champ. trophy saying 'where what we play for happens' or something like that, and bruce 'where offense meets defense happens' and manu 'where which way will he go happens' and the att center with 'where 35 more years happens' is that the one you've seen? my mom and i are huge fans and she didn't get to see it, it was late at night when i saw it, and i was just hoping it was online somewhere so i could show her.
This whole playoff situation is so confusing and annoying.
Here's to hoping for a win.
Seriously. Hornets lost tonight so that means that tommorow's game is going to be even more important for Lakers or Spurs if they want the 1 seed.
Meanwhile, Nuggets lose and Warriors win so the 8th spot is still open.
That's it, Hornets lost so they are all tied up with the Lakers and Spurs and Rockets with 25 losses.
Lakers have the #1 seed to lose but Spurs can take it away tomorrow if they win.
Warriors still have life...wow...this Playoff race is awesome.
Wow 2 tough loss for the Hornets !!!
Wow, so conceivably the Rockets could still end up with the #1 seed?
I'm so freaking confused. ing Lakers just win out and we won't have to play PHX in the 1st round. That's all I care about.
I don't think the Rockets will make it. They have this horrible B2B:
Sun @Den
Mon @UTA
The Rockets COULD end up with the #1 seed still but as Boutons says, they have 2 hard games coming up. Except Utah doesn't have much to play for either so they might sit out that game.
What ??????????
And HCA !!!
You're right, they can still get HCA if guys above them or Houston lose 2 games....I'm so confused
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