Lakers vs. Spurs: A Historic Rivalry Renewed

Published by lakers-fan.com on May 23rd, 2008 | Tagged lakers vs spurs

As the series got underway against the San Antonio Spurs for the first time since 2004, this old rivalry started to bring back a lot of old memories. The staples of their respective teams, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan have been through several battles over the past ten years, but encouragingly, the Lakers have beaten the Spurs 7 out of the last 10 playoff match-ups dating back to the Showtime Era. The Spurs handled the Lakers in 2003, and 1999, and went on to win the title both years. However, during the Lakers three peat run, they swept the Spurs in 2001 and won 4-1 in 2002. The night before Game 1, I watched my Lakers DVD of 2001, showing highlights of how embarrassingly bad the Spurs were beaten. In games 3 and 4, the Spurs lost by 39 and 29 points. Watching this footage, although only with two of the same starters, Fisher and Bryant from that year, pumped me up to again take on the defending champs and not only win the series, but sweep them.

Throwing history aside, the current Lakers are a much different team than we used to have in the early 2000’s. Kobe has been the best player for several years now, but even he too has changed his game to adapt to his teammates, making them better players. I have not seen a better passing Laker team since the 1980’s.

After a very very sluggish first half, Kobe arose from his slumber to start picking apart the Spurs, piece by piece. Although we were down 20 points midway through the third quarter, it seemed as though everything would be OK as soon as Kobe started to hit a few shots. Those few shots turned into other easy shots for his teammates, as he connected frequently on alley oops to Pau Gasol. The Lakers went on a 14 - 0 run and ended the third quarter only down seven points, 72-65. I knew we definitely had a chance to pull it out, if we could only play strong defense in the fourth, and run the ball through Bryant.

I respect Bruce Bowen as a good defender, but the man is coming on 37. How on earth is he supposed to be able to stick with the best player on the planet? With the game tied at 85, Kobe split the double team and cut middle as Bowen pulled his best Divac, flopping backwards. That desperation move is all Bowen has against Bryant these days, and it didn’t work. Not in Los Angeles. To nobody’s surprise, Kobe pulled up wide open to nail an easy jumper and the Lakers went on to win by four points, after “The Machine” hit two clutch free throws.

I haven’t seen a Lakers comeback in such an important game since they came back from 20 points against the Sacramento Queens to finally take the first lead at the buzzer on a three pointer from Robert Horry.

If this game is at all indicative of how the series will go, Kobe will continue to toy with the Spurs, proving that he is the best player in the league, and will not allow his team to lose.

Not this year Coach Pop-a-Zits!

- Garrett Lynn