Spurs Beat Lakers Again to go up 2-0

So much for my pick of the Los Angeles Lakers beating the San Antonio Spurs to even the series. Don’t worry, if you took my advice, I lost money on it too. The Lakers did shoot the ball better from the outside in Game Two, which is why I thought they would have a shot at winning. They shot only 3-15 from three-points in Game One yet were still within shouting distance before losing by 12. My thinking was, if they hit four of those 12 misses, they are right there.

But, last night, the Lakers were hobbled  by more injuries though as Steve Nash and Steve Blake are both battling hamstring injuries. Nash may not be able to go in Game Three. This is on top of losing their superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant for the playoffs and presumably a good chunk of next season with a torn Achilles. The Lakers might have trouble finding enough players to finish the series.

The Lakers were 8-22 from three points in this game, a slightly better percentage than in Game One, but in Game Two, they got less production out of their big men Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. Both had double doubles in Game one, neither did in Game Two. Howard had 16 points and nine rebounds after 20 and 15 in Game One. Pau had 13 and 9 in Game Two after 16 and 16 in Game One.

San Antonio again got good production form the bench with 32 points, although the advantage was not near what it was in Game One when their bench outscored the Lakers 40-10. In Game Two it was 32-24. But Tony Parker went off for 28 points in Game Two and Kawhi Leonard added 16 as did Tim Duncan.

Again coach Gregg Popovich has apparently given his trio of aging stars enough rest during the regular season to make sure they are at their best for the playoffs. The Spurs limped home down the stretch, going 3-7 in their final 10 games before the playoffs started. Now the “Big Three” of Parker, Duncan and Manu Ginobli are playing exceptionally well and the Lakers look powerless to stop them.

If there is any good news for the Lakers, it is that they are going home for Games Three and Four starting on Friday night. But with the prospects of Chris Duhon or Darius Morris starting at point guard, things do not look good for the team that finished the regular season with five straight wins to make the playoffs, including getting one over the Spurs.