Spurs open Playoffs with win, while Grizzlies and Rockets lose
The San Antonio Spurs entered the postseason rested and healthy and that showed in their game one victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The entire regular season the Spurs dominated in the Southwest division and were always first or second in the Western Conference standings.
Heading into the first game of the playoffs series against the Kobe-less Lakers, many thought the Spurs were vulnerable, banged up and too old to compete. A possible upset was brewing not only for game one but for the series as well.
San Antonio put that theory quickly to rest on Sunday with their game one victory at home 91-79. The Spurs accomplished that with the same formula they have been doing the past 11 seasons, with the likes of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. The three veterans combined to score 54 of the teams 91 points in a game the Spurs dominated from the opening tap.
San Antonio’s defense stepped up and shut the Lakers offense down holding Los Angeles to just 41% shooting from the floor. The Lakers were a dismal 3 for 16 from behind the three-point arc and had 18 turnovers on the day. San Antonio Head Coach Gregg Popovich summed it up by saying it was his team’s best defensive effort in close to a month.
Los Angeles saw right away what they would be facing as Ginobili, returning from a hamstring injury was able to energize his teammates off the bench as he has done his entire career. In the second half, the veteran from Argentina stopped a Lakers rally and momentum by hitting a runner in the paint, then a three-pointer from downtown and if that was not enough, another three to extend what was a lead of seven to 13.
Duncan showed that he still has his “A†game. The veteran scored 17 points on the night playing against Dwight Howard.
On defense, the Spurs must control Howard who showed both good and bad on the offense end underscoring the thought his offensive game is still a work in progress. The Spurs allowed Howard to score 14 in the first half but his offensive output did not even faze the Spurs team.
Other teams in the Southwest conference that made the postseason did not fare as well as the Spurs. The Memphis Grizzlies opened their best of seven series against the Los Angeles Clippers and were routed in game one. The Grizzlies get a chance to even the series 1-1 on Monday night in Los Angeles, but need to find a way to stop Chris Paul of the Clippers.
The Houston Rockets also did not fare well in their opening game of the playoffs as they were embarrassed by the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-91. Kevin Durant led the assault for the Thunder with 24. Houston was led by James Harden with 20 points. The Thunder led by seven after a quarter, 13 at half and 23 after three quarters, coasting to the win in game one.
