(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) L.A. Lakers
Season Series: Spurs 2-1
We’ve never witnessed an NBA season like the 2012-13, for a team comprised of four future hall of famers dealing with injuries, coaching problems, management and chemistry, to struggle and make the playoffs. During the summer, the Los Angeles Lakers had the NBA’s best off-season acquisitions of all time, which included Dwight Howard and Steve Nash.
While it took Dwight Howard nearly the entire season to get back into game shape, coming off a back surgery, Kobe Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon last Friday, undergoing season-ending surgery to repair his left-leg.
All attention gravitated only to Dwight Howard, as fans and reporters were curious to what the former superstar would do to lead “his” team to the playoffs. Along with help from Pau Gasol (putting up two triple-doubles in their last week of play), the Lakers managed to sneak into the NBA’s sweet 16 defeating the Rockets in overtime. It is noted that Steve Nash, who’s been dealing with hamstring issues, will be penciled in to start game 1 on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Blake has provided an instant boost of offense to the team with Kobe’s injury, bringing up questions about rushing Nash back for the first round and interrupt any chemistry the team may have built in the last week heading into the playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs are dealing with injuries of their own and for once it’s not their future Hall-of-Famer, Tim Duncan.
Manu Ginóbili’s missed the team’s last game 5 games, as well as Tony Parker, who is also dealing with neck and multiple injuries but will be returning for game 1 of the series. The Spurs held the Western Conference’s top seed until they got the injury bug in March, losing 7 of their last 10 games (last 3 overall) and falling to second seed.
The team made an questionable decision in releasing Stephen Jackson, but after signing veteran free-agent swing-man Tracy McGrady (who could have an impact on the team with minutes given), we saw why the release was necessary, as the team dealt with injuries. The Spurs system is not one every player in the NBA can learn, but with time on the court and the team being coached by the leagues’ best —in Gregg Popovich, your talents can flourish with the organization like we’ve seen from Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard.
We’re sure the T-Mac signing has been in the works for weeks and it’s no coincidence that they signed him right before the playoffs. The keys to this series comes down to Lakers front-court tandem of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol dominating the weakened (and aging) Spurs team. Doing so, they can give the Spurs problems getting Tiago Splitter in foul trouble, with Pop having to look to an undersized DeJuan Blair to provide help.
The Spurs themselves, when healthy, are the best team in the NBA but with Manu and Parker still dealing with injuries, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green will have pressure on themselves to provide offense for the team. Something the Lakers will not have in the back-court.
We really can’t pick a clear winner as of right now but on paper and injuries, we wouldn’t be surprised seeing an upset from the Purple and Gold. Game 1 is more significant to San Antonio, because any motivation the Lakers get will be bad for San Antonio if the series goes longer than 5 games.
Game 1 – Sun April 21, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 – Wed April 24, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 26, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 28, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 30, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 2, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 4, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TNT