He has never lost after winning game 2 either. 41-0 I think.

HB Is right saying if anyone can do it the Spurs can but there is no way the Mamba is gonna let that happen.

HB Is right saying if anyone can do it the Spurs can but there is no way the Mamba is gonna let that happen.

 

Last time the Lakers lost a series when being up by 2 games or more was when they were up 3-1 on the Suns a couple years ago and lost in 7...correct?

Yep.

I have the Spurs avatar because I talked so much crap when the Hornets went up 2-0, I decided to go ahead and put up this picture since they blew it.

 

It goes without saying I have enjoyed not just the Spurs losing these first two games, but just how they have lost them.

 

I really doubt the Lakers will blow this series, but we saw the Spurs looking pretty old in those first two games of the Hornet series, only to come back and look like a completely different team in 3 and 4.

 

Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

"The teams were tied 37-all late in the first half, but the Lakers outscored the Spurs, 51-23, over the next 18:56 of playing time."

 

BTW, everyone knows that the Spurs will be getting older than what they already are (duhh) so is this the last real chance the old men have at getting back to the NBA Championship series & win one last title???

Edited May 24, 200818 yr by ScarHeel

I really didn't think the Lakers would be this dominant vs. the Spurs...

 

I know the Spurs looked down and out against the Hornets, so you can't count them out until you see what they do at home, but the Lakers are a better team and tougher matchup for San Antonio, IMO.

 

Several observations...

 

1. Charles Barkley has been saying the Lakers were too good, too young and athletic for the Spurs. He's looking good so far. I really didn't expect the Laker bench to be that much better. Of course, we'll see if the bench performance reversed on the road.

 

2. I thought Magic Johnson made a great point after the game last night when he pointed out that this series was going to be really difficult on the Spurs because they weren't going to get any rest with the schedule calling for a game every other day. He made the point that the Spurs got 4 days off between games 6 and 7 against NO and that allowed them to get a lot of rest and come into that game fresh and it gave them just enough to take the series. They won't get that luxury against a younger and more athletic Laker team. I thought that was a really important point.

 

3. There is no defensive adjustment that Popovich can make in this series comparable to the decision he made to put Bowen on Peja, stay home against Peterson and let Paul get his that reversed the momentum in that series.

 

 

If the Lakers bench can continue to outplay San Antonio on the road, the Spurs have little chance.

Kobe has been doing a great job of staying patient and distributing the ball. If the bench struggles in San Antonio, he will step his game up and look to carry more of the scoring load, which could allow the Lakers to win even without a great bench performance.

The Lakers length is really giving the Spurs trouble. I think that's one of the reasons Manu has struggled so much against them.

Lamar Odom is a huge matchup problem for the Spurs.

 

 

It really looks like the Lakers are going to have to give the Spurs some help to lose this series. If they play smart and poised, I don't think San Antonio can beat them unless they play nearly flawless basketball. They have to get big production from the trio of Parker, Duncan and Ginobli, and I'm not convinced Manu is going to be able to give them what they need from him consistently to win this series. I expect him to play a Manu-like game or two, but can he give that to them in 4 of the next 5? His record vs. LA this season says no. I expect the Spurs to come out with their backs against the wall and win game 3. Assuming that happens, game 4 is the key game right now...after they win and get on the board, how will the Lakers respond? Obviously, if they can get a split in SA, this series is likely over.

 

I really thought this Laker team was a year away from winning a title, but it's starting to look like they're the class of the league.

I believe that it said that Phil Jackson has never lost a series while up 2-0, is that correct?

 

I'm pretty sure TNT showed a stat that the Phil was something like 40 or 41-0 when his teams win game one of a series.

 

I might have saw that wrong though. When they got up 3-1 against Phoenix did they win game one?

 

I know that's a great stat, but really...think about it. If you go up 2-0 in a series it means one of two things.

 

1. You were hosting the first two games meaning you had the better record in the regular season, which generally means you have the better team.

 

2. You stole the opening two games on the road, meaning all you have to do is win 2 of the next 5 games with three of them on your home court.

 

It's impressive that he's never lost, but I'm guessing most coaches, especially guys on the elite level like Phil have tremendous records when going up 2-0.

Happy to see the Lakers up 2-0. I couldnt bare to watch another Spurs-Pistons final. Also love to see the Lakers win it all!

Wonder where all of the Spurs fans are now? (SVfan) The Spurs were absolutely DOMINATED last night.

 

Once again, Ginobili played bad against the Lakers...I believe a certain someone said before this series started that he would be a non factor after someone told me the reason the Lakers won the last regular season match up was because Ginobili didn't play. :sssh:

 

Have I mentioned how good the Lakers defense is? Everyone said if the Spurs can keep the game in the 80's they win. Wrong. Game 1 score 89-85 LAKERS. Then when a certain someone said the Lakers were the only team to play consistent in the playoffs and score 100 + points every game, I was told the Spurs could outscore the Lakers just like they did the Suns. WRONG again. :sssh:

 

Not saying this series is over since the Spurs are the "All mighty defending champs.." but I'd venture to say this one will be over in 5 or 6. Being down 0-2 to the Hornets and 0-2 to the Lakers are two different animals. Spurs won't just lay down but if they don't win game 3 or 4 it's over in 5.

 

Spurs are tough at home though so it won't be easy for the Lakers. They're looking older and slower by the minute though. Since the game 1 comeback began, the Spurs have been outscored 145-95 in 48 minutes of basketball.

 

BTW, it was good to see Trevor Ariza finally back last night. Throwing him back in the mix won't make things any easier for the Spurs.

 

On a side note, the Lakers have NEVER lost a series in which they led 2-0.

 

Ginobili is nursing a bad ankle. That's why Pop considered taking Ginobili out earlier than he did last night.

 

The Spurs are very tough at home. I'm not even sure if they have lost at home during the playoffs. I think the Spurs at least win the next 2 at home, but if they don't win both, it's over.

 

I still think the Spurs have a chance, but they are looking worn down. It would be nice to see them come back just like in the New Orleans series and win really big at home in the next two. Only time will tell though. I'm still going to be a Spurs fan no matter what though. I'm proud of them either way as well. :thumb:

Last time the Lakers lost a series when being up by 2 games or more was when they were up 3-1 on the Suns a couple years ago and lost in 7...correct?

 

And the Spurs had never won a series after being down 2-0 either, but they just did. Those things mean nothing IMO. If a team has the will to win, they'll do it no matter what the odds are.

Ginobili is nursing a bad ankle. That's why Pop considered taking Ginobili out earlier than he did last night.

 

The Spurs are very tough at home. I'm not even sure if they have lost at home during the playoffs. I think the Spurs at least win the next 2 at home, but if they don't win both, it's over.

 

I still think the Spurs have a chance, but they are looking worn down. It would be nice to see them come back just like in the New Orleans series and win really big at home in the next two. Only time will tell though. I'm still going to be a Spurs fan no matter what though. I'm proud of them either way as well. :thumb:

 

If Ginobili is nursing a bad ankle he shouldn't even be in there. He is just hurting his team because his performance is pretty bad right now. Game 1 he was tired and now he's nursing a bad ankle. Maybe the guy needs to rest if its that bad.

 

The Spurs are indeed tough at home but the Lakers are also faily decent on the road.

And the Spurs had never won a series after being down 2-0 either, but they just did. Those things mean nothing IMO. If a team has the will to win, they'll do it no matter what the odds are.

 

They also didn't have to beat a Kobe Bryant led team 4 out of 5 games and play every other day for a week straight. They had 4 days to rest in between game 6 and 7.

If Ginobili is nursing a bad ankle he shouldn't even be in there. He is just hurting his team because his performance is pretty bad right now. Game 1 he was tired and now he's nursing a bad ankle. Maybe the guy needs to rest if its that bad.

 

The Spurs are indeed tough at home but the Lakers are also faily decent on the road.

 

It's not like I'm making this stuff up. I go by what the announcers tell me. They said he looked tired in game 1, and they said his ankle was bothering him in game 2. I am not there, I can not know for sure. I can only go by what they say. Pop said he wanted to take him out earlier, but Manu made a couple consecutive good plays he decided to keep him in a bit longer.

It's not like I'm making this stuff up. I go by what the announcers tell me. They said he looked tired in game 1, and they said his ankle was bothering him in game 2. I am not there, I can not know for sure. I can only go by what they say. Pop said he wanted to take him out earlier, but Manu made a couple consecutive good plays he decided to keep him in a bit longer.

 

Not saying your comment wasn't legit, I was just saying if he is hurting that bad he shouldn't be in there because he is hurting his team.