Lakers take it easy
By Elliott Teaford, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated:05/24/2008 AM PDT
No drama this time.
No frantic finish.
No harrowing moments.
Just an old-fashioned beat-down.
The Lakers never trailed in hammering the San Antonio Spurs 101-71 in Game 2
of the Western Conference finals night at Staples Center.
The Lakers played with all the consistency and efficiency they lacked at times
during their win in Game 1.
The defending NBA champions Spurs played as if they were stucked in cement.
They shot poorly, didn't defend with the necessary gusto and seemed remarkably
unemotional for a team that had coughed up a 20-point lead in Game1.
The Lakers will take their two-games-to-none lead to San Antonio Spurs for
Game 3 and 4 on Sunday and Tuesday at the AT&T center. If necessary, Game5 of
the best-of-7 series will be played Thursday at Staples Center.
At the moment, it doesn't appear as if a fifth game will be necessary, however.
After all, the Lakers have outscored the Spurs by 145-91 since falling behind
65-45 with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter of Game 1. No one in purple and
gold was planning a victory parade, however.
"We can't get too high on ourselves," Lamar Odom said after the Lakers moved
within two victories of the NBA Finals. "This is a team of champions(the Spurs)
abd we have to stay focused...and stay mentally prepared.
San Antonio must regain its shooting touch if it hopes to rally from a second
consecutive 2-0 series deficit. The Spurs trailed the New Orleans Hornets two
games to none in the conference semifinals but came back to win, 4-3.
The Spurs shot 34.5 percent (30 for 87) in Game 2 against the Lakers after
shooting 40.5 percent (39 for 71).
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 22 points on 10-for-17 shooting. He also had
five assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes. Odom scored 20 points on 7-for-10
shooting and grabbed a team-leading 12 rebounds.
Neither Bryant nor Odom played in the game's final 5:53, with the Lakers
leading by a comfortable 88-62. The Lakers' backups did not ease up in the
closing minutes and continued to torment the Spurs.
"The Lakers played a great game", said San Antonio guard Tony Parker. "You have
to give them credit. We could't get any rhythm. We only scored 71 points and
you can't win like that . Overall, they are playing great defense. We have to
play better.
That's the bottom line."
Parker had 13 points on 6-for-15 shooting and Tim Duncan added 12 points and 16
rebounds, but they were the only Spurs to score in double figures.
Manu Ginobili did not start, yielding to Michael Finley, but a change in roles
did nothing to cure his shooting woes.
Ginibili, nursing a sprained ankle, scored 7 points on 2-for-8 shooting in 24
minutes. He had 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting in Game 1.
"There was some thought of shutting him down for the game," San Antonio coach
Gregg Popovich said. "We knew it could catch up this game, not last game. We
thought our last game was our best shot to get something here."
The Spurs had a credible start in Game 2, playing a patient game in the early
minutes and sticking with the Lakers for most of the first half.
The teams were deadlocked at 37-all late in the second quarter, but the Lakers
seized control with a 9-0 run. Pau Gasol made a layup, then Sasha drilled a
jump shot and then a 3-pointer.
Derek Fisher added a driving layup to cap the run. Suddenly, the Lakers held a
46-37 lead by half time. Their led would grow to 74-57 by the end of the third
quarter.
San Antonio simply could not close the gap in the fourth.
"We're confident because we're executing and we know what areas we can get
better at." Bryant said. "That's where the confidence comes from. It doesn't
come from- yeah, winning the game helps we know where we need to improve, what
we are doing well offensive and defensively.
"We have confidence that we can make adjustments and be a better club."
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