Lakers VS San Antonio

[THE KOD]

After committing 57 turnovers in the first three games, Los Angeles had only two in the first half -- both in the last two minutes.

The Spurs, meanwhile, are hoping a return home will help them return to the form that allowed them to win the first two games by 10 points each.

San Antonio has won the last five playoff games at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, including three games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year.

The Spurs extended their winning streak to 17 games by winning the first two games before the Lakers followed that up with two wins -- exactly what happened when the teams met in the in the postseason last year.
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This is the game that the eventual winner of the NBA championship this year should win. If San Antonio is for
real again this year, which I think they are, should be another home victory.

Lakers at home are a differant team. We all know that. The Lakers have played well for two games. That usually changes things going for 3 in a row.

Leaning to San Antonio.

any thoughts on this game appreciated.

KOD

 

[SimonSezs]

Great Points Scott.

I believe the X factors for the Lakers this year are Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Last year the Lakers did not have the depth or options they have this year. Payton helps leviate this at the guard position. Malone is a solid veteran that helps solidify the starting rotation of the Lakers and gives Phil some pawns off the bench that can make an impact.

What it will come down is emotion and who wants it more. This game is huge for both teams. Lakers were in both games at San Antonio, but inefficient play and coaching cost them IMO from stealing one game. The question - energy level. The Lakers looked exhausted after Game 4, especially Kobe, with this aging roster I really don't know what to expect out of the Lakers tonight.

If you watched the end Duncan was steaming in his calm way. Malone gave him an elbow to the ribs and after the time out Duncan steams down the middle. I see Duncan taking control of the Spurs offense tonight. Leaning towards the Spurs is a good lean, but that Lakers mystique still roams around in my head.

Perhaps the UNDER is something to consider as well.

 

[SimonSezs]

Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. ? The Los Angeles Lakers haven't won a playoff game against the Spurs at the SBC Center in five tries, but they headed back to Texas on Wednesday expecting to change that in Game 5 of their Western conference semifinal series.

"I think it's the emotional and psychological factor that counts in basketball," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after putting his team through a practice session Wednesday morning. "As we know, the Lakers have had wonderful experiences in the playoffs on the road. We've been a great road team during the duration I've been here as a coach, so we expect things.

"We expect miracles on the road."

If the Lakers play with the kind of emotion and defensive aggression they showed in winning Games 3 and 4, a miracle might not be required.

Jackson, though, knows that there will be minimal carryover from the inspiration his players derived from Kobe Bryant's performance in Game 4. Bryant, after a trying day that included entering a not-guilty plea in his sexual-assault case in Colorado, blistered the Spurs with a 42-point outburst.

"We have to maintain a different direction, tempo, control, poise, all these things we talk about because it's a road game," Jackson said. "Keep the crowd out of it, which is almost impossible to think about. Mount the challenge as the game goes on and perform to the needs that are created by the game itself."

Bryant said he intended to get lots and lots of sleep Wednesday, both on the team flight to San Antonio and in the team hotel after he arrived. He acknowledged the fatigue his shuttling between Colorado and Los Angeles had forced on him.

He was confident he will have the energy it will take to play a game tonight he knows will be more difficult, simply because of the surroundings. Road playoff games, Bryant said, require as much intellect as emotion, and then explained what that meant.

"Picking our parts, being very precise in our offensive system, knowing exactly what we want to accomplish," Bryant said. "When we're playing at home we can capitalize on the momentum of the crowd, take quick shots ... make aggressive rotations defensively now and then and try to capitalize on a run.

"On the road you generally can't do that.

"It's just about precision. We've played these types of games on the road before where you have a team down by four or five or seven and take it one possession at a time and stretch that lead out, gradually. At home you might jump it up to a 20-point lead in a matter of three minutes. On the road you kind of have to break it down to maybe a whole quarter, take our time that way."

Center Shaquille O'Neal broke down the home-court advantage to its most basic element.

"It's just the ritual," O'Neal said. "You get to sleep in your own bed ... rather than sleeping in a hotel, eating room-service, getting on a bus. It's just different. And I also think we play much better when our backs are against the wall.

"Basically, it's just two good home teams winning at home. Hopefully, we'll be the first team to win on the road."

 

[THE KOD]

Just played San Antonio (-255) moneyline 3X


San Antonio is the stronger team overall. They should step up at home and go up in the series 3-2. I think this will go to a deciding game. Tonight just favors home team.

This is a critical game to advance. Both teams know it. If the Payton and Malone experiment don't work right tonight in this game then the Lakers will go down. I am counting on that to happen. Payton particularly is playing with a poor team attitude.
Geez he fits right in with the rest of the Lakers.

gl

KOD

 

[THE ONLY ONE]

Y risk -255 when you can buy 4.5 points for -240

GL scottlanta

 

[THE KOD]

Y risk -255 when you can buy 4.5 points for -240

GL scottlanta

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ONLY

saving money, theres a concept I need to learn more better.

 

[SALTY DOG]

You got that right.

 

[KsYaS]

The laker are playing like a unit, they are concernce about the game and the importance of the win!!

They forgot it in the last quarter, they just want to the game goes over and go home to do some home cooking, that's why they almost lost it!!

I do not think the spurs come back strong in the 6th!! Lakers momentum right now, Phil looks like the real deal with that play!


good luck scotty in another plays ! of course you shouldn't go againts the lakers!!