After the Lakers' unbelievable 89-85 comeback victory in Game 1, a few thoughts ran across my mind.
One, the San Antonio Spurs cannot guard Kobe Bryant. Never had. Never will. Kobe was absolutely right when he said, "I can get off any time I want" (he meant basketball term "getting off"). Once Kobe finally escaped the bermuda triangle he was on in the first half, the league's MVP took control of the game.
Two, Manu Ginobili looked fatigued. I've always believed that the key to the Spurs is Ginobili. You have to keep him out of the paint and make him work hard on defense. As much as I wanted to think that the Lakers defense had everything to do with Ginobili's poor showing in Game 1, the reality of it was Manu looked completely worn out and I'm not sure one day's rest will cure it.
Three, the Spurs are showing their age. It wasn't just Ginobili who looked tired. Rob Horry looked gassed. Michael Finley looked like he was 55 years old. And Kurt Thomas may be playing on his last legs. When the Lakers blitzed the Spurs in the fourth quarter, San Antonio came back with...nothing!
Four, Tony Longoria-Parker still can't hit a jump shot when it matters most. Tony Longoria put on a shooting clinic in the first half. But when it was money time (as in the fourth quarter), his shot the ball as if he were a blind husband on "Desperate Housewives."
Five, the Lakers are going to the NBA Finals. Why? Phil Jackson is 40-0 when he wins Game 1 of a best-of-seven playoff series and the Lakers have the Spurs' number. The Lakers have eliminated the Spurs three times in the last eight years and are now 15-7 against them in the teams' last 22 postseason meetings.
Bring on the Pistons! Or the Celtics!
Keywords: Lakers, Spurs, Western Conference finals
