Spurs@Lakers Game Thread - mandelyn78753 wins!

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Spurs Lakers Preview
By The Associated Press
December 09. 2006 1:41PM

Though they just won another game without Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers surely want their superstar back in the lineup Sunday.

A team sharing the league's best record will visit Staples Center as the San Antonio Spurs take on the Lakers, who hope a few days rest healed Bryant's injured ankle.

Bryant originally sprained his right ankle when he stepped on Indiana center Jeff Foster's foot during the Lakers' 101-87 win on Monday. While he's been listed as day-to-day, Bryant played 37 minutes on Wednesday against New Orleans, scoring 24 points in Los Angeles' 105-89 loss.

Not wanting to take chances, Bryant was on the bench for Friday's 106-95 win over Atlanta. The Lakers improved to 3-0 this season without last season's scoring champion.

``It'll be day-to-day,'' Bryant said after the game. ``The key is just making sure the pain is gone. The last game I tried to compensate for it, but it just got worse to the point where I couldn't run without limping.

``It felt a little better today. But the fear was that if I played and it got worse again, that's something we didn't want to risk, especially since we've got San Antonio Sunday and then go on the road. So we just decided to err on the side of caution.''

Like it did in winning the first two games of the season when Bryant was recovering from knee surgery, Los Angeles (13-6) got big contributions from many sources to beat the Hawks.

Three Lakers scored career highs as Luke Walton had 25 points, Maurice Evans added 22 starting in place of Bryant and rookie Jordan Farmar had 15.

``It's a huge step for us when guys step up and contribute,'' Bryant said. ``Luke's been playing consistently all season long, and Mo (Evans) had a big game tonight. He's kind of been figuring his way through the offense. So for him to step up and have a game like that was really big.''

Though the Lakers have yet to lose without Bryant, they surely want to have their best player available against the surging Spurs (15-5).

Since the Lakers came roaring back from a 2-0 deficit to beat San Antonio 4-2 in the 2004 Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs have owned the Lakers, winning seven of eight meetings and going 4-0 at Staples Center.

Bryant has averaged only 25.7 points on 36.7 percent shooting in his last seven games against the Spurs, who moved into a tie with Utah for the NBA's best record on Friday.

While the Jazz lost in Minnesota, the Spurs routed the Clippers 111-82 behind Tony Parker's career-high 15 assists and Manu Ginobili's 22 points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Since losing to Golden State and Utah at the end of last month, San Antonio has won its last four games by an average of 23 points. The Spurs are shooting 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range during the win streak.

``Well we're in a pretty good rhythm right now. We have definitely benefited from the time we've had to practice and it's definitely showing in the games,'' Spurs guard Michael Finley said. ``Hopefully we can keep this thing going a little bit and keep our momentum in the right direction.''

lets hope the spurs assists and ball movement continues

well if Kobe plays then we will not have a any problems because the Lakers will give him the ball and Bruce is gonna shut him down, but if Kobe doesnt play then it gonna be a tight game but the Spurs will pull out at the end to win it

Should be a good game, shame to play Lakers if no Kobe - so I'm hoping he'll be ready!

Even Jackson was very reluctant to tag his team with elite status after a numbing 105-89 home loss Wednesday to New Orleans: "We're not in competition with San Antonio yet," he said. "This team isn't at that level."

I think we should win if Kobe plays and if he doesn't.If he plays let Bruce have his fun.And if not the Spurs are a much better team than the Lakers and it will be easier.

Lakers: L.A. has big challenge in the Spurs
By Ross Siler, Staff writer
Article Launched:12/09/2006 10:52:53 PM PST


EL SEGUNDO - The Lakers have been building toward this ever since the calendar turned to December, a final exam tonight against San Antonio at Staples Center, before the road games start coming fast and furious.
The Spurs are tied with Utah for the NBA's best record at 15-5 and have won four consecutive games. In their victories the past week, they led Golden State by as many as 42 points, Charlotte by 22 and the Clippers by 37.

"They're playing as good as anybody can play right now," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, noting that San Antonio also is 8-2 on the road.

"I think they're the toughest test for anybody," Kobe Bryant added, "just because they play so well and they're so organized and so steady."

Whether the Lakers will have Bryant available was in doubt Saturday.

Bryant sat out all of practice and did only light walking while trying to keep his sprained right ankle elevated.

Bryant was wearing a blue compression sleeve that stretched from his thigh to his foot, designed to pump the swelling out of the ankle. He didn't play Friday and said he wouldn't play tonight if the ankle felt the same way it did Saturday.

However, Bryant was optimistic that the ankle would improve
with another 24 hours rest and continued therapy Saturday night.
"We'll get up tomorrow morning," Bryant said, "and it should feel better than it does today."

If Bryant cannot play, Maurice Evans would start again in his place.

The Lakers will have to put forth a strong defensive effort against the Spurs, with Smush Parker staying in front of Tony Parker and Kwame Brown using his size against Tim Duncan.

The Lakers also are hoping to finish their front-loaded schedule of home games on a positive note. They are playing 15 of their first 20 games at home but have eight of their next 10 after tonight on the road.

Another ankle

Vladimir Radmanovic suffered a sprained ankle going through a dry run at practice. Jackson chuckled when recounting the injury because there was no contact and only light running involved.

Radmanovic's status had not been determined.

Bryant on Odom

Entering his third season playing with Lamar Odom, Bryant offered his thoughts about the evolution taking place with his teammate. Although Odom has had two lackluster games this week, he still is averaging 18.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

"Last year, what I used to have to remind him every once in awhile was, `Do you want to be a great player or do you want to be a (so-so) player,"' Bryant said. "When you think about it, if he could step outside of himself, he could take it to another level.

"This year, I haven't had to do that at all because it's just clicked with him. Again, I think it was the playoffs. The series he had against Phoenix, he stepped up (and) had an incredible series. I think that showed him what he's capable of doing."

Bryant also was asked about the locker-room tribute that Odom pays to his infant son Jayden, who suffocated in his crib in June. Odom has hung an oversized T-shirt with a drawing of his son's face.

"The first time I saw it was very difficult," Bryant said. "I think for everybody that saw it, it was tough. But for Lamar, it's not a moment of sadness. It's a moment of honor, for the life the child was able to live up to that point. From that point forward, it's not a shocking moment. It's happy because it makes him feel good."

wow the end of that last article is intense. i had no idea lamar odoms infant suffocated in his crib. i couldn't even imagine that happening. wow.

on a more spursish note, i hope we have another dominatory game like our last 2 out of 3. bruce = showstopper.

I'll be at the game!

Enjoy the game Misti, looking forward to hearing your report.

That quote by Phil Jackson scares me a bit. This Laker team is hungry to show that it is one of the best teams in the league. While I think that may be a bit of a stretch, they are much improved. Jordan Farmar was a nice pick in the draft, Bynum has been a monster at times this year, and they are still waiting for the Vladimir Radmanovic acquisition to pay off. They have had a lot of players stepping up and showing that they can compete in the NBA including Luke Walton who scored a career high 25 against the Hawks in their last game.

I hope Kobe plays but only to see him battle with Bruce. The Lakers will loose without him. The Spurs are just too focused right now to play down to the level of an opponent missing their superstar. Either way a guy like Lamar Odom with his length and agility will be one of the Spurs biggest threats. The Spurs just don't have anyone made to guard him. It may be interesting to see if Eric Williams can slow Odom down a bit.

On the other hand I just don't see how they plan on stopping Tim Duncan. Sure Kwame will try to harass him. Bynum will try to muscle him up. Luke may even get a shot at out thinking him. But they all will be powerless to stop a healthy, dominating Tim Duncan.

If the Spurs can continue their impressive ball movement and the Lakers are foolish enough to leave Bones and Bruce open a couple times this game should add to the Spurs win streak. What would be really nice is if they continued their blowout streak so we could have some players half way rested for tomorrow nights game against the Clippers. The Clippers are a lot tougher at home and will be looking for revenge after the Spurs spanked them at the AT&T center.

Damn... can't watch the game

im confident the Spurs will take this one, esp since they've been playing at such a high level. if they move the ball as well as they have the last 3 games, there should be no problem

go get em timmy

never know with these two teams

Sorry I couldn't get an pre-game analysis in. Its exam week at my college, so I haven't had time. Go Spurs Go. Hopefully they will win!