Round Two - Game One Preview/Predictions

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Lakers-Spurs Preview</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> <br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=1276064">Associated Press</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
May. 4, 2003 4:19 p.m. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>GAME:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>PLAYOFF SERIES:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Western Conference semifinals, Game 1. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>TIME:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Monday, 9:30 p.m. EDT. <br>
<br>
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said six weeks ago his team had accomplished nothing by sweeping the regular season series from the three-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. <br>
<br>
"They are still the best team on the planet until proved different in the playoffs," said Popovich, who was recently named Coach of the Year. <br>
<br>
Eliminated by Los Angeles in each of the previous two postseasons, the Spurs will have another chance to knock off the reigning champs when they open their Western Conference semifinal series against the Lakers at the SBC Center. <br>
<br>
The Lakers have needed just nine games to send the Spurs home over the past two playoffs, including a five-game ousting last May. <br>
<br>
"That's in the past -- it's all about what we do now," San Antonio forward Bruce Bowen said. "A lot of times, people don't remember what you did years ago -- they remember what's going on now. <br>
<br>
"We understand they're the NBA champions of last year, so we have our hands full." <br>
<br>
Armed with the NBA's most lethal 1-2 punch in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers do present a formidable challenge for the top-seeded Spurs. However, San Antonio will counter with power forward extraordinaire Tim Duncan, who won his second straight MVP award on Sunday. <br>
<br>
"It's going to be up to us as a team to try and slow him down," veteran Lakers forward Robert Horry said. "It's going to be up to me to try and run him and keep him out of the inside. It's going to be up to Mark (Madsen) to try and beat him down and bang him up a little bit." <br>
<br>
Duncan, who led San Antonio in scoring, rebounding and assists during their first-round triumph over Phoenix, helped the Spurs complete a four-game sweep of Los Angeles in the 1999 Western Conference finals en route to their lone NBA title. <br>
<br>
He will undoubtedly be motivated to repeat the feat after being forced to watch the Lakers celebrate each of the past three seasons. <br>
<br>
"We know it all depends on Duncan," Lakers guard Brian Shaw said. "He's the heart of their team. So if we can contain him and at the same time not let them have balanced scoring for all the other guys, we'll be OK." <br>
<br>
After his team was pushed to six games by Minnesota in the opening round, Lakers coach Phil Jackson says its important for his team to get off to a quick start against the Spurs - something it has done in each of the previous two years. <br>
<br>
"Game 1 is important," Jackson said. "I think every game is important, obviously. This is the playoffs. We certainly want to get what we go down to San Antonio for, and that's a win. But the first one is always a critical game and always sets a tone." <br>
<br>
Game 2 is Wednesday in San Antonio. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>HOW THEY GOT HERE:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Lakers - 5th seed, 50-32; beat Minnesota 4-2 in first round. Spurs - 1st seed, 60-22; beat Phoenix 4-2 in first round. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>PROBABLE STARTERS:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Lakers - F Devean George, F Horry, C O'Neal, G Derek Fisher, G Bryant. Spurs - F Duncan, F Bowen, C David Robinson, G Tony Parker, G Stephen Jackson. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Lakers - Bryant, 31.8 ppg and 6.7 apg; O'Neal, 15.3 rpg. Spurs - Duncan, 18.7 rpg, 16.0 rpg and 5.2 apg. <br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>REGULAR SEASON SERIES:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Spurs, 4-0. San Antonio won all four meetings, completing its first season sweep of Los Angeles since 1993-94 with a 98-89 victory at the SBC Center on March 23. Bryant averaged 31.5 points in the four games against the Spurs, but shot only 37.6 percent (47-of-125) from the floor. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=blondie4spurs>Blondie4Spurs</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://homepage.eircom.net/~bray/em/orose.gif " BORDER=0> at: 5/4/03 10:32:35 pm<br></i>

Lakers-96<br>
Spurs-101 <p></p><i></i>

I'm gonna lose my fingernails watching this series. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Spurs 89<br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/piss.gif" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END-->Lakers 85 <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/saspotbanner.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937">To be the best, you've got to beat the best. BRING IT!</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
<br>
</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=saspurstheprideoftexas>SA Spurs The Pride Of Texas</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.geocities.com/~arthurh/ABABallGraphics/SpinningABABall.GIF" BORDER=0> at: 5/4/03 10:56:45 pm<br></i>

Spurs 96<br>
Lakers 90<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rock --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/rock.gif ALT=":rock"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Bring it on! <p></p><i></i>

Spurs have to run.<br>
<br>
Spurs 92<br>
akers 84 <p></p><i></i>

Spurs 88<br>
Lakers 82<br>
<br>
Go Spurs!!!<br>
<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/robinson_030222.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>This was on Feb. 22: David Robinson made an emotional return to the court for the Spurs.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></p><i></i>

Spurs - 92<br>
Lakers - 90 <p></p><i></i>

Pre-Game 1 hopes:<br>
<br>
1) I hope the Spurs take the ball right at Shaq. I hope the Spurs rotate their posts effectively. Kevin Willis could be an x-factor in the paint, and do more then throw an errant elbow in this series. At the least, he is six for fouls against 'the Big Brick', but I think Willis (along with Malik) can frustrate Shaq. The Spurs perimeter slashers could log an extra foul against 'the big boom boom' in the series also. I know Manu has no fear, the flying Argentina could score some cheap blocking fouls if an immobilized Shaq can be caught with his foot in the circle.<br>
<br>
2) I hope the Spurs don't play their 'four out, Duncan down' strategy. The Spurs offense is at it's worst when Duncan posts and the remaining four players stand still on the perimeter waiting for the three point shot. I hope the Spurs will move without the ball, and put it on the floor (see hope #1).<br>
<br>
3) I hope the Spurs play 48 minutes of solid defense. The Spurs will be prone for a let down if they let up. Of course the same can be said for the Fakers.<br>
<br>
4) I hope the Spurs are angry. I don't want the team to play out of control, but we need the Malik Rose 'We got our butts kicked, but we'll be back attitude'. The Spurs need to know that they are now BACK. It's time, we've all been waiting one year for this. The Fakers can say they have waited also, but I think it's a lie, they are waiting for the next NBA finals, not this conference semi-finals.<br>
I want to see Dave scream in triumph with the same intensity he slammed the door at the end of Game 1 against the Suns.<br>
<br>
5) I hope the Superbarn is so loud, that the people watching on TV can't hear the play by play. <p></p><i></i>

Spurs 97<br>
Lakers 89<br>
<br>
Spurs in 5<br>
<br>
My boy George says:<br>
Spurs 97<br>
Lakers 84<br>
<br>
My boy Augie says:<br>
<br>
spurs 98<br>
lakers 92 <p></p><i></i>

Looks like Buck has some smart kids<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/turquoisesmilewinkgrin.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

hehe before Augie says<br>
spurs 86 (something like that)<br>
opponent 1 (any team) <br>
<br>
my prediction <br>
spurs 101<br>
lakers 98 <p></p><i></i>

Defensive Battle.<br>
<br>
Spurs 93<br>
Fakers 87 <p></p><i></i>

SPurs 89<br>
Lakers 79 <p></p><i></i>

Welcome Skippy <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> - where are you from? <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Spurs -- 104<br>
Fakers -- 89<br>
<br>
Spurs win in 5 games </strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:blue;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">GO </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:red;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">SPURS </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:blue;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">GO </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:red;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">GO </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:blue;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">SPURS </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:red;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">GO </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:blue;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">GO </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:red;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">SPURS </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:blue;font-family:comic sans ms;font-size:medium;">GO </span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><br>
</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>