But now they are playing the Los Angeles Lakers. A Lakers team that swept the weeping Nuggets and teased the Jazz into thinking they could win and beat young and inexperienced team. But all the Lakers did was show everyone they can win on the road and beat a team that had the best home record in the league.
The Lakers had a 20-point come from behind in the third quarter to steal the game opener 89-85. A game the Spurs felt they should have won. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers came in with an aggressive mindset in Game 2 and it showed, beause they never trailed - only three times in their last four playoff games that happened.
“We’re confident we’re a very good home team, but you hate to put yourself in a position where you’re down 0-2,” said Tim Duncan, who had 12 points and 16 rebounds. “One of two things is going to happen - either we’re going to turn it around and make this thing into a series or we’re not. We are going to go home and try and change the tide of it.”
Turn it around they must if they want to extend the series and take it back to the Staples Center. A crucial Game 3 (Today) and Game 4 will be played in San Antonio, where the Spurs are perfect 6-0 in this playoff season and have won 20 of their last 22 games.
“The old adage is you just won the games on your home court, which is the important part, and extended the series to six games,” said Phil Jackson. “We know that. Now, nothing happens until we win on their court. And someone wins on the other team’s court.”
History shows only 14 of the 222 teams to lose the first two games in a best-of-seven NBA playoff series have come back to win, including the Spurs in their second-round matchup with the Hornets. But this will prove to be a much tougher assignment - San Antonio has to be almost perfect at home and steal a game at Staples Center, where the Lakers are 7-0 and have won 13 straight.
“I hope the best is yet to come,” said Odom. “Right now, we have the mentality that we’re striving for perfection, so every game that we play, we feel like we can play better. Tonight we played well, but we want to continue to get better.”
“I blame myself for these two losses,” said Ginobili. “It should be 1-1. My mind is not fatigued. I need to step up. It will be different in Game 3.”
Game 3 no doubt will see a much better San Antonio team. But will the Lakers lay low, or will they come out in full force and stun this frantic San Antonio team. It’s the Western Confernce Finals - win or face elimination.
