2008 Western Finals: (1) Lakers vs. (3) Spurs

Gasol did not slap the ball out of Duncan's hands, he absolutely raked the shit across Duncan's arm causing him to lose the ball out of bounds....clearly a foul, but those are the tough breaks I guess....the Spurs shouldn't have let it come down to a situation like that....Lakers deserved Game 1 in the end....

I agree he hacked Duncan but things happen like that in basketball. What about when Gasol missed that dunk, and Ginobili hip checked Gasol out of bound and no whistle was called? Referees will never be perfect but they do a pretty good job. If you guys think the NBA is scripted, why do you watch or why would you get upset if the "plan" is executed?

Not to be annoyed for sure. It's just so hard to see so many no-calls in games. But as you said, referees aren't perfect.

But the Spurs should have won.

yeah the point is the spurs blew it

No question. That's not to take anything away from the Lakers' rally but the Spurs' scoring drought left the door wide open and squandered what could have remained a comfortable lead for final quarter and a half, even with Kobe taking charge. If they can get the split in Game 2 then they're obviously still in a good position heading back to San Antonio for two games but even putting aside the history of Phil Jackson's teams when they win the first game, stealing this one from the Lakers would have been huge. Too early to say it's over but they blew a great opportunity.

I think Kobe will be looking for his own shot earlier on in Game 2. It may not have cost them this one but if not for the Spurs' drought his second half efforts would likely have been in vain. If Kobe comes out looking to score at the beginning of Game 2 I can see the Lakers racing out to a lead of their own and likely a 2-0 series lead.

WOW, I looked at the score in the first half and was disgusted with the Lakers, can't believe we pulled off the big comeback, especially against a good defensive team like the Spurs. Good game, should be a great series.

So the non calls by the refs are all in favor of the Lakers only?

Lakers 08 champs

Spurs taking Game 2. LA is overrated and people are giving them too much credit. I don't have anything against Kobe, world's best basketball player at the time but the Lakers are being overrated. If they supposed to win a championship, I don't see a guest comming in and getting a 20-point lead on you in the third quarter. Spurs did play slow and poor in the end of the third and the whole fourth quarter. Ginobili and much of the bench are pretty banged up but that's not the excuse, I look for the Spurs to come out with intensity and steal game 2 in Hollywood. Game 6 is where it's gonna be over and wait for the Pistons because that's most likely to go to Game 7.

The end of the game shouldn't have come down to the Pau Gasol foul. He shouldn't even be on their team.

I still don't even remember who they traded to get him.

Spurs taking Game 2. LA is overrated and people are giving them too much credit. I don't have anything against Kobe, world's best basketball player at the time but the Lakers are being overrated. If they supposed to win a championship, I don't see a guest comming in and getting a 20-point lead on you in the third quarter. Spurs did play slow and poor in the end of the third and the whole fourth quarter. Ginobili and much of the bench are pretty banged up but that's not the excuse, I look for the Spurs to come out with intensity and steal game 2 in Hollywood. Game 6 is where it's gonna be over and wait for the Pistons because that's most likely to go to Game 7.

lol watching game 2 rite now and spurs look listless and w/o energy.... they just look old.....

Spurs taking Game 2. LA is overrated and people are giving them too much credit. I don't have anything against Kobe, world's best basketball player at the time but the Lakers are being overrated. If they supposed to win a championship, I don't see a guest comming in and getting a 20-point lead on you in the third quarter. Spurs did play slow and poor in the end of the third and the whole fourth quarter. Ginobili and much of the bench are pretty banged up but that's not the excuse, I look for the Spurs to come out with intensity and steal game 2 in Hollywood. Game 6 is where it's gonna be over and wait for the Pistons because that's most likely to go to Game 7.

What ?
30 point win by the Lakers.

The end of the game shouldn't have come down to the Pau Gasol foul. He shouldn't even be on their team.

I still don't even remember who they traded to get him.

Thank god you're not the commissioner of this league.

i think this is gonna be a quick series for the lakers..... the spurs just seem worn out after the battle with the hornets.... they'll probably take game 3 at home but after that, it's a crapshoot..... and udoka needs to stop shooting..... he's airballed like five 3's in the last 2 games....

The exact same thing happened last series though: Hornets won the first two games, then the Spurs got themselves back into the series. I'm not saying this will happen again, but this series isn't over yet. If they drop either game 3 or game 4 though I don't think they'll have a chance of winning 2 games in LA.

I quite (quiet?) enjoyed the Spurs fourth quarter lineup of Thomas-Udoka-Barry-Stoudamire-Vaughn.

If Odom continues to play like he did in today's game, then the Lakers will be near impossible to beat 4 out of 5 times for the Spurs....

but they'll have a chance as long as Gasol is playing soft

Wow.. That was totaly outplaying. The lakers moved the ball so quick and well. They really deserve to win. And, man the block that Farmar made on Udoka. Just WoW

The Spurs blew an excellent opportunity in Game 1 and were unimpressive in Game 2 but as Matthew pointed out, it's shades of their last series against the Hornets. It might not turn out the same way and if they get down 3-0 or 3-1 then after the next two games I don't like their chances of winning three straight with two of them in Los Angeles.

maybe they'll mount a furious comeback and force a game 7 using their veteran savvy..... but i doubt they'll get past the lakers in a game 7 and it looks more and more like they needed to eliminate the hornets in 5 or 6 games rather than 7...... spurs will need a nothing short of a magical recovery for ginobili in order to have any chance in making this a competitive series..... pretty bleak outlook but they are the defending champs for a reason....... i'm rooting for the lakers in 5

Spurs taking Game 2. LA is overrated and people are giving them too much credit. I don't have anything against Kobe, world's best basketball player at the time but the Lakers are being overrated. If they supposed to win a championship, I don't see a guest comming in and getting a 20-point lead on you in the third quarter. Spurs did play slow and poor in the end of the third and the whole fourth quarter. Ginobili and much of the bench are pretty banged up but that's not the excuse, I look for the Spurs to come out with intensity and steal game 2 in Hollywood. Game 6 is where it's gonna be over and wait for the Pistons because that's most likely to go to Game 7.

other way around bro spurs mite get 1 game or 2 but thier old and tired and the lakers r just to much 4 them to handle rematch LAkers Pistons Lakers will get that sweet revenge

other way around bro spurs mite get 1 game or 2 but thier old and tired and the lakers r just to much 4 them to handle rematch LAkers Pistons Lakers will get that sweet revenge

The fuck do you guys come out from? Seriously. Everytime LA starts winning, people with an LA avatar/sig that can't type properly come out of the woodworks.

You bitches need to start respecting, old or not, these are the defending World Champions you're playing against. It ain't over till it's over, stop blowing your load from now on, you'll only look more like a douchebag if shit goes wrong.

Big mouthed, overconfident pricks.

maybe they'll mount a furious comeback and force a game 7 using their veteran savvy..... but i doubt they'll get past the lakers in a game 7 and it looks more and more like they needed to eliminate the hornets in 5 or 6 games rather than 7...... spurs will need a nothing short of a magical recovery for ginobili in order to have any chance in making this a competitive series..... pretty bleak outlook but they are the defending champs for a reason....... i'm rooting for the lakers in 5

They looked pretty good in Game 1 for about 30 minutes and were still in it right up until the last minute. They were run off the court in Game 2 but that's been a common theme in these Playoffs, teams winning big at home and usually that's meant even series until someone finally wins on the road (or in the Celtics' case up until their most recent game, outlast their opponent with homecourt in Game 7). If that trend continues, they're right back in the series.

It's not yet over til its over. There's no reason to count out the Spurs. Give them credits for they are the defending world champions. Yeah, they did it last year against a weak team (no arguments, the cavs are swept) but still, they're the champions. This team is not really old, they're just not as flashy as compared to other teams but they can still pull this one off.

Let's just wait and see. Game 3 is the biggest test for the two teams.