It's Spurs versus Lakers! On TNT! This should be awesome! Charles Barkley is an idiot! Amirite? On the last one, I'm pretty sure.
Err... maybe 9 seasons out of 10, you would be correct that Spurs-Lakers is a barn burner. Unfortunately, this will probably be the 1 in 10 since the race for homecourt throughout the Western Conference bracket of the playoffs has ratcheted up like Mozart's Symphony 41 in C major making those inevitable twisting turns, only to end with the frustrating whimper similar to Charlotte Church's highly irritating but once promising career.
Gregg Popovich, ever so stealthy and masterful of the deceptive arts, orchestrated a shocking 6-game losing slide previously unheard of in the Tim Duncan era to make things interesting but ultimately to get his team under the radar again. But then Phil Jackson, sensing his old buddy's mind tricks as well as he can read into Kobe's seething anger at all things nice and pure, raises Pop his own five-game losing streak that puts us into the present situation. The Lakers have no chance to catch the Spurs, but are in a freefall towards the 4th seed if things don't turn around quickly. Will the Spurs play the perennial springboard that will launch the Lakeshow back to success, or will the Silver & Black flip the bird and add more pain to a team that has collectively withstood Kobe's pinkie problems to win back-to-back titles?
You see, that's the only thing that excites me in this game, and I don't expect too many fireworks, if at all.
I had a conversation with jollyrogerwilco sometime ago about me returning to make those long-ass previews I've sorta made a career out of in PtR, and I thought, yeah why not. I sorta missed doing those. I signed up for this Lakers preview two weeks early because 1) it's Hollywood and what better way to capitalize on it than to bust out a 'chop-filled prelude to a supposedly epic game with major playoff implications (before LA screwed their end of the bargain with that losing streak); and 2) I thought the two-week period will give me enough time to gather ideas, write the post and make the 'chops despite my fingers constantly threatening to go all carpal tunnel on me.
But then life happens, you know, and instead of having something, now I got nothing but the same old preview, a hack job if you will, although I set up a poll to help soften my self-disappointment.
With that, okay... let's get it on, and all that chit.
 San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Lakers Where: Staples Center When: 03/06/2011, 9:30PM Spurs Time - Timezone Converter Watch: TNT
By the Numbers
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Lineups
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Lineups
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Matchup Analysis
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Starters
PG: Parker will dominate Fisher That is all.
SG: This is basically the only matchup where Manu doesn't get a Spur all year long.
SF: Artest is playing much better despite all the flexing, bicep-kissing and senseless tweeting, while RJ is slowly upping his game in time for the playoffs.
PF: Maybe another game-winning tip-in can work? I'd rather the old man Dice save it for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Pau is a very skilled beast.
C: The old man's still got it. Yes, I realize Bynum is physically monstrous, but Timmeh still has enough tricks up his sleeve to win this one.
Bench
If not for playing on the same team as Cubits, the Nailgun might be a 6th man of the year candidate. I'm expecting Pop to play the bench a lot in this one, and winning would just be icing on the cake.
Coaching
Now that Jerry Sloan is retired, Phil is the only coach other than Pop that will ever get a spur here. Maybe Thibodeau, if his success continues for another few years.
Intangibles
We need some revenge after that home beating the Spurs took from the Lakers, but I guess Pop has already planned ahead to rest players rather than go all-out. Still, a win would be nice.
Mojo
The mojo is... either dead or alive. Your call.
Prediction
Spurs starters get a breather, but role players still push the Lakers to the limit in a narrow Spurs loss. (yes, you can burn me at the stake now)
Keys to the Game
Defensive rebounding
Ball movement
Limit turnovers
Bench production
Other Reading
Spurs
48 Minutes of Hell - Always a good read. Highly recommended.
Spurs Planet - Our old friend Wayne Vore is back.
Project Spurs - The original Spurs podcast can be found here, as well as some other good features.
Spurs Nation - The Express-News' Spurs blog, where usually the most inside info can be found.
OPPONENT
Silver Screen and Roll(SB Nation) - Yes, that's right, there are actually intelligent, respectful Lakers fans.
Following Along
TV
This game will be airing nationwide in the US on TNT. The rest of you, check your local listings or see below.
Radio
WOAI 1200AM; Audio League Pass[streaming]
Online
As always, NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area.
Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate. You can also shoot an email to poundingtherockmail@yahoo.com(IMPORTANT: Please include your PtR username in the email for reference) for further assistance.