Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers

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San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Lakers

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

February 19, 2016, 9:30 p.m. Spurs Time

TV: FSSW Radio: 1200 AM WOAI

"Squint against the grandeur!" exclaims director Laurence Laurentz as he tries to galvanize newly-arrived cowboy actor Hobie Doyle into realizing his dramatic vision in the film Hail, Caesar!

Those of us who have subjected ourselves to the full pomp and circumstance of the Kobe Bryant farewell tour might empathize with Doyle, who ultimately struggles to indulge his director's wishes. But while lack of familiarity may have been to blame in his case, the opposite is true for anyone who sat through All Star Weekend's blah final night (or the months of imposed reflection preceding it). Shouldn't we have rationed some sentiment for his actual retirement?

Those feelings aside, we know mostly what to expect against Byron Scott's team, who actually put up a strong fight when these two teams last met in SA. Kobe and Jordan Clarkson led the way for the Lakers in a game the Spurs narrowly won 106-102, as the visitors managed to attack effectively on numerous ISO possessions. Bryant will be hoping for another strong performance in what will (barring a Favrian change of heart) be his last time sharing the floor with Tim Duncan.

As perhaps should have been expected, the prolonged All Star break resulted in some uninspired play from San Antonio as they returned to action against the Clippers. The 32 points scored in the first half might have been even more frustrating for Coach Pop after watching his team drop 196 in Sunday's game.

It of course didn't help that Kawhi Leonard was a late scratch, sitting out with tightness in his calf that had allegedly been bothering him since the Feb. 9th game against Miami. We'll see what decision is made closer to game time. It wouldn't seem like he would be needed to pull out a win against LA's B Team, but after their last flat performance nothing should be taken for granted. To be fair, Kyle Anderson did perform well in another start, but San Antonio really suffers with the void on the perimeter left behind by Leonard and Manu Ginobili.

Matchup to watch: Spurs players against those Staples Center rims. Hopefully they're more forgiving tonight.

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San Antonio Spurs (Record: 45-9)		Los Angeles Lakers (Record: 11-44)
February 19, 2016
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
9:30 PM CDT
TV: FSSW
Starters
Tony Parker	PG	Lou Williams
Danny Green	SG	Jordan Clarkson
Kawhi Leonard*	SF	Kobe Bryant
LaMarcus Aldridge	PF	Julius Randle
Tim Duncan	C	Roy Hibbert

Game prediction: Spurs by 16.

For the Lakers fans' perspective, visit Silver Screen and Roll.

As always Tony must dominate Fisher.