NBA Playoffs Rundown

San Antonio 103 LA Lakers 84: The Spurs finally got their Big 3 players all playing well in the same game and it showed how tough they are to beat when that happens. As I've said all along, it is really tough for the Spurs to win unless Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili all play well. The Lakers have to find a way to slow one of those three down, the question is which one of those three can they slow down? It doesn't seem like an easy task when San Antonio is at home. On the road it might be another story but even in Game 1 San Antonio had a 20 point lead on the road, so the Lakers better figure out how to defend the Spurs quickly.

While Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili all played well, it was Ginobili who was the star of this game. He finished with 30 points on 9 of 15 shooting, including 5 of 7 from three. Ginobili struggled badly in the first two games because of injuries but after this game he looked pretty damn good. Tim Duncan singly-handedly dominated to boards for the Spurs as he ripped down 21 rebounds and added 22 points. Tony Parker had a solid game as well, scoring 20 points on 9 of 15 shooting and dishing out 5 assists. I'm not sure how long the Spurs can continue to rely on these three guys to shoulder the scoring load but it has worked for them for a while now, and nobody seems to be able to have an answer for this trio.

The Lakers role players struggled in this game and Kobe Bryant was really their only starter to play well. Kobe finished with 30 points on 13 of 23 shooting. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol did not have great nights and it really hurt the Lakers. Odom was only 2 of 11 from the floor and finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Gasol shot just 7 of 18 from the floor and finished with 15 points and only 5 rebounds. As good as Gasol is offensively, he really struggles on the boards for a big man. I think the Lakers role players will play better in Game 4, so that game should be alot closer than this one and I expect each team be going hard after that game.

You have the feeling that this series is going to go back to LA tied at 2-2 and then you have to wonder if maybe San Antonio would have the momentum in the series. Whenever this team looks dead, they always seem to come up with a performance to make you remember why they have won some many NBA titles. It's strange how such a good team can look so bad so nights and then play like a champion on other nights but I guess that is what happens when you rely on three players so much offensively.