The time that players and fans alike salivate for all year is finally here. After 80-plus games, and plenty of high jinks and untold drama, the league is gearing up for the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Given the stakes and intensity involved, it often feels like a whole different season rears up its head come playoff time. A season 2.0, if you will.
To help you navigate through the first-round scenarios, SJN will be breaking down all of the matchups for you―offering lineups, schedules, and predictions.
Western Conference:
Los Angeles Lakers (7) vs. San Antonio Spurs (2)
Schedule:
Game 1 – Sun April 21, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 – Wed April 24, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 26, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 28, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 5 – Tue April 30, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 – Thu May 2, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 – Sat May 4, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TNT (if necessary)
It’s easy to believe that with Gregg Popovich drawing up the X’s and O’s San Antonio is invincible, but reality tells a different story. With an aging roster, even an airtight game plan can start to show cracks as last year’s near sweep by OKC showed. A year older, which only bodes well for Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs will have trouble in this year’s playoffs.
To make matters worse, Tony Parker is struggling while coping with a late-season injury. As a result, the Spurs’ offense has fared worse than the job market. For comparison sake, the Spurs posted the following numbers in the first 60 games of the season:
107.3 points per 100 possessions, 57.7 TS%, 38.0% from behind the arc, for 104.7 points per game, at a pace of 96.6 pace
But the last five games tell a different story:
96.8 points per 100 possessions, 50.6 TS%, 29.3 3 from behind the arc, for 93.4 points per game, at a pace of 96.5 pace
It’s a grisly take for San Antonio fans, really.
Though San Antonio still has Duncan and a slew of role players to get them past L.A., Parker’s performance will be the key to a long playoff run.
Despite a strong effort in their last encounter, Los Angeles’ defense is too hole-ridden to stand a chance against a concerted SA attack. They’re ranked 19th in the league defensively, and are pretty bad when Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace aren’t on the floor. I expect Howard to return to near-2009 form, but Hack-a-Dwight also has high chances of making an appearance.
It almost seems unnecessary to mention what missing Kobe does to L.A.’s competitiveness, but they could only score 90.2 points per 100 possessions with Kobe out of play. That won’t cut it against 4-time champions.
Outcome:
San Antonio Spurs 4-2 Los Angeles Lakers
