LAKERS BATTER SPURS TO GO 2-0

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

Well the 2008 NBA Conference finals opened up in a straightforward fashion. The number 1 seeds hosted Game 1, the number 1 seeds won Game 1. Neither of these sides had any reason to rest on their laurels though. If there was an upset in Game 2 then both series would quickly turn on their heads and given that in the West in particular the supposed underdogs were the defending champions, this game was dead crucial in both series. The home side had to win to avoid having a moutain to climb.

Out West, the Lakers faced the Spurs in LA and the home side hit the ground running, the Spurs not even getting on the scoreboard in the first 90 seconds! The Spurs replied by closing within one but this turned out to be a Lakers show - the home side leading to the buzzer. The Spurs came close on a second occasion late on in the quarter but there were no scores whatsoever in the last minute! Kobe Bryant led the way with 8 points and the Lakers led 21-16 at the end of 1.

Well credit to the Spurs they at least tried to keep it competitive in the second quarter but still didn't look like turning the game round. The Lakers kept them scoreless for long periods though the Spurs did start to get close mid-quarter but the Lakers seemed to always have a response. Then the Spurs tied the game was tied at 37 with two minutes to go in the half. The Lakers replied with a 9-0 run. They were still led by Kobe, now on 13 points with Derek Fisher backing him up on 9. Half time score was 46-37.

The Spurs opened the scoring in the third quarter but after that the best they could do was keep the deficit down to seven. With less than two minutes gone the Lakers had a double digit lead that the defending champions could do nothing about! The Spurs were keeping things ticking over mid quarter but that's not going to help you in this sort of situation. The quarter later had it's dull moments including a scoreless period of nearly two minutes but by the buzzer it was pretty much game over anyway with a quarter to go. Kobe led the way with 20 points, backed up by Lamar Odom on 18. Lakers led 74-57.

Well if the third quarter was a Lakers demo session then the fourth was a Spurs nightmare! The visitors cut the deficit to sixteen points early on - that really was as good as it got. Under those circumstances it was only a matter of time before the Lakers lead broke the 20 point barrier and after that the Spurs really were just fading out. Kobe picked up 22 points in the game and MJ comparisions from the NBA TV commentators. Odom backed him up with 20 points with Jordan Farmar coming off the bench to get some attention with 14. Lakers won 101-71 and this is what the Spurs have to come back from if they want to retain their title!

In the East, the Celtics faced the Pistons in Boston. Well it was a tight first quarter but the Celtics did have the edge, they led 20-18 at the first buzzer. However that narrow lead wasn't able to stand up to a killer second quarter from the Pistons. The Celts could have made it back from there but the Pistons kept things ticking over in the third and though the home side outscored their opponents in the fourth it was too little too late. Richard Hamilton led the way with 25 points as the Pistons won 103-97 to swing home court advantage their way.

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