Kleeman's Last Word

Happy Birthday Lakers?

The Spurs have to wonder why they left Los Angeles without lighting a cake and serenading their conference final opponent with a heartfelt "happy birthday."

The Spurs just gifted the Lakers two games that were winnable and face yet another must-win game 3 at home on Sunday night. In a game 2 blowout, the second half problems that doomed the team in New Orleans killed them even earlier in Hollywood. When the defending champs don't score and protect the ball, winning is impossible.

Again, tonight, Ime Udoka, Brent Barry, Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and other role players clanged WIDE OPEN looks. When the Lakers watch film of Friday's game, they will see the piss poor Spurs miss shots from every angle. The Lakers porous defense said "please, do make some jumpshots" and the Spurs said "no thanks."

Now they must do what they did against New Orleans and take the defense up on their offer. Gregg Popovich told Craig Sager after the first quarter he hoped "somebody, anybody" would make some shots. Nobody did. In the span of a few hours, The Spurs went from looking like a champion that blew a 20-point lead to worse than the Los Angeles Clippers minus their entire starting five.

The team has faced criticism and age jokes all postseasson. They are one loss away from deserving every bit of it.
I'll end this post quickly, as not much needs to be said about another pathetic effort.

This Spurs team has built its championship pedigree on a no excuses foundation. So, there are no excuses for the team's lackadaisical, almost torturous to watch play Friday night.

The team that prides itself on delivering for its fans made every one of those supporters cringe and puke. Is this the best fight the champs have to offer?

There are no moral victories for any of these veterans, especially Manu Ginobili. It's time to find those legs and make some shots or face an early vacation. A game seven ouster to Dallas two years ago should remind them of that horrible option.

If Tim Duncan and company say they are "pissed off" about the team's colossal mistakes in the series' first two outings, now would be a good time to do something about it.

The Spurs didn't purchase or light a birthday cake for the Lakers because this series is not over. They have one game now to find themselves before an old rival leaves them for dead.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 10:02 PM