Lakers-Spurs: Kobe Bryant Brings The Lakers Back To Win Game 1

Kobe Bryant scored two points and handed out five assists in the first half before erupting for 25 points in the second half. The league MVP led the Lakers back and scored the go-ahead basket with 23.5 seconds to go as Los Angeles won the first game, 89-85.

The Lakers came out rusty and lethargic, and the San Antonio Spurs came out on fire. It appeared that the “sleeping on the Tarmac in New Orleans” tactic was working well for the Spurs. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker had a fast start as the Spurs took a 27-24 first quarter lead.

Kobe Bryant played the role of facilitator in the first half with two points and five assists. Coach Phil Jackson trusted his young players, who have been huge for the Lakers all season. He went to his bench early and the role players responded with energy. The Lakers went on a 10-2 run to tie the score at 33-all.

The Spurs were not phased by this and showed that they meant business. The Lakers had difficulty keeping Tony Parker out of the paint, and he had his way in the first half. He scored on several of his patented one-man fast breaks. The Spurs shot 50 percent from the field, the Lakers missed five lay-ups, and LA trailed at the half 51-43. In the match up of trios, the Spurs trio outscored the Lakers trio 33–17 in the first half.

The Spurs scored the first eight points of the third quarter and the Lakers were buried facing a huge deficit; it didn’t look good for the Lakers. The Spurs appeared to have lulled the Lakers to sleep and at the 5:50 mark the Lakers were down 65-45. A funny thing happened at that point in the game; it was the tale of two halves.

Kobe Bryant became more aggressive offensively and the Lakers began chipping away at the 20-point deficit. The Spurs held a 72-65 lead at the end of the third quarter, but the Lakers had gained the momentum and the crowd was back into the game.

The Lakers were in need of more energy and Phil Jackson called on the bench again. This time, he inserted Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic together in the backcourt and placed Kobe Bryant at the small forward position. This adjustment gave the Lakers a speed advantage and the needed energy to make a run.

Some asked if Kobe was being shut down by Bruce Bowen’s defense. Bryant, in a better rhythm, went on the offensive against the tough defense of the man known by some as Bruce Boa-constrictor or Edward Scissor-hands.

The Lakers used their defense to get back into the game. They were active and aggressive. The Spurs were 5-of-25 shooting with seven turnovers and they were outscored 40-16. After a 10-3 Lakers run, the score was tied at 81-all.

The Lakers took their first lead of the game at the 3:00 mark of the fourth quarter. The Lakers had their biggest lead of four points, only to see the Spurs tie the score at 85-all. Under a minute to go, with the Spurs trying to get the ball out of Kobe Bryant’s hands, he pulled up below the foul line for a 14-foot jumper that put that Lakers up 87-85.

The Spurs came out of a time out with one last possession. Manu Ginobili missed a three-point shot, Vujacic grabbed the rebound and was fouled.

He knocked down two free throws to complete the comeback for the Lakers and the collapse for the Spurs.

This was a game that the Spurs should have won, but the Lakers put on a dramatic comeback to steal the game. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were solid, but the Lakers were able to neutralize Ginobili’s impact on the game and keep him out of the paint.

The Lakers trio outscored the Spurs trio 31-21 in the second half. Phil Jackson coached teams are 40-0 when they win the first game of a seven-game series.

The Spurs, coming off of an emotional series against the Suns and a tough seven-game series against the Hornets, came out strong, only to collapse and take one on the chin. This is the type of game that is a tough loss to face and very difficult to recover from.

The Spurs are the defending world champions; if anyone has the mental toughness to come back from this type of defeat, it is the Spurs. Game 2 is on Friday night at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.