Manu Ginobili, Spurs Come Back from Dead: Sound Familiar?

Never count out the champs.

For the second straight series, the San Antonio Spurs came back from the dead in a performance of which even Dr. Frankenstein (pronounced Fraunkenstein for the Mel Brooks fans) would have been proud.

The "big three"—made up of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and a rejuvenated Manu Ginobili—combined for 72 points to carry San Antonio to the victory, 103-84, pulling the series closer, to 2-1. 

The Spurs, especially Ginobili, had struggled in the first two games in Los Angeles. The River Walk and the cult-like fans in San Antonio proved to be just what the doctor at the retirement home ordered. The aging Spurs pulled it together for a must-win game on what could be their last ride to a ring and a chance to go down in history, winning five championships in a decade.

Somehow, Lamar Odom allowed the Spurs to force him into almost as many turnovers (five) as points (seven). There is nobody on the Spurs that should be able to guard Odom. At 6’11”, Odom is too big for Michael Finley or Ginobili to guard, and too athletic to allow Oberto to keep him from the basket.

This is a series that Odom should take over, but, luckily for the Spurs and their fans, Odom wasn’t born with the switch that allows him to be the man in a big game.

Kobe Bryant, however, does not. As I watch every game "the Mamba" plays, I get the feeling he merely decides when he wants to dominate. Watching Game 3 on Sunday night, I just got the feeling he knew his team didn’t have it and saved up for Game 4. Even so, Kobe went for 30 points.

If Kobe’s teammates show up like everybody knows he will, I have a hard time believing the Spurs can keep the Lakers from stealing a game in the Alamo City and taking it home to finish things off. I admit I had this same feeling after Game 3 in the New Orleans series. 

The difference is the team the Spurs are facing this time isn’t run by an up-and-coming superstar; this team is ran by the most cold-blooded, competitive, and driven athlete since No. 23 (No, Not LeBron).

It is true that an NBA playoff series doesn’t start until the home team loses. If the Spurs don’t play their best game, and the big three doesn’t carry them again, I’m afraid this series starts Tuesday night around 10 p.m.

Even if Duncan, Parker and Manu do come out blazing, it may just not be enough to keep the best player in the league from finally proving it on his own.