LA Lakers Nailing Down The Coffin on San Antonio Spurs: Game 4 Recap

Did Derek Fisher foul Brent Barry on Barry’s last-second desperation buzzer beater?

Absolutely!

Still, if the Spurs had gotten more contributions from key players, they wouldn’t have had to rely on Barry trying to pump fake Fisher at the buzzer 30-feet from the basket.

Nope, the truth is the Lakers won (and the Spurs lost) Game 4 during the first 47 minutes without the referees intervening.

The Lakers:

As has been the case in virtually all their playoff games this year, Los Angeles came out with tremendous speed and enthusiasm during the game’s initial minutes. Dribbles and passes were challenged, loose balls were ripped away, and turnovers were converted into easy buckets with blinding speed. While San Antonio eventually settled down, the initial burst relegated San Antonio to playing a forever game of catch-up.

Kobe Bryant spearheaded the charge by connecting on his first four baskets—a transition lay-up, and three jumpers to put the pressure on San Antonio’s defense to react.

After that initial surge, Bruce Bowen got the best of Kobe, staying in front of his first step, staying down on his series of pump fakes, and staying back lulling Kobe into a false sense of jump shot security.

Kobe only shot 10-25 from the field after the first seven minutes onward (the majority coming against Ime Udoka and Manu Ginobili). The most compelling evidence supporting Bowen’s mastery were Kobe’s auxiliary offensive numbers—a spare assist, two turnovers, and zero (zero!) free throw attempts.

Kobe also committed a pivotal brain lock in the game’s final minute, jacking up a needless shot with 30 seconds left, 15 seconds on the shot clock, and the Lakers up four.

Still, Bryant scored the majority of his points after San Antonio threatened to take the lead with miniature runs. If he couldn’t score consistently, he’d score when it hurt the Spurs the most, constantly forcing them to keep rolling their boulder up the mountain.

Besides Kobe’s isolations, Los Angeles undertook a number of speed cuts stemming from Pau Gasol in the midpost. Even if the shots didn’t drop, the constant activity placed the Lakers in prime offensive rebounding position. The sheer hustle resulted in Los Angeles’ totaling of 11 offensive rebounds in the first half and 20 second chance points.

While Pau Gasol (4-7 FG, 2-4 FT, 10 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 10 PTS) was again, a non-factor whenever asked to create his own offense, his passwork, his cutting, and his activity on the boards were instrumental in the Lakers’ offensive continuity.

With Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher saddled with foul trouble in the first half, Vladimir Radmanovic cut and made his way for 11 first half points and a six total rebounds.

The Spurs sagged off Lamar Odom for the duration and dared him to settle for long-ranged jumpers (he made only one of these). However, as the game wore on, Phil Jackson placed Odom along the baseline and off the ball where the Spurs would have difficulty providing help on defense for his cuts to the basket. This slight adjustment resulted in half of Odom’s point total coming in the fourth.

While Gasol certainly didn’t stop Tim Duncan, his long arms and timely bangs bothered Duncan’s touch around the basket. Also, his strip and one of his blocks on Duncan resulted in two transition baskets for the Lakers. 

If Derek Fisher was no match for Tony Parker’s speed, and if his jumper was touch-and-go, D-Fish hit a backbreaking jumper over Parker to give the Lakers an eight point lead with two minutes to go.

Luke Walton missed three layups, and committed three turnovers, but he battled through for 10 points, and six boards.

Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic were rendered useless by their recklessness, combing for 2-12 FG, 6 PTS, 2 AST, 3 TO.

Give the Lakers credit for being, among other things, quicker, faster, and more athletic than the Spurs. Also, give the Lakers credit for stopping the Spurs' run before it could snowball into an avalanche. Only until the final minute did the Lakers release their hold from San Antonio’s jugular, and fortunately for them, their talent and hustle over the first 47 minutes made up for several critical mistakes in the final 60 seconds.

The Spurs:

While Tim Duncan had another splendid game, he was far from dominant, shooting only 10-26 from the field for his 29 points. In fact, Pau Gasol’s length and the Lakers quick, far-reaching help on defense resulted in a performance that was more uneven than numbers would indicate.

Moreover, despite grabbing 17 rebounds, Duncan failed to reel in several important ones in the first half which contributed to Los Angeles’ 20 second-chance points before halftime.

Duncan needed to attack Gasol’s body right from the opening tip, both with the ball, and in boxing out. Those very minor shortcuts taken resulted in the difference between being effective and being dominating. And the Spurs needed Duncan to be he latter.

Tony Parker overpenetrated several times, but his drives were too hot for the Lakers to handle—8-17 FG, 7-7 FT, 9 AST, 23 PTS.

Manu Ginobili was hounded by a variety of different Lakers defensive looks, whether it be Kobe, Radmanovic, Walton, Vujacic, Farmar, as well as various double teams and alert help defenses.

Also, whenever Ginobili was assigned to defend Kobe, Radmanovic, or Walton, the bigger and stronger Lakers players would assault Manu in the low post, forcing him to expend so much energy on defense that he’d be unable to compensate on offense—another brilliant tactical decision by Phil Jackson.

As is the case in San Antonio’s losses, the jump shooting helped to do them in. The Spurs were 6-14 on long-range two point jumpers and 7-24 from behind the arc. Those numbers are actually skewed, because Brent Barry had the playoff game of his life—7-14 FG, 5-12 3FG, 5 REB, 1 AST, 23 PTS. Subtract Barry’s contributions and the Spurs only shot a pitiful 7-25 on jumpers exceeding 14 feet.

Besides a handful of timely rotations by Robert Horry, the Spurs supporting cast of Horry, Michael Finley, Fabricio Oberto, Ime Udoka, and Kurt Thomas was entirely useless.

Indeed, the Spurs lost because of their inability to connect on their jumpers, Manu Ginobili’s vanishing act, and the complete disappearance of San Antonio’s role players.

Since backs-against-the-wall situations are nothing new for the defending champion Spurs, it best be advised the Lakers are prepared to end things on Thursday. The Spurs have proven that they are nothing short of resourceful and have a championship heart and will come out with a level of focus and intensity only seen in Game 3.

Instead of giving San Antonio a chance to get back in the series, the Lakers must show the killer instinct to avoid being on the wrong side of a Hollywood ending. For the young Lakers, the final step will be the most difficult one.