SPURS(2) vs LAKERS(7): 2013 First Round

Spurs: 58 wins / 24 losses
Lakers: 45 wins / 37 losses

Oh yes. Expect dramas.

I voted Spurs in 4 out of hope more than anything. They're really struggling and the Lakers without Kobe are better than people give them credit for. If Pau Gasol continues to be epic, I think the Lakers could steal this one.

Lakers got a chance at this one if the Spurs continue to struggle

so many people (and laker fans) will pick the lakers as the "sleeper" pick in the playoffs, and i gotta say they aren't that much worse without Kobe. They will also get better when Nash comes back, but I think the Spurs are still too good and will pull it out

F the Lakers, get a sweep-job.

Lakers have a chance if Tony Parker is still hurting and Manu gets hurt (again).

I'm going with what Kobe guarantees again. He guaranteed playoffs, Lakers got playoffs.

Spurs in 7, just don't want to see Dwight Coward win anything. People say he's a Shaq, I say he's just a Kemp. In serious, it's up to which team will have more healthy players during the series. Anyway, after 1st round, any team pull through this have a good chance winning a free 2nd round exit ticket.

Spurs in 5, unless Steve Blake continues unleashing his inner Kobe, which he has shown the past 2 games.

Spurs in 6.

Spurs in five, though Parker and Manu's health is definitely a concern. The Lakers won the other day but right now I'm not sold on the idea of them winning four out of seven, with no Kobe and no homecourt advantage. I think the games will be competitive, but the Spurs will be the ones moving on.

People say he's a Shaq, I say he's just a Kemp.

Before the lockout of 1998/1999 and his drug problems derailed his career, Shawn Kemp wasn't exactly a bad player to be compared to.

Spurs in 5.

Spurs in 6.

Spurs in five, though Parker and Manu's health is definitely a concern. The Lakers won the other day but right now I'm not sold on the idea of them winning four out of seven, with no Kobe and no homecourt advantage. I think the games will be competitive, but the Spurs will be the ones moving on.

People say he's a Shaq, I say he's just a Kemp.

Before the lockout of 1998/1999 and his drug problems derailed his career, Shawn Kemp wasn't exactly a bad player to be compared to.

I know. What I mean is he'll be remember as good, not as great, and won't win anyring in his whole career. His best achievement will just be a sneaker.

And multiple All-Star appearances, an NBA Finals appearance, Defensive Player of the Year, one of the best bigs during his era...Howard may never get a ring, but his career won't end up being too shabby. Kemp was a little more than a sneaker, too.

If the Spurs keep struggling as they have in their last few games of the reg. season (esp. with injury problems and McGrady still trying to settle in the system) and if the Lakers keep up the momentum to their side (along with strong performances from the whole squad), we may see an upset here (Lakers in 6). But if the Spurs get back on track and play excellent basketball, it will be a sweep.

Even though chances might be bleak for the Lakers my inner Laker fanaticism just wants me to believe that the Lakers will win this series.

Seems like our first drama came from a tweet, Kobe's tweet as he continues to miss from outside.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... t-tweeting

SAN ANTONIO -- Kobe Bryant already publicly vowed not to tweet during Game 2 of the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round playoff series Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, but a certain teammate wants Bryant to keep on tweeting in the free world.

"Kobe should tweet for Game 2 the whole time, every possession," Metta World Peace said after practice Tuesday. "Critique us, criticize us, chew us out. I'll tweet him back. I'll direct message him."

Oddly enough, Bryant and World Peace don't follow one another on Twitter, so they wouldn't be able to direct message one another. Bryant unfollowed all of his teammates in March, tweeting, "not sure why I'm following my teammates when I see them every damn day."

World Peace only follows four user accounts on Twitter. The Dalai Lama made the cut; the Black Mamba didn't.

"He's a great tweeter," World Peace said of Bryant. "I don't follow him. I don't follow Kobe because all I follow is four people. I follow the Dalai Lama and I follow a couple other people. But it's easy to follow Kobe. Just go online and [search] 'Kobe Bryant Twitter' and you'll see what he says."

...

Steve Nash was also apathetic on the subject.

"I don't care," Nash said. "To each their own."

...

World Peace seemed to get a kick out of what D'Antoni said about the subject Sunday, when the coach characterized Bryant as "a fan" for expressing his opinions about the game through social media while watching it on TV.

"That was funny," World Peace said. "That was good. I liked that. I read that. I saw that. That was funny. That was a great joke. Mike D'Antoni is slick, boy. That was awesome. That was awesome. That was awesome. I loved that. Kobe was awesome tweeting out at coach's decisions on the court and then coach messaged him back through the media. That was great. It's all about that. The media has got something to talk about."

...

"He should coach," World Peace said. "Put a suit and tie on, a bowtie, with the Mamba symbol [on his lapel] and get on the bench and coach. Drag that leg here. I love when Kobe coaches. Kobe's a great coach, though. Too bad he's not going to coach when he ends his career. He would be a great coach."

Steve Nash was also apathetic on the subject.

"I don't care," Nash said. "To each their own."

Sounds like the initial novelty of being a Laker has worn off for Nash.

I really miss Shaq. Watching Howard trying to carry the team, he's a good player, really good...I just miss Shaq's dominance. MDE indeed.

I really miss Shaq. Watching Howard trying to carry the team, he's a good player, really good...I just miss Shaq's dominance. MDE indeed.

You will miss even more. Blake is out out indefinitely with a strained right hamstring. Nash and Meeks are doubtful for Friday's game 3.

I really miss Shaq. Watching Howard trying to carry the team, he's a good player, really good...I just miss Shaq's dominance. MDE indeed.

You will miss even more. Blake is out out indefinitely with a strained right hamstring. Nash and Meeks are doubtful for Friday's game 3.

Throw up the basketball 'cause the Lakers are going fishing.

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Post touches by each quarter:

Howard:

1st: 2 x
2nd: 10 x
3rd: 5 x
4th: 5 x

Gasol:

1st: 1 x
2nd: 3 x
3rd: 1 x
4th: 8 x

Wonder what's in store for this off season..I can't believe the Lakers are stuck with D'Antoni for another 3-4 years.