The San Antonio Spurs host the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Listen to first round Western Conference action as the game is broadcast through ESPN Radio LA. Game time is 12:30 p.m. P.T./3:30 p.m. ET and here's the breakdown of this matchup as two of the West's most successful teams face off to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Spurs and Lakers are going in different directions. For the Spurs, they have lost seven of ten and the Lakers have won five consecutive games, two consecutive since Kobe Bryant went down agasint the Golden State Warriors. The Spurs have two of their toughest players suffering from leg injuries as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are not 100 percent coming into the playoffs.
Apparently, Ginobili was asked if he misses Bryant's presence on the floor and he quickly responded "Not really," Manu Ginobili said. "Of course, playing against him makes you better, that's for sure. He challenges you on every possession, but I'm not going to miss him, that's for sure." Who would ask that question and expect a different reply, who knows, but it might not be good news for the Spurs as the Lakers are playing motivated basketball. They want to win this for Vino and Mr. Jerry Buss.
This game looks like it will be about the battle of the bigs and three-point shooting. If they can get either Tim Duncan or Dwight Howard to establish a consistent game in the paint, things could open up behind the arc.
The Spurs owned the regular season matchups winning three of four games and they will look to do the same in this postseason series as the Lakers will attempt to break up their home court advantange.
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