Tonight begins a huge test for the Spurs (6-1) as they face the Lakers (3-2) in San Antonio then the Chokers errrrr I mean the Mavs on Thursday and the Rockets on Friday.
For the Lakers, they rank as one of the best scoring teams this year averaging 108 points per game. Not only that, the Lakers average an NBA best 25.2 assists per game. Kobe “The Alleged Rapist” Bryant is leading the league in scoring with 30.4 points a game and averages 24 points against the Spurs in his career. This team has some offensive fire power and Lamar Odom is back from a shoulder injury. In Odom’s debut he scored 18 points ans grabbed 10 boards.
However something has to give because the Spurs are one of the best defensive teams in the league holding teams to 88 points per game. Leading the way so far for the Spurs has been Manu Ginobili. Manu is averaging 19 points and is coming off the bench no less! Duncan has scored 21.6 points per game and averaged 12.3 rebounds against Los Angeles since entering the league. Last season the Spurs lost 2 of 3 meeting with the Lakers.
Key match-up tonight is a no-brainer. . . Bowen vs Bryant. The defensive specialist, Bowen, will try to contain Bryant in what will be another battle in this classic matchup. Bowen gets labeled as a dirty defender but don’t tell that to Bryant. Bryant has said that Bowen is the most difficult person he has to play against. Kobe can light it up so Bowen has to bring his A-game tonight. A luxury for the Spurs is that Ime Udoka can come in and defend Bryant, something he did effectively last year with the Blazers.
In the end, the Spurs will win a close one against the Lakers.
