I remember these guys!

“[Insert string of expletives here]”

That about sums up the recap of tonight’s giveaway to the San Antonio Spurs. Ugh. Can you smell that? It’s the stench of an old rival. Remember them? After there was Boston in 80′s, and before there was Boston again last year, there were the Spurs soaking up all the animosity of Laker fans. As last night’s frustrating conclusion unfolded, all the years of abhorrence for San Antonio came rushing back to the surface.

I was quickly reminded why Manu Ginobili is one of the five most obnoxious players in NBA history. Here’s a professional athlete who spends more time flopping around on his back than Tara Reid. As the final seconds of the game ticked away, I felt like Shenae Grimes would feel if she had just eaten Rosie O’Donnell. Aside from the Boston Celtics, nobody gets the gag reflexes working like the Spurs.

In a game that was over, then over again and then finally decided by the guys in stripes, the Lakers can look at two plays earlier in the game that may have cost it for them.

#1: With 0.8 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Trevor Ariza fouled George Hill on a heave from 45′ away.
#2: In the waning seconds of the 3rd quarter, Manu Ginobili coasted up the floor and knocked down a 40′ three to beat the buzzer.

In about 4 game seconds, the Lakers gave up 5 free points by not paying attention. In a closely contested one point loss, those two plays are the difference.

During the first half, the Lakers played defense as though there were five Radmanovich clones on the floor. There’s a good chance Frankie Munez could have been in double figures by halftime. The Spurs shot a sizzling 57% from the floor and knocked down an equally impressive 50% from beyond the arc. The Lakers allowed the Spurs to score 15 points above their season average, a growing concern for a team that has given up at-least 100 points in each of their last six games.

Realistically, this was a game setup for San Antonio to win. The Spurs were at home and well rested, having only played two games in the last eight days. The Lakers were on the second night of a back-to-back after a close win in Houston the night before. Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton, three of the Lakers regulars, were sidelined by injuries. This was the first meeting between the teams since the Lakers eliminated San Antonio is last years western conference finals. If I’m the Spurs, I’m not feeling too optimistic about facing the Lakers again.

They should enjoy this one while they can. It will certainly be a different story in May.