Mar 24, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Danny Green (4) signals a play against the Houston Rockets during the second half at the Toyota Center. The Rockets won 96-95. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

As Game Three looms, there are some adjustments that the San Antonio Spurs can do to win game three against the Los Angeles Lakers.  The news keeps getting worse and worse for them as they are faced into a 0-2 deficit without their star player in Kobe Bryant and yesterday, news came out that Steve Blake will miss the rest of the playoffs with a hamstring injury.  Steve Nash and Jodie Meeks may also miss game three, due to a hamstring and ankle injury.

San Antonio has been playing great this series as their bench is taking center stage with their stellar play.  Every San Antonio may have their broom out and are talking sweep, we are playing on the road and we tend to have our issues.

Below are some adjustments I feel the Spurs can take into account in order to put the Lakers on the shelf until next season.

• Continue Strong Presence In Post.  San Antonio bigs are doing a great job on making life rough for the Lakers and their big men.  Lakers as we know will ground and pound the ball into both Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard.  Matt Bonner to me has been the game changer as he too is taking a beating from Howard, but standing his ground.  As we have heard by now, Howard has accused the bigs of flopping.  I guess getting elbowed in the head and falling to the ground is a flop.
• Danny Green Needs To Step Up.  If the time for him to step up isn’t now I am not sure when that will be.  With the Lakers lineup as thin as it is, Green should be able to get back on track and bring his confidence up.  Spurs fans have seen a confident Danny Green can do what he wants on the floor.  Spurs need to set screens for him so that he can come off and fire away, with his quick trigger, he does not need much room to get a shot off.
• Don’t Overthink While On The Road.  I am a little more at ease knowing that Lakers are losing players left in right, but still in the back of my mind know the road woes the Spurs have.  San Antonio has to continue to play the way they have, what has them in their 14th consecutive post season.  Play San Antonio basketball, don’t change because you are now in Los Angeles.
• Stay Healthy. Don’t Get Hurt.  This has to be one that playoff teams are hoping they don’t happen to them.  As the news broke today, Russell Westbrook will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn meniscus.  Gregg Popovich and the coaching staff have to ensure that the players are healthy and do not over play them in situations.  The players cannot be timid when calling a timeout, be aware of what could happen, which is how Westbrook’s season ended, he was calling a timeout leaving himself vulnerable and Patrick Beverly lunged in for a steal, the rest is history.

Apr 24, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) gets a pat on the head from teammate Tim Duncan (21) during game two of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at AT

The scene shifts to Los Angeles, the City Of Angels, for games three and four of the Western Conference Playoffs.  The San Antonio Spurs (2-0) are now looking to continue their success against the Lakers this post season by stealing at least one from them in their arena.

In years past the Spurs have not been a team that lets say, has not had the luck on the road come playoff time.  Last season, San Antonio played three games on the road and lost every game.  What the Spurs need to do is carry over the gameplan they had the first two games in this series when they tip-off game three Friday Night on ESPN.

Though the play of Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter has really upset Dwight Howard, leading him to accuse the duo of flopping, they need to continue to hold their ground on the defensive end and continue to get into the head of not only Howard but Gasol as well.

Matt Bonner, please stand up!  Is this what all Spurs fans were hoping to see in April from the Red Rocket, Red Mamba?  Bonner through two games is averaging ten points per game and shooting 75% from beyond the arc.  He and the bench have been key to the Spurs two games to zero lead.

In our predictions at the start of this series, I stated that the Spurs would take this in five.  With the Lakers being banged up with Steve Blake being out indefinitely, Steve Nash and Jodie Meeks doubtful for game three, this team has no chance.

If San Antonio takes game three, you better believe the talks of sweep will be coming right after the horn sounds from Game three.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Point Guards
Tony Parker – Steve Nash

Shooting Guards
Danny Green – Jodie Meeks

Small Forwards
Kawhi Leonard – Metta World Peace

Power Forwards
Tim Duncan – Pau Gasol

Centers
Tiago Splitter – Dwight Howard

Bench Players
Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, Manu Ginobili – [insert your own player here]

Coaches
Gregg Popovich – Mike D’Antoni

GAME AND BROADCAST INFORMATION

When:  Friday, April 26th at 9:30 PM (Spurs Time)
Where:  Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Television:  ESPN/FSSW   Radio:  1200 AM WOAI

For perspective on the Los Angeles Lakers, head over to Fansided’s own Lake Show Life.

]]> http://airalamo.com/2013/04/26/round-1-game-3-preview-san-antonio-spurs-2-0-at-los-angeles-lakers-0-2/feed/ 0