Round 1 Game 2 Preview: San Antonio Spurs (1-0) vs Los Angeles Lakers (0-1)

Apr 21, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) talks with Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) before the start of game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at AT

Wednesday night the San Antonio Spurs will look to go up two games to none against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.  The Spurs looked to be as healthy has they have been after one game. Tony Parker returned to form for San Antonio after late-season injuries by scoring 18 points with eight assists, and so did Manu Ginobili, whose 18 points off the bench on 3-for-5 shooting on 3-pointers elevated the Spurs past the Los Angeles Lakers for a 91-79 Game 1 victory Sunday in the Western Conference first round at AT&T Center.

Looking deeper into the box score, the Spurs did not have a great shooting night as a team (32-of-85, 37%).  The Lakers on the other hand shot a better percentage, 41%.  What the Spurs did do well to help them propel themselves over the Lakers in game one, is what makes San Antonio a tough team to play, defense.

They will have to continue to close out on their shooters, force them to take bad shots, force turnovers, and push the ball in transition.  The Lakers in game one have proven that they lack the transition defense when the Spurs get out and run.  Capitalizing on what they did so well in game one and have it boil over to game two will surely help the Spurs possibly walk out of game two with a much bigger margin of victory.

San Antonio will shoot better.  They will need to take advantage of open looks and knock them down. Steve Blake will not be able to contain Parker two games in a row.  Though he [Parker] ended with 18 points, his poor shooting from the floor will need to change.

If they can contribute the way they did in game one, and make adjustments where needed, San Antonio can be looking at taking a two game lead, before the series makes its way to Los Angeles for games three and four.

The way I see it, here are the starters for game two, followed by game information.

The Los Angeles Lakers perspective can be found here:  Lake Show Life

PROBABLE STARTERS

Point Guards Tony Parker – Steve Nash

Shooting GuardsDanny Green – Steve Blake

Small ForwardsKawhi Leonard – Metta World Peace

Power ForwardsTim Duncan – Pau Gasol

CentersTiago Splitter – Dwight Howard

BenchGinobili, Neal, Bonner – Meeks, Jamison, Clark

Head CoachesGregg Popovich – Mike D’Antoni

GAME AND BROADCAST INFORMATION

When: Wednesday, April, 24, 2013 – 8:30 PM (Spurs Time)Where: AT&T Center – San Antonio, TexasTelevision: TNT/FSSW  Radio:  1200 AM WOAI