| NBA Playoffs: Spurs try to stay alive against Lakers in City of Angels |
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| Written by Neil Jordan | |||||||
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Thursday, 29 May 2008
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 The San Antonio Spurs have won four NBA championships since 1999, but have yet to win back-to-back titles, which was their mission for this season. However, they stand on the brink of elimination as they head to the Staples Center on Thursday night to face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of their Western Conference final series. BetOnline.com has the Los Angeles Lakers –8 point favorites over the San Antonio Spurs with the total set at 193.5 points.San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers – 9:00 PM ET The Spurs were outplayed for most of Game 4's 93-91 loss at home, and they may have pulled off the comeback if not for a controversial no-call on the Lakers' Derek Fisher for fouling Brent Barry. But in all honestly, the Spurs did not deserve to win that game based on a 40% shooting performance, including a brutal 7-for-24 from beyond the arc. Tim Duncan powered the team with 29 points and 17 boards, while Barry and Tony Parker chipped in 23 points apiece. However, Manu Ginobili struggled with a 2-for-8 night, finishing with seven points. The Lakers were focused right from the start, and had to battle the crowd as well as the Spurs. Kobe Bryant had 28 points and ten boards for the Lakers, who outrebounded the Spurs 46-37. Lamar Odom added 16 points and nine rebounds, and was much more aggressive after shooting 2-for-11 in Game 3. Pau Gasol notched a double-double with ten points and ten boards for the Lakers, and this is what they envisioned when they acquired Gasol: a big tandem in the post to deal with Duncan and the physical Spurs. The Lakers have an 8-point spread at home in this potential series-clinching game, and they are a perfect 7-0 at the Staples Center over the postseason. The Spurs usually have shown they can step up to the plate when their season is on the line, as they proved in their Game 7 win at New Orleans. But the Lakers have players that have been in this position, such as Bryant and Fisher, and the Los Angeles crowd will be as loud as they have been all season. It has been a great season for the Spurs, but it ends here as the Lakers will close out the series with a big night from Bryant on Thursday. For more props and odds on NBA Playoffs as we progress through the postseason, as well as a look at our brand-new and revamped Casino, visit BetOnline.com for the most exciting experience in the sports betting industry.                        |
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