Lakertown Will be Jumping

By Trey Cosby

Too much speed, too much quickness, too much athleticism and too much Kobe.  That was the recipe that spelled doom for the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 Tuesday night in the Western Conference Finals in the NBA Playoffs. San Antonio Spurs memorabilia didn't take much of a hit, but the boys from Southern California came out smoking as they took a commanding three games to one lead with the series now heading back to L. A. Lakers banners and pennants have never been more popular.  The Lakers used an entourage of motion, strong defense and crisp ball movement to dig into the Spurs and take the series back to where they will have the chance to move on to the NBA Finals for the first time since Shaquille O’Neal donned the purple and gold. Shaquille O’Neal basketballs are still heavily in demand and a great addition to any collection.

The Lakers looked like a team on a mission.  They completely shut down Manu small forward Ginobili, and point guard Tony Parker wasn’t much of a factor either.  Without the unexpected services of shooting guard Brent Barry, who scored a scintillating 23 points in this game, the Spurs would have been blown off the court. After that kind of performance, Brent Barry cards were great sellers. Tim Duncan had his usual “monster” game on the boards and in the paint, but no other Spur seemed to play with much intensity.  Duncan, who led San Antonio in points (29), rebounds (17), steals (three) and blocks (three)—is just the third player in the past 30 years to accomplish that feat during this stage of the playoffs (Larry Bird did it in1981 and Hakeem Olajuwon got there in 1994).  No matter how old Duncan gets, he always rises to the occasion when it counts the most, and that's why Tim Duncan basketballs are hot collectibles. The same can’t be said for the rest of the San Antonio team, and it showed on Tuesday night.  They looked old, tired and beaten down.  The ball movement was slow, and they were not hitting their outside shots.  When the Spurs are not hitting shots they are very vulnerable.  From start to finish the Lakers looked like the better team.

It was a superior effort put on by the Lakers, who led from start to finish, a line that is almost becoming redundant in the playoffs. The Lakers have now won four of their last six games without ever trailing.  They are explosive and when they turn up the heat, the Lakers look like they can’t be stopped.  When the bench contributes like they did Tuesday night, Kobe Bryant is able to relax and get other people involved in scoring.  When Bryant is allowed to depend on others to help score the basketball, the team just seems to gel and they look better than any other team in the league.  That doesn't make Bryant any less steller or Kobe Bryant memorabilia any less attractive.

The pattern was almost predictable as the Lakers took a lead, the Spurs caught them and the Lakers extended the lead again.  With Ginobili having an off night and Michael Finley and Robert Horry looking almost non-existent, the Spurs’ outside shooting was abysmal.  Although the Spurs somehow scratched back to make the game close at the end, they really didn’t deserve to win the game and head coach Greg Popovic made no excuses.

It took a nice collective effort to win this game for the Lakers.  Kobe Bryant had 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol rebounded from poor Game 3 efforts by playing solid defense and working hard in the paint. Odom had 16 points and nine rebounds. Gasol had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.  Gasol was also instrumental in making some sharp, timely passes as the Lakers kept on applying the pressure so they wouldn’t get behind. Solid performances like this make Pau Gasol photomints and gold coins best selling items.

The Lakers got a big win in this game against the Spurs, and now they are knocking on the door to a championship.  If they can take care of home and get the win that puts them over the hump, they will have a couple of days to rest and get ready for the Celtics.  Right now they look as if they have fresh legs.  Every player from top to bottom looked like they were ready to play on Tuesday night.  Head coach Phil Jackson should be commended for his having the team ready to play.  If it took a blowout in Game 3 to wake the Lakers up, then it showed in Game 4. 

Lakertown will be jumping when the purple and gold return.  The city knows that they are one step away from becoming a dynasty again.  The Gasol trade got this team back to being one of the best, if not the best team, in the NBA.  With Gasol in the paint, and the Spurs getting old, the recipe for bringing back an old tradition seems likely to come about once again.  Lakers memorabilia sales are going to be outstanding.  All the players from yesteryear like Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Michael Cooperwill, will be back in the stands.  NBA Laker throwback apparel will soon be everywhere.  Laker autographed memorabilia is going to be highly on the rise.  Shaq is going to wish that he never left.  Bryant is going to relish in the fact that they are in the Finals again. Legendary Lakers may have retired, but they'll never be forgotten. Magic Johnson basketballs and James Worthy photos only get more valuable over time.

Fans are going to be calling the talk shows.  People everywhere are going to be tuned in.  The Lakers are about to make history again.  Shaq is gone.  This is Braynt’s team now.  They are making him look good when they play like this.  Bryant can sit back and smile when the Game 5 victory is his and the fans rush to buy Kobe Bryant apparel.  We will all be waiting with anticipation.