The numbers say the Spurs can do it.
When San Antonio returns to its home court down 2-0 in the Western Conference finals, it will draw inspiration from having been in the same hole two weeks earlier.
In fact, when the Spurs flew back from New Orleans, they did so having lost Games 1 and 2 of the Western semifinals by a total of 37 points.
2008 NBA Finals
Thursday's Game 1
- Lakers at Celtics, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Analysis
- Kahn: Phil, Red the ultimate rivals
- Whatifsports.com: Finals simulations
- Rosen: Comparing historic Big Threes
- Rosen: One of Jackson's best jobs
- Kriegel: Don't forget to credit Kupchak
Photos
- Celtics-Lakers through the years
Video
- Celtics-Lakers rivalry renewed
Also
- NBA Finals central: Lakers-Celtics
- Finals talk: Discuss Lakers-Celtics
- Lakers-Celtics: Head to head
- Complete NBA playoff coverage
They proceeded to turn the tables on the Hornets immediately, winning two in a row at home by a total of 31 points to set up a seven-game shootout.
The improvement came mostly at the offensive end. After having averaged 83.0 points in the first two games on 41.7-percent shooting, the Spurs were a completely different team at home, hitting 48.2 percent of their shots in Game 3 en route to 110 points.
This time around, the total margin of defeat in Los Angeles was 34 points and the Spurs averaged just 78 points.
Yes, similar to what occurred two weeks ago.
So, is a turnaround in the offing Sunday in Game 3? The numbers say the Spurs can do it.
Notes and quotes
The Spurs suffered their sixth loss in eight road games this postseason in Friday's 101-71 shellacking in Los Angeles against the Lakers. The Spurs will get Games 3 and 4 at home, where they are unbeaten (6-0) this postseason. The Spurs have lost six in a row and 16 of their last 23 to the Lakers in the playoffs. After harassing Kobe Bryant into almost as many turnovers (17) as he had assists (18) in four regular-season games, the Spurs have watched the Lakers star dish off 14 assists in the first two games of the series and turn the ball over just four times. Quote to note: "I blame myself. If I could have played at least OK these two games, we could at least be 1-1." -- Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, far and away the least effective of the Spurs' big three in the two series-opening losses to the Lakers. Roster report
Power forward Tim Duncan recorded a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double in Friday's loss to the Lakers. It was the eighth time in 14 playoff games that he's grabbed 15 or more rebounds. Duncan continued to struggle scoring-wise on the road, where he has averaged just 16.0 points in eight games this postseason as opposed to 24.2 in six home games. Point guard Tony Parker led the Spurs with 13 points, but he had as many assists (four) as turnovers (four). It wasn't the first time this postseason that's happened. In fact, it was the fifth time. Shooting guard Manu Ginobili came off the bench after starting Game 1, but the move didn't work. He was generally ineffective once again, missing six of his eight shots en route to seven points. He's now shooting 29.1 percent (16 of 55) in his last four road outings. Backup forward Robert Horry, a former champion with the Lakers, missed all five of his shots Friday, including both his 3-point attempts. He's 7-for-32 overall in the postseason and 5-for-19 from beyond the arc.Lakers: Defense key to road success
The Lakers are sitting pretty with a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, but they are also facing a San Antonio team that is 6-0 at SBC Center this postseason. The Lakers also lost both times they played in San Antonio in the regular season.
The Lakers do have a 3-2 road record in the playoffs -- the only NBA team with a winning road record in the postseason -- and would love to improve that by continuing to play outstanding defense against the Spurs.
San Antonio's Manu Ginobili already said after the Game 2 loss Friday night that he'll be more aggressive Sunday night in Game 3. But the Lakers like what they're doing to throttle the pick-and-roll attacks of Ginobili and Tony Parker.
"We focused a lot on defense and pick-and-rolls, and (in Game 2) we did a very good job of making those plays and our rotations," Lakers forward Luke Walton said. "When teams get hot, they're going to hit those shots, but as a defense you try to stay solid and contest the jump-shooters."
Notes and quotes
Of the 222 teams to fall behind 0-2 in best-of-7 NBA playoff series, only 14 have come back to win -- although San Antonio was one of those teams last round against New Orleans. One of the focal points for San Antonio for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals will be finding their way to the foul line: The Spurs shot just 5 of 10 on free throws in their Game 2 loss to the Lakers. Quote to note: "We feel like we have a lot of length and a lot of speed to go along with that." -- Kobe Bryant on the Lakers' defense.Roster report
Trevor Ariza played for the first time in four months Friday night when he got into the final minutes of the Lakers' victory over San Antonio. Vladimir Radmanovic is surrendering a lot of his minutes in the Western Conference finals to defensive pest Sasha Vujacic, but Radmanovic has made seven of his eight field-goal attempts. Jordan Farmar had one of his career highlights when he hustled to run back and block Ime Udoka's layup in the second quarter Friday night. Lamar Odom said that even though the Lakers lead the Spurs, 2-0, L.A. is "striving for perfection."
