Lakers lose to Spurs, face Warriors Sunday
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The Los Angeles Lakers have had a tough start to the season, the worst in franchise history. They are 1-8, their only win coming against the Charlotte Hornets this past Sunday. Since then the Lakers have lost two close games against the 8-1 Memphis Grizzlies and the 4-3 New Orleans Pelicans. And then there was their home game in the Staples Center against the World Champion Spurs.
Although they are the champs, the Spurs haven’t been as impressive at the start of this season. Going into Friday’s game against the Lakers they were 4-3.
But Friday’s game turned out good for the Spurs. It was their third win in a row. The Lakers kept the Spurs under 100 points, but they could only put up 80 points. For most of the game the Lakers had some great defense, keeping the game close for three quarters, but their offense was missing.
Kobe Bryant didn’t make a field goal until the fourth quarter and Jordan Hill only had 10 points, shooting just 30 percent from the floor. After the game Kobe said he was sick and that his body just wasn’t responding. That would explain his low scoring night.
After the game Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talked about Bryant’s low scoring night, “I thought the guys stayed down on him very well, didn’t go for the pump-fakes; guarded him as well as you can guard Kobe. And he just had an off night shooting-wise and that helped a little bit too. He’s not going to have too many of those kind of nights.”
Before that 18-footer dropped in, all of Kobe’s scoring came from free throws. He finished the game with only nine points, but he had four rebounds, a steal, two blocked shots and six assists. He played great defense.
Carlos Boozer had a good night, scoring 19, along with his eight rebounds and two steals.
The Spurs got their fifth win of the season and though they were kept under 100 points, Tim Duncan recorded his sixth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and getting a steal and two assists.
It was a team effort for the Spurs and it looks like they are getting back into their championship groove. On his team’s performance last night and so far in the season, Coach Popovich said, “We’re nowhere near where we were the end of last season. We have a long way to go to get to that point.”
They play the Sacramento Kings next and that will be a big test because the Kings are playing so well. The Lakers will be looking for the second win of the season against the division leading Golden State Warriors, at home in the Staples Center.
It’s a steep climb for the Lakers, but we get a sense that once they get it together, they could be playoff contenders.
All photos by Claudia Gestro
Claudia is of Peruvian and Italian descent, having been born in a small town, in the North of Peru, South America. She was raised by her grandmother from an early age, living in poverty until Claudia’s mother brought her to America. She landed in Miami, FL and started her new life, playing high school basketball and eventually becoming a United States citizen. Claudia completed her education at Florida International University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and became a model to supplement her income. Since graduating from FIU Claudia has worked with many of the Spanish Language broadcasting companies, including Telemundo, Univision and most recently Spanish Language channels on SiriusXM satellite radio and PasTV Deportes in Venezuela.She encourages you to follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Her content appears here under a shared content agreement with her Spanish television clients.