Taking the first look at Lakers-Spurs series

NO. 1 LAKERS vs.

NO. 3 SAN ANTONIO

Season series: 2-2.

Buzz: Don’t we know you guys from somewhere?

For the sixth time since 1999, the Lakers and Spurs are meeting in the playoffs and three of them – Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher – have been around for all of them.

The Lakers have won three (2001, 2002, 2004) of the series and the Spurs two (1999, 2003).

It’s the same old Duncan-Tony Parker-Manu Ginobili nucleus, now in its sixth season but a new Lakers team, facing the Spurs for the first time in the playoffs without Shaquille O’Neal.

The Lakers are now a young team with one rotation player – Fisher – over 30.

The Spurs are not, with one rotation player – Parker – under 30.

Great as he still is, Duncan isn’t the same player he was when this rivalry started, with Ginobili leading them in scoring during the season and Parker in the playoffs.

Parker used to give the Lakers fits, forcing them to collapse their entire defense to keep him out of the lane. Of course, that was with O’Neal, who didn’t come out on pick-and-rolls.

Bryant is an old Spurs killer, having averaged 26-32-26 in the last three series against Bruce Bowen, the Spurs’ defensive ace.

Then there’s Fisher, whose 17-foot half hook with 0.4 seconds left in Game 5 in 2004 will never be forgotten in San Antonio.

The Lakers are favored and will have been off for five days while San Antonio was playing Game 7 in New Orleans. On the other hand, if there’s one thing the Spurs have proved this spring, they’re not going down without a fight.

– Mark Heisler

SCHEDULE

Wednesday

vs. San Antonio, 6 p.m.

Friday

vs. San Antonio, 6 p.m.

Sunday

at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

May 27

at San Antonio, 6 p.m.

May 29*

vs. San Antonio, 6 p.m.

May 31*

at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

June 2*

vs. San Antonio, 6 p.m.

All times Pacific; * if necessary