Spurs a Step Slow Against Efficient Lakers, Bryant

Who is to say Kobe Bryant isn’t going to be better than Michael Jordan? Let’s get that out on the table right now. He’s a lot better than Jordan was at the same age.

And he took over this game.

The Lakers have added more pick-and-rolls to get Bryant chances to attack the basket. They spread the Spurs’ defense, giving Bryant room to penetrate. With his ability, he doesn’t need much of a pick to gain an advantage.

Bryant defended against the Spurs’ point guard--either Terry Porter or Avery Johnson. This was a great move by Coach Phil Jackson. It enabled Bryant to conserve energy on defense because he had no trouble guarding those players, and the Spurs couldn’t find him in transition.

Bryant got a running start toward the hoop. Antonio Daniels or Sean Elliott were trying to guard him, but he didn’t guard them.

The Spurs’ defense was slow in every respect. Coach Gregg Popovich talked about how his team’s double-teams were too slow in the first half. That surprised me because I didn’t think they were doubling at all. So, apparently, it was very slow.

San Antonio came in with a sound offensive plan--go to whomever Shaquille O’Neal was guarding and make him pick up cheap fouls. It was effective early. But when the Lakers began to double-team Tim Duncan and David Robinson, the Spurs missed open three-point shots and committed turnovers.

Robinson came out for a rest and O’Neal dunked all over Malik Rose. Robinson will have to play as many minutes as possible in this series.

The Spurs never went back to what was effective early and they forgot about Robinson. O’Neal didn’t have to exert himself defensively.

It was clear at the beginning of the third quarter that nothing was going to change. The first time O’Neal got the ball, there was no double-team and he scored. Then Bryant dunked, again with no double-team.

The Lakers got the ball to Horace Grant on their third possession, the Spurs double-teamed him in the low post, and Derek Fisher was open for a three-point basket that gave the Lakers a 16-point lead.

Doubling Grant, but not Shaq or Kobe? What was that? The Spurs were very confused.

O’Neal rested the last three minutes of the third quarter and the Spurs needed to make a move. They couldn’t and it was over.

I don’t see the Lakers losing unless they get bored. Their offense is more versatile and unpredictable than it has ever been. They haven’t forgotten about O’Neal, but they are attacking from so many other places. Everyone is driving to the basket and timing their cuts well.

The Lakers are playing as efficiently as a team can expect to play.

And Bryant is playing as well as any 22-year-old has a right to play.