Spurs Must Move Some Pieces to Avoid Checkmate

In the NBA playoffs, every best-of-seven series is like a chess match. Because strategy often plays as big a role as talent, the team that makes the best adjustments between games usually advances. A breakdown of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs:

SPURS’ MOVE--San Antonio has to stop relying on jump shots, especially aging center David Robinson. The Spurs made their best run in the second quarter of Game 2 when they were able to get Laker center Shaquille O’Neal in foul trouble. When O’Neal is out of the game, San Antonio has a definite edge inside. The Spurs also have an advantage when O’Neal is worried about picking up another foul.

San Antonio guards Terry Porter and Avery Johnson and forward Danny Ferry have been horrible against the Lakers. They are not knocking down open shots and their reluctance to take the ball to the basket has played right into the Lakers’ hands. The return of Derek Anderson would be a major boost to the Spurs’ fragile confidence. Anderson’s replacement, Antonio Daniels, has been playing well because he has used his athleticism. San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich should use them together to give the Spurs their best athletic lineup.

Veteran shooter Steve Kerr is not doing San Antonio any good sitting on the bench. Kerr could be the shooter the Spurs need. It doesn’t make sense to have the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history active and not let him get a chance to shoot, especially with the Spurs in a shooting slump.

The Spur defense has been steady but they need to adjust their game plan and foul O’Neal as much as possible. The Laker big man’s free-throw shooting has improved, but having him attempt only 14 combined in the first two games is not enough. Popovich should use his reserves more and make sure big men such as Malik Rose, Samaki Walker and even Shawnelle Scott get a chance to come off the bench and use their fouls against O’Neal, who is shooting 64.3% from the line in the series.

LAKERS’ MOVE--Kobe Bryant keeps showing why he is emerging as the game’s most complete player. In Game 1, he took full advantage of the Spurs’ one-on-one defense and scored 45 points. In Game 2, Bryant was more patient against San Antonio’s double-teams and had 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Laker Coach Phil Jackson has used Bryant in more pick-and-roll plays with O’Neal than he did during the regular season and the Spurs have not had an answer. So don’t expect Jackson to go away from a good thing.

But a major key to the Lakers’ success has been the ability of role players such as Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and Rick Fox to make perimeter shots. The Spurs played pretty well defensively in Game 2, but they paid the price when they left Fisher and Horry alone on the perimeter.

Expect the Lakers to continue to keep Bryant defending the Spurs’ point guards. With Bryant slowing their offense, the Spurs have turned the ball over 15 and 14 times, respectively, in Games 1 and 2. Fox also will continue to take more defensive risks because of the ineffectiveness of Ferry, who does not move well enough to get more shots.

Although San Antonio’s Tim Duncan has had a dominant series, Laker forwards Horace Grant and Horry have done a solid job defending him. Grant has been great playing next to O’Neal in the middle and Horry’s shot blocking has been a major plus for the Lakers.

OVERLOOKED--During the regular season, the Spurs hurt opponents with their offensive rebounds, but against the Lakers that has not been the case. A major reason has been Fisher, who has averaged six defensive rebounds in the series. Fisher’s ability to sneak in for rebounds has kept San Antonio from getting more offensive chances and helped the Lakers get into the open court.