Strategically, Pressure Is on Spurs to Make Adjustments

In the Lakers’ Game 3 victory Friday over San Antonio, Phil Jackson did more coaching and sweating than he probably did over the 82-game regular season. Shaquille O’Neal had nearly as many rebounds (15) as the Spurs’ Tim Duncan had missed shots (17), and Kobe Bryant’s 11 fourth-quarter points made up for his last-second turnover in the Lakers’ loss in Game 2.

But the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series is far from over, making Los Angeles’ approach to today’s Game 4 critical. A victory would all but guarantee the Lakers a spot in the Western Conference finals.

Clearly the pressure is on the Spurs, who must develop a strategy that prevents the Lakers from taking a 3-1 lead in the series and forcing San Antonio to win three games in a row--including two games at Staples Center--to advance.

A strategic breakdown for Game 4:

SPURS’ MOVE--Coach Gregg Popovich has to find a way to get more movement in the halfcourt offense. Too many times the Spurs stood around and looked for Duncan to make a play. As they learned Friday, this tactic isn’t good enough against the Lakers.

To get more ball movement, Popovich should go small and play Antonio Daniels and Bruce Bowen with rookie Tony Parker, whose quickness has given the Lakers problems.

Daniels and Parker are the only Spurs who can penetrate and San Antonio’s attack isn’t as stagnant with them on the court at the same time.

Because the Spurs’ top perimeter shooters--Steve Smith (nine points in 40 minutes on Friday) and Danny Ferry (one three-point basket in Games 2 and 3)--are not getting it done, Popovich doesn’t have anything to lose.

David Robinson made his first appearance of the series Friday and had only seven rebounds, six points and five fouls in 22 minutes. San Antonio is more productive when Malik Rose is on the court and Popovich can’t afford to stick with his normal rotation of big men. Rose should play more than 25 minutes, his total in Game 3.

San Antonio also has to do a better job of forcing O’Neal to the free-throw line. He attempted only four in Game 3, which is not enough for the Spurs.

LAKERS’ MOVE--Jackson’s decision to start Robert Horry at power forward in place of Samaki Walker gave Los Angeles instant energy at the start of the first and third quarters.

Horry is a pressure player, and Walker responded well with 12 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench. Horry is crafty and gives Duncan problems with an assortment of defensive tactics.

Maybe the biggest change in Game 3 for the Lakers was when their perimeter players stepped around San Antonio screens instead of going underneath them. O’Neal received credit for his inside play Friday, but he became a factor on the outside by helping to defend the Spurs’ screen-and-roll plays.

Another key in Game 3 was Jackson’s decision to give more prime-time minutes to role players such as Devean George and Brian Shaw.

Although they combined for only two points, their hustle plays on defense were noteworthy.

KEY POINTS--San Antonio has shown plenty of heart but the Lakers simply demonstrated a greater will to win Game 3. Because of O’Neal’s dominating presence inside and Bryant’s ability to create offensive opportunities, Los Angeles seldom gets credit for its defense. But defense has been the backbone to its consecutive titles and that will be the case again if the Lakers make it three in a row.

In Game 3, the Lakers’ pick-and-roll plays with Bryant and O’Neal proved troublesome for the Spurs. San Antonio’s defenders had a difficult time getting around O’Neal and that was all Bryant needed as he scored a game-high 31 points.

When the Spurs adjusted their defense to stop Bryant, Derek Fisher was able to make three of five three-point shots.

This tactic also helped create more space for Rick Fox, who made a couple of key mid-range jump shots in the fourth quarter.