SERIES REPORT

Contrasts continue to be drawn between the aging Lakers and the youthful, relentless San Antonio Spurs, but guard Manu Ginobili isn’t buying it, despite the mental image of Karl Malone “covered in ice” after each game, as suggested to Ginobili by a San Antonio media member.

“The fact that we’re younger is a fact,” Ginobili said. “I’ve been hearing a lot that we are much more explosive and quicker and athletic. I don’t feel such a big difference. Karl Malone is 40 years old. What he doesn’t give you in quickness, he’s got a lot of experience and strength. You’ve got pros and cons.”

The Spurs have burned the Lakers in fastbreak points, 35-7, and have outscored the Lakers in the first and fourth quarters of each game. A victory today puts the Spurs ahead, 3-0, and puts the Lakers in a position that no team has ever overcome in NBA playoff history.

“If we get this one, it takes a lot of wind out of their sails,” Tim Duncan told reporters Saturday. “We have to know the crowd is not going to be there for us. The energy is going to be different.”

The Spurs will do more of the same -- pick and roll possession after possession -- and hope the Laker offense continues to fray.

The Spurs discussed the importance of another quick start today: They took a 21-14 lead in the first quarter of Game 1 and a 33-17 lead in the first quarter of Game 2. They won each game by 10 points.

“Right now, they don’t know what kind of offense they want to run, so hopefully we can go out and establish our defense so the offense will be splintered,” forward Robert Horry said.

*

After hitting the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round for 11 points a game and 60% accuracy from three-point range, Horry has struggled against the Lakers. He has three points in two games and has made one of five shots in 40 minutes.

*

Despite carving out his share of memories in Laker playoff history, Horry said he never expected to retire as a Laker.

“From Day 1 when I was starting as a power forward, then I came off the bench as a power forward, they were always wanting another power forward in there,” he said. “I was surprised I stuck that long. I guess as long as you win they’re going to keep it, but as soon as you lose, you see what happens.”

*

Guard Tony Parker has averaged 24.8 points in his last five games, but Coach Gregg Popovich won’t be bothered if Parker’s pace slows for a game.

“He’s a human being,” Popovich said. “He’s going to have a night where he doesn’t play well. He’s been playing great for a long time, so the percentages are that he’s going to have a bad game at some point. But if he does, I’m confident the next night he’ll be wonderful again. That’s the way he’s made up.”

*

Associated Press contributed to this report.