There’s a lot of people who don’t want the Spurs in the playoffs because they feel they’re “boring” and not very fun to watch, but I’m probably one of the few out there that think their contribution is a good thing — they play fundamental ball, it’s almost impossible to really blow them out, and they’re the one team that everyone in the West would say, “Damn, I didn’t wanna play these guys.”

All those accolades awarded, I didn’t think the Spurs, given a 20 point second half lead, could ever blow it. Ever. To me, once the Spurs get a lead, I feel it’s pretty safe; Tony Parker will dribble and drive, Robert Horry will hit some big shots, every time a team attempts a come back Tim Duncan goes And 1 on ‘em and drains their emotion.

It looked that way last night, at least up until six minutes remained in the third quarter, where the Spurs started watching a 20 point lead fall to 15, to 10, to 5 and, before you know it, to a 4 point deficit.

Kobe Bryant had 27 points for the Lakers, but 25 of those came in the second half when Kobe decided he was going to stop passing the ball and start shooting it. Pau Gasol contributed with 19 points, but it was the Lakers second half defense that really brought them back in this one. Tim Duncan had 30 points but struggled down the stretch, and Manu Ginobli, who needs to come up big in this series, was MIA, shooting 3-13 from the field and finishing with 10 points.

The Lakers go up 1-0 in the series, and Game 2 will be Friday in LA.