[Don't] Remember the Alamo: Lakers Fall in San Antonio 119-85

Mirroring the Battle of the Alamo that he Spurs home of San Antonio is arguably most famous for, the Lakers played the role of the slaughtered Texan army. After leading 10-9 during the first quarter, the Spurs went on a 20-4 run and the route was on. The Lakers scored 14 in the period, narrowly avoiding their lowest scoring quarter of the year.

The second quarter, and the rest of the game for that matter, were not much better. This was a disheartening loss all around, the type in which there were not even flashes of potential from the younger players for one to take hope for the future from. Ryan Kelly had an especially rough night, managing only 6 points on 2 for 8 shooting with 6 rebounds, compounded by consistent mistakes on defense. Speaking of consistent defensive miscues, shout-out to Pau Gasol who was the only Laker who could claim they had a good game offensively with 18 points and 11 rebounds on 50% shooting; but through the potent combination of lacking effort and nonexistent athleticism contributed to LA allowing the Spurs to parade to the rim to the tune of 49% shooting for the game. With a hat tip to @SoCalGal64, the Spurs had 34 points in the paint before the Lakers even had 30 points. When the Spurs did not feel like scoring layups, they just hit open 3 after open 3, shooting 48% from behind the arc, led by Danny Green's 5-8 from distance. This allowed them to overcome losing the turnover battle 15-10, as well as the Lakers shooting 12 more free throws.

Bill MacDonald probably had no idea how much he would be foreshadowing the result of tonight's match-up when he mentioned during the first quarter that the Spurs had the best bench in the league, but foreshadow he did. San Antonio's bench was given plenty of burn tonight, with the scoring allowing the much vaunted "Big 3" for San Antonio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili to all play 15 minutes or less each tonight. Second year big man Aron Baynes showed off his limitless motor tonight, playing an uncharacteristic 18 minutes while going for 12 points, 8 rebounds, and at least 2 elbows to Kent Bazemore's face/neck area. Baynes was the breakout performer for this game, but literally every Spur got their turn, with all 13 players who suited up scoring at least one basket.

This was the direct opposite of those much enjoyed games this year against some of the league's elite, where the Lakers showcased their ability to hang with any team on a night when they are hot; in that the Lakers seemed unable to hit anything, shooting only 34.1% from the field. This team just does not have the talent level on defense to come anywhere close to competing on a night like that, hence the 34 point loss. LA will just have to try and push this game out of their collective minds over the next 4 days off, when they get another crack at the Spurs, this time at home.

I personally would not expect the change of venue to change the end result.