The Lakers began this season with an All-Star offense. After a slew of injuries decimated their rotation, the Los Angeles Lakers entered Sunday’s Game 4 as the All-Justin Timberlake team with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jodie Meeks, Steve Blake and Metta World Peace all decked out in suits and ties.
The San Antonio Spurs and Lakers have been involved in more battles with one another than Mario and Bowser. This one had to be the most gratifying victory yet. Not only did the Spurs sweep L.A., but they also detonated a ticking time bomb in Game 4. In ironic fashion, Dwight Howard was ejected from what may be his final game as a Laker while the Spurs ejected the Lake Show melodrama from the postseason.
Howard’s exit from the Staples Center floor after earning his second technical was as graceful as his exit from Orlando. As he entered the hallway leading to the locker room, Howard was caught by TNT's cameras yelling back at general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Howard’s ejection left the Lakers with nine players in uniform including Jordan Hill, who returned three months ahead of his timetable after hip surgery and Pau Gasol, whom D’Antoni benched earlier this season. Meanwhile, D’antoni’s up-tempo offense scored fewer than 92 points for the fourth game of the series in the Lakers 82 to 103 loss.
Tony Parker led both teams in scoring with 23 points, but truthfully, they could have sent the starters back to San Antonio and emerged with the same result. However, Parker said what everyone else felt after the win.
"It was just weird. It was just a weird feeling. Obviously, I'm happy we won but it was just weird." -Tony Parker on Game 4 win over #Lakers
— HuffPost Sports (@HuffPostSports) April 29, 2013
Hey remember three weeks ago when Black Mamba was playing lights out basketball and Ginobili had the bad wheels? Me neither. H/T to SBNation
Dwight Howard with 7 points gets tossed from the game…I met the kid in high school, nice guy, but wouldn't want him on my team- no heart!
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) April 29, 2013
Dwight Howard being escorted out of the game while turning around and yelling at Kupchak isn't a good lasting image going into free-agency.
— Kam Pashai (@KamPashai) April 29, 2013
Pretty thrilled that Dwight Howard is intent on driving his market value into the ground.
— Kevin W. Glass (@KevinWGlass) April 29, 2013
Im going with Bynum RT @corrado_19: Who would've helped the #Lakers more this season, Dwight Howard or Greg Oden? #nbaplayoffs
— Yes, it is I.(@EW_III) April 29, 2013
Conspiracy Theory: Kobe came out to the court because he didnt want to hang out with Dwight Howard in the locker room, after he got ejected.
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) April 29, 2013
15 turnovers, 34 first half points. This game is … EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE. #Catharsisbaby!
— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersBlog_SSR) April 29, 2013
Anybody up for a 24 minute repeal of the shot clock so the Spurs can just dribble the ball for the entire 2nd half?
— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersBlog_SSR) April 29, 2013
Chris Duhon thinks the three point line is a cliff, which is why he won't get within three feet of it
— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersBlog_SSR) April 28, 2013
