Apr 28 - Los Angeles. Thinking that is was possible to outrun the rivals with Nash, Bryant, World Peace, Gasol and Howard sounded like a crazy idea from day one, and the first year of the D'Antoni's experiment ended in a way that didn't surprise anybody. With a 103-82 win, the Spurs swept the Lakers in the first round of the 2013 Playoffs.

Due to the injuries of Nash, Blake, Meeks and World Peace, the Lakers started this game with Morris, Goudelock and Clark, committed 8 turnovers in the first quarter and the rest of the night was just an anecdote. Even the ejection of Dwight Howard in the third quarter didn't matter, there was no chance the Lakers could win this game or revert the mess the Lakers management created by bringing D'Antoni.

By the end there were just empty seats and the ghost of Phil Jackson floating in the air of the Staples Center. Kobe Bryant with his crutches was also there, in the second row behind the bench trying to support his teammates.

The Spurs never trailed and led by as many as 25 points while just one of their players stayed in the floor more than 30 minutes.

In what could have been his final game as a Laker, Dwight Howard had just 7 points, attempted 2 field goals and was ejected two minutes into the second half after receiving his second technical foul for arguing with the referees. He exchanged words with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak in his way to the locker room.

Pau Gasol, the Lakers most consistent player during this offseason and the one who suffered the most with the implementation of D'Antoni's system, got a standing ovation by the fans that were still in the stadium when he left the game with 3:08 to play. - more...