NBA Playoffs: Lakers vs. Spurs - Game 4

Last night the Lakers proved why they were the best team in the Western Conference and arguably in the NBA with a win on the road in Game 4 against the Spurs , 93-91. San Antonio was undefeated 7-0 at home in the 2008 playoffs, but after last night's loss to Los Angeles that may be the last home game of the Spurs' season.

After the Lakers' embarassing loss in Game 3, it looked like they played more aggressive in Game 4 right from the beginning of the game with a 22-8 run and they never looked back. Although Kobe Bryant (28 points, 10 rebounds) didn't have that monster game like I predicted he would, it was Lamar Odom's performance with 16 points and 9 rebounds in Game 4 that was the x-factor in the game, responding well after playing so poorly in Game 3.

The Lakers did give their fans a little scare after being up 93-86 with 50 seconds left and almost blowing the game. With the game practically in the bag, the Lakers' Pao Gasol misses 2 free throws, Bryant turns the ball over and before you know it the Spurs score 5 quick points and have the ball to win the game with 2.1 seconds left. The call of the night and maybe of the series happened next where the Spurs' Brent Barry pump-faked a 3-pointer causing the Lakers' Derek Fisher to jump in the air. Fisher did bump into Barry but instead of drawing the foul, Barry took one dribble to the right to get a better shot and missed it. There was definitely some contact from Fisher, but the referees said it was a no-call and although every fan in San Antonio thought there was a foul, I believe the referees made the right call.

If Barry would have leaned into Fisher to draw the foul instead of trying to get a better shot, then the referees should have blown the whistle but since he didn't, there was no foul. Also, I believe that when there is less then 3 seconds left and the game is close, the referees should not make a call that could determine whether a game is won or lost. Since Barry took a 3-pointer, if the referees called a foul on Fisher, Barry would have had 3 foul shots to maybe win Game 4 for the Spurs and go back to Los Angeles tied up 2-2. If it was a regular season game then it wouldn't have mattered as much if there was a foul, but this is the Western Conference Finals where each game is crucial and a referee's call should not determine such a big game.

San Antonio should not blame a referee's no-call for why they lost Game 4, they just did not play good enough to beat Los Angeles. Once again Manu Ginobili had a disappointing game off the bench with only 7 points, and even though Tim Duncan (29 points) and Tony Parker (23 points) played well, to beat the Lakers who were at the top of their game last night the Spurs needed more from Ginobili. I'm not saying the series if over yet, but very few teams have won a series in the playoffs being down 3-1 and I don't think Bryant and the Lakers will let that happen being just one game away from the NBA Finals.