This past week was supposed to be the renewed rivalry of the Lakers and Spurs. Two franchises that have dominated the NBA landscape for over a decade. Two teams that have undergone complete overhauls yet still are atop the West. Storied rivals meeting three times in a two week span with playoff implications on the line.
Yet after those three games concluded about all we got were three blowouts each creating more questions than answers for where these two teams stand in the NBA landscape.
My man Quixem Ramirez over at Air Alamo penned a fantastic piece on the classic days of this once contentious rivalry. After reading his inspired writing I couldn’t help but wonder if we’ll ever see anything like those days again.
To be sure the road to the NBA Finals still runs through San Antonio and Los Angeles if you’re trying to make a trip to Titletown. But after the way these two teams performed in their three game season series you can’t help but wonder which direction this rivalry is headed.
Without a doubt the real concern, as far as this season goes, is with the Lakers. After abusing the Spurs in the first meeting it’s been all one-way traffic since.
Does this mean the Lakers are officially done competing for titles until another rebuild is completed? Are the Spurs enjoying their last moment in the sun?
Those are only a few of the questions that raced through my mind as I watched L.A. unravel last night.
Now this season is far from over. In fact the real season is about to begin. The Lakers and Spurs could meet again and perhaps the dramatics of the playoffs will produce a spark to reignite this once revered rivalry. Of course for that to happen it’s going to take a certain set of circumstances to play out. Which inevitably leads me back to my original question.
Have we seen the last of the Lakers-Spurs rivalry?