Saving The Best For Last

Though Wednesday’s game against Utah could prove to be more meaningful, as of right now, an L.A. showdown with Kobe and the Lakers takes the cake as this season’s most important game–for now.

 First of all, if you’re a religous person (actually, even if you’re not), keep the Sacramento Kings in your prayers.  How on earth the Hornets lost to the Kings, with so little wiggle room at the top of the conference, is truly beyond me.  Fortunately for the Hornets, they, like the Spurs have one easy game and one tough game left on their schedule (LAC, @Dallas).  Still, that loss, for the time being, drops them into a virtual tie with the Lakers for first.  And right behind them?  The Spurs at .5 game back, and the Rockets are right there as well.  To say this game is crucial for the Spurs is an understatement of the greatest magnitude.

If they win…Spurs move into 1st place, for the moment.  The Rockets (with whom the Spurs have tied the season series 2-2) play at Denver, surely not an enviable task against a Nuggets team thats clawing for its life for that last playoff spot.

If they lose…and the Rockets win…Spurs slip from 3rd to 5th (Utah, by virtue of the ridiculous division winners rule, is locked into the 4-spot).  Even worse, they are then 1.5 behind LA, and a full game behind N.O. with only two to play.  And, as if having a 5 seed didn’t sound horrific enough on its own, they’d only be a game ahead of the Suns. 

 It can’t be stressed enough, this game, without question, is monumental.  Unfortunately, it appears as if the Spurs are going to have to climb that mountain without their leading scorer, Manu Ginobili.  Ginobili was rested on Friday against the Sonics due to a slight tear in his left abductor, whatever that means.  Regardless, Popovich has repeatedly said that he won’t put Manu back into the lineup until he truly thinks he’s ready.  And, in other news from the infermary, Brent Barry and Robert Horry still do not have a timetable for return. 

 One way or the other, you’re going to have to tell the Masters to move over this afternoon.  There’s no green jacket at stake in the Spurs game, but there certainly is a lot to be played for.