Lakers-Spurs constroversial call could have gone either way

If there were any disagreeable calls by officials in the Lakers-Spurs game on Wednesday night, it didn’t matter, and sure didn’t change the outcome. Were there any disagreeable calls that didn’t favor the Lakers?

Absolutely, but it’s a loss, after barely escaping a loss to the Tracy McGrady-less Houston Rockets Tuesday night. The accountably of Kobe Bryant’s game-winning three-point shot was equivalent to the game-winning three-point play Wednesday, made by Roger Mason, with 10 seconds left. So, the Lakers couldn’t get a win against the renew rival San Antonio Spurs, after Trevor Ariza was whistled for traveling with 8 seconds left.

So, an 11-point fourth quarter rally wasn’t enough to rectify a triumph win, over the Spurs, in which the Lakers haven’t had much success. Derek Fisher, a 0.8 game-winning hero, making an unforgetable sensational game-winning floater, back in the 2004 playoffs, wasn’t robust at the most critical time of the game, tweaking a groin muscle midway in the fourth quarter.

At San Antonio, Fisher has had much success. Don’t forget last year’s defensive stop. Well, a call that was ruled a defensive stop. By looking at the last-second play repeatedly, it appeared that former Spur and outside threat Brent Barry was fouled, while attempting a last-second shot, he was bumped by Fisher on the final possession, deciding the outcome of the Conference Finals as the Lakers advanced to the NBA finals.

So, did Ariza really travel? Or was he fouled when Manu Ginobili got to him late? The call could have gone either way. It could have been a blocking foul or a travel, but apparently Kobe wanted to get a blocking foul. He yanked his jersey and walked off the court frustrated after the no-call.

It was another superb night for Bryant, scoring 29 points, and what appeared to be the game-winning shot, until Fisher foolishly fouled Mason, who scored 18 points, going 3-for-4 from behind the three-point line. On the baseline, Mason received the ball for the game-winning shot, fouled while attempting the shot, when Fisher attempted to strip Mason, which decided the outcome. It was the Spurs, receiving the final result, earning the final shot of the game, to send the Lakers home with a 1-1 tie during a two-game road trip.

The Lakers had a 111-109 lead with 12 seconds remaining, before Mason’s shot sabotaged a Lakers’ 14 point comeback. Yet, they needed another late rally, still coming up short because of mistakes or bad calls, which isn’t excusable, when you’re ahead by two with 12 seconds remaining. Just defending Mason probably would’ve displayed a different outlook, in which the Spurs probably wouldn’t have overtaken the Lakers in the final moment. Ginobili scored 27 points. He irked Kobe nearly on each possession and each time he received the ball, Ginobili and Mason would double team the reigning MVP.

Absolutely, the final play could’ve being a blocking foul. It was controversial. And the officials could’ve just let the game balance out between the Lakers and Spurs.

Now, it’s over, though, the Lakers got contributions from Pau Gasol, who had 21 points, Andrew Bynum had 18 and Fisher finished with 16. This type of cohesiveness is expected, if they covet winning a championship, even though bad officiating might have decided the game, not the Lakers or Spurs, but an indisputable officiating crew. Maybe they called it correctly or maybe it was wrong, either way it’s a game the Lakers lost as the Spurs won 10 of the last 12, as well as the Lakers.

So, both teams are still even after refs decided the game without letting both teams decide. Even though, the Lakers lost, at least they could still leave sort of grateful, getting even with the Spurs in the win column. That's winning 10 games in the last 12.