The Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Spurs is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports. Both teams have dominated the playoffs this decade with either the Spurs or Lakers winning the NBA Championship in 7 of the last 9 years.

With that being said if last night’s game 1 was any indication of how the series is going to go. I’m going to have some serious health issues when the series is over.

The Spurs gave the Lakers everything they could handle in the first 2 ½ quarters in building a 20 point lead. Then midway through the 3rd quarter the Lakers started to find a rhythm and crawl back into the game. By the end of the quarter they only trailed by seven and things didn’t look so bad. Mr. MVP Kobe Bryant had that familiar look in his eye and he started to take over the game like only he can.

The fourth quarter was back and forth as the teams traded baskets early in the 4th before the Lakers went on a little at the end to close the gap. The Lakers even took their first lead of the game with 2:42 left in the game, but the Lakers weren’t out of danger yet. With the Spurs down two with 20 seconds, they were setting up a possible game winning 3 point shot and Manu Ginobili did just that, but it rimmed out and the Lakers got the loose ball, made a couple of free throws and escaped with the win.

Game two is Friday night before things move to Texas and here’s hoping the Lakers make things a little easier on themselves and also a lot easier on my ulcer.