Would Kobe Have Even Made a Difference Against Playoff Heavyweight Spurs?

Thanks to the forward-thinking Gregg Popovich, this is what the San Antonio Spurs have been planning for all season.

Their 102-91 win gave them a 2-0 series lead over a Los Angeles Lakers team apparently growing thinner by the second.

Here's the good news for Lakers fans: Reserve forward Jordan Hill returned to action for the first time since undergoing hip surgery back in January. If his addition alone isn't impressive enough, then his miraculous recovery time should be (via Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times):

Jordan Hill back playing 3 months into his 6 month recovery

— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) April 25, 2013 As for the bad news, though, well that's becoming almost too much to mention at this point.

Kobe Bryant (torn Achilles) was lost before the postseason even got under way. Steve Blake lasted nearly 36 minutes in Game 2 before a visit with the team trainers was needed (via Pincus):

So Steve Blake is out with a strained hamstring - no not Nash - Blake - him too

— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) April 25, 2013 And although he's been on the floor for each of L.A.'s first two playoff games, a clearly hobbled Steve Nash is getting harder to stomach (via TNT's Matt Winer):

Steve Nash is moving like me when I wake up most mornings...

— Matt Winer (@matt_winer) April 25, 2013 Game 2 saw a much crisper offensive outing from both teams, but that didn't change the final result. The Spurs shook off their Game 1 shooting woes (37.6 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from deep), converting 51.2 percent of their field goals and 50.0 percent of their perimeter attempts in their 102-91 win on Wednesday night.

Mike D'Antoni's depleted roster managed a respectable 45.1 field-goal percentage in Game 2, but lacked an alpha-dog presence on the offensive end. Five different Lakers scored in double figures, but none poured in more than 16 points (Blake ...

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