SPURS INSIDE LOOK: FLAWED SPURS NEED PERFECTION.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO - Coach Gregg Popovich's message to the San Antonio Spurs was soothing and daunting at the same time as they headed for the airport Sunday after falling behind the Lakers 3-1 in a best-of-seven-game playoff series.

``I told them we did a hell of a job,'' Popovich said after the Spurs' 87-85 loss, ``and we've got to play even more perfect.''

Even more perfect.

That's what the Spurs are going to have to be to win three games in a row over the Lakers, who have lost three games in a row only once in coach Phil Jackson's three seasons, that slump occurring last February.

In NBA history, only six teams have come back from 1-3 to win a playoff series, most recently the Miami Heat against the New York Knicks in 1997. In Spurs' history, not only have they never come back from 1-3, they've never come back from 1-2.

``We know their (the Spurs') spirits are low, and they should be right now,'' the Lakers' Kobe Bryant said. ``Ours would be, too, if we were in this situation.''

``It's demoralizing, and it's really tough,'' said the Lakers' Samaki Walker, the former Spur. ``Now they've got to come back to L.A. I was in the same situation last year, and when we got there it seemed like the game was over before it started.''

Game 5 will be Tuesday at Staples Center. If Walker is correct, it will seem to be over before 7:30 p.m.

The Spurs are troubled by the thought they easily could be the team leading 3-1 if only they'd been able to hold fourth-quarter leads at the Alamodome on Friday and Sunday.

Friday, they shot 36.4 percent - going 1 for 7 from the 3-point arc - in the fourth quarter. Sunday, the haunting numbers were 16.7 percent and 1 for 3.

San Antonio had 28 points in those quarters. Bryant had 23 by himself for the Lakers.

``We had five or six shots that were either ill-advised or not shot with confidence,'' Popovich said.

Spurs forward Danny Ferry seemed to be close to tears in the locker room after Sunday's game. Ferry went 0 for 3 and was called for two fouls in the fourth quarter.

``We've made mistakes throughout the series. I made some awful ones tonight down the stretch. It's something I need to move beyond and get ready to play the next game,'' Ferry said.

``We need to keep taking shots. We've made shots throughout the year, throughout our careers. Eventually, they're going to start falling. You know, if it's not too late.''

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