SPURS INSIDE LOOK: INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT IS PRESENT SPURS CAUSE MATCHUP ISSUES WITH GINOBILI, PARKER.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The San Antonio Spurs' locker room sounds a lot like the waiting areas of Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. One player speaks French. Another speaks Spanish. And in the corner sits 6-foot-11 Chinese center Mengke Bateer.

Though the spotlight on the Spurs typically falls upon their two big men, Tim Duncan and David Robinson, perhaps the key for their improvement this season is its two foreign guards, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Parker and Ginobili presented the Lakers' matchup problems throughout the evening Friday in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal at Staples Center.

With the Lakers typically placing Derek Fisher on Parker and a committee of players on Ginobili, the Spurs' duo provided a penetrating scoring option at guard, even though San Antonio historically has been centered around Duncan and Robinson.

The emergence of Parker and Ginobili is the main reason why the Spurs lead in the series and appear poised to advance to the Western Conference finals.

``Our mantra all year was to get better all season long, incorporate the young guys and see how it goes,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ``They young guys have responded, but I still think we're going to be better down the road.''

Parker, who turns 21 a week from today, is in his second NBA season, and the 25-year-old Ginobili is a rookie. But Ginobili had a high-profile European career, being named the Italian League MVP the two seasons before joining the Spurs.

Ginobili's success has surprised even himself. He's averaging 30.3 minutes in the playoffs, compared to 20.8 minutes in the regular season. After spraining his right ankle playing for Argentina in the World Games this summer, he struggled at the beginning of the season, re-injured the ankle and was forced to spend 11 games on the injured list.

``When I started the season I had trouble, and then, once I got the injury, I thought all year would be an adaptation,'' Ginobili said. ``So for things to work out how they have, I'm happy how it's going and that it's not all about adaptation.''

Ginobili has been effective scoring, rebounding and passing. But if he is having a breakout postseason, then perhaps Parker has had a breakout season.

Parker has been so strong the Spurs might not even pursue many teams' dream - the New Jersey Nets' Jason Kidd, who will be a free agent this offseason and has expressed curiosity about going to San Antonio. With the Frenchman, however, the Spurs likely have found their point guard.

``Tony's got a game that's more American than European,'' Spurs veteran Steve Kerr said. ``He penetrates, can score. He's not your typical European player. Usually, when we think of European players, it's guys who can be one-dimensional as shooters.''

Though Ginobili made a name for himself in Europe, he, too, debunks the stereotype overseas players can only be sharpshooters.

``He's the opposite of a lot of European players, always trying to go to the rim,'' Kerr said of Ginobili. ``He's exactly what we needed. What he's done for us has been huge.''