SPURS INSIDE LOOK: SPURS: ACTION, NOT WORDS SAN ANTONIO STILL PUZZLED BY TWO HOME SETBACKS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

A television inside the San Antonio Spurs' dressing room was showing Game 2 of the Western Conference finals an hour and a half before Game 3 against the Lakers at Staples Center Friday.

Appropriately, no one paid any attention. It was as if they were avoiding any more reminders about how they lost the first two games at home to surrender control of the series to the Lakers.

The Spurs didn't exactly act shocked before taking the floor Friday, more like stunned, clearly still bewildered over the situation they created for themselves by coughing up two straight games at home for the first time since last January.

The Spurs had no explanation for what happened in San Antonio, so instead they tried to focus on what they could do to turn things around.

As if they had no other choice.

``We need to deal with it, that's what we're here for,'' Spurs guard Antonio Daniels said. ``Hopefully, we're not shocked about what happened, I mean it's not like this is the first or second time we've played the Lakers. The fact of the matter is we just have to bring it.''

Obviously the Spurs were in a difficult predicament going into Game 3. Only six teams have overcome 2-0 deficits after losing the first two games of a seven-game series, and only two did it after dropping the first two at home.

Houston did it against Phoenix in 1994 and the Lakers did it against San Francisco in 1969.

The Spurs faced similar circumstances in the 1995 Western Conference finals against Houston, losing Games 1 and 2 at the Alamodome against, then rallying to win Games 3 and 4 on the road.

Of course, the Spurs eventually fell in six games to the Rockets that year.

The way the Lakers handled the Spurs in the first two games, San Antonio would consider itself fortunate just to force a Game 6.

In any event, the Spurs were clearly tired of talking about what happened and what to do about it.

``We can talk about it and talk about what we want to do, do this and do that, but we have to put it into action,'' Daniels said. ``That's the reality of it.''

Privately, the Spurs spent a rough three days in between Games 2 and 3, which is why they seemed alomst relieved when Friday arrived so they could get back on the court and play again.

``I'd say we've been antsy, just trying to get shake off the feeling of how the hell did we get here? We're better than this.'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ``The only way is to get through it and play another day.''

The Spurs attempted to move on, saying all the right things and declaring their togetherness in such dire straights. But something was missing in their body language and they hardly sounded convincing.

Malik Rose disputed that.

``We're very postive,'' Rose said. ``We know our backs are against the wall, but we still feel we're going to win this.''

But even Rose seemed numb thinking about the chance San Antonio squandered at home.''

``I can't speak for anyone else but myself personally, I took it really hard.'' Rose said.

Perhaps, but San Antonio tried to put a positive sping on things.

``I think everyone in this locker room is confident, no matter what the series (record) says.'' Daniels said. ``We had a great practice yesterday, very upbeat, everybody constantly patting each other on the butt. That's what being a team is all about.''

LAKERS vs. SAN ANTONIO

Lakers lead best-of-seven series 3-0

GAME 1

LAKERS 104

SPURS 90

GAME 2

LAKERS 88

SPURS 81

GAME 3

LAKERS 111

SPURS 72

GAME 4

Sunday at Lakers

2:30 p.m., Ch. 4

GAME 5

May 29 at San Antonio

6 p.m., (if necessary)

GAME 6

June 1 at Lakers

TBA, (if necessary)

GAME 7

June 3 at San Antonio

TBA, (if necessary)

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Tim Duncan meets stiff resistance from Robert Horry (5).

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box: LAKERS vs. SAN ANTONIO (see text)