Kobe Bryant (photo. Chris Sembrot)

* So apparently Kobe decided he wanted to score in the first half of this game. Or maybe he’s just knocking down his shots this time. He’s got 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting.

* Craig Sager told us a story about how in the first half of Game 1, Kobe was wearing the Nike Hyperdunks (his “Olympic defensive stopper” shoe), then at the break switched to the Air Zoom Kobe III (his “Black Mamba” shoe) before his scoring explosion. Tonight Kobe started out in the Zoom III’s.

* Manu is playing even worse than he did in Game 1. He hasn’t scored a point and has two turnovers. Gregg Popovich even admitted between the first and second quarter that he’s “not Manu” tonight. If the Spurs have any chance at taking this game he needs to get his stuff together.

* Killer 9-0 run for the Lakers to close out the half, led by Sasha Vujacic and Derek Fisher that stretched the Laker lead to 46-37. Whatever San Antonio had that helped them blow the Lakers out in the third quarter of Game 1, they need to go back to the locker room and find it.

* Tony Parker (11 pts) threw up some ugly jumpers, but that man is automatic in the paint. He made some really tough layups look easy in the first half.

* Tim Duncan had 10 points and 13 boards already, but the Spurs need to keep feeding him in the second half. He’s shown he can score on Pau Gasol easily.