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This is it. Tonight is the ultimate measuring stick, although previous results lead us to believe this team is still coming up short. Every move made over the last season and a half was done with the Los Angeles Lakers in mind.

Last season, the Spurs were able to take the first game against the Lakers, a home game almost a year ago when Roger Mason scored and drew a foul from Derek Fisher to take the lead with ten seconds left. San Antonio won 112-111, but we all know how the rest of the season ended up. Tonight, the two teams reconvene in the new decade what was the best rivalry of the old one.

Pau Gasol is officially listed as “doubtful” for the game, so we probably won’t get to see how the 2010 Spurs match up completely with the defending champion Lakers, but we’ll get an idea.

The key to the game, for me, is how physical the Spurs front line is with the Lakers. And it should go without saying that this includes staying out of foul trouble. (Rookie, I’m looking at you.)

In the 2007 Finals, the Boston Celtics were able to intimidate and wear down the Lakers bigs en route to winning the title. Conversely, in last year’s Finals, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis were of no assistance to Dwight Howard in matching up with Gasol and Lamar Odom, and to a lesser extent, Andrew Bynum.

The Spurs must bring the same physical toughness to tonight’s game against Los Angeles that Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and the Boston Celtics were able to in 2008. When teams are able to out muscle the Lakers, it limits their effectiveness inside and oftentimes leads to Kobe Bryant forcing shots from the perimeter.

Odom and Gasol, though he probably won’t be playing tonight, are not considered to be tough, physical players. Both are extremely skilled and talented, yes. But physical? Not so much. Being a little rough with them early, within reason, can set a precedent and pay dividends later in the game.

Bynum is another story. At 285 lbs. (listed), Bynum can absorb contact and get tough rebounds. He’s shown he doesn’t back down from a little physical play. The way to handle Bynum is to not let him get the ball early in the game. The Lakers usually go to Bynum early and get him going, while Bryant waits it out. Then later in the game, Kobe looks for his own offense.

Denying Bynum the ball early could take him out of the game completely, because big men who don’t get to shoot the ball don’t like doing other, less-fun things, like blocking shots and rebounding. Knowing that he usually doesn’t touch the ball later in the game, Bynum could become frustrated and mentally check himself out. He is only 22 years old after all.

Expect Coach Popovich to be very careful with DeJuan Blair’s minutes early, not wanting him to get in foul trouble, especially if the Spurs aim to go physical with the Lakers. Blair has shown a tendency to pick up rookie fouls. Also be ready for a lot of Theo Ratliff, although in this game I don’t see that as much of a negative.

Enjoy the game, folks.

Related posts:

1. The Artest Trade
2. A Quiet Night for DeJuan Blair
3. Two Years Later, Gasol Trade Continues to Shape NBA, Spurs
4. Andrew Bynum is a Game-Changer
5. Laughable Rumor