Tony Parker had 23 points to lead Spurs, who now face Denver Nuggets or Golden State Warriors LOS ANGELES — Well, we don't have the Los Angeles Lakers to kick around anymore.
Wait. Actually we do.
The Lakers' off-season could be as intriguing and challenging as their 2012-13 season was disappointing and dysfunctional.
That season ended with a thud Sunday in a 103-82 loss to the San Antonio Spurs that was strange for innumerable reasons — from the odd 4 p.m. PT starting time to the nearly unrecognizable three-guard lineup the Lakers often deployed to the early exit of Lakers center Dwight Howard, who was ejected after drawing his second technical foul with 9:51 left in the third quarter and the Lakers trailing 55-34.
BOX SCORE: Spurs 103, Lakers 82
SCHEDULE: First-round times, TV info
Even before tipoff, there was a palpable aura of surrender in Staples Center. The Lakers knew their was no way this makeshift, injury-depleted roster could beat the disciplined, veteran Spurs, and the unsurprising result completed the four-game sweep of this first-round series.
Tony Parker finished with 23 points for the balanced Spurs, who had five players in double figures and five more who scored. Seldom-used center DeJuan Blair, playing more because of Tiago Splitter's absence, had 13 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.
How long ago was the only previous time the Lakers made the playoffs but failed to win a single game? Well, long enough ago that the opponent that swept them 3-0 was known as the San Francisco Warriors, whose leading scorer was a 22-year-old forward named Rick Barry. The year was 1967.
PHOTOS: Top shots from Spurs' sweep of Lakers 
Game 4 in Los Angeles - Lakers forward Pau Gasol shoots over Spurs forwards Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Los Angeles - Spurs guard Danny Green splits the Lakers' defense.]()
Game 4 in Los Angeles - Spurs guard Danny Green splits the Lakers' defense.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Los Angeles - Lakers forward Pau Gasol gets caught up between two Spurs defenders.]()
Game 4 in Los Angeles - Lakers forward Pau Gasol gets caught up between two Spurs defenders.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Los Angeles - Lakers center Dwight Howard yells at several Spurs in the lead-up to his ejection.]()
Game 4 in Los Angeles - Lakers center Dwight Howard yells at several Spurs in the lead-up to his ejection.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Lakers center Dwight Howard strains for a rebound between Spurs forward Matt Bonner, left, and guard Tony Parker.]()
Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Lakers center Dwight Howard strains for a rebound between Spurs forward Matt Bonner, left, and guard Tony Parker.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Spurs guard Tony Parker holds his face after taking a hit from Lakers forward Metta World Peace's forearm.]()
Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Spurs guard Tony Parker holds his face after taking a hit from Lakers forward Metta World Peace's forearm.
Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Spurs guard Tony Parker slips past Lakers center Dwight Howard for a layup.]()
Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Spurs guard Tony Parker slips past Lakers center Dwight Howard for a layup.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Lakers guard Andrew Goudelock drives past Spurs guard Danny Green.]()
Game 3 in Los Angeles: Spurs 120, Lakers 89 - Lakers guard Andrew Goudelock drives past Spurs guard Danny Green.
Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - DeJuan Blair reaches out for a rebound.]()
Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - DeJuan Blair reaches out for a rebound.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - Tony Parker posts up Steve Blake.]()
Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - Tony Parker posts up Steve Blake.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - Dwight Howard gets fouled while going up for a shot.]()
Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - Dwight Howard gets fouled while going up for a shot.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - Pau Gasol drives to the basket.]()
Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 102, Lakers 91 - Pau Gasol drives to the basket.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Spurs guard Tony Parker shoots over the Lakers' defense.]()
Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Spurs guard Tony Parker shoots over the Lakers' defense.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Lakers guard Jodie Meeks commits an offensive foul and falls backward.]()
Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Lakers guard Jodie Meeks commits an offensive foul and falls backward.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Spurs guard Tony Parker argues a call.]()
Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Spurs guard Tony Parker argues a call.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks on Spurs center Tiago Splitter.]()
Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks on Spurs center Tiago Splitter.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Spurs center Tim Duncan drives on Lakers forward Pau Gasol.]()
Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Spurs center Tim Duncan drives on Lakers forward Pau Gasol.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Lakers guard Steve Nash goes up for a layup.]()
Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 91, Lakers 79 - Lakers guard Steve Nash goes up for a layup.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay
Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide The Lakers have won 11 championships since then, and before this season they were given a decent chance of winning another one given the additions of Howard and Steve Nash to form a supposedly formidable Big Four along with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
But the Lakers began the season with a lackluster 99-91 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks and then careened through a series of dramas and debacles. That included the firing of coach Mike Brown and the hiring of Mike D'Antoni, confusion on offense, an alarming ineffectiveness on defense and injuries to nearly everyone, the big blow coming in the third-to-last regular season game when Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon.
Now it's over, and trying to guard Parker and Tim Duncan might seem easy compared to coming up with the answers to questions that will face the Lakers in the coming months.
Will Howard, who had back surgery at the end of last season and was not the dominant player the Lakers thought they were getting, want to return? He is a free agent.
Will Bryant, who had a great season but will be 35 in August, still be an elite player after suffering such a serious injury?
Are Nash, 39 and often injured this season, and Metta World Peace still part of the answer?
Has Gasol, subject of repeated trade rumors, played his last game with the Lakers?
At least they have some time to figure it all out. It's still April, and they're done playing.
PHOTOS: Everything to go wrong for 2012-13 Lakers 
It's over. The 2012-13 Lakers scrapped to make the playoffs, but were swept when they got there by the Spurs. Here's a look at everything that went wrong for them throughout the season.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Aug. 10: The Lakers introduced Dwight Howard after a blockbuster four-team trade. The additions of Howard and Steve Nash led to expectations of a championship, setting up the disappointment of the season.]()
Aug. 10: The Lakers introduced Dwight Howard after a blockbuster four-team trade. The additions of Howard and Steve Nash led to expectations of a championship, setting up the disappointment of the season.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![October: The Lakers went 0-8 in the preseason as Dwight Howard missed most of the games while recovering from back surgery. He and Kobe Bryant played together in only one preseason game.]()
October: The Lakers went 0-8 in the preseason as Dwight Howard missed most of the games while recovering from back surgery. He and Kobe Bryant played together in only one preseason game.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Oct. 31: Steve Nash had a small break in his left leg that was initially ruled as a bruise. Nash missed more than a month and a half.]()
Oct. 31: Steve Nash had a small break in his left leg that was initially ruled as a bruise. Nash missed more than a month and a half.
Jaime Valdez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Nov. 9: The Lakers went 1-4 to start the season, then fired coach Mike Brown.]()
Nov. 9: The Lakers went 1-4 to start the season, then fired coach Mike Brown.
Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Nov. 12: Mike D'Antoni was hired to replace Mike Brown, drawing much criticism. The team has yet to full adjust to his offensive system.]()
Nov. 12: Mike D'Antoni was hired to replace Mike Brown, drawing much criticism. The team has yet to full adjust to his offensive system.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
