Payton put the ball in the only possible place that he could, but San Antonio gave him a clean look and a clean path to make that pass, absolutely inexcusable. Popovich should be skewered for this.
I tend to agree.
For those who didn't watch the game, SA and LA did a few tricks to see each other's set up before the ball was inbounded.
The announcers noted as the teams set up their plays that SA wasn't guarding the inbounder - Payton - because there was not enough time for him to get the ball and shoot. They instead double covered Kobe Bryant - the Laker's star. The announcers thought it was a good idea.
Looks like the Laker's proved them oh so wrong. :)