By ELIZABETH WHITE, Associated Press Writer SAN ANTONIO, March 13 (AP)-- If the San Antonio Spurs were the forgotten team in the Western Conference race earlier this season, there is no overlooking them now. The Spurs won their 13th straight Tuesday night, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 93-84. They haven't lost since Feb. 11.
That was before Valentines Day folks. Remember Valentines Day? That was a month ago.
"Thirteen games ago, we didn't say we needed to win 13 in a row to get back into this thing,'' said Tim Duncan. "We're just trying to get better as a basketball team, so when the playoffs start, we feel we can win games night in and night out. It would mean more if we won 14,'' Duncan said. "And if we win 14, then 15. You just want to win the next one. That's what it's about.''
With the Dallas Mavericks' 17-game winning streak ending with a 117-100 loss Monday to the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio now owns the league's longest winning streak and its longest of the season.
The Spurs' 46-18 record puts them 3+ games behind the Phoenix Suns, who have won five in a row, for second place in the Western Conference. "We're not looking at the standings yet,'' Duncan said. "It will figure itself out. We're just worried about ourselves right now. Just trying to play our best basketball.''
Well I am looking at the standings and it is looking like a first round playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets. That should be interesting.
MILWAUKEE, March 15 (AP) -- San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich warned the Spurs that facing a downtrodden team in its first game with a new coach can be dangerous. Then they saw it for themselves.
The Milwaukee Bucks made a winner of Larry Krystkowiak in his NBA debut, ending San Antonio's 13-game winning streak with a 101-90 victory on Thursday night. Krystkowiak said he expected a strong effort from his players the first time out. "A lot of times, you get a little adrenaline and spark,'' said Krystkowiak, a Bucks assistant who was promoted and given a multiyear deal hours after the team fired Terry Stotts on Wednesday. "I anticipated our guys playing hard.''
So did Popovich, but he didn't necessarily get it. It was a slightly off night for Spurs stars Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. "That's not going to happen very often,'' Popovich said. "They're human beings, it can happen. But I'm more concerned with the lack of aggressiveness on both ends of the court.''
Parker scored 15 points and played only 6:14 in the decisive fourth quarter. Asked if Parker was one of the players he was referring to when he talked about a lack of aggressiveness, Popovich stood silent and waited for another question to be asked. "I didn't play well at all,'' Parker said. "I'll try to do better Saturday against Boston.''
I hate the way Pops treats Parker.
Ginobili scored 12 on 2-for-10 shooting. "We played terrible,'' Ginobili said. "We've got to realize that the streak doesn't matter.''
The San Antonio Spurs are doing it with defense. For the third consecutive game, the Spurs held their opponents to 74 points, this time in an 88-74 victory Monday night over the Los Angeles Clippers to extend their season-high winning streak to nine games. The San Antonio reserves provided the majority of the offense, with Manu Ginobili and Beno Udrih combining for 30 points and pulling down eight rebounds each. Michael Finley added 10 points as the players off the bench outscored the Spurs' starters 49-39.
The Clippers, led by Corey Maggette's 19 points, trailed all the way and were held to 38 percent shooting as they matched their season low in points.
Tim Duncan, who had 12 rebounds and nine points in the win, said the Spurs have started to play well at the right time. "We've still got a bunch of games to finish this season, but the streak we're on right now is the way we want to play and the way we want to end out this season,'' Duncan said. "Defensively, we've been solid and we're moving the ball real well. "We're giving up less offensive rebounds and we're keeping opponents' shooting percentage down. And that's been the difference. We're getting some good play from our bench. Guys understand their roles, and defensively we're staying solid no matter who's on the floor.''
Ginobili, who scored 16 points, noted the Spurs can't get complacent. "We don't want to get so cocky or so happy about the way we're playing. We really struggled a month ago, so we don't want to go back there,'' he said. "We know we're in a good stretch, but we've just got to be humble and keep working, knowing that we're still far away from Dallas and Phoenix and other teams that we want to catch.''
For 44 minutes, the San Antonio Spurs had big trouble making 3-pointers. In the final 4 minutes, they couldn't miss. Tim Duncan had 24 points and Spurs hit five 3-pointers in a row to overtake the Portland Trail Blazers for their 10th straight victory, 99-94 Tuesday night. Manu Ginobili had 23 points, eight in the last 2:13, and Michael Finley added 20 for the Spurs.
Rookie Brandon Roy had 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds to lead the Blazers, who lost to San Antonio for the eighth straight time and 15th in the last 16 meetings. Zach Randolph had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 14 points. Portland led by eight points with 4 minutes left and looked on its way to victory when the Spurs, just 4-of-16 on 3-pointers at that point, began hitting 3s.
Beno Udrih started the flurry and Ginobili made back-to-back 3s to cut the lead to 92-91. After a Blazers turnover, Udrih knocked in another 3 with 1:07 left to give the Spurs their first lead since 1-0. Finley dropped in a 24-foot 3-pointer with 35.9 seconds left and Ginobili scored on a driving finger role to complete a 14-4 run.
"It was awesome,'' Duncan said. "I loved watching it. Watching Manu do what he does was an incredible stretch to watch. Mike Fin has been playing unbelievable off the bench.''
Tony Parker returned briefly for the Spurs after missing two games with a strained left hip. He started and played the first half, but sat after that.
The Portland Trail Blazers had already seen Manu Ginobili pull off one remarkable comeback this season. On Tuesday night, he treated them to another. With the Spurs' winning streak about to expire, Ginobili buried back-to-back 3-pointers to stir his teammates, who then watched Beno Udrih and Michael Finley make two more, completing an improbable 99-94 victory at the Rose Garden.
"Here's what I know about a notoriously selfish Clipper named Corey Maggette. He wouldn't have turned the San Antonio Spurs' loss in Chicago into a win. If he were traded here, he would become the only Spur to worry about or even use the word "touches." His basketball IQ would place him in remedial classes. And the Spurs would be lucky to get him."
Whaaa?
"Here's what I know about the possibility of a trade for Maggette going through. After Monday, the odds went up. The Clippers have been trying to trade him for a year. A deal is still not likely with the Spurs, mostly because the Clippers might find more in return for Maggette elsewhere. They see better options with Golden State, for example, where Mike Dunleavy continues to disappoint."
Then why did you write this?
'Monday played into this trade scenario, too, after Dunleavy ended with 18 points and 13 rebounds in a Warriors victory over, coincidentally, the Clippers. Either Don Nelson likes how Dunleavy responded to a recent scolding and wants to keep him, or Nelson hopes such a performance will help increase Dunleavy's trade value."
Don Nelson is coaching again? Didn't know that.
"The Clippers' coach is certainly open to a deal. He happens to be Dunleavy's father, and daddy Dunleavy is also the one who has had issues with Maggette. One issue was repeated Monday."
Oh, so Daddy wants his boy.
"Maggette, in that same game, was Dunleavy's equal statistically. But the Clippers lost, and it's a pattern. The Clippers were at their best last season when Maggette was injured."
Ouch! Tell me what you really think Buck.
"The Spurs' staff has weighed this aspect, as well as others. Maggette is not a great 3-point shooter ... and he's more reactionary than smart."
Why would we be lucky to get him Buck? (Strike 1.)
"He's a headless horseman as a player," said one in Los Angeles. "He will run into charges, he will shoot when someone else is open. And the Clippers don't trust him on defense."
Why would we be lucky to get him Buck? (Strike 2.)
Stephen Jackson had a sounder foundation than Maggette, which is why the Spurs still debate among themselves whether they would do this deal if offered. Today, they have a peaceful locker room, with a group that knows how to play with each other, and losing Brent Barry and Beno Udrih would change that.
Why would we be lucky to get him Buck? (Your out Buck! Take a seat on the bench.)
"Such is life for the Spurs these days. Given a rare opportunity to practice Tuesday, they pushed back their scheduled workout two hours because of the icy conditions, met at their facility in the early afternoon, then realized if they stayed much longer, they'd have to hold a slumber party. Coach Gregg Popovich canceled practice and sent the players home before most had a chance to break a sweat. He also scrapped the Wednesday morning shootaround."
How does this help us get ready to play different lines to use a hockey term? The Los Angeles Lakers are in San Antonio for Christs sake! Dusty is going to be all over me if his Lakers take us.
"For a club that's been inconsistent in both production and lineup, the on-off-on-off workday fits well with the rest of the season.
Huh?
"With any luck, the roads, and possibly even a few of the Spurs' shooters, will thaw out before the team has to report to the A####mp;T Center for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Are you kidding me? That sucks.
It's negative six here in Central Iowa and my 11 year old daughter went on to gymnastics practice tonight. She doesn't even compete. She just loves the sport. Apparently she's more dedicated than the Spurs.
Hell she and I even went to Taco Bell afterward. We had "cold" drinks.
Christ! My wife went to try out for Music Man tonight. She's 42 years old and took it to those college kids dancing the shim####ee. She took my nine year old son with her. He's going back to try out tommorrow.
And the Spurs couldn't practice?
Before they left my son and I fired up the old snow blower and blew off the drive. Then I went and did a neighbor's sidewalk. I am 46 overweight with a bulging disc in my back and I'm out there in below zero weather loving every minute of it.
And the Spurs couldn't practice? Talk about soft.
"It's a tough time right now," said Tim Duncan, and he wasn't referring to the temperatures.
Apparently not tough enough. Oh, you poor baby. Talk about coddled athletes these days.
"Given that Kobe Bryant and teammates arrived in town safely Tuesday, the Spurs will have to work out their problems on the court. Among their troubles is figuring out who belongs on the court and when. Popovich said he's still mixing and matching combinations to find a rotation. Injuries to Francisco Elson and Matt Bonner have complicated the issue. Elson, at least, appears to be on his way back."
Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine,whine,whine.
Dusty, hold this air sickness bag while I puke. I can't take this anymore. Kobe kicking our #### might be the best thing that could happen to us right now.
The Lakers have had to look at different combinations of players on the court after losing two starters themselves.
"Two days after the Lakers erased an 11-point first-half deficit to beat the Spurs in Los Angeles, forward Lamar Odom sprained his right knee. Center Kwame Brown, who has given Duncan trouble, has been sidelined all month with a left ankle sprain. Still, the Lakers have stayed in the hunt for one of the Western Conference's top four seeds, improving to 10-7 without Odom after beating Miami on Monday."
I don't here them complaining.
"Los Angeles often plays small and fast and — at least when healthy — has the type of athletic personnel that has often frustrated the Spurs this season. In last month's meeting, the Spurs wilted under the Lakers' pressure defense."
Not Wilted as in Chamberlain, wilted as in #### dead flowers stinking where they have been thrown off of graves onto a fairly discrete pile off to the edge of the cemetary property.
"The Spurs can no longer say they're at the same level as the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, who have distanced themselves as the Western Conference's elite."
Wednesday: Spurs (27-12) vs. Lakers (25-13)
The Lakers beat the Spurs 106-99 on Dec. 10 at Staples Center. Lamar Odom had 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. The Spurs, who led by as many as 11 points in the first half, were outscored 62-36 in the lane. The Lakers also had 14 offensive rebounds. Los Angeles is 10-7 since Odom sprained his right knee Dec. 12. Lakers are 7-9 on the road.
"Brent Barry hasn’t yet received an invitation to participate in the All-Star three point Shootout. But if he does, he’ll have a hard time saying no. Barry said he’d like to have one more opportunity to become the first player to win both the dunk and three point contests. His famous white-men-can-jump free-throw line takeoff won him the dunk title as a rookie at the 1996 All-Star Game at the Alamodome. Barry advanced to the second round of the 2003 three point Shootout before losing to eventual champion Peja Stojakovic. He was scheduled to compete again in 2004, but had to skip the event after breaking his right hand.
Along with Bruce Bowen, Barry figures to be on the list of candidates the NBA considers. He ranked third in the league in 3-point accuracy as of Sunday. “I think I’d probably go shoot if I got asked,” Barry said. “I’d just try and enjoy myself. “I don’t know why guys would pass up an opportunity like that."
Barry figures there will be more competition than usual to land an invite. “I said at the beginning of the year I thought some of the statistical numbers would be astronomical because the All-Star Game was in Vegas,” he said. “I thought this year guys would be going crazy to get there. “It’s definitely going to be the best well-attended (Players Association) meeting in the history of player meetings.”
With Tony Parker dealing with a strained right hip, the San Antonio Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Parker is listed as day-to-day. Parker, whose return for Tuesday is questionable, is averaging 19.7 points and 5.9 assists.
"It's kind of tight and he's having a hard time pushing off," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Parker's injury. "It's not long term. I don't know if it's one game or two games or what the deal is."
If Parker is not able to start, Beno Udrih, will make the seventh start of his three-year career. Udrih was labeled the Spurs’ “fourth point guard” during training camp, then elevated to backup by the start of the season. Popovich demoted him to No. 3 two weeks ago then gave him his job back.
Through it all, however, one thing hasn’t changed: His shot. It still isn’t going in. Udrih is shooting a career-worst 35.6 percent, nearly a 10 percent drop from last season, while making only 19 of his 65 3-point attempts. “My confidence went down a little bit,” Udrih said. “But I just need to pick it up and keep working.” “I just have to stop thinking about it and knock those open shots down.”
Udrih doesn’t think he’s ever been in a slump this prolonged. “I remember when I was playing in Europe, I was around a 50-60 percent shooter,” Udrih said. “But it’s harder here. You come from the bench, you’re cold, you get two, three shots. You don’t feel it yet.
“Sometimes you try to be aggressive and that will to be aggressive makes you make a mistake or a bad shot.” Udrih said he’s never had to work on his shot before. It’s always come natural to him. He’s now putting in some extra time with assistant coach Brett Brown.
Michael Finley and Robert Horry are also trying to regain their form.
Without its star point guard, San Antonio has turned to his veteran backcourt mate to snap a season-high skid. The spurs will rely on Manu Ginobili.
The Spurs enter tonight's game against Portland having already lost six times at home, just one less than they did all of last season. Only two seasons ago, they went a franchise-best 38-3 at the since-renamed SBC Center. "You always want to be able to protect your own gym," Ginobili said. "We haven't done that this season."
The Spurs have instead played the role of accommodating hosts, often stopping just short of leaving a mint on their opponent's pillow. Tired and weary of being on the road? Looking for a relaxing weekend getaway? Visit Casa de Spurs. More than a few opposing teams have left town satisfied this winter.
"It used to be teams would say, 'Man, we're in San Antonio. It's tough here,'" Bruce Bowen said. "Now they may say, 'We're down 10, we got a chance.'"
"I think we get comfortable," Finley said. "What I mean by that is we get leads on sub-par teams, and we get into a comfort zone knowing we can still win the game if we just play average. The Spurs have blown double-digit second-half leads in five of their past 11 home games. They won three of those games, but that didn't leave them feeling much better.
The Spurs and, coincidentally, the Trail Blazers, are the only teams with better records on the road than at home.
The Spurs have dominated Portland this decade, both home and away. They've won six straight and nine of the last 10 meetings in San Antonio and six in a row and 13 of the last 14 overall in the series, including a 107-98 win in Portland on Nov. 20.
Portland has won four of its last six road games after a 3-8 start away from home. The Trail Blazers have lost five of their last six contests.
This writer has suggested moving Brent Barry and Udrih. At least one Spur fan disagrees.
"Pop, what are you thinking? Have you really considered what you are thinking about by sending Brent Barry and Beno Udrih away? I plead with you to reconsider this option," wrote Albert Rios. "You are talking about disrupting the chemistry of your team. If anyone, send your one player named (Eric) Williams to the Los Angeles Clippers. He has not played that much because of injury, so maybe he'd be a good swap and you wouldn't lose that much for what you're thinking about getting."
Others agree Barry may be trade bait. "Why are the Spurs so reluctant to trade Barry for Cory Maggette? I understand Barry has done well this year but Maggette is a difference maker. What is your take on this proposed trade?" wrote Pete.
Johnny Ludden, San Antonio Express writer, concurred to a degree. "Trust me, they aren’t nearly as reluctant as they were. I think recent losses confirmed to everyone how much the team would benefit from having an athletic three man who can play the four when the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns go small. What some Spurs officials don’t want to do, however, is give up Beno along with Brent in the same deal. That would leave them without two of their best ball-handlers and they don’t like the idea of having to lean on Bruce, Fin or even Maggette to bring up the ball. Beno, for all his faults, can play next to Tony, if needed.
Another fan concurs on moving Udrih as does Ludden.
"A couple of months ago, I emailed you to point out that Udrih should be yanked (and now should be traded ... if anyone wants him) because his jump shot stinks. I don't care about his textbook shooting form or about how many threes he hits in practice. All that matters is game time. And at game time, he fails miserably, time after time after time. I hope (before trade deadline) the Spurs management will see and accept what has been clear to me and other Spurs fans for a long time." wrote Robert Austin.
Horry had his own scary moment in a club in the recent past. While attending a party at a Los Angeles club, shots rang out in a crowded room. A friend tackled him to the floor and draped himself atop Horry to protect him. "It was my friend Ron Finley, who makes my clothes," Horry said, "and that is a friend, a good friend."
From the floor, Horry spotted an exit sign. He and Finley made a dash to get out. "We didn't know what was going on," Horry said, "and as we were getting in our car we saw some guys going in the trunk of their car, getting more guns. We just said, 'Let's get up out of this joint.'"
Horry's advice for is fellow athletes: Don't roll too deep. "Rolling deep" means hanging out with a large group. Horry believes it a practice fraught with peril.
"A lot of athletes roll deep a lot," said Horry. "When they roll deep, people bring people the athletes don't know, and you don't know how they're going to be acting. Sometimes people don't act responsibly in that group. A lot of people don't care. When you're in that group, you're guilty by association."
Five games and Five straight wins for the SanAntonio Spurs. Tonight's good boys on offense were Tim Duncan with 21 points, Michael Finley with 20 and Tim Parker with 18 as they led San Antonio to a 105 - 98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Bruce Bowen also contributed with key shots and defensive stops late in the game.
These Spurs make Santa proud. They share the ball with one another like Pop's has taught them to and tonight the team had 30 assists. Count them. 30.
They work hard too. They grind it out as Coach Greg Popovich is fond of saying. They sound like contractors building something when they talk about how the base and foundation are laid as they now work on reducing the oppositions shooting percentage to under 40%. Tightening screws they call it.
We've heard enough about the naughty guys this Christmas Season. Let's raise a toast to the good guys in the white hats. Now we know who has been nice. Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
"Such is life for the Spurs these days. Given a rare opportunity to practice Tuesday, they pushed back their scheduled workout two hours because of the icy conditions, met at their facility in the early afternoon, then realized if they stayed much longer, they'd have to hold a slumber party. Coach Gregg Popovich canceled practice and sent the players home before most had a chance to break a sweat. He also scrapped the Wednesday morning shootaround."
