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 Silver Dancers perform during a recent San Antonio Spurs home game. (D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty)
Thanks for looking. Now that I have your attention, here is the latest on the San Antonio Spurs.
Spurs Sitting Fourth in the West
"We are now almost in the fifth position," Manu Ginobili said. "Even if we don't care about the fifth position right now, we're not used to seeing ourselves there."
Ginobili is Back
Manu Ginobili scored 34 points in the Spurs' 110-96 win at Memphis over the Grizzlies. It was Ginobili's third consecutive game scoring 25 or more points, the longest such streak by a Spurs guard since 1986, when Alvin Robertson posted a three-game streak. "I think he's (Ginobili) definitely getting back to the form he had two years ago when he was an All-Star," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His body's feeling good, and he has a pretty good rhythm. Hopefully, that will just continue for him."
Ginobili, who averaged 25.5 points in the previous two games, was 10-of-15 from the field, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range. His career-best six 3-pointers were among San Antonio's season-high 14 baskets from behind the arc.
Horry Performs for Mom
As soon as Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich sent Matt Bonner to the scorer's table early in the second quarter on Sunday, Robert Horry buried a turnaround jumper. He followed with consecutive 3-pointers. Horry said he didn't see Bonner waiting to check in for him. But he did know who was watching from the stands: His mother — along with his brother, his aunt and his brother's family — who drove from Alabama to see him play. "We're going to take her on our flights the rest of the season," Popovich said.
Horry had 18 points, a season high.
The Leather Ball.
"There's a lot of things I can do now that I couldn't do with the other ball," Horry said. "Just putting it on the floor, I'm a lot more comfortable. The ball bounces up better. I can grip it better. "To me, it's a huge, huge difference." Horry had been the team's most vocal critic of the league's microfiber basketball, saying, among other things, it was too light.
Including his 6-for-9 performance Sunday, Horry is 9 of 18, 4 of 8 from the 3-point line, in the four games since the league switched back to leather.
San Antonio Spurs' Jacque Vaughn (11) looks for an opening over Memphis Grizzlies' Damon Stoudamire during the second quarter of NBA basketball action Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, in Memphis,
It's a Team Game
"They just play good team basketball," Grizzlies guard Chucky Atkins said. "They are a very unselfish team, a team you want to pattern yourself after."
Defense wins Championships
"As many possessions as there were in the game," Popovich said, "I thought that was a pretty good (defensive) effort on our part." "(We) held them to 24 points under what they've been averaging."
It was part of the Spurs' strategy to force Memphis to be more deliberate on offense. Grizzlies reserve point guard Atkins said San Antonio doubled him on breaks to get the ball out of his hands or used one of its frontline players to stop penetration. "(The Spurs) kind of throw you off your rhythm offensively. That's all you really need to do. It's not about blocking shots or getting steals. If they can throw you off your rhythm offensively, they can make you miss shots."
Three Losses in a Row Sucks
"We couldn't allow ourselves to get another loss," Ginobili said. "Three in a row is already too much."
Tony Parker Injured
Tony Parker missed his first game this season when he was unable to play Sunday because of a right hip strain. Parker worked out before the game, then told Spurs officials his hip was too tight. His teammates were surprised when they found out he wasn't playing. Parker said he hurt himself at some point during Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but doesn't think the injury is severe.
"I think I just did a bad move, like when I penetrate," Parker said. "It's a little bit like last year in the playoffs against Sacramento (when he was slowed by a hip strain). "It makes no sense to take a risk for one game. I'd be mad at myself if I did it worse and missed like five games." Parker thinks he'll be able to play Tuesday against the Portland Trailblazers — provided the Spurs want him to play.
Elson Still Out
Spurs officials don't expect Francisco Elson to return this week. Elson has missed the past six games after suffering a small tear in his right rotator cuff in the Dec. 26 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Spurs have now won nine straight games at home. The Hawks have lost six straight The Spurs stifling defense returned Thursday night against the Jazz. But San Antonio will need to keep up this intensity if they are to avoid a situation that might be ripe for an upset today.
Don't Drink the Water
Unfortunately the stomach flu is still going around. Tim Duncan was not able to practice yesterday due to a upset stomach which has been the first symptom experienced by each of the Spurs that fought the flu bug last week. Team officials listed him as questionable for this afternoon's game against Atlanta. Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and Matt Bonner all missed Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee after becoming sick. Jacque Vaughn and Fabricio Oberto — in addition to both of the team's trainers and one assistant coach — also have been ill.
Robert Horry
If Duncan can't play, the Spurs could end up starting Robert Horry. Horry made his first start in Thursday's victory over Utah while filling in for center Francisco Elson, who remains sidelined with a right shoulder injury. Horry became "Big Shot Rob" by making clutch baskets in critical games. That intensity was one of the reasons Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had him in the starting lineup against the Jazz. Horry's play to open the second half had a big impact on Thursday's favorable outcome.
The 36-year-old Horry snagged three offensive rebounds, outjumping 25-year-old Andrei Kirilenko and 27-year-old Mehmet Okur. Eventually Horry set up Manu Ginobili for a drive to the basket that resulted in two free throws on the possession. "He's always a smart player and understands the game and the situation," Spurs captain Tim Duncan said. "He did a great job of making plays for us when they were there, but he also hit the offensive glass and gave us a boost. He was a great passer tonight (on Thursday), as he always is. He was the player we need him to be."
Popovich also had a hunch he would get a playoff-like effort from Horry. "Robert is a big-game sort of guy at this point in his career," Popovich said. "I think he looks toward those games with more relish and juice, in a way. He took that starting role very seriously, and I thought, starting the game, he and Timmy set the tone and everyone followed suit. Because we played so poorly against Milwaukee (on Tuesday), I think Rob was ready to go out and try to change things and turn things around. I think he was ready to get everybody to play with a little bit more focus and maturity, and not play like we can turn it on whenever we want to."
Matt Bonner
Another player the Spurs are beginning to rely on more is Matt Bonner. Matt felt much more comfortable Thursday night. "The system is already in place and I have enough NBA experience and I’ve played enough games with the Spurs already to just come in and know my role."
The 6'10 Bonner, was acquired during the offseason in the deal that sent center Rasho Nesterovic to Toronto. Bonner aggressively ####s the boards, spaces the floor on offense, and contributes points. Known as the "Red Rocket", Matt will have to continue to step up until the flu bug finishes making its rounds.
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.
