Kori Ellis
02-04-2005, 02:29 AM
Rose's starring role puts Popovich among stars
Web Posted: 02/04/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020405.1C.BKNspurs.lakers.gamer.73365c5f.html
LOS ANGELES — In a little more than two weeks, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will wade through smoke and strobe lights and find himself at center court in Denver's Pepsi Center.
OutKast will be blaring over the sound system. P. Diddy and Paris Hilton will be sitting courtside.
And if Popovich wonders just how in the name of James Naismith he got there, he can thank none other than Malik Rose. :lol
Pulled off the end of bench for the first time in three games, Rose delivered 19 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs, to lead the Spurs past the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 Thursday night and send Popovich to his first All-Star Game.
Misery supposedly loves company, so Tim Duncan will join his coach in Denver on Feb. 20. Provided he's healthy to go.
Duncan, named earlier in the day as a starter for the West's All-Star team, hyperextended his left knee in the second quarter. He had surgery on the same knee in 2000 to repair a cartilage tear and re-injured it last season, but his latest injury is not thought to be serious.
"I feel pretty good," Duncan said after the game. "It'll be all right."
Duncan returned to start the second half. He finished with 17 points and five rebounds before Popovich held him out of the final quarter, a decision that made the evening a little more interesting than either would have liked.
After the Spurs opened an 89-61 lead, the Lakers ran off 18 unanswered points. Having already suffered one unforgettable meltdown on TNT this season when Houston's Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 35 seconds, the Spurs steadied themselves, this time, long enough to win their fourth consecutive game.
Duncan had asked to go back in, but Popovich resisted, thinking his knee had cooled down too much.
"He was trying to throw the game," Duncan said, laughing.
Rose had not played in a week, having been banished to the end of the bench after he threw a pass into the stands and pulled his jersey over his face long enough for Sacramento's Darius Songaila to coast downcourt for a layup.
"Tonight I needed to prove to myself I could still play," Rose said.
He did that and more, making six of his 10 shots and all seven of his free throws.
Rose and the rest of the Spurs had spent the previous two days in Los Angeles relaxing and watching the latest installment of As the Lakers Turn. By the time Rudy Tomjanovich announced Wednesday he was stepping down as Lakers coach, team executives already were contemplating trying to woo back Phil Jackson.
"I think (Jackson's) over in Australia, laughing and smiling and having a good old time," said Frank Hamblen, who has gone from being Jackson's assistant to Tomjanovich's assistant to Lakers interim coach in less than eight months. "I'm wishing he'd fly back tomorrow and take (the job.)"
In the meantime, Hamblen would like to regain the services of Kobe Bryant, whose sprained right ankle forced him to miss his 10th consecutive game.
Not since April 18, 1996, when Bryant was still a month from graduating from Pennsylvania's Lower Merion High School and Shaquille O'Neal still was playing in Orlando, had the Spurs faced the Lakers without either of their longtime nemeses on the floor.
"We can't worry about that," said Tony Parker, who led the Spurs with 22 points. "We have to worry about ourselves."
It wasn't long before Duncan gave the Spurs plenty to worry about. After he fouled forward Caron Butler under the basket, Butler stumbled and fell backward onto Duncan's left knee.
Duncan, already suffering from a nagging hip injury, collapsed and immediately grabbed his knee. He remained on the court for a couple of minutes before walking to the locker room without help. He returned to the bench a little less than three minutes later but sat out the remainder of the quarter.
The Spurs led 43-40 when Duncan returned to start the second half. Thanks to his nine points and five rebounds in the third quarter, the Spurs' advantage ballooned to 28.
As Duncan walked off the court, a small part of the Staples Center crowd started chanting, "We want Phil! We want Phil!"
For now, the Lakers and their fans will have to wait before they learn whether Jackson will return. In the meantime, they watched the NBA's newest All-Star coach.
"I know Pop's not too happy about it," Duncan said, "but it's still an honor."
Web Posted: 02/04/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020405.1C.BKNspurs.lakers.gamer.73365c5f.html
LOS ANGELES — In a little more than two weeks, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will wade through smoke and strobe lights and find himself at center court in Denver's Pepsi Center.
OutKast will be blaring over the sound system. P. Diddy and Paris Hilton will be sitting courtside.
And if Popovich wonders just how in the name of James Naismith he got there, he can thank none other than Malik Rose. :lol
Pulled off the end of bench for the first time in three games, Rose delivered 19 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs, to lead the Spurs past the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 Thursday night and send Popovich to his first All-Star Game.
Misery supposedly loves company, so Tim Duncan will join his coach in Denver on Feb. 20. Provided he's healthy to go.
Duncan, named earlier in the day as a starter for the West's All-Star team, hyperextended his left knee in the second quarter. He had surgery on the same knee in 2000 to repair a cartilage tear and re-injured it last season, but his latest injury is not thought to be serious.
"I feel pretty good," Duncan said after the game. "It'll be all right."
Duncan returned to start the second half. He finished with 17 points and five rebounds before Popovich held him out of the final quarter, a decision that made the evening a little more interesting than either would have liked.
After the Spurs opened an 89-61 lead, the Lakers ran off 18 unanswered points. Having already suffered one unforgettable meltdown on TNT this season when Houston's Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 35 seconds, the Spurs steadied themselves, this time, long enough to win their fourth consecutive game.
Duncan had asked to go back in, but Popovich resisted, thinking his knee had cooled down too much.
"He was trying to throw the game," Duncan said, laughing.
Rose had not played in a week, having been banished to the end of the bench after he threw a pass into the stands and pulled his jersey over his face long enough for Sacramento's Darius Songaila to coast downcourt for a layup.
"Tonight I needed to prove to myself I could still play," Rose said.
He did that and more, making six of his 10 shots and all seven of his free throws.
Rose and the rest of the Spurs had spent the previous two days in Los Angeles relaxing and watching the latest installment of As the Lakers Turn. By the time Rudy Tomjanovich announced Wednesday he was stepping down as Lakers coach, team executives already were contemplating trying to woo back Phil Jackson.
"I think (Jackson's) over in Australia, laughing and smiling and having a good old time," said Frank Hamblen, who has gone from being Jackson's assistant to Tomjanovich's assistant to Lakers interim coach in less than eight months. "I'm wishing he'd fly back tomorrow and take (the job.)"
In the meantime, Hamblen would like to regain the services of Kobe Bryant, whose sprained right ankle forced him to miss his 10th consecutive game.
Not since April 18, 1996, when Bryant was still a month from graduating from Pennsylvania's Lower Merion High School and Shaquille O'Neal still was playing in Orlando, had the Spurs faced the Lakers without either of their longtime nemeses on the floor.
"We can't worry about that," said Tony Parker, who led the Spurs with 22 points. "We have to worry about ourselves."
It wasn't long before Duncan gave the Spurs plenty to worry about. After he fouled forward Caron Butler under the basket, Butler stumbled and fell backward onto Duncan's left knee.
Duncan, already suffering from a nagging hip injury, collapsed and immediately grabbed his knee. He remained on the court for a couple of minutes before walking to the locker room without help. He returned to the bench a little less than three minutes later but sat out the remainder of the quarter.
The Spurs led 43-40 when Duncan returned to start the second half. Thanks to his nine points and five rebounds in the third quarter, the Spurs' advantage ballooned to 28.
As Duncan walked off the court, a small part of the Staples Center crowd started chanting, "We want Phil! We want Phil!"
For now, the Lakers and their fans will have to wait before they learn whether Jackson will return. In the meantime, they watched the NBA's newest All-Star coach.
"I know Pop's not too happy about it," Duncan said, "but it's still an honor."