duncan228
02-08-2009, 10:23 PM
Bonner's homecoming becomes a big success (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Bonners_homecoming_becomes_a_big_success.html)
Jeff McDonald
BOSTON A few days before Spurs center Matt Bonner was to return to his old stomping grounds for Sunday's game against the Celtics, his father called with a simple request.
He said if I could get 100 free passes, that would be great, Bonner said.
It turns out two busloads of Bonner fans made the 70-mile drive down Interstate 93 from Concord, N.H., to watch their town's favorite son play against its favorite team.
Bonner rewarded his fan club with his best game of the season, pouring in a season-high 23 points to help the Spurs to a 105-99 victory. He had 14 during a sizzling second quarter in which he made 6 of 7 shots and the Spurs outscored Boston 38-29.
Surprisingly, Bonner did not do the bulk of his scoring from 3-point range (he was 3 of 6.) Instead, Bonner unleashed an offensive arsenal of pull-up jumpers and running hooks not seen since his days at Concord High.
In the second quarter, Bonner even drove past Kevin Garnett the league's reigning defensive player of the year for a basket.
Matt Bonner was the key to the game, Boston's Kendrick Perkins said. You take away his points, we win.
It was all quite a turnabout for Bonner, who did not play in either of his two previous visits to Boston with the Spurs. After emerging as a starting center, Bonner was guaranteed time on Sunday hence the caravan from Concord.
He made it an afternoon to remember.
At the end of the game, when we had wrapped it up and they were fouling us, I got goosebumps, Bonner said.
Crying foul: Ray Allen accused Manu Ginobili of illegally crossing the out-of-bounds line to get the fourth-quarter steal that essentially sealed the game for the Spurs.
Allen said he addressed the issue with official Ron Garretson before being handed the ball to start the play.
I told Ron before the play, Ginobili is supposed to be a certain distance from me, Allen said. I told Ron that he had to back off.
Boston coach Doc Rivers said he didn't think Ginobili committed a violation. Either way, Rivers would have preferred Allen use a timeout in that situation.
Stinging back: Spurs guard George Hill briefly lost feeling his left arm after Boston's Glen Davis slammed him to the ground in the fourth quarter.
It was like a stinger, my arm went numb, Hill said. I was just trying to get the feeling back. That's why I stayed down so long.
After a brief timeout, Hill made 1 of 2 free throws. An unheralded contributor to the Spurs' victory, Hill scored all seven of his points during a span of 2:17 in the final quarter.
A girl's best friend: Rivers said he did not have a problem with the $15,000 fine the league levied at him for verbally abusing officials in a loss to the Lakers last week. He can't say the same for his wife.
She said make sure that doesn't hurt me on Valentine's Day, Rivers said.
Jeff McDonald
BOSTON A few days before Spurs center Matt Bonner was to return to his old stomping grounds for Sunday's game against the Celtics, his father called with a simple request.
He said if I could get 100 free passes, that would be great, Bonner said.
It turns out two busloads of Bonner fans made the 70-mile drive down Interstate 93 from Concord, N.H., to watch their town's favorite son play against its favorite team.
Bonner rewarded his fan club with his best game of the season, pouring in a season-high 23 points to help the Spurs to a 105-99 victory. He had 14 during a sizzling second quarter in which he made 6 of 7 shots and the Spurs outscored Boston 38-29.
Surprisingly, Bonner did not do the bulk of his scoring from 3-point range (he was 3 of 6.) Instead, Bonner unleashed an offensive arsenal of pull-up jumpers and running hooks not seen since his days at Concord High.
In the second quarter, Bonner even drove past Kevin Garnett the league's reigning defensive player of the year for a basket.
Matt Bonner was the key to the game, Boston's Kendrick Perkins said. You take away his points, we win.
It was all quite a turnabout for Bonner, who did not play in either of his two previous visits to Boston with the Spurs. After emerging as a starting center, Bonner was guaranteed time on Sunday hence the caravan from Concord.
He made it an afternoon to remember.
At the end of the game, when we had wrapped it up and they were fouling us, I got goosebumps, Bonner said.
Crying foul: Ray Allen accused Manu Ginobili of illegally crossing the out-of-bounds line to get the fourth-quarter steal that essentially sealed the game for the Spurs.
Allen said he addressed the issue with official Ron Garretson before being handed the ball to start the play.
I told Ron before the play, Ginobili is supposed to be a certain distance from me, Allen said. I told Ron that he had to back off.
Boston coach Doc Rivers said he didn't think Ginobili committed a violation. Either way, Rivers would have preferred Allen use a timeout in that situation.
Stinging back: Spurs guard George Hill briefly lost feeling his left arm after Boston's Glen Davis slammed him to the ground in the fourth quarter.
It was like a stinger, my arm went numb, Hill said. I was just trying to get the feeling back. That's why I stayed down so long.
After a brief timeout, Hill made 1 of 2 free throws. An unheralded contributor to the Spurs' victory, Hill scored all seven of his points during a span of 2:17 in the final quarter.
A girl's best friend: Rivers said he did not have a problem with the $15,000 fine the league levied at him for verbally abusing officials in a loss to the Lakers last week. He can't say the same for his wife.
She said make sure that doesn't hurt me on Valentine's Day, Rivers said.