duncan228
03-18-2009, 12:11 AM
Right-hand men save Spurs (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Right-hand_men_save_Spurs.html)
Mike Monroe
With their most productive big man once again in David Stern-approved business casual attire, the Spurs needed a source of front-line offense against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at the AT&T Center.
While the most likely candidate appeared to be recently acquired power forward Drew Gooden, signed for just such circumstance, rescue came instead from veterans who understand fully that roles have to change when conditions demand it.
Kurt Thomas, a 36-year-old who has been with the Spurs a little more than a year, put up a solid effort in the Spurs' 93-86 victory, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and handing out six assists, with a pair of steals, for good measure.
Fabricio Oberto, who ceded his starting center spot to Matt Bonner early in the season, played for the first time in three games and had his most productive outing of the season.
The 33-year-old Argentine matched his season-high with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in a show of professionalism his teammates have come to expect.
“Fab was huge,” said Roger Mason Jr., who pumped in eight points in less than two minutes as the third quarter segued into the fourth. That burst gave the Spurs the breathing room they needed to avoid a second straight loss to one of the Western Conference's bottom feeders.
“With Tim out, we needed some more scoring,” Mason said. “I thought Fab was super-aggressive, and his scoring was timely. Some of those points he scored came when we had been stagnant, especially in the first half. And he was getting to the free-throw line.”
Indeed, Oberto made 4 of 6 free throws Tuesday. While that might seem pedestrian in the NBA, Oberto getting to the foul line with any regularity is the Spurs' version of man bites dog. He entered the game having attempted only 27 all season. His last free throw before Tuesday's game: Feb. 21, during mop-up duty in a blowout of the Wizards.
“I had one game against the Warriors where I got eight,” Oberto said, “so that is about, what, 70 percent of all my free throws in two games?”
Oberto's math is slightly off — 44 percent of his foul shots have come in the two games — but his point was no less legitimate.
The difference Tuesday?
“Sometimes when you are aggressive going to the basket,” he said, “the referees will give you those fouls.”
Oberto was looking more often for his own shot Tuesday than he typically does. His unselfishness is well known, and his teammates often wish he would show off some of the slick moves around the basket that on Tuesday produced a perfect shooting night, 4 for 4.
“It's like a gift and a curse,” Mason said. “He's so unselfish that sometimes he passes up his own opportunities.”
Thomas, who was Duncan's replacement in the three games the Spurs All-Star sat out with a sore right knee in late February, did his usual solid defensive work and was the team's top rebounder. He was most proud, he said, of his six assists.
He once had a triple-double, though never in the NBA.
“In college (at TCU), the hard way,” he said, “with blocks.”
His turn as a point-forward resulted from coach Gregg Popovich's instructions to the Spurs at halftime, when he urged them to push the pace and then use the shot clock to force the T-Wolves to defend for longer stretches.
“He really wanted us to push the ball up the floor, move the ball and really make them play defense,” Thomas said. “He wanted us to use the shot clock and make them work.”
The Spurs' true point guard, Tony Parker, did that, too. After a slow start — he missed four of his first five shots — Parker finished with a game-high 24 points, matching Thomas for assist honors, with six of his own.
“Tony did a great job running the show,” Popovich said. “A lot of people stepped up in Tim's absence. We were focused and played consistently for 48 minutes.”
Mike Monroe
With their most productive big man once again in David Stern-approved business casual attire, the Spurs needed a source of front-line offense against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at the AT&T Center.
While the most likely candidate appeared to be recently acquired power forward Drew Gooden, signed for just such circumstance, rescue came instead from veterans who understand fully that roles have to change when conditions demand it.
Kurt Thomas, a 36-year-old who has been with the Spurs a little more than a year, put up a solid effort in the Spurs' 93-86 victory, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and handing out six assists, with a pair of steals, for good measure.
Fabricio Oberto, who ceded his starting center spot to Matt Bonner early in the season, played for the first time in three games and had his most productive outing of the season.
The 33-year-old Argentine matched his season-high with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in a show of professionalism his teammates have come to expect.
“Fab was huge,” said Roger Mason Jr., who pumped in eight points in less than two minutes as the third quarter segued into the fourth. That burst gave the Spurs the breathing room they needed to avoid a second straight loss to one of the Western Conference's bottom feeders.
“With Tim out, we needed some more scoring,” Mason said. “I thought Fab was super-aggressive, and his scoring was timely. Some of those points he scored came when we had been stagnant, especially in the first half. And he was getting to the free-throw line.”
Indeed, Oberto made 4 of 6 free throws Tuesday. While that might seem pedestrian in the NBA, Oberto getting to the foul line with any regularity is the Spurs' version of man bites dog. He entered the game having attempted only 27 all season. His last free throw before Tuesday's game: Feb. 21, during mop-up duty in a blowout of the Wizards.
“I had one game against the Warriors where I got eight,” Oberto said, “so that is about, what, 70 percent of all my free throws in two games?”
Oberto's math is slightly off — 44 percent of his foul shots have come in the two games — but his point was no less legitimate.
The difference Tuesday?
“Sometimes when you are aggressive going to the basket,” he said, “the referees will give you those fouls.”
Oberto was looking more often for his own shot Tuesday than he typically does. His unselfishness is well known, and his teammates often wish he would show off some of the slick moves around the basket that on Tuesday produced a perfect shooting night, 4 for 4.
“It's like a gift and a curse,” Mason said. “He's so unselfish that sometimes he passes up his own opportunities.”
Thomas, who was Duncan's replacement in the three games the Spurs All-Star sat out with a sore right knee in late February, did his usual solid defensive work and was the team's top rebounder. He was most proud, he said, of his six assists.
He once had a triple-double, though never in the NBA.
“In college (at TCU), the hard way,” he said, “with blocks.”
His turn as a point-forward resulted from coach Gregg Popovich's instructions to the Spurs at halftime, when he urged them to push the pace and then use the shot clock to force the T-Wolves to defend for longer stretches.
“He really wanted us to push the ball up the floor, move the ball and really make them play defense,” Thomas said. “He wanted us to use the shot clock and make them work.”
The Spurs' true point guard, Tony Parker, did that, too. After a slow start — he missed four of his first five shots — Parker finished with a game-high 24 points, matching Thomas for assist honors, with six of his own.
“Tony did a great job running the show,” Popovich said. “A lot of people stepped up in Tim's absence. We were focused and played consistently for 48 minutes.”