Kori Ellis
03-19-2005, 01:48 AM
Ho-hum: Spurs in playoffs: Parker nets 24 points in 50th victory of the season
Web Posted: 03/19/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031905.1C.BKNspurs.bobcats.gamer.15091ceec.htm l
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs picked up their 50th victory along with a playoff berth Friday night, then greeted both accomplishments with a shrug of their shoulders.
After dismissing the Charlotte Bobcats 93-76 at the SBC Center, the Spurs did what they always do: They showered, dressed and left. No one opened a bottle of champagne or mapped out a parade route.
"I really feel the focus of our team has turned to considering what we have to do in these remaining games to prepare ourselves to play our best basketball," Brent Barry said. "It's not about our opponents. It's not about who's playing. It's about the team collectively.
"Let's do all the things we've been working on, and let's do them better so we can ramp ourselves up and tighten the screws for the playoffs."
For one more night, the Spurs tightened their defense when needed, holding Charlotte to 31.7 percent shooting in the second half. Though the expansion Bobcats' first visit to San Antonio ended like most of their trips this season, they still left impressed.
"We just played the best team in the league," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "There is no doubt in my mind."
Tony Parker scored a game-high 24 points, and Tim Duncan added 19. The Spurs showed off their depth, collecting 44 points from their bench, 26 of which came from Devin Brown and Robert Horry.
Parker helped break open the game in the third quarter, darting around the Bobcats for 12 points. For the night, he made 11 of 17 shots to go along with his five assists and five rebounds.
"Tony Parker reminds me a little of Allen Iverson, with his speed and quickness off the dribble," Bickerstaff said. "I don't know if he has the explosiveness of Iverson, but he's a handful."
A few of Parker's missed shots even proved productive. After his off-balance 18-foot attempt at the end of the third quarter fell a half-foot short of the rim, Nazr Mohammed caught the ball and instantly flushed a dunk at the buzzer.
"I thought Tony's energy was great all night," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I thought his aggressiveness really set a good tone for us."
Fueled by Charlotte's 25 turnovers, the Spurs scored a season-high 28 points in transition. Duncan even started a fast break early in the third quarter by throwing the ball ahead to ... Rasho Nesterovic.
Nesterovic, who doesn't have the fleetest of feet, looked startled as he caught the pass. He immediately stopped and pitched the ball to Parker, who drove for a layup.
After Charlotte called timeout, Popovich covered his eyes in jest. Duncan, who walked over to the bench laughing, apparently thought he was passing to Barry.
"I saw a white guy," he said. :lol
"Rasho was a little miffed when I showed concern about that pass," Popovich said, "because he's pretty sure I'm holding his game back."
The Spurs did their best to limit Bobcats rookie forward Emeka Okafor. The second overall pick in last June's draft, Okafor missed 10 of 13 shots and committed seven turnovers.
Though Brown threw down a powerful dunk over him, Okafor did his best to defend Duncan, who went 9 of 20 with six rebounds.
"We went through a lot of options," Okafor said, "but there's only so many options you can try with him."
Despite qualifying for the playoffs, the Spurs still have a few things they would like to scratch off their to-do list before the postseason begins. The team leaves this afternoon for a three-game trip that begins Sunday in Detroit. Somewhere along the way, the Spurs hope to regain Manu Ginobili, or "El Contusion," as Barry calls him.
"We need to get Manu back in rhythm," Barry said. "We need to get Nazr acclimated to the system, get my shot going, get Beno (Udrih) confident again.
"That's a lot to work on in these remaining games if we're going to contend."
Web Posted: 03/19/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031905.1C.BKNspurs.bobcats.gamer.15091ceec.htm l
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs picked up their 50th victory along with a playoff berth Friday night, then greeted both accomplishments with a shrug of their shoulders.
After dismissing the Charlotte Bobcats 93-76 at the SBC Center, the Spurs did what they always do: They showered, dressed and left. No one opened a bottle of champagne or mapped out a parade route.
"I really feel the focus of our team has turned to considering what we have to do in these remaining games to prepare ourselves to play our best basketball," Brent Barry said. "It's not about our opponents. It's not about who's playing. It's about the team collectively.
"Let's do all the things we've been working on, and let's do them better so we can ramp ourselves up and tighten the screws for the playoffs."
For one more night, the Spurs tightened their defense when needed, holding Charlotte to 31.7 percent shooting in the second half. Though the expansion Bobcats' first visit to San Antonio ended like most of their trips this season, they still left impressed.
"We just played the best team in the league," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "There is no doubt in my mind."
Tony Parker scored a game-high 24 points, and Tim Duncan added 19. The Spurs showed off their depth, collecting 44 points from their bench, 26 of which came from Devin Brown and Robert Horry.
Parker helped break open the game in the third quarter, darting around the Bobcats for 12 points. For the night, he made 11 of 17 shots to go along with his five assists and five rebounds.
"Tony Parker reminds me a little of Allen Iverson, with his speed and quickness off the dribble," Bickerstaff said. "I don't know if he has the explosiveness of Iverson, but he's a handful."
A few of Parker's missed shots even proved productive. After his off-balance 18-foot attempt at the end of the third quarter fell a half-foot short of the rim, Nazr Mohammed caught the ball and instantly flushed a dunk at the buzzer.
"I thought Tony's energy was great all night," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I thought his aggressiveness really set a good tone for us."
Fueled by Charlotte's 25 turnovers, the Spurs scored a season-high 28 points in transition. Duncan even started a fast break early in the third quarter by throwing the ball ahead to ... Rasho Nesterovic.
Nesterovic, who doesn't have the fleetest of feet, looked startled as he caught the pass. He immediately stopped and pitched the ball to Parker, who drove for a layup.
After Charlotte called timeout, Popovich covered his eyes in jest. Duncan, who walked over to the bench laughing, apparently thought he was passing to Barry.
"I saw a white guy," he said. :lol
"Rasho was a little miffed when I showed concern about that pass," Popovich said, "because he's pretty sure I'm holding his game back."
The Spurs did their best to limit Bobcats rookie forward Emeka Okafor. The second overall pick in last June's draft, Okafor missed 10 of 13 shots and committed seven turnovers.
Though Brown threw down a powerful dunk over him, Okafor did his best to defend Duncan, who went 9 of 20 with six rebounds.
"We went through a lot of options," Okafor said, "but there's only so many options you can try with him."
Despite qualifying for the playoffs, the Spurs still have a few things they would like to scratch off their to-do list before the postseason begins. The team leaves this afternoon for a three-game trip that begins Sunday in Detroit. Somewhere along the way, the Spurs hope to regain Manu Ginobili, or "El Contusion," as Barry calls him.
"We need to get Manu back in rhythm," Barry said. "We need to get Nazr acclimated to the system, get my shot going, get Beno (Udrih) confident again.
"That's a lot to work on in these remaining games if we're going to contend."