duncan228
04-21-2009, 12:40 AM
Parker delivers early knockout (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Parker_delivers_early_knockout.html)
Jeff McDonald
Jason Terry said before Game 2 that the Spurs were “predictable,” and Gregg Popovich only wishes this were true.
In postseasons past, whenever the Spurs opened with a loss, he had one default reaction in the next game: Start Manu Ginobili.
With Ginobili watching these playoffs from the sidelines, Popovich had no such choice Monday.
Instead, he kept with the same lineup that lost Game 1, and went with what passes for predictability these days.
He gave the ball to Tony Parker, and asked Parker to win him a basketball game.
Parker obliged. Boy, did he oblige.
Taking over the game from the opening tip, Parker pumped in 38 points and handed out eight assists to lift the Spurs to a 105-84 victory that they simply had to have. With the victory, the Spurs evened the series at 1-1 as it shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Thursday.
“We didn't panic,” Parker said. “We watched film, saw what we did wrong in Game 1, and made adjustments.”
Parker shot 16 of 22 from the field, and came within three points of matching his career playoff high. Duncan added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, joining a list of five players in double figures.
The Mavericks aren't exactly in trouble after Monday's faceplant — although if Dirk Nowitzki's thumb and knee are as sore this morning as his shooting stroke was Monday night, they might be.
They return home having captured what they came for — one win in San Antonio.
Still, backed into a corner after a 105-97 loss in Game 1, the Spurs fought back in bruising fashion.
The Mavs can't say they didn't see this coming.
“They probably have been in this situation before,” Jason Kidd said. “They're a veteran club, and they understand what is at stake.”
Indeed, before the game, Spurs captain Tim Duncan came close to calling it a must-win. It's difficult to come back from a 2-0 deficit, while also going on the road.
The Spurs played as if they understood, most notably on defense.
Everything that went wrong in Game 1, the Spurs reversed in Game 2.
They stuck with their plan to limit Nowitzki and Terry, and it worked. They combined for 30 points on 9-of-29 shooting, and Nowitzki left in the fourth with a wrap on his left thumb and an ice pack on his right knee after banging with Bruce Bowen.
Unlike Game 1, the Spurs also got a handle on role players Brandon Bass and J.J. Barea, who scorched the Spurs in the series opener. Those two teamed up for just 13 points Monday, and were essentially non-factors.
As for the offensive glass? The Spurs gave up 21 second-chance points in Game 1. They allowed just eight in Game 2.
Everything Popovich preached before the game, the Spurs seemed to do.
The game started well for the Spurs. Perhaps too well.
Behind Tony Parker, who turned in one of the all-time great playoff quarters in franchise history, the Spurs raced out to a 30-19 lead in the first quarter.
By that point, Parker had matched the Mavs point-for-point, zipping for layups, pulling up for jumpers and — eventually — forcing Dallas into a zone.
Parker made nine of his first 10 shots, and nearly equaled the Spurs postseason record for points in a quarter — 21 set, set by Tim Duncan against Dallas in 2006. He would finish the first half with 27.
The second quarter dawned, and the Spurs kept rolling. Drew Gooden and Roger Mason Jr. combined to hit the Spurs' first six shots of the frame, beleaguered Matt Bonner threw in a pair of 3-pointers, and the Spurs led 51-30 with 4:16 left in the half.
It was such a big lead, even the Spurs couldn't screw it up. That didn't stop them from trying.
By half, the Spurs' lead had been cut to 57-46.
The Spurs finally got a hold of the game in the third quarter. A 13-0 run, sparked by Parker's penetration, finally put the game out of reach.
The highlight, which should also bode well for Duncan's gimpy knees — out on a fast break, Duncan beat Parker down the floor, took a pass a flushed a dunk.
With 5:25 left in the frame, the Spurs led 74-52. They were back in the series, back in a groove.
Because of Parker, predictably.
Jeff McDonald
Jason Terry said before Game 2 that the Spurs were “predictable,” and Gregg Popovich only wishes this were true.
In postseasons past, whenever the Spurs opened with a loss, he had one default reaction in the next game: Start Manu Ginobili.
With Ginobili watching these playoffs from the sidelines, Popovich had no such choice Monday.
Instead, he kept with the same lineup that lost Game 1, and went with what passes for predictability these days.
He gave the ball to Tony Parker, and asked Parker to win him a basketball game.
Parker obliged. Boy, did he oblige.
Taking over the game from the opening tip, Parker pumped in 38 points and handed out eight assists to lift the Spurs to a 105-84 victory that they simply had to have. With the victory, the Spurs evened the series at 1-1 as it shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Thursday.
“We didn't panic,” Parker said. “We watched film, saw what we did wrong in Game 1, and made adjustments.”
Parker shot 16 of 22 from the field, and came within three points of matching his career playoff high. Duncan added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, joining a list of five players in double figures.
The Mavericks aren't exactly in trouble after Monday's faceplant — although if Dirk Nowitzki's thumb and knee are as sore this morning as his shooting stroke was Monday night, they might be.
They return home having captured what they came for — one win in San Antonio.
Still, backed into a corner after a 105-97 loss in Game 1, the Spurs fought back in bruising fashion.
The Mavs can't say they didn't see this coming.
“They probably have been in this situation before,” Jason Kidd said. “They're a veteran club, and they understand what is at stake.”
Indeed, before the game, Spurs captain Tim Duncan came close to calling it a must-win. It's difficult to come back from a 2-0 deficit, while also going on the road.
The Spurs played as if they understood, most notably on defense.
Everything that went wrong in Game 1, the Spurs reversed in Game 2.
They stuck with their plan to limit Nowitzki and Terry, and it worked. They combined for 30 points on 9-of-29 shooting, and Nowitzki left in the fourth with a wrap on his left thumb and an ice pack on his right knee after banging with Bruce Bowen.
Unlike Game 1, the Spurs also got a handle on role players Brandon Bass and J.J. Barea, who scorched the Spurs in the series opener. Those two teamed up for just 13 points Monday, and were essentially non-factors.
As for the offensive glass? The Spurs gave up 21 second-chance points in Game 1. They allowed just eight in Game 2.
Everything Popovich preached before the game, the Spurs seemed to do.
The game started well for the Spurs. Perhaps too well.
Behind Tony Parker, who turned in one of the all-time great playoff quarters in franchise history, the Spurs raced out to a 30-19 lead in the first quarter.
By that point, Parker had matched the Mavs point-for-point, zipping for layups, pulling up for jumpers and — eventually — forcing Dallas into a zone.
Parker made nine of his first 10 shots, and nearly equaled the Spurs postseason record for points in a quarter — 21 set, set by Tim Duncan against Dallas in 2006. He would finish the first half with 27.
The second quarter dawned, and the Spurs kept rolling. Drew Gooden and Roger Mason Jr. combined to hit the Spurs' first six shots of the frame, beleaguered Matt Bonner threw in a pair of 3-pointers, and the Spurs led 51-30 with 4:16 left in the half.
It was such a big lead, even the Spurs couldn't screw it up. That didn't stop them from trying.
By half, the Spurs' lead had been cut to 57-46.
The Spurs finally got a hold of the game in the third quarter. A 13-0 run, sparked by Parker's penetration, finally put the game out of reach.
The highlight, which should also bode well for Duncan's gimpy knees — out on a fast break, Duncan beat Parker down the floor, took a pass a flushed a dunk.
With 5:25 left in the frame, the Spurs led 74-52. They were back in the series, back in a groove.
Because of Parker, predictably.