duncan228
04-22-2009, 09:40 PM
Spurs downplay Dampier's comments about Parker (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/042309dnspospursdate.2f29003.html)
By Gaylon Krizak / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
SAN ANTONIO – To those who question whether Erick Dampier's "put him on his back" comment would affect Tony Parker's play in Game 3, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has a question of his own.
"Have you seen Tony play for eight years?" Popovich asked after the Spurs' practice Wednesday. "He's a tough kid."
Dampier's statement – "Every time he drives the lane, we have to put him on his back" – followed Parker's Game 2 performance in which he repeatedly drove into the lane and finished with 38 points and eight assists, giving him two-game series totals of 62 and 16.
"[Game 3 is] going to be a tough game, very physical," said Parker, who has heard similar comments from Karl Malone, among others, throughout his career. "I can't focus on [Dampier's remarks]. It's San Antonio against Dallas, and we know they're going to come back strong.
"I'll be ready."
Several Spurs, including Popovich, downplayed Dampier's remarks.
"I don't pay any attention, honestly, to anybody's comments," Popovich said, "not even my family's comments or my friends' or anybody's. All that matters is what the teams do on the court, and comments are just that – they're absolutely meaningless."
But at least one Spur saw some value in Dampier's words.
"It kinda fires me up," backup forward Drew Gooden said. "I think if someone has that much courage to put themselves on the line, so be it.
"It'll be interesting to see what happens."
Sense of urgency? To advance out of the first round for the ninth consecutive season, the Spurs have to win at least once in Dallas.
But the NBA did the Spurs – playing without Manu Ginobili and with Tim Duncan slowed by aching knees – no favors, making the next two contests as close to a regular-season back-to-back stretch as you'll see. Game 3 is at 7:30 tonight at American Airlines Center, followed by 3 p.m. contest Saturday.
"We don't love it," Popovich said, repeating for emphasis: "We don't love it.
"We wish we had more time, but that's the way it is, and you just deal with it."
Gooden good: Gooden said he received a lung contusion when he fell during the second period Monday night, which caused him to cough up blood. He returned to the game in the fourth quarter, however, and said Wednesday that he would be ready for Game 3.
"It's gone away; I haven't been spitting up blood since that night," said Gooden, usually the first big man off the bench. "It was the first time and hopefully the last time."
Beware the red rocket: Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has totaled a relatively quiet 33 points through two games against a Spurs defense geared to slow him. The secret?
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Gooden said with a laugh.
One slightly surprising component in that super-secret plan – in a nutshell, helping the defender who goes to provide help on Nowitzki – has been Matt Bonner, listed as the Spurs' starting center but far better known as a 3-point shooter than a defender.
So move over, Bruce Bowen? Time to anoint Bonner as the Spurs' new Dirk-stopper?
"Good God, no," Bonner said. "Trust me, if it was just me out there, he'd be scoring a lot more points."
Gaylon Krizak is a freelance writer in San Antonio.
By Gaylon Krizak / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
SAN ANTONIO – To those who question whether Erick Dampier's "put him on his back" comment would affect Tony Parker's play in Game 3, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has a question of his own.
"Have you seen Tony play for eight years?" Popovich asked after the Spurs' practice Wednesday. "He's a tough kid."
Dampier's statement – "Every time he drives the lane, we have to put him on his back" – followed Parker's Game 2 performance in which he repeatedly drove into the lane and finished with 38 points and eight assists, giving him two-game series totals of 62 and 16.
"[Game 3 is] going to be a tough game, very physical," said Parker, who has heard similar comments from Karl Malone, among others, throughout his career. "I can't focus on [Dampier's remarks]. It's San Antonio against Dallas, and we know they're going to come back strong.
"I'll be ready."
Several Spurs, including Popovich, downplayed Dampier's remarks.
"I don't pay any attention, honestly, to anybody's comments," Popovich said, "not even my family's comments or my friends' or anybody's. All that matters is what the teams do on the court, and comments are just that – they're absolutely meaningless."
But at least one Spur saw some value in Dampier's words.
"It kinda fires me up," backup forward Drew Gooden said. "I think if someone has that much courage to put themselves on the line, so be it.
"It'll be interesting to see what happens."
Sense of urgency? To advance out of the first round for the ninth consecutive season, the Spurs have to win at least once in Dallas.
But the NBA did the Spurs – playing without Manu Ginobili and with Tim Duncan slowed by aching knees – no favors, making the next two contests as close to a regular-season back-to-back stretch as you'll see. Game 3 is at 7:30 tonight at American Airlines Center, followed by 3 p.m. contest Saturday.
"We don't love it," Popovich said, repeating for emphasis: "We don't love it.
"We wish we had more time, but that's the way it is, and you just deal with it."
Gooden good: Gooden said he received a lung contusion when he fell during the second period Monday night, which caused him to cough up blood. He returned to the game in the fourth quarter, however, and said Wednesday that he would be ready for Game 3.
"It's gone away; I haven't been spitting up blood since that night," said Gooden, usually the first big man off the bench. "It was the first time and hopefully the last time."
Beware the red rocket: Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has totaled a relatively quiet 33 points through two games against a Spurs defense geared to slow him. The secret?
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Gooden said with a laugh.
One slightly surprising component in that super-secret plan – in a nutshell, helping the defender who goes to provide help on Nowitzki – has been Matt Bonner, listed as the Spurs' starting center but far better known as a 3-point shooter than a defender.
So move over, Bruce Bowen? Time to anoint Bonner as the Spurs' new Dirk-stopper?
"Good God, no," Bonner said. "Trust me, if it was just me out there, he'd be scoring a lot more points."
Gaylon Krizak is a freelance writer in San Antonio.