Kori Ellis
03-24-2005, 06:55 PM
San Antonio feeling heat from Dallas for division lead
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:38 p.m. ET March 24, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs clinched a playoff spot last Friday and visited Detroit two days later with the best record in the NBA.
Just moments after tipoff against the Pistons, Tim Duncan went down with a sprained ankle and the Spurs haven’t won since, dropping three straight games for the first time in more than a year.
Now the Spurs — 1-5 this season without Duncan — trail both Phoenix and Miami in the quest for homecourt advantage through the postseason, and they’re even feeling heat in their division from Dallas, winners of four straight and seven of its last nine.
“It seems like we are feeling sorry for ourselves with Tim and that we don’t expect to win these games,” said swingman Manu Ginobili, whose playing time is limited by a groin strain that shelved him for five games this month. “We need to fix it. Even without Tim we should be able to execute better and play harder, and we’re not doing that.”
Center Rasho Nesterovic added after Wednesday night’s 100-93 loss to the Indiana Pacers, “Our focus should not be on homecourt advantage, it should be on how we’re playing and right now I have a bad feeling.”
San Antonio now trails the Suns by 1˝ games for the best record in the Western Conference.
Duncan, the Spurs’ leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, crumpled to the floor after coming down on Rasheed Wallace’s foot in the opening minutes of Sunday’s 110-101 loss to Detroit.
San Antonio placed the two-time MVP on the injured list Monday, saying he could miss as many as four weeks. Under that worst-case scenario, Duncan would miss 12 of the Spurs’ final 14 games.
Making matters worse, Ginobili is hobbled and reserve guard Devin Brown will miss at least two weeks with a back injury aggravated in a road loss to the New York Knicks. Brown averaged 15 points and nearly six rebounds over his last eight games.
Coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that the team’s play has slipped since Duncan and later Brown were hurt. He said the Spurs played well against the Pistons, played hard but poorly against the Knicks, and then fell flat at Indiana.
“I thought we played soft,” he said. “I didn’t see the competitiveness that I’m used to seeing with this group and was very disappointed.”
Asked how that might happen with a team known for its disciplined play, Popovich had no real explanation.
“People are people,” he said, “and sometimes they don’t react well.”
The Pacers know what the Spurs are going through. Indiana has endured a season-ending injury to All-Star Jermaine O’Neal, their version of Duncan, along with the season-long suspension of Ron Artest and shorter suspensions of other players for November’s fight in Detroit.
“We’re used to all these injuries and to expect the unexpected,” Croshere said. “It seems that they aren’t as prepared to play without (Duncan).”
All aspects of San Antonio’s game are affected by Duncan’s absence.
The team’s scoring is down, as is its shooting percentage, rebounding and assists. The Spurs also allowed an average of 99.3 points in the three games, more than a dozen points above its league-leading average of 87.1 ppg.
Without the reliable Duncan inside, San Antonio threw up more 3-point attempts during the three losses, and its 29 percent success rate was well below the season average of 36 percent.
The funk is apparently so deep that even Friday night’s home game against Atlanta, with the worst record in the league, is no sure thing for the Spurs.
The Spurs are 31-3 at the SBC Center, while the Hawks have lost six straight and 19 of their last 20.
“They’re a scary team to play right now because they have nothing to lose and they can just play freely,” said Robert Horry, who has started at power forward in Duncan’s place.
“We probably have to take that attitude,” he continued. “Play freely, go out and have some fun and not worry about making mistakes.”
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:38 p.m. ET March 24, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs clinched a playoff spot last Friday and visited Detroit two days later with the best record in the NBA.
Just moments after tipoff against the Pistons, Tim Duncan went down with a sprained ankle and the Spurs haven’t won since, dropping three straight games for the first time in more than a year.
Now the Spurs — 1-5 this season without Duncan — trail both Phoenix and Miami in the quest for homecourt advantage through the postseason, and they’re even feeling heat in their division from Dallas, winners of four straight and seven of its last nine.
“It seems like we are feeling sorry for ourselves with Tim and that we don’t expect to win these games,” said swingman Manu Ginobili, whose playing time is limited by a groin strain that shelved him for five games this month. “We need to fix it. Even without Tim we should be able to execute better and play harder, and we’re not doing that.”
Center Rasho Nesterovic added after Wednesday night’s 100-93 loss to the Indiana Pacers, “Our focus should not be on homecourt advantage, it should be on how we’re playing and right now I have a bad feeling.”
San Antonio now trails the Suns by 1˝ games for the best record in the Western Conference.
Duncan, the Spurs’ leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, crumpled to the floor after coming down on Rasheed Wallace’s foot in the opening minutes of Sunday’s 110-101 loss to Detroit.
San Antonio placed the two-time MVP on the injured list Monday, saying he could miss as many as four weeks. Under that worst-case scenario, Duncan would miss 12 of the Spurs’ final 14 games.
Making matters worse, Ginobili is hobbled and reserve guard Devin Brown will miss at least two weeks with a back injury aggravated in a road loss to the New York Knicks. Brown averaged 15 points and nearly six rebounds over his last eight games.
Coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that the team’s play has slipped since Duncan and later Brown were hurt. He said the Spurs played well against the Pistons, played hard but poorly against the Knicks, and then fell flat at Indiana.
“I thought we played soft,” he said. “I didn’t see the competitiveness that I’m used to seeing with this group and was very disappointed.”
Asked how that might happen with a team known for its disciplined play, Popovich had no real explanation.
“People are people,” he said, “and sometimes they don’t react well.”
The Pacers know what the Spurs are going through. Indiana has endured a season-ending injury to All-Star Jermaine O’Neal, their version of Duncan, along with the season-long suspension of Ron Artest and shorter suspensions of other players for November’s fight in Detroit.
“We’re used to all these injuries and to expect the unexpected,” Croshere said. “It seems that they aren’t as prepared to play without (Duncan).”
All aspects of San Antonio’s game are affected by Duncan’s absence.
The team’s scoring is down, as is its shooting percentage, rebounding and assists. The Spurs also allowed an average of 99.3 points in the three games, more than a dozen points above its league-leading average of 87.1 ppg.
Without the reliable Duncan inside, San Antonio threw up more 3-point attempts during the three losses, and its 29 percent success rate was well below the season average of 36 percent.
The funk is apparently so deep that even Friday night’s home game against Atlanta, with the worst record in the league, is no sure thing for the Spurs.
The Spurs are 31-3 at the SBC Center, while the Hawks have lost six straight and 19 of their last 20.
“They’re a scary team to play right now because they have nothing to lose and they can just play freely,” said Robert Horry, who has started at power forward in Duncan’s place.
“We probably have to take that attitude,” he continued. “Play freely, go out and have some fun and not worry about making mistakes.”