Kori Ellis
04-03-2005, 03:48 AM
Similar scene, different ending
Web Posted: 04/03/2005 12:00 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040305.15C.BKNspurs.last.shot.19dd7d2ed.html
The nightmare scenario the Spurs tried to avoid with four-tenths of a second left in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers last season played out Saturday night at SBC Center.
This time, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, the NBA's best clutch shooter and the man the Spurs never want taking the last shot of a one-point game, ended up with the ball in his hands.
This time, the Lakers' buzzer-beater shot was off target, leaving the Spurs with a 95-94 victory coach Gregg Popovich called one of his team's most gratifying of the season.
When the Lakers, trailing by a point, called a timeout to set up a final play with 6.7 seconds remaining, it was impossible not to recall Derek Fisher's game-winning shot in that crucial playoff game at SBC Center last May, on a play that started with four-tenths of a second on the game clock.
The strategy last May was to make sure Bryant didn't get his hands on the ball.
The strategy Saturday had to be different because of the extra 6.3 seconds left on the clock.
Saturday's strategy was simple — switch everything, and don't give Bryant an uncontested look at the basket if he did get the ball.
Bryant was the trigger man on the Lakers' in-bounds play, guarded by Bruce Bowen. Spurs forward Robert Horry was on Devean George, who took the in-bounds pass from Bryant and quickly made a hand-off pass back to Bryant that required Horry to switch on to Bryant, the NBA's No. 2 scorer.
Horry took one step back from Bryant, who was nearly 40 feet from the basket, thinking Bowen could get back to him. But both Bowen and Popovich yelled to implore Horry to stay up on Bryant. Horry was in Bryant's face when he launched an 18-foot jumper that bounced high off the rim as time expired.
"Bruce left me out there on an island, alone," Horry said, kidding his teammate, who was within earshot. "I actually thought Kobe was far enough out there, and I wanted to put our best defensive player on him, but Bruce trusted me to go out there and do that thing. I didn't hear Pop screaming, but I heard Bruce saying, 'Take him.'"
Horry bit on a pump fake Bryant made before taking the final shot but avoided contact that might have drawn a foul.
"Even if he had tried to jump into me, I didn't think they were going to call anything," Horry said. "There was a lot of contact on Brent (Barry's) layup (that put the Spurs ahead 95-94), and they didn't call anything down there. I figured they wanted to let the players decide it."
Horry, who has been starting in Tim Duncan's spot since the Spurs' All-Star power forward went on the injured list with a sprained right ankle, had another strong offensive game, as well. He made 6 of 13 shots and grabbed eight rebounds.
Web Posted: 04/03/2005 12:00 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040305.15C.BKNspurs.last.shot.19dd7d2ed.html
The nightmare scenario the Spurs tried to avoid with four-tenths of a second left in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers last season played out Saturday night at SBC Center.
This time, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, the NBA's best clutch shooter and the man the Spurs never want taking the last shot of a one-point game, ended up with the ball in his hands.
This time, the Lakers' buzzer-beater shot was off target, leaving the Spurs with a 95-94 victory coach Gregg Popovich called one of his team's most gratifying of the season.
When the Lakers, trailing by a point, called a timeout to set up a final play with 6.7 seconds remaining, it was impossible not to recall Derek Fisher's game-winning shot in that crucial playoff game at SBC Center last May, on a play that started with four-tenths of a second on the game clock.
The strategy last May was to make sure Bryant didn't get his hands on the ball.
The strategy Saturday had to be different because of the extra 6.3 seconds left on the clock.
Saturday's strategy was simple — switch everything, and don't give Bryant an uncontested look at the basket if he did get the ball.
Bryant was the trigger man on the Lakers' in-bounds play, guarded by Bruce Bowen. Spurs forward Robert Horry was on Devean George, who took the in-bounds pass from Bryant and quickly made a hand-off pass back to Bryant that required Horry to switch on to Bryant, the NBA's No. 2 scorer.
Horry took one step back from Bryant, who was nearly 40 feet from the basket, thinking Bowen could get back to him. But both Bowen and Popovich yelled to implore Horry to stay up on Bryant. Horry was in Bryant's face when he launched an 18-foot jumper that bounced high off the rim as time expired.
"Bruce left me out there on an island, alone," Horry said, kidding his teammate, who was within earshot. "I actually thought Kobe was far enough out there, and I wanted to put our best defensive player on him, but Bruce trusted me to go out there and do that thing. I didn't hear Pop screaming, but I heard Bruce saying, 'Take him.'"
Horry bit on a pump fake Bryant made before taking the final shot but avoided contact that might have drawn a foul.
"Even if he had tried to jump into me, I didn't think they were going to call anything," Horry said. "There was a lot of contact on Brent (Barry's) layup (that put the Spurs ahead 95-94), and they didn't call anything down there. I figured they wanted to let the players decide it."
Horry, who has been starting in Tim Duncan's spot since the Spurs' All-Star power forward went on the injured list with a sprained right ankle, had another strong offensive game, as well. He made 6 of 13 shots and grabbed eight rebounds.