Kori Ellis
04-21-2005, 12:13 AM
Spurs' loss doesn't hurt
Web Posted: 04/21/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042105.1C.BKNspurs.wolves.gamer.1fa443398.html
MINNEAPOLIS — For one fleeting moment, Wednesday evening looked like any of the three-plus dozen other mano-a-mano battles between Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
Duncan, ball in hand, turned and faced his longtime rival. Garnett stayed on Duncan's hip. Together, they went to the rim.
On this night, however, Duncan's stride was cautious. His jump hook was short. He watched the shot clang off the rim, turned and ran down the court.
Duncan's lack of frustration summed up the state of the Spurs as they completed their final playoff tune-up with a 95-73 loss to Minnesota: They're limping yet persistent.
With Brent Barry joining Devin Brown and Rasho Nesterovic on the bench in jeans and Duncan nursing his tender right ankle, the Spurs survived the 82nd and final game of their schedule, which was about as much as they hoped to accomplish. They open the playoffs against Denver on Sunday night at the SBC Center.
"We have a couple guys banged up. Devin's still not healthy," Manu Ginobili said. "Of course, we're concerned. But that's what we got.
"Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We just have to keep working and try to go through it."
Barry missed his first game of the season after suffering a deep thigh bruise in Monday's loss in Memphis. Coach Gregg Popovich thinks he will be fine to play Sunday but doesn't share the same optimism for Nesterovic.
Nesterovic, who has missed the past six games with a sprained left ankle, had hoped to get some minutes against Minnesota but didn't look ready during Tuesday's practice. Popovich called him doubtful for Sunday's opener. The team also will decide today whether to include Brown on the playoff roster, knowing he probably won't be healthy enough to play in the first round.
The Spurs did receive some good news Wednesday: They will have two days off after each of the first two games in the best-of-seven series, affording their injured more of an opportunity to rest.
"I like the schedule," Popovich said. "Any other year I'd want to just play the games, but we can use the time. Hopefully we can use it to our advantage."
Bruce Bowen (26), Ginobili (22), Tony Parker (22) and Robert Horry (eight) all played limited minutes. Duncan played 23 while totaling three points, six rebounds and two blocks. He missed all but one of his eight shots.
"It's just something he's going to have to work through," Popovich said. "Working through the pain, just getting it loose again, mentally feeling confident on (his ankle). It's not going to be a quick process, but he's going to get through it, he's a competitor and he's going to do what he can do."
Duncan estimated he is playing at 75-80 percent of his full strength.
"There's still a couple of things I'm tentative doing," he said, "but a lot of it is just trying to protect myself."
Neither team had much invested in the outcome of a game that, at the beginning of the season, looked like it might determine first place in the Western Conference. The loss gave the Spurs a 59-23 record, identical to that of Eastern Conference-leading Miami. Should the teams meet in the NBA Finals, the Spurs would have home-court advantage because they have a better record against the opposing conference.
Minnesota, meanwhile, already had earned the distinction of being the eighth team in NBA history to miss the playoffs after advancing to the conference finals the previous season. And the locals, apparently, aren't too happy with the turn of events.
An editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this week chided the Timberwolves for their performance, saying they "played basketball abysmally this season" After watching Garnett rim out one too many shots in the first quarter, a courtside fan shouted, "Remember KG, Kevin? He was the MVP."
Garnett, who missed 11 of 17 shots and finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, played on a sore right knee much of the season while producing comparable numbers to his MVP season of a year ago. He exited early in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation.
"Knowing how competitive he is, I know it kills him" not being in the playoffs, Duncan said. "He pours his heart and soul into this team and every game he plays. I know it hurts tremendously."
While Duncan doesn't share the same pain, he admits the Spurs aren't in the best of health heading into the playoffs.
"That's one of our major concerns: Guys are dinged up; guys are hurt," he said. "We're just going to have to play through that."
Web Posted: 04/21/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042105.1C.BKNspurs.wolves.gamer.1fa443398.html
MINNEAPOLIS — For one fleeting moment, Wednesday evening looked like any of the three-plus dozen other mano-a-mano battles between Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
Duncan, ball in hand, turned and faced his longtime rival. Garnett stayed on Duncan's hip. Together, they went to the rim.
On this night, however, Duncan's stride was cautious. His jump hook was short. He watched the shot clang off the rim, turned and ran down the court.
Duncan's lack of frustration summed up the state of the Spurs as they completed their final playoff tune-up with a 95-73 loss to Minnesota: They're limping yet persistent.
With Brent Barry joining Devin Brown and Rasho Nesterovic on the bench in jeans and Duncan nursing his tender right ankle, the Spurs survived the 82nd and final game of their schedule, which was about as much as they hoped to accomplish. They open the playoffs against Denver on Sunday night at the SBC Center.
"We have a couple guys banged up. Devin's still not healthy," Manu Ginobili said. "Of course, we're concerned. But that's what we got.
"Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We just have to keep working and try to go through it."
Barry missed his first game of the season after suffering a deep thigh bruise in Monday's loss in Memphis. Coach Gregg Popovich thinks he will be fine to play Sunday but doesn't share the same optimism for Nesterovic.
Nesterovic, who has missed the past six games with a sprained left ankle, had hoped to get some minutes against Minnesota but didn't look ready during Tuesday's practice. Popovich called him doubtful for Sunday's opener. The team also will decide today whether to include Brown on the playoff roster, knowing he probably won't be healthy enough to play in the first round.
The Spurs did receive some good news Wednesday: They will have two days off after each of the first two games in the best-of-seven series, affording their injured more of an opportunity to rest.
"I like the schedule," Popovich said. "Any other year I'd want to just play the games, but we can use the time. Hopefully we can use it to our advantage."
Bruce Bowen (26), Ginobili (22), Tony Parker (22) and Robert Horry (eight) all played limited minutes. Duncan played 23 while totaling three points, six rebounds and two blocks. He missed all but one of his eight shots.
"It's just something he's going to have to work through," Popovich said. "Working through the pain, just getting it loose again, mentally feeling confident on (his ankle). It's not going to be a quick process, but he's going to get through it, he's a competitor and he's going to do what he can do."
Duncan estimated he is playing at 75-80 percent of his full strength.
"There's still a couple of things I'm tentative doing," he said, "but a lot of it is just trying to protect myself."
Neither team had much invested in the outcome of a game that, at the beginning of the season, looked like it might determine first place in the Western Conference. The loss gave the Spurs a 59-23 record, identical to that of Eastern Conference-leading Miami. Should the teams meet in the NBA Finals, the Spurs would have home-court advantage because they have a better record against the opposing conference.
Minnesota, meanwhile, already had earned the distinction of being the eighth team in NBA history to miss the playoffs after advancing to the conference finals the previous season. And the locals, apparently, aren't too happy with the turn of events.
An editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this week chided the Timberwolves for their performance, saying they "played basketball abysmally this season" After watching Garnett rim out one too many shots in the first quarter, a courtside fan shouted, "Remember KG, Kevin? He was the MVP."
Garnett, who missed 11 of 17 shots and finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, played on a sore right knee much of the season while producing comparable numbers to his MVP season of a year ago. He exited early in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation.
"Knowing how competitive he is, I know it kills him" not being in the playoffs, Duncan said. "He pours his heart and soul into this team and every game he plays. I know it hurts tremendously."
While Duncan doesn't share the same pain, he admits the Spurs aren't in the best of health heading into the playoffs.
"That's one of our major concerns: Guys are dinged up; guys are hurt," he said. "We're just going to have to play through that."