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04-28-2005, 12:47 AM
Right from the start: Barry boosts new lineup, which cruises to tie series
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
For three days, the Spurs and all their hang-up-and-listen afternoon psychologists contemplated what the team needed to do to avoid a repeat of Sunday's playoff-opening loss.
SPORTS
(Billy Calzada/Express-News)
Should Glenn Robinson play more minutes? Should Tim Duncan play fewer? Did Tony Parker need to dump his desperate housewife? And his T-shirt collection?
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ignored it all. Instead, he benched Manu Ginobili.
With Duncan and Parker playing like, well, Duncan and Parker and Ginobili providing his usual energy and fire, only in reserve, the Spurs routed the Denver Nuggets 104-76 on Wednesday night at the SBC Center to even the teams' first-round, best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
"Did it work?" Ginobili said of the lineup switch. "Look how happy we are now."
With the next two games of the series in Denver, the Spurs left the sellout crowd of 18,797 in decidedly better spirits than they did Sunday.
Duncan produced his best performance since returning from a 12-game stay on the injured list with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Parker set the tone with his aggressiveness. Brent Barry, who started in place of Ginobili, scored 16 points on seven shots. Ginobili added 17 on seven shots.
The Spurs also cleaned up a few mistakes from Sunday's 93-87 loss: They committed only nine turnovers while limiting Denver to six offensive rebounds.
"You saw a championship basketball team show their pride and heart," Nuggets coach George Karl said.
The Spurs also produced a surprise or two. Devin Brown and Rasho Nesterovic made their long-awaited returns. Ginobili made his unexpected return to the bench.
With the exception of Robert Horry's 12 points, the Spurs received little production from their reserves Sunday. The lineup change also had other benefits: It gave Barry more than the two shots he took Sunday, kept Ginobili out of early foul trouble and allowed the Spurs to keep at least two of their Big Three (Duncan, Parker and Ginobili) on the floor at critical times.
Ginobili's reaction to the change: "He asked to be traded," Popovich joked.
"After one game of the playoffs it was kind of risky to do it," Ginobili said. "But I understood it. It was a very smart move."
Popovich made a similar switch midway through last season to boost Hedo Turkoglu's confidence. While Ginobili played well enough as a reserve to become a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, he made the Western Conference All-Star team as a starter this season.
"I was disappointed last year, but then I was still a little doubtful about my career," Ginobili said. "I didn't know if I belonged here that much.
"This year, I know who I am. I know the team respects me. I know Pop does, too. And I know it's good for the team, so it's no big deal."
The Spurs didn't wait long to see the move pay off. Less than three minutes in, Barry buried a 3-pointer. He made his second a few minutes later.
"I look at it as something we can really exploit," said Barry, who, like Ginobili, was surprised when Popovich announced the change. "Manu's the starting two guard on our team. Everybody in our locker room knows that.
"But what is starting? Just getting your name announced. Big deal. After that it's game time."
Barry wasn't the only Spur who regained his rhythm. After missing 15 of 22 shots Sunday, Duncan went 11 for 15.
In the second quarter, Duncan caught Barry's errant layup attempt below the rim, then jammed it through in one motion. As teammates and fans leaped to their feet, Duncan lingered under the basket, admiring his work.
"It's good to see him getting up off the ground like that," Barry said. "Every play like that, every lob, every follow-up, every big rebound is a confidence-builder for Tim and his ankle."
Parker also rebounded from his Game 1 struggles. He made 7 of 17 shots, only one more than he did Sunday, but finished with 19 points and six assists. More important, he helped limit Nuggets point guard Andre Miller to 11 points, 20 fewer than he scored in the opening game.
"That's Tony," Popovich said. "He's a tough kid."
While Popovich didn't say the lineup change was permanent, Ginobili thinks the results speak for themselves.
"I said if you feel it's going to help us, I'm ready to do it," Ginobili said. "We all have only one goal. That's winning the championship."
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
For three days, the Spurs and all their hang-up-and-listen afternoon psychologists contemplated what the team needed to do to avoid a repeat of Sunday's playoff-opening loss.
SPORTS
(Billy Calzada/Express-News)
Should Glenn Robinson play more minutes? Should Tim Duncan play fewer? Did Tony Parker need to dump his desperate housewife? And his T-shirt collection?
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ignored it all. Instead, he benched Manu Ginobili.
With Duncan and Parker playing like, well, Duncan and Parker and Ginobili providing his usual energy and fire, only in reserve, the Spurs routed the Denver Nuggets 104-76 on Wednesday night at the SBC Center to even the teams' first-round, best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
"Did it work?" Ginobili said of the lineup switch. "Look how happy we are now."
With the next two games of the series in Denver, the Spurs left the sellout crowd of 18,797 in decidedly better spirits than they did Sunday.
Duncan produced his best performance since returning from a 12-game stay on the injured list with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Parker set the tone with his aggressiveness. Brent Barry, who started in place of Ginobili, scored 16 points on seven shots. Ginobili added 17 on seven shots.
The Spurs also cleaned up a few mistakes from Sunday's 93-87 loss: They committed only nine turnovers while limiting Denver to six offensive rebounds.
"You saw a championship basketball team show their pride and heart," Nuggets coach George Karl said.
The Spurs also produced a surprise or two. Devin Brown and Rasho Nesterovic made their long-awaited returns. Ginobili made his unexpected return to the bench.
With the exception of Robert Horry's 12 points, the Spurs received little production from their reserves Sunday. The lineup change also had other benefits: It gave Barry more than the two shots he took Sunday, kept Ginobili out of early foul trouble and allowed the Spurs to keep at least two of their Big Three (Duncan, Parker and Ginobili) on the floor at critical times.
Ginobili's reaction to the change: "He asked to be traded," Popovich joked.
"After one game of the playoffs it was kind of risky to do it," Ginobili said. "But I understood it. It was a very smart move."
Popovich made a similar switch midway through last season to boost Hedo Turkoglu's confidence. While Ginobili played well enough as a reserve to become a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, he made the Western Conference All-Star team as a starter this season.
"I was disappointed last year, but then I was still a little doubtful about my career," Ginobili said. "I didn't know if I belonged here that much.
"This year, I know who I am. I know the team respects me. I know Pop does, too. And I know it's good for the team, so it's no big deal."
The Spurs didn't wait long to see the move pay off. Less than three minutes in, Barry buried a 3-pointer. He made his second a few minutes later.
"I look at it as something we can really exploit," said Barry, who, like Ginobili, was surprised when Popovich announced the change. "Manu's the starting two guard on our team. Everybody in our locker room knows that.
"But what is starting? Just getting your name announced. Big deal. After that it's game time."
Barry wasn't the only Spur who regained his rhythm. After missing 15 of 22 shots Sunday, Duncan went 11 for 15.
In the second quarter, Duncan caught Barry's errant layup attempt below the rim, then jammed it through in one motion. As teammates and fans leaped to their feet, Duncan lingered under the basket, admiring his work.
"It's good to see him getting up off the ground like that," Barry said. "Every play like that, every lob, every follow-up, every big rebound is a confidence-builder for Tim and his ankle."
Parker also rebounded from his Game 1 struggles. He made 7 of 17 shots, only one more than he did Sunday, but finished with 19 points and six assists. More important, he helped limit Nuggets point guard Andre Miller to 11 points, 20 fewer than he scored in the opening game.
"That's Tony," Popovich said. "He's a tough kid."
While Popovich didn't say the lineup change was permanent, Ginobili thinks the results speak for themselves.
"I said if you feel it's going to help us, I'm ready to do it," Ginobili said. "We all have only one goal. That's winning the championship."