MaNuMaNiAc
05-02-2005, 03:26 AM
Spurs' smothering defenders trespassing on Boykins' turf
http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3744920,00.html
By Aaron J. Lopez and Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News
May 2, 2005
With 4,700 square feet to roam, it is hard to believe a 5-foot-5 blur in sneakers would have trouble finding space.
Such is the case for Denver Nuggets guard Earl Boykins.
Accustomed to causing matchup problems with his quickness and ability to disrupt a half-court defense, Boykins has been stifled by the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nuggets' super sixth man is receiving star treatment from the Spurs, who have shadowed him in the first three games of the their Western Conference playoff series.
After averaging a career-best 12.4 points and 4.5 assists during the regular season, Boykins has been held to 8.3 points and 3.0 assists.
"They're doing a good job," he said Sunday. "They're doubling me every opportunity they get, and I give them credit for what they've done so far this series. But I'm confident that I'm going to break through."
Nuggets coach George Karl believes Boykins is San Antonio's No. 2 priority behind Carmelo Anthony, but Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his team does not focus on individuals.
Either way, the results are the same, and it is having an impact on Denver's bench production, which has been negligible in the playoffs after a remarkable regular-season run.
San Antonio's reserves have outscored their Denver counterparts 109-62 and hold a 48-27 rebounding edge. In Game 3, the scoring discrepancy was 53-14 and the rebounding margin was 21-3.
Much of the difference has been Popovich's decision to bring guard Manu Ginobili off the Spurs bench, while Denver has been hurt by the scant playing time of forward Eduardo Najera.
Najera broke a bone in his right hand two weeks ago and has played only 13 minutes in the series.
"The thing that has hurt our bench big time is Eduardo not being able to play, because he is the guy that kind of sets the screens for (guard Wesley Person), sets the screens for Earl," Karl said. "He's the guy that kind of makes our offense work."
Meanwhile, San Antonio recently got a bench player back from injury. Center Rasho Nesterovic returned in Game 2 after missing seven games because of a sprained ankle, and he had seven rebounds in 17 minutes Saturday.
"The bench sometimes can decide a lot," said Nesterovic, who said his ankle felt "pretty good" Sunday. "It's really important, especially in the playoffs."
Boykins would not disagree, and he plans to do something about it tonight at the Pepsi Center.
"I can't tell you how I'm going to adjust my game," he said, "but Game 4's going to be different on my part."
CHANGING OF THE GUARDS: Karl said he will start either Boykins, Person or Greg Buckner tonight at shooting guard. Buckner replaced DerMarr Johnson in the lineup for the first half Saturday, but Boykins started the second half.
Person didn't play because Karl said he wanted to go with more defensive-oriented guards off the bench. But Karl said Person should play tonight.
"I told everybody (Sunday) to be ready," Karl said. "You don't have any idea what I'm going to do."
FINE TIME? The NBA is reviewing critical comments that Karl made about the officiating crew after Game 3.
"We're looking at it," Stu Jackson, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball operations, said Sunday. "We'll let you know (a resolution today)."
Jackson declined to say whether the league is leaning toward fining Karl, who believed the Spurs got away with rough play.
"On our home court, we got so many tough calls," Karl said. "B.S. calls. The charge on the Danny Crawford call on Andre Miller (in the fourth period) was incredibly bad. It just seems (Denver forward) Carmelo Anthony gets killed."
Karl said Sunday he does not believe his comments warrant a fine.
"I'm allowed to have a right to say we have a good or bad whistle," Karl said. "I didn't say (the officials) were idiots. I said we got a bad whistle. I didn't think it was the reason we lost the game. I thought it put a lot of pressure on us to understand the refereeing as the game went on."
DUCKING DUNCAN: Spurs center Tim Duncan got a scare Sunday when he was nearly hit by a metal bar while talking to reporters at the Pepsi Center.
The bar, which was taped behind the backboard, was dislodged after being hit by an errant shot by Robert Horry, Duncan's teammate. Duncan had been sitting under a ladder minutes earlier. "I was sitting under that ladder and I thought I knew I shouldn't be sitting there," Duncan said.
http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3744920,00.html
By Aaron J. Lopez and Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News
May 2, 2005
With 4,700 square feet to roam, it is hard to believe a 5-foot-5 blur in sneakers would have trouble finding space.
Such is the case for Denver Nuggets guard Earl Boykins.
Accustomed to causing matchup problems with his quickness and ability to disrupt a half-court defense, Boykins has been stifled by the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nuggets' super sixth man is receiving star treatment from the Spurs, who have shadowed him in the first three games of the their Western Conference playoff series.
After averaging a career-best 12.4 points and 4.5 assists during the regular season, Boykins has been held to 8.3 points and 3.0 assists.
"They're doing a good job," he said Sunday. "They're doubling me every opportunity they get, and I give them credit for what they've done so far this series. But I'm confident that I'm going to break through."
Nuggets coach George Karl believes Boykins is San Antonio's No. 2 priority behind Carmelo Anthony, but Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his team does not focus on individuals.
Either way, the results are the same, and it is having an impact on Denver's bench production, which has been negligible in the playoffs after a remarkable regular-season run.
San Antonio's reserves have outscored their Denver counterparts 109-62 and hold a 48-27 rebounding edge. In Game 3, the scoring discrepancy was 53-14 and the rebounding margin was 21-3.
Much of the difference has been Popovich's decision to bring guard Manu Ginobili off the Spurs bench, while Denver has been hurt by the scant playing time of forward Eduardo Najera.
Najera broke a bone in his right hand two weeks ago and has played only 13 minutes in the series.
"The thing that has hurt our bench big time is Eduardo not being able to play, because he is the guy that kind of sets the screens for (guard Wesley Person), sets the screens for Earl," Karl said. "He's the guy that kind of makes our offense work."
Meanwhile, San Antonio recently got a bench player back from injury. Center Rasho Nesterovic returned in Game 2 after missing seven games because of a sprained ankle, and he had seven rebounds in 17 minutes Saturday.
"The bench sometimes can decide a lot," said Nesterovic, who said his ankle felt "pretty good" Sunday. "It's really important, especially in the playoffs."
Boykins would not disagree, and he plans to do something about it tonight at the Pepsi Center.
"I can't tell you how I'm going to adjust my game," he said, "but Game 4's going to be different on my part."
CHANGING OF THE GUARDS: Karl said he will start either Boykins, Person or Greg Buckner tonight at shooting guard. Buckner replaced DerMarr Johnson in the lineup for the first half Saturday, but Boykins started the second half.
Person didn't play because Karl said he wanted to go with more defensive-oriented guards off the bench. But Karl said Person should play tonight.
"I told everybody (Sunday) to be ready," Karl said. "You don't have any idea what I'm going to do."
FINE TIME? The NBA is reviewing critical comments that Karl made about the officiating crew after Game 3.
"We're looking at it," Stu Jackson, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball operations, said Sunday. "We'll let you know (a resolution today)."
Jackson declined to say whether the league is leaning toward fining Karl, who believed the Spurs got away with rough play.
"On our home court, we got so many tough calls," Karl said. "B.S. calls. The charge on the Danny Crawford call on Andre Miller (in the fourth period) was incredibly bad. It just seems (Denver forward) Carmelo Anthony gets killed."
Karl said Sunday he does not believe his comments warrant a fine.
"I'm allowed to have a right to say we have a good or bad whistle," Karl said. "I didn't say (the officials) were idiots. I said we got a bad whistle. I didn't think it was the reason we lost the game. I thought it put a lot of pressure on us to understand the refereeing as the game went on."
DUCKING DUNCAN: Spurs center Tim Duncan got a scare Sunday when he was nearly hit by a metal bar while talking to reporters at the Pepsi Center.
The bar, which was taped behind the backboard, was dislodged after being hit by an errant shot by Robert Horry, Duncan's teammate. Duncan had been sitting under a ladder minutes earlier. "I was sitting under that ladder and I thought I knew I shouldn't be sitting there," Duncan said.