Spurs Brazil
04-03-2010, 08:06 AM
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-magic-spursa-0403,0,953116.story
SAN ANTONIO -- Well, from the crowd screaming insults at the refs to a coach being ejected to a coach barking at his player (and Matt Barnes barking back) to a fan being tossed to a superstar angered over a Hack-a-Howard strategy … you'd have figured the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs must have read the calendar wrong.
It sure looked and sounded like you were in the belly of the postseason.
The Magic fell to the Spurs 112-100 on Friday night at AT&T Center, and clearly, neither coach Stan Van Gundy or Matt Barnes had an answer for Manu Ginobili.
Their inability to slow Ginobili (season-high 43 points) from the beginning provided a framework for the Spurs to even the season series at 1-1. Van Gundy apparently felt Barnes -- considered the team's best perimeter defender -- wasn't staying in the same zip code as Ginobili.
Barnes stayed on the bench, leaving Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick to guard Ginobili. No luck, either.
Van Gundy said his heated exchange with Barnes wasn't why he did not return to the game, saying he went with Pietrus and Redick. "It had nothing to do with anything else," Van Gundy said. "[Barnes] was frustrated, too. Ginobili had a great night. It wasn't one-on-one."
San Antonio, rested and motivated after losing in Orlando last month, played like a team that dearly wants to avoid the No. 8 playoff spot and a first-round date with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Magic all-star Dwight Howard had a nightmare night at the fee-throw line (2-of-11), which led the Spurs (46-29 ) to foul him intentionally. Howard stepped toward the San Antonio bench and angrily pointed. "That's fine," Van Gundy said. "I didn't have a problem with it."
He fouled out with under three minutes left, yelling at officials while a Spurs fan was ejected after getting into a verbal sparring session with Barnes.
"We had an idiot behind the bench," Van Gundy said. "We should have ignored it … instead of our guys getting into it." The Magic (53-23) trailed by as many as nine points late in the third, and eight with six minutes remaining, but couldn't mount a comeback.
Rashard Lewis finished with 18 points and Pietrus stayed hot, scoring 18 points. Jameer Nelson and Redick each added 15.
Howard gave the Magic and fans a scare in the first few minutes, leaving the game holding his left wrist. Spurs small forward Richard Jefferson had tried wrapping him up to prevent an easy bucket, whacking him on the hand.
Back-up Marcin Gortat replaced Howard, but only for a brief period as Howard returned. He came out for the second half with his ring finger and middle finger taped together.
The game started strangely enough. Referees dictated play, calling 14 fouls in the opening quarter and ejecting San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich before halftime.
Spurs star Tim Duncan was whistled for three fouls in the first six minutes. Popovich went berserk, drawing a technical foul. He would get ejected after getting a second tech, turning the team over to assistant Mike Budenholzer.
The Magic didn't go unscathed by officiating. Howard picked up his second foul -- and was only a few well-chosen syllables from getting his 16th technical (and one-game suspension).
Coming off a win against the Mavs in Dallas on Thursday night, Orlando led San Antonio 56-54 at intermission.
Baskets by Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter pushed the lead to six, but the Spurs woke up, riding Ginobili. He hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, and with 32 points, Van Gundy pulled Barnes.
Van Gundy was yakking at him and Barnes yakked back. Barnes headed directly to the lockeroom and came back a few minutes later, considerably cooler.
The Spurs then ran off six unanswered points, and Richard Jefferson's basket gave San Antonio an eight-point lead at 80-72.
Of course, the result of a heat-of-the-moment collision between firebrands such as Van Gundy and Barnes isn't surprising. It might be a sign that everyone has regular-season cabin fever … and need to get out and smell the roses of the playoffs.
Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel
SAN ANTONIO -- Well, from the crowd screaming insults at the refs to a coach being ejected to a coach barking at his player (and Matt Barnes barking back) to a fan being tossed to a superstar angered over a Hack-a-Howard strategy … you'd have figured the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs must have read the calendar wrong.
It sure looked and sounded like you were in the belly of the postseason.
The Magic fell to the Spurs 112-100 on Friday night at AT&T Center, and clearly, neither coach Stan Van Gundy or Matt Barnes had an answer for Manu Ginobili.
Their inability to slow Ginobili (season-high 43 points) from the beginning provided a framework for the Spurs to even the season series at 1-1. Van Gundy apparently felt Barnes -- considered the team's best perimeter defender -- wasn't staying in the same zip code as Ginobili.
Barnes stayed on the bench, leaving Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick to guard Ginobili. No luck, either.
Van Gundy said his heated exchange with Barnes wasn't why he did not return to the game, saying he went with Pietrus and Redick. "It had nothing to do with anything else," Van Gundy said. "[Barnes] was frustrated, too. Ginobili had a great night. It wasn't one-on-one."
San Antonio, rested and motivated after losing in Orlando last month, played like a team that dearly wants to avoid the No. 8 playoff spot and a first-round date with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Magic all-star Dwight Howard had a nightmare night at the fee-throw line (2-of-11), which led the Spurs (46-29 ) to foul him intentionally. Howard stepped toward the San Antonio bench and angrily pointed. "That's fine," Van Gundy said. "I didn't have a problem with it."
He fouled out with under three minutes left, yelling at officials while a Spurs fan was ejected after getting into a verbal sparring session with Barnes.
"We had an idiot behind the bench," Van Gundy said. "We should have ignored it … instead of our guys getting into it." The Magic (53-23) trailed by as many as nine points late in the third, and eight with six minutes remaining, but couldn't mount a comeback.
Rashard Lewis finished with 18 points and Pietrus stayed hot, scoring 18 points. Jameer Nelson and Redick each added 15.
Howard gave the Magic and fans a scare in the first few minutes, leaving the game holding his left wrist. Spurs small forward Richard Jefferson had tried wrapping him up to prevent an easy bucket, whacking him on the hand.
Back-up Marcin Gortat replaced Howard, but only for a brief period as Howard returned. He came out for the second half with his ring finger and middle finger taped together.
The game started strangely enough. Referees dictated play, calling 14 fouls in the opening quarter and ejecting San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich before halftime.
Spurs star Tim Duncan was whistled for three fouls in the first six minutes. Popovich went berserk, drawing a technical foul. He would get ejected after getting a second tech, turning the team over to assistant Mike Budenholzer.
The Magic didn't go unscathed by officiating. Howard picked up his second foul -- and was only a few well-chosen syllables from getting his 16th technical (and one-game suspension).
Coming off a win against the Mavs in Dallas on Thursday night, Orlando led San Antonio 56-54 at intermission.
Baskets by Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter pushed the lead to six, but the Spurs woke up, riding Ginobili. He hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, and with 32 points, Van Gundy pulled Barnes.
Van Gundy was yakking at him and Barnes yakked back. Barnes headed directly to the lockeroom and came back a few minutes later, considerably cooler.
The Spurs then ran off six unanswered points, and Richard Jefferson's basket gave San Antonio an eight-point lead at 80-72.
Of course, the result of a heat-of-the-moment collision between firebrands such as Van Gundy and Barnes isn't surprising. It might be a sign that everyone has regular-season cabin fever … and need to get out and smell the roses of the playoffs.
Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel