Kori Ellis
05-26-2005, 01:04 AM
If the game's on the line, it's time to call on Horry
Web Posted: 05/26/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052605.1C.BKNspurs.horry.2ae3010d7.html
The boos started as soon as Robert Horry left his seat, growing with each step he took toward the scorer's table. By the time he walked onto the court at America West Arena on Tuesday evening, the roar was so loud, the venom so thick, its target so unmistakable.
The Phoenix Suns' public-address announcer didn't need to waste his breath announcing Horry's arrival. A courtside fan did it for him.
“Horry,” he screamed, “you SUCK!”
Horry has heard worse. In Sacramento. Portland. Orlando. Most recently, Denver and Seattle. Two years ago, he was the player Spurs fans loved to hate.
For 13 years, Horry has gone from city to city, sapping the spirit of opponents each spring, hushing their fans, changing a series. Hit enough 3-pointers in enough white-knuckle moments, and suddenly you're Villain No. 1.
Tuesday was no different. Steve Nash had just stepped behind a screen to bury a 3-pointer, giving Phoenix a 102-100 lead and hurrying the Spurs into a timeout with 2:56 remaining.
As the Spurs took the floor, Horry whispered into Manu Ginobili's ear. Look for me, he said. Eleven seconds later, Horry popped free above the 3-point line just long enough. Ginobili found him. In one motion, Horry took the pass, raised those long arms and flicked his right wrist.
The Spurs never trailed again.
“It was huge,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after his team had taken a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. “It's what he does.”
Horry's 218 playoff 3-pointers trail only Reggie Miller on the NBA's all-time list. Barring injury, he will play in his 190th postseason game Monday, tying Magic Johnson for fifth place. If the Spurs advance to the NBA Finals, he likely will move ahead of Karl Malone and Danny Ainge for third place.
Not only has Horry made the playoffs each season, he never has lost in the first round. His goal this year is to match Michael Jordan's six championships.
The Spurs laugh about Horry's ability to cruise through the regular season then snap to attention in April. In truth, Horry has worked harder than ever the past two seasons. He has refined his diet and employs a trainer in the offseason.
Horry, 34, jokes that Spurs treat him as if he's “a 38-year-old,” though there is reason for concern. He played much of the season with a small fracture in his right fibula. Rare is the game where he hasn't clutched his left shoulder in pain.
Popovich has done his best to preserve Horry for the playoffs. Once they start, Horry saves himself, even limiting contact with friends and family.
“The playoffs have so much energy, so much excitement,” he said. “You're going out and it's do or die. One thing about the playoffs is there's a lot of pressure. Sometimes people can't handle the pressure. Me, I like the pressure.”
Horry has proven that this spring. Frustrated about last season's Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers when he missed 10 of 12 3-pointers, he has played well each round. In the tone-setting Game.3 victory against Denver, he drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He scored 17 points in the Spurs' Game 5 victory against Seattle. With the Spurs clinging to a one-point lead with 1:48 left in Game 6, he buried a 3-pointer to help close out the series.
For the playoffs, Horry is averaging 8.5 points while making 50 percent of his shots, 44.2 percent of his 3-point attempts.
In the two fourth quarters against Phoenix, he has been on the floor for 16 of the 24 minutes, totaling seven points, six rebounds, four assists and a block. He has taken three shots — all 3-pointers — making two.
“I try to be that stealth guy that hides in the corner,” Horry said. “It's all about playing basketball right now. You've got to read every situation you can and be there for your teammates.”
Horry has contributed more than shooting. Trailing by a point late Tuesday, he tapped an offensive rebound to Brent Barry, who hit a long jumper. Horry also baited Amare Stoudemire into a technical and later drew a charge from him.
“They call it the crafty veteran,” Barry said, “and that's what Robert does for us.”
Horry's experience has helped away from the court as well. With Malik Rose traded to New York midway through the season and Tim Duncan sidelined for four weeks with a sprained right ankle, Horry took a more active role in counseling some of his younger teammates. Even those who are 33.
Before each tipoff, Barry asks Horry for the Word of the Game. Against Seattle, Horry usually chose “attack.”
“But for most of the playoffs I'm finding a theme from Robert,” Barry said, “and that's just play ‘smart.'.”
Horry's teammates and coaches have praised both his basketball IQ and his selflessness. Even Duncan, Popovich said, is a better player with Horry on the floor.
The Suns had hoped to see the same from Horry when they acquired him from Houston before the 1996-97 season. Instead, he never warmed to Phoenix, particularly Danny Ainge, the coach. Horry cursed at Ainge in a game before famously throwing a towel in his face. The team suspended him for two games. Less than a week later, he was traded to the Lakers.
“I just had a lot of animosity toward Danny Ainge for some of the things he did, like hitting Mario (Elie) in the face with the ball,” Horry said, referring to an incident during a Rockets-Suns playoff game in 1994. “And I never let go.”
To this day, Horry will only autograph pictures or cards of him in a Phoenix uniform for children. He claims, however, to have enjoyed the Suns' fans during his short stay.
Even as he continues to give them reason to like him less.
Web Posted: 05/26/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052605.1C.BKNspurs.horry.2ae3010d7.html
The boos started as soon as Robert Horry left his seat, growing with each step he took toward the scorer's table. By the time he walked onto the court at America West Arena on Tuesday evening, the roar was so loud, the venom so thick, its target so unmistakable.
The Phoenix Suns' public-address announcer didn't need to waste his breath announcing Horry's arrival. A courtside fan did it for him.
“Horry,” he screamed, “you SUCK!”
Horry has heard worse. In Sacramento. Portland. Orlando. Most recently, Denver and Seattle. Two years ago, he was the player Spurs fans loved to hate.
For 13 years, Horry has gone from city to city, sapping the spirit of opponents each spring, hushing their fans, changing a series. Hit enough 3-pointers in enough white-knuckle moments, and suddenly you're Villain No. 1.
Tuesday was no different. Steve Nash had just stepped behind a screen to bury a 3-pointer, giving Phoenix a 102-100 lead and hurrying the Spurs into a timeout with 2:56 remaining.
As the Spurs took the floor, Horry whispered into Manu Ginobili's ear. Look for me, he said. Eleven seconds later, Horry popped free above the 3-point line just long enough. Ginobili found him. In one motion, Horry took the pass, raised those long arms and flicked his right wrist.
The Spurs never trailed again.
“It was huge,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after his team had taken a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. “It's what he does.”
Horry's 218 playoff 3-pointers trail only Reggie Miller on the NBA's all-time list. Barring injury, he will play in his 190th postseason game Monday, tying Magic Johnson for fifth place. If the Spurs advance to the NBA Finals, he likely will move ahead of Karl Malone and Danny Ainge for third place.
Not only has Horry made the playoffs each season, he never has lost in the first round. His goal this year is to match Michael Jordan's six championships.
The Spurs laugh about Horry's ability to cruise through the regular season then snap to attention in April. In truth, Horry has worked harder than ever the past two seasons. He has refined his diet and employs a trainer in the offseason.
Horry, 34, jokes that Spurs treat him as if he's “a 38-year-old,” though there is reason for concern. He played much of the season with a small fracture in his right fibula. Rare is the game where he hasn't clutched his left shoulder in pain.
Popovich has done his best to preserve Horry for the playoffs. Once they start, Horry saves himself, even limiting contact with friends and family.
“The playoffs have so much energy, so much excitement,” he said. “You're going out and it's do or die. One thing about the playoffs is there's a lot of pressure. Sometimes people can't handle the pressure. Me, I like the pressure.”
Horry has proven that this spring. Frustrated about last season's Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers when he missed 10 of 12 3-pointers, he has played well each round. In the tone-setting Game.3 victory against Denver, he drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He scored 17 points in the Spurs' Game 5 victory against Seattle. With the Spurs clinging to a one-point lead with 1:48 left in Game 6, he buried a 3-pointer to help close out the series.
For the playoffs, Horry is averaging 8.5 points while making 50 percent of his shots, 44.2 percent of his 3-point attempts.
In the two fourth quarters against Phoenix, he has been on the floor for 16 of the 24 minutes, totaling seven points, six rebounds, four assists and a block. He has taken three shots — all 3-pointers — making two.
“I try to be that stealth guy that hides in the corner,” Horry said. “It's all about playing basketball right now. You've got to read every situation you can and be there for your teammates.”
Horry has contributed more than shooting. Trailing by a point late Tuesday, he tapped an offensive rebound to Brent Barry, who hit a long jumper. Horry also baited Amare Stoudemire into a technical and later drew a charge from him.
“They call it the crafty veteran,” Barry said, “and that's what Robert does for us.”
Horry's experience has helped away from the court as well. With Malik Rose traded to New York midway through the season and Tim Duncan sidelined for four weeks with a sprained right ankle, Horry took a more active role in counseling some of his younger teammates. Even those who are 33.
Before each tipoff, Barry asks Horry for the Word of the Game. Against Seattle, Horry usually chose “attack.”
“But for most of the playoffs I'm finding a theme from Robert,” Barry said, “and that's just play ‘smart.'.”
Horry's teammates and coaches have praised both his basketball IQ and his selflessness. Even Duncan, Popovich said, is a better player with Horry on the floor.
The Suns had hoped to see the same from Horry when they acquired him from Houston before the 1996-97 season. Instead, he never warmed to Phoenix, particularly Danny Ainge, the coach. Horry cursed at Ainge in a game before famously throwing a towel in his face. The team suspended him for two games. Less than a week later, he was traded to the Lakers.
“I just had a lot of animosity toward Danny Ainge for some of the things he did, like hitting Mario (Elie) in the face with the ball,” Horry said, referring to an incident during a Rockets-Suns playoff game in 1994. “And I never let go.”
To this day, Horry will only autograph pictures or cards of him in a Phoenix uniform for children. He claims, however, to have enjoyed the Suns' fans during his short stay.
Even as he continues to give them reason to like him less.