Kori Ellis
05-28-2005, 12:08 AM
Series notebook: Duncan says ankle slowly improving
Web Posted: 05/28/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052805.4S.BKNspurs.notebook.2b87747a3.html
Tim Duncan thinks the three-day layoff between games has done his left ankle some good.
"It's been great," Duncan said. "Yesterday was a very sore day, today is a lot better and tomorrow will be better."
Duncan sprained his ankle in the final game of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinal series against Seattle. He appeared limited early in the first two games against Phoenix but played more assertively late in each game.
Duncan scored 25 of his 58 points in the two fourth quarters. In the two first quarters, he was a combined 2 for 7, though he said his ankle was not completely responsible for his slow starts.
"I'm just taking time to get into the game, and the game is going to come to me," said Duncan, who also has sprained his right ankle three times this season. "I'm willing to do that.
"Series are all about adjustments. Games are all about adjustments. Early, you don't want to show people what you're going to do. If they're going to change something you don't want to be too far into a move or be overly aggressive and get caught on something."
In the Spurs' 13 playoff games, Duncan has averaged 24.5 points compared to 20.3 during the regular season.
"If you went back and looked at the film, you would probably see he's getting the ball more," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "During the year we tried to cut his minutes. Other people carried the load on lots of nights."
Robinson return possible: The Spurs were trying to make flight arrangements for Glenn Robinson to allow him to return in time for tonight's game.
Robinson missed the first two games after his mother died last week. Her funeral was Thursday.
Experience counts: Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni has a simple explanation for why the Spurs have played so well in the fourth quarter.
"It's that they execute better," D'Antoni said. "They have been there. This is about the fifth or sixth year they have done this. They did get beat by Los Angeles last year in the Western Conference (semifinals). They understand what it takes to get it done."
Fine line: Robert Horry, who has played in more postseason games than all but five other players in NBA history, knows what the difference between winning and losing means today.
"If you can get this game and go up 3-0, that puts a lot of doubt in (the Suns') minds, a lot of fear in their hearts," Horry said. "But anything can happen if they win this next game."
Under control: The Suns have talked about how they don't want to approach Game 3 any differently than they have other games this season. But just because they don't want to seem desperate doesn't mean they plan to be too casual.
"You can be loose," center Amare Stoudemire said, "but not so loose to the point where you turn the ball over."
Return of small-ball?: With Joe Johnson back, Phoenix will have a deeper bench than it did in the first two games of the series. That could mean less playing time for backup center Steven Hunter, who played 30 minutes each in Games 1 and 2 after averaging only 13 minutes per game in the regular season.
With Hunter on the floor alongside Stoudemire, the Suns didn't run as much as they usually do. D'Antoni has given no indication as to how Hunter will be used the rest of the series.
Web Posted: 05/28/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052805.4S.BKNspurs.notebook.2b87747a3.html
Tim Duncan thinks the three-day layoff between games has done his left ankle some good.
"It's been great," Duncan said. "Yesterday was a very sore day, today is a lot better and tomorrow will be better."
Duncan sprained his ankle in the final game of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinal series against Seattle. He appeared limited early in the first two games against Phoenix but played more assertively late in each game.
Duncan scored 25 of his 58 points in the two fourth quarters. In the two first quarters, he was a combined 2 for 7, though he said his ankle was not completely responsible for his slow starts.
"I'm just taking time to get into the game, and the game is going to come to me," said Duncan, who also has sprained his right ankle three times this season. "I'm willing to do that.
"Series are all about adjustments. Games are all about adjustments. Early, you don't want to show people what you're going to do. If they're going to change something you don't want to be too far into a move or be overly aggressive and get caught on something."
In the Spurs' 13 playoff games, Duncan has averaged 24.5 points compared to 20.3 during the regular season.
"If you went back and looked at the film, you would probably see he's getting the ball more," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "During the year we tried to cut his minutes. Other people carried the load on lots of nights."
Robinson return possible: The Spurs were trying to make flight arrangements for Glenn Robinson to allow him to return in time for tonight's game.
Robinson missed the first two games after his mother died last week. Her funeral was Thursday.
Experience counts: Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni has a simple explanation for why the Spurs have played so well in the fourth quarter.
"It's that they execute better," D'Antoni said. "They have been there. This is about the fifth or sixth year they have done this. They did get beat by Los Angeles last year in the Western Conference (semifinals). They understand what it takes to get it done."
Fine line: Robert Horry, who has played in more postseason games than all but five other players in NBA history, knows what the difference between winning and losing means today.
"If you can get this game and go up 3-0, that puts a lot of doubt in (the Suns') minds, a lot of fear in their hearts," Horry said. "But anything can happen if they win this next game."
Under control: The Suns have talked about how they don't want to approach Game 3 any differently than they have other games this season. But just because they don't want to seem desperate doesn't mean they plan to be too casual.
"You can be loose," center Amare Stoudemire said, "but not so loose to the point where you turn the ball over."
Return of small-ball?: With Joe Johnson back, Phoenix will have a deeper bench than it did in the first two games of the series. That could mean less playing time for backup center Steven Hunter, who played 30 minutes each in Games 1 and 2 after averaging only 13 minutes per game in the regular season.
With Hunter on the floor alongside Stoudemire, the Suns didn't run as much as they usually do. D'Antoni has given no indication as to how Hunter will be used the rest of the series.