3rdCoast
05-31-2005, 02:31 AM
LINK (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA053105.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2c853b4b0.html)
Buck Harvey: Duncan loses two games — one to Suns, one in his mind
Web Posted: 05/31/2005 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs are like chameleons, all right.
They can play fast; they can play slow. And sometimes their slippery, reptilian fingers let free throws and jump shots slip away.
Tony Parker has done this as recently as the previous series, and his six turnovers and 12 missed shots were a marked departure from what he had been doing. But the lizard king Monday night was the free-throw king the game before.
How does Tim Duncan go from 15 for 15 at the line to 3 for 12?
As easily as he goes from San Antonio back to Phoenix.
The Suns didn't win just because of this. They overcame a seven-point halftime deficit with their "heart and brains," to quote coach Mike D'Antoni.
Gregg Popovich credited the Suns, but he mostly blamed the Spurs' transition defense.
"They ripped our transition defense apart," Popovich said.
Giving up 57 percent shooting suggests as much. The same Popovich who said the Spurs were chameleons last week because they can imitate their opponent will wonder if they should play this fast.
But the more Popovich looks at film, the less critical he might be of his own guys. Getting back is one thing. But running into a group playing the way it won 62 games is something else.
That's why the Suns earned this one, and they did it for their season as much as they did for this series. D'Antoni has taken some heat the past week for creating a gimmick system, when in fact it had worked well until the Western Conference finals.
After Monday? There's reason to believe the Suns should continue to keep doing a few things.
Of course, they might need Joe Johnson to throw in a tough, one-on-one jumper over Bruce Bowen, as Johnson did at the end. They might need Shawn Marion to return to the living, as he did Monday. And they might need Amare Stoudemire to do everything else.
When Stoudemire went up with Duncan in the final minute, meeting him at the apex to block a shot that would have pulled the Spurs within one, was there a more dramatic play this series?
As Steve Nash put it: "Incredible."
But just as incredible is what Duncan did when no one was trying to block his shot. Duncan missed nine free throws in a five-point loss, and once he missed everything.
But Duncan is capable of airballs at home when there shouldn't be pressure, as are the Spurs. They can appear so strong-willed for stretches, then so fragile for no apparent reason. Parker is just as vulnerable, and he had these moments in the 2003 title run, too.
For Duncan, the mental aspect is especially biting. He's a smart man who prides himself on his control of the mind; remember, he graduated from college with a psychology degree. So when he loses all touch — when he sees the rim as if it's the size of a chameleon — it's his personal hell.
A fourth-quarter timeout showed that. He missed two free throws with about eight minutes left, and one of the shots was nearly another airball.
But Bowen came back with a 20-footer, and Manu Ginobili followed with a three. The Spurs sprinted to the bench for a timeout with some pep, down by just two then, with the crowd screaming.
Duncan came back angry, throwing a towel. He took a seat and stared directly down at the floor, ignoring teammates who tried to encourage him.
His eyes said this: He was trying to fix his brain.
He couldn't. He scored one more point the rest of the way, missing another free throw along the way. And there he was at the end, paired with Stoudemire.
Asked afterward if missed free throws cause Duncan to fight with everything else, too, Popovich nodded.
"Probably a pretty good assessment," he said.
So Duncan didn't fake and didn't take his time. He instead went up straight and directly — looking as if he wanted to avoid more free throws. Stoudemire, asked to simply match quickness, was and always will be quicker.
Asked later if this game shakes confidence, Duncan shook his head.
"I think we regroup," Duncan said.
That's been his pattern. Given time to reprogram his head — to apply his degree — he rarely repeats. The road might even help him.
But for a night?
The chameleon didn't change color. Only brains.
[email protected]
Buck Harvey: Duncan loses two games — one to Suns, one in his mind
Web Posted: 05/31/2005 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs are like chameleons, all right.
They can play fast; they can play slow. And sometimes their slippery, reptilian fingers let free throws and jump shots slip away.
Tony Parker has done this as recently as the previous series, and his six turnovers and 12 missed shots were a marked departure from what he had been doing. But the lizard king Monday night was the free-throw king the game before.
How does Tim Duncan go from 15 for 15 at the line to 3 for 12?
As easily as he goes from San Antonio back to Phoenix.
The Suns didn't win just because of this. They overcame a seven-point halftime deficit with their "heart and brains," to quote coach Mike D'Antoni.
Gregg Popovich credited the Suns, but he mostly blamed the Spurs' transition defense.
"They ripped our transition defense apart," Popovich said.
Giving up 57 percent shooting suggests as much. The same Popovich who said the Spurs were chameleons last week because they can imitate their opponent will wonder if they should play this fast.
But the more Popovich looks at film, the less critical he might be of his own guys. Getting back is one thing. But running into a group playing the way it won 62 games is something else.
That's why the Suns earned this one, and they did it for their season as much as they did for this series. D'Antoni has taken some heat the past week for creating a gimmick system, when in fact it had worked well until the Western Conference finals.
After Monday? There's reason to believe the Suns should continue to keep doing a few things.
Of course, they might need Joe Johnson to throw in a tough, one-on-one jumper over Bruce Bowen, as Johnson did at the end. They might need Shawn Marion to return to the living, as he did Monday. And they might need Amare Stoudemire to do everything else.
When Stoudemire went up with Duncan in the final minute, meeting him at the apex to block a shot that would have pulled the Spurs within one, was there a more dramatic play this series?
As Steve Nash put it: "Incredible."
But just as incredible is what Duncan did when no one was trying to block his shot. Duncan missed nine free throws in a five-point loss, and once he missed everything.
But Duncan is capable of airballs at home when there shouldn't be pressure, as are the Spurs. They can appear so strong-willed for stretches, then so fragile for no apparent reason. Parker is just as vulnerable, and he had these moments in the 2003 title run, too.
For Duncan, the mental aspect is especially biting. He's a smart man who prides himself on his control of the mind; remember, he graduated from college with a psychology degree. So when he loses all touch — when he sees the rim as if it's the size of a chameleon — it's his personal hell.
A fourth-quarter timeout showed that. He missed two free throws with about eight minutes left, and one of the shots was nearly another airball.
But Bowen came back with a 20-footer, and Manu Ginobili followed with a three. The Spurs sprinted to the bench for a timeout with some pep, down by just two then, with the crowd screaming.
Duncan came back angry, throwing a towel. He took a seat and stared directly down at the floor, ignoring teammates who tried to encourage him.
His eyes said this: He was trying to fix his brain.
He couldn't. He scored one more point the rest of the way, missing another free throw along the way. And there he was at the end, paired with Stoudemire.
Asked afterward if missed free throws cause Duncan to fight with everything else, too, Popovich nodded.
"Probably a pretty good assessment," he said.
So Duncan didn't fake and didn't take his time. He instead went up straight and directly — looking as if he wanted to avoid more free throws. Stoudemire, asked to simply match quickness, was and always will be quicker.
Asked later if this game shakes confidence, Duncan shook his head.
"I think we regroup," Duncan said.
That's been his pattern. Given time to reprogram his head — to apply his degree — he rarely repeats. The road might even help him.
But for a night?
The chameleon didn't change color. Only brains.
[email protected]