Kori Ellis
06-15-2005, 02:20 AM
Pistons defense creates tough night for Duncan
Web Posted: 06/15/2005 12:36 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061505.5S.BKNpistons.defense.e5f1089.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Three minutes into Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Tim Duncan finally got in position to attempt his first shot.
Detroit center Ben Wallace got his right hand on the ball before it even left Duncan's hand, throwing it hard to the floor, nearly knocking Duncan off his feet in the process.
It was the first indication it was not going to be the kind of Finals game the Spurs have grown accustomed to from Duncan, MVP of the 1999 and 2003 championship series.
By the end of the first quarter, Wallace had blocked four more shots, though no more of Duncan's, and had made it clear he intended to make everything difficult for the Spurs in the paint. Even for Duncan.
By game's end, Duncan had missed 10 of his 15 shots, one of his worst shooting performances in the 14 Finals games he has played.
On a night when Manu Ginobili, the Spurs' other stellar performer in their blowout victories in the first two games, also struggled to get anything going offensively, Duncan's rare playoff malaise combined to produce another blowout — this one for the Pistons.
Duncan said he could tell right from the start that he was going to have a much tougher time scoring than he had in the two games in San Antonio. Wallace's aggression in keeping him from getting to his favorite spots on the court told him he was in for a long night.
"They did a good job denying him the ball," Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "They really resisted position. They didn't let him get posted up or re-posted the way he did the other night. They just made it tough for him to get where he wanted to be."
"(Ben) was great," Duncan said, and then repeated himself, just for emphasis. "He came out with a lot of energy and really got the crowd and his team into it."
Duncan's problems were magnified by the fact the Pistons were playing the Spurs' pick-and-roll plays much more aggressively and making it difficult for them to make passes to the post. And when Duncan did get the ball in the interior, the Spurs did little to make the Pistons pay for aggressively double-teaming him.
"I thought for certain periods of the game, and in the very beginning, we held (the ball) a bit," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We didn't move it. When it did go to Timmy, we stood and watched and said, 'Do something great, Timmy.'
"You can't beat the Pistons one guy at a time. It's got to be the whole team."
Duncan thought the Spurs' lack of ball movement had more to do with the Pistons' defensive intensity than any lack of intent or focus on the Spurs' part.
"I don't know that the Pistons tried anything differently," Duncan said. "Their aggressiveness was up, so that in itself fueled what they were doing. They were out in the passing lanes. They got a steal here and there, and their energy kind of builds up.
"Nothing else to say about it. I just think they were more aggressive than we were."
Web Posted: 06/15/2005 12:36 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061505.5S.BKNpistons.defense.e5f1089.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Three minutes into Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Tim Duncan finally got in position to attempt his first shot.
Detroit center Ben Wallace got his right hand on the ball before it even left Duncan's hand, throwing it hard to the floor, nearly knocking Duncan off his feet in the process.
It was the first indication it was not going to be the kind of Finals game the Spurs have grown accustomed to from Duncan, MVP of the 1999 and 2003 championship series.
By the end of the first quarter, Wallace had blocked four more shots, though no more of Duncan's, and had made it clear he intended to make everything difficult for the Spurs in the paint. Even for Duncan.
By game's end, Duncan had missed 10 of his 15 shots, one of his worst shooting performances in the 14 Finals games he has played.
On a night when Manu Ginobili, the Spurs' other stellar performer in their blowout victories in the first two games, also struggled to get anything going offensively, Duncan's rare playoff malaise combined to produce another blowout — this one for the Pistons.
Duncan said he could tell right from the start that he was going to have a much tougher time scoring than he had in the two games in San Antonio. Wallace's aggression in keeping him from getting to his favorite spots on the court told him he was in for a long night.
"They did a good job denying him the ball," Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "They really resisted position. They didn't let him get posted up or re-posted the way he did the other night. They just made it tough for him to get where he wanted to be."
"(Ben) was great," Duncan said, and then repeated himself, just for emphasis. "He came out with a lot of energy and really got the crowd and his team into it."
Duncan's problems were magnified by the fact the Pistons were playing the Spurs' pick-and-roll plays much more aggressively and making it difficult for them to make passes to the post. And when Duncan did get the ball in the interior, the Spurs did little to make the Pistons pay for aggressively double-teaming him.
"I thought for certain periods of the game, and in the very beginning, we held (the ball) a bit," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We didn't move it. When it did go to Timmy, we stood and watched and said, 'Do something great, Timmy.'
"You can't beat the Pistons one guy at a time. It's got to be the whole team."
Duncan thought the Spurs' lack of ball movement had more to do with the Pistons' defensive intensity than any lack of intent or focus on the Spurs' part.
"I don't know that the Pistons tried anything differently," Duncan said. "Their aggressiveness was up, so that in itself fueled what they were doing. They were out in the passing lanes. They got a steal here and there, and their energy kind of builds up.
"Nothing else to say about it. I just think they were more aggressive than we were."