Kori Ellis
06-16-2005, 12:45 AM
Mike Monroe: Spurs must regain momentum stolen from opening second of Game 3
Web Posted: 06/16/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061605.6S.COL.BKNmonroe.128b7c48.html
San Antonio Express-News
Just as there was no reason for early celebration after the Spurs' Game 1 victory, there is no need for panic after they were blown out in Game 3. The Pistons were supposed to win at the Palace in a game they could not afford to lose. Now, the series gets interesting.
Believe it or not, Game 3 may have been won by Detroit in the first official second of the game. The Spurs were awarded possession after the opening tip because Pistons center Ben Wallace "stole" the tap. The Spurs had center Nazr Mohammed inbounding on the sideline, and he was about to throw the ball to an open Tony Parker.
But referee Bob Delaney noticed that the game clock was at 11:59, when it should have been at 12:00. After the clock was reset, Manu Ginobili replaced Mohammed as the inbounder. His pass for Parker was stolen by Wallace, who raced downcourt for a dunk, was fouled and converted the three-point play.
Suddenly, the Palace was roaring. And perhaps Ginobili lost a bit of his own confidence with his opening miscue, because he had his worst game of the playoffs.
PLAYER REPORT
Manu Ginobili
The contusion Ginobili suffered in his left thigh in the first quarter Tuesday won't keep him out of uniform or off the floor for Game 4. When Ginobili plays, it doesn't seem to matter if he has a nagging injury. He always plays all-out.
Beno Udrih
Udrih is completely healthy, at least physically. His confidence may be lacking after he folded under intense full-court pressure from the Pistons in Game 3. If Game 4 is tight, don't look for Udrih in crunch time.
Tim Duncan
We haven't heard or read a word about Duncan's sore ankles since the Finals started, but he got sore in Game 3 — at referee Joey Crawford, drawing a technical. Duncan doesn't lose his cool often, and he typically finds a way to vent his anger in a positive way thereafter.
SHOOTING OFF
24 thoughts about Game 3
Stevie Wonder blows a memorable national anthem on the harmonica.
Gregg Popovich catches someone's eye after the anthem and mouths, "Wow!"
World's largest flamethrowers threatening the championship banners in the ceiling.
Those gold O'Brien trophies on the uniforms look great against a black background.
Ben Wallace has the 'fro flying tonight.
11:39, first quarter: How to stop Manu? Inadvertent knee to the thigh gets the job done early.
8:34, first quarter: Horry comes up holding his left shoulder. Maybe this isn't Spurs' night.
7:32, first quarter: Ginobili is back, and you can see the Spurs' spirits lift.
5:20, first quarter: Nesterovic makes his earliest appearance of the entire playoff run.
2:30, first quarter, Ginobili's second foul. Popovich seems to be eyeing Scottie Pippen.
Five blocks for Ben in first quarter ... should have freaked that 'fro for Games 1 and 2.
Palace hecklers behind Spurs' bench are loud, but they need some new material.
10:10, second quarter: A technical for Duncan? Fundamentally uncool.
5:43 second quarter: How did Bowen's finger get through Hamilton's mask, into his eye?
10:45, third quarter: A 3-pointer for Billups, the first triple for the Pistons in seven quarters.
Pistons "Auto-motion" dance team seems to be ... um ... SUV class.
4:47, third quarter: A tech for 'Sheed. I'm shocked ... shocked, I say!
2:08, third quarter: For everything bad that has happened, Spurs still lead.
0:25, third quarter: 9-0 Pistons run, led by McDyess' two tip-ins, and Spurs' lead is long gone.
9:28, fourth quarter: For third time, Mohammed can't handle interior pass from Ginobili.
7:56, fourth quarter: Parker stops to tie his shoe; hecklers suggest he needs Eva's help.
6:28, fourth quarter: 11-0 Pistons run in little more than three minutes seals this one.
2:13, fourth quarter: Wholesale substitutions mean this one is history.
Oh, joy. A full week in Auburn Hills and environs. Pass the Excedrin.
SPURS NEED COUNTERPUNCH
The Pistons finally changed their basic approach to defending the Spurs' screen-and-roll plays, effectively negating Manu Ginobili and, to a lesser extent, Tony Parker by "blitzing" the dribbler, usually with Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess.
According to a respected NBA scout, the Spurs now need to go to a slip-screen action on the plays.
"The Spurs will come back and slip the pick-and-roll, and Ginobili and Parker will bounce pass it to Duncan and he'll end up with an open 12-footer," the scout said. "The defense will have to come help, and there will be somebody open on the weak side, (Nazr) Mohammed or (Robert) Horry. Or Duncan will be able to drive all the way to the rim."
SPURS AND PISTONS IN GAME 4s
The Pistons were the better Game 4 team during the first three rounds of this year's playoffs:
Detroit Pistons
—First round vs. 76ers: Won 97-92 (OT) in Philadelphia
—Conference semifinals vs. Pacers: Won 89-76 in Indianapolis
—Conference finals vs. Heat: Won 106-96 in Detroit
San Antonio Spurs
—First round vs. Nuggets: Won 126-115 (OT) in Denver
—Conference semifinals vs. Sonics: Lost 101-89 in Seattle
—Conference finals vs. Suns: Lost 111-106 in San Antonio
Web Posted: 06/16/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061605.6S.COL.BKNmonroe.128b7c48.html
San Antonio Express-News
Just as there was no reason for early celebration after the Spurs' Game 1 victory, there is no need for panic after they were blown out in Game 3. The Pistons were supposed to win at the Palace in a game they could not afford to lose. Now, the series gets interesting.
Believe it or not, Game 3 may have been won by Detroit in the first official second of the game. The Spurs were awarded possession after the opening tip because Pistons center Ben Wallace "stole" the tap. The Spurs had center Nazr Mohammed inbounding on the sideline, and he was about to throw the ball to an open Tony Parker.
But referee Bob Delaney noticed that the game clock was at 11:59, when it should have been at 12:00. After the clock was reset, Manu Ginobili replaced Mohammed as the inbounder. His pass for Parker was stolen by Wallace, who raced downcourt for a dunk, was fouled and converted the three-point play.
Suddenly, the Palace was roaring. And perhaps Ginobili lost a bit of his own confidence with his opening miscue, because he had his worst game of the playoffs.
PLAYER REPORT
Manu Ginobili
The contusion Ginobili suffered in his left thigh in the first quarter Tuesday won't keep him out of uniform or off the floor for Game 4. When Ginobili plays, it doesn't seem to matter if he has a nagging injury. He always plays all-out.
Beno Udrih
Udrih is completely healthy, at least physically. His confidence may be lacking after he folded under intense full-court pressure from the Pistons in Game 3. If Game 4 is tight, don't look for Udrih in crunch time.
Tim Duncan
We haven't heard or read a word about Duncan's sore ankles since the Finals started, but he got sore in Game 3 — at referee Joey Crawford, drawing a technical. Duncan doesn't lose his cool often, and he typically finds a way to vent his anger in a positive way thereafter.
SHOOTING OFF
24 thoughts about Game 3
Stevie Wonder blows a memorable national anthem on the harmonica.
Gregg Popovich catches someone's eye after the anthem and mouths, "Wow!"
World's largest flamethrowers threatening the championship banners in the ceiling.
Those gold O'Brien trophies on the uniforms look great against a black background.
Ben Wallace has the 'fro flying tonight.
11:39, first quarter: How to stop Manu? Inadvertent knee to the thigh gets the job done early.
8:34, first quarter: Horry comes up holding his left shoulder. Maybe this isn't Spurs' night.
7:32, first quarter: Ginobili is back, and you can see the Spurs' spirits lift.
5:20, first quarter: Nesterovic makes his earliest appearance of the entire playoff run.
2:30, first quarter, Ginobili's second foul. Popovich seems to be eyeing Scottie Pippen.
Five blocks for Ben in first quarter ... should have freaked that 'fro for Games 1 and 2.
Palace hecklers behind Spurs' bench are loud, but they need some new material.
10:10, second quarter: A technical for Duncan? Fundamentally uncool.
5:43 second quarter: How did Bowen's finger get through Hamilton's mask, into his eye?
10:45, third quarter: A 3-pointer for Billups, the first triple for the Pistons in seven quarters.
Pistons "Auto-motion" dance team seems to be ... um ... SUV class.
4:47, third quarter: A tech for 'Sheed. I'm shocked ... shocked, I say!
2:08, third quarter: For everything bad that has happened, Spurs still lead.
0:25, third quarter: 9-0 Pistons run, led by McDyess' two tip-ins, and Spurs' lead is long gone.
9:28, fourth quarter: For third time, Mohammed can't handle interior pass from Ginobili.
7:56, fourth quarter: Parker stops to tie his shoe; hecklers suggest he needs Eva's help.
6:28, fourth quarter: 11-0 Pistons run in little more than three minutes seals this one.
2:13, fourth quarter: Wholesale substitutions mean this one is history.
Oh, joy. A full week in Auburn Hills and environs. Pass the Excedrin.
SPURS NEED COUNTERPUNCH
The Pistons finally changed their basic approach to defending the Spurs' screen-and-roll plays, effectively negating Manu Ginobili and, to a lesser extent, Tony Parker by "blitzing" the dribbler, usually with Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess.
According to a respected NBA scout, the Spurs now need to go to a slip-screen action on the plays.
"The Spurs will come back and slip the pick-and-roll, and Ginobili and Parker will bounce pass it to Duncan and he'll end up with an open 12-footer," the scout said. "The defense will have to come help, and there will be somebody open on the weak side, (Nazr) Mohammed or (Robert) Horry. Or Duncan will be able to drive all the way to the rim."
SPURS AND PISTONS IN GAME 4s
The Pistons were the better Game 4 team during the first three rounds of this year's playoffs:
Detroit Pistons
—First round vs. 76ers: Won 97-92 (OT) in Philadelphia
—Conference semifinals vs. Pacers: Won 89-76 in Indianapolis
—Conference finals vs. Heat: Won 106-96 in Detroit
San Antonio Spurs
—First round vs. Nuggets: Won 126-115 (OT) in Denver
—Conference semifinals vs. Sonics: Lost 101-89 in Seattle
—Conference finals vs. Suns: Lost 111-106 in San Antonio