Spurs notebook: Spurs still grateful for home-court edge

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs notebook: Spurs still grateful for home-court edge
Web Posted: 06/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062305.3S.BKNspurs.notebook.36eef614.html
San Antonio Express-News


Much has been made of the Pistons' ability to win big playoff games on the road, but the Spurs continue to believe they have an advantage playing Game 7 at the SBC Center.

"I like the fact the game is here," assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "To me, that's a big factor, just from the standpoint that's what we played all year for, to have this game in this building. That's what makes the regular season worthwhile. You can say all you want about the 82 games, but this is when it pays off.

"There's no guarantee because we're wearing the white uniforms tomorrow, but I know, personally, I'm a hell of a lot more comfortable here, with the game in our building, than if we were playing it in Detroit.

"Guys can say whatever they want about their being a confident road team and this and that, and being able to win on the road. We're glad we're here, and we know why we're here."

Foul shots: Tim Duncan has missed 12 free throws in the past two games, but don't expect Tony Parker to give him any advice.

"I'm the wrong guy to talk to about it. I'm having a tough year, too," Parker said. "We just have to keep that confidence high, because he is going to get fouled regardless. We just have to keep having faith in him and know that he is going to make the big ones."

No. 3 with a bullet? Robert Horry has played with three of the game's best big men: Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal and Duncan.

Duncan, for now, rates lowest on his list.

"I've got to be honest with you; I'd have to put him third right now because I haven't won a championship with him," Horry said. "If we win a championship, I'll have to move him up at least a bit."

New territory: The Pistons are in their fourth Game 7 since the 2003 playoffs and as a franchise have won four in a row. The Spurs, meanwhile, have not been in a Game 7 since the 1990 Western Conference semifinals and have lost three of their four winner-take-all games:

1979 East semifinals: @Spurs 111, 76ers 108

1979 East finals: @Bullets 107, Spurs 105

1981 West semifinals: Rockets 105, @Spurs 100

1990 West semifinals: @Blazers 108, Spurs 105 (2OT)

Mike Monroe, Johnny Ludden, Express-News staff

[Kori Ellis]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062305.4S.BKNpistons.notebook.36c88535.html

Pistons notebook: Dumars extols team's philosophy
Web Posted: 06/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT


San Antonio Express-News


Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations, spoke Wednesday about the secret to his team's success being a team-first philosophy that has allowed players such as Chauncey Billups, who struggled on other teams that expected him to carry too big a burden, to become a standout in Detroit.

Billups, Dumars said, is the greatest clutch shooter in club history because he has had to hit more big shots in the Pistons' two title runs than he or Isiah Thomas did when they were helping the Pistons win two titles in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Why have the Pistons been in so many close situations in their two title runs?

"I think everybody will agree the New England Patriots are a great team in football," Dumars said, "but they've had to kick field goals to win two of those Super Bowls. It's not like they went out there and did like the Bears did to New England back in those days. This is a great team that we're playing.

"It goes back to some of the struggles some of them had when it was just on them. But bring them together and it's different."

Rippin' on Bowen: Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said he has grown more accustomed to playing against Spurs defensive specialist Bruce Bowen throughout the Finals, explaining the best way to handle Bowen is to "learn to laugh."

But when Hamilton lost his protective facemask after Bowen swiped at it midway through the fourth quarter of Game 5, Hamilton didn't exactly have a sense of humor about the incident.

"I wanted to throw that ball at (Bowen)," Hamilton said. :lol

Even though Hamilton has played well over the past week and scored 23 points Tuesday, he was still angry about some of the tactics he said Bowen is using against him.

"I'm not going to be a cheap-shot dummy," Hamilton said. "I told the ref that if you allow him to do it, he's going to keep doing it."

Bowen, as has been his custom this postseason, didn't seem too upset by the accusations.

"It is what it is," Bowen said. "There are times where I get away with things, and there are times where I feel that he gets away with things. So with that, you have to just play."

McDyess McSick: Now that the Pistons have forced a Game 7, forward Antonio McDyess finally felt comfortable enough to talk about just how tough it was to endure their loss in Game 5 from the bench.

"I was pretty sick to my stomach watching the whole situation," McDyess said. "In regulation I didn't watch the last minute, in overtime I didn't watch the last minute. But we hung in there (in Game 6) and got a win, but emotionally it was just hurtful to watch it."

No big deal: Tonight's game will be the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals in 11 years, but Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace said it won't be the biggest moment of his professional career.

What does he consider the biggest game he's ever played in?

"When I was younger, my first championship," Wallace said. "Ain't no comparison (to tonight). Because that was my first one, and this is not my first one."

[E20]

Unlike Ray and Vince, Rip seems to actually fight back.