Spurzilla
11-23-2005, 01:30 PM
Kings notes: Spurs loaded everywhere - even on bench
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C5
LINK (http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13892173p-14731077c.html)
Asked about the embarrassment of riches of talent on the San Antonio Spurs' bench, Bonzi Wells exhaled and then nodded.
Nick Van Exel. Michael Finley. Robert Horry. Kings fans might remember them. Now they're a trio of torment, if not in bunches, but in bits and pieces.
They combined for 13 points, but that's not what doomed the Kings 96-93 Monday. The rest of the NBA is wondering if it's fair that the champs can add Van Exel and Finley via free agency to a stacked roster and barely have enough time to throw Horry out there for a moment or two. Horry, forever the dagger in the Kings' title hopes when he nailed that three-pointer in the 2002 Western Conference finals, came off the bench in the waning moments and scrapped for two offensive rebounds, including one that led to a Tim Duncan score and the Spurs' final points.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he inserted Horry to give Duncan some interior help and to infuse some of that championship grit.
"Robert Horry comes in, sitting for 47.5 minutes and grabs rebounds," Wells said. "That's just what he does. He's a killer, and he killed us on that last rebound. It was a three-pointer this time. He got us on a rebound."
Finley had eight points as he continued to round into shape after being slowed by a groin injury (he missed five games). And there haven't been too many Van Exel teams to leave Arco Arena with a victory when he contributed just one field goal and four points, but check out his supporting cast.
Said Spurs energizer Manu Ginobili, "That's what we need, veteran guys who make things happen. Like Horry. He's going to be huge, always."
No Peja, not the same - Bruce Bowen was looking forward to his annual tussle with Peja Stojakovic. It didn't happen because Stojakovic sat with a sprained pinky on his shooting hand. Said Bowen, "We have so much respect for each other that when one guy doesn't play, it's a letdown."
Berry, Berry good - The hot shooting of Stojakovic on Sunday in Seattle - 9 of 10 in the first half with a Sacramento-era record-tying six threes in the game - had Jerry Reynolds thinking flashback. The Kings' director of player personnel was the Kings' coach on Feb. 9, 1989 when he gave Ricky Berry his first start. The rookie forward hit seven threes, still tied for second most by a Sacramento player, and the Kings wiped out the Warriors 142-117.
Et cetera - At the Spurs' shoot-around Monday morning, Bowen talked to the media and left his unopened sports drink on a chair behind him. Seconds later, Duncan plopped down, grabbed the drink, looked up at his teammate, grinned and asked if it was his. "What am I supposed to do? Say don't drink it? Look who it is," Bowen said, then laughed.
• Corliss Williamson played just over eight minutes one night after he was bedridden with the flu. He managed four points but no rebounds.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C5
LINK (http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13892173p-14731077c.html)
Asked about the embarrassment of riches of talent on the San Antonio Spurs' bench, Bonzi Wells exhaled and then nodded.
Nick Van Exel. Michael Finley. Robert Horry. Kings fans might remember them. Now they're a trio of torment, if not in bunches, but in bits and pieces.
They combined for 13 points, but that's not what doomed the Kings 96-93 Monday. The rest of the NBA is wondering if it's fair that the champs can add Van Exel and Finley via free agency to a stacked roster and barely have enough time to throw Horry out there for a moment or two. Horry, forever the dagger in the Kings' title hopes when he nailed that three-pointer in the 2002 Western Conference finals, came off the bench in the waning moments and scrapped for two offensive rebounds, including one that led to a Tim Duncan score and the Spurs' final points.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he inserted Horry to give Duncan some interior help and to infuse some of that championship grit.
"Robert Horry comes in, sitting for 47.5 minutes and grabs rebounds," Wells said. "That's just what he does. He's a killer, and he killed us on that last rebound. It was a three-pointer this time. He got us on a rebound."
Finley had eight points as he continued to round into shape after being slowed by a groin injury (he missed five games). And there haven't been too many Van Exel teams to leave Arco Arena with a victory when he contributed just one field goal and four points, but check out his supporting cast.
Said Spurs energizer Manu Ginobili, "That's what we need, veteran guys who make things happen. Like Horry. He's going to be huge, always."
No Peja, not the same - Bruce Bowen was looking forward to his annual tussle with Peja Stojakovic. It didn't happen because Stojakovic sat with a sprained pinky on his shooting hand. Said Bowen, "We have so much respect for each other that when one guy doesn't play, it's a letdown."
Berry, Berry good - The hot shooting of Stojakovic on Sunday in Seattle - 9 of 10 in the first half with a Sacramento-era record-tying six threes in the game - had Jerry Reynolds thinking flashback. The Kings' director of player personnel was the Kings' coach on Feb. 9, 1989 when he gave Ricky Berry his first start. The rookie forward hit seven threes, still tied for second most by a Sacramento player, and the Kings wiped out the Warriors 142-117.
Et cetera - At the Spurs' shoot-around Monday morning, Bowen talked to the media and left his unopened sports drink on a chair behind him. Seconds later, Duncan plopped down, grabbed the drink, looked up at his teammate, grinned and asked if it was his. "What am I supposed to do? Say don't drink it? Look who it is," Bowen said, then laughed.
• Corliss Williamson played just over eight minutes one night after he was bedridden with the flu. He managed four points but no rebounds.