Kori Ellis
12-04-2005, 03:46 AM
Spurs get lift from unlikely sources
Web Posted: 12/04/2005 12:16 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120405.1C.BKNspurs.sixers.gamer.35479c8.html
Maybe he doesn't care for Allen Iverson's tattoos. Or he has something against cheesesteaks. Or he's never forgiven the City of Brotherly Love for booing Santa Claus.
Whatever the reason, the Philadelphia 76ers once again unleashed the quiet fury of Rasho Nesterovic on Saturday night, and the Spurs were all the better for it.
With Nesterovic scoring a season-high 12 points and Brent Barry providing an equally unexpected 3-point barrage, the Spurs overwhelmed the Sixers in the second half of a 100-91 victory at the SBC Center.
Nesterovic added seven rebounds, one block and a pair of hard fouls, displaying a level of aggressiveness rarely seen from him since, well, the Spurs visited Philadelphia last season. He fueled the team's victory that evening with a season-best 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
"I'm so happy for Rasho," Bruce Bowen said. "Rasho was his own worst enemy last year. There were times when he'd miss a shot and get down on himself so bad. We can't have that. Let (coach) get on you, but you have to stay happy.
"He's really starting to assert himself now."
Barry did the same Saturday night. After Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lit into him at halftime — one player described the scene as "ugly" — Barry scored all of his season-high 14 points in the game's final 15 minutes, 34 seconds. He made four 3-pointers, two fewer than he had totaled all season.
"In the first half, he looked unsure of himself," Popovich said. "In the second half, he came out very differently."
The same could be said of most of the Spurs. Although the Sixers were coming off an 88-86 loss in Oklahoma City on Friday night, it was hard to tell which team was more fatigued to start the game.
Andre Iguodala took the opening tip and raced to the rim, drawing a foul on Tim Duncan. Bowen followed by throwing a pass into the courtside seats. On the next possession, Iverson took the ball from Tony Parker, who then hacked at the Sixers guard for a foul.
After Iverson drew a charge from him three minutes later, Parker had to go to the bench for the final 7:19 of the first quarter.
The Spurs couldn't shoot their way out of their troubles, either. They missed all but one of their first nine attempts to start the second quarter. Duncan tried to complete a dribble handoff with Michael Finley only to give the ball to Sixers guard Kevin Ollie.
Less than six minutes into the second quarter, the Spurs trailed 33-23.
"We didn't really compete and weren't aggressive," Popovich said. "We weren't making contact with people. No cuts. Everybody was holding the ball when they got it."
Parker finally provided the spark the Spurs needed, spinning by Sixers center Samuel Dalembert on the baseline before beating Stephen Hunter to the rim for a reverse layup. He scored 10 more points in the quarter and finished with a team-high 20 to go with his seven assists and eight rebounds.
Iguodala, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, frequently pressured Parker as he brought the ball up court. The Sixers also used a zone to try to limit Parker's penetration.
The Spurs did a better job of moving the ball in the second half, assisting on 19 of their 25 baskets, and quickened the pace.
With Bowen holding Iverson without a basket in the third quarter, the Spurs took control. Barry's first 3-pointer helped trigger a three-minute stretch in the third quarter that saw the Spurs score 14 unanswered points.
"When we move the ball side to side, it makes the defense react," Barry said. "They're going to have to worry about more than Tim or Tony."
On Saturday, Nesterovic gave Philadelphia reason to be concerned. He opened the second half with a hook shot, then found Duncan with a sharp pass to draw a foul.
Three minutes later, Nesterovic gave the Spurs their first lead since the opening quarter when tossed in another hook and followed with a 17-foot jump shot. When Iguodala came up with a steal and sprinted down court for what appeared to be a made-for-SportsCenter dunk, Nesterovic met him at the rim with a hard foul.
Nesterovic quietly has played well enough all season — he began the evening shooting 53.9 percent — to hold onto the starting center job.
"He's being competitive," Popovich said. "He got beat out by Nazr (Mohammed) last year, and he wants to play."
As for why the Sixers have had the misfortune of facing his wrath, Nesterovic had an easy explanation: "Bad timing."
Web Posted: 12/04/2005 12:16 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120405.1C.BKNspurs.sixers.gamer.35479c8.html
Maybe he doesn't care for Allen Iverson's tattoos. Or he has something against cheesesteaks. Or he's never forgiven the City of Brotherly Love for booing Santa Claus.
Whatever the reason, the Philadelphia 76ers once again unleashed the quiet fury of Rasho Nesterovic on Saturday night, and the Spurs were all the better for it.
With Nesterovic scoring a season-high 12 points and Brent Barry providing an equally unexpected 3-point barrage, the Spurs overwhelmed the Sixers in the second half of a 100-91 victory at the SBC Center.
Nesterovic added seven rebounds, one block and a pair of hard fouls, displaying a level of aggressiveness rarely seen from him since, well, the Spurs visited Philadelphia last season. He fueled the team's victory that evening with a season-best 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
"I'm so happy for Rasho," Bruce Bowen said. "Rasho was his own worst enemy last year. There were times when he'd miss a shot and get down on himself so bad. We can't have that. Let (coach) get on you, but you have to stay happy.
"He's really starting to assert himself now."
Barry did the same Saturday night. After Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lit into him at halftime — one player described the scene as "ugly" — Barry scored all of his season-high 14 points in the game's final 15 minutes, 34 seconds. He made four 3-pointers, two fewer than he had totaled all season.
"In the first half, he looked unsure of himself," Popovich said. "In the second half, he came out very differently."
The same could be said of most of the Spurs. Although the Sixers were coming off an 88-86 loss in Oklahoma City on Friday night, it was hard to tell which team was more fatigued to start the game.
Andre Iguodala took the opening tip and raced to the rim, drawing a foul on Tim Duncan. Bowen followed by throwing a pass into the courtside seats. On the next possession, Iverson took the ball from Tony Parker, who then hacked at the Sixers guard for a foul.
After Iverson drew a charge from him three minutes later, Parker had to go to the bench for the final 7:19 of the first quarter.
The Spurs couldn't shoot their way out of their troubles, either. They missed all but one of their first nine attempts to start the second quarter. Duncan tried to complete a dribble handoff with Michael Finley only to give the ball to Sixers guard Kevin Ollie.
Less than six minutes into the second quarter, the Spurs trailed 33-23.
"We didn't really compete and weren't aggressive," Popovich said. "We weren't making contact with people. No cuts. Everybody was holding the ball when they got it."
Parker finally provided the spark the Spurs needed, spinning by Sixers center Samuel Dalembert on the baseline before beating Stephen Hunter to the rim for a reverse layup. He scored 10 more points in the quarter and finished with a team-high 20 to go with his seven assists and eight rebounds.
Iguodala, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, frequently pressured Parker as he brought the ball up court. The Sixers also used a zone to try to limit Parker's penetration.
The Spurs did a better job of moving the ball in the second half, assisting on 19 of their 25 baskets, and quickened the pace.
With Bowen holding Iverson without a basket in the third quarter, the Spurs took control. Barry's first 3-pointer helped trigger a three-minute stretch in the third quarter that saw the Spurs score 14 unanswered points.
"When we move the ball side to side, it makes the defense react," Barry said. "They're going to have to worry about more than Tim or Tony."
On Saturday, Nesterovic gave Philadelphia reason to be concerned. He opened the second half with a hook shot, then found Duncan with a sharp pass to draw a foul.
Three minutes later, Nesterovic gave the Spurs their first lead since the opening quarter when tossed in another hook and followed with a 17-foot jump shot. When Iguodala came up with a steal and sprinted down court for what appeared to be a made-for-SportsCenter dunk, Nesterovic met him at the rim with a hard foul.
Nesterovic quietly has played well enough all season — he began the evening shooting 53.9 percent — to hold onto the starting center job.
"He's being competitive," Popovich said. "He got beat out by Nazr (Mohammed) last year, and he wants to play."
As for why the Sixers have had the misfortune of facing his wrath, Nesterovic had an easy explanation: "Bad timing."