milkyway21
01-10-2006, 03:19 AM
will there be another headline?
or a Carter "silly" postgame quotes?
Carter is doing awesome basketball right now. And his & Kidd's Nets are on a roll with a 10-game winning streak. But tonight they're playing against the champs and on SBC,where the Spurs have only lost 1 home game this season.
who will win?
Spurs or Nets?
Carter o Bowen?
In his defense, Bowen forgets past
Web Posted: 01/10/2006 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
Bruce Bowen didn't watch New Jersey's victory over Toronto on Sunday afternoon, but he caught the highlights. Which meant he saw plenty of Vince Carter.
In rallying the Nets past his former team, Carter scored 24 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer with .1 seconds left won the game.
"It was a game they should have lost," Bowen said. "But his resolve kept them in it."
Bowen won't have to channel surf to find Carter tonight. With New Jersey visiting the SBC Center, he'll be charged with making sure the All-Star guard doesn't duplicate his performance.
The Nets have won 10 consecutive games — the most in the NBA this season — and Carter is averaging 33.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists during the streak. :rolleyes
"He's playing up to his abilities," Bowen said, "and he has a total package anyone would wish for."
Bowen doesn't hope to stop Carter as much as he wants to make him work — the same goal he has when facing any top scorer.
Kobe Bryant was averaging 40.2 points in the five games before the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Spurs on Nov. 29. Bowen helped hound him into missing 24 of 33 shots.
Philadelphia visited the SBC Center four nights later with Allen Iverson averaging 39.4 points his previous five games. Bowen didn't shut down Iverson but helped hold him without a basket in the third quarter when the Spurs took control.
"I think sometimes it's that thought process that tends to screw guys up: 'I am going to do this or do that because he's on a roll,'" Bowen said. "You still have to play the same."
Bowen's recent encounters with Carter have generated more than a few headlines.
When the Spurs visited Toronto two seasons ago, Carter sprained his left ankle when he landed on Bowen's foot after missing a jump shot. Afterward, Carter inferred Bowen purposely stepped under him.
The two players met again last season in New Jersey. Neither Bowen nor his teammates could do anything to slow Carter. With 10:22 to play, he made a free throw for his 43rd point.
After Carter missed a jump shot less than a minute later, one of his legs became entangled with Bowen's. Carter spun around and ran at Bowen. Although an official quickly cut him off, Carter was given a technical foul.
Because Carter and Bowen had received earlier technicals for exchanging slight head bumps, the Nets guard was automatically ejected. The Spurs went on to beat New Jersey.
Bowen said after the game he thought Carter tried to trip him. Nets coach Lawrence Frank complained the referees should have been more aware of the players' history.
"Last year Bruce ended Vince's season by stepping under him on his jump shot," Frank said after the game. "... If someone ended your season and then they did it again, you'd probably be a little upset as well."
Frank's comments upset Bowen. At the least, Frank exaggerated the severity of Carter's injury: Carter missed six games with a sprained ankle after the Feb. 18, 2004, incident.
"What can I say about a coach when they say bad things about me?" Bowen said. "I can't say anything. Those who have videotape can rewind it, and they'll find the truth in that."
The teams' final meeting last season was considerably quieter. Carter scored only 13 points, but Devin Brown defended him for a long stretch because Bowen drew two fouls in the first three minutes.
Bowen hopes to stay on the floor longer tonight. He'll try to challenge as many of Carter's shots as possible and hope he misses some he usually makes. :smokin
What he won't be thinking about, he insists, is the past.
"I respect him a great deal," Bowen said. "I know it will be a big deal to others. But as far as me, I just have to play."
Injury update: Beno Udrih, who has missed the past two games with the flu, didn't practice Monday, but the Spurs hope he will be available to play tonight ... Sean Marks was feeling better Monday after spraining his left ankle while shooting before Saturday's game ... Nick Van Exel said his left elbow is feeling "much better." Van Exel received a cortisone injection Dec. 30 to relieve discomfort from bone spurs. "It's just up to me to make shots," said Van Exel, who has made a career-low 30percent of his 3-pointers.
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i just hope the Spurs avenge the loss in Phoenix and spoil the Nets' run....
you can do it, Spurs!
or a Carter "silly" postgame quotes?
Carter is doing awesome basketball right now. And his & Kidd's Nets are on a roll with a 10-game winning streak. But tonight they're playing against the champs and on SBC,where the Spurs have only lost 1 home game this season.
who will win?
Spurs or Nets?
Carter o Bowen?
In his defense, Bowen forgets past
Web Posted: 01/10/2006 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
Bruce Bowen didn't watch New Jersey's victory over Toronto on Sunday afternoon, but he caught the highlights. Which meant he saw plenty of Vince Carter.
In rallying the Nets past his former team, Carter scored 24 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer with .1 seconds left won the game.
"It was a game they should have lost," Bowen said. "But his resolve kept them in it."
Bowen won't have to channel surf to find Carter tonight. With New Jersey visiting the SBC Center, he'll be charged with making sure the All-Star guard doesn't duplicate his performance.
The Nets have won 10 consecutive games — the most in the NBA this season — and Carter is averaging 33.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists during the streak. :rolleyes
"He's playing up to his abilities," Bowen said, "and he has a total package anyone would wish for."
Bowen doesn't hope to stop Carter as much as he wants to make him work — the same goal he has when facing any top scorer.
Kobe Bryant was averaging 40.2 points in the five games before the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Spurs on Nov. 29. Bowen helped hound him into missing 24 of 33 shots.
Philadelphia visited the SBC Center four nights later with Allen Iverson averaging 39.4 points his previous five games. Bowen didn't shut down Iverson but helped hold him without a basket in the third quarter when the Spurs took control.
"I think sometimes it's that thought process that tends to screw guys up: 'I am going to do this or do that because he's on a roll,'" Bowen said. "You still have to play the same."
Bowen's recent encounters with Carter have generated more than a few headlines.
When the Spurs visited Toronto two seasons ago, Carter sprained his left ankle when he landed on Bowen's foot after missing a jump shot. Afterward, Carter inferred Bowen purposely stepped under him.
The two players met again last season in New Jersey. Neither Bowen nor his teammates could do anything to slow Carter. With 10:22 to play, he made a free throw for his 43rd point.
After Carter missed a jump shot less than a minute later, one of his legs became entangled with Bowen's. Carter spun around and ran at Bowen. Although an official quickly cut him off, Carter was given a technical foul.
Because Carter and Bowen had received earlier technicals for exchanging slight head bumps, the Nets guard was automatically ejected. The Spurs went on to beat New Jersey.
Bowen said after the game he thought Carter tried to trip him. Nets coach Lawrence Frank complained the referees should have been more aware of the players' history.
"Last year Bruce ended Vince's season by stepping under him on his jump shot," Frank said after the game. "... If someone ended your season and then they did it again, you'd probably be a little upset as well."
Frank's comments upset Bowen. At the least, Frank exaggerated the severity of Carter's injury: Carter missed six games with a sprained ankle after the Feb. 18, 2004, incident.
"What can I say about a coach when they say bad things about me?" Bowen said. "I can't say anything. Those who have videotape can rewind it, and they'll find the truth in that."
The teams' final meeting last season was considerably quieter. Carter scored only 13 points, but Devin Brown defended him for a long stretch because Bowen drew two fouls in the first three minutes.
Bowen hopes to stay on the floor longer tonight. He'll try to challenge as many of Carter's shots as possible and hope he misses some he usually makes. :smokin
What he won't be thinking about, he insists, is the past.
"I respect him a great deal," Bowen said. "I know it will be a big deal to others. But as far as me, I just have to play."
Injury update: Beno Udrih, who has missed the past two games with the flu, didn't practice Monday, but the Spurs hope he will be available to play tonight ... Sean Marks was feeling better Monday after spraining his left ankle while shooting before Saturday's game ... Nick Van Exel said his left elbow is feeling "much better." Van Exel received a cortisone injection Dec. 30 to relieve discomfort from bone spurs. "It's just up to me to make shots," said Van Exel, who has made a career-low 30percent of his 3-pointers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i just hope the Spurs avenge the loss in Phoenix and spoil the Nets' run....
you can do it, Spurs!