Bruno
12-11-2006, 08:25 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121106.01D.BKNspurs.lakers.gamer.36d27c7.html
Web Posted: 12/11/2006 12:33 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — So much for that sprained right ankle.
Kobe Bryant hobbled onto the Staples Center floor Sunday evening, then stomped on the Spurs with his ailing foot, scoring 34 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-99 victory.
Bryant had missed the Lakers' previous game because his ankle was too swollen after he sprained it earlier in the week. The Lakers weren't sure he would be able to play Sunday until about an hour before tipoff.
Bryant, however, didn't appear too limited after he stepped onto the court. He attacked when needed, once shedding Bruce Bowen with a bump, then spinning between Bowen and Tim Duncan to bank in a layup. He also settled into a rhythm from the perimeter, making all but one of his five 3-point attempts, the last of which helped turn back a Spurs' rally midway through the final quarter.
Manu Ginobili scored 23 points off the bench and Tony Parker contributed 21 points and nine assists. The Spurs shot 51.4 percent overall and 52.2 percent from the 3-point line, but gave up 27 points off 19 turnovers.
"The Lakers' pressure was great in the second half and I thought we folded under that pressure," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Absolutely folded. End of story."
As much trouble as Bryant gave the Spurs, Lamar Odom created his own matchup problems while just missing a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
The Lakers' 6-foot-10 forward was too quick for the Spurs' big men — Francisco Elson had the speed to match, but collected four fouls in 15 minutes — and too big for their guards. When the Spurs tried to go small, Duncan often had to help on Odom, leaving Lakers center Kwame Brown free to roam.
The Lakers used their athleticism to outrebound the Spurs 42-33, 14-5 on the offensive boards. Twenty of Los Angeles' points came on second-chance opportunities.
The Spurs carried a four-game winning streak into Sunday and had beaten each of their previous three opponents by at least 20 points. When Popovich was asked before the game to explain the surge, he had no trouble singling out a reason.
"We're making shots," Popovich said. "I know that sounds simplistic, but we've always been a good defensive team and we'll always be a good defensive team. That's our focus.
"But in our losses we've had bad shooting nights. Once in a while we'll combine that with a turnover game. That's our second little weakness that shows up once in a while."
That "second little weakness" became the Spurs' primary undoing against the Lakers.
Their nine turnovers in the third quarter led to 19 Lakers points.
The Lakers took control by scoring 12 unanswered points — all of which came on four consecutive three-point possessions during a 21/2-minute stretch in the third quarter. When the Spurs put a stop to the run, Los Angeles simply started another.
"They ran us out of the gym in the third quarter," Popovich said.
Duncan had 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, but was limited to nine shots by Brown's defense and Los Angeles' double teams.
After trailing by 13 to start the fourth quarter, the Spurs closed within 90-87 on Duncan's jump hook with about six minutes left.
Parker had a chance to make it a two-point game three minutes later, but Brown blocked his layup attempt. Brent Barry then tried to wrap up Luke Walton on the ensuing break, but Walton scored through the foul, hiking the Lakers' lead to 99-92.
Duncan picked up a technical on the next possession when he complained about a non-call, tacking another point onto the Spurs' deficit. He also had a chance to make it a one-possession game with 1:24 left, but short-armed a pair of free throws.
The Spurs return to Staples Center tonight, ending their L.A. back-to-back against the Clippers. They hope to give a better showing than they did Sunday.
"We'll have our work cut out for us, especially because we dug such a hole tonight," Popovich said.
"Hopefully, we can use it for some fuel for tomorrow."
Web Posted: 12/11/2006 12:33 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — So much for that sprained right ankle.
Kobe Bryant hobbled onto the Staples Center floor Sunday evening, then stomped on the Spurs with his ailing foot, scoring 34 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-99 victory.
Bryant had missed the Lakers' previous game because his ankle was too swollen after he sprained it earlier in the week. The Lakers weren't sure he would be able to play Sunday until about an hour before tipoff.
Bryant, however, didn't appear too limited after he stepped onto the court. He attacked when needed, once shedding Bruce Bowen with a bump, then spinning between Bowen and Tim Duncan to bank in a layup. He also settled into a rhythm from the perimeter, making all but one of his five 3-point attempts, the last of which helped turn back a Spurs' rally midway through the final quarter.
Manu Ginobili scored 23 points off the bench and Tony Parker contributed 21 points and nine assists. The Spurs shot 51.4 percent overall and 52.2 percent from the 3-point line, but gave up 27 points off 19 turnovers.
"The Lakers' pressure was great in the second half and I thought we folded under that pressure," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Absolutely folded. End of story."
As much trouble as Bryant gave the Spurs, Lamar Odom created his own matchup problems while just missing a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
The Lakers' 6-foot-10 forward was too quick for the Spurs' big men — Francisco Elson had the speed to match, but collected four fouls in 15 minutes — and too big for their guards. When the Spurs tried to go small, Duncan often had to help on Odom, leaving Lakers center Kwame Brown free to roam.
The Lakers used their athleticism to outrebound the Spurs 42-33, 14-5 on the offensive boards. Twenty of Los Angeles' points came on second-chance opportunities.
The Spurs carried a four-game winning streak into Sunday and had beaten each of their previous three opponents by at least 20 points. When Popovich was asked before the game to explain the surge, he had no trouble singling out a reason.
"We're making shots," Popovich said. "I know that sounds simplistic, but we've always been a good defensive team and we'll always be a good defensive team. That's our focus.
"But in our losses we've had bad shooting nights. Once in a while we'll combine that with a turnover game. That's our second little weakness that shows up once in a while."
That "second little weakness" became the Spurs' primary undoing against the Lakers.
Their nine turnovers in the third quarter led to 19 Lakers points.
The Lakers took control by scoring 12 unanswered points — all of which came on four consecutive three-point possessions during a 21/2-minute stretch in the third quarter. When the Spurs put a stop to the run, Los Angeles simply started another.
"They ran us out of the gym in the third quarter," Popovich said.
Duncan had 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, but was limited to nine shots by Brown's defense and Los Angeles' double teams.
After trailing by 13 to start the fourth quarter, the Spurs closed within 90-87 on Duncan's jump hook with about six minutes left.
Parker had a chance to make it a two-point game three minutes later, but Brown blocked his layup attempt. Brent Barry then tried to wrap up Luke Walton on the ensuing break, but Walton scored through the foul, hiking the Lakers' lead to 99-92.
Duncan picked up a technical on the next possession when he complained about a non-call, tacking another point onto the Spurs' deficit. He also had a chance to make it a one-possession game with 1:24 left, but short-armed a pair of free throws.
The Spurs return to Staples Center tonight, ending their L.A. back-to-back against the Clippers. They hope to give a better showing than they did Sunday.
"We'll have our work cut out for us, especially because we dug such a hole tonight," Popovich said.
"Hopefully, we can use it for some fuel for tomorrow."