Ludden: Parker, Duncan combine for 52; it's not enough

[Kori Ellis]

Jazz sneak past Spurs: Parker, Duncan combine for 52; it's not enough

Web Posted: 02/01/2007 12:27 AM CST

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020107.01C.BKNspurs.jazz.gamer.1d7a188.html

Johnny Ludden
Express-News

SALT LAKE CITY — Give the Spurs credit. They make good television.
And if they can ever figure out a way to play the first 40 minutes of a game as intense as they play the last eight, they might even make a good team.

As they have done in so many fourth quarters this season, the Spurs put themselves in position to win Wednesday night. And as has also often happened this season, they still lost, falling 97-93 to the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

Unlike three days earlier in Los Angeles, the Spurs failed to complete their comeback. Mehmet Okur made sure of that, drilling a 3-pointer with 27.5 seconds left to put the Jazz ahead for good while scoring 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter.

"We're making too many mistakes right now," said Tim Duncan, who had 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. "We're giving up too many things in different areas, whether it be offensive rebounds or defensive mistakes late in the game.

"Whatever it may be, we're shooting ourselves in the foot. We just have to kind of find a way to get around that."

Despite missing forward Carlos Boozer, Utah outrebounded the Spurs 50-32 and scored 29 second-chance points. Overmatched physically by the Jazz for the better part of three quarter, the Spurs tried to get into a shooting contest with them down the stretch.

They lost that, too.

After spending most of the third quarter on the bench in foul trouble, Tony Parker nearly rescued the Spurs. He scored 14 of his 27 points in the final quarter and made back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 81 with 3:19 left.

Rookie Paul Millsap, who bulled his way over the Spurs for 15 points and eight rebounds, sprung loose inside for a dunk as Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry looked at each other helplessly. Duncan tied the game with a pair of free throws, but Okur followed with a fadeaway over Horry.

After Bowen put the Spurs ahead with a 3-pointer with 2:06 left, Deron Williams buried his own at the end of the shot clock.

"That," Manu Ginobili said, "was a dagger."

There were more to come. Horry followed with another 3-pointer. Okur tried to make four in a row for the teams, but instead drew a foul from Parker, falling to the floor.

Replays showed Parker may have nudged Okur in the chest with his forearm.

"Of course my arm was there, but he fell before I could even do anything," Parker said. "It was definitely a flop."

After Okur made all three free throws to put Utah ahead, Duncan tied the game with a turnaround bank shot with 40.1 seconds left. Okur, however, had one more 3-pointer left in him, drilling it from the right wing.

"That one was big," Parker said. "He kind of surprised me on that one because it was fast."

Duncan's tip-in left the Spurs down a point with 17.5 seconds left. But they wasted five seconds before fouling Okur — "A huge mistake," coach Gregg Popovich said — who made both free throws to extend Utah's lead to three.

After a timeout, Horry stumbled while trying to collect the inbounds pass then rushed a 3-pointer that banged off the rim.

"We didn't execute it as well as it was drawn up," Duncan said. "I missed one of the screens on that, and we just had to settle for a contested shot more than anything else."

As disheartening as his loss was to the Jazz, the Spurs also should have taken it as a warning. Already this season, they have lost to Houston without Tracy McGrady, Chicago without Ben Wallace, the Los Angeles Lakers without Lamar Odom and again to Houston, then missing Yao Ming.

The Spurs won't have long to dwell on the loss. After the game they flew to Phoenix to face the Suns, who have spent the past two days recovering from the end of their 17-game winning streak.

Ginobili banged his right knee hard against the court late in Wednesday's loss, but said he'll be able to play tonight. He did, however, offer a warning.

"We're going to need even more concentration than today," he said. "If Utah doesn't allow you to make mistakes, Phoenix is probably the worst team you can make mistakes against."

[phxspurfan]

I was wondering about those 5 seconds they wasted while running to foul. So many teams in the NBA do that go for the steal thing and waste all their time at the end of games. To me it doesn't make sense.

[Kori Ellis]

I was wondering about those 5 seconds they wasted while running to foul. So many teams in the NBA do that go for the steal thing and waste all their time at the end of games. To me it doesn't make sense.

Yeah did see Pop's reaction?

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070201/capt.slcc10802010510.spurs_jazz_basketball_slcc108 .jpg

:lol

[Russ]

Johnny Ludden
Express-News

And if they can ever figure out a way to play the first 40 minutes of a game as intense as they play the last eight, they might even make a good team.

That's only when they play good teams. When they play bad teams, it's just the opposite.

People seem to complain about both problems, but I'd rather see them closing strong on good teams than vice versa.

[Tek_XX]

Yeah did see Pop's reaction?

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070201/capt.slcc10802010510.spurs_jazz_basketball_slcc108 .jpg

:lol

It's kind of hard to ignore pop running up and down the bench screaming.

[phxspurfan]

That's only when they play good teams. When they play bad teams, it's just the opposite.

People seem to complain about both problems, but I'd rather see them closing strong on good teams than vice versa.


complacency will get us killed.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

"Of course my arm was there, but he fell before I could even do anything," Parker said. "It was definitely a flop."

Tony's going to be a little lighter in the wallet for that one. But it needed to be said.

[T Park]

Way to go Tony.

[Budkin]

Parker's a stud. This game proves it. Oh and the fact that he's got Eva.

[bobbyjoe]

Tony's going to be a little lighter in the wallet for that one. But it needed to be said.

So it's all good when Manu flops incessantly to give the Spurs an advantage but not acceptable when Okur does it to SA?

It cuts both ways and when your team has benefitted so much from flopping (Manu is easily one of the top 3, if not #1 flopper in today's NBA after Divac retired), it's pretty lame to call someone out on a similar tactic.

[MannyIsGod]

As soon as the Horry shot went up I posted in the game blog that it was just poor execution, not a poor play.

[T Park]

So it's all good when Manu flops incessantly to give the Spurs an advantage but not acceptable when Okur does it to SA?

It cuts both ways and when your team has benefitted so much from flopping (Manu is easily one of the top 3, if not #1 flopper in today's NBA after Divac retired), it's pretty lame to call someone out on a similar tactic.

no one really gives a shit what a two bit laker troll things.

Be gone.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Parker's a stud. This game proves it. Oh and the fact that he's got Eva.

A temporary label for both the former, when he fucks up in the playoffs, and the latter, when he catches Eva banging Mario Lopez.

[T Park]

A temporary label for both the former, when he fucks up in the playoffs, and the latter, when he catches Eva banging Mario Lopez.


:rolleyes

:bang

[Sacramental]

i sure do like pumpkins, T Park.

[milkyway21]

Rookie Paul Millsap, who bulled his way over the Spurs for 15 points and eight rebounds,
Paul Millsap sure deserves to be invited to the 2007 All-Star
T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam. there's a big chance this rookie will make the 1st or 2nd Rookie team this yr.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

So it's all good when Manu flops incessantly to give the Spurs an advantage but not acceptable when Okur does it to SA?

It cuts both ways and when your team has benefitted so much from flopping (Manu is easily one of the top 3, if not #1 flopper in today's NBA after Divac retired), it's pretty lame to call someone out on a similar tactic. Eh, quit singling out Manu, everyone does it!

and Well, it sucked that Okur got the benefit,

but NO SPUR or Player can complain about the play because it was nearly IDENTICAL to Duncan against Dallas in December.

The exact same thing. Parker touched him and the refs called it.

[RonMexico]

Replays showed Parker may have nudged Okur in the chest with his forearm.

"Of course my arm was there, but he fell before I could even do anything," Parker said. "It was definitely a flop."

When the Suns lost to Utah in OT in November the EXACT same play happened to Barbosa. It was so eerie when I saw it again tonight at how similarly Okur flopped on a 3pt attempt when the (smaller) defender barely touches him. Barbosa was actually putting his hands straight up in the air when he was called for a "push."

Well, needless to say, Okur hit all 3 FTs and sent the game to OT where the Suns lost by 3 and we fans have had to endure the "0-5 vs. Mavs, Spurs, and Jazz" arguments from Mavs fans for months.

It really pisses me off and I'm glad Parker called him out for that shit because I don't want either of our teams getting screwed if we meet Utah in the playoffs on crap like that.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

When the Suns lost to Utah in OT in November the EXACT same play happened to Barbosa. It was so eerie when I saw it again tonight at how similarly Okur flopped on a 3pt attempt when the (smaller) defender barely touches him. Barbosa was actually putting his hands straight up in the air when he was called for a "push."

Well, needless to say, Okur hit all 3 FTs and sent the game to OT where the Suns lost by 3 and we fans have had to endure the "0-5 vs. Mavs, Spurs, and Jazz" arguments from Mavs fans for months.

It really pisses me off and I'm glad Parker called him out for that shit because I don't want either of our teams getting screwed if we meet Utah in the playoffs on crap like that.
:lol Are you saying Okur practices this??

[RonMexico]

:lol Are you saying Okur practices this??

Dude, I could believe anything right now - the way he seems to drop in the closing minutes of games when he has a PG on him is just too coincidental. The more I think about it, it was so similar to the Suns game (except that the Suns were up big and let Utah rally), but Deron Williams hitting 3's at the shot clock buzzer and Okur stepping out to ice the game with a 3 was like deja vu. Suns even had poor execution on their final play of regulation that could have won the game. Tonight's was a fun game to watch, though, from a b-ball fan's perspective.

But yeah, I can't wait until the game where Jason Terry is called for an Okur flop under 2 mins to go... he's just slowly taking down the top teams in the west one-by-one.

[BeerIsGood!]

The team's talent and effort are there - it's just poor execution and lack of focus that's killing them. Mental errors and defensive breakdowns late in games will cause a possible 60 win team to be a 50 win team. They better get the mental side of the game straight before the playoffs, and I think they will. This team is a contributing backup PG and mental focus and execution away from being a contender this year.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Dude, I could believe anything right now - the way he seems to drop in the closing minutes of games when he has a PG on him is just too coincidental. The more I think about it, it was so similar to the Suns game (except that the Suns were up big and let Utah rally), but Deron Williams hitting 3's at the shot clock buzzer and Okur stepping out to ice the game with a 3 was like deja vu. Suns even had poor execution on their final play of regulation that could have won the game. Tonight's was a fun game to watch, though, from a b-ball fan's perspective.

But yeah, I can't wait until the game where Jason Terry is called for an Okur flop under 2 mins to go... he's just slowly taking down the top teams in the west one-by-one.

haha, yeah it was a fun game. But maybe you're right..

I think teams may have to adjust their game plan around Okur-Williams play, with Okur taking that shot during the Williams hand off switching the shorter defender on him off the pick...

therein, Okur falls to the ground on contact.

I'll keep an eye for Utah's games.

[Gerryatrics]

Even though he flopped it was still a foul. There is absolutely no excuse for a defender to put their hand or arm on a three point shooter. Boneheaded move on Parker's part, good acting job by Okur.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Okur has been the clutchest player in the league this year without a doubt.

[ponky]

When the Suns lost to Utah in OT in November the EXACT same play happened to Barbosa. It was so eerie when I saw it again tonight at how similarly Okur flopped on a 3pt attempt when the (smaller) defender barely touches him. Barbosa was actually putting his hands straight up in the air when he was called for a "push."

Well, needless to say, Okur hit all 3 FTs and sent the game to OT where the Suns lost by 3 and we fans have had to endure the "0-5 vs. Mavs, Spurs, and Jazz" arguments from Mavs fans for months.

It really pisses me off and I'm glad Parker called him out for that shit because I don't want either of our teams getting screwed if we meet Utah in the playoffs on crap like that.

Difference is that you guys at least had the five minutes in OT to win the game, Spurs didn't have that opportunity. Suns didn't get screwed, it wasn't a game winning shot that Okur made. Besides, there were other problems with tonight's game like the rebound differential, turnovers, etc.

[RonMexico]

Difference is that you guys at least had the five minutes in OT to win the game, Spurs didn't have that opportunity. Suns didn't get screwed, it wasn't a game winning shot that Okur made. Besides, there were other problems with tonight's game like the rebound differential, turnovers, etc.

Yeah, but Nash was out and Barbosa missed 2 point-blank layups that would have won the game in regulation and OT (the 3-point victory was because they got fouled and hit 2 FTs with seconds remaining after the missed layup). You were saying that I should respect when Josh Howard is out because he's the 2nd best player, but you have to realize Nash probably would have been the one taking those shots instead of Leandro (which Nash did the next night against G-State and won the game on a 3).

Moreover, I was pointing out the Okur flop and the fact that his 3-pointer did tie the game to send it to OT when it looked like the Suns could have pulled it out.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Even though he flopped it was still a foul. There is absolutely no excuse for a defender to put their hand or arm on a three point shooter. Boneheaded move on Parker's part, good acting job by Okur.
Yeah, that was dumb on Parker's part. The only negative he did all game. He didn't get the benefit or saved by a no call.

But tit for tat.

[RonMexico]

Tony should know better than to touch him, but still Hubie Brown called it "Oscar-worthy" and I have to agree.

[Testing]

That has to be one of the worst foul calls I've ever seen...Parker barely touched him it was so ridcilous. Not to mention the whistle was a little late too...so obviously there was some doubt there.

[ploto]

That has to be one of the worst foul calls I've ever seen...Parker barely touched him it was so ridcilous. Not to mention the whistle was a little late too...so obviously there was some doubt there.
You can't touch the guy in the "chest" when he is shooting a three-pointer at all. Tony even admitted he touched him.

[vanvannen]

This is nonesense. The guy fall to the ground after tony touched him. Refs keep rewarding this flops, players will keep taking advantage of it.

[boutons_]

Who knows for sure that ref called the foul because of the flop?

Maybe the ref saw the flop as an egregious flop like everybody else, but called the foul on Tony only for his forearm in the 3G shooter's chest.

Tony negated all his wonderful 4th qtr take-over/step-up/we-won't-lose-this-game/game-winning heroics with that single game-losing mistake.

[Spurminator]

I'd be less pissed off about the call if the whistle hadn't blown 5 seconds after the shot missed.

[Testing]

Parker hating after yesterday's game?? wow

[MoSpur]

It was a bad call, but I can see why they called it. Parker did put his hand on Okur. Barely, but enough I guess to have the ref call it.

The Spurs were very bad on rebounding last night. Millsap had a good game for the Jazz.

[bdictjames]

When Duncan shoots jumpshots near the three-point line, players run by him and tap him in the chest. So why cant he bail out freethrows? Duncan needs to learn from Memo to be Oscar-worthy.

[diego]

seriously, the okur flop was not the reason we lost. it was the horrible rebounding, the apathy (letting utah manhandle us all game), and the retarded turnovers. (that one at the middle of the 4th where we could have had a 5 on 3 and bowen just passed it to duncan's man... couldnt believe that shit)

I dont get to watch every game like some of you but this is the first time ive seen manu completely taken out of the game, he was too busy griping about calls to compete. I think aside from the oberto/elson problem (which is always expected against a tough rebounding team like utah), we lost because of manu- he let it all get to his head.

if we had started marking utah hard early the refs would have been forced to tone down the game. instead, we let them do whatever they wanted physically and gave such half ass fouls that we sent them to the line like 25 times in the 1st half! I guarantee you if we would have hammered them back early the refs would have called everything tight, which obviously favors our roster more. it seemed to me like utah went over the back on about 15 of their rebounds but since our guys were just shrinking no ref bothered to call it.

i really wonder what the hell these guys do in practice

[wildbill2u]

The team's talent and effort are there - it's just poor execution and lack of focus that's killing them. Mental errors and defensive breakdowns late in games will cause a possible 60 win team to be a 50 win team. They better get the mental side of the game straight before the playoffs, and I think they will. This team is a contributing backup PG and mental focus and execution away from being a contender this year.
I'd like to think it is just mental, but that's just whistling Dixie by the graveyard. You can't win by playing three on five. The performance out of our Center and SF positions was non-existant. Check the box.

For four players with about 48 minutes of playing time combined, they had 3-16 shooting for 9 points, with 7 rebounds.

[ponky]

When Duncan shoots jumpshots near the three-point line, players run by him and tap him in the chest. So why cant he bail out freethrows? Duncan needs to learn from Memo to be Oscar-worthy.


surely you haven't forgotten the THREE FREE THROWS that duncan took in the mavs/spurs game because of a foul called on devin harris? this was reviewed by ronnie nunn on his nbatv show...he said it was a "flop" and a "bad call"

[ducks]

Who knows for sure that ref called the foul because of the flop?

Maybe the ref saw the flop as an egregious flop like everybody else, but called the foul on Tony only for his forearm in the 3G shooter's chest.

Tony negated all his wonderful 4th qtr take-over/step-up/we-won't-lose-this-game/game-winning heroics with that single game-losing mistake.


yeah it was tony's fault they lost and did not rebound :rolleyes

[RonMexico]

surely you haven't forgotten the THREE FREE THROWS that duncan took in the mavs/spurs game because of a foul called on devin harris? this was reviewed by ronnie nunn on his nbatv show...he said it was a "flop" and a "bad call"

Ouch - that Ronnie Nunn show is good. Except some of the viewer questions are terrible. It's like they've never watched basketball before. For example, a guy asks, "I saw Mikey Moore get called for offensive 3 seconds the other night. The only problem is: he had a defender right next to him, doesn't that mean it was legal for him to be in the paint?" My ears immediately started bleeding.

[timvp]

surely you haven't forgotten the THREE FREE THROWS that duncan took in the mavs/spurs game because of a foul called on devin harris? this was reviewed by ronnie nunn on his nbatv show...he said it was a "flop" and a "bad call"

Don't forget to mention that Nunn also said that Finley was fouled by Dirk on that last shot and that it was a blown call.

[boutons_]

Ronnie Nunn's show is fascinating and instructive, he's articulate and no nonsense, showing correct and incorrect calls, probably the best non-game live show on NBA TV.

[TwoHandJam]

Okur flop or no, the rebounding differential is what killed us and rebounding is all about effort. Also, since when have the Spurs become a jumpshooting team??? I can't stand that shit. Last night when we deperately needed offense we were jacking up 3's and jumpshots instead of taking it to the rack like Utah did to us all night.

Sometimes I swear we've switched places with Nellie's old Mavs team. It's depressing.