Bruno
02-12-2007, 04:27 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA021207.01D.Spurs.1a9caf7.html
Web Posted: 02/11/2007 10:46 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
MIAMI — Sixteen days ago, the Spurs packed their bags, waved goodbye to their families and set off for the first of eight consecutive road games. As in past years, they hoped to use their annual rodeo trip as an opportunity to find themselves and build some momentum in their increasingly ragged season.
Who was it that said the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry?
The Spurs stumbled again Sunday afternoon, losing 100-85 to the Miami Heat after Dwyane Wade buried them in the fourth quarter with 18 of his 26 points. The loss was the fourth in six games for the Spurs, and this one didn't settle any better than the rest.
One day after coach Gregg Popovich criticized the team for its "soft" performance in Friday's loss in Orlando, the Spurs were outrebounded 46-31 and watched the Heat shoot 52.8 percent. It was the first time this season the Spurs have surrendered 100 points in consecutive games.
"We're still not playing physical enough, tough enough," Popovich said. "We're playing soft for too many minutes in the game.
"We're just hoping and begging rather than playing our ass off. We were beaten to loose balls, second shots, hard drives, hard cuts. We're too soft."
The question now is whether the Spurs are capable of improving enough to consistently beat the NBA's elite teams. While Sunday's nationally televised game was a Geritol-ready matchup between each conference's oldest teams, only the Spurs looked tired and slow once the fourth quarter arrived.
"We just didn't have the game to get it done," said Tim Duncan, who missed 6 of 10 shots and 6 of 11 free throws before finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds. "We compounded mistakes, we weren't good enough defensively. We're just going through a rough patch now."
The Spurs got 26 points from Manu Ginobili, but Tony Parker needed 19 shots for his 20. Bruce Bowen also missed all five of his attempts and Michael Finley went 1 of 7 behind the 3-point line.
The Spurs made only 5 of 17 shots in the fourth quarter; Miami went 12 of 18.
Some "games it's physicality, other games it's bad defense, other games it's missing shots," Ginobili said. "It's always something: turnovers, rebounds, whatever.
"The good thing is we know we can improve. And we will."
The Heat, who have endured their own struggles this season, appear to be on the rise. They won for the sixth time in seven games with Wade, as usual, leading them.
Wade spent much of the first half trying to get his teammates involved. He didn't take a shot until early in the second quarter and had four points, two assists and three turnovers in the half.
"I was just having patience, looking and watching the game and seeing how they play my teammates," Wade said. "It got to the point where coach (Ron Rothstein) came to me and said, 'You ready to be aggressive now?'"
Wade obliged once the fourth quarter started. He made 7 of 10 shots, only one of which was inside of 16 feet, burying one jump shot after another over the head of Bowen.
The Spurs trailed by four with seven minutes left but soon faded.
Wade buried a 20-footer, then a 16-foot turnaround on consecutive possessions. When the Spurs ran a second defender at him the next time down the floor, he passed to Antoine Walker, who made an open 3-pointer to hike Miami's lead to 91-78 with 3:37 to play.
Wade "just bided his time and showed great composure and pace about himself," Popovich said. "He just has a great feel for the game and, in the fourth quarter, he took it over."
Wade also showed off his defense, throwing back a pair of layup attempts by Parker in a nine-second span midway through the fourth quarter.
"It surprised me a little bit," Parker said, "but it was great defense."
The Spurs couldn't say the same about their own. Rothstein didn't even have to call on Shaquille O'Neal (16 points, seven rebounds) in the final quarter, electing to match down to the Spurs' small lineup.
Miami swingman Jason Kapono, who isn't likely to win any Mr. Rugged awards anytime soon, grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
"I think we're playing hard," Duncan said. "It's all about how it's defined. I don't think anyone's slacking off and that's where it starts. I think everyone's out there giving the effort."
All too often, however, that hasn't been good enough. Already frustrated by their last-second loss in Orlando, the Spurs can only hope for a 4-4 split of their trip. And they still have back-to-back games with New Jersey (which has won its past three games) and Detroit (which has the Eastern Conference's best record).
"These are good character-test moments where you just have to continue to work hard and believe in each other," Brent Barry said. "Nobody's happy about it. Our staff's not happy about it, and certainly we're not happy as players.
"But you have to see some response in the play. Hopefully, we'll do that in the next couple of games."
Web Posted: 02/11/2007 10:46 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
MIAMI — Sixteen days ago, the Spurs packed their bags, waved goodbye to their families and set off for the first of eight consecutive road games. As in past years, they hoped to use their annual rodeo trip as an opportunity to find themselves and build some momentum in their increasingly ragged season.
Who was it that said the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry?
The Spurs stumbled again Sunday afternoon, losing 100-85 to the Miami Heat after Dwyane Wade buried them in the fourth quarter with 18 of his 26 points. The loss was the fourth in six games for the Spurs, and this one didn't settle any better than the rest.
One day after coach Gregg Popovich criticized the team for its "soft" performance in Friday's loss in Orlando, the Spurs were outrebounded 46-31 and watched the Heat shoot 52.8 percent. It was the first time this season the Spurs have surrendered 100 points in consecutive games.
"We're still not playing physical enough, tough enough," Popovich said. "We're playing soft for too many minutes in the game.
"We're just hoping and begging rather than playing our ass off. We were beaten to loose balls, second shots, hard drives, hard cuts. We're too soft."
The question now is whether the Spurs are capable of improving enough to consistently beat the NBA's elite teams. While Sunday's nationally televised game was a Geritol-ready matchup between each conference's oldest teams, only the Spurs looked tired and slow once the fourth quarter arrived.
"We just didn't have the game to get it done," said Tim Duncan, who missed 6 of 10 shots and 6 of 11 free throws before finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds. "We compounded mistakes, we weren't good enough defensively. We're just going through a rough patch now."
The Spurs got 26 points from Manu Ginobili, but Tony Parker needed 19 shots for his 20. Bruce Bowen also missed all five of his attempts and Michael Finley went 1 of 7 behind the 3-point line.
The Spurs made only 5 of 17 shots in the fourth quarter; Miami went 12 of 18.
Some "games it's physicality, other games it's bad defense, other games it's missing shots," Ginobili said. "It's always something: turnovers, rebounds, whatever.
"The good thing is we know we can improve. And we will."
The Heat, who have endured their own struggles this season, appear to be on the rise. They won for the sixth time in seven games with Wade, as usual, leading them.
Wade spent much of the first half trying to get his teammates involved. He didn't take a shot until early in the second quarter and had four points, two assists and three turnovers in the half.
"I was just having patience, looking and watching the game and seeing how they play my teammates," Wade said. "It got to the point where coach (Ron Rothstein) came to me and said, 'You ready to be aggressive now?'"
Wade obliged once the fourth quarter started. He made 7 of 10 shots, only one of which was inside of 16 feet, burying one jump shot after another over the head of Bowen.
The Spurs trailed by four with seven minutes left but soon faded.
Wade buried a 20-footer, then a 16-foot turnaround on consecutive possessions. When the Spurs ran a second defender at him the next time down the floor, he passed to Antoine Walker, who made an open 3-pointer to hike Miami's lead to 91-78 with 3:37 to play.
Wade "just bided his time and showed great composure and pace about himself," Popovich said. "He just has a great feel for the game and, in the fourth quarter, he took it over."
Wade also showed off his defense, throwing back a pair of layup attempts by Parker in a nine-second span midway through the fourth quarter.
"It surprised me a little bit," Parker said, "but it was great defense."
The Spurs couldn't say the same about their own. Rothstein didn't even have to call on Shaquille O'Neal (16 points, seven rebounds) in the final quarter, electing to match down to the Spurs' small lineup.
Miami swingman Jason Kapono, who isn't likely to win any Mr. Rugged awards anytime soon, grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
"I think we're playing hard," Duncan said. "It's all about how it's defined. I don't think anyone's slacking off and that's where it starts. I think everyone's out there giving the effort."
All too often, however, that hasn't been good enough. Already frustrated by their last-second loss in Orlando, the Spurs can only hope for a 4-4 split of their trip. And they still have back-to-back games with New Jersey (which has won its past three games) and Detroit (which has the Eastern Conference's best record).
"These are good character-test moments where you just have to continue to work hard and believe in each other," Brent Barry said. "Nobody's happy about it. Our staff's not happy about it, and certainly we're not happy as players.
"But you have to see some response in the play. Hopefully, we'll do that in the next couple of games."