Amuseddaysleeper
04-03-2007, 04:54 PM
Spurs concerned about playing down to opponents
Web Posted: 04/02/2007 11:23 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Spurs received good news Monday. Upon looking at their remaining schedule, Spurs officials discovered they won't have to face another Eastern Conference team unless they reach the NBA Finals.
The bad news: Of the Spurs' remaining nine opponents, only two currently have winning records.
For the Spurs, the road to the playoffs is littered with teams who are either clinging to their final playoff hopes or have already reserved a seat in Secaucus, N.J., for the draft lottery. Most teams would appreciate such a soft closing schedule; the Spurs, however, would be wise to step carefully.
Since Feb. 2, the Spurs have lost just five games, all of which came against Eastern Conference teams, none of which had a winning record at the time. On Sunday, the Spurs blew a seven-point lead in the final three minutes against Indiana, a team that had lost 17 of its previous 19 games.
"Coming down the stretch, we can't play teams by what their record says," Michael Finley said. "We have to play to get better as a team.
More information
• Tuesday: Spurs (52-21) vs. Sonics (30-43)
"If we go out there and give our best effort both on the offensive and defensive end, and we come up short, then it's easier to accept. But if you only play three quarters and let a team that we should beat stick around and beat us, those are the tough ones."
The Spurs' inability to close out the Pacers — or Milwaukee or Boston two weeks earlier — could end up denying them home-court advantage if they advance past the first round of the playoffs. Sunday's loss dropped them three games behind second-place Phoenix in the Western Conference.
As a result, the Spurs are more focused on tonight's meeting with Seattle than Thursday's game against the Suns.
"To be honest, maybe if we had won last night, we could look ahead a little bit," Finley said. "But now, we're taking this game head-on."
The Spurs have beaten the Sonics by 20, 31 and 41 points in their three meetings this season. But they also had thumped the Pacers just 11 days before losing to them Sunday.
Coach Gregg Popovich called the Spurs' performance "pathetic," "disappointing" and "embarrassing." After watching film of the game before Monday's practice, the players had a hard time disagreeing.
In addition to the Spurs' poor free-throw shooting in the closing minutes, Tim Duncan committed seven turnovers while frequently looking to the officials for help. Indiana forward Ike Diogu also grabbed eight offensive rebounds.
The Pacers put the Spurs on their heels from the game's start. The two times the Spurs took what appeared to be a significant lead, they then quickly coughed it up.
"It's not a matter of X's and O's," Manu Ginobili said. "We just didn't have that juice we need to win on the road, regardless of who we're playing against."
The Spurs will be home for the next five games, their longest homestand of the season. After facing Seattle and Phoenix, they play Golden State, Portland and Sacramento. Of the five teams, only the Suns and Warriors remain thick in the playoff hunt.
Which, of course, is exactly what concerns the Spurs.
"We're going to get teams fired up because they have nothing to play for," Bruce Bowen said, "other than to spoil somebody's wishes (like) ours."
Notebook: The Spurs might have to play without Brent Barry tonight. Barry tweaked his back in Sunday's game. He didn't practice Monday and is listed as questionable. Robert Horry already has been scratched from tonight's game because of his abdominal contusion. He's played only nine minutes since suffering the injury when he took a charge from Sonics forward Chris Wilcox on March 25. Melvin Ely also isn't available after spraining his right ankle in a workout. ... Popovich was named the Western Conference's Coach of the Month after the Spurs went 13-2 in March. It's the ninth time he has won the award, five of which have come in March.
Web Posted: 04/02/2007 11:23 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Spurs received good news Monday. Upon looking at their remaining schedule, Spurs officials discovered they won't have to face another Eastern Conference team unless they reach the NBA Finals.
The bad news: Of the Spurs' remaining nine opponents, only two currently have winning records.
For the Spurs, the road to the playoffs is littered with teams who are either clinging to their final playoff hopes or have already reserved a seat in Secaucus, N.J., for the draft lottery. Most teams would appreciate such a soft closing schedule; the Spurs, however, would be wise to step carefully.
Since Feb. 2, the Spurs have lost just five games, all of which came against Eastern Conference teams, none of which had a winning record at the time. On Sunday, the Spurs blew a seven-point lead in the final three minutes against Indiana, a team that had lost 17 of its previous 19 games.
"Coming down the stretch, we can't play teams by what their record says," Michael Finley said. "We have to play to get better as a team.
More information
• Tuesday: Spurs (52-21) vs. Sonics (30-43)
"If we go out there and give our best effort both on the offensive and defensive end, and we come up short, then it's easier to accept. But if you only play three quarters and let a team that we should beat stick around and beat us, those are the tough ones."
The Spurs' inability to close out the Pacers — or Milwaukee or Boston two weeks earlier — could end up denying them home-court advantage if they advance past the first round of the playoffs. Sunday's loss dropped them three games behind second-place Phoenix in the Western Conference.
As a result, the Spurs are more focused on tonight's meeting with Seattle than Thursday's game against the Suns.
"To be honest, maybe if we had won last night, we could look ahead a little bit," Finley said. "But now, we're taking this game head-on."
The Spurs have beaten the Sonics by 20, 31 and 41 points in their three meetings this season. But they also had thumped the Pacers just 11 days before losing to them Sunday.
Coach Gregg Popovich called the Spurs' performance "pathetic," "disappointing" and "embarrassing." After watching film of the game before Monday's practice, the players had a hard time disagreeing.
In addition to the Spurs' poor free-throw shooting in the closing minutes, Tim Duncan committed seven turnovers while frequently looking to the officials for help. Indiana forward Ike Diogu also grabbed eight offensive rebounds.
The Pacers put the Spurs on their heels from the game's start. The two times the Spurs took what appeared to be a significant lead, they then quickly coughed it up.
"It's not a matter of X's and O's," Manu Ginobili said. "We just didn't have that juice we need to win on the road, regardless of who we're playing against."
The Spurs will be home for the next five games, their longest homestand of the season. After facing Seattle and Phoenix, they play Golden State, Portland and Sacramento. Of the five teams, only the Suns and Warriors remain thick in the playoff hunt.
Which, of course, is exactly what concerns the Spurs.
"We're going to get teams fired up because they have nothing to play for," Bruce Bowen said, "other than to spoil somebody's wishes (like) ours."
Notebook: The Spurs might have to play without Brent Barry tonight. Barry tweaked his back in Sunday's game. He didn't practice Monday and is listed as questionable. Robert Horry already has been scratched from tonight's game because of his abdominal contusion. He's played only nine minutes since suffering the injury when he took a charge from Sonics forward Chris Wilcox on March 25. Melvin Ely also isn't available after spraining his right ankle in a workout. ... Popovich was named the Western Conference's Coach of the Month after the Spurs went 13-2 in March. It's the ninth time he has won the award, five of which have come in March.