some_user86
01-08-2008, 03:44 AM
Warriors outlast Spurs in OT
Web Posted: 01/08/2008 12:55 AM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
OAKLAND, Calif. — Gregg Popovich has a message for any Spurs fans contemplating a terminal leap off the top of the Tower of Americas after Monday night's down-to-the-wire, 130-121 overtime loss at Golden State:
Take a look at the calendar, then take a deep breath.
After all, that's what he's planning to do.
"December and early January are times to stay patient," Popovich said. "Demand to a point, but stay patient."
Baron Davis had 34 points and 14 assists, and Stephen Jackson had 29 — including 12 in overtime — to send the Spurs to their seventh loss in 13 games.
Revved-up and longing to shake a two-game losing streak, the Warriors outlasted the Spurs in a woolly fourth quarter that saw six lead changes and five ties.
Spurs point guard Tony Parker, an unlikely 3-point marksman, put an end to a breathless fourth quarter by forcing a 112-all tie and overtime with a corner trey with 6.3 seconds left in regulation.
That shot put the finishing touches on a flurry that saw the Spurs overcome a six-point deficit in the final 50 seconds of regulation.
The Spurs (23-10) had their chances to win in the extra frame, even leading by a point with 2:14 left, but Jackson wouldn't let them hold on.
Jackson, the former Spurs player, turned into a Spurs killer, scoring eight points in a 60-second span. His 3-pointer with 1:30 left put the Warriors ahead 122-118.
"We don't mind taking big shots," Davis said. "(Jackson) had some he missed, and I kept telling him to keep shooting and keep shooting, because I know he's going to make them."
That, finally, proved to be just enough for Golden State, which improved to 20-15.
Tim Duncan had 32 points and 13 rebounds, and Parker pumped in 31 points, but it wasn't enough to keep the Spurs from losing for the first time in 34 games when eclipsing the 100-point mark.
Yet even with the Spurs' leads in the Western Conference and Southwest Division almost completely evaporated, Popovich is in no rush to push the panic button.
With a roster full of players who have won an NBA title — and many who have won multiple championships — Popovich says he can afford a gentle touch for now.
"There's no way to convince those guys now is the time to focus 100 percent all the time every night," said Popovich, who missed his first chance to record his 600th career victory. "It's very difficult to bear down that way, because we're human beings, not machines. It's senseless to fight that."
A 96-84 loss to Golden State here Dec. 11 started the Spurs' winter swoon. This time, the Spurs brought a healthy Duncan with them, assuming it would make a difference.
Duncan sat out the previous meeting with a sore knee.
"We have to have the inside game against these guys," Popovich said before the game, "because if you look at us and match us up athleticism-wise, we're in big trouble."
The Spurs found themselves in trouble anyway, even as their X-factor overflowed the stat sheet.
Monday night marked the first time the Warriors had won back-to-back games against the Spurs since the Duncan era began 11 seasons ago.
By any measure, it was a rough night.
Even so, Popovich knows better than to push too hard right now. Instead, he will just look at the calendar and look forward to better days.
Circled in red ink on his agenda: the nine-game rodeo road trip from Jan. 28 to Feb 13.
"We always talk about that road trip as being the time to really pull together and start to understand the intensity that we want, the focus that we want, the edge that we want," Popovich said. "We've been able to do that for the last five, six, seven years. Hopefully, we'll do it again."
Spurs fans, poised on the brink of despair, hope so too.
[email protected]
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA010808.01D.BKNspurs-warriors.gamer.317fca4.html
Web Posted: 01/08/2008 12:55 AM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
OAKLAND, Calif. — Gregg Popovich has a message for any Spurs fans contemplating a terminal leap off the top of the Tower of Americas after Monday night's down-to-the-wire, 130-121 overtime loss at Golden State:
Take a look at the calendar, then take a deep breath.
After all, that's what he's planning to do.
"December and early January are times to stay patient," Popovich said. "Demand to a point, but stay patient."
Baron Davis had 34 points and 14 assists, and Stephen Jackson had 29 — including 12 in overtime — to send the Spurs to their seventh loss in 13 games.
Revved-up and longing to shake a two-game losing streak, the Warriors outlasted the Spurs in a woolly fourth quarter that saw six lead changes and five ties.
Spurs point guard Tony Parker, an unlikely 3-point marksman, put an end to a breathless fourth quarter by forcing a 112-all tie and overtime with a corner trey with 6.3 seconds left in regulation.
That shot put the finishing touches on a flurry that saw the Spurs overcome a six-point deficit in the final 50 seconds of regulation.
The Spurs (23-10) had their chances to win in the extra frame, even leading by a point with 2:14 left, but Jackson wouldn't let them hold on.
Jackson, the former Spurs player, turned into a Spurs killer, scoring eight points in a 60-second span. His 3-pointer with 1:30 left put the Warriors ahead 122-118.
"We don't mind taking big shots," Davis said. "(Jackson) had some he missed, and I kept telling him to keep shooting and keep shooting, because I know he's going to make them."
That, finally, proved to be just enough for Golden State, which improved to 20-15.
Tim Duncan had 32 points and 13 rebounds, and Parker pumped in 31 points, but it wasn't enough to keep the Spurs from losing for the first time in 34 games when eclipsing the 100-point mark.
Yet even with the Spurs' leads in the Western Conference and Southwest Division almost completely evaporated, Popovich is in no rush to push the panic button.
With a roster full of players who have won an NBA title — and many who have won multiple championships — Popovich says he can afford a gentle touch for now.
"There's no way to convince those guys now is the time to focus 100 percent all the time every night," said Popovich, who missed his first chance to record his 600th career victory. "It's very difficult to bear down that way, because we're human beings, not machines. It's senseless to fight that."
A 96-84 loss to Golden State here Dec. 11 started the Spurs' winter swoon. This time, the Spurs brought a healthy Duncan with them, assuming it would make a difference.
Duncan sat out the previous meeting with a sore knee.
"We have to have the inside game against these guys," Popovich said before the game, "because if you look at us and match us up athleticism-wise, we're in big trouble."
The Spurs found themselves in trouble anyway, even as their X-factor overflowed the stat sheet.
Monday night marked the first time the Warriors had won back-to-back games against the Spurs since the Duncan era began 11 seasons ago.
By any measure, it was a rough night.
Even so, Popovich knows better than to push too hard right now. Instead, he will just look at the calendar and look forward to better days.
Circled in red ink on his agenda: the nine-game rodeo road trip from Jan. 28 to Feb 13.
"We always talk about that road trip as being the time to really pull together and start to understand the intensity that we want, the focus that we want, the edge that we want," Popovich said. "We've been able to do that for the last five, six, seven years. Hopefully, we'll do it again."
Spurs fans, poised on the brink of despair, hope so too.
[email protected]
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA010808.01D.BKNspurs-warriors.gamer.317fca4.html