Rick Von Braun
01-11-2005, 07:50 AM
Big Jazz tip costs Spurs
Web Posted: 01/11/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
SALT LAKE CITY — Even after it was over, after Mehmet Okur ended almost five years of frustration for the Utah Jazz with a lunging put-back shot, after the Spurs trudged off the Delta Center floor with fiesta-colored confetti raining down, some of the 18,325 witnesses had trouble believing it was true.
Not until the officiating crew huddled at midcourt and verified Okur had released his shot before the final buzzer, confirming Utah's 97-96 victory Monday night, did Jazz public-address announcer Dan Roberts proclaim: "The curse is over!"
The Jazz had reason to be skeptical. They had not beaten the Spurs since Feb.6, 2000, a streak that covered 18 games. They also didn't have a victory to show for their nine previous games before Monday, against the Spurs or anyone else.
"So how do Americans say it?" said Gordan Giricek, Utah's Croatian shooting guard, searching for a fitting description. "We take monkey off our back, right?"
Okur did the honors, officially removing the proverbial ape from Utah's back, just when it seemed like the Jazz were headed for loss No. 19.
Jazz point guard Keith McLeod tried to drive past Tony Parker on the final possession but forced a shot that bounced off the backboard and the rim. The rebound dropped just over Tim Duncan's fingertips into the hands of Okur, who immediately put the ball off the glass and through the rim as the buzzer sounded.
As Utah's players jumped and screamed on the court, the Spurs looked a little dazed.
"Maybe," Parker said, "it wasn't our turn."
Utah didn't win by accident. Okur scored 23 points and took seven of the Jazz's 12 offensive rebounds. McLeod added a career-best 17 points and Utah shot 48.6 percent against the NBA's top defensive team.
"I give a lot of credit to those guys," said Duncan, who scored 24 points and gave the Spurs a 96-95 lead on a put-back with 46.7 seconds left. "I thought they played really well the entire game. They made some tough shots the entire game.
"We fought back in it to give us an opportunity, but they never let up."
The Spurs shot 54.1 percent but also contributed to their own demise. A minute earlier, they again failed to box out Okur, who threw down a follow dunk to temporarily give Utah the lead. The Spurs also missed eight of their last 20 free throws.
The Jazz set up for the final play with 7.4 seconds left after the Spurs failed to extend their lead. Spurs guard Manu Ginobili drove into the lane off a pick-and-roll but ran into teammate Robert Horry. Ginobili still put up an off-balance shot, but the ball caromed off the rim and Okur secured the rebound.
"Many times when we play a pick-and-roll, if I turn the corner the other big guy ducks in," Ginobili said. "That's the whole path for me to finish. But I think Robert got pushed, and I went toward him and couldn't take a good shot. Some things like that happen."
For the past five years, however, most of the luck had gone the Spurs' way.
Utah's last meeting with the Spurs sent their season into a tailspin. Forward Andrei Kirilenko, the Jazz's best player, sprained his right knee when Beno Udrih fell onto him. He hasn't played since, and Utah had gone 3-18 in his absence before Monday.
Kirilenko's right knee isn't the only one concerning the Jazz. Center Jarron Collins is on the injured list with a sprained right knee, and guard Raja Bell and forward Matt Harpring missed the game because of inflammation in their right knees.
If nothing else, Utah should qualify for a group discount on treatment plans.
The Jazz started their 12th lineup Monday — a combination that included McLeod, a point guard who spent part of last season in the CBA; 7-foot center Curtis Borchardt, who played only 17 games the previous two seasons because of injuries; and rookie swingman Kirk Snyder.
Howard Eisley, the only player on Utah's roster who was around for the Jazz's previous victory over the Spurs, tried his best to end the streak. He hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter — six of 54 points Utah received from its bench — to help Utah open a 35-26 lead.
The Spurs came back, but there were other signs it would be the Jazz's night: Okur draining a fadeaway over Duncan's fingertips at the shot-clock buzzer; McLeod making one 18-footer after another; Borchardt blocking Duncan at the rim.
The Jazz were due some good fortune. Two years ago, Duncan beat them on their floor with a shot at the buzzer.
"It's happened to us, so they deserved some of that, too," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I'm happy for them, in a strange sort of way."
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Online at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011105.1D.spurs.9583c136.html (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011105.1D.spurs.9583c136.html)
Web Posted: 01/11/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
SALT LAKE CITY — Even after it was over, after Mehmet Okur ended almost five years of frustration for the Utah Jazz with a lunging put-back shot, after the Spurs trudged off the Delta Center floor with fiesta-colored confetti raining down, some of the 18,325 witnesses had trouble believing it was true.
Not until the officiating crew huddled at midcourt and verified Okur had released his shot before the final buzzer, confirming Utah's 97-96 victory Monday night, did Jazz public-address announcer Dan Roberts proclaim: "The curse is over!"
The Jazz had reason to be skeptical. They had not beaten the Spurs since Feb.6, 2000, a streak that covered 18 games. They also didn't have a victory to show for their nine previous games before Monday, against the Spurs or anyone else.
"So how do Americans say it?" said Gordan Giricek, Utah's Croatian shooting guard, searching for a fitting description. "We take monkey off our back, right?"
Okur did the honors, officially removing the proverbial ape from Utah's back, just when it seemed like the Jazz were headed for loss No. 19.
Jazz point guard Keith McLeod tried to drive past Tony Parker on the final possession but forced a shot that bounced off the backboard and the rim. The rebound dropped just over Tim Duncan's fingertips into the hands of Okur, who immediately put the ball off the glass and through the rim as the buzzer sounded.
As Utah's players jumped and screamed on the court, the Spurs looked a little dazed.
"Maybe," Parker said, "it wasn't our turn."
Utah didn't win by accident. Okur scored 23 points and took seven of the Jazz's 12 offensive rebounds. McLeod added a career-best 17 points and Utah shot 48.6 percent against the NBA's top defensive team.
"I give a lot of credit to those guys," said Duncan, who scored 24 points and gave the Spurs a 96-95 lead on a put-back with 46.7 seconds left. "I thought they played really well the entire game. They made some tough shots the entire game.
"We fought back in it to give us an opportunity, but they never let up."
The Spurs shot 54.1 percent but also contributed to their own demise. A minute earlier, they again failed to box out Okur, who threw down a follow dunk to temporarily give Utah the lead. The Spurs also missed eight of their last 20 free throws.
The Jazz set up for the final play with 7.4 seconds left after the Spurs failed to extend their lead. Spurs guard Manu Ginobili drove into the lane off a pick-and-roll but ran into teammate Robert Horry. Ginobili still put up an off-balance shot, but the ball caromed off the rim and Okur secured the rebound.
"Many times when we play a pick-and-roll, if I turn the corner the other big guy ducks in," Ginobili said. "That's the whole path for me to finish. But I think Robert got pushed, and I went toward him and couldn't take a good shot. Some things like that happen."
For the past five years, however, most of the luck had gone the Spurs' way.
Utah's last meeting with the Spurs sent their season into a tailspin. Forward Andrei Kirilenko, the Jazz's best player, sprained his right knee when Beno Udrih fell onto him. He hasn't played since, and Utah had gone 3-18 in his absence before Monday.
Kirilenko's right knee isn't the only one concerning the Jazz. Center Jarron Collins is on the injured list with a sprained right knee, and guard Raja Bell and forward Matt Harpring missed the game because of inflammation in their right knees.
If nothing else, Utah should qualify for a group discount on treatment plans.
The Jazz started their 12th lineup Monday — a combination that included McLeod, a point guard who spent part of last season in the CBA; 7-foot center Curtis Borchardt, who played only 17 games the previous two seasons because of injuries; and rookie swingman Kirk Snyder.
Howard Eisley, the only player on Utah's roster who was around for the Jazz's previous victory over the Spurs, tried his best to end the streak. He hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter — six of 54 points Utah received from its bench — to help Utah open a 35-26 lead.
The Spurs came back, but there were other signs it would be the Jazz's night: Okur draining a fadeaway over Duncan's fingertips at the shot-clock buzzer; McLeod making one 18-footer after another; Borchardt blocking Duncan at the rim.
The Jazz were due some good fortune. Two years ago, Duncan beat them on their floor with a shot at the buzzer.
"It's happened to us, so they deserved some of that, too," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I'm happy for them, in a strange sort of way."
[email protected]
Online at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011105.1D.spurs.9583c136.html (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011105.1D.spurs.9583c136.html)