duncan228
04-05-2008, 07:23 AM
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_8821520
Utah Jazz: Okur stretches Spurs to breaking
By Tony Jones
The Salt Lake Tribune
Last year, during the conference finals, Tim Duncan destroyed Mehmet Okur, scoring on him at will and generally making him a non-factor as the San Antonio Spurs smacked the Jazz around in five games.
On Friday night, Okur turned things around on Duncan as Utah raced past San Antonio 90-64 before a sellout crowd at Energy Solutions Arena.
Okur scored 17 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and stole the ball three times. He also frustrated Duncan, pushing him out of his sweet spot on the block, stripping him repeatedly and not letting him take over the game, which directly led to the Spurs tying a franchise low for points scored in a game.
While it wasn't the playoffs, Friday night's contest brought along with it a decided playoff atmosphere. Not only that, Okur's success may have served as a message of sorts, should the two teams meet once the postseason does starts.
"I just tried to push him out further than he would like," Okur said. "I wanted him to shoot over my hands and take tough shots. He's such a good player. You just want to make him uncomfortable."
Duncan got his stats, 15 points and 10 rebounds, but he was far from dominating the game like he dominated the conference finals a year ago. He was visibly frustrated in the second half, and he, along with the rest of the Spurs starters, spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench.
Offensively, Okur stretched San Antonio's defense out with his three-point shooting. While he wasn't knocking down jumpers, he was grabbing offensive rebounds and putting them back into the basket.
"I was feeling good out there," Okur said. "We did a great job on defense in the second half. We held them to nine points in the fourth quarter. That's a great job."
Because Okur was able to handle Duncan one-on-one, it greatly affected the Spurs' offense. The other Jazz players weren't forced to double down and help, and that allowed them to stay at home on the San Antonio spot-up shooters who benefit so much from Duncan's ability to pass out of the post.
Indeed, Bruce Bowen scored just three points on 1-for-4 shooting, while Michael Finley scored a single bucket.
Utah Jazz: Okur stretches Spurs to breaking
By Tony Jones
The Salt Lake Tribune
Last year, during the conference finals, Tim Duncan destroyed Mehmet Okur, scoring on him at will and generally making him a non-factor as the San Antonio Spurs smacked the Jazz around in five games.
On Friday night, Okur turned things around on Duncan as Utah raced past San Antonio 90-64 before a sellout crowd at Energy Solutions Arena.
Okur scored 17 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and stole the ball three times. He also frustrated Duncan, pushing him out of his sweet spot on the block, stripping him repeatedly and not letting him take over the game, which directly led to the Spurs tying a franchise low for points scored in a game.
While it wasn't the playoffs, Friday night's contest brought along with it a decided playoff atmosphere. Not only that, Okur's success may have served as a message of sorts, should the two teams meet once the postseason does starts.
"I just tried to push him out further than he would like," Okur said. "I wanted him to shoot over my hands and take tough shots. He's such a good player. You just want to make him uncomfortable."
Duncan got his stats, 15 points and 10 rebounds, but he was far from dominating the game like he dominated the conference finals a year ago. He was visibly frustrated in the second half, and he, along with the rest of the Spurs starters, spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench.
Offensively, Okur stretched San Antonio's defense out with his three-point shooting. While he wasn't knocking down jumpers, he was grabbing offensive rebounds and putting them back into the basket.
"I was feeling good out there," Okur said. "We did a great job on defense in the second half. We held them to nine points in the fourth quarter. That's a great job."
Because Okur was able to handle Duncan one-on-one, it greatly affected the Spurs' offense. The other Jazz players weren't forced to double down and help, and that allowed them to stay at home on the San Antonio spot-up shooters who benefit so much from Duncan's ability to pass out of the post.
Indeed, Bruce Bowen scored just three points on 1-for-4 shooting, while Michael Finley scored a single bucket.