Kori Ellis
01-23-2005, 01:10 AM
Manu's moxie carried Spurs
Web Posted: 01/23/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012305.1C.BKNspurs.kings.adv.34f6f40d.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Manu Ginobili could only watch as Shawn Marion lunged between his defenders, double-clutched in the air and released a 25-footer that fell perfectly through the net.
Ginobili had spent a good portion of the previous 2 1/2 hours driving his already bruised and battered body into the Phoenix Suns' defenders. Brent Barry had just buried two 3-pointers in the final minute to finish erasing the Suns' 17-point lead. Tim Duncan had even made two free throws.
And then, just like that, Marion threw in his own remarkable 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Friday's game into overtime. After the referees confirmed the shot was released in time, Ginobili trudged to the Spurs' bench, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"I was so tired," Ginobili later said with a half laugh. "I wanted to go back home and rest for a little bit."
Fortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili found the stamina to stick around. He didn't leave until he had finished scoring a career-high 48 points and the Spurs had completed their unlikely comeback in overtime.
Less than two hours after the sellout crowd at America West Arena emptied onto the streets in downtown Phoenix, NBA.com labeled the Spurs' 128-123 victory an "instant classic." Duncan, not prone to hyperbole, called both the game and Ginobili "incredible."
"Manu just took over and led us the whole way," Duncan said. "We were kind of playing up and down, up and down, but he was playing at such a high level, he just kind of carried us along until we caught up with him."
The Spurs had to wait a little longer than expected to get some rest after their taxing victory. They did not arrive in Sacramento until 3:30 a.m. Saturday after heavy fog at Sacramento International Airport forced the team to land in Oakland and bus the remaining 90 miles.
Tonight, the Spurs return to Arco Arena, where they lost 86-81 to the Sacramento Kings three weeks ago to the day. For the first time in two seasons, Duncan will line up without Rasho Nesterovic next to him.
The Spurs' starting center suffered a second-degree sprain of his left ankle in the second quarter Friday and is expected to miss at least five games, though coach Gregg Popovich said he could be sidelined up to three weeks. On Saturday evening, the team was leaning toward placing Nesterovic on the injured list and activating Sean Marks.
The Spurs also are hopeful Robert Horry will return tonight. Horry did not play Friday after injuring his right kneecap two nights earlier against the Los Angeles Clippers. Either he or Malik Rose likely will start tonight.
For now, the Spurs don't plan to make any additions to their roster. Two people who spoke with free-agent forward Karl Malone in recent weeks said he was leaning strongly toward not playing this season but had not completely ruled out signing with the Spurs. As a result, team officials feel no need to rush Malone into a decision he is not ready to make.
Nesterovic, meanwhile, has been one of the league's most durable centers. In his seven-year career, he has had only one previous injury that has caused him to miss time: a sprained right ankle that sidelined him for five games in the 2002-03 season. He also sprained his ankle in the final game of last season's Western Conference semifinals, but he continued to try to guard Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.
"It will be tough playing without him," Duncan said. "He really anchors our defense. But we'll adjust and guys will step up and fill his position like we always have."
Though the Spurs value Nesterovic's length, especially on defense, they proved Friday they can also play small. After Phoenix took an 88-71 lead into the fourth quarter, Popovich put Ginobili, Brent Barry, Devin Brown and Beno Udrih next to Duncan.
With the Suns forced to spread their defense, the Spurs scored 40 points in the fourth quarter, their most in any quarter this season.
"That's one of the reasons (Friday) was great," Popovich said. "With Rasho not there, we had to come up with a completely different way to win. Shoot, I think we've done the small lineup in two games for a total of 10 minutes, maybe."
With Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen shooting a combined 1 for 16, Popovich stuck with his unconventional lineup for all but about 10 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni left his starting five on the floor for almost as long. The teams also called only two timeouts in the final eight minutes and one in the final four, increasing the drama.
Duncan played a season-high 43 minutes and fought through fatigue to score six of his 30 points in overtime.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I was tired as anything," Duncan said. "I hadn't played 40-something minutes in, like, 61/2 years, it feels like.
"But in a situation like that, where you see guys playing their hearts out, playing every possession, you're not worried about what you feel like."
Ginobili led the charge, scoring 23 points after the third quarter. Early in overtime, he froze Suns guard Joe Johnson with a left-handed crossover dribble, then threw down a vicious dunk over Marion and Amare Stoudemire.
"He's so competitive, it's scary," Popovich said of Ginobili.
Ginobili glanced at the scoreboard after the dunk. The number next to his name surprised him.
"I've had games where I felt really confident and feeling like I was making all the shots, but not like this," Ginobili said. "Those were too many points for me.
"I was very happy mostly because it's not nice to score 40 points and lose."
Web Posted: 01/23/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012305.1C.BKNspurs.kings.adv.34f6f40d.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Manu Ginobili could only watch as Shawn Marion lunged between his defenders, double-clutched in the air and released a 25-footer that fell perfectly through the net.
Ginobili had spent a good portion of the previous 2 1/2 hours driving his already bruised and battered body into the Phoenix Suns' defenders. Brent Barry had just buried two 3-pointers in the final minute to finish erasing the Suns' 17-point lead. Tim Duncan had even made two free throws.
And then, just like that, Marion threw in his own remarkable 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Friday's game into overtime. After the referees confirmed the shot was released in time, Ginobili trudged to the Spurs' bench, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"I was so tired," Ginobili later said with a half laugh. "I wanted to go back home and rest for a little bit."
Fortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili found the stamina to stick around. He didn't leave until he had finished scoring a career-high 48 points and the Spurs had completed their unlikely comeback in overtime.
Less than two hours after the sellout crowd at America West Arena emptied onto the streets in downtown Phoenix, NBA.com labeled the Spurs' 128-123 victory an "instant classic." Duncan, not prone to hyperbole, called both the game and Ginobili "incredible."
"Manu just took over and led us the whole way," Duncan said. "We were kind of playing up and down, up and down, but he was playing at such a high level, he just kind of carried us along until we caught up with him."
The Spurs had to wait a little longer than expected to get some rest after their taxing victory. They did not arrive in Sacramento until 3:30 a.m. Saturday after heavy fog at Sacramento International Airport forced the team to land in Oakland and bus the remaining 90 miles.
Tonight, the Spurs return to Arco Arena, where they lost 86-81 to the Sacramento Kings three weeks ago to the day. For the first time in two seasons, Duncan will line up without Rasho Nesterovic next to him.
The Spurs' starting center suffered a second-degree sprain of his left ankle in the second quarter Friday and is expected to miss at least five games, though coach Gregg Popovich said he could be sidelined up to three weeks. On Saturday evening, the team was leaning toward placing Nesterovic on the injured list and activating Sean Marks.
The Spurs also are hopeful Robert Horry will return tonight. Horry did not play Friday after injuring his right kneecap two nights earlier against the Los Angeles Clippers. Either he or Malik Rose likely will start tonight.
For now, the Spurs don't plan to make any additions to their roster. Two people who spoke with free-agent forward Karl Malone in recent weeks said he was leaning strongly toward not playing this season but had not completely ruled out signing with the Spurs. As a result, team officials feel no need to rush Malone into a decision he is not ready to make.
Nesterovic, meanwhile, has been one of the league's most durable centers. In his seven-year career, he has had only one previous injury that has caused him to miss time: a sprained right ankle that sidelined him for five games in the 2002-03 season. He also sprained his ankle in the final game of last season's Western Conference semifinals, but he continued to try to guard Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.
"It will be tough playing without him," Duncan said. "He really anchors our defense. But we'll adjust and guys will step up and fill his position like we always have."
Though the Spurs value Nesterovic's length, especially on defense, they proved Friday they can also play small. After Phoenix took an 88-71 lead into the fourth quarter, Popovich put Ginobili, Brent Barry, Devin Brown and Beno Udrih next to Duncan.
With the Suns forced to spread their defense, the Spurs scored 40 points in the fourth quarter, their most in any quarter this season.
"That's one of the reasons (Friday) was great," Popovich said. "With Rasho not there, we had to come up with a completely different way to win. Shoot, I think we've done the small lineup in two games for a total of 10 minutes, maybe."
With Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen shooting a combined 1 for 16, Popovich stuck with his unconventional lineup for all but about 10 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni left his starting five on the floor for almost as long. The teams also called only two timeouts in the final eight minutes and one in the final four, increasing the drama.
Duncan played a season-high 43 minutes and fought through fatigue to score six of his 30 points in overtime.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I was tired as anything," Duncan said. "I hadn't played 40-something minutes in, like, 61/2 years, it feels like.
"But in a situation like that, where you see guys playing their hearts out, playing every possession, you're not worried about what you feel like."
Ginobili led the charge, scoring 23 points after the third quarter. Early in overtime, he froze Suns guard Joe Johnson with a left-handed crossover dribble, then threw down a vicious dunk over Marion and Amare Stoudemire.
"He's so competitive, it's scary," Popovich said of Ginobili.
Ginobili glanced at the scoreboard after the dunk. The number next to his name surprised him.
"I've had games where I felt really confident and feeling like I was making all the shots, but not like this," Ginobili said. "Those were too many points for me.
"I was very happy mostly because it's not nice to score 40 points and lose."