duncan228
05-17-2008, 12:26 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051708.01C.BKNspurs.hornets.main.3c06486.html
Third quarter is the key in Spurs-Hornets series
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs began the third quarter of Game 6 against the Hornets with a seven-point lead and determination that the collapse that occurred in the third quarter of Game 5 in New Orleans would not be repeated on their home court.
Before one second of the second half elapsed, they showed that this third quarter would be different and that this Western Conference semifinal would reach Game 7.
The third-quarter clock started when Tony Parker stole Morris Peterson's inbounds pass and drove for a layin with four seconds elapsed.
The sour look on Hornets coach Byron Scott's face revealed more than his disgust with a single bad pass.
“The layup Tony got was a bad sign,” Scott said. “Coming out of the locker room, we felt like we were in good shape, and when you commit a turnover and Tony makes a layup, well, it's not good.”
Before Parker's theft, Scott had every reason to believe the Spurs' seven-point lead Thursday easily could be overcome. In their three victories in the series, all at the New Orleans Arena, the Hornets had erased small halftime deficits by dominating the third periods.
In fact, the team that has won the third quarter has won each game of the series, with deciding Game 7 scheduled for New Orleans Arena on Monday. The Spurs understood the importance of winning the third quarter on Thursday and know it will be just as vital Monday.
“A couple different guys said something about it coming out of the (first) half, trying to get a better jump on it, and finally we got a decent third quarter,” Spurs forward Tim Duncan said.
“Finally, we get some stops, make some shots. It goes more our way than theirs. It seems to be the difference in the series so far.”
Duncan is observant. The Hornets have outscored the Spurs in third quarters in New Orleans by 12, 18 and 17 points. The Spurs have outscored the Hornets in third quarters in San Antonio by seven, 11 and eight.
What Spurs guard Manu Ginobili liked most about the Spurs' performance in Thursday's third quarter was their ability to make defensive stops.
“We had a great defensive third quarter,” he said. “We probably didn't play as good defensively, but we hold them to 12 points. Then we held that aggressiveness into the fourth quarter and the game was over.”
Game 7s carry their own brand of intensity, born of mutual desperation. Ginobili believes the reality of elimination, successfully met in Game 6, can carry the Spurs in Monday's deciding game, even in the third quarter.
“It's going to be a really tough one for us,” he said, “but we're going to try to change this trend and play our best game in their building. We know we can do it. We've done it in the past. Every playoff run that we win, it was done on the road. We're going to try and give it everything we can.
“Going to a seventh game always means that the two teams are really close. I think sometimes it's going to end up being decided by an offensive rebound, a turnover, a missed shot. At this point we know we are very close. We are two great teams. So, hopefully, it will end up being for us.”
Third quarter is the key in Spurs-Hornets series
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs began the third quarter of Game 6 against the Hornets with a seven-point lead and determination that the collapse that occurred in the third quarter of Game 5 in New Orleans would not be repeated on their home court.
Before one second of the second half elapsed, they showed that this third quarter would be different and that this Western Conference semifinal would reach Game 7.
The third-quarter clock started when Tony Parker stole Morris Peterson's inbounds pass and drove for a layin with four seconds elapsed.
The sour look on Hornets coach Byron Scott's face revealed more than his disgust with a single bad pass.
“The layup Tony got was a bad sign,” Scott said. “Coming out of the locker room, we felt like we were in good shape, and when you commit a turnover and Tony makes a layup, well, it's not good.”
Before Parker's theft, Scott had every reason to believe the Spurs' seven-point lead Thursday easily could be overcome. In their three victories in the series, all at the New Orleans Arena, the Hornets had erased small halftime deficits by dominating the third periods.
In fact, the team that has won the third quarter has won each game of the series, with deciding Game 7 scheduled for New Orleans Arena on Monday. The Spurs understood the importance of winning the third quarter on Thursday and know it will be just as vital Monday.
“A couple different guys said something about it coming out of the (first) half, trying to get a better jump on it, and finally we got a decent third quarter,” Spurs forward Tim Duncan said.
“Finally, we get some stops, make some shots. It goes more our way than theirs. It seems to be the difference in the series so far.”
Duncan is observant. The Hornets have outscored the Spurs in third quarters in New Orleans by 12, 18 and 17 points. The Spurs have outscored the Hornets in third quarters in San Antonio by seven, 11 and eight.
What Spurs guard Manu Ginobili liked most about the Spurs' performance in Thursday's third quarter was their ability to make defensive stops.
“We had a great defensive third quarter,” he said. “We probably didn't play as good defensively, but we hold them to 12 points. Then we held that aggressiveness into the fourth quarter and the game was over.”
Game 7s carry their own brand of intensity, born of mutual desperation. Ginobili believes the reality of elimination, successfully met in Game 6, can carry the Spurs in Monday's deciding game, even in the third quarter.
“It's going to be a really tough one for us,” he said, “but we're going to try to change this trend and play our best game in their building. We know we can do it. We've done it in the past. Every playoff run that we win, it was done on the road. We're going to try and give it everything we can.
“Going to a seventh game always means that the two teams are really close. I think sometimes it's going to end up being decided by an offensive rebound, a turnover, a missed shot. At this point we know we are very close. We are two great teams. So, hopefully, it will end up being for us.”