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05-24-2008, 11:10 PM
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Spurs-Lakers notebook: Horry still looking to find rhythm
Mike Monroe and Tom Orsborn
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — When Robert Horry, the 37-year-old Spurs forward who has been in more playoff basketball games than any player in NBA history, made two 3-point shots in the Spurs' Game 7 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, his coach said it appeared he finally was getting in game shape.
It seemed like an extension of what has been a running joke on the Spurs since Horry arrived as a free agent in the summer of 2003: That Horry glides through the regular season, just waiting for the playoffs before he starts tossing in big shots.
Horry was Popovich's first big man off the bench in Games 6 and 7 against the Hornets, and again in the first two games against the Lakers.
He is still looking for his first basket of the series. He didn't even attempt a shot in a short shift in Game 1. He missed all five attempts in Game 2.
“It's just how it is with me,” he said. “I'm not a guy who gets a lot of volume shots. Some nights, you're going to feel it. Some nights, you're not. I couldn't throw it in the ocean (in Game 2). That happens in the game of basketball. You have to forget it and go on to the next one.”
Even teammates who never had been to the playoffs before this season share the experience Horry believes can help the Spurs most in Games 3 and 4, at AT&T Center: surviving their series against the Hornets after falling behind 0-2.
“I think that helps a lot,” he said. “We just came off a series like that. Now we go home into our comfort zone and, hopefully, we can get a rhythm. If you look at the first game, we had a nice little rhythm. In Game 2 we had no rhythm. We couldn't make a shot.”
Nothing new: Getting shredded by the Lakers in the playoffs is nothing new for the Spurs. Their worst playoff defeat was delivered by the Magic Johnson-led “Showtime” Lakers — a 47-point pounding in 1986.
When the Lakers swept the Spurs in the 2001 Western Conference finals behind Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles won by 14 points (Game 1), 39 points (Game 3) and 29 points (Game 4).
Friday night's 30-point dismantling was the Spurs' worst in the playoffs since the Pistons delivered a 31-point crusher in Game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals.
Spurs set negative free-throw mark: The five three throws the Spurs sank in 10 attempts in Game 2 represents a franchise low for the playoffs.
The previous Spurs' low was seven, which came against Denver in the fifth and final game of the first round last season, a 93-78 Spurs victory.
It's also a record for a Lakers' playoff opponent. Seattle recorded the previous low when it sank only six free throws against the Lakers on April 27, 1980, in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, which the Lakers won 4-1.
Ominous streak: History says the Lakers should prevail in this series after taking a 2-0 lead.
The last time the Lakers lost a best-of-7 playoff series after winning the first two games was in the 1969 NBA Finals, when they fell to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Since then, they have won 28-straight seven-game series after going up 2-0, including two this postseason (over Denver and Utah).
With their seven-game victory over the Hornets in the Western Conference semifinals this postseason, the Spurs became just the 14th team of the previous 215 to win after trailing 2-0 in a best-of-7 series.
AT&T security: With security measures increased for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals at the AT&T Center, the Spurs are encouraging fans to arrive for the game early.
Wands will be used to screen fans, who are not permitted to bring backpacks, large bags or packages into the building. Only small handbags, purses or diaper bags will be allowed into the AT&T Center, although all will be subject to searches.
The Spurs also announced that large cameras with detachable lenses will not be permitted and that cell phones, pagers and cameras will be subject to testing and inspection.
Doors will open two hours before the 7:30 p.m. start time.
Ariza sees playing time: As if their already formidable roster wasn't enough, the Lakers have added another weapon, albeit a rusty one, in Trevor Ariza.
In Game 2, Ariza saw some mop-up time late in the final period, his first action since he suffered a broken bone in his right foot in January. After receiving an ovation from the Staples Center crowd, Ariza scored two points and grabbed two rebounds.
“I'm just glad he got out there and had a chance to play,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “How he is going to help us is yet to be determined. His energy out there, his ability out there is always nice to have, that kind of speed and quickness.”
Ariza, a 6-foot-8 forward from UCLA, was averaging 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds when he was injured.
Spurs-Lakers notebook: Horry still looking to find rhythm
Mike Monroe and Tom Orsborn
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — When Robert Horry, the 37-year-old Spurs forward who has been in more playoff basketball games than any player in NBA history, made two 3-point shots in the Spurs' Game 7 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, his coach said it appeared he finally was getting in game shape.
It seemed like an extension of what has been a running joke on the Spurs since Horry arrived as a free agent in the summer of 2003: That Horry glides through the regular season, just waiting for the playoffs before he starts tossing in big shots.
Horry was Popovich's first big man off the bench in Games 6 and 7 against the Hornets, and again in the first two games against the Lakers.
He is still looking for his first basket of the series. He didn't even attempt a shot in a short shift in Game 1. He missed all five attempts in Game 2.
“It's just how it is with me,” he said. “I'm not a guy who gets a lot of volume shots. Some nights, you're going to feel it. Some nights, you're not. I couldn't throw it in the ocean (in Game 2). That happens in the game of basketball. You have to forget it and go on to the next one.”
Even teammates who never had been to the playoffs before this season share the experience Horry believes can help the Spurs most in Games 3 and 4, at AT&T Center: surviving their series against the Hornets after falling behind 0-2.
“I think that helps a lot,” he said. “We just came off a series like that. Now we go home into our comfort zone and, hopefully, we can get a rhythm. If you look at the first game, we had a nice little rhythm. In Game 2 we had no rhythm. We couldn't make a shot.”
Nothing new: Getting shredded by the Lakers in the playoffs is nothing new for the Spurs. Their worst playoff defeat was delivered by the Magic Johnson-led “Showtime” Lakers — a 47-point pounding in 1986.
When the Lakers swept the Spurs in the 2001 Western Conference finals behind Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles won by 14 points (Game 1), 39 points (Game 3) and 29 points (Game 4).
Friday night's 30-point dismantling was the Spurs' worst in the playoffs since the Pistons delivered a 31-point crusher in Game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals.
Spurs set negative free-throw mark: The five three throws the Spurs sank in 10 attempts in Game 2 represents a franchise low for the playoffs.
The previous Spurs' low was seven, which came against Denver in the fifth and final game of the first round last season, a 93-78 Spurs victory.
It's also a record for a Lakers' playoff opponent. Seattle recorded the previous low when it sank only six free throws against the Lakers on April 27, 1980, in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, which the Lakers won 4-1.
Ominous streak: History says the Lakers should prevail in this series after taking a 2-0 lead.
The last time the Lakers lost a best-of-7 playoff series after winning the first two games was in the 1969 NBA Finals, when they fell to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Since then, they have won 28-straight seven-game series after going up 2-0, including two this postseason (over Denver and Utah).
With their seven-game victory over the Hornets in the Western Conference semifinals this postseason, the Spurs became just the 14th team of the previous 215 to win after trailing 2-0 in a best-of-7 series.
AT&T security: With security measures increased for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals at the AT&T Center, the Spurs are encouraging fans to arrive for the game early.
Wands will be used to screen fans, who are not permitted to bring backpacks, large bags or packages into the building. Only small handbags, purses or diaper bags will be allowed into the AT&T Center, although all will be subject to searches.
The Spurs also announced that large cameras with detachable lenses will not be permitted and that cell phones, pagers and cameras will be subject to testing and inspection.
Doors will open two hours before the 7:30 p.m. start time.
Ariza sees playing time: As if their already formidable roster wasn't enough, the Lakers have added another weapon, albeit a rusty one, in Trevor Ariza.
In Game 2, Ariza saw some mop-up time late in the final period, his first action since he suffered a broken bone in his right foot in January. After receiving an ovation from the Staples Center crowd, Ariza scored two points and grabbed two rebounds.
“I'm just glad he got out there and had a chance to play,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “How he is going to help us is yet to be determined. His energy out there, his ability out there is always nice to have, that kind of speed and quickness.”
Ariza, a 6-foot-8 forward from UCLA, was averaging 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds when he was injured.