Spurs look to end road skid

[greens]

I didn't see this article posted...it's pretty good.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....135f1419.html

Web Posted: 01/05/2008 09:46 PM CST

Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES — Little more than a month ago, the Spurs walked out of the Target Center in Minneapolis looking like a team in midseason form.

They had just flattened the Minnesota Timberwolves behind a crushing 40-11 game-closing run that was as beautiful as it was brutally efficient.

Manu Ginobili had pumped in 31 points, including seven 3-pointers, off the bench. Tim Duncan had his near-daily double-double. Tony Parker had run amok.

There was no way of knowing it would be the last time they would win outside the confines of the AT&T Center in 2007.

Since that Nov. 30 night in Minnesota, the Spurs have done a spot-on impression of road kill. They have dropped four consecutive away games, a streak that looms large today as they start another western swing.

Among Spurs faithful, the team's recent road woes have led to much hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth. In the head coach's office, however, it has led only to a shrug of the shoulders.

“It would be a major concern,” Gregg Popovich said, “if it were two months from now.”

Yet as the Spurs boarded another charter flight Saturday, bound for another set of back-to-back games far from home, this much is certain: They wouldn't mind figuring out a way to win in their black uniforms again.

The Spurs face the Clippers in a matinee today at the Staples Center before heading north to Golden State on Monday.

The last time they were on the West Coast, in mid-December, the Spurs lost to the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers in consecutive games, thus precipitating the Great Road Swoon of 2007.

The formula has been the same in most of the past four road losses, which also include unsuccessful trips to Memphis and, most recently, to Denver.

Step 1 — Fall in huge first-half hole (against the Warriors and Grizzlies, it was more than 20 points).

Step 2 — Rally back admirably to make a game of it before ultimately falling short.

The four-pack of recent road losses wrought by that recipe has resulted in a 5-6 stretch for the Spurs that has dissolved most of their lead in the Southwest Division.

“We know we have to play hard for 48 minutes,” reserve forward Matt Bonner said. “We can't give the first six minutes of the game to the other team on the road and expect to come back and beat NBA teams.”

Though the Spurs are loath to use injuries as an excuse, they have played a starring role in the team's recent struggles.

It isn't a coincidence that the Nov. 30 victory at Minnesota marks the last time Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have played a full game together.

At home, the Spurs have usually been able to overcome the loss of a lone star. Not so on the road, where the going is typically tougher.

Ginobili has been the latest significant Spur to hit the shelf, missing the past five games with a sprained index finger on his left (shooting) hand. There is a chance he could be out again against the Clippers.

The Spurs, no doubt, have missed him. Off to the best start of his career, Ginobili is averaging 19.2 points per game.

More than that, he seems to possess a crowd-silencing killer instinct that can often come in handy when things get dicey on the road.

“He always finds ways to win games, whether it's an offensive rebound, a blocked shot, a steal,” Popovich said. “He knows what wins. So not having that basketball IQ out there makes us a lesser team without a doubt.”

The return of Ginobili, whenever it happens, would automatically boost the Spurs' potential for road victories.

Other solutions to the Spurs' away-game anguish have been more difficult to ascertain.

Aware of his team's penchant for starting sluggishly, Popovich jokes that perhaps his pregame motivational speeches need to be more, well, motivational.

Ginobili, meanwhile, says the answer to the Spurs' road woes lies inward.

“It has to come from here,” he said, pointing to his heart.

It's as good a place to start as any.

[m33p0]

crowd-silencing killer instinct

[Hemotivo]

Manu is the heart of this team

[greens]

After today's game vs the Clippers:

The Spurs, who started the season 17-3, have gone 6-6 in their last 12 games and Duncan is happy to have Ginobili back.

"He's our finisher. He's our attacker and he just adds another dimension to our team, especially down the stretch,'' Duncan said. "When plays don't work or things aren't working exactly right, someone like that can break down a defense.

"He's a great guy to make things happen and find open shots for people. And we missed that the last few games.''

source:
http://www.nba.com/games/20080106/SASLAC/recap.html

[boutons_]

"pointing to his heart"

Of all the banal, trite, corny bull players spout, you know this guy authentically means what he's talking about.