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That was really funny - way to go Malik!
Spurs stay on winning road
Web Posted: 02/17/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS — Malik Rose played 29 minutes Wednesday night. He scored 12 points. He grabbed 15 rebounds, his high for the season.
(Bill Haber/Associated Press)
The Spurs' Rasho Nesterovic (left) blocks a shot by the Hornets' J.R. Smith during the Spurs' victory Wednesday in New Orleans. Nesterovic blocked three shots in the game.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich even singled out Rose for praise after a 101-78 victory over New Orleans.
After not playing in Sunday's loss in Miami, Rose did a lot to distinguish himself against the Hornets.
Or so he thought.
As Rose dressed in a corner of the locker room after the game, a reporter approached him.
"Can you tell me where Malik is?"
"Yeah," Rose said. "He already left."
As the reporter turned and left the room, Rose shook his head. Tim Duncan stared in disbelief.
"How could he not recognize you?" guard Tony Parker shouted across the room.
Rose has had ample reason to ask himself that question. He has been benched. He has heard trade rumors.
He shed his Rodney Dangerfield status Wednesday, helping the Spurs outrebound the Hornets 51-30.
"Malik was really special tonight," Popovich said. "He made me think back and remember how he used to do that over and over and over again. His energy on the boards, running the floor, moving the basketball, setting picks, just being aggressive — that was great."
As a result, the Spurs head into the All-Star break with a 41-12 record, equaling Phoenix for the league's best.
"They're a championship team," Hornets center P.J. Brown said. "They are what I call the 'gold standard.'"
The Spurs jetted home after the game, completing their third annual rodeo road trip with a 5-2 record. They return to the SBC Center on Wednesday to play Houston after not playing at home since they beat New Orleans on Jan. 29.
Nineteen days, 8,769 miles, three time zones and seven cities later, they punctuated their travels with another victory over the Hornets.
"It went relatively all right," Duncan said. "We dropped a couple we didn't play that well in, but they were great experience games. I continue to say this: We have a lot of ways to grow.
"I think that's the best part of our season right now."
Popovich contemplated not playing Duncan, at least until Duncan told him otherwise.
"He's adamant that he doesn't want to miss any more games," Popovich said before tipoff. "I'll worry about it, but I'll respect that he knows his body better than anybody else."
Though Duncan's right ankle and left knee are not completely healed, he was healthy enough to help his teammates outlast New Orleans. He finished with 19 points in 32 minutes.
"I think he played enough minutes where the ankle would have gotten tired if it wasn't doing well," Popovich said. "I think this was good for him."
As much as Popovich is looking forward to giving his team some time to rest, he admitted coaches often dread the final game before the All-Star break.
"Especially when you're playing a team that has nothing to lose, so to speak, that isn't really planning on doing much at the end of the season," Popovich said. "These kinds of games are their season."
Though the Spurs shot poorly in the first and third quarters (33 and 32 percent), they brought enough energy to calm their coach's fears. Rasho Nesterovic had 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Manu Ginobili added 13 points and a career-best 10 assists.
The Spurs won as they usually do, holding the Hornets to 33.3 percent shooting in the decisive final quarter. Rose had something to do with that.
"I thought he really led the way for us," Popovich said.
For a night, almost everybody noticed.
That was really funny - way to go Malik!
Too bad you're so henpecked, PJ. You could be here now."They're a championship team," Hornets center P.J. Brown said. "They are what I call the 'gold standard.'"
damn you PJ, damn you to
How can a reporter who covers the NBA, not know what Malik looks like?
That's incredible to me.
Props to Malik for his comeback and his big game.
There you have it, folks."Malik was really special tonight," Popovich said. "He made me think back and remember how he used to do that over and over and over again. His energy on the boards, running the floor, moving the basketball, setting picks, just being aggressive — that was great."
THAT is what earned Malik the contract.
THAT is what we all want to see from him.
THAT is what can make him a sixth man of the year candidate.
THAT is what the Spurs need Malik to do to dominate in the playoffs.
A+B=C. It's a pretty simple equation.
Yup. I cannot help but think that was a backhanded compliment by Pop. He was basically asking Malik why he hasn't been playing the way he used to.
"He made me think back"
Pop isn't very good at "varnish".
He's very clearly saying Mailk "now" is different, in a negative sense, from the Malik "back" then.
2hand,
hes exactly right though.
Its not backhanded. Its saying, Malik, brother, YES YOU GOT IT!!!
KEEP IT UP!!!! DO THAT, AND WE DOMINATE!!!
i thought this was another where's waldo topic.
lol.
hilarious, but ,
....what a dumb reporter
Where is that dumbass stalker Spursgal at?"Malik was really special tonight," Popovich said. "He made me think back and remember how he used to do that over and over and over again. His energy on the boards, running the floor, moving the basketball, setting picks, just being aggressive — that was great."
I've been saying for the last year and a half what Pop just summed up with this quote. Some people on here that think I'm an outspoken Rose hata need to read Pop's quote, rinse, and repeat.
He sums it up perfectly.
..why do you call Spursgal stalker?
Haven't you been paying attention to the board? You could say you don't like the color of Malik's hair and she'd be calling you a jackass and telling you to F off.
Speak for yourself AHF! You are the only one I call a JACKASS! and you are a big one for always talking !
AHF the JACKASS!
and
PS - never PM me again Spursgal, at least not until you get that chemical inbalance worked out.
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