Bonner's homecoming becomes a big success
Jeff McDonald
BOSTON A few days before Spurs center Matt Bonner was to return to his old stomping grounds for Sunday's game against the Celtics, his father called with a simple request.
He said if I could get 100 free passes, that would be great, Bonner said.
It turns out two busloads of Bonner fans made the 70-mile drive down Interstate 93 from Concord, N.H., to watch their town's favorite son play against its favorite team.
Bonner rewarded his fan club with his best game of the season, pouring in a season-high 23 points to help the Spurs to a 105-99 victory. He had 14 during a sizzling second quarter in which he made 6 of 7 shots and the Spurs outscored Boston 38-29.
Surprisingly, Bonner did not do the bulk of his scoring from 3-point range (he was 3 of 6.) Instead, Bonner unleashed an offensive arsenal of pull-up jumpers and running hooks not seen since his days at Concord High.
In the second quarter, Bonner even drove past Kevin Garnett the league's reigning defensive player of the year for a basket.
Matt Bonner was the key to the game, Boston's Kendrick Perkins said. You take away his points, we win.
It was all quite a turnabout for Bonner, who did not play in either of his two previous visits to Boston with the Spurs. After emerging as a starting center, Bonner was guaranteed time on Sunday hence the caravan from Concord.
He made it an afternoon to remember.
At the end of the game, when we had wrapped it up and they were fouling us, I got goosebumps, Bonner said.
Crying foul: Ray Allen accused Manu Ginobili of illegally crossing the out-of-bounds line to get the fourth-quarter steal that essentially sealed the game for the Spurs.
Allen said he addressed the issue with official Ron Garretson before being handed the ball to start the play.
I told Ron before the play, Ginobili is supposed to be a certain distance from me, Allen said. I told Ron that he had to back off.
Boston coach Doc Rivers said he didn't think Ginobili committed a violation. Either way, Rivers would have preferred Allen use a timeout in that situation.
Stinging back: Spurs guard George Hill briefly lost feeling his left arm after Boston's Glen Davis slammed him to the ground in the fourth quarter.
It was like a stinger, my arm went numb, Hill said. I was just trying to get the feeling back. That's why I stayed down so long.
After a brief timeout, Hill made 1 of 2 free throws. An unheralded contributor to the Spurs' victory, Hill scored all seven of his points during a span of 2:17 in the final quarter.
A girl's best friend: Rivers said he did not have a problem with the $15,000 fine the league levied at him for verbally abusing officials in a loss to the Lakers last week. He can't say the same for his wife.
She said make sure that doesn't hurt me on Valentine's Day, Rivers said.
“I told Ron before the play, Ginobili is supposed to be a certain distance from me,” Allen said. “I told Ron that he had to back off.”
Boston coach Doc Rivers said he didn't think Ginobili committed a violation. Either way, Rivers would have preferred Allen use a timeout in that situation.
this is why i hate allen.
and there are not many players that i hate.
Can Ray Allen ever lose gracefully?
Ray Allen turning into a whining bag against the Spurs?
Shocking.
he reminds me of that guy who used to play for the thunder when they were still called the sonics and played in seattle. come to think of it, his name was ray allen, too.
Fey Allen needs some of this:
Speaking of Allen, I liked when Manu got a little chippy with him and the ref had to step between the two players. I wouldn't be surprised if part of the gameplan wasn't to rough up Allen to try to get in his head. He's melted down against the Spurs at least a couple of times in his career.
I told Ron that he had to back off.
Ray is a jack of all trades. He's an actor, a basketball player, and now he moonlights as a referee
Ahhh.....Bruce needs more PT baby.
I'd save it for the Finals just in case, a few useful techs. Then again, if the Celtics don't have homecourt, they probably won't even make it past the Cavs anyway.
On a sidenote, I've heard people insult Allen before, but this is the first time I've ever seen it myself. He committed a major error and tries to blame Manu after the game? That's pretty sad.
Gay Allen.
He looks like a camel when he chews gum.
Weird editing but cool video overall
Bonner was great today. Very agressive.
I love Bonner...I think all of Spurstalk member have to appreciate what he did, he always give all to his team and work extra hard in practice and in court as well
Ray Allen is full of .
Ginobili is allowed to be as close to him as he wants so long as no part of his body (including hands) actually reaches over the sideline. Similar to the scoring of a touchdown in NFL, there is the invisible plain above the line that must be broken, in the NBA, it musn't be broken.
Why the does Ray Allen have such a problem with people defending him? I used to like the guy but now...
“He said if I could get 100 free passes, that would be great,” Bonner said.Now I see where Matt learned his thrifty ways.
im sorry if this is already post...
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31v5q...layer_embedded
Watch how you word the les...
I thought you were some sick bas with a dog fetish for a second there.
Great to see Bonner playing well in front of his fans
If we meet the C's in the Finals we may see him average 20PPG
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