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Sacramento would be a nice consolation prize for not finishing with the best record. I'd rather the Spurs face them in the first round than any other Western team that will make the playoffs.
Buck Harvey: Next time, are Spurs better prepared?
Web Posted: 03/21/2005 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...15a5cc4a4.html
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — There's reason to believe the ankle will give way again. Tim Duncan will reach down, appearing to be in need of immediate amputation, and Jim Gray will be there to ask if it hurts.
There's reason to believe the ankle will say no more than Duncan the next time, too.
There's also reason to believe the ankle could do this in May or even June, because sore ankles often remain skittish for months. No matter how much ice Duncan uses or how much the ankle enjoyed the Pistons' private jet back to San Antonio on Sunday, a repeat is possible.
And then? Can the Spurs win a playoff game without Duncan?
"No doubt," said Manu Ginobili.
"Definitely," said Tony Parker.
There's reason to believe them, too.
Sunday doesn't necessarily describe why. The Spurs stayed close without Duncan, but the Pistons likely relaxed. One moment summed that up late, when Beno Udrih drove the middle and Rasheed Wallace chose to rest his own ankles.
Not moving your legs sure saves wear and tear.
The Suns relaxed in a similar way 10 days ago when Duncan sat in Phoenix, and it's the way of the league. The Spurs, as professional as they try to be, are not above playing down to the opposition.
But there were still signs Sunday, just as there have been in every game Duncan has missed this season. And it's a dramatic change for this franchise. These Spurs can't win a le without Duncan, but they also are less dependent on him than they have ever been.
Both Ginobili and Parker say that, too. Two years ago, for example, neither thinks the championship Spurs were good enough to win a playoff game without Duncan, and a memorable playoff game three years ago summed that up. With Duncan mourning the death of his father, the Spurs were blown out in Seattle.
Now they are deep enough to have a half-dozen players in double figures on Sunday, all against the defending champs, on their court, and others haven't responded as well. The Sonics lost to the Pistons recently, for example, then imploded. Nate McMillian called his team selfish, Rashard Lewis announced some of his teammates weren't trying and Ray Allen said he wanted more shots.
By comparison, the Spurs shined, and they could have done more. Gregg Popovich held Ginobili to only 16 minutes, out of caution since Ginobili has had his own injuries, and the Spurs missed open jumpers in the final minutes that would have changed everything.
Those are reasons that Ginobili and Parker think this team is different than others they've played on. Both are personally better, and they come with an assemblage of big men.
Say this about Nazr Mohammed: His 13-point, 8-rebound day came against one of the best frontlines in the league.
So how good would the Spurs be without Duncan full-time? "I don't like to think like that," Parker said. "But if we had to play that way, I think we'd make the playoffs. We wouldn't be winning a le, but Manu and I would be averaging 20 points, and we'd play differently, and we'd be respectable."
It's impossible to prove, because the Spurs have never had to play that way this season. The Spurs have lost Duncan for a game here, a game there. Try adjusting to that void on the run.
That's what happened Sunday. One second Duncan is scoring inside, and the next Rasho Nesterovic is the inside option.
But now comes something entirely different. Duncan will miss at least the next two games, and more likely the next two weeks. It qualifies as looking for silver-and-black lining, but the Spurs can gain something from this.
"If it happens in the playoffs," Ginobili said, "it won't be a shock."
Assuming Duncan will eventually be able to play at full strength, is there much to lose? The Spurs might finish with the second seed in the West, but that could draw falling Sacramento, with its own injuries, in the first round.
For now roles will change, and Ginobili and Parker will have to do more, and the Spurs will have to learn to play differently.
"We will see how we can do," Ginobili said, "soon enough."
There's reason to believe we will see later, too.
Sacramento would be a nice consolation prize for not finishing with the best record. I'd rather the Spurs face them in the first round than any other Western team that will make the playoffs.
If Spurs seed 2nd in WC, the 7th seed/consolation prize will be either Rockets or Grizz, but the real consolation will be that the Spurs play first round with HCA.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standi...l&seasontype=2
TD shouldnt play untill the playoffs
Sacramewnto is in free fall and could well drop to seventh spot. Based on strength of schedule two will likely get Memphis or Sacramento at seven. With Sacramento TD probably wouldn't need to show up.
Next time, if the Spurs have to play the Pistons again whether with Timmy or without him, it will be a war. That team is made for the playoffs and the strategy they used against the Spurs was outstanding. Was Larry Brown calling in isolation plays from his bed or easychair?
By the way, have you ever noticed how Pop's and Larry's teams seem to always split their games, home teams always winning? Maybe it's just my imagination.
What I noticed was Beno played Billups much better than TP defensively. And that's not the first time Beno has handled a big PG better than TP.
you mean rasho is going to carry the load now then
Pop actually had Devin Brown on Billups for stetches of the game when Beno was in there, also.
Broen was doing the best job of anybody on Prince. At the end Beno was on Billups, Brown on Prince and Brown got caugjht on Billups on a switch and got taken to the basket for a score. Pop should have bagged TP in the fourth, he wasn't doing anything on O or D but maybe it was a confidence not killing thing.
Sure wish Litton was around for guys like Prince.
you mean rasho is going to carry the load now then
No, TP and Manu and Nazr will carry the load
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