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http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...840167,00.html
Here is one article from today's Denver Post.
Article Published: Thursday, April 28, 2005
nba playoffs
Parker's hot hand sets tone for Spurs
By Chris Dempsey
Denver Post Staff Writer
Post / Hyoung Chang
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich instructs guard Brent Barry in the fourth quarter Wednesday night. Popovich started Barry in the backcourt with Tony Parker, and Barry responded with 16 points. He hit four 3-pointers.
San Antonio - During the fourth quarter of Game 1, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich couldn't find scorers to save his life.
Wednesday, San Antonio scorers were the team's life preserver, helping the Spurs draw even at one win apiece in this best-of-seven series.
Tony Parker led as the Spurs sizzled from the start, hitting their first five shots and eight of their first nine, and never looked back. San Antonio hit 34-of-71 shots overall, 47.9 percent compared with 42 percent Sunday.
The difference wasn't just Tim Duncan, who shook off a subpar Game 1 and was brilliant, particularly in the first half when he scored 18 of his game-high 24 points.
Parker was the key.
"I thought Parker set a tone for us," Popovich said.
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"He was very focused. He played just a great game, aggressively both on the ball defensively and running the team. (He was) finding people, scoring, and I thought he did a great job in the post as far as making choices between kicking it and doing something for himself."
Parker said his biggest concern was containing Nuggets point guard Andre Miller and being the point man in stifling Denver's transition offense.
He scored 12 of his 19 points in the first quarter and most of his shots fell - 3-pointers, teardrops, layups.
"He was great," Duncan said. "He made the right decisions."
Brent Barry, inserted into the starting lineup for shooting guard Manu Ginobili, connected on two 3-pointers as part of eight first-quarter points, and finished with 16 points.
"It was just important for us as a team to get off to a good start," Barry said. "We have guys who are professional and are ready when called upon."
Guard Bruce Bowen credited San Antonio's ability to move the ball from player to player in the Spurs' improved offensive execution.
Included among their 34 field goals were 10 3-pointers in 18 attempts.
Led by Duncan, San Antonio had 28 points in the paint and outran the Nuggets with 18 fast-break points to Denver's two.
"We were willing to swing the ball," guard Devin Brown said. "That's one thing we preached on, being able to swing the ball from side to side, get Denver moving a little bit, and then we were able to capitalize off of some of their mistakes."
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or [email protected] .
