Series notebook: Spurs welcome rest, want to keep focus

[Kori Ellis]

Series notebook: Spurs welcome rest, want to keep focus
Web Posted: 05/26/2005 12:00 AM CDT


http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...2ae217834.html

The Spurs returned home early Wednesday morning, giving them a day to relax before they return to practice today.

With Tim Duncan still nursing a sprained left ankle and everyone else fighting the typical postseason fatigue, the team welcomes the three-day layoff between games.

"I think it will great for the team in general," Duncan said. "Guys are dinged up, little things that are annoying. Myself with the ankle, a couple of days will be great for me."

The Spurs hope to use the break wisely without losing the momentum they built with their two victories in Phoenix.

"We need to stay on it, stay focused and keep that sharpness," Duncan said. "We don't want to come out that third game knowing that they are going to come out with a lot of energy and jump on us, and give that one away."

Enough is enough: While the Spurs have proven they can outscore the Suns, they would prefer not to go to such lengths to do it.

Phoenix has scored 114 and 108 points in the two games while shooting 49 and 56 percent. Amare Stoudemire has totaled 78 points, Steve Nash 58.

"We need to get that (shooting) percentage down," Duncan said. "That's really tough. It's really hard to beat a team in that situation there. We were a bit lucky (Tuesday).

"Down in that fourth quarter, we made some big shots, we made some stops, but at the same time, too many layups, too many things at the basket.

"We're not going to win four games with them shooting 55percent."

The Suns, as they usually do, repeatedly put Nash in pick-and-roll situations. The Spurs double-teamed him late, but Nash usually found the open man.

"It was just awful," coach Gregg Popovich said of the double team. "They scored almost every single time on it honestly. It was just awful, so we got away from it."

Confident but not y: While no team has ever rallied to win a conference final after losing the first two games at home, the Spurs are aware of what happened to Houston in the first round.

The Rockets won the first two games in Dallas then went on to lose the series in seven games.

"I think you have to find that balance," Tony Parker said. "We are confident, but we know Phoenix is a good team and they are proud and they are going to play like they have nothing to lose. We have to be careful and match their energy."

The Suns maintain they haven't lost confidence.

"There's no one in the locker room that doesn't think we can't go to San Antonio and win," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We have a very good record on the road and we can do it."

D, what D? The Spurs have outscored Phoenix 74-55 in the two fourth quarters while shooting a combined 71.8 percent.

"I think moving the ball, playing pick and rolls and making them adjust or chase us is a big key," Manu Ginobili said. "They don't like playing 'D' so much. They want the ball in their hands to run and take threes, that kind of game."

Touchy, touchy: Shawn Marion has totaled 14 points in the two games, but don't tell him Bruce Bowen deserves much of the credit for his lack of output.

"How are you going to say somebody guards somebody when you don't have any plays?" Marion said. "It's easy to say he stopped me if I shot 3 for 20, but the offense doesn't go through me. It's a lot easier to stop somebody when you don't have to play any defense on them."

Johnny Ludden

Johnson still day-to-day: After an off day Wednesday, the Suns will return to the practice court today, and injured guard Joe Johnson is expected to join them.

Johnson, who hasn't played since suffering a concussion and fracturing his orbital bone in an ugly crash under the basket during the Phoenix-Dallas series, has been fitted with a protective mask. He wore the mask while shooting basket Tuesday morning, but hasn't participated in a full workout yet.

Duncan envy? It's no secret throughout the NBA that when the Spurs need a big basket, there's a good chance the offense is going to run through Duncan. Stoudemire certainly has noticed, and it sounds like he wouldn't mind if the Suns started taking a page from the Spurs' book.

"When it comes down to it," Stoudemire said, "(the Spurs) treat every possession like it's extremely important. If they don't have a shot, they'll pull it out and get it to their big fella. That's what we've got to do."

[Kori Ellis]

Player report: John Johnson, Tim Duncan, Leandro Barbosa
Web Posted: 05/26/2005 12:00 AM CDT


San Antonio Express-News


Joe Johnson

Shooting guard expected to practice today with specially fitted mask protecting broken orbital bone around his left eye. Has targeted Game 3 to return to action but remains questionable, both for availability and potential effectiveness.

Tim Duncan

Gregg Popovich went back to typical subs ution pattern for Game2, subbing Robert Horry after five minutes. That's an indication Duncan's sore left ankle is not stiffening as much when he sits. Has played 76 efficient minutes in first two games and now has three days off to rehab ankles.

Leandro Barbosa

Barbosa has been one of the few reliable reserves for the Suns all season, but it will be interesting to see how he reacts after playing only two minutes behind Steve Nash in Game 2. With three days to rest, Nash might be ready to play a full 48 in Game 3.

[spurster]

The rest is good for the Suns, too. They have had about 6 playoff games every other day, and that is tough when you have 6-7 man rotation.

[ObiwanGinobili]

the rest is gonna be great for us, especially Tim. Man I hope he really takes some serious time off this off season.

on the other hand I'm hoping this time will just be wear ing on the Suns as they have to digest thier terrible lost and exactly how near impossible it is for them to come back. Plus , since Nash is so concerned about "bio rhythms", they'll be 2 hrs out of wack.

[AlamoSpursFan]

"We're not going to win four games with them shooting 55percent."

But can you win TWO?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

We didn't practice yesterday at all? Didn't we learn anything in the Seattle series?



At least break down tape, do a walk through, work on your shooting, etc.