Finley sparks Spurs yet again to beat Kings

[spursupporter]

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer


As Tony Parker dribbled his way through one team after another this season, raising both his scoring average and his chances of making the All-Star team, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a simple message for his point guard.

Don’t forget to trust your teammates.

With the Spurs’ hopes evaporating and Sacramento’s defense collapsing on him late Saturday, Parker didn’t forget. Where he once might have forced his own heroics, Parker passed to Michael Finley, who stuck an open 20-footer with 2.5 seconds left to lift the Spurs to a 90-89 victory at the SBC Center.

"If I didn’t pass it to him," Parker said, laughing, "Pop would have been mad."

Popovich had only praise for Parker after the Spurs gutted out their third narrow victory in five days. With Manu Ginobili’s sprained right foot confining him to the inactive list for another night and Tim Duncan needing three quarters to settle into a rhythm, Parker paced the team’s offense, scoring 25 points and distributing a season-best 12 assists.

"He’s more aware of his teammates, where they are," Popovich said. "He’s realizing some teams are going to pack it in and make it difficult for him to get to the rim. When they do it’s a smorgasbord: He just picks people out."

For his last – and most important – assist, Parker chose Finley. After Bonzi Wells spun by Finley for a layup to give Sacramento an 89-88 lead with 7.6 seconds remaining, the Spurs called timeout. Popovich drew up a play that, in the words of Finley, called for Parker "to make something happen."

Parker did that, taking Robert Horry’s inbounds pass and curling into the lane. Wells, as instructed, left Finley to cut off Parker’s penetration. Peja Stojakovic was supposed to rotate over to Finley, but also took a step at Parker.

By the time Stojakovic tried to recover, it was too late. Parker’s sharp pass had already found its target. Finley held his right hand aloft as the shot fell through the net then turned and pumped his fist.

"Tony was just picking people apart," said Finley, who has scored 16, 21 and 21 points while starting the past three games in place of Ginobili.

The Kings had one last chance to win the game. Center Brad Miller handed the ball to Mike Bibby while also effectively screening Parker. Duncan, however, ran up to force Bibby to arc his 25-footer a little too high.

Bibby – who also had missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer during the teams’ Nov. 22 meeting in Sacramento – watched the shot bang off the back of the rim as time expired.

"They are tough," Stojakovic said of the Spurs. "They have so many weapons and can hurt your team in so many ways."

Duncan did most of his damage late, scoring 20 of his 24 points in the second half, including 11 in the final quarter.

After going 5 for 15 in Thursday’s victory in Minnesota, Duncan didn’t show any signs of emerging from his funk in the first half. He made only two of nine shots and went into halftime with five points, seven rebounds and four turnovers.

Duncan, who said his right foot isn’t hurting him "any more than usual" watched a 13-footer slide off the rim to start the second half then shook his head in frustration.

"I’ve been off for a while, the last five games really," Duncan said. "I had that one good game, but all in all I haven’t felt good out there on the floor. My shots have been bad, and I’m just trying to fight my way through it."

Unable to contribute much offensively, he went to work on the other end of the floor by blocking Shareef Abdur-Rahim at the rim. Within the next six minutes, he also disrupted a dunk attempt by Wells, deflected Miller’s jump shot and sent back another shot by Wells.

"I was really impressed at how he made himself stay in the game," Popovich said. "In the first half nothing was there, he didn’t feel good rhythm-wise. In the second half, he just willed it until he got on a roll."

Duncan announced his return with a thundering dunk. He then poked the ball away from Abdur-Rahim near the midcourt and drove again to the rim. Holding the ball aloft in his right hand – his still-growing afro made him look like a 7-foot Dr. J – he tried to dunk over Jason Hart, but was fouled.

As Duncan stepped to the foul line, Parker ran up to Popovich. "I think Timmy’s back," he said, smiling.

With his teammates feeding him the ball, Duncan scored eight consecutive points. The Kings, who had earlier erased a 14-point lead, again rallied.

Parker, however, stayed steady. When the Spurs needed him most, he wasn’t afraid to look for help.

[spursupporter]

Spurs notebook: Bowen upgrades prowess with presence on boards


Another game, another solid rebounding performance for Bruce Bowen.

In addition to harassing Sacramento forward Peja Stojakovic into missing nine of his 14 shots Saturday, Bowen finished with nine points and a season-high nine rebounds. Bowen had seven rebounds in Thursday's victory in Minnesota.

Bowen's sudden focus on rebounding isn't a coincidence. The Spurs have wanted him to improve that area of his game. Assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo even gave him a rebounding total he wants him to meet by the end of the season.

Bowen was averaging 3.5 rebounds per game entering Saturday.

"P.J.'s been on me," Bowen said, laughing. "I'm trying to make up for those games where I didn't do as well."

Bowen's defense, meanwhile, has been as steady as ever. Stojakovic, who has made 44.1 percent of his 3-pointers this season, made only 1 of 4 attempts Saturday.

"Bruce is like a forgotten player," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He does the same thing every night.

"All of us, including the coaches, forget he's out there sometimes. We expect him to be great every night, because he is great at what he does. He guarded Peja as good as anybody in the world can guard him."

Bowen focused on trying to make Stojakovic put the ball on the floor.

"I want him to have to create a shot off the dribble," Bowen said. "Because he moves so good without the ball, if you lose sight of him, he's already putting it up."

Stojakovic also seems to enjoy the compe ion with Bowen. At the start of the third quarter, he patted Bowen on the back.

"It's a mutual respect, and it's hard in this league to find that," Bowen said. "I think I have it with Peja and Kobe (Bryant) and Tracy (McGrady), and it's a pleasure.

"That's why I think I'm successful at times, because I have respect for the guys I defend. When you start disrespecting guys, I think you fall into a bad area."

Ginobili to make trip: Manu Ginobili was to accompany the Spurs on their three-game trip, but Popovich wasn't sure whether he would play.

Ginobili has missed the past three games with a sprained right foot. He spent Friday's workout doing range-of-motion and strengthening exercises for his ankle.

Rigorous stretch: The Spurs will get an opportunity to improve their record in back-to-backs this week.

Saturday started a four-games-in-five-nights stretch for the Spurs. They will play New Orleans in Oklahoma City tonight then travel to Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks on Tuesday. They close the trip Wednesday when they face New York at Madison Square Garden.

Three of the Spurs' four losses this season have come in the second game of a back-to-back.

"This is a work in progress," Tim Duncan said. "We understand that. We have four games in five nights, and it's going to be tough energy-wise and focus-wise.

"But it's a good situation to grow into being a better team."

[Jimcs50]

Three things that noticed last night:

1. Parker is an All Star

2. Finley was the best offseason pickup the Spurs have made since Bruce Bowen.

3. Shareef Abdur-Rahim can flat out play some defense, This is his 2nd strong game defensively against TD this year and he will get this team to the playoffs.

[ducks]

Ginobili to make trip: Manu Ginobili was to accompany the Spurs on their three-game trip, but Popovich wasn't sure whether he would play.

who says sar could not play and did not want him a spur

[td4mvp21]

I dont know how honest Duncan will be about his injury, but the comments he made are reassuring. Its good to know his foot isn't any worse than usual (again, I dont know if he's just saying that) and that this is just a funk. Anyone else agree?

[myhc]

eh, trade his sorry ass. "funk"???? pssh.


































j/k

[ChumpDumper]

Where once there were cries of "Finley is not clutch" there is now only silence.

Typical.

[spurster]

I didn't expect Finley to be clutch. He rarely seemed to be against the Spurs. I thought that would be more down NVE's alley.

[sprrs]

I didn't expect Finley to be clutch. He rarely seemed to be against the Spurs. I thought that would be more down NVE's alley.

Well I think there's a difference between being clutch and disappearing in close games