Ludden: Weary Spurs topple Dallas

[Kori Ellis]

Weary Spurs topple Dallas: Duncan, Bowen pave the way for Game 1 win

Web Posted: 04/30/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....1bc66773.html

Gregg Popovich told the Spurs they deserved to be mad. That the NBA had (slighted) them once again. That 36 hours between playoff series wasn't enough.

That being forced to fly 1,500 miles through two time zones had left them with just enough time to duck in for a film session. That making them show up at noon for the start of the Western Conference semifinals was no way to treat the defending champions.

Popovich also told the Spurs something else before they stepped onto the court to face the Dallas Maverick Sunday: They still had to play.

So the Spurs shrugged off their fatigue, turned their frustration into fuel and leaned on their defense. After Jerry Stackhouse flung one last desperation shot short of the rim, they walked off the AT&T Center floor with an 87-85 victory, listening to the roar of 18,797 fans, free, at last, to sleep.

"Everybody knew we didn't have enough rest," Manu Ginobili said. "But there's nothing we could do about it."

Tim Duncan hardly looked tired, scoring 31 points and taking 13 rebounds in one of his finest performances of the season. Nor did Bruce Bowen, who, in addition to helping hound Dirk Nowitzki into missing 12 of 20 shots, made the winning 3-pointer with 2:14 left.

While the Spurs didn't finish their six-game series against Sacramento until late Friday, the Mavericks had been off for almost a week after sweeping Memphis. Dallas coach Avery Johnson thought the long break may have contributed to some "rustiness."

The Spurs' defense didn't help, either, limiting the Mavericks to 33 points on 34.3-percent shooting in the second half. Dallas didn't make a shot in the final 4 minutes, 7 seconds, but still had a chance to win on the final possession.

With Bowen crowding him, Nowitzki stumbled as he drove from the right wing. He tried to fire a pass to Stackhouse, but Ginobili — who had just missed three shots because he was so tired he "couldn't jump" — batted the ball into the air, then bounced up to tap it again.

Stackhouse corralled the deflection but was immediately pinned in the left corner. He flung up a 3-pointer over Ginobili's outstretched arms that dropped shy of the rim as time expired.

"We were fortunate to get something to fall at the end, and they couldn't get something to fall," Popovich said. "Sometimes it comes down to a possession here or there with two good basketball teams."

The Spurs and Mavericks brought a collective 131 victories, as well as the league's second- and third-best records into Sunday, and the finish did nothing to dispel the hype surrounding the long-anticipated series. Dallas led by six at halftime and by as many as eight in the third quarter, before the Spurs steadied themselves.

"I think," Bowen said, "this has the feel of the NBA Finals."

If nothing else, Duncan looked as strong as he did in last season's playoffs. With the Mavericks electing to stay on the Spurs' 3-point shooters in the first half, Duncan took advantage of the single coverage, scoring 20 points while single-handedly putting all three of Dallas' centers in foul trouble.

Duncan admittedly has performed poorly in early starts. But after rising at 6a.m. on Sunday, he appeared to have found his rhythm by the time he stepped onto the court. Late in the third quarter, he dribbled between his legs, then drove through the lane to bank in a left-handed layup.

"It was like when I was a rookie," Tony Parker said, "and we were just going to him all the time."

Parker and Ginobili, meanwhile, each looked like they were playing on heavy legs. They combined for 34 points but missed made only 12 of their 32 shots.

Bowen, however, did his best to also mute Nowitzki's impact. After averaging 31.3 points against Memphis, Nowitzki finished Sunday's game with 20. He made just 3 of 11 shots in the second half.

Bowen tried to get a hand up on every shot Nowitzki took. When possible, he crowded him. A little too closely, in fact, to the liking of Nowitzki's coach.

"It's what you call 'bearhug' defense," Johnson said.

Criticized for not being strong enough in his first-round matchup with Sacramento's Bonzi Wells, Bowen shrugged off Johnson's suggestion he's now too physical.

"Add him," Bowen said, "to the list of many others who said stuff."

The Mavericks had another reason to be upset with Bowen. With a little more than two minutes remaining, he took a pass from Parker and buried the go-ahead 3-pointer.

It was the only shot the Spurs made in the last 5:21 and one of only three 3-pointers they hit all game. The Spurs also thought it was fitting: On a day when most of them were fighting fatigue, the winning shot was made by a guy who hasn't missed a game in more than 41/2 seasons.

"He's never tired," Ginobili said. "I don't know how he does it."

After leaving the team's practice facility early Saturday evening, Bowen cooked a large Southern dinner of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and green beans. He was in bed by 11.

Like the rest of the Spurs, Bowen would have preferred to sleep in, to have more time to prepare.

"But in those situations," he said with a shrug, "you just have to forget it and go on."

[Kori Ellis]

On a day when most of them were fighting fatigue, the winning shot was made by a guy who hasn't missed a game in more than 41/2 seasons.

"He's never tired," Ginobili said. "I don't know how he does it."

After leaving the team's practice facility early Saturday evening, Bowen cooked a large Southern dinner of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and green beans. He was in bed by 11.

Like the rest of the Spurs, Bowen would have preferred to sleep in, to have more time to prepare.

"But in those situations," he said with a shrug, "you just have to forget it and go on."

Bowen's work ethic, at nearly 35, is pretty amazing.

[whottt]

For Manu:

http://www.brucebowen.com/master/main_interface.html

[A-Train]

It's still quite amazing that the Spurs beat two different teams within a span of 36 hours (give or take a couple), especially since the first game was a closeout game on the road and the next one was against a team that had 5 days or so to prepare for them. I'm starting to see that unit that I've seen in the le years, the team that could take on anyone, anywhere, anytime and beat them when they needed to.

[whottt]

Bowen's work ethic, at nearly 35, is pretty amazing.

It's not his work ethic that amazes me...it's the fact that he works so hard, usually has the most energy consuming defensive asignment on the court, never stops moving, and works his ass off in practice, and actually plays better on no or short rest, and he seems to be getting better every year!

It's just freaking weird how he does that...he's not a normal human being. He completely goes against the book on typical career progression.


He completely defies his age. Completely...there are very few perimeter defenders that started racking up consecutive All NBA Defensive teams once they hit their 30's...In fact, I am about 99% certain that Bruce is the first guy in NBA history to ever do that... most of the great All NBA perimeter defenders were long past their All NBA days by the time they hit their mid 30's...and if they were defensive specialists they were usually out of the NBA by that time.


But if anything Bruce usually plays better on short rest and he's getting better as he gets older. Pop never limits his minutes...he's a freak. Bonzi did make him look human though....

[Kori Ellis]

Bonzi did make him look human though....

I fully expected that though. Bonzi is exactly the body type/playing style that he can't guard. Bowen can't control that he only weighs 190 (or whatever).

Anyway, yeah it's weird that he keeps getting better -- even offensively. That left handed scoop in the lane late in Game 5 against the Kings was a wonder. And then in the post game he said that he comes early before games and practices stuff like that with Brett Brown. He practices more than anyone I've ever seen.

Props.

[thispego]

For Manu:

http://www.brucebowen.com/master/main_interface.html

lol, wtf?
ive never seen that