Spurs In Familiar Spot Atop West

[duncan228]

The Spurs seem to be the NBA topic of conversation this morning.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/110376

Spurs in familiar spot atop West
Jerry Brown, Tribune Columnist

The Lakers have added Pau Gasol, and their hibernating fans are coming back out of the woodwork to pound their purple-and-gold chests. The Hornets have Chris Paul at the controls and the perfect starting five.

The Jazz are back from the dead and almost unbeatable at home, while Jason Kidd has been handed the keys to the heretofore rudderless Mavericks.

The Nuggets have two of the most explosive players in the league, while the Warriors are downright combustible when their shots are falling.

Oh, and by the way, the Rockets have won 14 in a row.

Yes, everywhere the Suns look, the Western Conference is loaded. But who was at the top of the leaderboard when Phoenix woke up Saturday morning?

Say o to the new boss — same as the old boss.

Yeah, while the world was watching Kobe and Houston, the leaky, creaky San Antonio Spurs have won seven in a row to complete a 10-1 February and reassume their normal perch. They’re actually in better shape than they were last year, when they rolled to another championship virtually unopposed after Amaré Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the bench.

Of course, the Spurs don’t care if they win the West. Home-court advantage would be nice, but it’s surely not necessary.

The Spurs have never won back-to-back les during their run of four les in nine years. But with the Big Three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker returning to health and Kurt Thomas and Damon Stoudamire picked up to bolster the team through the stretch run, are you ready to bet against them?

The West is loaded. It’s the best it’s ever been. But all those horses and all those men still may not be able to take down the kings.

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http://www.nba.com/aroundtheassociation/080301.html

SPURS HOLD OFF BUCKS

The Spurs went 10-1 in the month of February, but also started March off on the wrong foot. If not for Michael Redd uncharacteristically missing a late free throw, San Antonio would have been facing overtime in Milwaukee. The Spurs rode Tim Duncan through February as the All-Star power forward averaged 21.8 points and 13 rebounds and capped off the mega-month with a 31-point and 15-rebound effort against the Mavericks. The Bucks clamped down on him throughout the game, only allowing Duncan to score nine points on 4-of-11 shooting. While the victory was in no way convincing, it was encouraging to see San Antonio’s other two stars healthy and ready to pick up Duncan’s slack. Manu Ginobili led the way with 30 points, while Tony Parker chipped in 26 points and five assists. Redd led the Bucks with 25 points, but missed the first of two free throws while trailing by two with 1.3 seconds to go, before intentionally missing the second.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

"I don't think we approached the game with the right mentality. It's easy to play against Dallas, to bring the right mentality because it's that rivalry and what it means. But you've got to bring it every game..."

-- Spurs guard Manu Ginobili after escaping with a win over the Bucks.

[duncan228]

http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors/ci_8427251

Look out, league, here come the Spurs
Mercury News Wire Services

After a big win against the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs might have taken the Milwaukee Bucks lightly.

Manu Ginobili scored 30 points and hit a 17-footer with 13.2 seconds left to give San Antonio a 96-94 victory Saturday night over the Bucks in Milwaukee, the Spurs' eighth consecutive victory.

"We are disappointed," Ginobili said of the team's effort. "I don't think we approached the game with the right mentality. But you've got to bring it every game because at this point in the season every win is huge for us."

The Spurs beat Dallas 97-94 on Thursday.

The Spurs seemed in control until the Bucks mounted an 11-3 run late in the fourth, capped by Charlie Bell's driving layup that gave the Bucks a 94-93 lead with 20 seconds left.

Ginobili responded with a jumper with Bell flying at him as the Spurs regained the lead 95-94.

"He's a big-time compe or," said Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich. "He has really pulled us along for the last month and a half. He has made a lot of big shots in a lot of big games all around the world. He likes that stage."

[Herschel Walker]

For the Spurs just winning in Milwaukee is a miracle. Let's see if TP can keep his game rising with two straight against his buddy Devin Harris.