lqbeyond33
2006-04-01, 09:45 AM
Strong defense leads Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to win over Lakers
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er.71d06ef.html
Web Posted: 03/31/2006 01:27 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — Another night's work complete, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) cleared out of the visitors' locker room at Staples Center late Thursday and headed home, finally, taking with them one more victory and a nice cushion for the rest of the Western Conference race.
With Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) scoring 19 points and Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) adding 15 of his 20 in the second half, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) blitzed the Los Angeles Lakers 96-85 in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center.
Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) helped hold Kobe Bryant to 23 points on 26 shots, and Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry), having caught scent of the playoffs, contributed 12 points.
The victory left the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) with a 3-2 record on their nine-day, five-game trip and a two-game lead over Dallas atop the conference standings.
"Winning on the road is really sweet," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's the most fun in the league as far as I'm concerned.
"It's always tough, and it really helps your team come together."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) won't meet the Lakers again unless the teams cross paths in the playoffs. The Lakers, who were trying to extend their winning streak to five games for the first time since April 2004, lead Sacramento by 11/2 games for the conference's seventh seed.
The Lakers ended a six-game losing streak to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) when they visited the AT&T Center on March 10. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were playing their fourth game in five nights when they suffered the 100-92 loss.
Given a day to rest after beating the Clippers, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) returned with more energy, though they began the evening unsure whether they would have Parker, who was hobbled by a bruised right shin.
Parker had trouble pushing off on his right leg Thursday morning, and the team went through shootaround with Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) starting in his place. Not until Parker tested his leg during pregame warmups was he cleared to play.
"At halftime it tightened up on me a little bit," said Parker, who made 9 of 14 shots. "But after the first five, six minutes (of the third quarter) it was OK.
"I felt pretty good. It's a big bruise, so I need to play on it."
As Parker's leg warmed, so did his production. Midway through the second quarter he went by the Lakers and scored at the rim on three consecutive possessions. He turned back Los Angeles' final push in the fourth quarter with another layup.
"He's been the guy we've depended on pretty much night after night," Popovich said.
Having watched the Lakers repeatedly slip inside the Spurs' defense to take a 49-43 lead with 10 minutes left in the third quarter, Popovich signaled for a timeout.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) returned more focused and aggressive, running off nine unanswered points, with Parker capping it by finding Duncan for a dunk.
Brian Cook's 3-pointer brought the Lakers within a point midway through the quarter, but the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) closed the quarter by outscoring Los Angeles 16-1.
"I thought focus wasn't very good at that point, so we called a timeout to remind them what we're doing," Popovich said. "Where we are, what we're trying to be at the end of the year — just get a little bit of mental discipline back."
Called a coward earlier in the week by Ray Allen, Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) awoke Thursday morning to learn Lakers coach Phil Jackson had given him a different label: Edward Scissorhands.
Jackson, who delivered the nickname when speaking with Los Angeles reporters Wednesday, expanded on his comments about 90 minutes before tipoff.
"The more you move against Bowen, the quicker he reacts and the more chops he gets in," Jackson said. "He'll whack away at you while you're doing that.
"But more than anything else, Bruce plays with his feet a lot. He gets his feet underneath people, and he's tough to get through."
Bryant found that out again in the first half when Bowen stepped in front of him to draw a pair of charges.
Bryant made only 6 of 15 shots in the opening half but still had 16 points. Nick Van Exel reached in and pulled Bryant's arms down on one second-quarter drive, but the Lakers guard powered through the foul and released a high, arching shot that climbed halfway up the shot clock before dropping back through the rim.
Popovich laughed when told Jackson's name for Bowen.
"I think that's very creative and very clever," Popovich said. "I just call him Bruce."
lqbeyond33
2006-04-01, 02:58 PM
Strong defense leads Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to win over Lakers
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er.71d06ef.html
Web Posted: 03/31/2006 01:27 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
强劲防守引领马刺击败湖人
LOS ANGELES — 周四，Staples Center，又一个晚上的工作结束了，马刺队员们收拾好客队更衣室，踏上返乡的旅程。同时拿走了又一场胜利，为西部冠军之争再加上一块砝码。
Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker)在比赛中拿下19分，而Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan)在下半场攻下全场20分中的15分，马刺在Staples Center满座的18997名观众面前96-85拿下湖人队。
Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen)很好的遏制了Kobe Bryant，让他26次出手只拿到23分。而Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry)也正在找到季后赛的感觉，贡献了12分。
这场胜利使马刺9天内连续5个客场之旅的战绩定格在3胜2负，同时在排名榜上领先小牛队两个胜场。
“客场赢球是很爽的”主教练Gregg Popovich说，“在联盟里混，我认为这是最爽的事情了。”
“其实也很艰难，但它能够真正把球队凝聚起来。”
除非两队能在季候赛碰面，否则这是本赛季两队最后一次碰面。湖人队本想拿到自2004年4月以来的第一个5连胜，现在他们领先国王队1.5场，占据西部第7名。
湖人曾经于三月10号在AT&T Center以100-92击败马刺队，结束了自己当时的6连败，当时马刺正处在5天4赛的艰苦赛程。
击败快船后，马刺得到了一天的休息时间，这使马刺在比赛中更有精力，即便在赛前他们不能确定Parker（右胫骨撞伤）是否能出场。
周四早上Parker感觉迈右脚都有些困难，整个训练都是Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry)来代替他的位置。直到赛前的测试后才确定Parker可以上场。
“在中场休息的时候我感觉伤处有点紧”Parker说，他本场14投9中，“但是（第三节）前五分钟过后，就感觉一切OK了！”
“我感觉相当好，这是次严重的撞伤，我需要克服它去比赛。”
随着Parker的脚暖起来，他开始在场上作出贡献。在第二节的中段，Parker连续三次过掉湖人队员上篮成功。在第四节又用一次上篮彻底压制了湖人的反扑。
“他就是那个球队每晚都需要倚赖的人”Popovich说。
看着湖人一次次的打破马刺的防守，并且在第三节还有10分钟的时候取得49-43的领先，Popovich叫了一次暂停。
回到场上后，马刺立即变得更专注，也打得更有侵略性，连得9分，其中有个球Parker假动作骗过对手后传球给Duncan扣篮。
第三节中段Brian Cook的三分球使湖人仅以一分落后，但在此节随后时间内马刺打出一个16-1的高潮，一举拖开比分。
“我认为那段时间球队不够专注，于是我叫了一个暂停，提醒他们我们在做什么。”Popovich说，“我们在什么位置，在赛季结束后到底想得到什么----仅仅是想把他们的专注力找回来。”
继本周早些时候被Ray Allen称作懦夫后，周四早上可怜的Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen)又得知被湖人主教练Phil Jackson送上另一绰号：剪刀手爱德华。
Phil Jackson是在周三和Los Angeles记者谈话时送上这一绰号的，在比赛开赛前90分钟，他又补充了自己的观点。
“你越冲着Bowen去，他反应也就越快，贴得你越紧，然后在你投篮的时候突然撤离你。”Phil Jackson说。
“但是除此之外，Bowen用脚也未免太多了些。他常把脚放在你的下面，使你很难突破他的防守。”
Bryant对此是深有体会，比赛上半场Bowen始终保持在他身前，并且还导致他领了两次犯规。
Bryant上半场仅仅15投中6，但仍然拿到16分。在第二节的一次突破上篮中，Nick Van Exel伸手过来将Bryant的双手拉了下来，但Bryant依然在进攻时间到前将球高抛投出，铃响球进，打三分成功。
听到Jackson给Bowen起的绰号，Popovich不禁也笑了。
“哇，Phil好有创意。我还是叫他Bruce好了。”
"I think that's very creative and very clever," Popovich said. "I just call him Bruce."
感觉这句不够味道哦
我还是叫他 Bruce 好啦……