tinysands
2007-03-14, 01:44 PM
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) run win streak to 13 games: Parker, Duncan hold off Clippers
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031407.01C.BKNspurs.clippers.gamer.35f7642.html
Web Posted: 03/14/2007 12:22 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) played the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, and afterward, coach Gregg Popovich wasted no time in ticking off his list of concerns.
The Spurs' execution, Popovich said, was poor.
Their focus? "Poor."
Attention to detail? "Poor."
"We blew an opportunity to progress and get better," Popovich said, matter-of-factly. "That's the goal, to get better every practice and every game, and we wasted that tonight."
It should also be worth noting, of course, that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) actually won the game, beating the Clippers 93-84 in front of a sellout crowd at the AT&T Center.
The victory was the team's 13th in a row, matching the franchise's longest regular-season winning streak during Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan)'s 10 seasons, and Popovich celebrated the achievement by saying, "It doesn't mean a damn thing."
"What means something," Popovich said, "is getting better."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) improved in at least one area: With Utah losing in Miami, the Spurs' lead over the Jazz for third place in the Western Conference expanded to 21/2 games.
Still, there was little argument from anyone that Popovich, who remained composed during his brief critique, was correct in his assessment that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had produced one of the most uneven performances of their four-week run.
Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) scored 25 points, Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) provided 19, and Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) had an efficient 16 points on just eight shots while also taking seven rebounds. But the Clippers also shot 49.4 percent and pressed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) until the final four minutes.
"We understand defense is important, and if you want to accomplish any goal of winning, you have to have a solid defense, whether you're making shots or not," Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) said. "It's not just half a game or three quarters.
"We learned our lessons early in the year when we lost some games where we stopped playing and other teams continued to play."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had won the teams' three previous meetings by an average of 21.7 points but never really pulled away from the Clippers. If Popovich was upset with the team's defense in the first two quarters, during which the Clippers shot 47.4 percent, he didn't get any happier after halftime.
Los Angeles scored on eight of its first 10 possessions of the second half. Popovich benched Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) after the opening possession, then sat Parker on the next.
Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) replaced Parker and at least kept the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) productive on the other end of the floor. He made consecutive 16-foot shots, fed Michael Finley for a layup, then found Finley, who contributed 13 points off the bench, in the left corner for an open 3-pointer.
"Jacque was very consistent in that regard," Popovich said. "When he gets on the court, there's always going to be energy, there's always going to be leadership. He's always going to execute."
The Clippers have had a hard enough time finding one capable point guard, let alone two. Shaun Livingston, the team's usual starter, was in Birmingham, Ala., Tuesday morning undergoing surgery on his left knee. Backup Sam Cassell, who has been bothered by a sore groin, was scratched from the lineup shortly before tipoff.
After signing with the Clippers only a week ago, Jason Hart has been pressed into service as their new starter. A former backup to Parker three seasons ago, he made his first five shots but ran into foul trouble.
Duncan also had trouble staying on the floor in the second half. He left midway through the third quarter after getting poked in the right eye, then picked up three quick fouls after returning to start the fourth.
With Duncan watching from the bench, Daniel Ewing's layup brought the Clippers within 74-69. Matt Bonner (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/matt_bonner) followed with a 21-foot jump shot, and Ginobili later extended the Spurs' lead to 10 with a 3-pointer, but Los Angeles continued to hang around.
After Tim Thomas' 3-pointer with 4:26 left narrowed the gap to 84-78, Parker threw in a runner, then darted inside for a layup, slowing the Clippers' momentum. Parker, who made 8 of 16 shots, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter.
"I thought Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) really took his team on his shoulders," Clippers forward Corey Maggette said, "and hurt us at some really big moments."
That was enough for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to ring up their 13th consecutive victory, regardless of how it looked.
"I don't think we took a step backwards," Duncan said. "We might have taken one to the side a little bit, but it's a win. We just move on to the next one."
* * *
STREAKING TOWARD 20 STRAIGHT
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) extended their winning streak to 13 in a row Tuesday night. Can they reach 20? Look at their next seven games:
Date Team Comment
Thursday @Bucks In last place in Central Division
Saturday Celtics Have lost to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) 18-straight times
March 21 Pacers Lost 10th-straight game Tuesday
March 23 Pistons Lost to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) at home on Feb. 14
March 25 @Sonics Lost to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) by 31 on Feb. 24
March 26 @Warriors Haven't been to the playoffs since 1994
March 28 Hornets Losing streak reached six Tuesday
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031407.01C.BKNspurs.clippers.gamer.35f7642.html
Web Posted: 03/14/2007 12:22 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) played the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, and afterward, coach Gregg Popovich wasted no time in ticking off his list of concerns.
The Spurs' execution, Popovich said, was poor.
Their focus? "Poor."
Attention to detail? "Poor."
"We blew an opportunity to progress and get better," Popovich said, matter-of-factly. "That's the goal, to get better every practice and every game, and we wasted that tonight."
It should also be worth noting, of course, that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) actually won the game, beating the Clippers 93-84 in front of a sellout crowd at the AT&T Center.
The victory was the team's 13th in a row, matching the franchise's longest regular-season winning streak during Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan)'s 10 seasons, and Popovich celebrated the achievement by saying, "It doesn't mean a damn thing."
"What means something," Popovich said, "is getting better."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) improved in at least one area: With Utah losing in Miami, the Spurs' lead over the Jazz for third place in the Western Conference expanded to 21/2 games.
Still, there was little argument from anyone that Popovich, who remained composed during his brief critique, was correct in his assessment that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had produced one of the most uneven performances of their four-week run.
Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) scored 25 points, Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) provided 19, and Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) had an efficient 16 points on just eight shots while also taking seven rebounds. But the Clippers also shot 49.4 percent and pressed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) until the final four minutes.
"We understand defense is important, and if you want to accomplish any goal of winning, you have to have a solid defense, whether you're making shots or not," Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) said. "It's not just half a game or three quarters.
"We learned our lessons early in the year when we lost some games where we stopped playing and other teams continued to play."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had won the teams' three previous meetings by an average of 21.7 points but never really pulled away from the Clippers. If Popovich was upset with the team's defense in the first two quarters, during which the Clippers shot 47.4 percent, he didn't get any happier after halftime.
Los Angeles scored on eight of its first 10 possessions of the second half. Popovich benched Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) after the opening possession, then sat Parker on the next.
Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) replaced Parker and at least kept the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) productive on the other end of the floor. He made consecutive 16-foot shots, fed Michael Finley for a layup, then found Finley, who contributed 13 points off the bench, in the left corner for an open 3-pointer.
"Jacque was very consistent in that regard," Popovich said. "When he gets on the court, there's always going to be energy, there's always going to be leadership. He's always going to execute."
The Clippers have had a hard enough time finding one capable point guard, let alone two. Shaun Livingston, the team's usual starter, was in Birmingham, Ala., Tuesday morning undergoing surgery on his left knee. Backup Sam Cassell, who has been bothered by a sore groin, was scratched from the lineup shortly before tipoff.
After signing with the Clippers only a week ago, Jason Hart has been pressed into service as their new starter. A former backup to Parker three seasons ago, he made his first five shots but ran into foul trouble.
Duncan also had trouble staying on the floor in the second half. He left midway through the third quarter after getting poked in the right eye, then picked up three quick fouls after returning to start the fourth.
With Duncan watching from the bench, Daniel Ewing's layup brought the Clippers within 74-69. Matt Bonner (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/matt_bonner) followed with a 21-foot jump shot, and Ginobili later extended the Spurs' lead to 10 with a 3-pointer, but Los Angeles continued to hang around.
After Tim Thomas' 3-pointer with 4:26 left narrowed the gap to 84-78, Parker threw in a runner, then darted inside for a layup, slowing the Clippers' momentum. Parker, who made 8 of 16 shots, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter.
"I thought Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) really took his team on his shoulders," Clippers forward Corey Maggette said, "and hurt us at some really big moments."
That was enough for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to ring up their 13th consecutive victory, regardless of how it looked.
"I don't think we took a step backwards," Duncan said. "We might have taken one to the side a little bit, but it's a win. We just move on to the next one."
* * *
STREAKING TOWARD 20 STRAIGHT
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) extended their winning streak to 13 in a row Tuesday night. Can they reach 20? Look at their next seven games:
Date Team Comment
Thursday @Bucks In last place in Central Division
Saturday Celtics Have lost to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) 18-straight times
March 21 Pacers Lost 10th-straight game Tuesday
March 23 Pistons Lost to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) at home on Feb. 14
March 25 @Sonics Lost to the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) by 31 on Feb. 24
March 26 @Warriors Haven't been to the playoffs since 1994
March 28 Hornets Losing streak reached six Tuesday