tinysands
2007-03-17, 04:27 PM
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) struggling when opponents break 100
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031707.03C.BKNspurs.387b828.html
Web Posted: 03/17/2007 12:02 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Having credited their defense for keeping them unbeaten for 13 games and 31 days, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) now hope to relocate it in time for tonight's meeting with Boston.
The Spurs' winning streak ended Thursday with a 101-90 loss at Milwaukee, dropping them to 1-9 this season when they surrender at least 100 points. Four of the Spurs' past five losses have come when their opponent reached the century mark.
The Bucks shot 53.4 percent, which followed the Los Angeles Clippers shooting 49.4 percent, so the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) would like to see their defensive slippage end there.
"You don't want to lose in a way where the coach questions the way you play," Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) said. "It's one thing if you lose playing the so-called right way. It's another thing when you don't play up to the standards you set and the way you've been playing of late."
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich was disappointed with the team's lack of aggression in Milwaukee. The Bucks outrebounded the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) 46-26.
"It would be silly to think that throughout winning those 13 games we played as sharp as we possibly could," said Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry), who scored a team-high 20 points in the loss. "There were a lot of those games where we won on our effort alone. Last night we didn't have that."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) pulled within a point of the Bucks six times in the fourth quarter, but couldn't put together enough stops to take the lead. Milwaukee made 10 of 17 shots in the final quarter with rookie guard Lynn Greer going 4 for 5 with three 3-pointers.
"Any time a team can shoot 53 percent for a game," Bowen said, "that's nonexistent defense."
Injury report: Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) was still a little sore after being hit hard on his funny bone by Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut, but participated in Friday's practice without any problem.
Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto), who missed Thursday's game with a pair of left quadriceps contusions, was held out of the workout. The team listed him as questionable to play tonight.
Luck of the Irish? The Boston Celtics will wear green-and-gold uniforms tonight in honor of St. Patrick's Day. This is the first time the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have ever faced the Celtics on the holiday.
"It's kind of a treat to be able to say, when your career is over, that you played against the Boston Celtics on St. Patrick's Day," Barry said. "If Larry Bird were still in uniform it would probably be even more of a treat, but I don't think that's going to happen."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) will wear silver uniforms tonight.
Going streaking: The Spurs' 13-game winning streak matched the franchise's third longest during the regular season. But it also tied just the fourth longest in the Western Conference this season.
Phoenix has won 17 and 15 consecutive games, and Dallas has had streaks of 17 and 13 victories.
"We might as well start another streak," Barry said. "It seems like everybody is going streaking, to borrow a term from 'Old School.'"
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031707.03C.BKNspurs.387b828.html
Web Posted: 03/17/2007 12:02 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Having credited their defense for keeping them unbeaten for 13 games and 31 days, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) now hope to relocate it in time for tonight's meeting with Boston.
The Spurs' winning streak ended Thursday with a 101-90 loss at Milwaukee, dropping them to 1-9 this season when they surrender at least 100 points. Four of the Spurs' past five losses have come when their opponent reached the century mark.
The Bucks shot 53.4 percent, which followed the Los Angeles Clippers shooting 49.4 percent, so the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) would like to see their defensive slippage end there.
"You don't want to lose in a way where the coach questions the way you play," Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) said. "It's one thing if you lose playing the so-called right way. It's another thing when you don't play up to the standards you set and the way you've been playing of late."
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich was disappointed with the team's lack of aggression in Milwaukee. The Bucks outrebounded the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) 46-26.
"It would be silly to think that throughout winning those 13 games we played as sharp as we possibly could," said Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry), who scored a team-high 20 points in the loss. "There were a lot of those games where we won on our effort alone. Last night we didn't have that."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) pulled within a point of the Bucks six times in the fourth quarter, but couldn't put together enough stops to take the lead. Milwaukee made 10 of 17 shots in the final quarter with rookie guard Lynn Greer going 4 for 5 with three 3-pointers.
"Any time a team can shoot 53 percent for a game," Bowen said, "that's nonexistent defense."
Injury report: Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) was still a little sore after being hit hard on his funny bone by Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut, but participated in Friday's practice without any problem.
Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto), who missed Thursday's game with a pair of left quadriceps contusions, was held out of the workout. The team listed him as questionable to play tonight.
Luck of the Irish? The Boston Celtics will wear green-and-gold uniforms tonight in honor of St. Patrick's Day. This is the first time the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have ever faced the Celtics on the holiday.
"It's kind of a treat to be able to say, when your career is over, that you played against the Boston Celtics on St. Patrick's Day," Barry said. "If Larry Bird were still in uniform it would probably be even more of a treat, but I don't think that's going to happen."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) will wear silver uniforms tonight.
Going streaking: The Spurs' 13-game winning streak matched the franchise's third longest during the regular season. But it also tied just the fourth longest in the Western Conference this season.
Phoenix has won 17 and 15 consecutive games, and Dallas has had streaks of 17 and 13 victories.
"We might as well start another streak," Barry said. "It seems like everybody is going streaking, to borrow a term from 'Old School.'"