http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA2050306.1C.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.318927e.html
Buck Harvey: It's not over, and neither is the West title
Web Posted: 05/03/2006 01:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
The Dallas Mavericks watched, with feet up, and they had one pressing concern. Who has the bag of Cheetos?
Dirk Nowitzki licked the yellow-orange off his fingers, which is about how he treated the Grizzlies. The Mavericks swept Memphis with only one tight game, so they could sit back Tuesday night for some late-night enjoyment.
Another pressing concern developed as they watched. The
Spurs are the ones Dallas has targeted — but do the Mavericks want these Kings, either?
Mostly the Mavericks rested, which is why everyone thinks they are clearly in the best position in the West. As the
Spurs and Kings beat up each other, the Mavericks get to wait.
Something else happened Tuesday, however, as Bonzi Wells earned a few more million on his next contract. The Spurs, pressed as if these were the conference finals, had to jam all their pieces together to survive.
How bad is this?
Bruce Bowen had his own question.
"Remember when we swept Memphis?"
Before this discussion begins, something should be noted: No Spur is looking ahead to the next round.
Not after the previous week in Sacramento, not after Tuesday. The Kings proved yet again they are closer to a first seed than an eighth. Don't be surprised if the
Spurs have to play a Game 7 in consecutive playoff series.
But that's also what Bowen is talking about. This isn't easy. This is, well, the way a Dallas series would be.
Gregg Popovich concurs. He joked Tuesday night that, if he'd had any smarts, he would have dumped games and secured the No. 4 seed in the West. At least he appeared to be joking.
But there's another side to these tests, and that is Bowen's point. Two years ago the
Spurs swept Memphis, looking efficient and powerful in doing so.
Then they won the first two games against the Lakers in the next round before running into a few things that didn't go their way.
"We didn't react well then," Bowen said, "because we weren't ready.
This is making us dig deep. And these dig-down games can help you."
They can help you realize how crazy any one night can be, and Tuesday was another. The Spurs' strategy was to keep Mike Bibby and Brad Miller off the 3-point line,
then back off of Wells and Ron Artest.
The numbers said they should. Wells shot 22 percent from the 3-point line this season, and Artest 30 percent. Then Wells threw in all three of his on the way to 38 points, and Artest made four.
The
Spurs responded as they did a year ago.
Manu Ginobili recovered his Manu-ness, crossing over past Artest, dunking.
Tony Parker found his jumper. Bowen countered Wells by putting up 16 points of his own. And
Tim Duncan played as he has to play for the
Spurs to win another championship.
That said, it was still tied at 93 with three minutes left.
One burp here, and the defending champs would face elimination in Sacramento.
That's when Duncan backed in Miller for a score, and Artest missed a baseline jumper. Bowen followed with a lefty runner, but Wells kept matching the Spurs. Only when Ginobili made a Ginobilian drive — hard with his left — did the
Spurs stretch their lead to five.
By doing so, the
Spurs earned something.
And this means more than sweeping a bad team, doesn't it?
"I think so,"
Brent Barry said. "These kinds of games are preparatory. You can learn from losses, and how you react means a lot."
The
Spurs might get the chance to learn from another loss in this series. But going to a Game 7 has other advantages for the Spurs. Close out Friday, and the
Spurs have to travel halfway across the country to host Dallas as early as Sunday. Win at home against Sacramento on Sunday, and they will wait for the Mavericks.
The disadvantage, naturally, is that the Kings could eliminate them. But if the
Spurs play as they did Tuesday — if Wells can't find yet another level — then there's reason to see this first round as scary and tough and beneficial.
What the
Spurs won't get?
Only Cheetos.