Johnny Ludden: Wait of the world

[spurscrazed]

Wait of the world: With series even, Spurs have opened the door for questions about their heart

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Spurs might go winless in Michigan, but they don't have to also go hungry. After each of their first two road games in the NBA Finals, team officials arranged to have a steak house near their hotel stay open late.

Players, coaches and front-office staff all filed into the restaurant early Wednesday morning following the Spurs' Game 3 loss. While the conversation was subdued — more than one person thought the sudden change in Detroit's intensity had left the team somewhat in shock — everyone enjoyed a good meal.

Forty-eight hours later, having departed the Palace of Auburn Hills on the heels of a resounding 102-71 defeat, the Spurs again had the option of stopping for some late-night chow. Their dinner tab, needless to say, was considerably less.

"Those who could eat after a performance like that got something to eat," Devin Brown said. "I didn't see a lot of people eating."

Whether it be disappointment from wasting a 2-0 series advantage, frustration from facing the Pistons' oppressive defense or a general nausea brought on by the beating they absorbed the past two games, the Spurs had reason to lose their appetite. But with the Finals now tied at two games apiece and Game 5 back at the Palace on Sunday, the team is more concerned about what's in its chest than its belly.

"I think the key is we have to play with heart," Tony Parker said. "Detroit seemed like they wanted it more than us. We just have to make sure we want it, too."

The Spurs, as everyone has made sure to remind them, have previously been in this position. They won the first two games of last season's Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers only to find themselves on vacation a week later after losing the next four. A month ago, they went up 2-0 in their second-round series against Seattle, dropped the following two games on the road then steadied themselves long enough to close out the Sonics with two more victories.

Neither the defense of the Lakers or Seattle, however, was as tenacious as that of Detroit. In the past two games, the Pistons have pressured the Spurs into 36 turnovers. They also have taken 30 offensive rebounds. Eighty-seven of the 198 points the Pistons scored in the two games came courtesy of extra possessions or second-chance opportunities.

"I'm really concerned about the way we've reacted to their physical play," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "That really bothers me, and I think that's got to be handled or we're going to have a problem."

Tim Duncan has struggled with Detroit's physicality as much as anyone.

With Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Antonio McDyess taking turns defending him, he missed 22 of 32 shots in Games 3 and 4. On Thursday, he repeatedly looked to the officials for help.

Rasheed Wallace, in particular, has defended Duncan without much help, allowing the Pistons' guards to pressure Parker and Manu Ginobili on the perimeter. Detroit also has clogged the lane to cut off the penetration of Parker and Ginobili.

"I am the leader of this team," Duncan said. "So it starts with me and I know that."

Duncan's teammates also know they can provide better support. While McDyess and Ben Wallace have peppered the Spurs with mid-range jumpers, Robert Horry's shot — important in helping space the floor — appears to have deserted him. Brent Barry continues to hiccup the ball into the Pistons' arms and Beno Udrih has been smothered by Lindsey Hunter's pressure.


Udrih, Detroit assistant Gar Heard said, "is a young kid."

It has shown. The Pistons' full-court press has been so effective against Parker's rookie backup that some of the Spurs are surprised Detroit hasn't employed it more often against Parker himself.

The Pistons took control of Game 3 when they ran off nine unanswered points at the end of the third quarter. On Thursday, they went on a 14-0 run bridging the first two quarters. Though he wasn't solely to blame for both flurries, Udrih was on the court for all but three of the 23 points.

"The bench was awful," Popovich said. "You know, we got nothing off the bench in any way, shape or form at either end of the floor. And that's not going to work."

Brown, who has played sparingly because of a back injury, did provide some energy in the second quarter. The Spurs' coaches don't seem ready to give up on Barry just yet, but Brown's performance in Game 4 has made him a more viable option if they do.

"We need several guys on this team to play well, but No. 1 we have to bring the effort, we have to bring passion and we have to play with heart," Brown said. "Pop's mad that we're not playing like that in the situation we're in. We're trying to knock off the defending champs. We're not champs. They're champs.

"I think, at times, we're kind of relaxing like we were the champs last year."

As a result, the Spurs have reason to fear they also won't win the championship this season.

"We work all year long to get here and then to get beat by 30, it just hurt," Parker said. "It's very disappointing. I think Pop can't wait to see what's in his team."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....1d20106f.html

[spurscrazed]

Devin Brown is a very motivated and competitive player.
I will never forget his face when the Spurs lost to the Lakers last year and the great effort and heart he showed in games five and six.

Come on Pop throw him in there for more minutes!!!

[howling_coyote]

Its going to take alotta heart and effort to gut out a win in game 5. The scary thing is that laying it all out doesn't even guarantee you a win so a loss would be really devasting after you played all your heart and guts out. Detroit is gonna bring it, I just hope the spurs really dig deep and find a way to and scratch and claw out a win.

[Manuac]

Originally Posted by spurscrazed

Eighty-seven of the 198 points the Pistons scored in the two games came courtesy of extra possessions or second-chance opportunities.

!

[spurscrazed]

Originally Posted by Manuac

!

87/198 is about 44%
The dam Pistons are controlling the offensive boards, Spurs NEED to do a better job of denying them of those posessions.

[Manuac]

Ben Wallace smacks so many balls to his teammates on the offense. Every Spur needs to fight for the defensive rebounds.

[intlspurshk]

That's no excuse. They just fight harder to protect the board. D Brown needs to play more as well. Why wasting time on Barry if he is so scared to shoot? Win or lose, I want to see SPURS players fighting for the goal, not just passing the responsibilities or avoiding making mistakes.

[Alka-Seltzer]

Originally Posted by JamesR

Reported in SLAM:

-- Brent Barry comes in with about 4 minutes left in the third. The Spurs come down on offense and Bones catches the first pass, fires a three and drains it. Pop immediately yanks him from the game...

It's been said that Pop's the master of preparation (strategy) while Brown's forte is game adjustments (tactics).
Perhaps this is an example. If it doesn't go as planned, (i.e. mistakes are made) players get yanked while game plans remain unchanged. Pop'll keep plugging in players to see if they "get it."

His military ethos of "don't screw up" may not be the most inspirational or effective in times like these. It's been noted before that the Spurs appear to play "not to lose" rather than to win games outright. Interesting.

[bossu]

The Spurs absolutely MUST go to Devin Brown, early and often. If Brent so much as coughs up a turnover, yank him and put Devin in. Yes. He may not be the same Devin Brown we saw, this time, last year. But he's better than anything else we're seeing, off the Spurs bench.

[SpursErie]

Originally Posted by bossu

The Spurs absolutely MUST go to Devin Brown, early and often. If Brent so much as coughs up a turnover, yank him and put Devin in. Yes. He may not be the same Devin Brown we saw, this time, last year. But he's better than anything else we're seeing, off the Spurs bench.

Early and often to Devin will get us even in worse trouble. He was two for eight in the game, shoting worse than any other Spur since Tony M was more economical, missing his only shot to Devin's six. If the Big Three can't do it, it isn't going to get done.

[ATHENEA]

Originally Posted by JamesR

Well, I'm just wondering what excatly Bones did wrong. Its obvious that Pop wasn't just pulling him so he wouldn't get hurt or anything, Barry was pissed.

He allowed 2 pts before hitting the 3 and gave a 2 and1 afterwards (5 pts in less than 1 1/2mins). His D was atrocious in that segment

[Slayer Min]

We can't worry about winning or losing.

Play with heart. Play with passion. Play with poise. Compete on every possesion.

Everything will workout, if we do that.