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Monday, April 21, 2003
Sayson: Spurs under siege
By HOMER SAYSON
SECOND OVERTIME
CHICAGO – With 5.1 ticks left in overtime, and his team up 95-93, Tim Duncan stood at the free throw line with the chance to ice Game 1 of the Spurs’ West conference quarterfinal playoffs series against the Suns yesterday at the SBC Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Because Duncan was on friendly confines, every bit of the 19,217 fans in attendance kept quiet as he held the game’s outcome at the palm of his hands, uncontested from 15 feet.
But Duncan (17 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists), the reigning MVP and a shoo-in to win the league’s most sacred award back-to-back, was in for a rude awakening. The 7-foot, 260-pound do-it-all power forward found out that the sound of silence can be awfully loud. Duncan clanked both attempts, setting the stage for Stephon Marbury to nail a triple as time expired.
Somewhere in Minneapolis, the Lakers are laughing.
Although Duncan owns the scapegoat role in this shocker, it would be unfair to attribute the Spurs’ loss to that late-game boner alone. The Suns did outplay the West’s No.1 seed in nearly every facet of the game.
Led by Marbury, who had 26 points (9-of-18 from the field) and six assists, Phoenix outshot San Antonio from the field 42.7 percent (35-of-82) to 40 percent (32-of-80). While the Spurs did control the boards, 47-43, the Suns won the assist battle (33-26) as the visitors showed more cohesion in their attack.
Three-point shooting had always been the staple of San Antonio’s attack, and so when the Spurs missed 19-of-24 from treyland, they were courting disaster. Phoenix, on the other hand, nailed 6-of-16 trifectas. But the dagger in the heart really was free-throw shooting. San Antonio went just 26-of-41 for 63.4 percent, while the Suns finished with 20-of-25 for an 80 percent clip.
Spurs guard Tony Parker (seven points, seven assists and three rebounds) got such rave reviews during the regular season for his marked improvement. Yesterday, he was schooled by Marbury on how to play big-time under pressure.
Game 2 is on Monday, and the Spurs better have an answer to the Suns forwards – Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion – who combined for 48 points and 21 rebounds. Otherwise this could be the most lopsided series of the 2003 post-season.
And what a travesty it would be, a No.1 seed being toyed by a No.8, which barely qualified.
PIERCE IS THE MAN. The Boston Celtics are among the most horrible defenders in the league. But who cares about defense when Paul Pierce is hitting his free throws as if the rim were the size of Mindanao.
Unlike Duncan who choked in the waning seconds, Pierce was as cool as the other side of the pillow. He hit 21-of-21 free throws leading Boston to an improbable 103-100 upset over the Pacers yesterday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Like San Antonio, which shot itself in the foot, the Pacers only have themselves to blame in this debacle as they squandered a 13-point late third quarter lead.
Pierce led with 40 points for Boston, which shot 34-of-78 (43.6 percent) form the field. Teammate Antoine Walker chipped in 22, while Erik Williams was a silent third option with 18. The Celtics went 9-of-23 from beyond the arc while the Pacers struggled with 5-of-21.
NETS RUN OVER BUCKS. The key in this series is Milwaukee’s ability to stop New Jersey’s running game. And so when the Nets scored 21 fastbreak points and 58 on the paint, the Bucks were pretty much cooked as the East conference’s No.2 seed coasted with a 109-96 win to take Game 1.
Seven Nets players finished with double figures. Jason Kidd led the scoring parade with 14 points. He also had six rebounds and a sick 14 assists. So much for Gary Payton supposedly stopping him.
Kerry Kittles had 18, Kenyon Martin chalked 21 and Lucious Harris finished with 17 as New Jersey went 45-of-83 from the field (54.2 percent). Milwaukee shot fairly well, 40-of-78 (51.3 percent), but was hammered off the boards, 48-28, and never got its high-octane offense going.
NOWITZKI SHINES. Dallas had a horrible night from the filed, 34-of-73, but Dirk Nowitzki simply didn’t want his team to lose. The versatile forward abused every defender Portland threw on him, finishing with 46 points on 16-of-27 shooting. He also had 10 rebounds and two assists.
Michael Finley returned to the line-up after missing 12 games. The rust showed as he only had 13. Even rustier was Portland’s Scottie Pippen. Also returning from injury, the ex-Bull was hardly a factor in 32 minutes (five points, four rebounds and five assists).
(Questions are welcome at homsay@hotmail.com) |
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