Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Sayson: Are the Spurs getting old? By Homer Sayson Secondovertime
CHICAGO - They are more gifted than the Three Kings. They have more harmony than the Three Tenors. And oftentimes, they look more stunning than a three-piece Armani suit.
They are perhaps the NBA's most likable Three Amigos. They represent the core of the three-time world champion San Antonio Spurs, my favorite team and my pick to win it all this season.
But yesterday at the United Center, against a depleted Bulls crew, the Spurs took a nasty 99-87 licking. The 6-foot-11 Duncan dominated the paint with 21 points and 16 rebounds, but his two sidekicks played like peasants.
Ginobili scored 22, but he missed 13-of-20 shots, including 0-for-4 beyond the arc. Parker, however, was simply hideous. The 6-foot-3 guard only had six points on 3-of-9 shooting, and he made more turnovers (3) than assists (2). Parker was benched in the final 9:23 of the fourth quarter.
I was a foot away from coach Gregg Poppovich when he spoke to the media outside the Spurs locker room after the game. Poppovich, a former US Air Force serviceman stood straight as a flag pole, his hands planted inside the pockets of his brown khakis.
The stern 57-year-old Poppovich seemed calm and collected. But when he spoke, his anger wafted in the air. And his sarcasm was biting.
"Not a darn thing," he said of Parker's performance. "It would have made more sense if he was hurt. but he's fine, which is not the way he played, if you catch my drift."
A Chicago Sun-Times reporter asked Poppovich if he was pleased with the performance of Bulls rookie Tyrus Thomas, who finished with 8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. "He's a fine player, but I wasn't watching Thomas. I was watching my team, Poppovich replied.
In fairness to Parker, though, the rest of the Spurs were just as awful. They made only 34 of 86 field goals (39.5 percent) and 6-of-23 treys (26.1 percent). And the San Antonio defense stunk, allowing the Bulls to hit 41 of 83 shots for a high 49.4 percent.
The Bulls played without two starters — Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon — but they still managed to amazingly out-rebound the Spurs, 45-43.
The Spurs looked formidable early on, breaking a 13-13 tie into a 22-15 lead. But the scrappy Bulls fought back, and with Hinrich and Gordon leading the charge, Chicago went on a 31-21 second-quarter tear. The Bulls took a 52-45 edge at halftime, a lead they never relinquished.
Hinrich top scored for the Bulls with 23 and 10 rebounds. Gordon had 20, while Luol Deng finished with 17. Andres Nocioni, who struggled with 4-of-13 shooting, added 12.
Over the years, experience has allowed the Spurs to transcend big moments under playoffs pressure. Yesterday, though, the Spurs looked sluggish and old. A quick glance at their roster terrified me.
The good news is that Duncan is just 30. A nine-year veteran, he still has some four MVP-like years left in him. Ginobili is 29, still fast and furious. Parker is a tender 24 and his future wife, Eva Longoria, figures to keep him forever young.
Beyond them, though, the Spurs picture isn't so rosy.
Michael Finley is 33. Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry are both 35. Robert Horry is 36. They have a combined 46 years of NBA experience among them and they are tired. And while starting center Fabricio Oberto is a rookie, he is already 31.
I'm stubbornly loyal to these Spurs, but the much younger Suns and Mavs make me worried sick.
P.S. Parker evaded me like his pants were on fire, but I got to interview Duncan and Ginobili. Watch for my columns about those chats starting tomorrow, space-permitting.
