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kriD · 05-15-2006, 06:00 AM

SPURS NOTES

Spurs try to find positives

By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS - There was no finger-pointing Sunday. No long faces either.

The San Antonio Spurs' mood was far from somber after Saturday's 104-103 loss to the Mavericks.

"We're still upbeat," guard Michael Finley said. "We know we had a great opportunity [Saturday] night, but we didn't really take advantage of it.

"That's why it's a seven-game series. So hopefully we can come out and build on the positives that we had [Saturday] night, and hopefully that's good enough to get us a win."

The Mavs lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is at 8:30 tonight at American Airlines Center, where the Spurs hope to finish what they couldn't in Game 3.

After trailing by 13 points in the first half, the Spurs shot 55.3 percent from the field in the second half. They made 13 of 17 shots and scored 34 fourth-quarter points, but critical turnovers and a deluge of fouls cost them the victory.

"You're disappointed from the loss, but always when you look at film, the eye in the sky doesn't lie," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "You know that you can do things better, and that's what we look forward to as we come out and play [tonight.]"

Forward Robert Horry said the team has "a bunch of mixed emotions" about Game 3.

"We're content in the way we played in the second half, and then we're a little mad that we lost the game," Horry said. "So I think all of these emotions are going to make us even more focused in Game 4."

A 2-1 jinx?

Since Gregg Popovich took over as the Spurs' coach in December 1996, they're 0-2 when trailing a playoff series 2-1.

The Spurs trailed Utah 2-1 in the 1998 Western Conference semifinals and went on to lose that series 4-1.

They fell behind the Los Angeles Lakers 2-1 in the 2002 semifinals before also losing in five games.

But the defensive-minded Spurs hope the law of averages is on their side as they try to bounce back after allowing 113 points in Game 2 and 104 points in Game 3.

"There's no magic about any of this," Popovich said. "You've got to make shots, and you've got to play D. Our bottom line is that our defense has not been good enough to date. When people score 100 points or more, we're probably going to lose that game."

Harris still a thorn

Although the Spurs drew closer to beating the Mavs in Game 3 than they did in their 22-point loss in Game 2, they came no closer to figuring out how to contain Devin Harris.

The Mavs' second-year point guard used his superior quickness to torch the Spurs for 20 points in Game 2, then scored 24 in Game 3.

"He's running the middle pick-n-roll very well, and he's a tough cover," Gregg Popovich said.

"He's very quick, very athletic at the rim, he gets up in the air, he's long and it makes it tough on the big guys."

No longer a protégé

Gregg Popovich said it's time the media starts judging Mavs coach Avery Johnson on his own merits and stop calling him his protégé.

"Avery's probably so sick of hearing that," Popovich said. "The poor guy, give him a break. Avery's grown. He's been in the league 90 years; he's nobody's protégé. He's doing quite well on his own."

05-15-2006, 06:00 AM	#44
kriD Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 2,039	SPURS NOTES Spurs try to find positives By DWAIN PRICE Star-Telegram Staff Writer DALLAS - There was no finger-pointing Sunday. No long faces either. The San Antonio Spurs' mood was far from somber after Saturday's 104-103 loss to the Mavericks. "We're still upbeat," guard Michael Finley said. "We know we had a great opportunity [Saturday] night, but we didn't really take advantage of it. "That's why it's a seven-game series. So hopefully we can come out and build on the positives that we had [Saturday] night, and hopefully that's good enough to get us a win." The Mavs lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is at 8:30 tonight at American Airlines Center, where the Spurs hope to finish what they couldn't in Game 3. After trailing by 13 points in the first half, the Spurs shot 55.3 percent from the field in the second half. They made 13 of 17 shots and scored 34 fourth-quarter points, but critical turnovers and a deluge of fouls cost them the victory. "You're disappointed from the loss, but always when you look at film, the eye in the sky doesn't lie," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "You know that you can do things better, and that's what we look forward to as we come out and play [tonight.]" Forward Robert Horry said the team has "a bunch of mixed emotions" about Game 3. "We're content in the way we played in the second half, and then we're a little mad that we lost the game," Horry said. "So I think all of these emotions are going to make us even more focused in Game 4." A 2-1 jinx? Since Gregg Popovich took over as the Spurs' coach in December 1996, they're 0-2 when trailing a playoff series 2-1. The Spurs trailed Utah 2-1 in the 1998 Western Conference semifinals and went on to lose that series 4-1. They fell behind the Los Angeles Lakers 2-1 in the 2002 semifinals before also losing in five games. But the defensive-minded Spurs hope the law of averages is on their side as they try to bounce back after allowing 113 points in Game 2 and 104 points in Game 3. "There's no magic about any of this," Popovich said. "You've got to make shots, and you've got to play D. Our bottom line is that our defense has not been good enough to date. When people score 100 points or more, we're probably going to lose that game." Harris still a thorn Although the Spurs drew closer to beating the Mavs in Game 3 than they did in their 22-point loss in Game 2, they came no closer to figuring out how to contain Devin Harris. The Mavs' second-year point guard used his superior quickness to torch the Spurs for 20 points in Game 2, then scored 24 in Game 3. "He's running the middle pick-n-roll very well, and he's a tough cover," Gregg Popovich said. "He's very quick, very athletic at the rim, he gets up in the air, he's long and it makes it tough on the big guys." No longer a protégé Gregg Popovich said it's time the media starts judging Mavs coach Avery Johnson on his own merits and stop calling him his protégé. "Avery's probably so sick of hearing that," Popovich said. "The poor guy, give him a break. Avery's grown. He's been in the league 90 years; he's nobody's protégé. He's doing quite well on his own."