Spurs dominate Clippers
Web Posted: 03/06/2007 01:22 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — With their point guards piling up on the sideline, neither the Spurs nor the Los Angeles Clippers knew what to expect from their meeting Monday night.
“The benches will be going after each other,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, “… so we’ll see how it goes.”
The Spurs are much more equipped for such a battle these days thanks to their leading reserve. Manu Ginobili scored 11 of his 16 points in the third quarter, including nine straight during a 2-minute, 8-second stretch that pushed the Spurs to an 88-74 victory at Staples Center.
Jacque Vaughn had 10 points and six assists, and Beno Udrih added 14 points off the bench, providing more than adequate support in relief of injured starter Tony Parker. Tim Duncan totaled nine points, 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks as the Spurs extended their winning streak to nine games.
The Clippers shot 37.5 percent and matched their fewest points of the season. Four times in the past seven games, the Spurs have held their opponent to a season low.
“We’re starting to play well at the right time,” Duncan said. “We still have a bunch of games to finish the season, but the streak we have going is the way we want to play.”
Ginobili, who went 1 for 8 on Saturday in Houston, missed all three of his shots in Monday’s first half but still contributed five points, four rebounds and three assists. Those contributions grew considerably after halftime.
With the Spurs floundering early in the third quarter, the Clippers cut their 43-34 halftime deficit to four. But Ginobili stepped onto the floor and took over the game.
After a three-point play by Bruce Bowen, Ginobili cut through the lane, took a pass fromFabricio Oberto and made a lay-in. He followed that with a high, arching finger roll. After Bowen missed a jump shot, Ginobili batted the rebound through the rim.
When Ginobili drilled a 3-pointer, the Spurs’ lead had ballooned to 56-40, barely four minutes after he had checked into the game. The Spurs went on to score 16 unanswered points, 11 by Ginobili.
While the Spurs again played without Parker, who continues to nurse a left hip flexor strain, they didn’t have to go to the lengths the Clippers did to fill their point-guard position.
Los Angeles lost its 21-year-old starter, Shaun Livingston, a week earlier when he suffered a devastating left knee injury that could sideline him for all of next season. Part-time starter Sam Cassell, who has been sidelined by injuries on and off throughout the season, also hasn’t been able to play because of a groin injury.
That’s forced the Clippers to press their No. 3 point guard, Daniel Ewing, into a starter’s role. To improve their depth at the position, they signed former Spurs guard Jason Hart shortly before Monday’s game.
“I’m going to try to tell (them) every play (of the Spurs),” Hart said. “But that doesn’t do nothing. You can know the play, but you still got to stop them.”
That didn’t prove nearly as difficult in the first half. The Spurs’ defense was again up to the task, but their offense was far from crisp. The Spurs missed three shots at the rim in the early minutes and committed eight turnovers in the half, leading to 10 points for the Clippers.
Vaughn hit a long jumper from the left baseline, then took a charge from Ewing on the ensuing possession to give the Spurs some separation. Brent Barry scored nine of his 11 points in the first half, including a 3-pointer late in the second quarter that helped give the Spurs a 43-34 advantage.
Vaughn and Udrih have “played two good games in a row, piggy-bagging off each other,” Popovich said.
Before the game, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was asked about the 24 consecutive points Ginobili had scored against Atlanta two weeks ago. At the time, Dunleavy was naturally hoping his team would avoid a similar flurry.
“It’s another notch on his belt to be able to go on that kind of roll,” Dunleavy said. "He has the total package: 3-point range, gets to the free-throw line, finishes at the basket, has an in-between game.
“He’s a slalom guy. He’s in and out of crevices. He’s got great body control and seemingly always under control.”
Reminded that the Los Angeles Lakers had already reserved the nickname “Slalom” for their snowboarding forward, Vladimir Radmanovic, Dunleavy laughed.
“Ginobili,” he said, “is more serpentine-like.”
Spurs notebook: Ailing Parker sits out again
Web Posted: 03/06/2007 01:17 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — Tony Parker missed his second consecutive game Monday and it looks like he might be out for the remainder of the Spurs’ road trip.
Parker, who has a left hip flexor strain he sustained during Friday’s victory over Orlando, didn’t participate in the team’s shootaround Monday morning, instead watching from the sideline.
The Spurs play tonight in Portland before finishing their travels Thursday in Sacramento.
“When he’s ready, he’ll be ready,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I don’t even think about it. When they tell me he’s ready, then he’s ready.”
Parker didn’t miss more than two games in each of the previous two seasons. He already had missed one game with a right hip strain earlier this season.
The Spurs don’t want to rush Parker back for fear his injury might worsen.
When asked what Parker has been able to do, Popovich quipped, “Eat steak, watch TV, go to Hollywood parties.”
Remembering D.J.: Spurs forward Melvin Ely played his first two NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. During his rookie year, Dennis Johnson was the team’s assistant coach.
Shortly after the Spurs acquired him from Charlotte, Ely learned Spurs rookie guard James White had played under Johnson this season for Austin’s NBDL team. Ely said he was planning to drive to Austin and visit Johnson, but the former Boston Celtics guard died on Feb. 22 before Ely could make the trip.
“The next thing I know, that happened,” Ely said. "That shocked everybody.
“He’s one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever been around. He taught me a lot about the game. It’s one of those things where he’ll tell you something and it takes you a little while to see it. But everything he said came true.”
Ely in uniform: Ely was in uniform for the second-straight game Monday. He received his first minutes with the Spurs during Saturday’s victory over Houston.
“It was good to go out there and get some of the kinks out,” Ely said. "I actually had butterflies for the first time in a long time. I passed up a lot of shots, and my teammates got on me.
“I’m just trying to find a niche and do whatever they need me to do. I’m primarily known as a low-post scorer. If that’s something they need, then I’ll have to be ready to do it whenever my name is called.”
Ex-Spurs player joins Clippers: With Shaun Livingston and Sam Cassell sidelined by injuries, the Clippers signed ex-Spurs point guard Jason Hart on Monday for the remainder of the season.
After Hart reached a buyout agreement with Sacramento last week, the Clippers had to wait for him to clear waivers.
The Kings acquired Hart from Charlotte before last season, but he requested a trade this season because he wasn’t playing. When the Feb. 22 trade deadline passed, he figured he was stuck in Sacramento.
“I had already conceded the season,” Hart said. “I had kind of lost faith in (the Kings trading him). I’m very happy they allowed me this opportunity.”
Hart served as Parker’s backup during the 2003-04 season and was popular among the Spurs’ players and coaches.
“He’s a lot like (Parker’s current backup) Jacque (Vaughn),” Popovich said. "He gets 100 percent out of his abilities, is a good team leader, an aggressive player, confident player.
“The energy always lifts when those guys are on the court.”