Spurs relish challenge of facing Nuggets in hostile environment
Web Posted: 04/27/2007 11:03 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
DENVER — The Spurs have heard the stories about the Denver Nuggets’ rejuvenated fans, about the mile-high altitude that allegedly wears on visitors to the Pepsi Center. Manu Ginobili knows he’ll likely be booed every time he touches the ball tonight, and Tim Duncan isn’t expecting the locals to line the court with rose petals upon his arrival.
If the Spurs are looking for support during the next few days, they’ll need to make do with the occasional family member, a desperate housewife or one another. Now that their first-round series, tied at 1-1, has moved here for the next two games, the Spurs aren’t counting on much hospitality from the locals.
And for some reason that appeals to them.
“What separates the good teams from the great teams is how they perform on the road,” Michael Finley said. “This team is no different. We seem to invite adversity, and we seem to thrive on it.”
If that’s the case, the Spurs should be happy with the conditions they find tonight. While the Nuggets struggled at the Pepsi Center for much of the season, they’ve lost just one of their past eight home games, beating Phoenix, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers (twice) along the way.
And unlike two years ago when Denver beat the Spurs in the opener of the teams’ first-round series only to be routed in the next game, the Nuggets returned home brimming with confidence. In addition to winning Game 1, they nearly erased a 17-point deficit in the final seven minutes Wednesday.
“I think there’s more sincerity, substance and soul,” Denver coach George Karl said. “Last time was more hype, party and statistics. It was more dreamy. This is more real.”
The Spurs are aware they’ll need to bring home more than the mints left on their hotel pillows to take control of the series. For now, they don’t seem too fazed about the prospect of having to win one of the next two games on the road.
“When you’re on the road it’s just 15 guys and the coaches against 20,000 people,” Finley said. “I like that, and it brings out the best in this team.”
The Spurs have traditionally been a strong road team the past five seasons in part because they have to vacate the AT&T Center for three weeks every February to make room for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. This season, the Spurs won 27 of their 41 regular-season road games, two shy of the franchise record they matched a year ago.
The Spurs are a more modest 19-15 away from home in the playoffs since 2003. But of the 10 playoff series they’ve won during that time, they have closed out eight of them on the road.
Coach Gregg Popovich “is always harder on us on the road,” Tony Parker said, “so we have to play more disciplined.”
The Spurs were more pleased with their performance in Wednesday’s victory after Popovich urged them to raise their physicality and aggressiveness. But they also think they can play better, particularly at the end of quarters.
The Spurs were in position to take a 15-point lead into halftime in Game 2 when Duncan went to the bench to avoid picking up his third foul. But a turnover and forced shot by Parker helped the Nuggets cut their deficit to eight.
With Denver packing its defense into the lane, Parker has yet to find his rhythm.
He’s missed 21 of 35 shots during the two games, including three in the final seven minutes Wednesday when the Spurs nearly surrendered their lead.
“We need to control those times of the game,” Parker said. “They’re huge. That’s when you can build leads or lose leads. We need to do better, and it starts with me.”
Karl complained after Game 2 that the officials have rewarded Parker more often for taking the ball to the rim than they have Allen Iverson. Iverson attempted 25 shots Wednesday, but didn’t make a single trip to the free-throw line. Karl said the disparity made him “sit in amazement.”
Popovich doesn’t think Karl’s public complaining will affect how tonight’s game is officiated.
“No. 1, and most important, referees don’t pay any attention to moaning or groaning about whether this happened or that happened,” Popovich said. "That’s always been my belief, and I hope I can maintain that belief.
“No. 2, in Game 1, Tim Duncan shot two free throws and Manu Ginobili shot zero, and I don’t remember saying a word about it.”
That said, the Spurs realize the challenge they’ll be facing tonight by playing the Nuggets on their own floor.
“We know the Denver crowd is going to be really into it,” Finley said. "They’re very supportive of this Nuggets team, and they’re a team that builds off their crowd.
“From that standpoint, it’s definitely going to be a high-octane atmosphere. We just have to come in and keep our intensity up, and hopefully that will be enough to get us a win.”