马刺1996-97赛季实录（560+篇）

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更新背景：

后面两个赛季：

马刺1996-97赛季大概有560多篇报道。众所周知该赛季初期因多名主力接连受伤缺阵导致战绩惨烈，最后索性摆烂争取选秀状元签，但选择作为研究起点的原因还有两点： 霍尔特家族 （彼得-霍尔特）在1996年休赛期成为马刺队大股东， 格雷格-波波维奇 该赛季解雇鲍勃-希尔后自己兼任主教练。而霍尔特家族、主教练波波维奇的身份及合作关系一直延续至今，差不多有28年之久了。所以该赛季可以称为马刺王朝的小前传。

1996-97赛季实录概要：

  • 1996年季后赛第二轮马刺惨败爵士，从大卫-罗宾逊到主教练鲍勃-希尔再到波波维奇遭到痛批
  • 前一年被马刺交易走的罗德曼跟随公牛打出72胜夺冠，马刺交易决策深陷质疑
  • 马刺赛季运营预计出现亏损，迫切需要新球馆
  • 球队面临转手，可能被迁移到其他城市
  • 马刺传言用肖恩-埃利奥特交换查尔斯-巴克利
  • 海军上将参加梦三队
  • 海军上将背伤缺席常规赛数周
  • 海军上将复出当天，波波维奇解雇主教练，引发泼天批评
  • 罗宾逊复出六场后左脚骨折，休战六周
  • 主将接连受伤，马刺战绩惨淡
  • ……
  • 92%的球迷要求波波维奇下课
  • 幸运女神降临，马刺再中状元签

注：

  • SAEN (San Antonio Express-News) 的存档不可避免的会出现缺失，比如1996-12-19与火箭队的比赛报道、1997年选秀抽签结果的新闻就缺失了。可结合赛程查看。
  • 所有内容由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。如发现错误可回复纠正。
  • 所有时间均为原文时间即当地时间，并非东八区时间。
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来自BBR的相关参考链接：

1996-97赛季NBA排名、数据、季后赛对决等

1996-97赛季马刺赛程赛果

1996-97赛季马刺球员名单和数据

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Birth Date Exp
1 Cory Alexander PG 6-1 185 June 22 1973 1
33 Greg Anderson C 6-10 230 June 22 1964 8
40 Joe Courtney PF 6-8 235 October 17 1969 3
15 Vinny Del Negro SG 6-4 185 August 9 1966 6
32 Sean Elliott SF 6-8 205 February 2 1968 7
14 Jamie Feick PF 6-9 255 July 3 1974 R
4 Devin Gray PF 6-7 240 May 31 1972 R
4 Darrin Hancock SF 6-7 205 November 3 1971 2
7 Carl Herrera PF 6-9 215 December 14 1966 5
34 Stephen Howard SF 6-9 225 July 15 1970 2
6 Avery Johnson PG 5-10 175 March 25 1965 8
8 Tim Kempton PF 6-10 245 January 25 1964 6
11 Vernon Maxwell SG 6-4 180 September 12 1965 8
9 Gaylon Nickerson SG 6-3 190 February 5 1969 R
41 Will Perdue C 7-0 240 August 29 1965 8
50 David Robinson C 7-1 235 August 6 1965 7
35 Jason Sasser SF 6-7 225 January 13 1974 R
54 Charles Smith PF 6-10 230 July 16 1965 8
21 Dominique Wilkins SF 6-8 215 January 12 1960 13
3 Monty Williams SF 6-8 225 October 8 1971 2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

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故事从前一个赛季即1995-96赛季季后赛出局开始。马刺常规赛59胜23负，位居西部第二（西部第一是67胜并赢得西部冠军的超音速）。季后赛首轮3-1淘汰太阳，西部半决赛2-4不敌爵士，输的4场比赛都是大比分惨败。

季后赛首轮：

Game 1 Fri, April 26 菲尼克斯太阳 98 @ 圣安东尼奥马刺 120
Game 2 Sun, April 28 菲尼克斯太阳 105 @ 圣安东尼奥马刺 110
Game 3 Wed, May 1 圣安东尼奥马刺 93 @ 菲尼克斯太阳 94
Game 4 Fri, May 3 圣安东尼奥马刺 116 @ 菲尼克斯太阳 98

西部半决赛：

Game 1 Tue, May 7 犹他爵士 95 @ 圣安东尼奥马刺 75
Game 2 Thu, May 9 犹他爵士 77 @ 圣安东尼奥马刺 88
Game 3 Sat, May 11 圣安东尼奥马刺 75 @ 犹他爵士 105
Game 4 Sun, May 12 圣安东尼奥马刺 86 @ 犹他爵士 101
Game 5 Tue, May 14 犹他爵士 87 @ 圣安东尼奥马刺 98
Game 6 Thu, May 16 圣安东尼奥马刺 81 @ 犹他爵士 108
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1996-05-17, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

1996年马刺惨败，海军上将因季后赛在犹他以 81-108 失利而责骂裁判

盐湖城——周四晚上，马刺中锋大卫·罗宾逊（David Robinson）在球队被淘汰出 NBA 季后赛后，抛弃了圣洁形象。在犹他爵士队以 108 比 81 在三角洲中心击败马刺队，结束马刺队的赛季后，罗宾逊——《国家体育杂志》最近一期中称其为“圣大卫”——怒斥裁判史蒂夫·贾维（Steve Javie）。

“我告诉你，”罗宾逊说，“我很少或从未谈论过裁判。但今晚我真他妈的想对史蒂夫·贾维发火。”

第二节开始 14 秒后，贾维吹罚罗宾逊冲撞犯规。

这是马刺全明星的第三次犯规，迫使主教练鲍勃·希尔在半场剩余时间让他坐在替补席上。

爵士队在中场休息时将领先优势扩大到 13 分，然后在后半场将其变成了一场大屠杀。

这场胜利令爵士队在七局四胜制的西部半决赛中轻松以 4 比 2 获胜。

这也意味着为可能在周六在阿拉莫圆顶举行的比赛购买了提前票的数千球迷有时间制定其他计划。

罗宾逊说，贾维周四的行为“带有个人恩怨……第三次犯规简直是垃圾。我不能接受。”

3 月 2 日，在阿拉莫圆顶对阵费城 76 人队的比赛中，贾维将罗宾逊驱逐出场。

当时，罗宾逊冲向裁判，站在他面前大声表达不满。

“那场比赛他把我赶了出去，”马刺中锋回忆道。“他说我冲撞了他，以为我要打他。”

周四晚上，裁判在上半场对罗宾逊吹罚了两次犯规，这让他在比赛进行不到八分钟时就被请上了替补席。

他坐在场下直到第二节开始，那时他持球从球场的左侧向篮筐移动。

犹他队的卡尔·马龙上前阻挡。两名球员撞到了一起，马龙摔倒在地。哨声响起，罗宾逊的脾气也上来了。

罗宾逊怒气冲冲地走到替补席坐下，但他还在说话。坐下后，他扔了一条毛巾，并将自己的热身服扔在了地上。

赛后，他说贾维没有忘记76人队的比赛事件。

罗宾逊说：“我们不妨这样说，每次见到他，事情都是这样的。我只能说这么多。说得很清楚了。我认为这是个人恩怨。”

罗宾逊在出战 29 分钟内得到 17 分和 8 个篮板。随着球队的赛季以一种不光彩的方式结束，文尼·德尔·内格罗也得到 17 分，肖恩·艾利奥特得到 16 分。

去年，马刺队在西部决赛中将休斯顿火箭队逼入第六场比赛。

今年，他们只能猜测哪里出了问题。

罗宾逊说：“毫无疑问，这是后退一步。我看到很多人经历季后赛的挣扎，很艰难。”

在马龙得到 25 分和 13 个篮板的带领下，犹他队晋级分区决赛，迎战西雅图超音速队。

马刺队原本希望将系列赛搬回圣安东尼奥，并在周六进行第七场也是决定性的一场比赛。

但罗宾逊被罚上替补席后，马刺队的进攻始终没有起色。该队投篮命中率为 38.6%，罚球命中率为 67.9%。

这是爵士队在系列赛中的第四场决定性胜利。犹他队在之前的胜利中以 20 分、30 分和 15 分大胜。

“不是比分（让我们受伤），”马刺控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊说。“输了就是输了。我们就是没有打出我们的比赛。我们输了很多分，但如果你输一分，你也会这么说。”

爵士队实力深厚，周四替补阵容以 51 比 16 击败马刺替补。在整个系列赛中，犹他替补得分超过马刺替补203 比 125。

前锋亚当·基夫在第六场得到 18 分，领跑犹他替补，前锋拜伦·拉塞尔得到 15 分。

“我们的替补表现太棒了，”犹他教练杰里·斯隆说。“我不知道你还能要求他们表现得更好。拜伦一直是一位真正的竞争者。现在他对自己的投篮很有信心。他命中了一些关键球。”

点击查看原文：Spurs deep-six '96 - Admiral flays ref after season-ending 108-81 loss in Utah

Spurs deep-six '96 - Admiral flays ref after season-ending 108-81 loss in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - Spurs center David Robinson disregarded his saintly image Thursday night in the wake of his team’s decisive ouster from the NBA playoffs. Robinson, dubbed “Saint David” in a recent issue of a national sports magazine, lashed out at referee Steve Javie after the Utah Jazz ended the Spurs’ season with a 108-81 drubbing at the Delta Center.

“I tell you what,” Robinson said, “I rarely if ever say anything about officiating. But I’m really (expletive) off tonight at Steve Javie.”

Javie called Robinson for a charge 14 seconds into the second quarter.

It was the third foul on the Spurs’ All-Star, which forced Coach Bob Hill to sit him on the bench for the rest of the half.

The Jazz went on to pump their lead up to 13 points by intermission, then made it a rout in the second half.

The victory completed the Jazz’s surprisingly easy 4-2 romp through the best-of-seven-games Western Conference semifinal series.

It also means the thousands of fans who bought advance tickets for a possible Saturday game in the Alamodome have time to make other plans.

Robinson said Javie’s actions Thursday were “personal. . . . That third foul was garbage. I don’t appreciate it.”

Javie ejected Robinson from a game March 2 in the Alamodome against the Philadelphia 76ers.

At the time, Robinson raced toward the referee, stood in his face and screamed his discontent.

“He kicked me out that game,” the Spurs’ center recalled. “He said I charged him and thought I was going to hit him.”

Thursday night, officials whistled Robinson for two fouls in the first quarter, which steered him to the bench less than eight minutes into the game.

He sat out until the start of the second period, when he took the ball and drove to the basket off the left side of the lane.

Utah’s Karl Malone stepped over. The two players bumped, and Malone went sprawling on his backside. When the whistle blew, so did Robinson’s temper.

Fuming as he walked to take a seat on the bench, Robinson continued to talk. After sitting down, he threw a towel and tossed his warmups to the floor.

After the game, he said Javie had not forgotten the incident in the 76ers game.

“Let’s just say every time I’ve seen him, things have been the same,” Robinson said. “I’ll leave it at that. That’s as plain as I can put it. I think it was personal.”

Robinson finished with 17 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes of play. Vinny Del Negro also scored 17 points and Sean Elliott added 16 as the team’s season came to an inglorious end.

Last year, the Spurs took the Houston Rockets to six games in the Western Conference finals.

This year, they can only wonder what went wrong.

“No question, it’s a step back,” Robinson said. “I’ve seen a lot of people go through playoff struggles. It’s tough.”

Paced by Malone’s 25 points and 13 rebounds, Utah advanced to the conference finals against the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Spurs hoped to move the series back to San Antonio for a seventh and deciding game on Saturday.

But with Robinson on the bench, the Spurs’ offense never came to life. The team shot 38.6 percent from the field and 67.9 percent at the free-throw line.

It was the fourth decisive win for the Jazz in the series. Utah romped in its previous victories by 20, 30 and 15 points.

“It ain’t the margins (that hurt),” Spurs point guard Avery Johnson said. “A loss is a loss. We just never got to playing our game. We lost by a lot, but if you lose by one you say the same thing.”

Utilizing superior depth, the Jazz bench Thursday outscored the Spurs reserves 51-16. In the series, the Utah reserves outscored their Spurs counterparts 203-125.

Forward Adam Keefe scored 18 points to lead the Utah bench in Game 6 and forward Bryon Russell added 15.

“Our bench was sensational,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. “I don’t know how you can ask them to play any better. Bryon’s been a real competitor. He’s got a lot of confidence in his shooting now. He hit some big ones.”

PHOTO BY KEVIN GEIL Sean Elliott (left) and Avery Johnson of the Spurs watch in frustration as hopes for the season run out late in Thursday’s game.

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

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1996-05-17, By Kevin O’Keeffe

马刺的失败，裁判不是罪魁祸首

盐湖城 - 约翰-瓦纳克(John Vanak)，让开！马刺球迷现在有了新的季后赛失败的罪魁祸首：史蒂夫-贾维(Steve Javie)。

正是大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)在马刺最近一次季后赛失利后，正式宣布了这一消息。

“我对今晚的执法非常(生气)，”罗宾逊说，“对贾维来说，这是个人恩怨。他把这种垃圾带到了球场上。”

所以，忘记瓦纳克在1979年东部决赛第7场对阵华盛顿的比赛中，对比利-保尔茨(Billy Paultz)做出的虚假移动掩护犯规判罚吧。

贾维成为了众矢之的。

在大多数马刺球迷的眼中，他将对阿拉莫圆顶体育馆的泥土负责。

我们不能忘记，正是贾维在3月2日的比赛中，在一次争议判罚后，将罗宾逊罚出场。

“他(贾维)告诉我他认为我要打他，”罗宾逊谈到此事时说道。

罗宾逊打了一名裁判？

简直是天方夜谭。

嘿，芝麻街的客串明星也不会打裁判。

“自从我看到他，这种情况就一直持续了一整年，”罗宾逊继续说道，“我只是不喜欢他(贾维)把这种东西带到球场上。”

毫无疑问，贾维对罗宾逊的第二次和第三次犯规的判罚是糟糕的，尤其是第三次——一次犯规，得益于卡尔-马龙(Karl Malone)的奥斯卡级表演。

这发生在第二节开始22秒，实际上结束了罗宾逊本节的比赛。

他的第二次犯规发生在首节还剩4分52秒时，克里斯-莫里斯(Chris Morris)在罗宾逊投篮补篮时撞到了他。

“正如我所说，我不喜欢他(贾维)把这种垃圾带到球场上，”罗宾逊重复了他之前的想法。

让我们看看……这是罗宾逊的第一个(生气)和两个“垃圾”。

如果这不是贾维糟糕执法的证明，那么什么才是。激怒了NBA中最和蔼可亲的人……

对贾维的愤怒将成为马刺球迷的良好治疗。记住，重要的不是你是否赢了，而是你能把责任归咎于谁。

然而，我们不能忘记一件事：

贾维并不是马刺输掉系列赛的原因。

即使是罗宾逊，一个始终秉持公平正义的人，也同意这一点。

“我不怪(贾维)输掉这场比赛，”罗宾逊说，他全场得到17分和8个篮板。

比赛？

哦，对了，比赛。

事实上，西部半决赛第6场与本系列赛的其他三场失利很像——马刺缺乏强度和执行力。

世界上所有的心理学——马刺确实在塞西尔·B·德希尔(Cecil B. De Hill)的安排下，观看了另一部吉恩·哈克曼(Gene Hackman)主演的电影《红色警戒》(Crimson Tide)——都不会在周四晚上有任何作用。

马刺以81-108输给了爵士，这意味着他们在本系列赛中输掉了四场比赛，平均每场输掉26分。

而且他们输给了他们在常规赛中四战三胜的对手。

当人们对贾维糟糕的工作怒火中烧时，让我们记住，马刺再次被对手抢下篮板，再次在投篮命中率上落后于对手，最终输给了爵士，一支拥有与马刺同样多的季后赛失败历史的球队。

“要赞扬犹他队，他们在本系列赛中打得很好，”马刺主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)说，“他们非常自信。”

毫无疑问，能够在松散的防守下投出空位跳投，从第一场开始就增强了他们的信心。

马刺在第一场比赛中就输掉了系列赛，因为他们没有做好比赛准备，尽管他们是在主场作战。

而那晚，史蒂夫-贾维并没有在场。

点击查看原文：Spurs, not a ref, are to blame for playoff loss to Utah

Spurs, not a ref, are to blame for playoff loss to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - Move over, John Vanak. Spurs’ fans now have a new villain for playoff failure: Steve Javie.

And none other than David Robinson made it official in the aftermath of the most recent Spurs’ playoff defeat.

“I’m really (bleeped) off about the officiating tonight,” said Robinson. “With Javie, it was personal. He brought that crap to the floor.”

So forget that phantom moving screen call by Vanak against Billy Paultz in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Washington in the spring of 1979.

Javie becomes public enemy No. 1.

Why, in the minds of most Spurs’ fans, he’ll be responsible for the Alamodome dirt, too.

Lest we forget, it was Javie who ejected Robinson in the March 2 game when the Spurs’ nice-guy center charged him after a disputed call.

“He (Javie) told me he thought I was going to hit him,” Robinson said, referring to the incident.

Robinson hit a referee?

When pigs fly.

Hey, a guest star on Sesame Street wouldn’t hit a referee.

“It’s been the same way all year since I’ve been seeing him,” Robinson continued. “I just don’t appreciate him (Javie) bringing that to the floor.”

No question, Javie’s calls on Robinson’s second and third fouls were atrocious, especially the third one - a charge, thanks to an Academy Award-winning performance by Karl Malone.

That one came 22 seconds into the second quarter and effectively ended Robinson’s participation for the half.

His second foul came with 4:52 to play in the opening quarter when Chris Morris bumped into Robinson as he went up with a follow shot.

“As I said, I don’t appreciate him (Javie) bringing that crap to the floor,” Robinson said, repeating his earlier thought.

Let’s see . . . that’s one (bleeped) and two “craps” for Robinson.

If that’s not a testament to the poor job by Javie, nothing is. To rile up the most pleasant man in the NBA . . .

The anger aimed at Javie will be good therapy for Spurs fans. Remember, it’s not whether you win or lose, but upon whom you can place the blame.

However, let us not forget one thing:

Javie isn’t why the Spurs lost this series.

Even Robinson, ever the fair-minded soul, agreed.

“I don’t blame (Javie) for losing this game,” said Robinson, who finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.

The game?

Oh, yes, the game.

Actually, Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals was much like the other three losses in this series - little intensity and lack of execution on the part of the Spurs.

And not all the psychology in the world - the Spurs did watch another Gene Hackman movie (“Crimson Tide”) courtesy of Cecil B. De Hill - was going to make any difference Thursday night.

The 108-81 loss to the Jazz meant the Spurs lost four games in this set by an average of 26 points per game.

And this to a team they had beaten three of four games in the regular season.

When frothing at the mouth over Javie’s poor work, let us remember that the Spurs were outrebounded - again - and outshot from the field - again -in dropping this game to the Jazz, a team with as much history of playoff failure as the Spurs.

“Give Utah credit, they played well in this series,” said Spurs coach Bob Hill. “They have a great deal of confidence.”

No doubt being able to shoot open jumpers because of lax defense aided that confidence beginning in Game 1.

The Spurs lost this series in Game 1 when they failed to be prepared to play despite being at home.

And Steve Javie was nowhere around that night.

To leave a message for Kevin O’Keeffe, please call ExpressLine at 554-0500 and push 4403.

By Kevin O’Keeffe, via San Antonio Express-News

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1996-05-17, By Jerry Briggs and Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺-爵士笔记

  • 安托万-卡尔(Antoine Carr)说对了：这位前马刺球员一直相信爵士能战胜马刺。"我之前就说过我认为我们能赢他们，”卡尔说。“我认为他们在漫长的系列赛中没有足够的实力来对抗我们。我们有众多的中锋来对抗罗宾逊，还有卡尔-马龙。我没想到我们会赢的如此轻松，但有时一切都会按计划进行。”

  • 斑马保持沉默：NBA裁判史蒂夫-林赛(Steve Lindsey)拒绝评论罗宾逊对裁判史蒂夫-贾维(Steve Javie)的爆发。

  • 最后一张照片：周四早上录像机的故障让金·哈克曼(Gene Hackman)的电影至少暂时被搁置了。

教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)在周二早上播放了一段《天外奇蹟》来为球员注入一些幽默和灵感，他本来计划在周四早上播放一段《赤色风暴》。

“是哈克曼在雨中对他的队员说俄罗斯有麻烦的那段，”希尔在周四上午训练后说。“他对他的队员们（海军）说他只希望他们做到最好，否则他们就可以加入空军了。

“这原本会很完美，很有趣，因为大卫（罗宾逊）曾在海军服役，而格雷格（副总裁波波维奇）曾在空军服役。但录像机出了问题，我们无法播放我们剪进去的哈克曼片段。”

教练说他还没有决定是否在球员在比赛开始前上场前播放这部电影。

  • 墨西哥出局：马刺在过去两个赛季的季前赛中都在墨西哥城比赛，但将在1996-97赛季的季前赛中退出这项赛事。

联盟宣布克利夫兰、菲尼克斯、犹他州和达拉斯将在NBA挑战赛’96中参赛。

点击查看原文：Spurs-Jazz Notes

Spurs-Jazz Notes

- `Dawg’ was right: Former Spur Antoine Carr said he felt confident all along the Jazz would stop the Spurs. “I stated earlier that I thought we could beat them,” Carr said. “I didn’t think they had enough to compete against us in a long series. We have the committee of centers against Robinson and then Karl Malone. I didn’t know that our wins would be so lopsided, but sometimes everything falls into place.”

- Zebra stays silent: NBA official Steve Lindsey declined comment on Robinson’s outburst against referee Steve Javie.

- Last picture show: A glitch in the VCR on Thursday morning put Gene Hackman on the backburner, at least for awhile.

Coach Bob Hill, who had injected a little humor and inspiration into tape watching sessions by showing a slice of “Hoosiers” on Tuesday morning, had planned on a snippet of “Crimson Tide” for Thursday morning.

“It was the scene where Hackman, standing in the rain, tells his guys there’s trouble in Russia,” Hill said after the Thursday morning shootaround. "He told his men (Navy) that he expected nothing but they best, otherwise they could join the Air Force.

“It would have been perfect, humorous, because David (Robinson) was in the Navy and Greg (vice president Popovich) was in the Air Force. But something was wrong with the VCR and we couldn’t show the scouting tape that we spliced in the Hackman piece.”

The coach said he hadn’t decided whether or not to show the film before the players took to the floor just before gametime.

- Mexico out: The Spurs have played preseason games in Mexico City the past two seasons but will sit out the event in the 1996-97 preseason.

The league announced that Cleveland, Phoenix, Utah and Dallas will play in the NBA Challenge '96.

By Jerry Briggs and Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

7

1996-05-17, By Dan Cook

读者对球场看台座位和罗德曼的看法

最近几天，收到了许多不同寻常的邮件和电话留言，大多数都与马刺队有关，当然，还有我写的一篇关于丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)的负面文章。来自乔治-哈钦森(George Hutchinson)： “是谁找到了他？马刺队的管理层里哪位天才把这个家伙藏了整整一个赛季？我指的是那个在阿拉莫穹顶高处抬头，然后说‘嘿，我们可以打开上层看台，以 5 美元的价格出售门票，也许还能吸引一大批观众’的人。但他们宁愿抱怨人少，以便在赛季结束后谈论搬迁。”

（好吧，也许吧。）

来自迈克-卡尔德威尔(Mike Caldwell)： “这里的球迷抱怨马刺队季后赛的比赛开始时间太早（下午 6 点）。我怀疑是电视台造成的。”

（怀疑得到证实。只要任何比赛在全国电视台直播，就可以肯定地说，电视台最有发言权来决定比赛的开始时间。）

来自欧内斯特-加西亚(Ernest Garcia)： “我是一名忠实的马刺队球迷，但我也是现实主义者。无论你喜欢他与否，丹尼斯-罗德曼都让球迷涌入球场。他是球队的执行者。马刺队可能在赛季初查尔斯-巴克利(Charles Barkley)在菲尼克斯抱怨的时候就应该和他达成交易，但这里的管理层不想再要像罗德-斯特里克兰(Rod Strickland)或罗德曼这样的‘问题人物’，他们都是出色的球员，但他们的场外行为却被当地媒体无限放大。” （如果你这么说，欧内斯特。）

来自詹姆斯-R-罗德里格斯(James R. Rodriguez)： “你贬低丹尼斯-罗德曼的方式简直令人发狂。我可以理解为什么许多球迷无法接受他的生活方式、他的身体装饰和染色的头发。但你说圣安东尼奥这里的一些高中生都能比丹尼斯投篮更准，这简直是愚蠢的。你太过分了。”

（感谢你的意见，我也感谢你阅读我的观点。但关于他的投篮能力与这里的一些中学生相比，你并没有改变我的想法，就像我没有改变你的想法一样。）

来自玛乔丽-施罗德(Marjorie Schroeder)： “你有胆量批评丹尼斯-罗德曼，质疑他的勇气和品格。我要告诉你，我把你的那篇恶毒专栏剪了下来，寄给了他。我希望下次他来到圣安东尼奥的时候，能找到你，然后让你老骨头松一松。”

（我的老骨头以前也被人敲过，但从来没有被像丹尼斯这样一只小猫敲过，他花了很多时间和精力装出一副硬汉的样子。不过我承认，他是一个伟大的篮板手，也是一名优秀的竞争者。）

来自托尼-帕拉西奥斯(Tony Palacias)： “他们一直抱怨这里的季后赛门票卖不出去。我们很多吸烟者拒绝回到球馆。他们应该重新考虑一下，至少在某个地方设立一个吸烟区。”

（托尼，你说得有道理，但再过两三年，所有吸烟者都得跑到深山老林里去抽烟，然后熊会把我们赶出来。我想我应该戒烟了。）

来自弗兰克-维拉努埃瓦(Frank Villanueva)： “为什么我们不能在整个赛季都避免所有负面消息？我已经厌倦了听到阿拉莫穹顶不适合打篮球，以及我们多么需要丹尼斯-罗德曼。丹尼斯已经走了，去了芝加哥，而阿拉莫穹顶还在。为什么我们不能学会接受这些事实呢？”

（弗兰克，我觉得你说得有道理。）

来自罗纳德-克莱蒙斯(Ronald Clemmons)： “关于彼得-罗斯(Pete Rose)的情况，我们应该告诉我们的孩子们什么？被发现赌博，你就终身禁赛。被发现吸毒，你就得到五到六次机会。”

（一位仍在棒球界活跃的球员史蒂夫-豪(Steve Howe)已经得到了七次机会。）

点击查看原文：Readers give views on balcony seats, Rodman

Readers give views on balcony seats, Rodman

It’s been an unusual, mixed bag of mail and telephone messages directed here in recent days, most centering around the Spurs, of course, and a rather negative piece I penned about Dennis Rodman. From George Hutchinson: “Who found him? Where was the genius in the Spurs’ front office hiding all season? I’m talking about the one who looked up high in the Alamodome and said, `Hey, we could open that upper balcony, sell tickets for $5 and probably get a great crowd here.’ But they had rather complain about small crowds so they can talk about leaving town when the season ends.”

(Well, maybe.)

From Mike Caldwell: "Fans here complained about the early starting time (6 p.m.) for a Spurs playoff game. I suspect it was TV that caused that.

(Suspicion confirmed. Whenever any game is on national TV it’s a safe bet that network wheels had the loudest say on the starting time.)

From Ernest Garcia: “I’m a loyal Spurs fan but I’m also realistic. Whether you like him or not, Dennis Rodman put fans in the stands. He was the enforcer on the team. The Spurs probably could have made a deal for Charles Barkley early in the season when he was whining in Phoenix but management here didn’t want another `problem’ like Rod Strickland or Rodman, both fantastic players whose off-court activities are magnified by the local press.” (If you say so, Ernest.)

From James R. Rodriguez: “You must be nuts putting down Dennis Rodman the way you did. I can understand why a lot of fans can’t accept his lifestyle, his body decorations and colored hair. But for you to write that there are some high school kids right here in San Antonio that can outshoot Dennis is a stupid stretch. You went too far.”

(Thanks for your opinion and I appreciate you reading mine. But, regarding his shooting ability compared to a few schoolboys here, you haven’t changed my mind anymore than I changed yours.)

From Marjorie Schroeder: “You have a lot of nerve knocking Dennis Rodman, questioning his courage and character. I want you to know that I clipped your nasty column and sent it to him. I hope the next time he comes to San Antonio he looks you up and rattles your old bones.”

(My old bones have been rattled before, but never by a pussycat like Dennis who spends so much of his time and efforts posing as a tough guy. I do concede, however, that he’s a great rebounder and a good competitor.)

From Tony Palacias: “They keep complaining about unsold seats for the playoffs here. A lot of us smokers refuse to go back to the arena. They should reconsider and have at least one smoking section somewhere.”

(You’ve got a point, Tony, but in another two or three years all smokers will have to go deep into the woods to light up and then the bears will chase us out. I think I’ll quit.)

From Frank Villanueva: “Why can’t we have a whole season here without all the negatives? I am sick of hearing about the Alamodome being a bad place for basketball and how we need Dennis Rodman. Dennis is gone, in Chicago, and the Alamodome is here. Why can’t we all learn to live with those facts?”

(That makes sense to me, Frank.)

From Ronald Clemmons: “On Pete Rose’s situation, what are we telling our children? Get caught gambling and you’re suspended for life. Get caught using illegal drugs and you get five or six chances.”

(Seven chances for one player who is still active in baseball, Steve Howe.)

By Dan Cook, via San Antonio Express-News

8

1996-05-17, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

尘埃落定：犹他6场晋级—爵士前往西雅图，马刺回家

关灯吧……圣安东尼奥1995-96赛季在周四晚上以一场出人意料的第二轮惨败落下帷幕，犹他爵士功不可没。

爵士在下半场对马刺进行狂轰滥炸，在三角洲中心以108比81的比分赢得了西部半决赛系列赛，大比分为4-2。

进入最后一场比赛时，犹他以78-61领先，在大卫·贝努瓦命中三分球和卡尔·马龙罚球后，他们以87-65将领先优势扩大到22分，比赛还剩7:01。

马刺开始孤注一掷地投出三分球。文尼·德尔内格罗命中两球，但爵士予以匹配，并继续保持势头。他们在圣安东尼奥两次无得分的机会中，抓住机会拿下了四分，在比赛还剩4:13时将领先优势扩大到96-73。

马刺现在在球队的历史上客场进行的15场季后赛淘汰赛中已经输掉了12场。

爵士在第三节以19分领先。圣安东尼奥逐渐缩小差距，在罗宾逊抢到阿弗里·约翰逊上篮未进的球后，将比分追至70-58，此时比赛还剩不到两分钟时间。

但犹他重新以75-58领先，他们利用了罗宾逊罚球不中以及约翰逊一次带球失误的机会。德尔内格罗在底线命中三分球，将马刺的差距缩小到14分，但杰夫·霍纳塞克在还剩五秒时用三分球予以回应。

第三节还剩5:31时，马龙在一次快攻扣篮后的落地非常重，爵士受到惊吓。

罗宾逊似乎在马龙起跳时拉住了他。马龙在地上躺了大约一分钟，爵士队的训练师迈克·西蒙里斯基对他进行了治疗。马龙坐在板凳席上休息了一两分钟，然后重返比赛。

在第一节比赛的后两节结束时，爵士以13分（51-38）领先。

罗宾逊上半场只打了7分钟，因为他在板凳席上坐了3次犯规。第二节开始仅14秒，裁判史蒂夫·贾维吹罚他对抗马龙时违规，而这个中锋没有得到任何分数。

主教练鲍勃·希尔在边线上爆发了。罗宾逊勃然大怒。当这个中锋走到板凳席时，他将热身服和毛巾扔到了地板上。回放显示，这个判罚值得商榷，因为马龙是朝马刺中锋移动的。

在第一节结束时以22-17落后5分的马刺，在罗宾逊离场后投篮不进，落后7分。

爵士在第二节还剩7分钟时，安托万·卡尔拿下4分，克里斯·莫里斯命中三分球，将球队以33-20领先。

马刺继续紧追不舍，在德尔内格罗投篮后，上半场还剩2分钟时，他们以46-38落后8分。

但爵士在下半场拿下了最后五分。

点击查看原文：That's all, folks: Utah in 6 - Jazz go to Seattle, Spurs headed home

That’s all, folks: Utah in 6 - Jazz go to Seattle, Spurs headed home

Turn out the lights . . . San Antonio’s 1995-96 season came to an unanticipated second-round crash ending Thursday night, discourtesy of the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz, shellacking the Spurs in the second half, won the Western Conference semifinal series 4-2 with a 108-81 victory at the Delta Center.

Utah, which led 78-61 going into the final period, pushed its advantage to 87-65 after a David Benoit three-pointer and a Karl Malone free throw with 7:01 left in the game.

The Spurs started heaving up desperation three-pointers. Vinny Del Negro hit two but the Jazz matched and kept their roll going. They took advantage of two scoreless San Antonio possessions, scoring four points and seizing a 96-73 lead with 4:13 left in the game.

The Spurs have now lost 12 of the 15 playoff elimination games they have played on the road in the history of the franchise.

The Jazz led by 19 points in the third period. San Antonio whittled away at the deficit, got it down to 70-58 after a Robinson

tap in of an Avery Johnson missed layup try with less than two minutes to go.

But Utah vaulted back in front 75-58, taking advantage of two Robinson missed free throws and an driving turnover by Johnson. Del Negro brought the Spurs back to within 14 with a three-pointer from the side but Jeff Hornacek answered with a three with five seconds left.

The Jazz received a scare at the 5:31 mark of the third quarter when Malone went to the floor hard after a running slam dunk with 5:31 left in the third quarter.

It appeared that Robinson hooked the Utah forward on the way up. Malone lay on the floor for about a minute, attended to by Jazz trainer Mike Shimensky. Malone went to the bench for a moment or two and then returned to the game.

The Jazz enjoyed a 13-point, 51-38, lead at the end of the first two quarters.

Robinson played only seven minutes in the half, nailed to the bench with three fouls. The center, who had no points, picked up his third when ref Steve Javie whistled him for a charge into Malone just 14 seconds into the second period.

Coach Bob Hill erupted on the sidelines. Robinson was furious. When the center went to the bench, he tossed his warm-ups and towel to the floor. Replays showed the call was questionable, with Malone moving into the Spur center’s path.

The Spurs, who trailed by five, 22-17, at the end of the first quarter, trailed by seven after a Stockton jumper when Robinson left.

The Jazz, pushed by four points from Antoine Carr and a three-pointer by Chris Morris, drove to a 33-20 lead with seven minutes left in the second.

The Spurs kept shoving back and were within eight, 46-38, after a Del Negro shot, with two minutes left in the half.

But the Jazz scored the last five points of the half.

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

9

1996-05-17, By Buck Harvey

毫无借口：赛季结束，不是哨声

盐湖城 - 大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)从未如此愤怒过。他从未说过类似这样的话：“我的批评者会很开心。” 对于那些认为他不在乎的人，所有迹象表明，这个夏天他将回到阿斯彭，沉浸在这件事中，他的怒火会融化山上的积雪。

但当罗宾逊谈到那个“个人化”的裁判，谈到那个他认为是“垃圾”的对他判罚的第三次犯规时，或许真正的愤怒源于他与裁判发生冲突之后的一切。

毕竟，下半场重新回到球场后，落后13分，罗宾逊的马刺队从未接近过。这是结束另一个赛季的正确方式吗？

事实是，马刺队没有因为裁判判罚输掉这个系列赛。他们在第一场比赛中以松散的鞋带登场，而他们在上周末的犹他州比赛中根本没有出现。这就是为什么艾弗里-约翰逊(Avery Johnson)说上赛季的休斯顿系列赛现在看起来好多了。至少当时他们很接近。

周四总结了一切。爵士的边缘球员提升到了明星水平；同一个周二只打了5分钟的亚当-基夫(Adam Keefe)，周四晚上拿下了18分。在约翰-斯托克顿(John Stockton)和卡尔-马龙(Karl Malone)的示范下，爵士队移动得更好，防守更出色，篮板球也抢得更多。

这就是为什么鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)可以毫不犹豫地说：“他们从各个方面都碾压了我们。”

他还说“裁判的判罚很正常”，但不需要专家就能从他的肢体语言中看出他没有说真话。马刺队讨厌周四发生的一切。毕竟，罗宾逊似乎低声说了个词，这个词似乎不在旧约里，AJ试图向裁判展示斯托克顿如何用肘击他——在死球时刻，他当着裁判的面用肘击了斯托克顿。

发生在罗宾逊身上的事让人惊讶，因为圣大卫从来不与任何人争吵。但在3月2日，当罗宾逊为了抗议一个判罚冲向名叫史蒂夫-贾维(Steve Javie)的裁判时，一切都改变了。“他当时以为我要打他，”罗宾逊说着，甚至对这个想法都翻白眼。

贾维当时没有给出警告就直接将罗宾逊罚下。“从那以后，每次我看到他，”罗宾逊说，“都是一样的。”

所以，罗宾逊早早搭乘球队巴士前往球馆，为了这个赛季最重要的比赛热身投篮——然后看到他的伙伴被罚下了。不到7分钟，罗宾逊就领到了两次犯规。

第二节开始后，他回到球场，在第一个回合中向左突破。马龙移动脚步，假摔倒地。

马龙确实在移动，所以不吹罚可能是最好的判罚。但请考虑这一点：马龙做出了完美的赌博。他利用一次犯规的机会，用身体的中心部分撞上了罗宾逊，迫使裁判做出判罚。如果同样的情况发生在马龙身上，在阿拉莫穹顶，很少有圣安东尼奥人会觉得爵士队受到了不公正的待遇。

马刺队当时有一个优势；在上周末之后，他们已经习惯了没有罗宾逊的情况下比赛。当AJ从斯托克顿身边突破，将比分缩小到6分时，看起来马刺队已经挺了过来。

但AJ在下半场结束时又尝试了一次。另一个从无名之辈变成本系列赛明星的人正在等待他。布莱恩-拉塞尔(Bryon Russell)。他封盖了AJ，给了斯托克顿足够的时间投进三分球——并将三角洲中心带入欢呼声中。

尽管如此，一个休息过的罗宾逊还在等待。他后来表示，回来“就像重新开始比赛”。但从他当时的得分方式来看，很难说。

尽管如此，下半场落后13分，一个有竞争力的球队应该会在第三节结束前将差距缩小到8分，甚至更少。然后他们会追上比分。

但马刺队不是有竞争力的球队。难怪他们对此感到愤怒。

点击查看原文：No excuses: Season blown, not whistles

No excuses: Season blown, not whistles

SALT LAKE CITY - Never has David Robinson been angrier. Never has he said something like this: “My critics will have a field day.” And for those who thought the guy didn’t care, every sign says he will go back to Aspen this summer, dwell about this and his steam will melt the mountain snow.

But as Robinson talked about the official who got “personal,” who called a third foul on him he thought was “garbage,” maybe the real anger comes from everything after his run-in with a ref.

After all, back in the lineup after halftime, down by 13, the Robinson Spurs never came close. Is that anyway to end another season?

Truth is, the Spurs didn’t lose this series on calls. They showed up for Game 1 with sneakers untied, and they didn’t show up last weekend in Utah at all. That’s why Avery Johnson said the Houston series last season seems so much better now. Then they were close, at least.

Thursday summed it all up. Jazz bit players rose to star levels; the same Adam Keefe who played five minutes Tuesday scored 18 Thursday night. And with John Stockton and Karl Malone showing them how, the Jazz moved better, defended better, rebounded better.

That’s why Bob Hill could say without hesitation: “They just kicked our butts every way you can.”

He also said “the officiating was fine,” but it didn’t take an expert in body language to know he didn’t mean it. The Spurs hated what happened Thursday. After all, Robinson appeared to mouth a word that does not appear to be in the Old Testament and AJ tried to show a ref how Stockton elbowed him - by elbowing Stockton in front of a ref during a dead-ball moment.

What happened to Robinson amazed, since Saint David never feuds with anyone. But on March 2, when Robinson ran at a ref named Steve Javie to protest a call, life changed. “He thought I was going to hit him then,” said Robinson, rolling his eyes at even the idea.

Javie tossed Robinson then without giving a warning. “Everytime I’ve seen him since,” said Robinson, “it’s been the same.”

So Robinson took the early team bus to the arena, shot around for the biggest game of his season - and then saw his buddy trot out. And within seven minutes Robinson had two fouls.

He came back as the second quarter began, and, on the first play drove to his left. Malone moved his feet, flopped and fell.

Malone was moving, so a non-call might have been the best call. But consider this: Malone made the perfect gamble. With a foul to burn, he took Robinson with the center of his body and made the officials call something. Had the same happened to Malone in the Alamodome, few San Antonians would have felt the Jazz had been treated poorly.

The Spurs had one advantage at that time; after last weekend, they were accustomed to playing without Robinson. And when AJ drove by Stockton to pull within six, it appeared the Spurs had survived.

But AJ tried it again at the end of the half. Waiting was another guy who came from nowhere to be a star in this series. Bryon Russell. He blocked AJ, giving Stockton just enough time to throw down a trey - and throw the Delta Center into celebration.

Still, a rested Robinson waited. He said later that coming back was “like starting the game over.” But it was hard to tell, the way he scored then.

Still, down by 13 at half, a contender would have whittled that margin to 8, maybe fewer, by the end of the third period. And then closed.

But the Spurs aren’t contenders. No wonder they’re mad about it.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

10

1996-05-18, By Kevin O’Keeffe

马刺可能永远无法逃离季后赛炼狱

“这个系列赛结束后，一方将晋级天堂，另一方将在炼狱中再待一年，备受质疑。”——犹他爵士队助理教练戈登·基耶萨在谈到爵士队和马刺队之间的西部联盟系列赛时说。这两支球队过着平行的生活——常规赛取得成功，季后赛却令人失望。炼狱……除了圣安东尼奥别无他处。

截至周五拂晓，马刺队最近的季后赛失利看起来并没有好多少。

然而，在西部联盟半决赛中，马刺队违反了前德克萨斯橄榄球队教练达雷尔·罗亚尔的原则：“与把你带进来的人共舞。”

在与爵士队的六场系列赛中，爵士队实际上比马刺队获得了更多的快攻得分（56-42），而这一节奏明快的比赛却引发了马刺队在常规赛中取得 59 场胜利。该系列赛于周四晚上在盐湖城结束。

当然，马刺队在篮板球上 -23 的数据是其没有进行跑轰比赛的一个诱发因素。球队还缺乏球的转移。

当马刺队无法进行跑轰时，他们的表现非常一般。文尼·德尔·内格罗、肖恩·艾利奥特、艾弗里·约翰逊和大卫·罗宾逊在转换进攻时发挥得最好。

今天，关于马刺队的唯一转换就是下个赛季该做什么。

正如我季后赛前所写，这支球队拥有球队历史上最大的压力，其历史可追溯到 1973-74 赛季的美式篮球协会。这支球队代表着球队在这里的未来。

马刺队为自己的球场而做出的努力，在常规赛中（3-1）主导了一支球队后，在本轮季后赛中失利，却不会引起公众的热情。

对于痛苦的球迷来说，“向前冲，马刺！”可能有了新的含义。

不过，许多忠实的球迷会注意到马刺队是“一群好人”。

同意。

但即使是好人，也必须做好自己的工作。马刺队在对阵爵士队的比赛中没有做到这一点。

其中首要的是罗宾逊，他已效力马刺队七年，但在对阵爵士队的大部分时间里，他仍然表现得像一只被困在大灯前的鹿。

软纸巾球队名副其实。

不过，最令人不安的是，软弱几乎更多的是心理上的，而不是身体上的。

整个系列赛中，仅在周二晚上在阿拉莫圆顶球场进行的第 5 场比赛中，马刺队才表现出一点火花。在第 1 场和第 3 场比赛中，马刺队了无生趣。

那现在呢？

没什么。

这就是锁定不合格的球员卡尔·埃雷拉和查尔斯·史密斯进行长期合同的危险，就像副总裁格雷格·波波维奇所做的那样。为了绕开工资帽，波波维奇必须成为一个金融魔术师。

很明显，马刺队需要一名强壮、有身体素质的大前锋来减轻罗宾逊的压力。

但这不就是波波维奇为什么与纽约交易得到史密斯的呢？史密斯获得了 1950 万美元的保障？

史密斯会证明自己的价值吗？他最好证明自己，因为这笔工资让马刺队无法追求底特律活塞队的奥蒂斯·索普。

罗宾逊身边必须有人担当大前锋的角色。这是特里·卡明斯在罗宾逊新秀赛季所提供的。

这也是前马刺队副总裁鲍勃·巴斯在打破尼斯，呃，丹尼斯之前相信丹尼斯·罗德曼可以担当的角色。

也许是一笔艾利奥特换取查尔斯·巴克利的交易？

马刺队还必须寻找一位能够更稳定命中外线的控球后卫。

艾弗里·约翰逊是一位拥有令人难以置信的奉献精神的优秀球员，但除了第 5 场比赛外，犹他队的约翰·斯托克顿可能不知道当马刺队控球时，AJ 甚至在场。

作为控球后卫，AJ 必须因进攻陷入困境而受到批评，在对阵犹他队的比赛中，平均每场比赛仅得 83.5 分。

我想，鲍勃·希尔将在俱乐部选择的情况下以合同中的最后一年回归。不过，如果考虑到马刺队在对阵犹他队的比赛中平均每场比赛输掉了 23 分，我也不会感到惊讶。

希尔声称在半决赛中输给犹他队并不是一年前在西部决赛中输给休斯顿火箭队的倒退。

带着这样的想法，我希望希尔是我的几何老师。

希尔谈到了马刺队的发展和成熟。

“在过去的 11 年里，犹他爵士在首轮就被淘汰了六次，”希尔谈到卡尔·马龙和斯托克顿时代的爵士队时说道。

但爵士队也在五年内迎来了第三次西部决赛。

对我来说，马刺队未来的最佳迹象出现在罗宾逊

承认自己的表现不佳时。

“我（更衣室里）让那 12 个人失望了，”他说。

一年前，罗宾逊说他觉得自己在对阵休斯顿的哈基姆·奥拉朱旺时表现得很好，而在除了大卫的直系亲属以外的所有人眼中，奥拉朱旺都主导了大卫。

罗宾逊说：“批评家们会充分利用这次（输给爵士队的）事件。”

这就是在炼狱中的生活。

点击查看原文：Spurs may never escape from playoff purgatory

Spurs may never escape from playoff purgatory

“After this series, someone is going to enter heaven, the other is going to be in purgatory for another year of questions.” - Utah Jazz assistant coach Gordon Chiesa on the Western Conference series between the Jazz and Spurs, two franchises that have lived parallel lives - success in the regular season and disappointment in the playoffs. Purgatory . . . nowhere else but San Antonio.

By dawn’s early light Friday, the Spurs’ most recent playoff demise didn’t look much better.

Yet, in the Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs violated former Texas football coach Darrell Royal’s code:

“Dance with the one who brung you.”

The up-tempo game that sparked the Spurs to a 59-victory regular season was nonexistent against the Jazz, which actually recorded more fast-break points (56-42) than the Spurs in the six-game series that ended Thursday night in Salt Lake City.

Of course, the minus-23 reading on the boards for the Spurs was a contributory factor in the lack of a running game. There was also a lack of ball movement.

And when the Spurs can’t run, they are very average. Vinny Del Negro, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson and David Robinson are at their best in transition.

Today, the only transition concerning the Spurs deals with what to do for next season.

As I wrote before the playoffs, this team had the biggest burden of any in the history of the franchise, dating back to its American

Basketball Association roots in 1973-74. This team was playing for the future of the team here.

The push the Spurs make for their own arena won’t quite have the public fervor in light of this playoff loss to a team they dominated in the regular season (3-1).

For the anguished fans, “Go Spurs!” could take on a new meaning.

Still, many of the faithful will note the Spurs are “a good bunch of guys.”

Agreed.

But even good guys must do their jobs. The Spurs didn’t against the Jazz.

Foremost among them was Robinson, who in his seventh year still had that look of a deer caught in the headlights most of the time against the Jazz.

Team Charmin lived up to that label.

What is most disconcerting, though, is the softness is almost more mental than physical.

Only once in the series - Game 5 on Tuesday night in the Alamodome - did the Spurs have much spark. In Games 1 and 3, the Spurs mailed it in.

So now what?

Not much.

That’s the danger to locking up nonperformers like Carl Herrera and Charles Smith to long-term contracts as VP Gregg Popovich has done. To get around the cap, Popovich will have to be a monetary Houdini.

It’s apparent the Spurs need a tough, physical power forward to take the pressure off Robinson.

But wasn’t that why Popovich made the trade to New York for Smith, who has $19.5 million guaranteed?

Will Smith redeem himself? He’d better because that salary prevents the Spurs from going after Detroit’s Otis Thorpe.

Robinson must have that power-forward presence. That’s what Terry Cummings provided Robinson’s rookie year.

And that’s what former Spurs VP Bob Bass believed Dennis Rodman could be before Denice, er, Dennis went over the edge.

Maybe an Elliott-for-Charles Barkley deal?

The Spurs also must look for a point guard who can hit the outside shot more consistently.

Avery Johnson is one of the all-time good guys with incredible dedication, but, save for Game 5, Utah’s John Stockton may not have known AJ was even on the floor when the Spurs had the ball.

As the point guard, AJ must receive criticism for the offense bogging down, averaging 83.5 points per game against Utah.

Bob Hill, I assume, will be back with one year left on his contract at the club’s option. I won’t be surprised, though, if he is not in light of the Spurs losing by an average of 23 points per game against Utah.

Hill claimed the loss in the semifinals to Utah wasn’t a step back from the loss in the Western finals to Houston a year ago.

With that thinking, I wish Hill had been my geometry teacher.

Hill talks about the Spurs evolving, maturing.

“In the last 11 years, Utah has been beaten in the first round six times,” Hill said of the Jazz in the Karl Malone and Stockton era.

But the Jazz also are in their third West finals in five years.

To me, the best sign for the Spurs’ future came when Robinson

acknowledged his poor play.

“I disappointed those 12 guys in there (the locker room),” he said.

A year ago, Robinson said he felt he played well against Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon, who dominated David in the eyes of everyone other than David’s immediate family.

“The critics will have a field day with this (loss to the Jazz),” Robinson said.

Such is life in purgatory.

To leave a message for Kevin O’Keeffe, please call ExpressLine at 554-0500 and push 4403. professional pro NBA National Basketball Association playoff playoffs

By Kevin O’Keeffe, via San Antonio Express-News

11

1996-05-18, By Dan Cook

假摔和误判帮助马刺球迷减轻痛苦

经过深思熟虑，我认为上周四晚上在犹他州，上帝对马刺队和他们的球迷很仁慈。他让我们看到了卡尔-马龙(Karl Malone)在犯规时的精彩假摔，以及裁判史蒂夫-贾维(Steve Javie)对这次犯规的误判。现在我们有五个月的时间来讨论这次假摔和误判，并以此作为马刺队再次无缘季后赛的原因。

在过去的几年里，我们从未有过如此好的借口。现在我们有了一些可以炫耀的东西，尽管它只是一个很薄的借口。

毫无疑问，贾维的错误伤害了马刺队。它不仅让大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)在第二节开局不久就被吹了三次犯规下场，而且还扰乱了整个球队的思路和教练的战术。

尽管如此，将这场27分的惨败归咎于一个早期的犯规还是有些牵强。但大多数忠实的球迷如果下定决心，可以把一个气球吹成飞艇，所以这个假摔和误判在接下来的几个月里可能会成为一个大问题。

罗宾逊坚信贾维对他怀恨在心，原因是这位裁判在3月2日的一场比赛中毫无预兆地将大卫罚出场。

当时大卫冲向他想要质疑一个判罚，但还没开始辩解就被裁判吹了技术犯规。

“他告诉我他认为我要打他，”罗宾逊后来解释道。

既然如此，贾维先生最好永远不要尝试转行去做棒球裁判，因为在棒球比赛中，球员和教练会像野牛一样冲向裁判，然后说出一些带有攻击性的言论，而且他们说话时嘴唇几乎贴近裁判的耳朵。

几十年前，一位名叫达斯蒂-博格斯(Dusty Bogess)的著名裁判在听了捕手对他视力的近距离评价了10到15秒后，就对他吹了技术犯规。这位捕手的教练后来问达斯蒂，“他骂了你吗？”这位裁判回答说，“没有，但他有口臭。”

然而，棒球场上没有身高7英尺的球员。但如果贾维害怕如此高大的球员，并担心会被打，

那么他最好去那种精灵工厂做一份坐在办公室的工作，那里制作着饼干。

无论如何，在马龙的艺术级假摔之后，对罗宾逊的判罚，再加上大卫在第一节被吹的两次犯规，应该会让一些球迷在接下来的几个月里一直谈论“犹他州的大抢劫”。

你可以打赌，至少有几千人在今年晚些时候贾维再次来到阿拉莫穹顶时，会用相应的“欢呼声”来迎接他。

这个假摔和误判甚至可能会分散人们对即将到来的“我们需要一座新的球馆”的讨论，这些讨论将在几周内再次出现，甚至可能更早。

就我个人而言，我为马刺队的球员感到难过，他们在周四晚上坐在板凳上，看着时钟一分一秒地流逝，尤其是大卫和埃弗里-约翰逊(Avery Johnson)。

他们的脸上充满了愤怒、沮丧和困惑。失望还没有到来，尽管它肯定很快就会到来。

肖恩-埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)，在这个季后赛系列赛中绝非全明星球员，看起来像个悲伤而恐惧的孩子，就像一个逃学后害怕回家的孩子。

他们在经历了一个伟大的常规赛之后，这次充满了希望。但他们在赛季结束前的最后几分钟里，却坐在板凳上，可能都在思考着不同的想法。

“保持专注”一直是球队的口号，但他们当时却毫无专注力。就像他们在犹他州的每一场季后赛中一样。

点击查看原文：Flop-and-flub play should help ease pain for Spurs fans

Flop-and-flub play should help ease pain for Spurs fans

After giving the matter considerable thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that the good Lord was kind to the Spurs and their fans Thursday night in Utah. He gave us Karl Malone’s fabulous flop while committing a foul and referee Steve Javie’s flubbed call on the play. Now we’ve all got five months to discuss that flop-and-flub and use it as the reason the Spurs exited from the playoffs - again.

In years gone by, we never had such a great excuse. Now we’ve got something to hang our caps on, even though it’s a thin tack.

There’s no question that Javie’s error hurt the Spurs. Not only did it send David Robinson to the bench with three fouls early in the second period, but it rattled the minds of the whole team and the game plan of coaches.

Still, it’s a long stretch to blame one early foul on a 27-point whipping. But most devout fans can stretch a party balloon into a blimp when they set their minds to it, so the flop-and-flub may become a monster in months to come.

Robinson is convinced Javie is holding a personal grudge against him ever since that same ref ejected David without warning from a game on March 2.

That was when David charged him to dispute a call and got thumbed before he could begin to make his point.

“He told me he thought I was going to hit him,” Robinson later explained.

That being the case, Mr. Javie had better not ever try a career change and start umpiring baseball, where players and managers charge umpires like wild bulls and then offer opinions with just enough room for lip movement without touching.

Dusty Bogess, a famed umpire of decades ago, once thumbed a catcher after listening to just 10 or 15 seconds of up-close adjectives about his eyesight. The catcher’s manager later asked Dusty, “Did he curse you?” The umpire replied, “No, but he has bad breath.”

Baseball, however, doesn’t have any 7-foot players. But if Javie is frightened by men of such great size and worries about being hit

then he’d be better off with a desk job in that elf factory where they make cookies.

At any rate, that one call on Robinson, after Malone’s artistic flop and coupled with two first-quarter fouls against David, should keep some fans buzzing about the “Great Robbery in Utah” for several months.

You can bet that at least a few thousand here will remember Javie and greet him with appropriate “cheers” on his next visit to the Alamodome later this year.

The flop-and-flub may even distract from upcoming “We need a new stadium” talks when they flare again in a few weeks, if not sooner.

Personally, I felt sorry for the Spurs’ players as they sat on the bench while the clock wound through the final minutes Thursday night, especially David and Avery Johnson.

Their faces reflected anger, frustration and confusion. Disappointment had not yet set in although it was certain to soon arrive.

Sean Elliott, anything but an All-Star in that playoff series, looked like a sad and frightened child, like a kid who had played hookey and was afraid to go home.

Their hopes had been so high this time after a great regular season. But there they sat on the bench during the final few minutes of a season they knew was over, probably thinking different thoughts.

“Staying focused” has been the team’s buzz phrase, but they were far out of focus at that point. Just as they were on each playoff game in Utah. professional pro NBA National Basketball

Association playoff playoffs Western Conference semifinals

By Dan Cook, via San Antonio Express-News

12

要是还能看到那时的比赛图片就好了。犹他双煞小动作很多的，尤其斯托克顿被很多球员说打球脏，那时的马刺打球太干净善良了，而银头教练希尔真是菜！

13

1996-05-18, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

希尔说球队缺乏对阵爵士的“恐惧”

马刺队在周五将他们赛季结束的会议推迟到周一，这可能是球队在季后赛被犹他爵士淘汰后，球队内部蔓延的沮丧情绪的一种体现。“我们决定今天只做体检，然后在周一开会，”马刺队主教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)说道。“当赛季结束时，这样做总是更好的。你知道，除非你赢得冠军，否则赛季总是以失败告终，而消化和反思这些事情总是更好的。最好等等。”

当然，下周，对爵士的失利可能看起来也不会好多少。无论你什么时候坐下来评估犹他队在七场四胜制系列赛中令人惊讶的轻松地以4-2战胜马刺队的过程，它仍然是一个重大失望。

马刺队在常规赛中取得了59场胜利，比爵士队多赢了4场。他们在面对面的比赛中击败了爵士队三次。在季后赛首轮，马刺队以3-1的战绩战胜了菲尼克斯太阳队，在五场三胜制系列赛中以4-1的战绩淘汰了对手。

但是面对犹他队，马刺队输掉了四场比赛，分差分别为15分、20分、30分和27分。爵士队在周四晚上于盐湖城举行的第六场比赛中以108-81的比分获胜，从而锁定胜局。

在去年取得62场胜利并打进联盟决赛之后，这场失利给马刺队教练、球员和球迷都留下了苦涩的滋味。

“今年比第一年更难，因为我们去年取得了成功，现实情况是，当你达到一定的成功水平时，有时很难回到那里，”希尔说道。“这有点像（女演员）米歇尔-菲佛(Michelle Pfeiffer)在（电影）《危险的思想》(Dangerous Minds)中说的那样，取得一个‘A’比保持一个‘A’容易得多。”

希尔说，整个赛季都可以被归类为“巨大的成功”，因为球队“很容易就能赢得61场或62场比赛”。他还认为，在赛季初的伤病过后，替补球员查克-珀森(Chuck Person)和威尔-珀杜(Will Perdue)的贡献“拯救了这个赛季”。

3月份，马刺队赢下了全部16场比赛，并创造了球队历史上17连胜的纪录，这很大程度上得益于在交易来查尔斯-史密斯(Charles Smith)之后，球队阵容的稳定。59胜23负的战绩是球队历史上第二好的战绩。

但是随着成功的到来，季后赛中也带来了更高的期望——这些期望最终没有实现。

具有讽刺意味的是，希尔说，马刺队在四场比赛中战胜太阳队，然后休假一天，才开始为对阵爵士队的比赛进行训练，这可能是他们失败的开始。

“他们第二天来参加训练，我感觉到他们感觉太好了，”希尔说道。“他们很努力地训练。但我认为他们有一种自己会赢的感觉。他们没有任何恐惧。我们在第一场比赛中输掉了（犹他）系列赛。在那之后，我们一直在追赶。你可以称之为心理破坏。在那场比赛之后，我们再也没有真正恢复过来。”

在第一场比赛中，爵士队——在经过一天的旅行后没有休息——以95-75的比分在阿拉莫穹顶(Alamodome)击败了马刺队。最终，犹他队在系列赛中取得了3-1的领先优势，并一路领先。

“你拥有的这种化学反应优势是一个脆弱的因素，”希尔说道。“我们一直拥有良好的化学反应和态度。我们在菲尼克斯，亚利桑那州和犹他州之间某个地方失去了它。”

爵士队让马刺队球星大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)和肖恩-埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)感到沮丧。

罗宾逊场均得到19.3分，投篮命中率为47.5%。埃利奥特场均得到14.2分，命中率为33%。这两名球员都远低于他们在常规赛中的全明星水平。

“昨晚简直是笑话（裁判执法），”希尔说道。“裁判就是不让（大卫）打球。所以，从职业角度来说，你把那场比赛扔掉吧。太可惜了，裁判对他做了什么。这不是借口。这就是比赛的现实和个性。我知道大卫可以打得更好。”

在盐湖城进行的三场比赛中，罗宾逊只得到39分，这一数据将为那些想要称他为“软弱”的人在今年夏天提供更多讨论的素材。

“我更看重篮球比赛中的12名球员，每个人都需要完成自己的角色，”希尔说道。“如果大卫场均得到35分，18个篮板和4次盖帽，也不能保证我们能赢。他打得不好。但其他人也不好。我想，当事情不顺利时，（球迷们）就开始责怪全明星。”

埃利奥特在常规赛中对阵犹他队场均得到24分，但他大部分时间都面临着严密的双人包夹。希尔说，埃利奥特对压力并不总是能很好地做出反应。

“人们不想听到这些，”希尔说道。“但是当他去年打出好成绩，然后今年成为全明星的时候，这提高了他的期望值，也增加了他的责任。（爵士队）在他运球的时候冲着他去，这让他很难得到投篮机会。”

希尔说，埃利奥特还在学习比赛。

“肖恩还在学习阶段，”他说。“我认为他一直在努力。他打得很努力。对他来说，我认为他遇到了很多不同的防守，而且他并不总是能很好地应对。但他从中学到了很多。”

点击查看原文：Hill says team lacked `fear' of playing Jazz

Hill says team lacked `fear’ of playing Jazz

The Spurs on Friday postponed their season-ending meeting until Monday, perhaps a reflection of the frustration permeating the franchise after its playoff elimination at the hands of the Utah Jazz. “We decided to just do the physicals today and then have the meeting on Monday,” Spurs coach Bob Hill said. “It’s always better that way when the season ends. You know, unless you win a championship, the season ends on a loss, and it’s always better to digest and reflect on things. It’s better to wait.”

Then again, the loss to the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals probably won’t look any better next week, either. No matter when you sit down to evaluate Utah’s surprisingly easy 4-2 romp past the Spurs in the best-of-seven series, it still comes out as a major disappointment.

The Spurs won 59 games in the regular season, four more than the Jazz. They defeated the Jazz three out of four times in head-to-head matchups. In the first round of the playoffs, the Spurs rolled past the Phoenix Suns in four games, winning the best-of-five set 3-1.

But against Utah, the Spurs lost four games by margins of 15, 20, 30 and 27 points. A 108-81 victory by the Jazz on Thursday night in Salt Lake City in Game 6 was the clincher.

Coming on the heels of a 62-win season and a trip to the conference finals last year, it left a sour taste in the mouths of Spurs coaches, players and fans.

“This was a much more difficult year than the first year because of the success last year, the reality that when you reach a level of success, sometimes it’s hard to get back there,” Hill said. "It’s kind of like what (actress) Michelle Pfeiffer said in (the movie) Dangerous Minds,' that it's a lot easier to make an A’ than to keep an `A.’ "

Hill said the season as a whole could be categorized as “a smashing success,” because the team "easily could have won 61 or 62

games." He also believed contributions by reserves Chuck Person and Will Perdue in the wake of early-season injuries may have “saved the season.”

In March, the Spurs won all 16 games and went on to post a franchise-record, 17-game winning streak, largely as a result of a stabilized rotation in the wake of the trade for Charles Smith. The 59-23 record ranked as the second-best in franchise history.

But with the success came greater expectations in the playoffs -expectations that ultimately weren’t met.

Ironically, Hill said the Spurs beating the Suns in four games, then taking a day off before resuming practice for the Jazz, may have been the beginning of the end.

“They came in the next day for practice and I sensed they were feeling too good,” Hill said. “They worked hard. But I think they had a feeling that they’d win it. They didn’t have any fear in them. We lost that (Utah) series in Game 1. After that, we were playing catchup. You could call it psychological sabotage. We never really got it back after that game.”

In Game 1, the Jazz - with no rest coming off a travel day -pounded the Spurs 95-75 at the Alamodome. Eventually, Utah took a 3-1 lead in the series and never looked back.

“That edge you have with chemistry is a fragile element,” Hill said. “We’ve always had great chemistry and attitude. We lost that somewhere between Phoenix, Ariz., and Utah.”

The Jazz frustrated Spurs stars David Robinson and Sean Elliott.

Robinson averaged 19.3 points and shot 47.5 percent from the field. Elliott scored 14.2 points per game and hit 33 percent. Both players fell far off their All-Star level of the regular season.

“Last night was a joke (with the officiating),” Hill said. “The officials just didn’t let (David) play. So, from a professional standpoint, you throw that one out. It was sad, what the (referees) did to him. It’s not an excuse. It was the reality and personality of the game. I know David can play better.”

In the three games played in Salt Lake City, Robinson scored only 39 points, a statistic that will give more fodder for discussion this summer to those who want to call him “soft.”

“I look at basketball more as 12 players, where everyone has to fulfill a role,” Hill said. “If David had averaged 35 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks, it doesn’t guarantee that we win. He didn’t play well. But other guys didn’t either. I guess when things don’t go well, (fans) start to point fingers at the All-Stars.”

Elliott, who averaged 24 points against Utah in the regular season, was met with hard double-teams on most of his possessions. Hill said Elliott didn’t always react to the pressure well.

“People don’t want to hear this,” Hill said. “But when he had a good year last year and then became an All-Star this year, it raised the expectation level and increased his responsibility. (The Jazz) ran at him when he put it on the floor, and it became more difficult for him to get his shots.”

Hill said Elliott is still learning the game.

“Sean is still in the learning stage,” he said. “I thought he fought it. He played hard. In his behalf, I thought he ran into a whole lot of different defenses and he didn’t always react well to it. But he’s learned from this.” professional pro NBA National Basketball Association playoff playoffs

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

14

1996-05-18, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队回到绘图板 - 圣安东尼奥再次陷入反思季后赛失利的困境

发生了什么？如何才能确保不再发生？

这些问题又一次被提起。它们在圣安东尼奥的四月下旬和五月经常被问起。

但这就是我们在这里的原因。因此，我们会抛出一些答案，并提出一些新的问题。

发生的事情是，马刺队在西部半决赛中被犹他爵士队痛击，以2比4输掉了七场制的系列赛。他们遭受了令人尴尬的殴打。他们在上半场或第四节开始前就输掉了比赛。他们在盐湖城第六场比赛中被压制。

甚至爵士队主教练杰里-斯隆（Jerry Sloan）也感到惊讶。

“这场比赛的最终结果有点令人震惊，”斯隆在周四比赛结束后说。当时，爵士队在三角洲中心以 108 比 81 大胜，将马刺队送入了夏季休赛期。

这支爵士队正是马刺队在常规赛中轻松击败的球队，他们四场比赛赢了三场，其中两次是在三角洲中心。

这听起来很熟悉。去年，马刺队在常规赛中以 5 比 1 的优势压制休斯顿火箭队，然后在分区决赛中输给了火箭队。

但今年更糟糕。

马刺队主教练鲍勃-希尔（Bob Hill）说，这类事情会在球队成长过程中发生，球队仍然朝着正确的方向前进。

也许吧。但这句话是在去年输给火箭队后说的。那本来应该是积累经验的比赛。

也许希尔是在吹口哨。

马刺队执行副总裁格雷格-波波维奇（Gregg Popovich）没有过多强调经验方面。

“现在不是讨论关于这支篮球队可能或不可能进行哪些调整的时机，”波波维奇周五说。“但很明显，我对我们在与犹他队的系列赛中所看到的情况感到非常失望和担忧。”

波波维奇的声明很简短，但认为他没有对整个事件感到厌烦是愚蠢的 - 球员的表现、缺乏调整以改变事件进程、教练组显然没有意识到故障的严重性。

马刺队总裁杰克-迪勒（Jack Diller）的心情也不好。

“如果你没有赢得冠军，那么你的最后一场比赛就是一场失利，”迪勒说。“当这种情况发生时，你就会像今天一样感觉，但也许今天的感觉更强烈，因为昨晚的比赛类型。”

当被问及是否认为球员阵容或教练组应该进行调整时，迪勒有点含糊其辞。

“那些取得成功的球队都是那些保持稳定的球队，”他说。“他们会仔细观察并决定如何改进。大多数成功的球队会保持稳定的方向，竖起一根手指感知何时需要改变。

“我们必须考虑所有因素，并决定如何才能达到我们的目标，并在需要改变时进行改变。”

希尔坚持认为，与爵士队的最后几场比赛不是战术问题，而是意愿、努力以及竞争和激烈竞争的问题。

再一次，也许吧。但又一次，也许这太简单了。

马刺队在常规赛中场均得到 103.4 分的进攻发生了什么？球队的进攻效率通常会在防守强度更高的季后赛中下降，但圣安东尼奥队的进攻却一落千丈。

爵士队剥夺了马刺队的所有进攻战术，并将圣安东尼奥队的得分限制在每场 82.0 分。

马刺队的球员们被压制了。首发球员被他们的爵士队对手击败，有时甚至被爵士队的替补球员压制。

罗宾逊（Robinson）在两次重大失利中都因犯规麻烦缠身，但他的比赛仍然挣扎。他经常显得无动于衷，无法或不愿意展现出持续的进取精神。

爵士队在整个系列赛中都对肖恩-埃利奥特（Sean Elliott）进行了包夹。但犹他队的克里斯-莫里斯（Chris Morris）、布莱恩-拉塞尔（Bryon Russell）和亚当-基夫（Adam Keefe）也享受了一对一面对埃利奥特的成功。

埃利奥特在六场比赛中的场均得分只有 14.2 分，投篮命中率仅为 33%。

圣安东尼奥队的传球陷入停滞，这是由于犹他队侵略性的轮转防守和马刺队突然出现的观望趋势。

马刺队在 82 场常规赛中的场均助攻为 24.9 次，对阵犹他队的场均助攻为 18 次。他们的投篮命中率为 43%。

爵士队则积极传球，投篮命中率为 48%，场均助攻 28 次，并且总体上让马刺队的防守感到困惑。

那么该怎么办？如何帮助这支球队？

假设同一批球员在经历了如此大幅度的倒退之后，能够在季后赛中提高表现是不合理的。

提升阵容将非常困难。波波维奇锁定了一支拥有长期保障合同的阵容。

只有多克-里弗斯（Doc Rivers）和戴尔-德普斯（Dell Demps）是自由球员。由于里弗斯的球员生涯可能已经结束，他正在寻找一些管理职位。

这意味着有 11 名球员拥有长期合同，薪资总额超过了工资帽。马刺队将拥有 100 万美元的例外条款，这意味着他们可以签下一名球员，该球员的起薪为 100 万美元，每年增长 20% 或 30%，这是每支球队都可以获得的。

但这还不够签下一位今夏将会涌入市场的顶级自由球员。

波波维奇的策略看起来很合理。他想结束球队阵容的频繁变动，聚集一批有才华的球员，让这支球队发酵成一支冠军球队。

但很多事情都出了问题。

点击查看原文：Spurs back to drawing board - Once again, S.A. must ponder what went wrong in playoffs

Spurs back to drawing board - Once again, S.A. must ponder what went wrong in playoffs

What happened? What can be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

Not those questions again. They’ve been asked many times in late April and May in San Antonio.

But that’s why we’re here. So we’ll fling out a few answers and add a few more queries.

What happened was the Spurs got clobbered by Utah in the Western Conference semifinals, losing the best-of-seven series 4-2. They absorbed embarrassing batterings. They were out of the games either in the first half or by the start of the fourth quarter. They were crunched in Game 6 in Salt Lake City.

Even Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was amazed.

“To have the game turn out this way was a little bit of a shock,” Sloan said after Thursday’s 108-81 pummeling at the Delta Center shoved the Spurs into summer vacation.

This was the same Jazz team the Spurs handled well during the regular season, defeating them three out of four times - twice at the Delta Center.

That has a familiar ring to it. The Spurs dominated Houston 5-1 in the regular season last year, then fell to the Rockets in the conference finals.

But this year was worse yet.

Spurs coach Bob Hill said these types of things happen during a team’s growth process, that the team is still headed in the right direction.

Perhaps. But that was said after bowing to the Rockets last year. That was supposed to be the experience gatherer.

Perhaps Hill is whistling in the wind.

Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich didn’t lean heavily on the experience angle.

“This is not the time to discuss what changes may or may not be made regarding this basketball team,” Popovich said Friday. “But it’s obvious I’m deeply disappointed and concerned about what I witnessed in our series against Utah.”

Popovich’s statement was brief, but it would be foolish to think he wasn’t soured on the whole mess -the players’ performances, the lack of adjustments to try to alter the course of events, the apparent failure of the coaching staff to grasp the magnitude of the malfunctioning.

Spurs president Jack Diller was not in the best of moods, either.

“If you don’t win the title, then your last game was a loss,” Diller said. “When that happens, you feel like you do today, but maybe more so today because of the kind of game it was last night.”

Asked if he thought there should be changes in player personnel or coaching staff, Diller hedged a bit.

“The franchises that succeed are those that remain stable,” he said. "They look and decide very carefully what to do to improve. Most successful ones steer steady courses, put a finger to the wind to detect when a change is necessary.

“We have to look at everything and decide the right way to go in terms of our goals and make changes when changes are necessary.”

Hill insisted the final games against the Jazz were not a matter of X’s and O’s, but instead a matter of desire, effort and the will to compete and compete hard.

Once again, perhaps. But again, perhaps that’s too simple an answer.

What happened to the Spurs’ offense that averaged 103.4 points a game through the regular season? A team’s offensive production normally drops during the tougher-defended playoffs, but San Antonio’s fell into an abyss.

The Jazz took away whatever Spurs attack formations were planned and held San Antonio to an average of 82.0 points a game.

The Spurs’ players were stymied. The starters were beaten by their Jazz counterparts and even handled at times by the Jazz reserves.

Robinson was shackled with serious foul trouble in two of the major losses, but still struggled with his game. He too often looked impassive, unable or unwilling to summon a consistent forge-ahead mentality.

The Jazz sent double-team help at Sean Elliott consistently throughout the series. But Utah’s Chris Morris, Bryon Russell and Adam Keefe enjoyed one-on-one success against Elliott as well.

Elliott was held to an average of 14.2 points through the six games, hitting just 33 percent from the field.

San Antonio’s ball movement came to a standstill, compliments of Utah’s aggressive, roving defense and the Spurs’ sudden tendency to stand and observe.

The Spurs averaged 24.9 assists through the 82-game schedule, 18 against Utah. They hit 43 percent of their shots.

The Jazz spun the ball around, hit 48 percent of their shots, averaged 28 assists and generally befuddled the Spurs’ defense.

So what can be done? How can this team be helped?

It isn’t reasonable to assume the same group of players can improve their playoff performances after taking such a dramatic step backward from last year’s showing.

Improving the squad will be difficult. Popovich is locked into a lineup of long-term guaranteed contracts.

Only Doc Rivers and Dell Demps are free agents. Rivers is looking at some management opportunities since his playing career probably is over.

That leaves 11 players under long-term contract, a money pile exceeding the salary cap. The Spurs will have the $1 million exception, meaning they can sign a player starting at that amount and jumping by 20 or 30 percent each year, that is granted to each team.

But that’s not enough to land one of the top-quality free agents who will be slamming into the marketplace this summer.

Popovich’s strategy appeared sound. He wanted to end the revolving-door policy, bring together a talented group, let it ferment into championship form.

But a lot went wrong. professional pro NBA National

Basketball Association playoff playoffs Western Conference semifinals

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

15

1996-05-18, By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

NBA裁决：判罚正确，不罚款

圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson) 不会因其周四晚上对NBA裁判史蒂夫-贾维(Steve Javie) 的评论而被罚款，NBA高级副总裁/篮球运营部门负责人罗德-索恩(Rod Thorn) 周五表示。索恩通过电话从纽约表示，他也认为贾维在犹他爵士队以98-87战胜马刺队，取得西部半决赛第六场比赛胜利时，在第二节开场14秒判罚罗宾逊犯规是正确的。

这次犯规是罗宾逊的第三次犯规，迫使马刺队教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill) 让这位全明星中锋在下半场继续坐在板凳席上。罗宾逊在上半场一分未得，最终得到17分和8个篮板。

罗宾逊在比赛结束后表示，贾维对他有偏见。贾维在3月2日阿拉莫穹顶球馆与费城76人队的比赛中将罗宾逊罚出场。

“第三次判罚是胡说八道，”罗宾逊在周四比赛结束后说。“我不欣赏这种判罚。我认为这是针对我的。他把这种垃圾带到了球场上。自从那场费城比赛后，每次我看到他都是这样。”

回放显示贾维的判罚有争议，因为马龙在发生碰撞时仍在向罗宾逊的路线移动。

“肯定有身体接触，”索恩说。“确实有大量的身体接触。史蒂夫是联盟中最好的裁判之一。我当然不认为（贾维和罗宾逊之间）有什么个人恩怨。对我来说，有身体接触，我认为足够多，足以构成犯规。”

索恩表示他对贾维的表现没有问题。

“我确信大卫对发生的事情感到沮丧，”索恩说。“但我观看了比赛，我认为史蒂夫在这场比赛中只对他判罚了一次犯规。”

索恩表示，由于罗宾逊通常对裁判表现出极大的尊重，联盟准备无视他关于贾维的评论。

“当你看到像大卫-罗宾逊这样的球员，一个很少抱怨的球员……”索恩说。“我认为这是一场艰难的失利，说实话，我不会对此进行追究。我认为经过反思，他（罗宾逊）可能会改变想法。”

点击查看原文：NBA's verdict: Good call, no fine

NBA’s verdict: Good call, no fine

Spurs center David Robinson will not be fined for the comments he made Thursday night regarding NBA official Steve Javie, NBA senior vice president/basketball operations Rod Thorn said Friday. Thorn, speaking via telephone from New York, also said he thought Javie made a good call when he whistled Robinson for a charge 14 seconds into the second period of Utah’s 98-87 victory over the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

The foul was Robinson’s third, and it forced Spurs coach Bob Hill to keep the All-Star center on the bench for the rest of the half. Robinson, who was scoreless in the first half, finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Robinson said after the game that Javie has a grudge against him. Javie ejected Robinson from a game against Philadelphia on March 2 at the Alamodome.

“That third call was garbage,” Robinson said after Thursday’s game. “I didn’t appreciate it. I think it was personal. He brought that crap to the floor. It’s been like that everytime I’ve seen him since that Philadelphia game.”

Replays showed Javie’s call was questionable because Malone was still moving into Robinson’s path when the collision happened.

“There was definitely contact,” Thorn said. “There was definitely a lot of contact. Steve is one of the best referees in the league. I certainly don’t think there is anything personal (between Javie and Robinson). To me, there was contact and I think there was enough contact to call a foul.”

Thorn said he did not have a problem with Javie’s performance.

“I’m sure David was upset about what transpired,” Thorn said. “But I watched the game and I think that was the only foul Steve called on him during the course of the game.”

Thorn said since Robinson usually shows referees a great deal of respect, the league is prepared to ignore his comments regarding Javie.

“When you are looking at a player like David Robinson, a player who seldom complains . . .” Thorn said. “I think it was a tough loss and I’m not transposed to follow up on it, to tell you the truth. I think on reflection, he (Robinson) may think differently.”

professional pro NBA National Basketball Association playoff playoffs Western Conference semifinals

By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

16

1996-05-18, By Buck Harvey

下一步：如何拯救球队

我会再次交易他。我会交易肖恩-埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)，因为他能换来更强大的球员。

但我主要想交易他，是因为他能带来他之前所带来的东西——能够吸引球迷的人。

查尔斯-巴克利(Charles Barkley)就像一个会投篮的、没有头发的丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)。对于一支急需火花的球队来说，更不用说还需要一个球馆，爵士查克(Sir Chuck)可能是马刺队留存下来的唯一途径。

也许这支马刺队应该在他们消失后的第二天收到更好的悼词。毕竟，许多NBA城市从未见过一支取得59胜的球队。当他们在3月份打出全胜战绩时，似乎在关键时刻势不可挡，没有人想到他们在六场比赛中会如此软弱地输给爵士队。

波波维奇(Popovich)和鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)确实看到了不足之处。但他们相信，随着时间的推移，这支球队会成长起来。与犹他、休斯顿和西雅图的长期核心阵容相比，波波维奇称他们为“新教徒”。

这应该是给总经理的词语。但这解释了为什么他不愿意做出如此巨大的改变。他认为马刺队的窗口还有四五年时间。而埃利奥特，在所有人中，可能是波波维奇最喜欢的球员。

联盟中的其他人会同意他的观点。一位与巴克利和埃利奥特都很熟悉的人在上周表示，他也不会进行这样的交易。

但这个人并不生活在一个即将失去其唯一一支主要联赛球队的城市。他不理解上周季后赛的软弱表现会让下个赛季的5美元特价票看起来像是标准票价。

然后还有另一种可能，那就是球迷们看到了管理层没有看到的东西。也许这支马刺队是为常规赛而生的。仅此而已。在二月份，当联盟中半数球队都在梦想着七月份的时候，观看《高校风云》的视频是不错的选择。但在五月份，良好的意图无关紧要。也许这扇窗从未打开过。

埃利奥特不应该为此事承担责任。他在菲尼克斯和犹他两轮系列赛中所表现出的能力，体现了他的新地位；当球队像对待他那样对他进行包夹时，这无疑是对他最高的赞誉。而专门交易他是有道理的，因为他最好的交易筹码。

然而，犹他队的三人组的表现超过了埃利奥特。当克里斯-莫里斯(Chris Morris)没有打出高光表现时，布莱恩-拉塞尔(Bryon Russell)或亚当-基夫(Adam Keefe)就会切入篮下得分。埃利奥特真的如他的履历所言是全明星球员吗？

这是现在交易他的另一个转折点。1993年，埃利奥特也刚刚结束了一个全明星赛季，当时马刺队将他交易到活塞队，换来了罗德曼。

和罗德曼一样，巴克利比埃利奥特年长。但33岁的巴克利也刚刚结束了一个非凡的赛季。对他进行包夹，他仍然能够火力全开。撞他，他会撞回来。

更重要的是，他会为他的朋友做些什么。如果大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)能为巴克利提供他从未有过的东西，那就是防守能力，那么巴克利就会为大卫提供罗宾逊一直需要的精神领袖。巴克利会让比赛变得有趣，就像他在菲尼克斯所做的那样。但他也将让那些没有达到他预期水平的人感到压力。

火箭队也有同样的想法。他们计划用罗伯特-霍里(Robert Horry)和其他球员来交换巴克利。而尼克斯队有三个首轮低顺位选秀权可以交换，以及一些老将。

但埃利奥特可能是菲尼克斯最具吸引力的选择。他并不完全是菲尼克斯需要的球员，因为他打的是一位热门新秀迈克尔-芬利(Michael Finley)的位置。但太阳队可能会选择忽略这一点，主要是因为也许没有哪支球队比菲尼克斯更尊重埃利奥特了。埃利奥特一直声称，当他选择与波波维奇重新合作时，太阳队想要他。

埃利奥特与球队签订了四年的合同，这正是波波维奇喜欢的一点。巴克利还有两年的合同，明年将获得470万美元的薪水。

尽管如此，如果巴克利在两年后未能发挥作用，那么马刺队将拥有一个优势。随着资金的解放，他们可以追求自由球员。

然后还有另一个不太可能的情况：告诉肖恩去菲尼克斯，让他像之前在活塞队那样闹得不愉快，马刺队会在1997年交易卡尔-埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)把他带回来。

但是，除了所有篮球原因外，埃利奥特换巴克利的交易更多地是关于球队生存。雷德-麦科姆斯(Red McCombs)在本月再次表示，目前的管理层在打造一种可以销售的个性方面做得不好。因此，即使希尔在说“我们正在朝着正确的方向前进”时有一些逻辑，但很少有人相信他。

巴克利会改变一切。如果他在下个赛季背部受伤——如果他只打了50场比赛——他在这里带来的关注度会比一个健康的埃利奥特高得多。

巴克利会对此发表一些尖刻的言论。报纸的头条新闻会随之而来。人们会嘲笑或愤怒。而罗宾逊会在后台，笑着摇头，压力突然消失。

是的，我会做以前有效的事情。我会再次交易埃利奥特。

点击查看原文：Next move: How to save the franchise

Next move: How to save the franchise

I’d trade him again. I’d trade Sean Elliott because he would bring someone better.

But mostly I’d trade him because he would bring what he brought before - someone who would sell tickets.

Charles Barkley is Dennis Rodman with a jumper and without hair. And for a franchise in need of a spark, not to mention an arena, Sir Chuck might be the only way the Spurs stay around.

Maybe this Spurs team deserves a better eulogy the day after they went away. After all, a lot of NBA cities have never seen a 59-win group. And when they went March-perfect, seemingly streaking at the right time, no one thought they would go out meekly in six games to the Jazz.

Popovich and Bob Hill see flaws, all right. But they believe, in time, the group will grow. Compared to the long-term cores in Utah, Houston and Seattle, Popovich calls them “neophetic.”

Some word for a GM. But it explains why he won’t want to make such a drastic change. He sees the Spurs’ window as being open another four or five years. And Elliott, of all people, might be Popovich’s favorite.

Others in the league would agree with him. One close to both Barkley and Elliott said last week that he, too, wouldn’t make such a deal.

But this source doesn’t live in a city on the cusp of losing its only major-league franchise. He doesn’t understand that last week’s playoff wimpiness will make the $5 special seem like the standard worth of a ticket next season.

And then there’s the possibility that the fan base sees something that management doesn’t. Maybe these Spurs are built for the regular season. Nothing more. Watching “Hoosiers” video is fine in February when half of the league daydreams about July. But in May, good intentions don’t matter. Maybe this window has never been cracked.

Elliott shouldn’t take blame for that. What he found in both the Phoenix and Utah series defines his new stature; when teams double him as they did, it’s the highest form of NBA flattery. And trading him specifically makes sense because he’s the best bait available.

Still, Utah’s three-headed system out-played Elliott. When Chris Morris didn’t light it up, then Bryon Russell or Adam Keefe cut to the basket. Is Elliott really the All-Star that his resume says he is?

That’s another twist about trading him now. Elliott was coming off an All-Star season in 1993, too, when the Spurs dealt him to Detroit for Rodman.

Like Rodman, Barkley is older than Elliott. But at 33, Barkley is also coming off another remarkable season. Double him, he still burns. Bump him, he bumps back.

Better yet is what he would do for his friend. If David Robinson would supply Barkley with something he’s never had, a defensive presence, then Barkley would supply Ain’t David with the mental leadership Robinson has always needed. Barkley would make it fun, as he always did in Phoenix. But he would also make it tough for those who didn’t play up to his expectations.

The Rockets feel the same. They plan to offer Robert Horry and another body for Barkley. And the Knicks have three, low first-round draft picks to dangle, as well as several veterans.

But Elliott might be Phoenix’s most attractive option. He isn’t exactly what Phoenix needs, since he plays the position of a popular rookie, Michael Finley. But the Suns might be willing to ignore that, mostly because perhaps no franchise respects Elliott more than Phoenix. Elliott always contended the Suns wanted him when he chose to realign with Popovich.

Elliott is signed up for another four years, a contractual trait that Popovich also loves. Barkley has two more years on a deal that will pay him $4.7 million next year.

Still, if Barkley doesn’t work out at the end of his two years here, then the Spurs would have what has become an advantage. With money freed, they could go after a free agent.

Then there’s the lighter possibility: Tell Sean to go to Phoenix, sour like he did before in Detroit and the Spurs will trade Carl Herrera to get him back by 1997.

But for all the basketball reasons, Elliott-for-Barkley is more about franchise survival. Red McCombs said it again this month, that the current management has done a poor job forging a personality to sell. So even if Hill has some logic when he says “We are heading in the right direction,” few believe him.

Barkley would change everything. If he hurt his back next season - if he played only 50 games - he would bring more interest here than a healthy Elliott ever could.

Barkley would have some crack about that. Newspaper headlines would follow. People would laugh or get angry. And Robinson would be in the background, shaking his head with a smile, the pressure suddenly gone.

Yes. I’d do what worked before. I’d trade Elliott again.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

17

1996-05-19,

球迷认为马刺队和主教练在对阵爵士队的比赛中放弃了

马刺队在对阵犹他爵士队的第三场比赛下半场表现得非常糟糕，但真正令人悲痛的是看到首发球员坐在替补席上，根本没有上场。看着大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)的眼神，你就能理解为什么得分那么低，为什么罚球命中率那么低。他的眼神空洞，仿佛胜利对他来说已经不再重要。然而，主教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)却没有激发出马刺队迫切需要的动力和鼓励。如果连自己的教练都不相信你，你又怎么能相信自己呢？

还记得1995年的NFC冠军赛吗？当时达拉斯牛仔队在对阵旧金山49人队的比赛中早早陷入困境，但他们从未放弃。看着特洛伊-艾克曼(Troy Aikman)和埃米特-史密斯(Emmitt Smith)的眼神，你就能知道他们绝不会放弃。他们的教练并没有像鲍勃-希尔那样把他们放在板凳上。

马刺队拥有天赋，他们需要一位教练来指导和培养他们。鲍勃-希尔已经证明自己不适合担任马刺队的主教练，他应该被下放到替补席。 - 梅丽莎-巴洛克(Melissa Barloco)和安迪-科赫(Andy Koch)，圣安东尼奥

- 那些都是美好的旧时光

感谢凯文-奥基夫(Kevin O’Keeffe) 5月2日发表的关于鲍勃-巴斯(Bob Bass)和乔治-格文(George Gervin)的文章。虽然大卫-罗宾逊时代为马刺队创造了许多伟大的时刻，但我永远不会忘记“冰人”。

我们谈论格文标志性的指尖上篮，但你们还记得他那出色的篮板球吗？他似乎可以从任何地方完成一个银行球。真是天赋异禀。无论他投出什么样的球，看起来都像丝绸一样光滑。轻松得分，即使面对当时那些强大的球队，比如子弹队和76人队。

虽然他并不以防守著称，但我记得格文在一些比赛中抢下过两位数的篮板球。看来他毕竟也在防守。

始终如一，教练巴斯都在那里 - 当我们需要他的时候。我们不能忘记，马刺队的九个分区冠军中有七个是在巴斯执教期间获得的。

我非常感谢这两位为马刺队的早期发展贡献了力量，并且很高兴“冰人”被选入名人堂，那里才是他的归宿。他们为我们今天这支伟大的球队铺平了道路，这支将会为我们赢得NBA总冠军的球队。 - 威尔-桑森(Will Sansom)，圣安东尼奥

点击查看原文：Fans think Spurs, coach just gave up against Jazz

Fans think Spurs, coach just gave up against Jazz

The way the Spurs played in the last half of Game 3 against Utah was terrible, but the real tragedy was seeing the starters seated on the bench, not playing at all. Looking into the eyes of David Robinson explained the low scoring and the missed free throws. He had a blank stare as if winning didn’t even matter. However, Coach Bob Hill failed to inspire the motivation and encouragement the Spurs desperately needed. If your own coach doesn’t believe in you, how can you believe in yourself?

Remember the 1995 NFC Championship, when the Dallas Cowboys struggled early against San Francisco but never gave up? To look into the eyes of Troy Aikman or Emmitt Smith, you knew they could never give up. Their coach didn’t have them sitting on the sidelines like Bob Hill did.

The Spurs have talent and need a coach to guide and develop them. Bob Hill has failed as coach of the Spurs and should be benched. -Melissa Barloco and Andy Koch, San Antonio

- Those were good ole days

Thanks to Kevin O’Keeffe for his May 2 column on Bob Bass and George Gervin. While the David Robinson era has produced many great moments in Spurs history, I will never forget the Iceman.

We talk about the patented Gervin finger roll, but remember his great touch on the glass? It seemed he could make a bank shot from anywhere. What a gift. No matter what sort of shot he took, it looked smooth as silk. Easy money, even against the powers of the day, teams like the Bullets and Sixers.

Though he wasn’t known for his defense, I remember Gervin grabbing double figures in rebounds in some games. Seems he was playing D after all.

Through it all, Coach Bass was there - when we needed him. Let us not forget that seven of the Spurs’ nine division titles were won in the Bass era.

I am so grateful that these two men helped to mold the early fortunes of the Spurs, and that Ice has been placed in the Hall of Fame where he belongs. They paved the way for the great team we have today, the one that is going to win the NBA championship for us yet. - Will Sansom, San Antonio

- Look at percentage figures

The “Diamond Disparity” articles of May 4 were most curious. The two writers expressed “alarm” that black athletes were

underrepresented when it comes to college baseball scholarships.

To buttress their case, they presented charts that showed blacks, who make up 12 percent of the population, are

overrepresented by 38 percent in football and 53 percent in football; blacks were underrepresented by 5 percent in baseball.

If the authors were interested in equity, why not conclude that white athletes are being shorted on football and basketball scholarships while, to a much lesser extent, blacks are shorted on baseball scholarships.

Jimmy the Greek’s experience should not box the sports media into a “politically incorrect” posture that holds racial discrimination responsible unless blacks dominate all sports. - D.A. Dobbins, Kerrville

- Don’t tread on Iguanas

A new Santa Anna (the IHL) is marching on our Alamo (the Icehouse). We must rally to its defense or history will repeat itself.

Call or write to your county commissioner or city councilman immediately and let them know how you feel about the Iguanas before it’s too late. - Gerald Geraci, San Antonio

TO SOUND OFF ON SPORTS. . . - By mail: Fanstand, Express-News Sports Dept., P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171 - By fax: 250-3351 - By e-mail: bthacker@express-news.net

Letters, no longer than 250 words, must be typed and include name, address and telephone number for verification. No initials or

pseudonyms used. Submission does not guarantee publication, and letters will be edited for length, style and legal reasons.

, via San Antonio Express-News

18

1996-05-19, By Glenn Rogers, Pro Basketball

爵士在第二轮淘汰马刺，是帮了马刺一个忙吗？

我敢肯定，有些球迷可能在思考，也许犹他爵士确实帮了圣安东尼奥马刺一个忙。马刺在被爵士横扫的过程中表现乏善可陈。他们在至少四场比赛中都展现出一支沉睡的进攻，陷入了半场进攻的困境。

周六的电视观众可能很高兴是犹他爵士而不是圣安东尼奥马刺前往西北部，遇到了那台疯狂的脱粒机。

尽管马刺本赛季取得了59胜的战绩，但他们还没有展现出横扫联盟的超音速队的凶猛。他们需要对现有的阵容进行一两处调整，注入一些活力。

上赛季，他们拥有丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)，但他那自我陶醉的性格最终不得不被抛弃。

他根本没有意愿或愿望融入球队的结构。

当马刺得到威尔-珀杜(Will Perdue)时，他们做得还不错。他成为了球队强劲的力量，一名篮板手和防守者，偶尔也会得分，他给球队增添了一点场上韧性。

但随后出现了问题。

球队执行副总裁格雷格-波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)签下了卡尔-埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)，并将他任命为首发大前锋。休斯敦火箭队将他裁掉了，裁掉他的原因很快便变得明朗。

埃雷拉的加盟最初看起来很不错，后来却变成了灾难。他饱受伤病困扰，然后是个人问题，最后似乎完全失去了兴趣，整个赛季的平均上场时间只有8.9分钟，毫无贡献。

这迫使马刺做出了另一个灾难性的决定——将J.R.-里德(J.R. Reid)和最重要的，圣安东尼奥在6月26日选秀大会上的首轮选秀权交易到纽约尼克斯，换来了查尔斯-史密斯(Charles Smith)。

同样，这在当时看起来很不错。虽然不完全是查尔斯-奥克利(Charles Oakley)或凯文-威利斯(Kevin Willis)那种级别的球员，但也是一个真正的可以篮板、防守和得分的大前锋。

事实并非如此。纽约尼克斯队最初嘲笑马刺队选择史密斯，但在马刺队季后赛进行过程中，他们却笑得更加大声。史密斯在季后赛中表现挣扎，在最后两场比赛中不得不被珀杜替换下场。

马刺队现在必须在联盟中四处搜寻，进行交易。听起来不错，但如何操作呢？哪个马刺球员足够吸引人，可以换来一名强力球员，一名充满激情的首发球员，甚至一名替补球员，可以给这支过于平静的阿拉莫城球队带来活力？

查尔斯-巴克利(Charles Barkley)？太阳队可能想要将他交易出去，开始为未来重建，而菲尼克斯一直都很喜欢肖恩-埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)。

这是一项冒险的行动，假设他们真的在考虑这件事。巴克利最多只剩下两年的巅峰期，如果他再次受到伤病困扰，时间可能更短。埃利奥特还有五年的巅峰期。

但巴克利会带来激情、魅力和活力，而这正是罗宾逊(Robinson)似乎需要的。他还会吸引球迷，这显然是这支寻求财务救济的球队需要考虑的因素。

马刺队今年夏天将非常忙碌，肯定会在交易市场上积极行动，保持球队核心阵容不变，但会牺牲一两名球员，引进一名优秀的球员，最重要的是，能够让现有的阵容变得活跃起来。

  • 另一个暂停期？联盟及其球员协会仍在就劳资协议进行争吵。尽管在去年夏天晚些时候达成协议，但双方仍在争论协议中的细节，协议仍未签署。

有传言称，联盟总裁大卫-斯特恩(David Stern)可能会对签署新合同实行新的暂停期，迫使球员协会签署协议。简而言之，斯特恩认为，如果这些不受限制的自由球员在获得和签署预期的大额合同方面遭到延误，他们就会变得焦躁不安。

斯特恩还非常不喜欢球员协会的谈判代表，经纪人杰夫-凯斯勒(Jeff Kessler)，他想迫使球员们雇佣一位执行董事，取代被解雇的西蒙-古尔丁(Simon Gourdine)。球员经纪人比尔-斯特里克兰(Bill Strickland)似乎是这个职位的主要竞争者。

  • 金钱至上：马刺队赛季的突然结束，也结束了马刺队高层一直期待的收入流。

球队总裁杰克-迪勒(Jack Diller)表示，周六对阵犹他爵士的第七场比赛的失利无关紧要。

“周六比赛收入的70%，因为它是七场系列赛的奇数场，将归其他人所有，包括电视台、客队和联盟，”迪勒说。

“我们在常规赛期间处于亏损状态。现在我们要看看季后赛收入能弥补多少亏损。”

毫无疑问，当球队最终宣布其对新球馆的计划时，我们会听到很多关于财务状况的讨论。

这里的想法是，马刺队应该在季后赛开始后立即开放上层看台，以正常价格（约11美元）出售那些座位，并试图吸引更多球迷和声音来对抗犹他爵士。

直到爵士队早早取得3-1领先优势后，人们才开始恐慌，在这个领域没有任何行动。

点击查看原文：Did Jazz do Spurs a favor with second-round KO?

Did Jazz do Spurs a favor with second-round KO?

I’m sure there are a few fans contemplating the thought that perhaps Utah did San Antonio a favor. The Spurs showed little pizazz during their squashing by the Jazz. They floored a sleepy offense that jammed into a half-court stupor through at least four of the games.

Television watchers Saturday might have been glad it was Utah and not San Antonio that traveled to the Great Northwest and ran into that threshing machine run amok.

The Spurs, despite their 59-win season, just don’t yet have the ferocity displayed by the rampaging Sonics. They need just another tinkering or two with their present lineup, the injection of some pulsating force.

They had it last season in the person of one Dennis Rodman, but, let’s face it, that self-absorbed distraction had to be jettisoned.

He simply had no intention or desire to tie himself into the team’s structure.

The Spurs did OK when they acquired Will Perdue. He became a potent force, a rebounder and defender, sometime scorer, who added a little on-floor tenacity.

But then came problems.

Executive vice president Gregg Popovich signed Carl Herrera and tabbed him as the starting power forward. Houston had sliced this fellow free, and the why of that move soon became apparent.

The Herrera signing at first looked sound, then became disastrous. Beset by a series of injuries, then personal problems, then seemingly total disinterest, Herrera averaged just 8.9 minutes through the season, contributing nothing.

That forced the Spurs into another calamitous move - the trading of J.R. Reid and, most importantly, San Antonio’s first-round pick in the June 26 draft to New York for Charles Smith.

Again, this looked fine at the time. Not quite the punch that Charles Oakley or Kevin Willis would have added, but a true power forward who could rebound, defend and score.

Not so. The New Yorkers who first laughed at the Spurs for taking Smith enjoyed howls as the Spurs’ playoffs progressed. Smith staggered through the postseason and had to be benched in the final two games in favor of Perdue.

The Spurs will have to rummage through the league now and make a trade. Sounds good, but how? Which Spur is lusted after enough to land a power player, a fiery starter or even a reserve who can kick some life into the all-too-placid Alamo City gathering?

Charles Barkley? The Suns might want to unload him and start the build for the future, and Phoenix has always been fond of Sean Elliott.

A risky move, that, assuming it’s even being contemplated. Barkley has about two years of solid playing life at best, perhaps less if he’s again beset by injuries. Elliott has a solid five years carrying him through his prime time.

But Barkley would bring the fire, the panache, the kick that Robinson seems to need. He also would bring in the fans -obviously a consideration for the franchise seeking financial relief.

The Spurs will be a busy bunch this summer, surely active in the trade market, keeping the team’s core intact but sacrificing a part or two to bring in the sterling player who will, above all else, enliven the current group.

-Another moratorium? The league and its players association still are squabbling over the collective bargaining agreement. Agreed to late last summer, the fine points still are being debated by both sides and the deal remains unsigned.

Rumors persist that Commissioner David Stern might impose another moratorium on the signing of new contracts to force the association to sign the deal. In brief, Stern figures the bounty of unrestricted free agents will get antsy if they are delayed in capturing and inking the expected windfall contracts.

Stern also has a powerful dislike of the association’s negotiator, agent Jeff Kessler, and wants to force the players to hire an executive director to replace the ousted Simon Gourdine. Players’ agent Bill Strickland seems to be the lead runner for that post.

- Money talks: The abrupt ending to the Spurs’ season ended the revenue flow the Spurs’ bigwigs had been eyeing.

President Jack Diller said the loss of Saturday’s Game 7 against Utah meant little.

“Seventy percent of Saturday’s game income, because it was the odd game of the seven-game deal, would have gone to somebody else, to television, the visiting team, the league,” Diller said.

“We operated at a loss during the regular season. Now we’ll have to see how much of that loss was eaten up by the playoff revenue.”

No doubt we’ll be listening to a lot about the financial situation when the team finally gets around to announcing its desired plans for a new arena.

The thought here is that the Spurs should have opened the upper decks as soon as the playoffs began, selling those chairs for the normal amount (about $11), and tried to get some extra fannies and voices for the push against Utah.

Nothing happened in that area until panic set in on the heels of the Jazz’s early 3-1 lead.

By Glenn Rogers, Pro Basketball, via San Antonio Express-News

19

1996-05-19, By Johnny Ludden Express-News Staff Writer

冰人不太可能在太阳下融化

乔治·格文(George Gervin)最近入选篮球名人堂，这可能激发了这座城市举办“乔治·格文日”，但前马刺队老板雷德·麦科姆斯(Red McCombs)认为，圣安东尼奥篮球迷在星期四为44号球衣举办为期一天的庆祝活动还有一个原因。

“我个人确信，如果没有乔治·格文，就不会有圣安东尼奥马刺队，”麦科姆斯说。他担任了组织庆祝活动的委员会主席，活动将在星期四晚上在半球公园举行集会。“要真正欣赏乔治，你必须回到1972年，当时篮球在这座城市几乎没有追随者……乔治展现了如此不可思议的天赋，你不得不观看他的比赛。”

“NBA在考虑接纳ABA球队时，绝对不想要圣安东尼奥加入。圣安东尼奥加入只有一个原因——那就是冰人。”

星期四的庆祝活动将在格文5月6日入选斯普林菲尔德马萨诸塞州名人堂后举行，上午11:30在南弗洛雷斯街212号的凯迪拉克酒吧与底线笨蛋们共进午餐。下午1点，市长比尔·桑顿(Bill Thornton)将在市议会会议室向格文颁发“杰出市民奖”。

下午2:30，格文将与篮球名人堂执行官比尔·福斯特(Bill Foster)和丹·加维特(Dan Gavett)、马刺队的土狼和斯廷森中学爵士乐团一起在圣安东尼奥河上巡游。

河上游行从老体育场所在地开始，经过河中心泻湖，绕过河边整个市中心区域，大约下午3:30在阿内森河剧院停下，进行简短的介绍。

集会将于下午5:30在半球公园美洲之塔底部开始。

点击查看原文：Iceman not likely to melt during day in sun

Iceman not likely to melt during day in sun

The Iceman’s recent induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame may have inspired the city to stage “George Gervin Day,” but former Spurs owner Red McCombs believes there is one other reason San Antonio basketball fans should honor No. 44 Thursday in a day-long celebration.

“I am just personally convinced that there wouldn’t be any San Antonio Spurs without George Gervin,” said McCombs, who chaired the

committee that organized the festivities which culminate in a rally Thursday night in HemisFair Park. "To truly appreciate George, you have to go back to 1972 when basketball had almost no following in this city. . . .George brought such an unbelievable display of talent that you just had to watch him.

“The NBA definitely did not want San Antonio in its package when it was looking at ABA teams. There was only one reason San Antonio got in - and that was the Iceman.”

Thursday’s celebration, which follows Gervin’s May 6 induction into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., begins with a luncheon

with the Baseline Bums at 11:30 a.m. at the Cadillac Bar on 212 S. Flores St. Mayor Bill Thornton will then present Gervin with a “Distinguished Citizen Award” at 1 p.m. at City Council chambers.

At 2:30 p.m., Gervin will cruise down the San Antonio River with Basketball Hall of Fame executives Bill Foster and Dan Gavett, the Spurs Coyote and the Stinson Middle School jazz ensemble.

The river parade begins at the old Arena site, proceeds to Rivercenter Lagoon and continues around the entire downtown area of

the river before stopping about 3:30 p.m. at Arneson River Theater for a brief presentation.

The rally starts at 5:30 p.m. at the base of the Tower of Americas in HemisFair Park.

By Johnny Ludden Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

20

1996-05-19,

马刺最终成绩：未完成

艾弗里·约翰逊 常规赛 - A 季后赛 - C

  • 常规赛：这个强硬的小个子又一次证明了自己 - 得分和助攻数据均有提升，比赛水平也有所提高。在突破中增加了一些细微的变化。在让队友加入比赛、在正确的时间把球放在正确位置方面做得很出色。跳投技巧有所提高。

  • 季后赛：在对阵太阳的首轮中继续他的活跃表现，总体上比凯文·约翰逊表现得更好。但在对阵犹他时遇到了挫折。跳投变得不太稳定，突破上篮被封盖，上篮也出现了偏差。他在控制球队方面表现得不太稳定。他的投篮命中率只有 41%，场均送出 7 次助攻。

  • 未来：还有两年的合同，第二年是选择一年。与罗宾逊合作得很好；如果没有重磅交易，应该会回来。

大卫·罗宾逊

常规赛 - A 季后赛 - C+

  • 常规赛：又以 MVP 级的表现席卷联盟。马刺在进攻端的首选，也是防守端的支柱。得分爆发，近距离往往势不可挡，在双人包夹中也能找到空位。一对一防守出色，以闪电般的动作阻止突破。

  • 季后赛：在对阵太阳的比赛中继续爆发，场均得到 30 分和 11.8 个篮板。在第二场比赛中的精彩表现使系列赛保持在正轨上。但对阵犹他的整体表现大幅下降；场均得分仅为 19 分。陷入犯规麻烦。似乎没有了激情、精力和接管比赛的意愿。

  • 未来：将继续成为球队的基石，保证球队的胜利，进入名人堂指日可待。季后赛的成功将是他前行的灯塔。

文尼·德尔·内格罗

常规赛 - B+ 季后赛 - C-

  • 常规赛：在投篮方面创造了职业生涯的最佳表现：场均得到 14.5 分，出手命中率为 49.7%，三分球命中率为 38%。对于试图通过掩护和挡拆来跟踪他的防守者来说，他仍然是一个梦魇。在混乱中也能投出精彩的后仰投篮。全能的拼搏者。完成突破。失误少，防守能力合格。

  • 季后赛：对阵太阳时有过两场出色表现，两场表现不佳，然后对阵犹他时开始挣扎，在这个系列赛的前一场比赛中，他的投篮命中率为 1 投 11 中，之后连续 4 投 11 中。不稳定的投篮帮助消解了马刺常规赛中膨胀的进攻火力。

  • 未来：六年合同还剩两年。可能会被包括在交易筹码中，但仍然是后场有价值的投手。

肖恩·艾利奥特

常规赛 - A- 季后赛 - C

  • 常规赛：以进攻模式开始新赛季，拥有突破和炙热的跳投。入选全明星阵容，并继续成为球队第二进攻选择。篮板较少。随着赛季的进行，表现有些起伏 - 双人包夹成了每晚的常规操作，罚球次数减少，失误影响了比赛。防守中负责防守小前锋、得分后卫。

  • 季后赛：强大的防守压力开始消磨他的外线投篮，但仍然给太阳造成伤害，突破和防守做得很好。在对阵爵士的系列赛中表现不佳，投篮命中率为 30%，场均得分 14 分。爵士的防守迫使他出现了 20 次失误。在防守爵士各得分手时遇到了困难。

  • 未来：如果马刺想要做出重大改变，他是非常有市场的，但他的年轻和才华也使他成为球队成长中的关键一员。

查尔斯·史密斯

常规赛 - C 季后赛 - D-

  • 常规赛：全明星赛期间从纽约来到圣安东尼奥，与蒙蒂·威廉姆斯一起以 J.R. 里德和布拉德·罗豪斯为交换。交易并没有帮助 - 里德可能也会做得和史密斯一样好。有一些高于平均水平的篮板和得分比赛，但总体上无法保持稳定的状态。公平的篮板手，不危险的得分手，倾向于陷入犯规麻烦。

  • 季后赛：受到犯规问题和总体表现不佳的困扰。出场时间很少，给本就受到替补席表现不佳困扰的球队带来了巨大的压力。在对阵犹他的最后两场比赛中被降为替补。对阵犹他只得到 27 分，20 个篮板。

  • 未来：合同将他锁定在圣安东尼奥再呆四年。问题是：他能进步吗？

威尔·佩尔杜

常规赛 - B+ 季后赛 - B+

  • 常规赛：以交换性格暴躁、广受欢迎的丹尼斯·罗德曼的方式来到圣安东尼奥。健壮、勤奋的职业道德让他立刻融入了球队。充分利用身高优势，抢下篮板、堵住路线、近距离得分。手感不佳让他无法展现出色的表现，但他在罗宾逊身边是一个优秀的替补，并在他身边表现出色。

  • 季后赛：强有力的力量；绝对强势的表现帮助太阳在四场比赛中被击败。在对阵爵士的比赛中保持了这种稳定的精神和身体状态。在最后两场比赛中升为首发，并凭借 12 个篮板、9 分和防守帮助球队在第五场比赛中取得胜利。

  • 未来：他的合同还有三年。联盟中有很多球队对他感兴趣，但马刺应该留住他。

多克·里弗斯

常规赛 - B+ 季后赛 - 未完成

  • 常规赛：场均出场时间仅为 15.8 分钟，但几乎可以肯定地为球队提供即时的防守和能量提升。制造拯救或改变比赛的进攻犯规，迫使对手出现混乱的失误。投篮不太稳定，但似乎总是能投中一个关键的三分球或两分球。球队中最具身体素质的防守者。

  • 季后赛：只能说他肯定可以提供帮助。在对阵菲尼克斯的系列赛中表现低迷，然后在第二场比赛中臀部受伤后离开了季后赛。他的缺失让马刺失去了一些能量，被迫启用远未准备好参加季后赛的球员。

  • 未来：自由球员，不太可能再打一年。密尔沃基正在向他抛出橄榄枝，希望他担任管理层职位。

查克·珀森

常规赛 - B+ 季后赛 - B

  • 常规赛：轰炸机在他的比赛中增加了一个新的维度，帮助马刺赢得了 59 场胜利。他是一个有能力的大前锋，在低位拥有强硬的防守，有时是坚定的篮板手。他继续用远程导弹让对手泄气并赢得比赛，阻止防守者在内线防守。命中率很低。

  • 季后赛：用外线投篮、充满活力的表现毁掉了太阳。对阵查尔斯·巴克利时有过一些精彩的防守表现。对阵犹他时有过两场糟糕的投篮比赛，但总体上表现得比队友更好。在三分线外受到犹他队的严密防守，很难找到空位。

  • 未来：他的合同还有三年，可能会在圣安东尼奥结束他的职业生涯。

主教练鲍勃·希尔

常规赛 - A 季后赛 - C-

  • 常规赛：当埃雷拉未能成为首发大前锋时，培养球队度过了艰难的初期。赢得比赛，通过帕杜和珀森的出色轮换，帮助球队轻松进入自信状态。内线、外线进攻配合默契，以进攻压力压倒对手。防守是联盟中最好的之一。

  • 季后赛：让球队为对阵太阳做好准备，并以两场大胜和几次头部碰撞淘汰了对手。但犹他州发生了一场灾难。他认为，球员的心理在早期的成功中发生了扭曲。但是，犹他的防守也让马刺无法进行常规的进攻模式，犹他的进攻也找到了马刺防守中的漏洞。

  • 未来：合同还有一年。如果下赛季的季后赛同样令人失望，这可能是最后一季。但在休赛期采取正确的手段可以为球队带来一个需要的、充满激情的球员。

其他球员

  • 常规赛：新秀科里·亚历山大出场时间非常有限 - 每场 9.5 分钟 - 而且有起有落，主要是低迷。不确定是否要投篮，他往往不投。需要更多的上场时间。蒙蒂·威廉姆斯在有限的上场时间里展示了一些突破和终结技巧。格雷格·安德森被牢牢地钉在替补席上，但他可以抢到篮板。德尔·德姆普斯大部分时间都在伤病名单上。卡尔·埃雷拉表现不佳。

  • 季后赛： 和常规赛没什么区别。亚历山大再次展现了一些能力的闪光之处，帮助球队在约翰逊休息时维持状态。对阵霍华德·艾斯利时本可以做得更好。由于史密斯表现不佳、里弗斯缺席以及其他球员疲劳，替补席被大量启用。

未来：亚历山大还有两年新秀合同，应该留队并获得一些成长时间。安德森和威廉姆斯还剩一年合同。埃雷拉合同还有三年。邓普斯成为一名不受限制的自由球员。

点击查看原文：Spurs' Final Grade: INCOMPLETE

Spurs’ Final Grade: INCOMPLETE

AVERY JOHNSON Regular season - A Playoffs - C.

- Regular season: This tough little man did it again - raised his scoring and assist averages, lifted his game. Added a few nuances to his saucy runs through the lane. Fine all-around job of getting teammates into games, putting the ball in the right spot at right time. Improved jumper.

-Playoffs: Continued his sprightly run through the first round against Suns, generally outplaying Kevin Johnson. Met his comeuppance in the Utah run. The jumper became more unsure, the trips through the lanes ended in blocked shots, missed layups. He had a shakier hand on the tiller. He hit only 41 percent of his field-goal attempts and averaged seven assists.

-Future: Has two contract years left, the second an option year. Works well with Robinson; should be back barring blockbuster deal.

DAVID ROBINSON

Regular season - A Playoffs - C+.

- Regular season: Bowled through the league with another MVP-type performance. The Spurs’ go-to man on the attack, the anchor on defense. Scored in bursts, often unstoppable up close, found airways out of double-teams. Solid one-on-one defender, menaced drivers with lightning moves for blocks.

-Playoffs: Continued surge through Suns, averaging 30 points and 11.8 rebounds. Crushing performance in Game 2 kept series on track. But overall performance dropped dramatically and drastically against Utah; averaged 19 points. Bothered by foul trouble. Seemingly gone were passion, energy, will to take over.

-Future: Will continue to be cornerstone of franchise, guaranteeing mountains of wins, headed for Hall of Fame. Playoff success will be his beacon.

VINNY DEL NEGRO

Regular season - B+ Playoffs - C-.

- Regular season: Enjoyed a career year in the firing department: 14.5 points per game, hitting 49.7 of his shots, 38 percent of his threes. A continued scourge for defenders who tried to track him off pick-and-rolls. Marvelous pull-up shot and on target in dense traffic. All-around hustler. Finished breaks. Minimum turnovers, adequate defender.

-Playoffs: Had two giant games, two subpar games against Suns, then started struggles against Utah, opening that series with a 1-of-11 shooting night, then following with consecutive 4-of-11 shows. Unsteady shooting helped deflate the Spurs’ regular-season ballooned offensive attacks.

-Future: Two years left on six-year deal. Could be included in trade package but remains valuable shooter from backcourt.

SEAN ELLIOTT

Regular season - A- Playoffs - C.

- Regular season: Started season in attack mode, armed with drives and scorching jumpers. Made All-Star team and remained team’s second option on offense. Light on rebounds. Wobbled some as season wore on - double-teams became nightly fare, trips to line declined and turnovers affected game. Handled small forwards, off-guards on defense.

-Playoffs: Tough defensive pressure began to wear away his outside shots, but continued to wound Suns, drove well, defended. Dropped off badly during Jazz series, hitting 30 percent of his shots, averaging 14 points. Jazz defense forced him into 20 turnovers. Had problems defending varying Utah scorers.

-Future: Very marketable if Spurs want to make dramatic change, but youth and talents also make him a key piece in team’s growth.

CHARLES SMITH

Regular season - C Playoffs - D-.

- Regular season: Brought from New York to San Antonio at All-Star time along with Monty Williams for J.R. Reid and Brad Lohaus. Trade didn’t help - Reid probably would have done as well. Enjoyed some above-par rebounding and scoring games, but generally couldn’t catch consistent fire. Fair rebounder, not dangerous scorer, tended toward foul trouble.

-Playoffs: Plagued by foul troubles and substandard overall play. Played few minutes and put tremendous pressure on team already troubled by poor bench. Reduced to reserve status for final two games against Utah. Had just 27 points, 20 rebounds against Utah.

-Future: Contract locks him into San Antonio for four more years. Question: Can he improve?

WILL PERDUE

Regular season - B+ Playoffs - B+.

- Regular season: Brought to San Antonio in exchange for the volatile and wildly popular Dennis Rodman. Fit right in with a solid, workmanlike ethic. Used height to extreme benefits, rebounded, clogged lanes, scored up close. Poor hands keep him from stellar performances but was excellent backup for Robinson with fine showings alongside him.

-Playoffs: Solid force; outright overpowering segments helped put Suns in dumper in four games. Retained that steady mental and physical presence against Jazz. Bumped to starter status last two games and helped the surge to victory in Game 5 with 12 rebounds, nine points and defense.

-Future: Has three years left on pact. Lots of interest in him around league but Spurs should keep him.

DOC RIVERS

Regular season - B+ Playoffs - incomplete.

- Regular season: Averaged just 15.8 minutes, but almost without fail gave team immediate defensive and energetic boosts. Drew momentum-saving or momentum-turning offensive fouls, forced chaotic turnovers. Shot not overly reliable, but seemingly always good for one vital three-pointer or long two. Team’s most physical defender.

-Playoffs: Can only say that he surely could have helped. Opened the Phoenix series with a down performance, then left the playoffs when he injured his hip in Game 2. Loss drained some energy from Spurs, forced the unwanted use of players far from ready for playoff wars.

-Future: A free agent who is unlikely to return for one more year. He is being courted by Milwaukee for management status.

CHUCK PERSON

Regular season - B+ Playoffs - B.

- Regular season: The bombardier added another dimension to his game that helped push the Spurs to 59 wins. He was an able power forward, tough defender down low, sometime staunch rebounder. He continued to deflate foes and win games with long-range missiles, prohibiting defenders from doubling down onto the post. Suffered no-hit streaks.

-Playoffs: Ruined Suns with outside shooting, energetic play. Enjoyed some defensive moments against Charles Barkley. Had two off-shooting games against Utah but mainly seemed more on track than teammates. Received serious attention from Utah on the perimeter, trouble getting himself open.

-Future: Has three years left on his contract, probably will finish his career in San Antonio.

COACH BOB HILL

Regular season - A Playoffs - C-.

- Regular season: Nurtured group through trying early times when Herrera failed to become starting power forward. Won games, eased team into confident status with excellent, rotating play of Perdue and Person. Inside, outside attacks clicked and overpowered foes with offensive pressure. Defense one of league’s best.

-Playoffs: Had team primed for Suns and finished that team off with two blowouts and couple of head-knockers. But disaster struck with Utah. He maintains that psychology of players bent by early successes. But, also, Utah’s defense took Spurs out of regular attack modes, and Utah’s offense found the holes in S.A.'s defense.

-Future: One year left on contract. Could be last if next season’s playoffs also are disappointing. But right off-season maneuvers could land team with needed, fiery player.

OTHER PLAYERS

- Regular season: Rookie Cory Alexander saw very limited time - 9.5 minutes per game -and had his ups and downs, mostly downs. Unsure of whether or not to shoot, he often didn’t. Needed more floor time. Monty Williams showed some slashing, finishing skills during limited time. Greg Anderson was glued to bench but could rebound. Del Demps mostly on injured list. Carl Herrera a bust.

-Playoffs: More of the same. Alexander again showed some sparks of his ability, helped maintain during Johnson’s rest. Could have done better against Howard Eisley. Rest thrown into action because of Smith’s poor play, Rivers’ absence, and tiring players.

-Future: Alexander has two years left on rookie deal, should remain and get some growth time. Anderson and Williams have one year left. Herrera is tied in for three more seasons. Demps is an unrestricted free agent.

, via San Antonio Express-News