马刺1996-97赛季实录（560+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-04, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

人手不足的圣安东尼奥奋力反击，但最终功亏一篑

你可能在过去的几个晚上听到阿拉莫圆顶体育馆传来的嘘声，可能是两种情况之一。可能是马刺球迷表达不满。

或者，也可能是球队季后赛希望破灭的声音，因为他们在全明星赛前夕，伤病缠身，状态低迷。

周一晚上，马刺在圆顶体育馆以 85-79 不敌萨克拉门托国王队，这是他们连续第四场失利，也是他们在过去三天内主场输给的第二场。他们需要击败这些球队才能避免在八年内首次无缘季后赛。

在连续输给明尼苏达森林狼队和国王队后，马刺队（11-32）落后第七名，距离第八名和最后一个季后赛席位相差七场。

马刺队落后于洛杉矶快船队（18-25）、国王队（21-26）和森林狼队（22-24）。快船队、国王队和森林狼队目前位列西部联盟八个季后赛席位中的最后三个。

如果马刺队不能扭转局势 - 他们已经输掉了最近 14 场比赛中的 12 场 - 他们可能在伤愈归来的大卫·罗宾逊（David Robinson）中锋即将在三月初复出之前，就已出局。

“对我们来说，我们不能给自己施加压力，去追赶其他球队争夺季后赛席位，”马刺队控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊（Avery Johnson）说。“我们只需要尽可能地赢球。我们只有这么几个人能上场，他们像苍蝇一样不断地倒下。”

不幸的是，对马刺队来说，今年他们的球员们比他们的投篮命中率更频繁地倒下了。

困扰球队一整年的投篮不准和进攻不稳定的问题，在比赛的后期再次暴露出来。

马刺队在第二节后半段一度领先 13 分，但在比赛最后 1 分 30 秒，他们错失了 4 次三分球。

国王队在老登·波利尼奇（Olden Polynice）在篮下抢下进攻篮板，并造成犯规后，罚进两罚中的第一罚，将比分扩大为 83-79。

在另一端，肖恩·埃利奥特（Sean Elliott）投出的三分球偏出。马刺队打出一记防守，并在比赛还剩一分钟时叫了暂停，再次尝试。但结果并不理想。弗恩·麦克斯韦尔（Vern Maxwell）远投不中，约翰逊抢下篮板。

约翰逊将球传给多米尼克·威尔金斯（Dominique Wilkins），他投出一记远距离三分球，也弹框而出。国王队将球权转化为泰厄斯·埃德尼（Tyus Edney）的两罚全中，为比赛锁定胜局。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇（Gregg Popovich）试图为威尔金斯开脱，说他应该在麦克斯韦尔投篮不中后叫暂停。

“是我没有叫暂停犯了错误，”波波维奇说，他是球队在本赛季中期接任主教练的新秀教练，目前战绩为 8-17。“我沟通不到位，总是事后诸葛亮。”

威尔金斯通常是马刺队更衣室中最容易接触到的球员之一，但他提前离开了，没有接受采访。

约翰逊说这不是任何人的错。

“在我看来，波波维奇不应该承担任何责任，”约翰逊说。“我们有沟通，我们想把球传给多米尼克，只是没有把球传到他合适的位子。”

米奇·里奇蒙德（Mitch Richmond）得到 26 分，领衔国王队，他们在几周前曾被马刺队痛击 20 分。里奇蒙德每球都要拼尽全力，19 投 7 中。

杰夫·格雷厄姆（Jeff Grayer）与萨克拉门托签署了第二个 10 天合同，他凭借 16 分，包括第三节末段 18-0 攻势中的 6 分，给马刺队造成了很大伤害。

波利尼奇得到 15 分和 17 个篮板。

马刺队连续第三场比赛没有中锋威尔·珀杜（Will Perdue），球队很想念他的篮板和得分。自从珀杜因右眼下方骨折缺席比赛后，马刺队还没有赢过球。本赛季，马刺队在罗宾逊和珀杜都缺席的情况下，战绩为 2-9。

麦克斯韦尔以 15 分领衔马刺队。威尔金斯得到 13 分，但他无法找到在之前的两场比赛中得到 56 分时的进攻节奏。威尔金斯在第三节只打了三分钟，而马刺队在第三节被压制了 28-11。

卡尔·埃雷拉（Carl Herrera）在因鼻梁骨折缺席一场比赛后复出，上场 37 分钟，得到 12 分和 7 个篮板。

国王队在半场结束时一度落后 49-36，但他们奋力反击，在第四节将比分反超为 67-60。

萨克拉门托在第四节最后 5 分 19 秒打出了一波 18-0 的攻势，马刺队在这段时间的表现糟糕，出现了糟糕的控球、失误和仓促的投篮。

国王队在第四节打进了第一球，将比分拉开为 20-0。

对马刺队来说，替补前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯（Monty Williams）在第二节打出一波 19-2 的攻势中得到 9 分。他们利用这波攻势将比分扩大为 49-39。

威廉姆斯在这波攻势中得到 4 分，其中一球是突破上篮得分，另外三个是快攻上篮得分。

国王队在里奇蒙德早早得到 13 分的带领下，首节结束时以 24-22 领先。

马刺队将在下周三前往费城比赛。他们将在下周四前往纽约对阵尼克斯队，然后迎来全明星赛的休战期。

• 马刺队消息：波波维奇表示，珀杜可能会在下周二对阵达拉斯的比赛中复出，这是球队全明星赛休战期后的第一场比赛。

• 马刺队前锋查克·珀森（Chuck Person）将于 2 月 26 日前往加利福尼亚州英格伍德，去看罗伯特·沃特金斯（Robert Watkins）医生。如果一切顺利，他可能会获得复出训练的许可。

珀森在 10 月 29 日接受了背部手术，本赛季尚未出战。

• 马刺队仍然希望罗宾逊能够在二月底复出，但波波维奇否认了关于这位 7 英尺 1 寸的球队领袖可能在几周内就可以开始跑步的传言。

波波维奇拒绝预测罗宾逊的复出时间。

点击查看原文：Good to be Kings when facing Spurs - Undermanned S.A. rallies, but falls short

Good to be Kings when facing Spurs - Undermanned S.A. rallies, but falls short

That hissing noise you may have heard around the Alamodome the past few nights could have been one of two things. It could have been discontented Spurs fans, expressing discontent.

Or it could have been the air coming out of the team’s playoff hopes as it staggers toward the All-Star break with injured centers and fading fortunes.

The Spurs dropped an 85-79 decision to the Sacramento Kings at the dome Monday night, their fourth loss in a row and second setback in three nights at home to teams they need to beat to avoid the franchise’s first non-playoff season in eight years.

After dropping consecutive games to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kings, the Spurs (11-32) fell seven games behind in the chase for the eighth and final playoff position.

The Spurs are lagging behind the Los Angeles Clippers (18-25), Kings (21-26) and Timberwolves (22-24). The Clippers, Kings and Wolves are currently in the bottom three spots of eight playoff positions in the Western Conference.

If the Spurs don’t start turning it around - they have dropped 12 of the last 14 games - they could be nearly out of the picture before injured center David Robinson returns around the beginning of March.

For us, we can't put pressure on ourselves (talking about) catching teams for playoff spots,'' Spurs point guard Avery Johnson said. We just have to win as many games as we can. We only have so many guys out there. They’ve been dropping like flies.‘’

Unfortunately for the Spurs, their players are dropping out with injuries this year much more frequently than their shots are falling through the basket.

Problems with poor shooting and inconsistent offense, which have haunted the team all year, surfaced again late against the Kings.

Trailing by four points in a game they once led by 13 late in the second quarter, the Spurs misfired on four three-point shots in the final 1:30.

Sacramento took an 83-79 lead when Olden Polynice retrieved an offensive rebound in the lane, drew a foul and hit one of two free throws.

At the other end, Sean Elliott fired and missed a trey. The Spurs made a defensive stop, called time out with one minute remaining and tried again. It didn’t work out. Vern Maxwell missed from long distance and Johnson rebounded.

Johnson fed Dominique Wilkins, who hoisted a long three that also clanged off the side of the rim. The Kings turned the possession into two Tyus Edney free throws for the final points with 24.3 seconds remaining.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich tried to deflect criticism from Wilkins by saying he should have called time after Maxwell’s miss.

I screwed up by not calling time,'' said Popovich, now 8-17 as a rookie coach who took over the Spurs in midseason. I just didn’t communicate. It’s always coulda, woulda, shoulda.‘’

Wilkins, normally one of the most accessible players in the Spurs’ locker room, left early. He wasn’t available for comment.

Johnson said it wasn’t anyone’s fault.

In my opinion, Pop shouldn't take no blame,'' Johnson said. We had communication. We wanted to get the ball to Dominique. We just didn’t get it to him in the right position.‘’

Mitch Richmond scored 26 points to lead the Kings, who took a 20- point beating from the Spurs a few weeks ago. Richmond had to work for everything he got, hitting 7 of 19 from the field.

Jeff Grayer, on the second of two 10-day contracts with Sacramento, hurt the Spurs badly with 16 points, including six in an 18-0 run near the end of the third.

Polynice added 15 points and 17 rebounds.

The Spurs played their third straight game without center Will Perdue, whose rebounding and scoring has been missed. They haven’t won since Perdue has been out with a broken bone below his right eye. The Spurs are 2-9 this season with both Robinson and Perdue out of the lineup.

Maxwell led the Spurs with 15 points. Wilkins added 13, but couldn’t get into the offensive rhythm that carried him to 56 points in his previous two outings. Wilkins played only three minutes in the third, when the Spurs were dominated 28-11.

Carl Herrera, playing his first game back after sitting out one with a broken nose, scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in 37 minutes.

The Kings, trailing 49-36 at one point late in the first half, battled back to take a 67-60 lead into the fourth.

Sacramento went on an 18-0 streak in the final 5:19 of the quarter, a Spurs drought that featured sloppy ball handling, turnovers and quick, ill-advised shots.

The Kings scored the first basket of the fourth to turn it into a 20-0 run.

For the Spurs, reserve forward Monty Williams scored nine points during a 19-2 outburst in the second quarter. They used the streak to take a 49-39 edge at intermission.

Williams had four baskets in the stretch, one on a driving finger roll and three others on layups off the fast break.

The Kings, buoyed by 13 early points from Richmond, held a 24-22 lead after one period.

The Spurs play next Wednesday at Philadelphia. They move on to New York on Thursday to face the Knicks before the All-Star break.

-Spurs notes: Popovich said Perdue would probably be able to play at Dallas next Tuesday, the team’s first game after the All-Star break.

-Spurs forward Chuck Person has an appointment to see Dr. Robert Watkins in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 26. If all goes well, he could be given a green light to return to practice.

Person, recovering from Oct. 29 back surgery, hasn’t played this season.

-The Spurs are still hoping Robinson can be ready to play by the end of February, but Popovich denied a rumor that the 7-foot-1 franchise player could be ready to start running in a few weeks.

Popovich declined to project Robinson’s return date.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-05, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺在费城寻求救命稻草，低迷威胁季后赛希望

不幸的马刺队今晚踏上征程，希望费城能对得起其“兄弟之爱之城”的美誉。他们现在每分每秒都需要外援。圣安东尼奥深陷四连败，并且在最近的 14 场比赛中输掉了 12 场。

当大卫·罗宾逊回归并点燃取胜希望时，马刺队曾非常有信心能进入季后赛，但现在他们离西部季后赛第八个也是最后一个名额的洛杉矶快船队越来越远。

马刺队在对阵 76 人队的比赛中以 11-32 的战绩进入晚上 6:30 的比赛，然后必须在周四晚上 6:30 的比赛中前往纽约对阵尼克斯队。

明智的头脑会认为，如果失败要结束，那必须发生在对阵 11-34 的 76 人队的比赛中。否则，在尼克斯队试图追赶迈阿密热火队，夺得大西洋赛区头名的纽约将失败的可能性会大增。

情况严峻，但教练格雷格·波波维奇坚持认为马刺队的比赛正在进步。

“我们只是在比赛结束时无法克服逆境，”波波维奇在周二上午在道成肉身大学的训练后说。

“（周一）晚上我们打出了史上最糟糕的六分钟篮球；我们在球场的两端都崩溃了…我们的节奏太快，几乎疯狂，而且我们犯了一些错误。”

国王队在第三节末用 18-0 的得分优势抹平了马刺队的优势，并夺取了比赛的胜利势头。

“但我们仍在取得进步；我们仍在进步，”波波维奇说。“这种进步将在今年晚些时候或明年给我们带来回报。”

波波维奇说，目标仍然是在本赛季进入季后赛，但对于罗宾逊的回归，他没有设定时间表。

“我们并不知道，”他说。“这是一个影片的问题 - 当影片（罗宾逊的断脚趾）显示他能开始跑步时，我们就可以从那里开始了。”

在最近三场对阵湖人队、森林狼队和国王队的比赛中，马刺队一直保持竞争力，但他们无法发起制胜的比赛或在最后几分钟阻止对手。

“我们为自己挖了一个越来越深的洞，”老将前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯说。“失败令人沮丧。”

威尔金斯是一位进攻型选手，他说球队需要在比赛中保持平衡。

“我们在比赛结束时的表现与开始时不同，”他说。“我们变得非常谨慎。我们不想担心有什么会导致得分的大好时机。我们只需要打篮球。”

前锋肖恩·艾利奥特说，全队必须在整场比赛中保持积极态度。

“我们一直有在最近三场比赛中获胜的机会；我们对其有一定的把控能力，”他说。“当球队开始向我们发起进攻时，我们必须处理好，当事情朝着另一个方向发展时，不要垂头丧气。我们必须更聪明地比赛，全力地继续防守。”

“在比赛开始时，我们有很多能量，很多动作（对抗国王队），然后我们停了下来，当他们开始向我们发起进攻时，我们垂头丧气。我们打了一场精彩的半场比赛，然后表现平平。”

维尼·德尔·内格罗同意波波维奇的观点，即球队的比赛有所进步，但持续的失败掩盖了这一点。

“我们的努力一直都在，但我们犯错的空间极小，”他说。“现在错误被放大了。我们必须做的是避免感到沮丧，沮丧会让事情变得更加困难。”

“但是，这是一个漫长的赛季，我们还有时间。我们必须处理我们所处的境况，并想办法赢得一些比赛。”

点击查看原文：Spurs reach for a lifesaver in Philly - Slump threatens playoff hopes

Spurs reach for a lifesaver in Philly - Slump threatens playoff hopes

The snakebitten Spurs hit the road tonight, hoping Philadelphia lives up to its title as the ``City of Brotherly Love.‘’ They can use all they can get these days. San Antonio is in the mire of a four-game losing streak and the muck of having lost 12 of its last 14 games.

Once pretty confident they would make the playoffs when David Robinson returned to spark a winning run, the Spurs are now slipping dangerously far behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth and final Western Conference postseason slot.

The Spurs take an 11-32 record into their 6:30 p.m. game against the 76ers, and then must jaunt over to New York for a 6:30 p.m. Thursday game against the Knicks.

Wise minds figure if the losing is to end, it must happen against the 11-34 Sixers. Otherwise, the risk of extending the skein to six in New York, where the Knicks are trying to catch the Miami Heat for top spot in the Atlantic Division, is great.

Matters are grim, but Coach Gregg Popovich insists that the Spurs’ play is improving.

``We just haven’t been able to get over the hump at the end of games,‘’ Popovich said after a Tuesday morning workout at the University of the Incarnate Word.

``We had about the worst six minutes of basketball (Monday) night that I’ve seen; we just imploded at both ends of the floor . . . Our pace became too fast, almost frantic, and we made some mistakes.‘’

The Kings used an 18-0 run at the end of the third quarter to wipe out a Spurs advantage and take the game-winning momentum.

But we are still making progress; we are still improving,'' Popovich said. That improvement is going to pay off for us, either later this year or next year.‘’

Popovich said the goal is still to make the playoffs this season, but he put no timetable on the return of Robinson.

We just don't know,'' he said. It’s a matter of film - when the film (of Robinson’s broken toe) shows that he can start running, then we can go from there.‘’

The Spurs have been competitive during the last three losses to the Lakers, Wolves and Kings, but they haven’t been able to mount winning drives or halt foes in the final minutes.

We're digging ourselves into a deeper and deeper hole,'' said veteran forward Dominique Wilkins. The losing gets depressing.‘’

Wilkins, an aggressive offensive player, says the team needs to get on an even keel throughout a game.

We don't play the same at the end of games as we do at the beginning,'' he said. We get very cautious. We don’t want to worry about what can go wrong getting great shots. We just need to play basketball.‘’

Forward Sean Elliott said the team must keep positive through an entire game.

We've been in position to win the last three games; we had some control over them,'' he said. When teams make runs at us, we have to handle it, don’t get our heads down when things go the other way for a while. We have to play smarter, keep getting back on defense.

``We had a lot of energy, a lot of movement (against Kings) at the beginning of the game and then we stopped, we got our heads down when they started to make their run. We play a great half and then we play mediocre.‘’

Vinny Del Negro agrees with Popovich that there is improvement in the team’s play but it’s shadowed by the continuing losses.

The effort has been there but we have very little margin for error,'' he said. The mistakes get magnified now. What we have to do is avoid getting frustrated - frustration makes matters even more difficult.

``But, it is a long season and we still have time. We have to deal with the situation we’re in and just figure out ways to win some games.‘’

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-06, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

费城76人轻松击败马刺 - 圣安东尼奥无法限制艾弗森和他的队友

费城 - 马刺需要在全明星赛前的比赛中提升士气。然而，他们在周三晚上从费城76人那里得到的更多的是一场惨败。实力并不强的76人队命中率高达59%，并在核心州立中心球馆的13,845名观众面前以113-97的比分痛击马刺。

“我们的防守非常糟糕，基本上就是没有防守，”马刺前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)说道。“我们没有展现出应有的防守水平，很多球员都打得挣扎，包括我自己。部分原因是他们的表现，但大多数原因是我们自己。”

也许马刺只是提前开始了他们的全明星赛休息时间。如果是这样，他们可能需要查看行程表。

给马刺的信息 - 他们今晚在纽约麦迪逊广场花园球馆要对阵尼克斯。为期三天的赛季中期休假要到周五才开始。

如果他们不明白这个概念，他们在麦迪逊广场花园球馆可能又要度过一个漫长的夜晚。

饱受伤病困扰的马刺队已经遭遇五连败，但前四场比赛都没有这场对阵76人的比赛那么糟糕。

“我不知道为什么会发生这种情况，”埃利奥特说道。“有时候就是这样。就像加油站的员工或公司的高管一样，有些人就是状态不好。”

再者，也许加油站的员工比马刺队更有可能守住76人的艾伦·艾弗森(Allen Iverson)，杰瑞·斯塔克豪斯(Jerry Stackhouse)，唐·麦克莱恩(Don MacLean)和雷克斯·沃尔特斯(Rex Walters)。

艾弗森，上个夏天选秀大会上的状元秀，在他的职业生涯中又打出了一场稳固的比赛。他得到25分，9次助攻，并有3次抢断。

斯塔克豪斯，麦克莱恩和沃尔特斯联手贡献60分，22投33中。

“他们投篮命中率很高，而且非常积极，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说道。“你必须赞扬他们的侵略性和我们缺乏侵略性。”

费城（12胜34负）始终领先。76人在第一节领先8分，半场领先13分，进入第四节领先15分。在第四节，他们将领先优势扩大到26分，并最终战胜了马刺队（11胜33负）。

“我们今晚做了很多好事，”76人队主教练约翰尼·戴维斯(Johnny Davis)说道。“首先，我们保持了势头。我们有一些替补球员的投篮手感很火热。这让我们成为一支更有实力的球队，一支更全面的球队。”

“他们执行了他们的战术，投进了他们的球，而我们没有，”马刺队后卫弗农·麦克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell)说道。他在他的前费城队友面前得到了19分。

上半场不是马刺队本赛季打得最差的半场，但也不是太好。

76人队三分球命中率高达60%，第二节的命中率更是达到了65%，他们最终以64-51领先。

这是马刺队本赛季上半场丢分第二多的比赛，仅次于他们在11月27日对阵开拓者队的比赛中下半场丢掉的69分。

在前两节比赛中，76人队很好地执行了他们的进攻战术，并利用了马刺队给他们的所有机会。戴维斯上场的几乎所有球员都表现出色。

沃尔特斯，他在上半场得到11分，全场得到17分，在前7分钟内连续命中4个三分球。麦克莱恩在第二节对马刺队进行了狂轰滥炸，他不断冲击篮筐，得到了全场21分中的12分。

斯塔克豪斯（22分，6个篮板，6次助攻）与马克·戴维斯(Mark Davis)联手为费城带来了本场比赛最精彩的时刻。

在第二节比赛接近尾声时，戴维斯抢断了埃利奥特的传球。76人队拿到了球，并将球传给了斯塔克豪斯。这位二年级球员随后上演了一记惊天动地的战斧劈扣。

“我们打得越来越好了，”斯塔克豪斯说道，指的是76人在过去的3场比赛中赢下了其中的2场。“我们有一些球员回归，这对我们来说非常重要。”

麦克斯韦尔，上赛季效力于76人队，三分球9投5中。

---

马刺队花絮

• 重逢：马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)在周三晚上遇到了他的一位老队友 - 费城76人队的新秀主教练约翰尼·戴维斯。威尔金斯和戴维斯在1980年代初一起效力于亚特兰大老鹰队。

“我们叫他布里兹，因为他真的很酷，很放松，”威尔金斯说道。

• 欢迎回来：前锋/中锋杰米·费克(Jamie Feick)预计将在周一与马刺队签下一份新的10天合同。他首份10天合同将在今晚对阵尼克斯队的比赛后到期。费克在对阵费城的比赛中表现出色，得到职业生涯新高的7分和12个篮板。

小前锋达林·汉考克(Darrin Hancock)的未来还不太确定。他的10天合同也在今晚到期。汉考克在对阵76人的比赛中首次为马刺队出战，并得到4分，出场时间为8分钟。- 杰里·布里格斯(Jerry Briggs)

点击查看原文：Philly just knocks Spurs silly - San Antonio unable to put clamps on Iverson & Co.

Philly just knocks Spurs silly - San Antonio unable to put clamps on Iverson & Co.

PHILADELPHIA - The Spurs needed a morale boost going into the All- Star break. What they got from the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night was more like a boot in the rear end. The lowly Sixers hit 59 percent of their shots and pounded the Spurs 113-97 before 13,845 fans at the CoreStates Center.

Our defense was terrible, basically,'' Spurs forward Sean Elliott said. It just didn’t show up. A lot of us struggled, including myself. A little of it is what they did. But most of it was us.‘’

Maybe the Spurs just started their All-Star break a little early. If so, they may need to check the itinerary.

Message to the Spurs - there is a game in New York tonight against the Knicks. The three-day, midseason vacation doesn’t start until Friday.

If they don’t understand that concept, it could be another long night at Madison Square Garden.

The injury-ravaged Spurs have lost five in a row, but none of the previous four looked as bad as this one against the Sixers.

I don't know why it happened,'' Elliott said. It’s just like that sometimes. It’s just like a guy at a gas station or a guy running a corporation. Some days, it’s not there.‘’

Then again, a gas-station attendant may have had more luck guarding the Sixers’ Allen Iverson, Jerry Stackhouse, Don MacLean and Rex Walters than the Spurs did.

Iverson, the No. 1 pick in the draft last summer, posted yet another solid game in his young career. He scored 25 points, passed for nine assists and made three steals.

Stackhouse, MacLean and Walters combined for 60 points on 22-of-33 shooting from the field.

They shot very well and were very aggressive,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. You’ve got to commend them for their aggressiveness and our lack thereof.‘’

Philadelphia (12-34) never trailed. The Sixers led by eight at the quarter, 13 at the half and 15 going into the fourth period. In the fourth, they pumped the lead up to as many as 26 points against the Spurs (11-33).

We did a lot of good things tonight,'' Sixers coach Johnny Davis said. No. 1, we kept our momentum going. We have a couple of people shooting the ball well off of the bench. That’s making us a more potent team and a more well-rounded team.‘’

``They executed their plays and made their shots, and we didn’t,‘’ said Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell, who scored 19 points on his former Philadelphia teammates.

The first half wasn’t the worst the Spurs have played this season. But it wasn’t far from it.

The Sixers shot 60 percent from the floor, including 65 in the second quarter, as they ran off to a 64-51 lead.

It was the second-most points the Spurs have given up in a half this season, next to the 69 they allowed in the second half of a Nov. 27 game at Portland.

During the first two quarters, the Sixers executed their offense well and took advantage of everything the Spurs gave them. Most every player Davis put on the floor responded.

Walters, who scored 11 first-half points and finished with 17, hit four straight baskets from the perimeter in the first seven minutes. MacLean killed the Spurs in the second quarter, taking it to the basket and scoring 12 of his 21 points.

Stackhouse (22 points, six rebounds, six assists) combined with Mark Davis to give Philadelphia its best sequence of the game.

Late in the second period, Davis deflected a pass from Elliott. The Sixers retrieved it and threw downcourt to Stackhouse. The second-year pro proceeded to uncork a monumental, tomahawk slam.

We're playing better,'' said Stackhouse, referring to the Sixers having won two of their last three. We’re getting some guys back into the fold and that’s a big key for us.‘’

Maxwell, who played last season for the Sixers, hit 5 of 9 three- pointers. - - -

Spurs Notes

- Reunion: Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins faced one of his former teammates Wednesday night - Johnny Davis, the rookie head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Wilkins and Davis played together in the early 1980s with the Atlanta Hawks.

``We called him breezy, because he was really cool, very laid back,‘’ Wilkins said.

- Come on back: Forward/center Jamie Feick is expected to sign a new 10-day contract with the Spurs on Monday. His first 10-day deal expires after tonight’s game in New York against the Knicks. Feick had a solid game with career-highs of seven points and 12 rebounds against Philadelphia.

The future of small forward Darrin Hancock is less certain. His 10-day deal also expires after tonight. Hancock got into his first game with the Spurs against the Sixers and scored four points in eight minutes. - Jerry Briggs

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-06, By Buck Harvey

私人部分：被解雇的人如何反击

莫·麦克霍恩(Mo McHone)蜷缩成胎儿姿势，抓着他的斯伯丁篮球。人群哄堂大笑。他们以为这是表演的一部分。就在那一刻——被吉祥物击倒在球场上——麦克霍恩在马刺队历史上的地位似乎从未如此鲜明。三位马刺主教练在新年之前被解雇。杰里·塔卡尼安(Jerry Tarkanian)重返一级联盟，而鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)今天作为烈士等待他的下一份合同。只有麦克霍恩知道真正的痛苦。

但即使是麦克霍恩也会嘲笑这个故事，以及13年前发生在他身上的事情。也许这就是麦克霍恩生存的方式。如果没有像其他人那样拥有声誉和金钱，他会继续从事这项工作，因为他喜欢它。

麦克霍恩本周回到了德克萨斯州南部。他目前执教的CBA球队——苏福尔斯空中部队——有几天休息时间。所以在他去看在尤瓦尔迪执教的儿子的路上，麦克霍恩停下来观看了一场马刺队的比赛。

他现在离婚了，也是一位祖父。但他看起来没有改变，仍然带着卡罗来纳口音和魅力。这就是为什么在1983年他获得马刺队主教练职位时，很少有人反对的原因之一。他从未担任过高中级别以上的主教练，但他很有趣，不是吗？

马刺队相应地支付了他的薪水。他签署了一份价值10.5万美元的为期一年的合同；帕特·莱利(Pat Riley)在合同中有一项擦鞋条款，价值更高。随后发生的事情不应该发生在任何人和他的梦想身上。

那些当时不太老的马刺球员太高了。五位球员入选了全明星票选，没错，但最终有三位球员会进入康复中心。麦克霍恩不知道自己拥有的是什么。为了感谢老将帮助他获得这份工作，他选择让他们掌舵。

一个令人难忘的场景：马刺球员们挤进一辆酒店面包车，前往客场球馆，一个便携式音响播放着音乐，麦克霍恩坐在设备上，因为没有座位了。

他的战绩是11胜20负。现在这会让他加薪，但当时这意味失败。鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)在马刺队惨败给凯尔特人队的第二天早上解雇了麦克霍恩。毫不夸张地说，他离开时感到困惑、沮丧和崩溃。

他成为了克利夫兰的一名助理教练。再次追随斯坦·阿尔贝克(Stan Albeck)，这次是到布拉德利大学。然后，他接到了吉姆·古德曼(Jim Goodman)的电话，古德曼当时在伯明翰的龙队工作。CBA怎么样？

于是，他开始了前往四个不同城市的旅程。在印第安纳州的韦恩堡，当球队吉祥物挥舞高尔夫球杆表演时，他站在自己的球员身旁。球杆的头部飞了出去，正好击中了麦克霍恩原本应该拿着记事本的地方。

哦，那个古怪的吉祥物。但当麦克霍恩冒汗，呼吸困难时，这不是个玩笑，对吧？他的球员认为他心脏病发作了。

这只是他职业生涯中常见的又一次打击。然后是两个赛季，弥补了这一切。麦克霍恩在华盛顿州的雅基马赢得了一座冠军，然后在上赛季的南达科他州的苏福尔斯赢得了另一座冠军。他承认自己在第一次赢得冠军时拥有最好的天赋。但去年，他对再次赢得冠军感到非常自豪。

“我告诉鲍勃(巴斯)，”麦克霍恩说，“我证明他并没有全错。”

那么，麦克霍恩是另一个菲尔·杰克逊(Phil Jackson)或乔治·卡尔(George Karl)吗？这两位教练都在CBA学习，并在去年打进了NBA总决赛。“不，”麦克霍恩说，“如果我是一位前球员，也许会。”

他很现实，并不苦涩。没错，他希望进入NBA。但他表示，他现在比担任马刺队主教练时赚得更多，并且他喜欢这个联赛。他喜欢规则，他喜欢处于第一位。今天，空中部队的战绩是27胜5负。

所以，当麦克霍恩从塔卡尼安和希尔无法想象的位置上站起来时，他应该鞠躬致意。当他觉得可以的时候。

点击查看原文：Private part: How the fired can fire back

Private part: How the fired can fire back

He curled in the fetal position, grabbing his Spaldings. The crowd laughed. They thought it was part of the act. And at that moment - felled by a mascot right there on the court - Mo McHone’s place in Spurs history never seemed more defined. Three Spurs coaches have been fired before New Year’s. Jerry Tarkanian went back to Division I, and Bob Hill waits for his next contract today as a martyr. Only McHone knew true pain.

But even McHone laughs at the story, as well as what happened to him 13 years ago here. And maybe that’s how McHone survives. Without the reputation and money the others had, he stays in the game because he likes it.

McHone came back to South Texas this week. His current team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the CBA, had a few days off. So on his way to see his son who coaches in Uvalde, McHone stopped at a Spurs game.

He’s divorced now, and a grandfather, too. But he arrived seemingly unchanged, still beset with Carolina accent and charm. That’s one reason few objected when he got the Spurs’ head coaching job in 1983. He had never been a head coach above the high school level, but he was fun, wasn’t he?

The Spurs paid him accordingly. He signed a one-year contract worth $105,000; Pat Riley has a shoe-shine clause in his deal worth more. And what followed should happen to no man and his dream.

Those Spurs who weren’t too old then were too high. Five were on the all-star ballot, all right, but three would eventually enter rehab. McHone didn’t know what he had. And beholden to the veterans for helping him get the job, he opted to let them steer.

One memorable scene: The Spurs loaded up in a hotel van heading to a road arena, a boom box blaring, and McHone sat on equipment because there wasn’t a seat left.

He went 11-20. That would earn him a raise now, but then it was failure. Bob Bass fired McHone the morning after an embarrassing loss to the Celtics. It is not an exaggeration to say he left confused, beaten, broken.

He became an assistant in Cleveland. Followed Stan Albeck again, this time to Bradley University. And then came a call from Jim Goodman, now with the Dragons, then in Birmingham. What about the CBA?

Thus began a journey to four different cities. In Fort Wayne, Ind., he stood near his huddle when the team mascot swung a golf club for a stunt. The head of the club flew off and hit McHone precisely where he should have been holding his clipboard.

Oh, that wacky mascot. But as McHone sweat and lost his breath, this wasn’t a joke, was it? His players thought he was having a heart attack.

It was just another low blow not uncommon to his profession. And then came two seasons that made up for a lot of it. McHone won a title in Yakima, Wash., then another last season in Sioux Falls, S.D. He admits he had the best talent the first time. But last year he took a lot of pride in winning another.

I told Bob (Bass),'' said McHone, I proved he wasn’t all wrong.‘’

So is McHone another Phil Jackson or George Karl, both of whom learned in the CBA and reached the NBA Finals last year? No,'' McHone said. If I was an ex-player, maybe.‘’

He’s realistic, not bitter. He would like to be in the NBA, all right. But he says he earns more now than he did as the head coach of the Spurs, and he says he likes this league. He likes the rules, and he likes being in first place. Today, the Skyforce sit at 27-5.

So as McHone gets up from positions that Tark and Hill couldn’t imagine, he should take a bow. When he feels up to it.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-07, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺提升表现，但纽约发挥更胜一筹

纽约 - 马刺队一度对纽约尼克斯队进行了猛烈地冲击、拼抢和骚扰。他们甚至在内线击倒了体型更大、更强壮的尼克斯队球员。他们打出了与他们在西部联盟中弱队的身份不符的强硬风格。

但最终，周四晚上，尼克斯队以 96-84 的轻松比分战胜了马刺队，现场有 19763 名球迷观战。

之后，马刺队的球员们一致认为，如果他们像对尼克斯队那样对费城76人队进行身体对抗，他们本可以在这次两场客场比赛中取得一胜一负的战绩。

但结果并非如此。马刺队在周三晚上对实力不强的76人队打了一场软弱的比赛，结果被对手以 113-97 的比分大比分击败。然后，当他们终于提升了比赛强度时，尼克斯队却压制住了他们。

结果呢？在东部的两场比赛全败，并且在进入全明星赛休息之前遭遇了六连败。

“如果我们像这样对76人队比赛？”马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯 (Dominique Wilkins) 问道。“哦，是的，我们肯定会赢。但赢得比赛需要全队的努力。我们被所有人打得落花流水，这并不愉快。”

后卫阿兰·休斯顿 (Allan Houston) 得到了 22 分，前锋拉里·约翰逊 (Larry Johnson) 贡献了 20 分，引领尼克斯队。巴克·威廉姆斯 (Buck Williams) 顶替受伤的帕特里克·尤因 (Patrick Ewing) 首发出场，贡献了 9 分和 19 个篮板。

威尔金斯以 19 分领衔马刺队。蒙蒂·威廉姆斯 (Monty Williams)，一位前尼克斯球员，在替补肖恩·埃利奥特 (Sean Elliott) 首发出场，贡献了 18 分和 8 个篮板。埃利奥特因右股四头肌肌腱炎缺席比赛。

“我们似乎总是在面对强队时更有专注力和集中力，”威廉姆斯说道，他抢下了 6 个进攻篮板。“我们需要对所有人保持这种状态。”

马刺队打了一场扎实的上半场，并在第三节末段将比分差距缩小到 9 分，但休斯顿凭借着三分球的狂轰滥炸予以反击。

从第三节末段到第四节开始的 5 分钟内，他命中了 4 个三分球。

休斯顿的一记跳投帮助尼克斯队在比赛还剩 8 分 45 秒时以 79-62 的比分领先。马刺队在全明星赛休息前的最后一场比赛中，再也没有真正威胁过对手。

“休斯顿在下半场爆发了，”马刺队控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊 (Avery Johnson) 说。“我们知道他会这样做的。”

尼克斯队 (34-14) 在最近 6 场比赛中取得了 5 胜。他们还在最近 18 场主场比赛中赢了 17 场。马刺队 (11-34) 在最近 16 场比赛中输掉了 14 场。

这也是他们连续第 8 次客场失利。

在剩余的 37 场比赛中，伤病缠身且精疲力竭的马刺队在 14 支球队的西部联盟中排名第 13 位。

他们在失利数上落后于排名第八的萨克拉门托国王队 (21-28) 6 场。只有西部联盟中排名前八的球队才能晋级季后赛。

“我们将继续努力改进我们目前正在努力的一切，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 说。“没有神奇的子弹。关键是两端球场的执行力。”

在比赛开始之前，埃利奥特被告知要休息。尽管如此，他的队友们还是打得非常努力，比他们在对阵76人队时表现出了更多的激情。

马刺队新闻

• 罗宾逊的更新：马刺队在对中锋大卫·罗宾逊 (David Robinson) 的康复过程中非常谨慎，周四表示，他的回归时间定在 3 月份。

“只是在 3 月份的某个时间，”马刺队媒体服务主管汤姆·詹姆斯 (Tom James) 说。“我们没有确切的时间表。”

在过去的几周里，马刺队在赛前备忘录中发布了罗宾逊从左脚骨折中恢复的消息，预计他将在 2 月底回归。

“回归时间被推迟了，”詹姆斯说。

罗宾逊在 12 月 23 日左脚外侧骨 (第五跖骨) 发生骨折。他在 12 月 27 日接受了手术，在骨头上植入了一颗螺钉。在手术前夕，球队医生提醒说，他的回归时间可能是 6 到 8 周，甚至可能长达 12 周。

最近，罗宾逊开始在跑步机上行走。他还一直在骑固定自行车。下一步是罗宾逊开始慢跑。球队官员表示，这可能在 3 周内开始。- 杰里·布里格斯 (Jerry Briggs)

点击查看原文：Spurs step up performance, but N.Y. a step up in competition

Spurs step up performance, but N.Y. a step up in competition

NEW YORK - For a while, the Spurs slapped, clawed and harassed the New York Knicks. They even knocked down the bigger, brawnier Knicks in the paint on a few occasions. They played a physical style that belied their record as one of the weaker teams in the Western Conference.

But in the end Thursday night, the Knicks scored an easy 96-84 victory over the Spurs in front of 19,763 fans at Madison Square Garden.

Later, Spurs players agreed that if they had smacked their bodies into the Philadelphia 76ers the same way they did to the Knicks, they would have split this two-game road trip.

It just didn’t happen that way. The Spurs played a soft game against the lowly Sixers Wednesday night and got blown out, 113-97. Then when they finally stepped up the intensity, the Knicks overpowered them.

The result? An 0-2 swing through the East and a six-game losing streak going into the All-Star break.

If we had played this way against Philly?'' Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins asked. Oh, yeah, we definitely would have won. But to win it takes an effort from the whole. We’re getting our butts kicked by everybody. It’s no fun.‘’

Guard Allan Houston scored 22 points and forward Larry Johnson added 20 to pace the Knicks. Buck Williams, starting for injured Patrick Ewing at center, produced nine points and 19 rebounds.

Wilkins led the Spurs with 19 points. Monty Williams, a former Knick, contributed 18 points and eight boards in a starting assignment for Sean Elliott, who sat out with tendinitis in his right quadriceps.

We always seem to have better focus and concentration against the better teams,'' said Williams, who worked his way inside for six offensive rebounds. We need to maintain that against everybody.‘’

The Spurs played a solid first half and pulled to within nine points late in the third quarter, but Houston retaliated with a three-point shooting bonanza.

He hit four in a span of five minutes from late in the third to early in the fourth quarter.

A jumper by Houston gave the Knicks a 79-62 lead with 8:45 remaining. The Spurs, playing their last game before the All-Star break, never threatened seriously again.

Houston turned it on in the second half,'' Spurs point guard Avery Johnson said. We knew he would.‘’

The Knicks (34-14) won for the fifth time in their last six games. They also have won 17 of their last 18 at home. The Spurs (11-34) dropped their 14th game in their last 16.

It was also their eighth-straight road loss.

With 37 games remaining, the bedraggled and injury-scarred Spurs are languishing in 13th place in the 14-team Western Conference.

They trail the eighth-place Sacramento Kings (21-28) by six games in the loss column. Only the top eight teams in the West advance to the playoffs.

We'll continue to work on everything we've worked on to date,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. There’s no magic bullets. It’s about execution on both ends of the floor.‘’

Before the game, Elliott was told to sit and rest. Nevertheless, his teammates played hard, with much more emotion than they displayed against the Sixers. - - -

Spurs Notes

- Robinson update: The Spurs, exercising caution in the rehabilitation of center David Robinson, said Thursday his return has been scheduled for March.

It's just sometime in March,'' said Tom James, director of media services for the Spurs. We don’t have a timetable, per se.‘’

For the past few weeks, the Spurs have published in their pre-game notes that Robinson’s return from a broken bone in his left foot was scheduled for late February.

``It’s been pushed back,‘’ James said.

Robinson broke the outside bone (fifth metatarsal) of his left foot on Dec. 23. He underwent surgery on Dec. 27 to have a screw implanted in the bone. On the eve of the surgery, the team physician cautioned that his return could be anywhere from six to eight weeks, or even up to 12.

Recently, Robinson has started walking on a treadmill. He also has been riding a stationary bicycle. The next step would be for Robinson to begin jogging. That might be in three weeks, team officials say. - Jerry Briggs

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-07, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

报告：无季后赛，无波波维奇 - 球队老板否认传闻；教练称罗宾逊不会被催促复出

纽约 - 当马刺队周四抵达纽约时，他们被纽约一家小报的报道震惊了，该报道称，如果球队未能进入季后赛，格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)可能会被解雇，既不再担任主教练，也不再担任篮球执行副总裁。马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)在麦迪逊广场花园观看了马刺队与尼克斯队的比赛后否认了这一说法。

但《纽约每日新闻》的报道称，霍尔特和一些少数股东开始对波波维奇失去耐心，自他解雇鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)并接任主教练以来，球队战绩为8胜18负。

伤病缠身的马刺队在与尼克斯队的比赛前战绩为11胜33负，这是全明星周末前的最后一场比赛。

霍尔特、波波维奇以及任何少数股东都没有在报道中被引用。但该报报道称，波波维奇希望看到受伤的中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)尽快重返赛场，以便他能够通过进入季后赛来“保住”自己的工作。

一位不愿透露姓名的西部联盟篮球高管说：“毫无疑问，波波维奇希望罗宾逊回来，这样他就能进入季后赛，保住两个职位。他没有‘嘿，让我们结束这一年，争取一个乐透签’的想法。”

霍尔特表示，该报道“绝对不属实”。

霍尔特说：“伤病是我们现在受到困扰的事情。我们会让波波维奇(作为教练)带领球队度过整个赛季，然后我们会谈论球队的情况。我还没有接到过任何股东打电话来抱怨波波维奇。”

霍尔特表示，据他了解，波波维奇的篮球副总裁合同还剩两年。

波波维奇愤怒地表示，他还没有听说有任何将他从这两个职位上赶走的行动。

他说：“我对此一无所知。这离我的想法最远。”

波波维奇嘲讽了关于他想要让罗宾逊仓促复出的说法。这位7尺1寸的中锋因脚部骨折已经缺席了21场比赛。

在本赛季早些时候，罗宾逊因腰部拉伤缺席了前18场比赛。12月10日，罗宾逊被激活当天，波波维奇解雇了希尔。

罗宾逊打了6场比赛后，又因脚部骨折重新回到了伤病名单。

波波维奇说：“在本赛季早些时候，我比他想要休息的时间多休息了三个星期（背伤）。在他回来后，他一直说他想打更多比赛。我告诉他，‘不，我们只会让你打25分钟。’当时，我也有自己的利益。”

波波维奇说，罗宾逊会在健康的情况下上场，但他拒绝具体说明日期。

他说：“我要做对球队有利的事情。其他所有人都可以去（脏话）。”

球队官员说，罗宾逊从脚伤中恢复，很可能在3月份的某个时候。

马刺队媒体关系总监汤姆·詹姆斯(Tom James)说：“我们没有具体的时间表。”

马刺队前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)因右股四头肌肌腱炎缺席了本赛季的第六场比赛。

波波维奇说：“继续让他上场没有意义。我们会让他休息一下。休息多久，我不知道。”

马刺队的下一场比赛是本周末全明星周末后，周二在达拉斯。埃利奥特在一月份因肌腱炎缺席了四场比赛，但在马刺队与尼克斯队的比赛前，他重返赛场并打了最后10场比赛。

波波维奇说：“我赞扬他。他非常担心我们人手不足，所以他试图带伤上场。现在该我出手了，让他休息。他无法爆发或升空。”

点击查看原文：Report: no playoffs, no Popovich - Owner issues denial; coach says Robinson won't be rushed back

Report: no playoffs, no Popovich - Owner issues denial; coach says Robinson won’t be rushed back

NEW YORK - When the Spurs arrived in the Big Apple Thursday, they were jolted by a report in a New York tabloid that suggested Gregg Popovich could be out as both coach and executive vice president for basketball if the team fails to make the playoffs. Spurs chairman Peter Holt, who attended the Spurs’ game with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, denied it.

But the story in the New York Daily News said Holt and some of the minority owners are starting to lose patience with Popovich, who is 8-18 since he fired and replaced Bob Hill as coach.

The injury-ravaged Spurs were 11-33 before playing the Knicks, the team’s last game before the All-Star break.

Neither Holt, Popovich, nor any of the minority owners were quoted in the story. But the newspaper reported that Popovich wants to see injured center David Robinson back on the floor soon so that he can ``save’’ his job by making the playoffs.

Make no mistake,'' an unnamed Western Conference basketball executive said, Pop wants Robinson back so he can make the playoffs and save both jobs. He doesn’t have the mentality of saying, `Hey, let’s call it a year and get a lottery pick.’ ‘’

Holt said the report was ``absolutely not true.‘’

The injuries are the things that are hurting us right now,'' Holt said. We’re going to stick with Pop (as coach) through the end of the season and then talk about where we are. I have not had one owner call me (to complain) about Pop.‘’

Holt said it is his understanding that Popovich has two years remaining on his contract as vice president of basketball.

Popovich angrily said he hasn’t heard of any move to oust him from both jobs.

I have no knowledge of it, whatsoever,'' he said. That’s the farthest thing from my mind.‘’

Popovich scoffed at the suggestion that he wanted to rush Robinson back into action. The 7-foot-1 center has missed the last 21 games with a broken bone in his foot.

Earlier in the season, Robinson sat out the first 18 games with a lower back strain. On Dec. 10, Popovich fired Hill on the day Robinson was activated.

Robinson played six games and went back on the injured list with the broken foot.

Earlier in the season, I held him out three weeks longer than he wanted to be out (with his back injury),'' Popovich said. After he came back, he kept saying he wanted to play more. I told him, `No, we’re only going to play you 25 minutes.’ I had a vested interest, then, too.‘’

Popovich said Robinson will play when he is healthy, although he declined to specify a date.

I'm going to do what is right for this team,'' he said. Everyone else can go (expletive) themselves.‘’

A team official said Robinson’s return from the foot injury would likely be sometime in March.

``We don’t have a timeline, per se,‘’ said Tom James, Spurs director of media relations.

Spurs forward Sean Elliott sat out his sixth game of the season with tendinitis in his right quadriceps.

It's not productive to continue to ask him to play,'' Popovich said. We’re going to give him some rest. How much, I don’t know.‘’

The Spurs’ next game is Tuesday at Dallas following this weekend’s All-Star break. Elliott missed four straight games in January with the tendinitis, but returned to play the last 10 before the Spurs- Knicks game.

I applaud him,'' Popovich said. He’s so concerned about us being undermanned, that he tries to play through it. It’s time for me to step in and sit him. He’s not able to explode, or elevate.‘’

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-08, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺的艰难之旅仍需很长的路要走 - 教练关注执行力，而非伤病

曾经有一段时间，马刺队会在客场打球，走进NBA球馆热身，并从对手球迷那里赢得尊重。在1994-95赛季和1995-96赛季，他们在客场赢得了比联盟任何其他球队都多的比赛（55场）。

这个赛季，马刺队经历了许多危机，包括教练更换，多名关键球员受伤以及球员阵容不稳定。

结果是，他们在客场似乎无法获胜。

在全明星赛结束时，马刺队的战绩为11胜34负，客场仅取得4胜19负的糟糕战绩。

他们已经连续输掉了8场客场比赛，包括最近东部客场之旅的最后两场。

周三，马刺队在费城以97-113惨败。周四，他们表现有所提升，但仍然以84-96输给了纽约尼克斯队。

周五，球员们各自休假三天，进行赛季中期休假。他们将在周一恢复训练，为周二在达拉斯的下一场比赛做准备。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)表示，他最关心的是执行力问题。他不担心球队的客场战绩会是什么样子。

“我认为客场比赛与我们的现状无关，”他说。“我们在客场打过很多很棒的比赛。我们在客场也打过一些不那么好的比赛。”

马刺队最后一次客场胜利是在1月3日对阵丹佛队的比赛。他们在1月11日对阵亚特兰大老鹰队的比赛中差点获胜。但他们在最近的客场之旅中，在对阵新泽西、波士顿、明尼苏达、密尔沃基和费城的比赛中都输了。

面对实力低迷的76人队，马刺队在第四节一度落后26分。

“我们在客场打过几场好球，”波波维奇说。“我们在亚特兰大打得真的很好。我认为我们在周四对阵尼克斯队的比赛中也打得不错。”

马刺队在缺少大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)的情况下，在比赛前半段对尼克斯队施加了很大压力，在上半场还剩5分钟左右时领先6分。

随后，尼克斯队以18-2的比分反超，并在比赛结束时取得了10分的领先优势。马刺队在下半场从未将分差缩小到9分以内。纽约队在下半场一直保持两位数的领先优势。

幸运的是，对马刺队来说，他们在全明星赛结束后将迎来一段主场作战的赛程，他们在接下来的10场比赛中将有7场在主场进行。

但主要目标将是加强攻防两端的执行力，以及让受伤的球员回归。

“对于任何教练来说，不能带着完整阵容参加比赛都是很令人沮丧的，”波波维奇说。“但无论如何你都会参加比赛。所以为什么还要考虑呢？你仍然需要在防守端轮换。你必须在快攻中执行。你仍然需要打球。”

马刺队中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)因右眼下方骨折导致赛季最佳表现中断，预计将在缺席了四场比赛后在达拉斯复出。

埃利奥特因右大腿股四头肌肌腱炎复发，出战存疑。

罗宾逊本赛季只打了6场比赛，可能还需要一个月甚至更长时间才能复出。他因左脚骨折缺席了最近的21场比赛，此前他因下背部拉伤缺席了赛季前18场比赛。

点击查看原文：Spurs' tough road still has a long way to go - Coach focuses on execution, not injuries

Spurs’ tough road still has a long way to go - Coach focuses on execution, not injuries

There was a time in the not-too-recent past when the Spurs would go on the road, walk into an NBA arena for warmups and command respect from opposing fans. Over the course of the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, they won more road games (55) than any other team in the league.

This season, the Spurs have suffered through a number of crises with a coaching change, several injuries to key players and inconsistent player combinations.

As a result, they can’t seem to win anywhere on the road.

The Spurs, with an 11-34 record at the All-Star break, have posted a meager 4-19 mark away from home.

They have lost eight straight road games, including their last two on a recent swing through the East.

The Spurs were blown away 113-97 at Philadelphia on Wednesday, and then played better before falling 96-84 to the New York Knicks on Thursday.

On Friday, the players went their separate ways for a three-day, midseason vacation. They will resume practice Monday in preparation for their next game Tuesday in Dallas.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he concerns himself most with matters of execution. He doesn’t worry about what the team’s road record might look like.

I don't think being on the road has anything to do with our situation,'' he said. We’ve played very good games on the road. We’ve played not-so-good games on the road.‘’

The Spurs’ last win away from home came at Denver on Jan. 3. They nearly beat the Hawks in Atlanta on Jan. 11. But they were hammered in recent road games at New Jersey, Boston, Minnesota, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

Against the woeful Sixers, the Spurs trailed by as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter.

We've played well at times on the road,'' Popovich said. We really played well at Atlanta. And I thought we did well (Thursday) against the Knicks.‘’

The Spurs, playing without injured David Robinson and Sean Elliott, applied pressure on the Knicks for much of the first half, leading by six with about five minutes remaining in the half.

Subsequently, the Knicks responded with an 18-2 run to the buzzer for a 10-point lead. The Spurs never got closer than nine in the second half. New York’s lead was double-digits for the entire fourth quarter.

Fortunately for the Spurs, they start a stretch after the All-Star break in which they play seven of their next 10 games at home.

But the major focus will be on tightening the execution on both ends of the floor, and on getting the injured players back.

It's frustrating for any coach not to go in (to a game) with a full hand,'' Popovich said. But you’re going in anyway. So why think about it? You still have to rotate on defense. You have to execute on the (fast) break. You still have to play.‘’

Spurs center Will Perdue, whose career-best year has been interrupted by a fractured bone below his right eye, is expected to return at Dallas after missing the last four games.

Elliott is questionable after having his right quadriceps tendinitis flare up.

Robinson, who has played only six games this season, may still be a month or more away. He has missed the last 21 games with a broken bone in his left foot, after sitting out the first 18 of the season with a lower back strain.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-08, By Dan Cook

这真是NBA的奇葩时代

职业篮球界正在发生许多有趣的事情。比如，在国内，马刺队正在经历着一场奇怪的状况，似乎许多人都在做出错误的猜测，并得出错误的结论。

首先，现在看来，波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在赛季开始仅仅几周后就解雇了鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)，这对希尔来说可能是他职业生涯中最好的转折。

在NBA，被解雇并不丢人。这发生在一些联盟中最优秀的教练身上。

希尔试图在没有大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和其他一两个潜在或可能的先发球员的情况下带领球队前进，他现在坐在家里，收着他的工资，看着解雇他的人在艰难的赛季中挣扎。

希尔仍然忠于许多圣安东尼奥的球员，但他每次在电视上看到马刺队教练在输球后摇摇头离开球场时，一定都会忍俊不禁。

他一定在想，“要不是上帝和波波维奇的恩典，我可能也是这样。”

现在，这里有传言，纽约也有报道称，如果马刺队没有进入季后赛，波波维奇将被解雇。好吧，也许吧。

但如果真的发生了，他们会找谁来代替波波维奇呢？不，别想了，不是鲍勃·希尔。

说到NBA的怪事，我们当然不能忽视丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)。

前几天晚上，罗德曼出现在杰伊·莱诺(Jay Leno)的电视节目中，他说，当他因为踢了场边摄影师而被禁赛11场结束后，他将免费参加接下来的11场比赛，并将这些工资捐给慈善机构。

正如他所说，“这不是炒作。我要向全世界、联盟和所有人证明，我并不需要钱来打球，也不需要钱来获得快乐。”

他说这些话时穿着一条黑色皮革开叉裙，所以我确信他获得了严肃球迷的全部注意力。

他选择的慈善机构无疑会很高兴瓜分这大约120万美元的礼物。但罗德曼说这是"不是炒作"，他"不需要钱来打球，也不需要钱来获得快乐"，这纯粹是胡说八道。

他一直在这里，在马刺队打球，但他一直很沮丧，因为他想得到更高的薪水。

最后，德尔·哈里斯(Del Harris)在本赛季执教湖人队取得了巨大的成功，但他和他的球员比帕特·莱利(Pat Riley)执教湖人队时收到的来自洛杉矶媒体的批评更多。

哈里斯在被休斯顿解雇后失业了一段时间，他现在带领湖人队以西部联盟最佳战绩领跑他们的分区。

当然，沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)发挥了很大的作用，但周三晚上，在奥尼尔因伤缺席时，湖人队以106-90战胜了公牛队。

那么，这场胜利有什么赞扬吗？就连迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan)也没有赞扬湖人队。在芝加哥罕见地输球后，乔丹说：“我仍然认为西雅图是西部最好的球队。”

这有点奇怪，因为三天前，乔丹和他的公牛队以91-84战胜了西雅图。

这让我想起一个棒球击球手，他三振出局后对板凳上的队友说：“那个投手什么都没有，只有一个小曲线球。”

但第二天，他从另一位投手那里打出三支安打，然后对队友说：“伙计，他真的把球投得很快，还旋转着，有很多变化。”

实际上，所有体育运动都有很多奇怪的转折。

点击查看原文：These are strange days in the NBA

These are strange days in the NBA

A lot of funny things are going on in pro basketball. Here at home, for example, the Spurs are enduring a strange situation that seems to have a lot of folks making bad guesses while arriving at poor conclusions.

To begin with, it now appears that Bob Hill got the best break of his career when Gregg Popovich canned him after only a few weeks of the season.

It’s no disgrace to be fired in the NBA. It’s happened to some of the best coaches in the game.

Hill, who tried to guide this club without David Robinson and one or two other potential or probable starters, now sits at home, collects his paychecks and watches the man who fired him stumble through a nightmarish season.

Hill stays devoted to many of the San Antonio players, but he must have to muffle giggles each time he watches TV and sees the Spurs’ coach leave the court, shaking his head after another loss.

His thought must be, ``There but for the grace of God and Popovich, goes me.‘’

Now rumors here and reports in New York say that Popovich will be canned if the Spurs don’t make the playoffs. Well, maybe.

But if that should come to pass, who would they get to replace Popovich? Naw, don’t even think about it. Not Bob Hill.

While on the subject of strange things in the NBA, we certainly can’t overlook Dennis Rodman.

I thought it was appropriate the other night when Rodman appeared on Jay Leno’s TV show and said that when he comes off of his 11-game suspension for kicking a courtside photographer, he’s going to play the next 11 games for free, giving those paychecks to charity.

As he put it, ``This is no publicity stunt. I’m gonna show the world and the commissioner and everybody that I don’t need money to play and be happy.‘’

He said that while wearing a black leather slit skirt, so I’m sure he had the undivided attention of serious fans.

The charities of his choice will no doubt be pleased to divide that gift of about $1.2 million. But Rodman was just yanking our chains when he said it was no publicity stunt'' and he doesn't need money to play and be happy.‘’

He pouted and was most unhappy the whole time he was here with the Spurs because he wanted to be paid more money.

Finally, Del Harris has done a fantastic job coaching the Lakers this season, but he and his players have caught more criticism from the Los Angeles media than Pat Riley ever fielded there.

Harris, who was out of work for a long while after getting canned by Houston, has the Lakers leading their division with the best record in the Western Conference.

Shaquille O’Neal makes a big difference, of course, but Wednesday night the Lakers, without an injured O’Neal, whipped the Bulls 106- 90.

So was there any high praise for that win? Not even Michael Jordan, outscored that night, had praise for the Lakers. Right after the rare Chicago loss, Jordan said, ``I still think Seattle is the best in the West.‘’

That was kind of strange since three days earlier Jordan and his Bulls beat Seattle 91-84.

It reminded me of a baseball batter who strikes out and then tells his teammates in the dugout, ``That pitcher doesn’t have anything, just a dinky little curveball.‘’

But the next day he gets three hits off another pitcher and then tells his teammates, ``Man, he really fires that rock in there with heat, twistin’ and turnin’ with a lot of wrinkles.‘’

Actually, there are many strange turns in all sports.

By Dan Cook, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-09, By Jerry Briggs

马刺队可能不会在下赛季留住威尔金斯

马刺队可能有一张王牌可以打，如果他们想让多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)再打一个赛季。如果他们能说服NBA联盟，查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)在医学上无法打球，他们可以拿走史密斯一半的薪水，然后把这部分钱给37岁的威尔金斯，让他在1997-98赛季效力。

这种场景似乎是马刺队能够在努力让“人类电影精华”回归银黑军团，并拍摄续集的唯一途径。

公开场合，马刺队不想谈论他们任何即将到来的夏季自由球员。

几乎必须用绳子捆住格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)，在他的额头上滴水，或者在他参加广播谈话节目时喂他吃纳乔斯，他才会进行任何猜测。

但如果提供足够多的零食，马刺队的教练兼篮球运营副总裁可能会告诉你，让威尔金斯回来是一个很长的路。

唯一的希望是，如果威尔金斯的经纪人能说服波波维奇使用他可能为史密斯获得的医疗特例。

这样的谈话可能为时过早，主要是因为你不能指望联盟的工资帽警察。联盟的工资帽警察不会随便发放伤病特例。

尽管大多数人认为史密斯再也不会打球了，但似乎有一种医学观点认为，如果他得到适当的休息和康复，他可以恢复比赛。

而且，由于有这种观点存在，NBA不会让步。

波波维奇说他想试着让史密斯上场，看看他能够做什么，可能在二月底之前。

如果他患有风湿性关节炎的右膝再次发作，而且他无法打球，那么马刺队就可以使用他的一部分薪水。

但是，决定使用大约175万美元来重新签下威尔金斯参加下一季的比赛，对于球队来说可能是一个冒险的提议。

虽然威尔金斯在圣安东尼奥已经变得很受欢迎，但他明年赛季中期将年满38岁。马刺队更有可能用这笔钱去追逐一名年轻、充满活力的球员，一名篮板手。

如果我们正确解读了集体谈判协议，马刺队今夏只能给威尔金斯提供大约30万美元，这比他现在得到的最低工资高出约20%。

对于马刺队球迷来说，这是一个令人悲伤的日子，一支有望在1997-98赛季争冠的球队很可能会签下威尔金斯，签下为期两年的合同，价值215万美元。这将是一个价值100万美元的例外，超过工资帽的球队每隔一个赛季就可以使用一次，以及接下来一个赛季15%的涨幅。

威尔金斯，以他的年龄，如果拒绝这个提议，就太疯狂了。尽管他喜欢圣安东尼奥，并且和马刺队的球迷建立了联系，但他仍然渴望赢得一个冠军戒指。

有些人可能会争辩说，既然威尔金斯同意本赛季以最低工资在这里打球，为什么他不愿意再做一次？事实上，大约有350万个理由。

威尔金斯本赛季的薪水有350万美元的保障，无论发生什么。他将从希腊联赛的帕纳辛奈科斯获得全部或部分薪水。

对于威尔金斯来说，他从奥兰多魔术队赚100万美元还是从马刺队赚247500美元，都没有区别。剩下的350万美元将由希腊大亨支付，正是这位大亨在1995-96赛季说服威尔金斯去海外打球。

去年夏天，威尔金斯和希腊人分道扬镳。他渴望重返NBA。在他购物的过程中，威尔金斯得出了结论，马刺队有很好的机会赢得冠军——比魔术队或印第安纳步行者队都要好。

所以他高兴地签下了马刺队。

最近，威尔金斯并不那么高兴了。他对持续的失败以及他不断变化的角色感到不安。

下个赛季，底线是——马刺队负担不起冒着175万美元的风险去签下他，而威尔金斯也负担不起冒险留在圣安东尼奥，赚取接近最低工资的薪水。

作为历史上最伟大的球员之一，他需要让自己加入一支有希望赢得总冠军的球队。在联盟征战了14个赛季之后，他值得这份待遇。

圣安东尼奥没有人应该因为他的离开而感到不满。

点击查看原文：Spurs not likely to have Wilkins for next season

Spurs not likely to have Wilkins for next season

The Spurs may have one wild card to play if they want to keep Dominique Wilkins around for another season. If they can ever convince the NBA that Charles Smith is medically incapable of playing, they could take half of Smith’s salary and give that chunk to the 37-year-old Wilkins for 1997-98.

Such a scenario seems to be the only way the Spurs could outbid other teams in an effort to bring ``The Human Highlight Film’’ back for a sequel in silver and black.

Publicly, the Spurs don’t want to talk about any of their free agents for the coming summer.

It’s almost necessary to tie down Gregg Popovich with rope and drip water on his forehead, or else feed him nachos during his radio talk show, before he will ever speculate.

But if supplied with enough munchies, the Spurs’ coach and vice president of basketball operations will probably tell you that bringing Wilkins back is a long shot.

The only chance would be if Wilkins’ agent could talk Popovich into using the medical exception he may get for Smith.

Such talk may be premature, mainly because you just can’t count on the league’s salary cap police. The league’s cap cops don’t just give out injury exceptions.

Even though most think Smith will never play again, there seems to be one medical opinion afloat that he could return with proper rest and rehabilitation.

And, with one such opinion out there, the NBA won’t budge.

Popovich has said he wants to try and get Smith on the court to

see what he can do, possibly by the end of February.

If his arthritis-ridden, right knee flares up again and he can’t play, then the Spurs will be in business to use some of his salary.

But deciding to use what would be approximately $1.75 million to re-sign Wilkins for next season might be a risky proposition for the franchise.

As popular as Wilkins has become in San Antonio, he will be 38 by midseason next year. The Spurs are much more likely to use the money to go after a young, lively body, a rebounder.

The Spurs, if we are reading the collective bargaining agreement correctly, can only offer Wilkins about $300,000 this summer, which would be about a 20 percent bump up from the minimum salary he gets now.

In what promises to be a sad day for Spurs fans, a team in contention for the 1997-98 championship is likely to scoop up Wilkins on a two-year deal for $2.15 million. It would be a $1 million exception that teams over the cap get to use every other season, plus a 15 percent raise for the following season.

Wilkins, at his age, would be crazy not to take it. Even though he likes San Antonio and has bonded with Spurs fans, he still yearns to win a title ring.

Some might argue that, since Wilkins agreed to play here for the minimum this season, why wouldn’t he do it again? Actually, there are about 3.5 million reasons.

Wilkins was guaranteed $3.5 million this season, no matter what. He was going to get all of it or part of it from Panathinaikos in the Greek League.

It didn’t make any difference to Wilkins if he made $1 million from the Orlando Magic or $247,500 from the Spurs. The remainder of the $3.5 million was going to come from the Greek tycoon who coaxed Wilkins to play overseas in 1995-96.

Last summer, Wilkins and the Greeks parted company. He wanted back in the NBA in the worst way. During the course of his shopping expedition, Wilkins came to the conclusion that the Spurs had a good shot at winning the title - better than either the Magic or the Indiana Pacers.

So he signed happily with the Spurs.

Lately, Wilkins hasn’t been so happy. He seems uneasy with both the constant losing and his ever-changing role.

Next season, the botton line is this - the Spurs can’t afford to risk $1.75 million on him, and Wilkins can’t afford to gamble and stay in San Antonio for near-minimum salary.

As one of the greatest players in the history of the game, he needs to get himself on the roster of a team with a shot at winning it all. After 14 years in the league, he deserves that much.

Nobody in San Antonio should begrudge him if he has to say goodbye. Jerry Briggs 7292, or e-mail jbriggs@express-news.net

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-09, By Kevin O’Keeffe

前马刺主教练鲍勃·希尔主演 ESPN 新节目

各位有时间吗？前马刺主教练鲍勃·希尔 (Bob Hill) 将于今早在一档新的 ESPN 周播节目中首次亮相，该节目名为《由 IBM 呈现的 NBA 对决》。

该节目今日起源于克利夫兰的全明星周末，每周还将邀请一位嘉宾教练，重点关注比赛的 X 与 O。

当然，这就是希尔的强项。

除了希尔之外，ESPN 的马克·琼斯 (Mark Jones) 和前 NBA 球员兼教练弗雷迪·卡特 (Freddie Carter) 也会每周参与转播。

该节目将于周日上午 8 点播出。

说到希尔，他于 12 月 10 日被不公正且显然不明智地解雇了马刺主教练一职，现在是时候消除一个根深蒂固的错误观念了，即使是马刺董事会主席彼得·霍尔特 (Peter Holt) 也存在该观念。

希尔此前带领的球队在防守方面并不差。

任何相反的言论都会传得很远。

请注意：

1994-95 年，马刺在 NBA 中的防守排名第四。

1995-96 年，马刺在防守排名第三。

在上述这两年中，马刺净胜分均为 6。

还有……马刺在投篮命中率防守方面排名全联盟前三。

达拉斯小牛队聘请唐·尼尔森 (Don Nelson) 担任总经理，意味着教练吉姆·克莱蒙斯 (Jim Cleamons) 将会下课。

打赌说，克莱蒙斯将不会在本赛季中期之前离开，他是 NBA 一年级主教练。如果小牛队在后半赛季无法扭转局面，那他就会提前离开。

忘记尼尔森在新闻发布会上对克莱蒙斯所说的一切。

还记得乔治·卡尔 (George Karl) 在他的朋友尼尔森出任金州勇士队总经理而自己是球队教练时所说的那句话吗。

在尼尔森在背后捅了卡尔一刀，最终解雇他之后，现任西雅图主教练的卡尔说：“唐·尼尔森会吃掉他的年轻人。”

你有没有听说下个赛季马刺队管理层中会出现几位熟悉的面孔？

我也听到了。

太阳队的丹尼·曼宁 (Danny Manning) 手腕上佩戴着写有“DS”的腕带，这是为了纪念路易斯维尔大学的前球员、华盛顿子弹队的前助理教练德里克·史密斯 (Derek Smith)，他在休赛期去世，年仅 34 岁。

曼宁和史密斯拥有同一位经纪人，辛辛那提的罗恩·格林克 (Ron Grinker)。

尼克斯队的约翰·斯塔克斯 (John Starks) 是格林克的前客户，他的手腕带上也有首字母缩写“DS”。

最后，纽约《每日新闻》专栏作家迈克·卢皮卡 (Mike Lupica) 谈到了马刺队副总裁兼教练格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich): “比格雷格·波波维奇成为马刺队教练更让人惊讶的是，有人一开始就让波波维奇成为马刺队的总经理。”

点击查看原文：Former Spurs coach Hill stars in new ESPN show

Former Spurs coach Hill stars in new ESPN show

Have you got a minute? Former Spurs coach Bob Hill debuts this morning on a new weekly ESPN show, ``NBA Matchup Presented by IBM.‘’

The show, which today originates from the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, also will have a guest coach each week and will zero in on the X’s and O’s of the game.

That, of course, is Hill’s forte.

Besides featuring Hill, ESPN’s Mark Jones and former NBA player and coach Freddie Carter will be on the telecast each week.

The show will air Sundays at 8 a.m.

And speaking of Hill, who was unfairly and, obviously, unwisely dismissed as Spurs coach Dec. 10, it’s time to eradicate a mistaken notion which exists even in the mind of Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt.

Hill’s teams here were not bad defensively.

Any rubbish to the contrary has been spouted long enough.

Please note:

In 1994-95, the Spurs ranked fourth in the NBA in defense.

In 1995-96, the Spurs ranked third in defense.

In both of those years, the Spurs’ were a plus-6 in point differential.

And . . . the Spurs ranked in the top three in field-goal percentage defense.

Get this for justice in America: Olympic gold medal figure skater Oksana Baiul crashes her Mercedes driving at 100 mph with a blood- alcohol reading of nearly double the legal limit, according to police reports, and is fined $90.

Sylvia Stayton, the Cincinnati grandma who fed parking meters about to expire, was fined $750.

You tell me. What’s wrong with this picture?

The Dallas Mavericks’ hiring of Don Nelson to be general manager means the end of coach Jim Cleamons.

Bet lunch that Cleamons, the first-year NBA head man, will be gone by the middle of next season. It will be sooner if the Mavs don’t turn it around in the second half.

Forget anything Nelson said about Cleamons at his press conference.

Remember George Karl’s quote when his friend, he thought, Nelson took over as GM at Golden State when Karl was coach there.

After Nelson had stabbed Karl in the back, eventually firing him, Karl, now head man at Seattle, remarked, ``Don Nelson eats his young.‘’

Do you keep hearing that there will be several familiar faces among the missing in the Spurs’ front office next season?

I do, too.

Dallas Cowboys’ fans may remain smug, despite the disaster of '96.

Says Mike Holmgren, head coach of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers: ``I still would like to beat the Cowboys just once in my career.‘’

The Pokes have won eight straight against the Packers.

Did you catch Texas A&M football coach R.C. Slocum saying he wasn’t surprised at the great recruiting class the Aggies got even without going to a bowl game?

If you noticed,'' R.C. stated, we lost just one more game (6- 6) than Texas (8-5).‘’

One of the things that led to Chuck Reedy’s dismissal as Baylor football coach was his recruitment of academically questionable guys each spring.

Seems new coach Dave Roberts hasn’t quite rectified things, getting five players who have yet to achieve minimum eligibility status.

From the Not-So-Cheap-Seats Dept.: Tickets for the May 3 Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas range from $200 to $1,500.

If you’d like New York Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden’s autograph, it will cost you $20.

And, if you want him to write ``no-hitter’’ as part of the autograph, that costs another $20.

The wristband you see on Suns’ Danny Manning with ``DS’’ on it is a tribute to Derek Smith, former Louisville player and Washington Bullets assistant coach who died this off-season at age 34.

Manning and Smith had the same agent, Ron Grinker of Cincinnati.

The Knicks’ John Starks, a former client of Grinker’s, also has the initials ``DS’’ on his wristband.

And finally, New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica on Spurs VP/coach Gregg Popovich: ``What’s more amazing than Gregg Popovich getting to coach the Spurs is the fact that someone let Popovich be general manager of the Spurs in the first place.‘’

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-09, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队半程成绩单

像学校老师给学生打分一样给篮球运动员打分可能会产生危险，尤其是在这个马刺队因伤病而伤痕累累的赛季。球迷会告诉你你瞎了，看不到某个球员为球队带来的好处。

或者他们会告诉你，你是一个混蛋，因为你没有给他们应得的不及格分数。

尽管如此，马刺队每星期都会在报纸上获得一份对他们努力付出的成绩单。

这周，他们收到一份扩充的半程成绩单。

在这种情况下，球迷无疑会认为，对各个球员的评级都被普遍夸大了。

毕竟，你如何争论为一个在11负34负的球队中打球的人打出及格分数？

马刺队还剩37场比赛，在29支NBA球队中排名倒数第三。他们的胜率（.244）仅好于波士顿队（.239）和温哥华队（.177）。

除非他们剩余比赛中能达到22胜15负，否则他们很可能会在八年来第一次无缘季后赛。

不可能？如果你看到他们在过去16场比赛中输掉14场，你不得不承认，这可能接近事实了。

马刺队也即将创造另一个可疑的纪录——他们可能正在遭受联盟历史上最严重的单赛季崩盘。

1983年，休斯顿火箭队赢了14场比赛，比前一赛季暴跌了32场比赛。一年前取得59胜23负的马刺队很可能轻松打破这一纪录。

在这方面，大多数球迷可能会说，把他们全部带到林间小屋去。‘’

但这并不能说明这些个人的真实情况，他们中的大多数都是替补球员，由于大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)、查克·帕森(Chuck Person)和查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)整个赛季都受了伤，他们被迫担任重要的角色。

对这支球队进行评级的另一个难点是所谓的“健康”球员的伤病情况。场上大多数球员受伤或带伤上阵。

此外，球员的组合也不是很好。即使在最近的一些获胜赛季中，马刺队的化学反应也很糟糕。本赛季，随着教练发生变化和失利不断增加，这种情况已经暴露无遗。

话虽如此，以下是半程成绩单：

马刺队成绩单

大卫·罗宾逊

-我们只见过他六场比赛。他因下背部紧张错过了最初的18场比赛，因脚骨折错过了最后21场比赛。目前尚不知道他的状态如何或他何时会回来。根据最新报告，大概在三月。

成绩：不合格

肖恩·埃利奥特

-因右股四头肌肌腱炎而严重受限。因此，得分、投篮命中率和防守能力都比上赛季大幅下降。

成绩：C+

埃弗里·约翰逊

-去年唯一一位参加所有45场比赛且未出意外的先发球员。对于这个小组来说，耐用性还是有价值的。AJ目前投篮状态不佳，最近没有达到他比赛的最佳状态。

成绩：B-

多米尼克·威尔金斯

-令人惊讶的是，他37岁依然能发挥出自己的水平。带领球队替补席得分。篮板球的拼抢积极性在全队中名列前茅。虽然他需要上场时间才能找到进攻节奏，但当他在场上呆的时间太长时，就会成为防守漏洞。

成绩：B+

弗农·麦克斯韦尔

-如果马刺队想在季后赛中发挥作用，下半场必须投出更好的表现。下半场38%的命中率令人不忍卒睹。有时，麦克斯的防守非常出色，但在其他比赛中则表现平平。表现比预期要好。

成绩：C+

威尔·珀杜

-在他没有因某种断骨而接受治疗时，他享受着职业生涯最棒的一年。投篮命中率为60%，场均得到9分、10个篮板和1.6个盖帽。因拇指骨折缺席了前八场比赛，因右眼眶骨折缺席了最后四场比赛。

成绩：A-

维尼·德尔·内格罗

-教练的最爱，因为他态度端正。接受了替补席的角色，而且在27分钟内场均得到近10分。在进攻端做出明智的决策，并且正在篮板球上进步。受伤后也带伤坚持比赛。

成绩：B+

卡尔·埃雷拉

-没有利用增加的上场时间。教练们希望从他身上看到超过5.4分和4个篮板。也许他是打大前锋这个位置的好人。

成绩：D+

凯迪拉克·安德森

-克迪也让人失望。当珀杜倒下时，他在赛季初表现得很努力。但在过去一个月里，情况不再相同。对手的中锋总是能在他身上拿到职业篮板数。

成绩：D+

蒙蒂·威廉姆斯

-一个一直有潜力的球员开始展现出他的一些潜力。当他想成为球队中最积极的防守球员时，他就能做到。有时他注意力不集中，因此被拉出了比赛。在一个没有太多这样的球员的球队中，50%的投篮命中率。

成绩：B-

科里·亚历山大

-最近防守有所提高，但仍有点令人失望。跳投有嫌疑。在控球后卫的短时间上场顺序列中，不能很好地让球队进入进攻状态。

成绩：D+

查克·帕森

-伙计，马刺队真的很想念他的外线比赛。10月29日进行背部手术后，他全年都没有上场。他有可能在三月初复出，这将是一种提振。

成绩：不合格

查尔斯·史密斯

-在休赛期进行脚踝手术后，马刺队期待史密斯能提高内线存在。但他的右膝辜负了他。他打了四场比赛，然后不得不休息。由于软骨炎，他的职业生涯岌岌可危。

成绩：不合格

杰米·菲克

-预计将于周一签署另一份为期10天的合同。他的前10天很成功。他抓住了篮板球，并且似乎迅速掌握了这个体系。

成绩：不合格

达林·汉考克

-在周四完成其为期10天的交易后处于泡沫边缘。在小前锋位置上没有太多时间。

成绩：不合格

教练

-格雷格·波波维奇比他解雇的人鲍勃·希尔做得更多，但这并不意味着他已经找到了解决球队问题的答案。尽管他沟通得很好，球员们可能已经开始不听他的话，尤其是在最近一些丑陋的客场失利中。

成绩：C

点击查看原文：Spurs' Midseason Grades

Spurs’ Midseason Grades

Grading basketball players the way a school teacher would grade a student can be hazardous business, especially this season with the injury-scarred Spurs. Fans tell you that you are blind and can’t see the good things that a player brings to the team.

Or they tell you that you are a bum because you don’t give them the failing marks that they deserve.

Nevertheless, each week, the Spurs get a grade in the newspaper for their efforts.

This week, they get an expanded midseason report card.

Fans, in this case, will undoubtedly think that the grades for the individual players have been inflated across the board.

After all, how can you argue for a passing grade on anyone who plays for an 11-34 team?

The Spurs, with 37 games remaining, rank as the third-worst team in the 29-team NBA. Their winning percentage (.244) is better than only Boston (.239) and Vancouver (.177).

Unless they go 22-15 the rest of the way, they likely will miss the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Impossible? If you have watched them lose 14 of their last 16, you’d have to agree it’s probably getting close to that point.

The Spurs also are on the brink of another dubious footnote - they could be in the midst of suffering the greatest one-season collapse in league history.

In 1983, the Houston Rockets won 14 games, a 32-game plunge from the previous season. The Spurs, who went 59-23 a year ago, could easily break that record.

In that regard, most fans would probably say, `Take ‘em all to the woodshed.’ ‘’

But that wouldn’t tell the true picture of the individuals, most of them bit players who have been thrust into major roles because of season-long injuries to David Robinson, Chuck Person and Charles Smith.

Another difficult factor in grading this team is the injury situation with the so-called ``healthy’’ players. Most of the players on the floor are hurt or have been playing with pain.

Also, the mix of the players is not good. Spurs chemistry has been bad even in some of the recent winning seasons. This season, with a coaching change and mounting losses, it’s been exposed.

That said, here is the midseason report card:

Spurs report card

David Robinson

-We’ve only seen him for six games. He missed first 18 with low back strain and last 21 with broken foot. Right now, it’s not known what kind of shape he’s in or exactly when he’ll be back. Sometime in March, at last report.

Grade: Incomplete

Sean Elliott

-Severely limited by right quadriceps tendinitis. Consequently, scoring, shooting percentage and ability to defend are way down from last season.

Grade: C+

Avery Johnson

-The only starter from last year to play all 45 games without mishap. And with this group, there is something to be said for durability. AJ, currently in a shooting slump, hasn’t been at the top of his game lately.

Grade: B-

Dominique Wilkins

-Amazing what he can still do with his 37-year-old body. Leads the team in scoring off the bench. Rebounds as aggressively as anyone on team. He needs minutes for offensive rhythm but becomes defensive liability when he’s on floor too long.

Grade: B+

Vernon Maxwell

-Has to shoot better in second half if Spurs are to challenge for playoffs. A 38 percent first half was painful to watch. Max’s defense was excellent at times but less than mediocre in other stretches. Behaved himself better than expected.

Grade: C+

Will Perdue

-Enjoying career year when he’s not nursing some broken bone. Is shooting 60 percent, averaging nine points, 10 rebounds, 1.6 blocks. Missed first eight games with broken thumb, last four with fractured orbit of right eye.

Grade: A-

Vinny Del Negro

-A coaches’ favorite because of his attitude. Has accepted role off the bench and still is averaging nearly 10 points in 27 minutes. Also making smart decisions on offense and is rebounding. Has been hurt and has played through pain.

Grade: B+

Carl Herrera

-Hasn’t taken advantage of increased playing time. Coaches would love to see more than 5.4 points and four rebounds out of him. Maybe he’s too nice a guy to play power forward.

Grade: D+

Cadillac Anderson

-Caddy also is a disappointment. Played hard at start of season when Perdue went down. But hasn’t been the same over the past month. Opposing centers always seem to go for career rebounding numbers on him.

Grade: D+

Monty Williams

-A player who always had potential is beginning to show some of it. Can be most aggressive defender on team when he wants to be. Sometimes loses concentration and gets pulled out of games because of it. A 50 percent shooter on a team that doesn’t have many of them.

Grade: B-

Cory Alexander

-Has improved defense lately but still is a bit of a disappointment. Jumper is suspect. Doesn’t get team into the offense very well in short playing-time sequences at point guard.

Grade: D+

Chuck Person

-Boy, do the Spurs miss his perimeter game. Has been out all year after Oct. 29 back surgery. His return, possibly early March, would be a boost.

Grade: Incomplete

Charles Smith

-Spurs expected an improved inside presence from Smith after he had ankle surgery in off-season. But his right knee failed him. He played four games and then had to sit. Career is in jeopardy with the knee, afflicted with osteoarthritis.

Grade: Incomplete

Jamie Feick

-Is expected to sign another 10-day contract Monday. His first 10 days were a success. He got rebounds and seemed to pick up the system quickly.

Grade: Incomplete

Darrin Hancock

-On the bubble after completing his 10-day deal Thursday. Didn’t see much time at small forward.

Grade: Incomplete

Coaching

-Gregg Popovich has done more with less than Bob Hill, the man he fired, but it doesn’t mean he is the answer to the team’s problems. Even though he communicates well, the players may have already started to tune him out -especially in some recent ugly road losses.

Grade: C

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-09, By Buck Harvey

赞美寄生虫？期待又一次逆转

肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)赢得了雀巢脆皮巧克力扣篮大赛。评委们对他在球砸到他脸部的那一刻，精确地闭上了眼睛印象深刻。而AT&T长途电话投篮大赛？要不是埃利奥特放弃了许多投篮的机会，他本可以轻松取胜。

除了这些，埃利奥特在这个全明星周末并没有什么令人难忘的表现。与去年不同，他没有被邀请。事实是，他可能本来就不应该被邀请。他就是教练们所说的寄生虫。

但正如他现在距离克利夫兰的距离和卡尔·埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)一样遥远，寄生虫也有另一面。你可以和他们一起赢。

很有可能，马刺队会再次获胜。

埃利奥特只是从去年开始的变化之一。圣安东尼奥从全明星东道主变成了全明星幽灵。没有一位马刺队的射手、扣篮手或新秀前往克利夫兰。

我们也没有意识到去年2月份，当查尔斯·巴克利(Charles Barkley)、帕特里克·尤因(Patrick Ewing)、沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)、阿隆佐·莫宁(Alonzo Mourning)、克莱德·德雷克斯勒(Clyde Drexler)和大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)都健康地出现在德克萨斯州南部时，我们拥有多么强大的阵容。

但也许没有什么比埃利奥特的职业生涯更令人感到疯狂的逆转了。在1996年，他向他第一次获得20分赛季迈进，只有两名小前锋的表现会比他更好。与名为奥拉朱旺和马龙的队友一起，第二次参加全明星比赛，埃利奥特最终得到13分和5个篮板。

今天，与名为凯迪拉克和蒙蒂的队友一起，埃利奥特的平均得分差不多。如果马刺队被要求说出本赛季的明星球员，他甚至都不是那个。多米尼克·威尔金斯，向你致敬。

怪罪于膝盖？这是一个合理的理由，尤其是埃利奥特在休赛期之前缺席，并且可能在下周继续缺席。

但即使是埃利奥特也说，膝盖并不总是负担。有时疼痛会出现在第四节，有时它完全消失。

所以，难怪一些手指指向他。而且钱也起着作用。威尔金斯赚取联盟最低工资，埃利奥特是年薪500万美元俱乐部的成员。

朱万·霍华德(Juwan Howard)也对此有所了解。他也是上赛季的全明星球员，然后签署了一份价值1.05亿美元的合同。他现在也感受到了类似的批评，尽管他场均18.7分和8.1个篮板的表现非常出色，尤其是在华盛顿替补出场的情况下。

但这是工资帽的本质。这个体系奖励那些有时间优势的人，而格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)只是付给了埃利奥特市场价值。如果价格很高，那么它仍然低于A.C.格林和艾伦·休斯顿等球员。

与其纠结于薪水，不如更多地关注他的历史。他以前也经历过低谷，巧合的是，那是在受伤的时候。然后，他也被称为了寄生虫。

有了罗宾逊这样的合适宿主，埃利奥特就会繁荣昌盛。带走宿主，格伦·莱斯甚至塞德里克·塞巴洛斯看起来都会更好。他可能是联盟历史上唯一一个在失去像罗宾逊这样的球员后，得分平均下降6分的20分得分手。

所以这个赛季重新说明了即使是他崇拜者也承认的一件事。他需要一个体系，他需要球的流动，他需要一个宿主。当他没有所有这些——比如三年前在底特律或这个赛季——他就会在一个彩票球队中变得毫无生气。

他不担心膝盖；如果不是因为之前出现的肾脏问题，他本会服用必要的消炎药来减轻疼痛。所以，只要有时间休息，有了罗宾逊，他的防守会再次得到认可。他的团队意识以及在侧旋跳投不进时突破的能力也会得到认可。

马刺队以前赢过。没有理由认为他们不会再赢。如果他们赢了，他甚至可能再次达到全明星的水平。但没有人会相信。

点击查看原文：In praise of a parasite? Expect another reversal

In praise of a parasite? Expect another reversal

Sean Elliott won the Nestle Crunch Dunked-On Contest. Judges were especially impressed with how he closed his eyes precisely at the moment the ball flushed down at his face. The AT&T Long-Distance Rim-out? It wouldn’t have been close, except Elliott passed up a lot of shots.

Otherwise, Elliott didn’t have a memorable All-Star weekend. Unlike last year, he wasn’t invited. Truth is, he probably never should have been. He’s what coaches call parasitic.

But as his status resides today as far away from Cleveland as Carl Herrera’s, there’s another side to parasites. You can win with them.

Chances are, the Spurs will again.

Elliott is just one of the changes from last year. San Antonio went from All-Star host to All-Star ghost. No Spur shooter, dunker or rookie went to Cleveland.

We also didn’t know how good we had it last February, when Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Clyde Drexler and David Robinson showed up healthy in South Texas.

But perhaps nothing seems so crazily reversed as Elliott’s career. In 1996 he headed toward his first-ever 20-point scoring season; only two small forwards would do better. And playing in an All-Star game for the second time with teammates named Olajuwon and Malone, Elliott ended with 13 points and five rebounds.

Today, with teammates named Cadillac and Monty, Elliott averages about the same. If the Spurs were pressed to name their all-star of this season, he isn’t even that. Dominique Wilkins, take a bow.

Blame it on the knee? That’s certainly an excuse, especially as Elliott sat out before the break and might still sit next week.

But even Elliott says the knee hasn’t always been a burden. Sometimes the pain comes in the fourth quarter, sometimes it’s not there at all.

So no wonder a few fingers point at him. And money plays into that. Wilkins earns the NBA minimum, Elliott is part of the $5 million-a-year club.

Juwan Howard knows about this, too. He also was an All-Star last season, then signed a $105 million deal. He feels similar criticism now, though his averages of 18.7 points and 8.1 rebounds are respectable, especially since he plays out of position in Washington.

But that’s the nature of the salary cap. The system rewards those with timing, and Gregg Popovich simply paid Elliott the market value. If the price is high, then it’s still less than players such as A.C. Green and Allan Houston.

Instead of dwelling on pay, his history deserves more notice. He’s slumped before, coincidentally with an injury. Then, too, he was called a parasite.

Given a suitable host such as Robinson, Elliott prospers. Take away the host, and someone such as Glen Rice or even Cedric Ceballos can look better. He might be the only 20-point scorer in league history who, after losing a player such as Robinson, would see his scoring average drop six points.

So this season restates something even his admirers admit. He needs a system, he needs ball movement, he needs a host. When he doesn’t have all that - such as in Detroit three years ago or this season - he becomes lifeless on a lottery team.

He’s not concerned about the knee; if not for his prior kidney problems, he would be taking the necessary anti-inflammatory to reduce the pain. So given time to rest and given Robinson, his defense will be noticed again. So will his sense of team, as well as his ability to drive when the side-spin jumper doesn’t fall.

The Spurs have won before with that. There’s no reason to think they won’t again. And if they do, he might even reach All-Star status again. But nobody will believe it.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-09

全明星赛笔记

• 马刺需要新球馆：NBA 总裁大卫·斯特恩(David Stern) 周六在克利夫兰表示，圣安东尼奥确实需要一个新的篮球馆。这位总裁回答了有关萨克拉门托国王队老板和该市共同努力为球队建造新球馆的问题。

斯特恩指出，像迈阿密、亚特兰大、夏洛特和印第安纳这样的球队并没有准备拆除现有球馆，但会寻求新的球馆。

“是的，圣安东尼奥确实需要一个新球馆，”他在被问及此事时补充道。

“我相信这与美式足球不同，美式足球需要一个巨大的结构，而且要担心用活动来填满它，”斯特恩说。“但可以建造一个球馆来容纳两项运动，这将满足篮球队的需求。”

“我相信可能会有一些地方政府的帮助或一些税收减免。”

• 乔丹将留队，如果公牛队需要他：在最近的西海岸客场比赛中，迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan) 表示他希望与芝加哥公牛队再打一个赛季。周六，他说他的未来很大程度上取决于球队。

“如果他们不想签下我，想重建球队，那么我的职业生涯可能在今年年底结束，”乔丹在参加今天全明星赛的训练后说。“迟早会发生。我是一个现实主义者。我不会说它不会发生。”

“如果菲尔去其他地方，我祝他一切顺利。但我怀疑我是否会和他一起去。如果菲尔在芝加哥，我就在芝加哥，”乔丹说，并补充说退役也是一种选择。他在本赛季的合同为 3014 万美元

• 球衣混搭：全明星赛上将不会出现迷人的青绿色或充满激情的紫色球衣。今天，每个人都将穿着自己的球衣。

这是比赛历史上第一次，球员们将穿着各自球队的球衣，并配上自己的号码。

NBA 表示，他们做出了这样的改变，以便全球观众能够更轻松地识别出自己喜欢的球员。 - 球队和电讯报道

点击查看原文：All-Star notes

All-Star notes

- Spurs could use new home: NBA commissioner David Stern said Saturday from Cleveland that San Antonio does need a new basketball arena. The commissioner answered questions on the ongoing struggle between the owners of the Sacramento Kings and the city to band together to build a new structure for that NBA team.

Stern noted that teams like Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte and Indiana were not getting ready to break down but would be looking for new buildings.

``Yes, San Antonio does need a new building,‘’ he added, when asked.

I believe that this is not like football, where you need a huge structure and have to be concerned about filling it with events,'' Stern said. But an arena can be built to house two sports that would fulfill the basketball team’s needs.

``I believe there could be some local government help or some tax relief.‘’ - Jordan stays, if Bulls want: During a recent West Coast road trip, Michael Jordan indicated that he’d like to play another season with the Chicago Bulls. He said Saturday that his future depends largely on the team.

It could be over at the end of the year if they don't want to sign me and want to rebuild,'' Jordan said after practicing for today's All-Star Game. It’s going to happen sooner or later. I’m a realist. I’m not going to say it can’t happen.‘’

``If Phil goes somewhere else, I wish him well. But I doubt if I go with him. If Phil’s in Chicago, I’m in Chicago,‘’ Jordan said, adding that retiring is an option. His contract this season is for $30.14 million. - Jersey jumble: No tantalizing turquoise or passionate purple uniforms for the All-Stars. It’ll be every man in his own jersey today.

For the first time in the game’s history, the players will wear the jerseys of their respective teams with their own numbers.

The NBA said it made the change so viewers worldwide will be able to more readily identify their favorite players. - Staff and Wire Reports

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Even the mascots get into the action. The Denver Nuggets’ Rocky goes in for a reverse jam in the mascot dunk exhibition.

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-10

西部联盟成绩单

美联社篮球记者克里斯·谢里丹 (Chris Sheridan) 对每支 NBA 球队进行了赛季中期成绩评估。

中西部赛区

犹他爵士 (33-14)

B - 评价： 约翰·斯托克顿 (John Stockton)，卡尔·马龙 (Karl Malone) 和其他队友每年都是这样——常规赛表现强劲，然后在西部联盟季后赛中某一轮遭遇令人失望的结局。今年也可能如此，除非他们引入第三位实力强大的球员，而总经理斯科特·雷登 (Scott Layden) 一直在尝试这样的举动。斯托克顿已经成为了防守端的累赘。

展望： 赢得分区冠军可能是爵士队的关键，他们在主场战绩出色 (21-2)，并且需要在季后赛中拥有这一优势。他们12胜12负的客场战绩是无法原谅的，而且征战里程数不会减少——爵士队将在三月份只打四场主场比赛。

休斯顿火箭 (32-16)

B+ - 评价： 在他们将查尔斯·巴克利 (Charles Barkley) 加入克莱德·德雷克斯勒 (Clyde Drexler) 和哈基姆·奥拉朱旺 (Hakeem Olajuwon) 的阵容后，没有人怀疑火箭队的实力，但每个人都想知道这三人何时会因伤病而崩溃。那个时刻终于到来了，他们遭遇了六连败，但火箭队本周将迎来巴克利回归，帮助他们缓解德雷克斯勒因腿筋拉伤缺阵的损失。如果到季后赛时每个人都能保持健康，火箭队应该是赢得西部的热门球队。

展望： 在接下来的两个月里，他们将与爵士队争夺分区冠军。他们必须克服他们输给实力远不如他们的球队的习惯。他们还必须找到一种方法重新谈判巴克利合同，该合同还剩一年，价值 220 万美元。他宁愿退役也不愿以这样的薪水打球。

明尼苏达森林狼 (23-25)

B - 评价： 他们迎来了球队历史上最好的赛季，尽管在历史上他们从未赢得过超过 29 场比赛。汤姆·古利奥塔 (Tom Gugliotta) 和凯文·加内特 (Kevin Garnett) 构成了联盟中最好的前锋组合之一，但森林狼队仍然需要在中锋位置上寻求帮助。当斯蒂芬·马布里 (Stephon Marbury) 没有受伤时，观看他的比赛很有趣。

展望： 鉴于西部联盟目前的形势，即使森林狼队最终的战绩低于 5 成，他们也应该能获得季后赛席位。考虑到这支球队自 1989 年成立以来一直表现不佳，这将被视为巨大的成功。可惜加内特将在 1998 年成为自由球员。要想留住他，需要支付类似沙克 (Shaq) 的高价。

达拉斯小牛 (16-28)

D- - 评价： 在本赛季的头三个月，这支球队经历了过山车般的旅程，因为他们在适应新老板、新教练和动荡的氛围。在杰森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 被交易后几周，球员们实际上放弃了吉姆·克莱蒙斯 (Jim Cleamons)，迫使小牛队将吉米·杰克逊 (Jimmy Jackson) 和贾马尔·马什本 (Jamal Mashburn) 从交易名单中移除。克里斯·盖特林 (Chris Gatling) 是最佳第六人奖的热门竞争者。

展望： 只有在 2 月 20 日的交易截止日期过后，球员们才会真正感受到自己的地位安全，而新任总经理唐·尼尔森 (Don Nelson) 将会采取一些行动。如果小牛队无法在明年夏天重新签下萨姆·卡塞尔 (Sam Cassell) 时，基德的交易将会是一笔失败的交易。他们后悔为了埃里克·蒙特罗斯 (Eric Montross) 放弃了一个乐透签。

丹佛掘金 (16-32)

D - 评价： 这支球队的肖像是一支在等待 1998 年自由球员市场到来的时候。失去迪肯贝·穆托姆博 (Dikembe Mutombo) 是一个巨大的损失，而聘请迪克·莫塔 (Dick Motta) 只是权宜之计。从积极的方面来看，拉丰索·埃利斯 (LaPhonso Ellis) 从重大膝盖手术中恢复良好，马克·杰克逊 (Mark Jackson) 正在联盟助攻榜上领跑。

展望： 他们可能会在下个夏天尝试从芝加哥引诱菲尔·杰克逊 (Phil Jackson)，尽管杰克逊最近收回了之前关于这是他执教公牛队的最后一个赛季的声明。在丹佛，情况可能会变得更糟，然后才会好转。

圣安东尼奥马刺 (11-34)

F - 评价： 在大卫·罗宾逊 (David Robinson) (脚部骨折)，威尔·珀杜 (Will Perdue) (眼窝骨折)，查克·珀森 (Chuck Person) (背部手术) 和查尔斯·史密斯 (Charles Smith) (右膝骨关节炎) 受伤的情况下，解雇鲍勃·希尔 (Bob Hill) 是一个低级错误。但尽管受伤了，马刺队在希尔和格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 的带领下所经历的下降是令人震惊的。这支球队在上赛季赢得了 59 场比赛。

展望： 罗宾逊的回归可能不足以让马刺队挽救季后赛席位，他们的胜场数比温哥华灰熊队只多两场。

温哥华灰熊 (9-42)

F - 评价： 糟糕是一回事，糟糕且毫无兴趣又是另一回事。灰熊队一直是后者，这导致了教练从布莱恩·温特斯 (Brian Winters) 更换为斯图·杰克逊 (Stu Jackson)。在交易截止日期到来之前，阵容可能会发生大变动。

展望： 杰克逊说他将是一名临时教练，所以灰熊队显然还有很多工作要做。每个人都应该观看一场灰熊队的比赛，看看 NBA 篮球的质量下降了多少。

太平洋赛区

洛杉矶湖人 (35-13)

A- - 评价： 可能是最有趣的 NBA 球队。他们在沙奎尔·奥尼尔 (Shaquille O’Neal) 身上投入了 1.2 亿美元，但这仍然是一项风险投资，只要这位大个子在罚球线上继续表现不佳。总的来说，这支球队非常有天赋，但还有些稚嫩。他们怎么能在一晚输给快船队 22 分，而在下一晚又战胜公牛队 16 分？

展望： 湖人队有实力赢得西部联盟，但化学反应和自信是他们需要克服沙克连续四次在季后赛中被横扫的两个最大因素。他们还有两次漫长的东部客场之旅。

西雅图超音速 (32-15)

C - 评价： 星期三晚上主场输给爵士队，使超音速队对阵西部最佳球队的战绩跌至 0 胜 7 负。他们不像上赛季那样在主场具有统治力，肖恩·肯普 (Shawn Kemp) 仍然不开心。吉姆·麦克尔维恩 (Jim McIlvaine) 还没有证明他值西雅图为他支付的 3300 万美元，而内特·麦克米兰 (Nate McMillan) 也没有证明他能够完全恢复健康。

展望： 超音速队很有可能最终成为西部第四种子，他们将不得不面对一支很有可能将他们送进四年内第三次首轮出局的波特兰队。他们的下半赛季赛程中充满了强劲的对手。

波特兰开拓者 (25-23)

B- - 评价： 如果开拓者队在全明星赛前没有输掉最后五场比赛，他们的成绩会更高。休赛期的调整效果不错，尤其是肯尼·安德森 (Kenny Anderson) 和伊赛亚·莱德 (Isaiah Rider) 的加盟。他们的深度不再像以前那样令人担忧，但加里·特伦特 (Gary Trent)，杰梅因·奥尼尔 (Jermaine O’Neal) 和拉希德·华莱士 (Rasheed Wallace) 这样的球员需要保持强势表现。

展望： 开拓者队将是第一轮比赛中没有人愿意面对的球队。作为西部联盟中唯一一支战绩略高于 5 成的球队，开拓者队看起来锁定第五种子。这意味着前四名球队——火箭队，爵士队，湖人队，超音速队——将不得不先面对波特兰队。

洛杉矶快船 (19-25)

C - 评价： 他们展现了一些进步的迹象，最显著的是星期二晚上战胜缺少沙克的湖人队。但他们似乎总是会恢复到输球的方式。比尔·菲奇 (Bill Fitch) 总是变幻莫测的轮换让很多球员感到不满意。老板唐纳德·斯特林 (Donald Sterling) 拒绝离开联盟中最糟糕的球馆，即使有承诺搬到阿纳海姆后可以让观众人数翻倍。

展望： 在未来几十年里，我们都会谈论快船队是如何在年复一年地表现糟糕。至少今年，他们应该会成为西部联盟中三支战绩不佳进入季后赛的球队之一。然后，他们很可能会被横扫。

萨克拉门托国王 (21-28)

C - 评价： 布莱恩·格兰特 (Brian Grant) 的伤病阻碍了他们的进步，马穆德·阿卜杜勒-拉乌夫 (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) 的表现不如预期，现在国王队正在接受对米奇·里奇蒙德 (Mitch Richmond) 的报价。球队最近向市政厅请求 7000 万美元的贷款，以防止球队被出售和搬迁。

展望： 很难想象交易里奇蒙德会对他们有什么帮助。球队在上赛季首次进入季后赛，这是他们在从堪萨斯城搬迁后第一次进入季后赛，而今年他们看起来将以负战绩进入季后赛。他们应该会被横扫出局。

金州勇士 (17-29)

D- - 评价： 对阵战绩在 5 成或以上的球队仅仅取得了 2 胜 20 负的战绩。拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔 (Latrell Sprewell) 正在打出精彩的赛季，而乔·史密斯 (Joe Smith) 的表现越来越好，但克里斯·穆林 (Chris Mullin) 的名字在交易传闻中炙手可热，里克·阿德尔曼 (Rick Adelman) 也可能成为下一个坐在热板凳上的教练。如果他们超越快船队，他们可能会成为 NBA 历史上最差的季后赛球队之一。

展望： 穆林的交易可能是许多交易中的第一个。B.J. 阿姆斯特朗 (B.J. Armstrong) 和马克·普莱斯 (Mark Price) 的交易价值很高，勇士队需要变得更年轻。顺便说一下，你有没有注意到有多少前勇士队球员入选了全明星阵容？(四个)。

菲尼克斯太阳 (17-31)

C- - 评价： 说到繁忙的上半赛季。三角进攻不起作用，科顿·菲茨西蒙斯 (Cotton Fitzsimmons) 辞职，丹尼·安吉 (Danny Ainge) 接任，球队输掉了前 13 场比赛，杰森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 加盟并在首场比赛中受伤，罗伯特·霍里 (Robert Horry) 向安吉扔了一条毛巾，然后被交易换取了前太阳队球员塞德里克·塞巴洛斯 (Cedric Ceballos)。

展望： 他们接下来会想出什么？尽管基德打乱了凯文·约翰逊 (Kevin Johnson) 的自然位置，他能够很好地融入球队吗？当七位现任太阳队球员成为自由球员时，夏天会发生什么？约翰逊会坚持他的退役计划吗？

点击查看原文：Western Conference Report Cards

Western Conference Report Cards

Associated Press basketball writer Chris Sheridan gives his midseason report cards to each of the NBA teams. Midwest Division

UTAH JAZZ (33-14)

B - Comments: It’s the same thing every year from John Stockton, Karl Malone and Co. - a strong regular season, then a disappointing end sometime during the Western Conference playoffs. The same thing figures to happen this year unless a third strong player is brought in, and General Manager Scott Layden has been trying to make such a move. Stockton has become a defensive liability.

- Lookahead: Winning the division title may be the key for the Jazz, who are tough to beat on their home court (21-2) and will need that advantage in the postseason. There is no excuse for their 12-12 road record, and the miles won’t stop adding up - Utah plays only four home games in March.

HOUSTON ROCKETS (32-16)

B+ - Comments: No one doubted the Rockets’ talent after they acquired Charles Barkley to go along with Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, but everyone wondered when the trio would break down with injuries. That time has finally arrived along with a six-game losing streak, but the Rockets will have Barkley back this week to help ease the loss of Drexler to a hamstring pull. If everyone is healthy by playoff time, the Rockets should be the favorite to win the West.

- Lookahead: Will battle Utah over the final two months for the division title. Must get over their habit of giving away games to vastly inferior teams. Also must find a way to renegotiate Barkley’s contract, which has one year remaining at $2.2 million. He’ll rather retire than play for such a salary.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (23-25)

B - Comments: Having the best season in franchise history, although it’s a history in which the team has never won more than 29 games. Tom Gugliotta and Kevin Garnett make up one of the better forward tandems in the league, but the Wolves still need help at center. Stephon Marbury has been fun to watch when he hasn’t been injured.

- Lookahead: With the current state of the Western Conference, Minnesota should get a playoff spot even if it finishes with a sub- .500 record. With the way this franchise has faltered since its inception in 1989, that would have to be considered a huge success. Too bad Garnett will be a free agent in 1998. It’ll take Shaq-like money to keep him.

DALLAS MAVERICKS (16-28)

D- - Comments: It has been a roller-coaster ride over the first three months of the season as the club has adjusted to new ownership, a new coach and an atmosphere of turmoil. The players practically quit on Jim Cleamons in the weeks following the Jason Kidd trade, forcing the Mavs to pull Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn off the trading block. Chris Gatling is the leading contender for the sixth- man award.

- Lookahead: Only after the Feb. 20 trading deadline passes will the players truly feel secure in their status, and with new GM Don Nelson, expect some maneuvering. The Kidd trade will be a bust if the Mavericks are unable to re-sign Sam Cassell when he becomes a free agent next summer. Kicking themselves for giving up a lottery pick for Eric Montross.

DENVER NUGGETS (16-32)

D - Comments: Portrait of a team biding its time until the free- agent class of 1998 becomes available. The loss of Dikembe Mutombo was huge, and the hiring of Dick Motta is a stopgap move. On the positive side, LaPhonso Ellis has come back strong from major knee surgery and Mark Jackson is leading the league in assists.

- Lookahead: May try to lure Phil Jackson away from Chicago next summer, although Jackson has recently backed off earlier statements that this would be his last season with the Bulls. Things may get worse in Denver before they get better.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (11-34)

F - Comments: The firing of Bob Hill was a low blow in light of the injuries to David Robinson (fractured foot), Will Perdue (fractured eye socket), Chuck Person (back surgery) and Charles Smith (osteoarthritis, right knee). But despite the injuries, the dropoff that the Spurs have experienced under both Hill and Gregg Popovich is nothing short of shocking. This is a team that won 59 games last season.

- Lookahead: Robinson’s return probably won’t be enough to salvage a playoff spot for the Spurs, who have only two more wins than the Vancouver Grizzlies.

VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES (9-42)

F - Comments: It’s one thing to be horrible, it’s another to be horrible and disinterested. The Grizzlies have been the latter, which led to the coaching change from Brian Winters to Stu Jackson. There could be a shake-up in personnel by the time the trading deadline arrives.

- Lookahead: Jackson says he will be an interim coach, so the Grizzlies obviously have a lot of work ahead of them. Everyone should see one Grizzlies game to see how far the quality of NBA basketball has fallen.

Pacific Division

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (35-13)

A- - Comments: Probably the most fun NBA team to watch. Their $120 million investment in Shaquille O’Neal remains a risky one as long as the big fella keeps getting worse at the foul line. Overall, the team is very talented but somewhat immature. How can they lose by 22 to the Clippers one night and beat the Bulls by 16 the next night?

- Lookahead: The Lakers have the talent to win the West, but chemistry and self-confidence will be the two biggest factors they’ll need to avoid Shaq’s fourth straight sweep out of the playoffs. Two long Eastern road trips remain.

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (32-15)

C - Comments: Wednesday night’s home loss to Utah dropped the Sonics’ record against the best teams in the West to 0-7. Not as dominant on their home court as they were last season, and Shawn Kemp remains unhappy. Jim McIlvaine has not shown he is worth the $33 million that Seattle paid for him, and Nate McMillan hasn’t shown that he’ll ever be fully healthy again.

- Lookahead: It seems entirely possible that the Sonics will end up as the fourth seed in the West and will have to play a Portland team that will have a good chance of sending them to their third first-round ouster in four years. Second half of their schedule is loaded with good opponents.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (25-23)

B- - Comments: The grade would have been higher if the Blazers hadn’t lost their final five games before the All-Star break. Off- season changes have worked out well, especially the additions of Kenny Anderson and Isaiah Rider. Their depth is not as big a question mark as it once was, but players like Gary Trent, Jermaine O’Neal and Rasheed Wallace need to sustain their strong play.

- Lookahead: The Blazers will be the team that no one wants to face in the first round. The only Western Conference team hovering just above .500, the Blazers look like a lock for the fifth seed. And that means one of the top four -Houston, Utah, Lakers, Seattle -will have to face Portland first.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (19-25)

C - Comments: Have shown flashes of improvement, most notably Tuesday night’s victory over the Shaq-less Lakers. But they always seem to revert to their losing ways. Bill Fitch’s ever-shuffling rotations have left many players unhappy. Owner Donald Sterling refuses to leave the league’s worst building, even with the promise of doubling the attendance with a move to Anaheim.

- Lookahead: We’ll be talking for the next few decades about how bad the Clippers are on a year-in, year-out basis. At least this year they figure to be one of the three losing teams to make the playoffs in the Western Conference. Then they’ll likely get swept, too.

SACRAMENTO KINGS (21-28)

C - Comments: An injury to Brian Grant slowed their progress, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf has been less than a success and now the Kings are entertaining offers for Mitch Richmond. The team recently asked City Hall for a $70 million loan to prevent the team from being sold and relocating.

- Lookahead: Hard to see how a trade of Richmond might help them. The team made the playoffs last season for the first time since the franchise moved from Kansas City, and it looks like they’ll make the postseason this year with a losing record. They should be eliminated in a sweep.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (17-29)

D- - Comments: Just 2-20 against teams with records of .500 or better. Latrell Sprewell is having a fantastic season and Joe Smith is getting even better, but Chris Mullin’s name is the hottest on the trade-rumor mill and Rick Adelman may be the next coach on the hot seat. If they pass the Clippers, they could be one of the worst playoff teams in NBA history.

- Lookahead: A Mullin trade might be the first of many. B.J. Armstrong and Mark Price have high trade value and the Warriors need to get younger. By the way, did you notice how many ex-Warriors are All-Stars? (four).

PHOENIX SUNS (17-31)

C- - Comments: Talk about a busy first half of the season. The triangle offense didn’t work, Cotton Fitzsimmons resigned, Danny Ainge took over, the team lost its first 13 games, Jason Kidd was acquired and got hurt in his first game, Robert Horry tossed a towel in Ainge’s face and was traded for ex-Sun Cedric Ceballos.

- Lookahead: What will they come up with next? Will Kidd blend well with the team despite knocking Kevin Johnson out of his natural position? What will happen in the summer when seven current Suns become free agents? Will Johnson stick to his retirement plans?

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-11, By Buck Harvey

请病假？本周给了马刺答案

医生已经提升了**大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)的伤病状态。他能够乘坐头等舱，然后一瘸一拐地参加克利夫兰的派对，现在人们认为他比沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)**还要健康。但这就是好消息的全部。除此之外，罗宾逊的赛季应该结束了——部分原因是马刺的赛季也结束了。

排名说明了一切，即使X光片没有说明。但也许接下来的三场比赛会让每个人都相信为什么罗宾逊需要几个月的时间才能从他漫长而令人筋疲力尽的全明星赛之旅中恢复过来。如果马刺本周输球，两个健康的罗宾逊也无法拯救这个赛季。

曾经有更崇高的目标。让罗宾逊复出，重返季后赛，报复奥尼尔。任何不能抽出时间来表彰自己不应得的东西的人，也不应该被迫抽出时间参加季后赛的第二轮。

但这种情况取决于一些细节。比如赢球。马刺打得很努力，有些晚上他们应得更好的结果。但上周——当他们在主场输给了明尼苏达和萨克拉门托，然后在费城遭遇惨败——情况发生了变化。

你不必拥有罗宾逊的数学头脑就能算出这些数字。马刺现在需要取得26胜11负的战绩才能获得37场胜利，并有机会进入季后赛。目前排名第七和第八的快船和国王队的战绩预计将达到36场胜利左右。

如果罗宾逊在整个三月份和四月份都能复出，这并非保证，这仍然意味着他将缺席另外11场比赛。即使马刺取得4胜7负的战绩，他们也需要取得22胜4负的战绩才能达到37胜。

而且罗宾逊会很生疏。而且球队还有其他伤员。而且要在迈阿密、夏洛特、芝加哥、印第安纳波利斯、洛杉矶和西雅图客场作战。

还有其他因素，比如罗宾逊本人。最近的X光片终于显示他的骨折已经开始愈合，但他的背部也存在问题。当他无法用双腿负重时，康复就被限制了。难怪这个月两次，他的背部疼痛加剧，让马刺感到担忧。

最终医生会让他复出。罗宾逊会说他感觉很好。但他这个赛季不会恢复到100%。他不可能。那么，当马刺最近的广告活动中，罗宾逊和**查克·珀森(Chuck Person)**击掌，并说“我会回来的”时，为什么不加上两个字呢？明年十月。

马刺可能看起来像奥利弗·麦考尔(Oliver McCall)——被打得鼻青脸肿，哭泣，对眼前的任务无动于衷。每个人都知道马刺有理由输球，因为按照现在的速度，他们将与凯尔特人进行抽签，争夺选中**蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)**的权利。

如果马刺选中邓肯，那么他们就打造了一支有竞争力的球队，也许还会建造一座新的球馆。但即使马刺只获得前五顺位的选秀权，他们下个赛季也会带着足够的自我产生的乐观情绪回来，甚至可能会让**格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)**继续执教。

但这并非是摆烂。这是常识。他们会像棒球队保护患有胳膊疼痛的投手一样保护罗宾逊，即使季后赛已经结束。他们会权衡风险和回报，并做出正确的决定。如果罗宾逊带领马刺取得30场胜利，会有什么收获？如果他再次伤到脚或背部，严重到影响下个赛季，会有什么损失？

对于那些仍然不确定答案的人，也许本周能帮到他们。如果马刺输给达拉斯、温哥华和金州，那么他们获胜的可能性就会从不太可能变成不可想象。

那么马刺需要取得25胜1负的战绩吗？26胜0负的战绩吗？这一次听听奥尼尔在枕头上无力地抬起脑袋时低声说的话。请病假。

点击查看原文：Call in sick? Week provides Spurs' answer

Call in sick? Week provides Spurs’ answer

Doctors have upgraded the status of David Robinson. Able to fly first class and then limp to parties in Cleveland, Robinson is now believed to be healthier than Shaquille O’Neal. But that’s the extent of the good news. Otherwise, Robinson’s season should be over - partly because the Spurs’ season is over.

The standings say that if the X-rays don’t. But maybe the next three games will convince everyone why Robinson needs a few months to recover from his long, exhausting trip to the All-Star Game. Should the Spurs lose this week, two healthy Robinsons couldn’t save the season.

There were once more noble goals. Get back Robinson, get back in the playoffs, get back at Shaq. Anyone who can’t find time to be honored for something he doesn’t deserve shouldn’t be forced to find time for the second round of the playoffs.

But that scenario depended upon a few details. Such as wins. The Spurs have played hard, and some nights they deserve better. But last week - when close losses to Minnesota and Sacramento at home preceded a blowout at Philadelphia - things changed.

You don’t have to have Robinson’s mathematical mind to figure the numbers. The Spurs now need to finish 26-11 to win 37 games and have a chance at the playoffs. The current No. 7 and No. 8 seeds, the Clippers and Kings, are on pace to win about 36 games.

If Robinson returns for all of March and April, which is no guarantee, that still leaves 11 more games without him. Even if the Spurs went 4-7, they would have to finish 22-4 to reach 37.

With a rusty Robinson. With a roster beset with other injuries. With road games in Miami, Charlotte, Chicago, Indiana, Los Angeles and Seattle.

There are other factors, such as Robinson himself. Recent X-rays finally reveal some healing has begun in his broken foot, but there is also concern for his back. The rehab became restricted when he couldn’t bear weight on both legs. No wonder, then, that twice this month the spine flared up enough to worry the Spurs.

Eventually doctors will clear him. Robinson will say he feels fine. But he won’t be 100 percent this season. He couldn’t be. So when the Spurs’ recent ad campaign pictures Robinson slapping palms with Chuck Person and saying ``I will be back,‘’ why not add two words? Next October.

The Spurs might look like Oliver McCall - punched, crying and indifferent to the task at hand. Everybody would know the Spurs have reason to lose, since at this pace they will play lotto with the Celtics for the right to draft Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan.

If the Spurs win Duncan, then they’ve built a contender, and maybe a new arena, too. But even if the Spurs merely get a top-five pick, they will come back next season with enough self-generated optimism to perhaps even keep Gregg Popovich employed.

But this wouldn’t be about tanking. It would be common sense. They would be protecting Robinson as a baseball team would a sore-armed pitcher when the pennant race is over. They would be weighing the risk-reward and making the proper conclusion. What is gained if Robinson leads the Spurs to 30 wins? What is lost if he re-injures his foot or back so severely that next season is affected?

For those still not sure of the answer, maybe this week helps. Should the Spurs lose to Dallas, Vancouver and Golden State, then the odds go from unlikely to unthinkable.

Would the Spurs then need to finish 25-1? 26-0? This time listen to Shaq, whispering as he feebly lifts his head from his pillow. Call in sick.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-11, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺无法掩盖担忧 - 圣安东尼奥在休息后蹒跚而行，前往达拉斯

达拉斯小牛队今晚7:30在联合中心迎战马刺时，可能无法确定他们是在参加篮球比赛还是一场双人组摔跤比赛。马刺中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)将在缺席了最近五场比赛后重返赛场，他右眼下方骨骼骨折。珀杜和前锋卡尔·埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)都将首发，并且戴着塑料防护面具。埃雷拉鼻子骨折。

“我认为我们俩都会在热身时戴着斗篷出来，”珀杜在周一晚上对受伤的前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)的广播节目中说。“如果出了什么差错，我们肯定能在WWF（世界摔跤联合会）里有未来。”

埃利奥特正在治疗右股四头肌肌腱炎，他不会随队出行。他将至少缺席达拉斯比赛和周三晚上马刺队主场对阵温哥华的比赛。

马刺队今天将请医生检查埃利奥特的伤势，以确定最佳的康复方案。球队无法确定埃利奥特是否能参加周五主场对阵金州勇士队的比赛。

“所有球员都会有点肌腱炎，”埃利奥特说，“但当它影响到你在场外的时候，那就有问题了。”

对于马刺队（11-34）和小牛队（16-28）来说，这都是一个重新开始的机会。这是全明星赛后的第一场比赛，两支球队都希望在排名中开始向上攀登。

对于马刺队来说，至少在最初，这将是一段更加艰难的攀登。他们仍然没有中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)，他在12月接受了左脚骨折手术后，可能还要一个月才能重返赛场。

没有罗宾逊，加上其他关键球员的伤病，马刺队已经连续输掉了六场比赛，并且在最近的16场比赛中输掉了14场。他们也在客场连续输掉了八场比赛。马刺队上一次获胜是在将近三周前，1月24日主场对阵小牛队。

马刺队自1月3日在丹佛艰难取胜后，就没有赢过客场比赛。

“我状态很好，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说，他自12月初接替鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)后，战绩为8-19。“我的工作是保持乐观和积极。”

在客场，马刺队最近四场比赛分别以15分、18分、16分和12分输掉，很难找到积极的因素。通常情况下，马刺队要么被对手抢下很多篮板球，要么陷入长时间的投篮低迷。

波波维奇在上周末的全明星赛休息期间，希望球员们至少能保持良好的状态。从周一下午两小时的训练来看，他的球员们没有失去太多状态。

“我们今天训练得很好，”波波维奇说。“我认为我们没有失去太多体能。”

在阵容调整方面，马刺队与前锋杰米·费克(Jamie Feick)签署了另一份为期10天的合同，并决定不向小前锋达林·汉考克(Darrin Hancock)提供新合同。

罗宾逊的回归可能是马刺队攀升至前八名季后赛席位的关键，目前排名第六的是明尼苏达森林狼队（23-25），排名第七的是洛杉矶快船队（19-25），排名第八的是萨克拉门托国王队（21-28）。

虽然罗宾逊可能还要一个月才能再次上场，但他表示，他希望能在本月底开始进行一些轻松的跑步。

“我希望如此，”他说。“我厌倦了不能跑步。”

在休赛期三天后，球队进行了第一次训练，罗宾逊表示他对球员们的精神状态有复杂的感觉。

“考虑到我们的战绩和目前的情况，”他说，“球员们都在尽力而为。但这个联盟是关于信心的。无论你赢了还是输了，都会强化这种信念。”

珀杜表示，他很高兴能够再次帮助球队，但他对自己的状况感到有些紧张。珀杜场均得到9分和10个篮板，他说医生告诉他，如果他的脸再次受到“直接撞击”，他可能需要进行手术来纠正问题。

他说，医生担心，再次受到撞击可能会导致眼眶底部的骨折“钩住”并损伤周围组织。但珀杜说，一位眼科医生表示，手术虽然会让他休战4-6周，但可以防止对肌肉造成任何长期损伤。

“紧张吗？”他问道。“是的。但这是比赛的一部分。”

马刺队在接下来的五天内将进行四场比赛，这是一段关键的赛程。首先是今晚对阵达拉斯，然后是周三主场对阵温哥华，周五对阵金州勇士队，周六对阵亚特兰大。

“能否进入季后赛取决于我们这个月的表现，”马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)说。

点击查看原文：Spurs can't mask concerns - S.A. limps out of break, into Dallas

Spurs can’t mask concerns - S.A. limps out of break, into Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks may not know whether they are in a basketball game or a tag-team wrestling match tonight at 7:30 when they host the Spurs at Reunion Arena. Spurs center Will Perdue will return to the lineup after missing the last five games with a broken bone below his right eye. Both Perdue and forward Carl Herrera, who has a broken nose, will start and wear plastic protective masks.

I think we're both going to come out during warmups with capes,'' Perdue told injured forward Sean Elliott on Elliott's radio call-in show Monday night. We’ll definitely have a future in the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) if something goes wrong.‘’

Elliott, nursing a case of flared-up tendinitis in his right quadriceps, will not travel with the team. He will miss at least the Dallas game and the Spurs’ home game with Vancouver Wednesday night.

The Spurs will have Elliott’s condition checked by a doctor today to determine the best course of action on rehabilitation. The team couldn’t say whether Elliott would play in the team’s game Friday at home against Golden State.

All players have a little tendinitis,'' Elliott said, but when it gets to the point that it affects you away from the court, then it’s problematic.‘’

For both the Spurs (11-34) and the Mavericks (16-28), it will be a time to make a fresh start. It is the first game after the All-Star break, and both ballclubs would like to initiate an upward climb through the standings.

It will be a tougher climb for the Spurs, at least initially. They are still without center David Robinson, who could be a month away from returning to the lineup after undergoing surgery in December to repair a broken bone in his left foot.

Without Robinson, and with other injuries to key players, the Spurs have lost six in a row and 14 of their last 16 overall. They have also lost eight in a row on the road. The Spurs’ last victory came nearly three weeks ago, on Jan. 24, at home against the Mavericks.

The Spurs haven’t won a road game since Jan. 3, when they survived a test at Denver.

I'm bearing up just fine,'' said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is 8-19 since he took over in early December from Bob Hill. My job is to stay upbeat and positive.‘’

The positive vibes have been toughest to find on the road, where the Spurs have lost their last four games by margins of 15, 18, 16 and 12 points. Generally, the Spurs either get outrebounded badly, or they fall into prolonged shooting slumps.

Popovich entered the All-Star break last weekend hoping that the players would at least remain in decent shape. And by the looks of things at a two-hour practice Monday afternoon, his players didn’t lose too much.

We had a good practice today,'' Popovich said. I don’t think we lost a lot of conditioning.‘’

In a roster adjustment, the Spurs signed forward Jamie Feick to another 10-day contract and decided against offering a new deal to small forward Darrin Hancock.

Robinson’s return could be the key to moving up into one of the lower eight playoff positions, currently occupied by the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (23-25), the No. 7 Los Angeles Clippers (19- 25) and the No. 8 Sacramento Kings (21-28).

While it may be a month before he can play again, Robinson said he is hopeful that he could start doing some light running toward the end of the month.

I hope so,'' he said. I’m tired of not being able to run.‘’

Following the team’s first practice after the three-day, midseason vacation, Robinson said he had mixed feelings about the mental state of the players.

Considering our record and the way things are going,'' he said, the guys are doing their best. But this league is all about confidence. If you are winning or if you are losing, it reinforces that belief.‘’

Perdue said he was happy to be able to help the team again, but he expressed some nervousness about his condition. Perdue, averaging nine points and 10 rebounds a game, said doctors have told him that another ``direct shot’’ on his face could force him to have surgery to correct the problem.

He said doctors have concern that another hit could cause the broken bone in the base of his eye orbit to ``snag’’ and damage the surrounding tissue. But Perdue said an opthamologist said a surgical procedure - while it would put him out four-six weeks - would prevent any long-term damage to the muscles.

Nervous?'' he asked. Yeah. But it’s part of the game.‘’

The Spurs play four games in the next five days, and it’s a crucial stretch. First, it’s Dallas tonight, then home game against Vancouver Wednesday, Golden State Friday and Atlanta on Saturday.

``Making the playoffs depends on what we do this month,‘’ said Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-12

马刺队新闻

• 埃利奥特更新：肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)今天晚上缺席马刺队在阿拉莫穹顶体育馆对阵温哥华队的比赛，他缺阵的时间可能还会更长。马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)表示，埃利奥特今天将前往洛杉矶的凯尔兰-乔布诊所(Kerlan- Jobe Clinic)对他的右股四头肌进行评估。

“肖恩今天（星期二）接受了（马刺队队医）大卫·施密特(David Schmidt)的检查，他建议我们送肖恩去诊所，”波波维奇说。“然后我们会听取这些医生的意见，决定采取什么行动。”

埃利奥特一直遭受着右股四头肌（膝盖上方）的慢性肌腱炎困扰。 - 格伦·罗杰斯(Glenn Rogers)

点击查看原文：Spurs Notes

Spurs Notes

- Elliott update: Sean Elliott’s stay away from the Spurs may extend beyond the Vancouver game tonight at the Alamodome. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Elliott will travel to the Kerlan- Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles today to have his right quadriceps evaluated.

Sean was examined by (Spurs team doctor) David Schmidt today (Tuesday) and he recommended that we send Sean to the clinic,'' Popovich said. We will then have the opinions of these doctors and decide what course of action to take.‘’

Elliott has been suffering with a chronic case of tendinitis in the right quadriceps, just above the knee. - Glenn Rogers

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-12, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

维恩·麦克斯韦尔爆发砍下34分，马刺队痛击小牛队

达拉斯 - 周二晚上，客队的更衣室里没有笑容，但绝望的表情已经消失。

马刺队在维恩·麦克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell)的带领下，以111-97的比分大胜达拉斯小牛队，结束了六连败，战绩来到12胜34负，今晚将在阿拉莫穹顶对阵温哥华灰熊队。

麦克斯韦尔开场就命中三分，全场贡献了7记三分球，创下了本赛季马刺队球员的单场三分球最高纪录，最终得到全场最高的34分。

“我的投篮手感很好，”麦克斯韦尔谦虚地说，拒绝了媒体对他赞美。“艾弗里(约翰逊)总是找到我，而大个子们也设置了一些坚实的挡拆。”

挡拆效果如此显著，以至于麦克斯韦尔一次又一次地独自潜伏在底角等待传球。然后，在足够的时间内，他毫不犹豫地投出空位三分球，球稳稳地落入篮网。

他的防守人吉姆·杰克逊(Jim Jackson)则被困在球场另一侧，只能眼睁睁地看着麦克斯韦尔远去。

“吉姆陷入了防守轮换中，”麦克斯韦尔说。“他决定了几次放弃防守我，我就得到了球。”

新任达拉斯总经理唐·尼尔森(Don Nelson)在下半场时出现在球馆走廊里，低头沉思着如何才能让球队摆脱低迷的状态。尽管全队命中率达到43%，却仍然落后于伤病缠身的马刺队10分。

比赛开始后，杰克逊首先命中一记18英尺跳投，小牛队以2-0领先。然而，这是他们唯一一次领先。

马刺队依靠麦克斯韦尔的7分，迅速将比分拉开至13-2。他们在接下来的比赛中一直保持着两位数的领先优势，而小牛队则试图提高命中率，将比分追至40%。

马刺队在第四节一度领先22分，第三节也领先了20分。

“我们竭尽全力给‘麦克斯’传球，”约翰逊说。“从历史上看，当他像今天这样状态火热时，他总会打出精彩表现。”

约翰逊多次找到麦克斯韦尔，帮助他全场送出13次助攻。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在赛后的最终数据统计表上看到了一个最突出的数据——50.6%的投篮命中率。

“我认为我们今晚的努力程度是最好的，”波波维奇说。“我们几乎每晚都表现出色，但我们很少能达到50%的命中率。”

50%的投篮命中率帮助缓解了球队由于肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)因右股四头肌慢性肌腱炎缺阵而造成的进攻压力。埃利奥特的伤势预计将比最初预计的两个星期更长时间。

“威尔·珀迪(Will Perdue)的回归是一个重要的因素，”波波维奇说。“他在内线给了我们强大的支撑。他每晚都抢下12到14个篮板，这对球队帮助很大。”

珀迪全场抢下16个篮板，其中7个是进攻篮板。他只得到2分，只出手2次。

这位中锋戴着一副银色的面具，用来保护他正在愈合的骨折，而他的前场搭档卡尔·埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)则戴着一副相同的金色面具，用来保护他被打断的鼻子。两个人看起来就像“歌剧魅影”的替补演员。

点击查看原文：Max factor helps Spurs whip Mavs - Vernon erupts for 34 points

Max factor helps Spurs whip Mavs - Vernon erupts for 34 points

DALLAS - There weren’t any smile buttons on display in the visitors’ locker room Tuesday night. But the grim looks of desperation were gone.

The Spurs, their candle lit by Vernon Maxwell, blew by the Dallas Mavericks 111-97 at Reunion Arena. San Antonio snapped a six-game losing streak and moved to 12-34 going into tonight’s 7:30 game against the Vancouver Grizzlies at the Alamodome.

Maxwell opened the Spurs’ scoring with a three-pointer and finished with seven in all - the most treys by any San Antonio player this season - to go with a season-best 34 points.

My shot was just falling,'' said Maxwell, deflecting the onrushing praise from the media gathering. Avery (Johnson) was finding me and the big guys were setting some solid picks and screens.‘’

So solid that Maxwell time and again rested and waited alone deep in the corner for the ball to get to him. Then, with time to spare, he launched uncontested shots that zipped through the nets.

His defender, Jim Jackson, lurked in another part of Dallas and was last seen just coming into the picture on the run toward Maxwell.

Jim just got caught up in the rotation scheme,'' Maxwell said. He decided to leave me a couple of times and I got the ball.‘’

New Dallas general manager Don Nelson was scene wandering about the Reunion corridors at halftime, head down and deep in thought about how his team could be shooting 43 percent and be down 10 points to the injury-wrecked Spurs.

The Mavericks led 2-0 after Jackson opened the scoring with an 18- foot jumper. It was Dallas’ only lead.

The Spurs jumped to a 13-2 advantage, thanks to seven points from Maxwell. They spent the rest of the evening trying to keep double- digit advantages as the Mavericks tried to raise their shooting percentage into the 40s.

The Spurs led by as many as 22 points in the final quarter and by 20 in the third.

We went out of our way to get the ball to `Max,' '' said Johnson. Historically, when he is going like that, he will have a big night.‘’

Johnson found Maxwell often enough to help boost his assist total to 13 for the night.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich found the one overriding figure on the final box score - the 50.6 listed under shooting percentage.

I don't think we had a better effort tonight,'' Popovich said. We’ve had that good effort almost every night. But we don’t shoot 50 percent very often.‘’

The 50 percent was needed to help ease the pressure on the offense created by the absence of Sean Elliott, now expected to be out for considerably longer than just two games because of the chronic tendinitis in his right quadriceps.

Having Will Perdue back is a big factor,'' Popovich said. He gives us a strong base underneath. He rebounds well every night, 12 or 14 boards, and that helps everything.‘’

Perdue grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, seven on the offensive end. He only had two points, but only took two shots.

The center wore a silver mask around his eyes to protect a healing broken bone, and his front-court mate Carl Herrera wore an identical gold mask to protect his smashed nose. The two could have passed as understudies for the lead role in ``Phantom of the Opera.‘’

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-13, By Kevin O’Keeffe

马刺队下一个需要克服的障碍？选秀抽签

关于肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)伤情的官方消息直到周三对阵温哥华的比赛第三节进行到一半才公布。但阿拉莫穹顶球场12463名观众在比赛开始几分钟内就意识到有些不对劲。

在上一场对阵表现不佳的达拉斯小牛队的比赛中，马刺队刚刚打出了一场精彩的比赛，但仅仅24小时后，他们就只是在敷衍了事。

他们是行尸走肉。

但这个球队还能承受多少打击呢？

甚至主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)看起来也心不在焉，开场时坐在替补席上。

他能对他们说些什么呢？

真可惜乔伊斯·布拉泽斯博士(Dr. Joyce Brothers)不在附近。

马刺队是一支精神上受到重创的球队，因为球队中又一名关键球员将长期缺阵。

新闻稿称，埃利奥特将在下周初接受右膝手术，以治疗他右股四头肌（膝盖上方的肌肉）的慢性肌腱炎。

埃利奥特一个月前两次做的核磁共振显示，保守治疗（休息和物理治疗）没有起到任何作用。

埃利奥特周三在加利福尼亚州英格伍德的凯兰-乔布诊所接受评估，他将在六到八周内进行康复治疗。

本赛季还剩九周。

你自己算算吧。

埃利奥特结束了他的赛季……马刺队也是如此。

他们以101-106输给了灰熊队，结束了本赛季。

我们不要忘记，10月22日，马刺队官员宣布，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)将因背部伤势缺席两到四周。

罗宾逊在12月10日复出。

再次，你自己算算吧。

12月23日，罗宾逊左脚小趾骨折时，最初的消息是他将缺席六周。

现在是第七周了，罗宾逊还没有准备好上场。

但这没关系；他现在应该放弃本赛季复出的念头。

周三比赛开始前两小时，马刺队更衣室里乌云密布。有消息称，埃利奥特将赛季报销。

这位经常受到批评的埃利奥特，在11月时，前马刺队主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)就知道他伤势严重到应该进入伤病名单，他向一些人透露，核磁共振结果并不理想。

球队低迷的精神状态在周三很快就显露出来。

温哥华球员在场上获得了空位投篮的机会，这帮助他们在首节取得了65%的投篮命中率。

灰熊队在上半场领先了22分——这是他们在球队历史上第一次取得如此大的领先优势。

哦，马刺队顽强地奋战，在第四节将比分追至落后两分。

但他们还是崩溃了，就像他们整个赛季都在经历的那样，即使是史蒂芬·金(Stephen King)在他的扭曲思维中也无法创造出这样的剧本。

虽然球员、教练、管理层和季票持有者都会对此感到愤怒，但我坚持认为，这对球队来说并不是最糟糕的事情。

选秀彩票给了马刺队一个机会，让他们得到一个顶级球员，而他们原本不可能得到，因为他们已经超过了工资帽。

下赛季，如果查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)退役，马刺队可能会获得一些额外的资金，他们将拥有两名新球员、一个健康的埃利奥特和一个健康的罗宾逊。

最重要的是，他们将拥有健康的精神。

点击查看原文：Next bug for Spurs to catch? Lottery fever

Next bug for Spurs to catch? Lottery fever

Official word on the condition of the Spurs’ Sean Elliott didn’t come until midway through the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against Vancouver. But the 12,463 in the Alamodome knew something was awry minutes into the contest.

Only 24 hours removed from a strong performance, albeit against the underachieving Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs simply were going through the motions.

They were zombies.

But then, how much more could this team take?

Even Coach Gregg Popovich looked dazed, starting the game by sitting on the bench.

What could he say to them?

Too bad Dr. Joyce Brothers wasn’t nearby.

The Spurs were a team devastated mentally as yet another key member of the club would be lost for an extended period.

The press release stated that Elliott would undergo surgery on his right knee early next week to correct the chronic tendinitis in his right quadriceps - the muscle above his knee.

A pair of MRIs done a month apart on Elliott indicated that no healing had taken place with the conservative treatment of rest and physical therapy.

Elliott, who was in Inglewood, Calif., on Wednesday being evaluated at the Kerlan-Job Clinic, will rehabilitate between six to eight weeks.

There are nine weeks remaining in the season.

You do the math.

Elliott is through . . . and so are the Spurs.

Their season ended with a 106-101 loss to the Grizzlies.

Lest we forget, on Oct. 22, Spurs officials announced that David Robinson would be out between two to four weeks because of lower-back problems.

Robinson returned Dec. 10.

Again, you do the math.

When Robinson broke the little toe on his left foot Dec. 23, first word was that he would be out six weeks.

We’re in the seventh week and Robinson is nowhere near ready to play.

But that’s OK; he now should abandon any thought of returning this season.

The storm clouds gathered in the Spurs locker room two hours before tipoff Wednesday. Word was that Elliott was through for the season.

The oft-criticized Elliott, who former Spurs coach Bob Hill knew was hurting badly enough in November to be on the injured list then, indicated to some that MRI results weren’t favorable.

The team’s deflated spirit was quickly apparent Wednesday.

Vancouver players had open looks from the field, which aided their 65-percent shooting in the opening quarter.

The Grizzlies led by 22 points in the first half - the first time they have held such a margin in franchise history.

Oh, the Spurs fought gamely, getting within two in the fourth quarter.

But they faded, just as they have done throughout a season Stephen King couldn’t have created even in his warped mind.

While players, coaches, management and season ticket-holders will bristle at this, I maintain this isn’t the worst thing for the franchise.

The draft lottery affords the Spurs a chance to grab a top-flight player they couldn’t get otherwise because they are over the salary cap.

Next season, with perhaps some additional dollars available should Charles Smith retire, the Spurs will have two new players, a healthy Elliott and a healty Robinson.

And, most importantly, they’ll have a healthy spirit.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-13, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

灰熊新闻播报 - 肖恩·艾利奥特(Sean Elliot)的伤病手术公告，马刺落败温哥华

星期三晚上，马刺队在12463名焦躁不安的主场球迷面前，以106:101输给了实力低微的温哥华灰熊队。这是本赛季阿拉莫多姆现场观众最少的一场。但这甚至都不是当天最糟糕的事情。

马刺队在比赛中场收到另一个沉重的打击，首发小前锋肖恩·艾利奥特将再次缺席6到8周。

球队在第三节发布了一份已准备好的新闻稿，称艾利奥特将于下周初进行手术，以治疗右股四头肌的慢性肌腱炎。

新闻稿中写道：“艾利奥特将康复6到8周，之后将根据定期评估确定他何时重返篮球相关活动。”

对于一个自1989年以来首次可能无缘季后赛的球队来说，该公告的后果显而易见。

球迷们可能要到明年十月份才能看到艾利奥特的回归。

“球员们会考虑这件事，他们已经考虑过了。”马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇说，“现在已经确定他将长期缺席，这在很多方面都是致命的。”

如果艾利奥特需要八周才能恢复，那么常规赛还剩下一周左右的时间。

马刺队队医大卫·施密特至少对手术结果和艾利奥特的康复做出了积极预测。

“如果一切顺利，我们应该会完全康复。”施密特说，“现在是时候进去清理一下了。”

第三节结束时落后11分后，马刺队凭借卡尔·埃雷拉的一次扣篮，在比赛还剩6分20秒时将差距缩小到了2分。

从那时起，布鲁·爱德华兹、布莱恩特·里夫斯和格雷格·安东尼的大动作带领灰熊队赢得了胜利。

温哥华队（10胜43负）在本赛季四场对阵圣安东尼奥队（12胜35负）的比赛中赢得了三场，这是其在两年历史中首次在一系列比赛中战胜任何球队。

“我们对今晚的比赛很有信心，主要是因为我们之前战胜过这支球队。”灰熊队后卫李·梅伯里说。“我们开局打得很好，充满了激情。第一节为比赛定下了基调。”

温哥华队火力全开，在第一节投篮命中率高达65%，建立了37-23的领先优势。灰熊队保持着压力，在上半场还剩6分钟时将领先优势扩大到50-28。

尽管马刺队表现不佳，但埃雷拉（14分，10个篮板）完成了一次扣篮，结束了马刺队8-2的得分，并将灰熊队的领先优势缩小到2分时，他们仍然有机会。

在那一点上，温哥华队没有退缩。

首先，爱德华兹投进了手指旋转勾手。在另一端，安东尼截住了维尼·德尔尼格罗的传球，促使波波维奇沿着边线走过去，愤怒地将拳头砸到了得分桌上。

灰熊队迅速下场，叫来了爱德华兹，爱德华兹投进了一个三分球。里夫斯（31分，12个篮板）补进了一个至关重要的球，而安东尼又投进了一个三分球。

突然之间，人群安静了下来，而客队在比赛还剩1分42秒时以96-88领先。

在最近18场比赛中输掉15场的马刺队，在比赛的余下时间里再也没有接近过对手5分以内。

“我们有几次失误确实让我们受伤了。”波波维奇说，“但我们不能让自己陷入那种境地。我们不能让自己陷入那种困境。”

这场失利让马刺队在西部季后赛中落后第八名和最后一个季后赛名次7场，还有35场比赛要打。

马刺队拒绝将他们开局不利归咎于艾利奥特的伤情。事实上，他们说在周二晚上客场战胜达拉斯小牛队之前，他们就知道这可能会是一场漫长的康复过程。

“我们只是表现平平。”马刺队后卫弗农·马克思韦尔说，他以19分领衔马刺队，“我听到一些球员说，他们前一天晚上有点累。我想我们只是表现平平。”

马刺队打出了本赛季最糟糕的半场之一，中场休息时以48比61落后。

安东尼早早地拿下了13分，其中第一节投进了三个三分球。他最终得到24分和11次助攻。

温哥华队前锋沙里夫·阿卜杜勒-拉希姆增加了19分、5次助攻和4个篮板。

艾利奥特已经因伤错过了三场连续比赛，总共八场比赛。

在没有艾利奥特的情况下，马刺队在比赛中战绩为1胜7负，艾利奥特是上赛季的全明星球员。

---

马刺队笔记

• 伤病排行榜：根据NBA提交的数据并由费城统计专家哈维·波拉克整理，截至全明星周末，马刺队在因伤缺席的球员比赛场次方面并列第五。

波士顿（11名球员，总共缺席251场）位居联盟榜首，其次是明尼苏达（10-185）、新泽西（7-176）、迈阿密（8-165）、圣安东尼奥（9-160）和印第安纳（12-160）。

在对阵温哥华队的比赛中，马刺队球员缺席的场次总数已增至168场。

根据波拉克的统计，洛杉矶快船队在1988年创造了388场的联盟纪录。波拉克在86-87赛季开始记录这一数据。- 杰瑞·布里格斯

点击查看原文：Just nothing but Grizzly news - Elliott's surgery announced as Spurs fall to Vancouver

Just nothing but Grizzly news - Elliott’s surgery announced as Spurs fall to Vancouver

The Spurs lost 106-101 to the lowly Vancouver Grizzlies on Wednesday night in front of a restless home crowd of 12,463 fans, the smallest gathering of the season at the Alamodome. But that wasn’t even the worst part of the evening.

Another major injury blow hit the Spurs with the announcement during the second half that starting small forward Sean Elliott would be sidelined another six to eight weeks.

The team said in a prepared news release, issued during the third quarter, that Elliott would undergo surgery early next week to correct chronic tendinitis in his right quadriceps.

``Elliott will rehabilitate for six (to) eight weeks and his return to basketball-related activities will be determined after periodic evaluations,‘’ the release read.

The ramifications of the announcement for a team that appears to be headed for its first non-playoff season since 1989 are clear.

Fans may have seen the last of Elliott until next October.

The guys will think about this, and they already have,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. Now that it’s definite that he’s out a long time, it’s a killer, in many ways.‘’

If it takes eight weeks for Elliott to recover, there would be about a week remaining in the regular season.

Spurs Dr. David Schmidt at least offered a positive prediction on the outcome of the surgery and Elliott’s rehabilitation.

If everything is successful, we should have full recovery,'' Schmidt said. Now is the time to go in and clean it up.‘’

Down by 11 points after three quarters, the Spurs pulled to within two points with 6:20 remaining on a dunk by Carl Herrera.

From there, big plays by Blue Edwards, Bryant Reeves and Greg Anthony lifted the Grizzlies to the win.

Vancouver (10-43) won three of the four games against San Antonio (12-35) this season, its first season-series victory over any team in its two-year history.

We had a lot of confidence coming into tonight's game, mainly because we have beaten this team before,'' Grizzlies guard Lee Mayberry said. We got up and had a great first half. That first quarter set the tone for the game.‘’

Vancouver came out gunning, hitting 65 percent from the field in the first quarter to build a 37-23 lead. The Grizzlies kept up the pressure, bumping the lead to 50-28 with six minutes left before halftime.

As poorly as the Spurs played, they had a chance when Herrera (14 points, 10 rebounds) slammed home a field goal that capped an 8-2 Spurs run and cut the Grizzlies’ lead to two midway through the final period.

At that point, Vancouver didn’t back down.

First, Edwards hit a spinning finger-roll. On the other end, Vinny Del Negro’s pass was intercepted by Anthony, prompting Popovich to stalk down the sideline and slam his fist into the scorer’s table.

The Grizzlies promptly went down the court and called on Edwards, who nailed a three-pointer. Reeves (31 points, 12 rebounds) added a crucial tip-in and Anthony buried another three.

Suddenly, the crowd was silent and the visitors led 96-88 with 1:42 remaining.

The Spurs, who have dropped 15 of their last 18 games, never got closer than five the rest of the way.

We had a couple of turnovers that did hurt us,'' Popovich said. But we just can’t afford to put ourselves in that position. We can’t get ourselves in that kind of hole.‘’

With the loss, the Spurs fell 7 games out of the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference with 35 to play.

The Spurs refused to blame the news on Elliott for their slow start. In fact, they said they knew it might be a long

rehabilitation before they defeated the Dallas Mavericks on the road Tuesday night.

We were just flat,'' said Spurs guard Vern Maxwell, who led the Spurs with 19 points. I heard some of the guys saying they were kind of tired after last night. I guess we just came out flat.‘’

The Spurs, playing one of their worst halves of the season, fell behind 61-48 at intermission.

Anthony led the way with 13 early points, including three treys in the first quarter. He finished with 24 points and 11 assists.

Vancouver forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 19 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Elliott has already missed three straight games with the injury, eight overall.

The Spurs fell to 1-7 in games where they have played without Elliott, an All-Star last season. - - -

Spurs Notes

- Ranking the battered: The Spurs were tied for fifth in player games lost to injury this season through the All-Star break, according to figures filed by the NBA and compiled by Philadelphia stat guru Harvey Pollack.

Boston (11 players, 251 total games missed) led the league, followed by Minnesota (10-185), New Jersey (7-176), Miami (8-165), San Antonio (9-160) and Indiana (12-160).

Through the Vancouver game, the Spurs’ total of player games missed increased to 168.

The Los Angeles Clippers established the league record with 388 in 1988, according to Pollack’s statistics. Pollack began charting the statistic in '86-87. - Jerry Briggs

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