马刺1996-97赛季实录（560+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-14, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

对马刺来说，伤病依然是时尚 - 埃利奥特，这支“最佳着装”队伍中最新的成员，希望能在赛季结束前复出

受伤的马刺前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)周四誓言，他将尽力在常规赛结束前重返赛场。但与此同时，埃利奥特开玩笑地预测，他将成为球队“时尚大道”上最会穿衣的人。

“哦，毫无疑问，是我，”埃利奥特在今晚在阿拉莫穹顶对阵金州勇士队的比赛前夕说道。

这可能让其他受伤的马刺球员感到不寒而栗。

本赛季的大部分时间里，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和其他受伤的球员在主场比赛时都衣着光鲜，穿着定制西装。

埃利奥特本赛季一直受到右股四头肌慢性肌腱炎的困扰，三天前得知他可能要加入罗宾逊和其他球员，在“时尚大道”上待上一段时间。

马刺队队医大卫·施密特(David Schmidt)博士周一建议埃利奥特进行手术。随后，球队将他们的首发小前锋送往加州英格伍德的科兰-乔布骨科诊所，以确认该意见。

周三在西海岸与克拉伦斯·希尔兹(Clarence Shields)博士会面后，埃利奥特得知手术和六到八周的康复即将到来。手术将由施密特进行，并已安排在下周二在圣安东尼奥进行。

“我不认为这是我本赛季的结束，”埃利奥特说。

许多球迷对球队的整体赛季并不那么乐观。他们认为这是对疲惫的马刺队（12胜35负）的最后一击，在周四晚上的比赛之前，他们落后于西部联盟第八名和最后一个季后赛席位7场。

在埃利奥特缺席的情况下，马刺队本赛季取得了1胜7负的战绩。罗宾逊（左脚骨折）、查克·珀森（背部手术）和查尔斯·史密斯（右膝骨关节炎）都仍在恢复中，他们的回归时间尚未确定。

“希望戴夫和查克能回来，也许我也可以回来，”埃利奥特说。“他们没有说我赛季报销。他们只是说我得做完这个手术。”

埃利奥特说，医生将取出受损的肌腱部分，然后缝合起来。

“两位医生都强调这是（最好的）长期方案，”他说。“他们说你得做完这个手术。它会让你恢复得更好。（他们说）你会回来，而且（它也会）让你在未来变得更好。”

马刺队在与勇士队（18胜29负）的比赛中还有其他问题，勇士队在周四晚以107-99击败了达拉斯。中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)在周三以106-101输给温哥华灰熊队后扭伤了脚踝，可能无法上场。

但第二天，人们最关注的是埃利奥特伤病的长期影响。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在其过去18场比赛中取得了3胜15负的战绩，最初将这种伤病称为“杀手”，因为它可能会影响到球队。周四，他的想法转向了埃利奥特，以及他认为埃利奥特如何在康复后恢复到最佳状态。

“医生预计完全康复，”波波维奇说。“在6-8周后，我们可以重新评估他。希望我们可以让他开始训练，让他（回到球场）。”

只剩下不到9周的时间，这意味着如果时间表出现任何偏差，球迷们可能已经看到了埃利奥特在本赛季的最后一场比赛。

“至于他的恢复，无论是4月、7月还是8月，”波波维奇说，“我们预计他会恢复到我们所知的肖恩·埃利奥特的状态。”

波波维奇指出，菲尼克斯太阳队的丹尼·曼宁(Danny Manning)和迈阿密热火的蒂姆·哈达威(Tim Hardaway)都经历了膝盖韧带重建手术，并且已经恢复到高水平的比赛。

“曼宁和哈达威的伤势更严重，他们能够克服，”波波维奇说。“每个球员都不一样，这可能需要一些时间，但我们相信肖恩能够从这次伤病中恢复过来。”

尽管埃利奥特本赛季场均得到14.9分、4.9个篮板和3.2次助攻，但球迷们一直抱怨他的表现不如去年。波波维奇说，如果有什么不同的话，埃利奥特在身体压力下依然保持高水平的得分能力应该给那些称他为“软蛋”的球迷们一个警示。

“如果人们客观地看待这个问题，应该是这样，”波波维奇说。“如果他们说他不是一个好的篮板手，那么这是公平的。但说他从不拼抢，不防守，这是不公平的。肖恩今年一直很痛苦。最近，他看起来更僵硬，更难以爆发。”

点击查看原文：For Spurs, injuries still the fasion - Elliott, latest in best- dressed troop, hopes to return before season's end

For Spurs, injuries still the fasion - Elliott, latest in best- dressed troop, hopes to return before season’s end

Injured Spurs forward Sean Elliott vowed Thursday that he will try his best to return to action before the end of the regular season. But in the meantime, Elliott playfully predicted he would be the best-dressed of all on the team’s ``Fashion Row.‘’

``Oh, it’ll be me, no question,‘’ Elliott said on the eve of tonight’s 7:30 game at the Alamodome against the Golden State Warriors.

It was a challenge that could make other injured Spurs shudder.

For most of the season, David Robinson and other wounded players have looked sharp at home games, dressed in custom-tailored suits.

Elliott, beset with chronic tendinitis in his right quadriceps all season, learned three days ago that he might be joining Robinson and the others on ``Fashion Row’’ for an extended period.

Spurs team physician Dr. David Schmidt advised Elliott on Monday that surgery was a possibility. Subsequently, the team sent its starting small forward to the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Inglewood, Calif., for confirmation of the opinion.

After meeting with Dr. Clarence Shields on the West Coast Wednesday, Elliott learned that the operation and a six-to-eight-week rehabilitation was imminent. The surgery will be performed by Schmidt. It has been scheduled for next Tuesday in San Antonio.

``I’m not looking at this as the end of my season,‘’ Elliott said.

Many fans aren’t so optimistic about the team’s season as a whole. They see it as the last hit for the bedraggled Spurs (12-35), who lagged 7 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings before Thursday night’s games.

In Elliott’s absence, the Spurs have gone 1-7 this year. Robinson (broken bone, left foot), Chuck Person (back surgery) and Charles Smith (osteoarthritis, right knee) are all still on the mend, with no certain timetable set for their return.

Hopefully, Dave and Chuck will be able to come back and maybe I'll be able to come back,'' Elliott said. They’re not saying I’m out for the rest of the year. They’re just saying I gotta get this done.‘’

Elliott said the doctor will take out a damaged piece of the tendon and then sew it back together.

Both doctors stressed this is (best) for the long run,'' he said. They said you’re going to get this done. It’s going to make you better. (They said) you’ll get back and (it will) also make you better down the road.‘’

The Spurs have other problems going into the game with the Warriors (18-29), who beat Dallas 107-99 Thursday night. Center Will Perdue might not play after turning his ankle Wednesday in a 106-101 loss to the Vancouver Grizzlies.

But the major focus a day later was the long-term ramifications of Elliott’s injury.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, 3-15 in his last 18 games, initially called the injury ``a killer’’ as far as how it could affect the team. His thoughts Thursday swerved to Elliott, and how he thought Elliott could return to form after the rehabilitation.

The doctors expect full recovery,'' Popovich said. In 6-8 weeks, we can re-evaluate him. Hopefully we’ll start practicing him and can get him back (on the court).‘’

There are only a little more than nine weeks remaining, which means that any slip in the timetable could mean that fans have seen Elliott in action for the last time this season.

As far as his recovery, whether it's April, July or August,'' Popovich said, we expect him to be back to the Sean Elliott that we all know.‘’

Popovich pointed out that Danny Manning of the Phoenix Suns and Tim Hardaway of the Miami Heat underwent knee-ligament

reconstructions and have since returned to play at a high level.

Manning and Hardaway had much worse injuries, and they were able to overcome them,'' Popovich said. All players are different, and it may take some time, but we’re confident that Sean will be able to come back from this.‘’

Though Elliott has averaged 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists this season, fans have groused about his production falling off from a year ago. If anything, Popovich said, Elliott’s ability to keep his production as high as it has been during a time of physical stress should send a message to fans who have called him soft.

It should, if people are being objective about it,'' Popovich said. If they say he’s not a good rebounder, then that’s fair. But to say he never stuck his nose in there and played any D (defense), that’s unfair. Sean’s been in a lot of pain this year. Lately, he seemed stiffer and less able to explode.‘’

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-14, By Don Finley Express-News Medical Writer

本赛季艾利奥特的状况存疑

马刺前锋肖恩·艾利奥特(Sean Elliott)的右腿将在下周初进行手术修复受伤的肌腱，术后将不会被固定，这可以最大程度地降低上腿严重无力风险 - 这在手术后很常见。然而，一位专家表示，这位 29 岁的艾利奥特是否能在 6 到 8 周的恢复期后回归本赛季的比赛，目前仍是个未知数。

艾利奥特周四从旧金山返回圣安东尼奥，此前他咨询了加利福尼亚州英格伍德著名的凯尔兰-乔布诊所的骨科医生。艾利奥特与参加骨科会议的诊所医生会面，他们同意手术决定。

马刺队队医大卫·施密特(David Schmidt)博士将进行手术，他拒绝提供更多细节，称马刺队的管理层将在稍后决定发布哪些信息。

但施密特表示，手术将包括在膝盖上方做一个小的切口，切除部分死去的纤维组织，这些组织贯穿厘米厚的肌腱的深度，然后将肌腱缝合在一起。

“在该组织破裂区域的每一边都有良好的、存活的组织，”施密特说。

肌腱炎会导致关节外侧疼痛和压痛。它可能是由撕裂或受伤引起的，或者 - 就像艾利奥特的情况 - 由过度使用引起的。

艾利奥特的肌腱炎发生在髌骨韧带上，该韧带将大腿上方的四块肌肉群（称为股四头肌）连接到髌骨或膝盖骨。髌骨韧带包裹着膝盖骨，并连接到小腿的骨头上。

股四头肌“可能是你下肢最强的肌肉。它需要跳跃、弯曲你的膝盖、弯曲你的臀部 - 你走路的每一个动作，”休斯敦贝勒医学院的运动医学专家隆·卡斯特尔(Lon Castle)博士说。

“篮球运动员的股四头肌非常厚、强壮，肌肉发达，”卡斯特尔说。“当他们在这些股四头肌中发展力量时，他们会失去一些灵活性。如果它突然弯曲，而肌肉不像以前那样有弹性或松弛，他们可能会撕裂肌肉或拉伤。”

如果术后腿部固定，就像通常那样，这些大型肌肉在恢复期间可能会严重萎缩或无力。

“他甚至可能无法从桌子上抬起一条直腿。这些肌肉在你腿上很快就变得没有用。”

卡斯特尔说，即使艾利奥特的腿部不会固定，他在常规赛结束前重返赛场的可能性可能更多地取决于他的心理状态，而不是他的膝盖健康状况。

“那将是一个个人决定。他是否需要为了自己的精神功能而复出？或者会是，不要冒险，整个夏天都确保一切正常？这将很大程度上取决于他的心理状态，看他是否想重返赛场并进行测试。”

自 11 月以来，艾利奥特的伤势一直困扰着他，当时他错过了与洛杉矶湖人队的比赛。

点击查看原文：Elliott's status this season questionable

Elliott’s status this season questionable

Spurs forward Sean Elliott’s right leg will not be immobilized following surgery early next week to repair an injured tendon, which could minimize the risk of severe weakening in his upper leg - a common problem after such surgery. However, whether the 29-year-old Elliott will be able to return to play this season after his six- to eight-week recovery remains in question, an expert said.

Elliott returned from San Francisco Thursday after consulting with an orthopedic surgeon from the famed Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Inglewood, Calif. Elliott met with clinic physicians, who were attending an orthopedics conference. They agreed with the decision to operate.

Spurs team physician Dr. David Schmidt, who will perform the surgery, declined to provide many details - saying the Spurs’ front office will decide later what information is released.

But Schmidt did say the operation will involve making a small incision above the knee, cutting out a portion of dead, fibrous tissue that runs the depth of the centimeter-thick tendon, and sewing the tendon back together.

``On each edge of that area of tissue breakdown there’s good, viable tissue,‘’ Schmidt said.

Tendinitis causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint. It can be brought on by a tear or injury, or - as in Elliott’s case - by overuse.

Elliott’s tendinitis is to the pateller ligament, which connects the large group of four muscles in the upper leg called the quadriceps with the patella, or kneecap. The pateller ligament envelopes the kneecap and attaches to the bone in the lower leg.

The quadriceps is ``probably the strongest muscle in your lower extremities. It’s required for jumping, bending your knee, bending your hip - every motion you walk with,‘’ said Dr. Lon Castle, a sports medicine specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Basketball players have very thick, strong, muscular quads,'' Castle said. As they develop strength in these quads, they lose some of the flexibility. If it gets flexed suddenly and that muscle isn’t as elastic or as loose as it used to be, they can tear the muscle or strain it.‘’

If the leg is immobilized after surgery, as it often is, those large muscles can severely atrophy or weaken during recovery.

``He might not even be able to do a straight leg lift off of the table. That’s how quickly those muscles go to disuse in your leg.‘’

Even though Elliott’s leg won’t be immobilized, his ability to play again near the end of the regular season may rely more on his state of mind, rather than the health of his knee, Castle said.

``That will be a personal decision. Does he need to get back for his own mental function? Or will it be, don’t risk it, take the whole summer to make sure everything’s right? It will depend a lot on his mental makeup as to whether he wants to get back and test it.‘’

The injury has plagued Elliott since November, when he missed a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. DOUG SEHRES Sean Elliott talks to the media after arriving back in San Antonio from California.

By Don Finley Express-News Medical Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-15, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队伤病不断；斯普雷维尔带领勇士队以108-94获胜

马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins) 在球队以 108-94 输给金州勇士队后，尚未得知球队最近的伤病情况。“蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams) 摔断了手腕？”威尔金斯问道。

“也许吧，”更衣室里一位访客告诉他。

“该死，”威尔金斯说，他以 22 分领跑马刺队。“如果不是因为厄运缠身，我们根本不会有这些伤病。”

威廉姆斯和中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue) 都被列为今晚在圆顶球场对阵亚特兰大老鹰队的比赛的疑似缺阵球员。

如果两人都无法上场，马刺队很可能将只有八名球员出战，迎战东部联盟最强的球队之一。

“我们必须展现出来，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 说，他的球队战绩跌至 12-36。“我们必须展现出来，并希望我们能够投得更好。”

珀杜在周三晚上马刺队以 106-101 输给温哥华队的比赛中扭伤了脚踝，没有参加对阵勇士队的比赛。

威廉姆斯，一位第三年的锋卫摇摆人，在第三节突破上篮时摔倒在地，手腕受伤。

更糟糕的是，裁判没有吹罚犯规。

“我们今晚没有得到很多哨子，”威尔金斯说。“我冲进内线，却被犯规了。这就是这一整年发生的事情。”

威廉姆斯离开了球场，接受了手腕 X 光检查。马刺队随后表示，X 光检查结果不确定，但他可能出现了舟骨骨折。

他将在今天接受核磁共振检查。

在第二节大部分时间都只有八名健康球员的情况下，马刺队一度有机会扭转战局。

威尔金斯率领球队发起反击，将比分追至 81-77，进入第四节。

从那时起，金州勇士队后卫拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔(Latrell Sprewell) 开始掌控局面。他在四分钟的时间里，在一次 14-4 的进攻波中得到 7 分。突然间，勇士队以 95-81 领先，比赛还剩 7 分 47 秒。

斯普雷维尔用一个双臂扣篮，将比姆博·科尔斯(Bimbo Coles) 的传球扣进篮筐，结束了这场进攻波。

“我觉得我们只是筋疲力尽了，”马刺队后卫弗农·马克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell) 说，他得到 14 分。“我们缺少球员。这太难了。”

马刺队整场比赛都错失了一些简单的投篮，让比赛变得更加困难。他们对阵联盟中最差的防守球队之一，投篮命中率仅为 38.4%。

但在没有受伤的大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 和肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott) 的情况下，马刺队已经习惯了这样的夜晚。球队在本赛季两名全明星球员都缺席的情况下，战绩跌至 1-9。

两人预计几周内都无法回归，这意味着这个赛季很有可能以无缘季后赛而告终。比赛开始前，马刺队在西部联盟排名中落后第八名，也就是最后一个季后赛席位，8 场比赛。

他们已经输掉了最近 19 场比赛中的 16 场。

与此同时，勇士队的战绩提升至 19-29，全明星周末后取得 2 连胜。他们依靠乔·史密斯(Joe Smith) 的 20 分 13 个篮板，克里斯·穆林(Chris Mullin) 的 18 分，以及斯普雷维尔持之以恒的努力取得了胜利。

“拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔是一位伟大的球员，”波波维奇说。“他很难防守。他再次打了一场精彩的比赛，我们很难跟上乔·史密斯。”

马刺队中锋卡迪拉克·安德森(Cadillac Anderson) 在内线打了 38 分钟，表现出色，得到 7 分 17 个篮板和 3 次盖帽。

前锋卡尔·埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)，在珀杜和大卫·罗宾逊缺阵的情况下，也担任了一些中锋位置，得到 9 分 10 个篮板和 4 次盖帽。

二年级后卫科里·亚历山大(Cory Alexander) 在第二节给了马刺队很大的帮助，凭借他投进的两记三分球中的第二记，帮助球队短暂领先一分。他全场得到 15 分。

-马刺队新闻：马刺队一位官员驳斥了球队对费城 76 人队前锋克莱伦斯·韦瑟斯彭(Clarence Weatherspoon) 感兴趣的报道。

“我们跟费城联系过，但不是关于韦瑟斯彭的，”马刺队球员人事主管萨姆·舒勒(Sam Schuler) 说。

《今日美国》周五的一篇报道称，马刺队对这位大前锋韦瑟斯彭感兴趣。交易截止日期是 2 月 20 日。- - -

马刺队新闻

• 伤病更新：马刺队前锋查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith) 可能在两周内回归训练，测试他的右膝，主教练格雷格·波波维奇说。

“他很可能会在其他所有受伤球员之前回归，”波波维奇说，指的是中锋大卫·罗宾逊和前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 和肖恩·埃利奥特。

史密斯膝盖患有骨关节炎，从本赛季的第四场比赛开始就一直没有上场。他坚持认为自己的职业生涯还没有结束，尽管有些人推测他已经退役了。

“我知道有很多怀疑者，但我一定会继续打球，”史密斯说。

• 马克斯韦尔的第 1000 个：马刺队后卫弗农·马克斯韦尔已经成为 NBA 历史上第五位在职业生涯中投进 1000 个三分球的球员。

马克斯韦尔在对阵金州勇士队的比赛之前已经投进了 1001 个三分球。

他在周三球队以 106-101 输给温哥华队的比赛中，凭借四记三分球，突破了这一里程碑。

“这有点苦乐参半，”他说。“能做到这一点很好，但我们输掉了比赛。”- 杰瑞·布里格斯(Jerry Briggs)

点击查看原文：Spurs victim of shooting `Spree' - More injuries for S.A.; Sprewell leads Warriors' 108-94 victory

Spurs victim of shooting `Spree’ - More injuries for S.A.; Sprewell leads Warriors’ 108-94 victory

Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins hadn’t heard about the latest injury scare in the wake of his team’s 108-94 loss to the Golden State Warriors Friday night at the Alamodome. ``Monty Williams broke his wrist?‘’ Wilkins asked.

``Maybe,‘’ a dressing room visitor told him.

Damn,'' said Wilkins, who led the Spurs with 22 points. If it weren’t for bad luck, we wouldn’t have any at all.‘’

Both Williams and center Will Perdue are listed as doubtful for tonight’s 7:30 game in the dome against the Atlanta Hawks.

If both are unavailable, the Spurs will likely suit up eight players to face one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

We still have to show up,'' said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team fell to 12-36. We have to show up and hope we shoot the ball better.‘’

Perdue, who sprained his ankle in the Spurs’ 106-101 loss to Vancouver Wednesday night, didn’t suit up against the Warriors.

Williams, a third-year small forward, went down with his wrist injury in the third period when he drove to the basket and fell hard to the court.

Worse than that, there was no call by the officials.

We didn't get a lot of calls tonight,'' Wilkins said. I’m in the lane out there and I’m getting hit. It’s what’s been going on the whole year.‘’

Williams left the court and had the wrist X-rayed. The Spurs said later that the X-ray was inconclusive, but that he might have suffered a scaphoid fracture.

He will have an MRI done today.

Playing with eight healthy players for much of the second half, the Spurs threatened to make a game of it.

Wilkins led a charge that pulled the Spurs to within 81-77 going into the fourth quarter.

From there, Golden State guard Latrell Sprewell took charge. He scored seven points in a 14-4 run over a four-minute stretch. All of a sudden, the Warriors were in control, 95-81, with 7:47 remaining.

Sprewell punctuated the run with a two-handed, alley-oop slam off a feed from Bimbo Coles.

I felt like we just ran out of gas,'' said Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell, who finished with 14 points. We were short of guys. It was just tough.‘’

The Spurs made it tougher on themselves by missing some easy shots all during the game. They shot 38.4 percent from the field against one of the worst defenses in the league.

But without injured David Robinson and Sean Elliott, the Spurs have come to expect nights like this. The team fell to 1-9 in games that both of last season’s All-Stars have been out.

Neither are expected back for weeks, which means the season is very much in jeopardy of ending without a playoff berth. When the evening began, the Spurs lagged eight games behind the eighth and final position in the Western Conference standings.

They have lost 16 of their last 19 games.

The Warriors, meanwhile, improved to 19-29 and to 2-0 after the All-Star break. They rode Joe Smith’s 20 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Mullin’s 18 points and Sprewell’s perpetual motion to the victory

Latrell Sprewell is a great player,'' Popovich said. He’s tough to handle. He had another great game and we had a tough time staying up with Joe Smith.‘’

Spurs center Cadillac Anderson, playing 38 minutes in the post, had one of his better games with seven points, 17 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Forward Carl Herrera, who played some center as well in the absence of Perdue and David Robinson, had nine points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

Second-year guard Cory Alexander gave the Spurs a boost in the second quarter, lifting the team to a brief one-point lead on the second of his two three-pointers. He had 15 points for the night.

-Spurs notes: A Spurs official brushed off a report the team is interested in Philadelphia 76ers forward Clarence Weatherspoon.

``We’ve talked to Philly, but not about Weatherspoon,‘’ said Spurs player personnel director Sam Schuler.

A report in USA Today on Friday said the Spurs were interested in Weatherspoon, a power forward. The trade deadline is Feb. 20. - - -

Spurs Notes

- Injury update: Spurs forward Charles Smith could return to practice within two weeks to test his right knee, Coach Gregg Popovich said.

``Most likely, he’ll be back before anyone else that’s injured,‘’ Popovich said, referring to center David Robinson and forwards Chuck Person and Sean Elliott.

Smith, suffering from osteoarthritis in his knee, hasn’t played since the fourth game of the season. He has insisted that his career is not over, as some have speculated.

``I know there are a lot of skeptics, but I’m going to play,‘’ Smith said.

- Maxwell’s 1,000th: Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell has become the fifth player in NBA history to make 1,000 three-point shots in a career.

Maxwell had 1,001 going into the Golden State game.

He hit the plateau by making four three-pointers in the team’s 106-101 loss to Vancouver on Wednesday.

Its kind of sweet and sour,'' he said. It’s good to do it, but we lost the game.‘’ - Jerry Briggs

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-16, By Jerry Briggs, Spurs Beat

粉丝们可能迫使波波维奇下台

马刺队老板 Peter Holt 可能是一个NBA新手。他甚至还没有担任球队所有权集团主席一年。但作为一个商人，他知道什么东西好卖。他现在应该知道格雷格·波波维奇并不卖座。

波波维奇是该队的篮球运营副总裁、总经理兼教练，颇具争议。

他做出了几项有争议的举动，激怒了许多球迷，霍尔特也感受到了压力。

付费客户仍然没有原谅波波维奇在12月解雇并取代鲍勃·希尔教练的行为。

其他引起球迷愤怒的决定包括：波波维奇在去年夏天对目前的阵容按兵不动，在一年多前交易换来了查尔斯·史密斯，并在上赛季与卡尔·埃雷拉签订了一份为期四年的合同。

如果球队保持健康并在比赛中以65-70%的惯常水平取胜，这些举动可能会被视为轻微的错误。

但由于在周六与亚特兰大的比赛中战绩惨淡，12胜36负，波波维奇成为了粉丝不满的导火索。

最初，波波维奇比希尔多赢了几场比赛，而健康的球员却更少。当这一消息被报道时，我的语音信箱里塞满了愤怒的回复。

嘿，朋友们。别激动。我从未说过波波维奇比希尔是一位更好的教练。他不是。希尔如果队里有合适的人，他有足够的经验和战术知识带领一支球队夺冠，我希望他能得到这个机会。

但为了客观起见，我只说波波维奇做得稍好一些——至少在他执教赛季初期——比希尔在这个赛季的混乱局面中做得更好。

你可以划重点划在“最初”这个词上。在周五晚上输给金州勇士队后，波波维奇在19场比赛中的战绩从3胜16负下降到3胜16负。希尔在赛季开始时战绩为3胜15负后被解雇。

如果我不再接到十几通指出这一点的电话，我会很失望的。你可以肯定霍尔特的电话也将在这个问题上响个不停。

自球队炒掉希尔以来，霍尔特已经收到了其他关于波波维奇的更微妙的信息。具体来说，有来自检票口的新闻，并不乐观。上座率比上赛季下降了约16%。

鉴于普遍的冷淡反应，我不知道霍尔特怎么能让波波维奇重新担任教练。

至于有关波波维奇有可能完全下台的报道，霍尔特予以否认。但城里的某些观察人士认为，如果发生这种情况，他们也不会惊讶。

事实上，球迷们可能会迫使老板下手，就像前老板安吉洛·德罗索斯在1986年被迫解雇科顿·菲茨西蒙斯一样。

这可能是一个动荡的休赛期。再说一遍，从来没有人说过赢得NBA总冠军很容易。

• 交易战线平静：文尼·德尔内格罗要到周五才能放松。交易截止时间是周四，而德尔内格罗却被困在了一支无所事事的球队的四后卫轮换中。选择一个需要外线投篮的竞争对手，他们可能会有兴趣。

但波波维奇上周晚些时候说，他预计马刺队不会改变任何事情。

• 抽签讨论：我已经听到人们对马刺队在不致球队破产的情况下支付高额选秀权的能力表示担忧。这不会是个问题。

几年前，密尔沃基雄鹿队为状元秀格伦·罗宾逊支付6500万美元而感到痛不欲生。现在有一项新秀工资帽，今年夏天的状元秀在三年内可以获得的最高薪水不超过850万美元。

• AJ 的状态：马刺队可以选择再向埃弗里·约翰逊支付一年的薪水，约为120万美元，或者宣布他成为自由球员，然后为他提供一份接近他市场价值的薪水。

我听说 AJ 将获得一份更新、期限更长、价值更高的马刺队合同。

• 在公开市场上：马刺队的其他自由球员将包括多米尼克·威尔金斯、凯迪拉克·安德森和蒙蒂·威廉姆斯。

对于好奇马刺队在下赛季为何在支付威尔金斯时受到限制的人，原因是——超过工资帽的球队只有在球员连续三年为一支球队效力或交易后与同一份合同效力三年或更长时间的情况下，才能向自己的自由球员支付任何金额。

威尔金斯与马刺队签约了一份为期一年的合同。

点击查看原文：Fans may dictate pulling plug on Popovich

Fans may dictate pulling plug on Popovich

Spurs owner Peter Holt may be new to the NBA. He hasn’t been chairman of the team’s ownership group for even a year yet. But as a businessman, he knows what sells. By now, he has to know Gregg Popovich isn’t selling real well.

Popovich is the team’s controversial vice president of basketball operations, general manager and coach.

He has made several questionable moves that have irritated and infuriated fans, and Holt is feeling the heat.

Paying customers still haven’t forgiven Popovich for firing and replacing Bob Hill as coach in December.

Other decisions raising the ire of fans have included Popovich sitting pat on the current roster last summer, trading for Charles Smith a year ago this month and signing Carl Herrera to a four-year contract last season.

The moves probably would be viewed as minor errors if the team had remained healthy and won games at the usual 65-70 percent clip.

But in the aftershock of a disastrous 12-36 record going into Saturday’s game with Atlanta, Popovich is emerging as the lightning rod for fan discontent.

Initially, Popovich was winning a few more games than Hill with fewer healthy players. When this news was reported, my voice-mail box was jammed with angry responses.

Hey, friends. Lighten up. I never wrote that Popovich is a better coach than Hill. He isn’t. With the right team, Hill has enough experience and tactical savvy to guide a ballclub to a title, and I hope he gets that chance.

But in the interest of objectivity, I merely reported that Popovich had done a slightly better job - at least initially - than Hill had done in managing this season’s mess.

You can underline the word ``initially.‘’ Through Friday night’s loss to Golden State, Popovich’s record had plummeted to 3-16 over a 19-game period. Hill was fired after starting the season at 3-15.

I will be disappointed if I don’t get another dozen or so calls pointing this out. And you can be certain Holt’s telephone also will be ringing on this subject.

Holt has received other, more subtle messages about Popovich since the day the franchise canned Hill. Specifically, there is news from the turnstiles, which isn’t good. Attendance is down about 16 percent from last season.

In light of the surly apathy, I don’t know how Holt can bring Popovich back as coach.

As for reports that the plug could be pulled on Popovich completely, Holt denies it. But some observers around town wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.

The fans, in effect, could be forcing the owner’s hand much the same way that former owner Angelo Drossos was forced into firing Cotton Fitzsimmons in 1986.

It could be a tumultuous off-season. Then again, nobody ever said that winning an NBA championship came easily.

-Trade front quiet: Vinny Del Negro won’t be able to relax until Friday. The trade deadline is Thursday, and Del Negro is locked in a four-guard rotation on a team going nowhere. Pick a contender with a need for outside shooting, and they’re probably interested.

But Popovich said late last week he didn’t expect the Spurs to change anything.

-Lottery talk: I’m already hearing people express anxiety about the Spurs’ ability to pay a high lottery draft pick without forcing the franchise into bankruptcy. It won’t be a problem.

A few years ago, the Milwaukee Bucks agonized over the $65 million they had to cough up for No. 1 pick Glenn Robinson. A rookie salary cap is in effect now, with this summer’s top pick eligible to make no more than $8.5 million spread over three seasons.

-AJ’s status: The Spurs have the option of either paying Avery Johnson one more year at about $1.2 million or declaring him a free agent, then signing him for a salary closer to his market value.

I’m hearing that AJ will be rewarded with a newer, longer and fatter contract with the Spurs.

-On the open market: Other Spurs free agents will include Dominique Wilkins, Cadillac Anderson and Monty Williams.

For people wondering why the Spurs are restricted in paying Wilkins next season, it’s this -teams over the cap can pay their own free agents any amount only when the player has had three consecutive years of service with one team, or, if he has been traded, three or more years on one pact.

Wilkins is working on a one-year contract with the Spurs.

To leave a message for Jerry Briggs, call ExpressLine at 554-0500 and punch 7292, or e-mail jbriggs@express-news.net

By Jerry Briggs, Spurs Beat, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-16, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

刺激马刺队疼痛，使老鹰队展翅翱翔——亚特兰大后场对于圣安东尼奥来说太过强大

如果亚特兰大的球迷们在周六晚第四节快结束的时候还在电视上观看老鹰队和马刺队的比赛，他们可能会偷乐一番。老鹰队正在走向109:89战胜马刺队的道路，在阿拉莫圆形体育场26809名观众面前。

距离比赛结束还剩不到两分钟的时候，马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇在亚特兰大队前锋亨利·詹姆斯（圣玛丽大学的前明星球员）投进三分球后叫了暂停。

在亚特兰大队新秀中锋普里斯特·劳德代尔冲进篮下，连续第二次灌篮摇晃篮圈后，波波维奇在比赛还剩49.6秒的时候再次叫了暂停。

当老鹰队以20分领先时，甚至一些马刺队的球迷们也可能翻了白眼。比赛显然已经结束了。

“目的何在？”波波维奇问道，他率领的队伍只有8名球员上场，处于严重的人数劣势。“目的是进行教练。进行指导。不让事情发生，你要阻止的事情。这就是你在一个团队中灌输自豪感的方式。”

马刺队后卫弗农·麦克斯韦尔为他教练的行为进行了辩护，他的球队在其最近的20场比赛中输掉了17场。

“他仍然在努力工作，”麦克斯韦尔说，他以24分带领马刺队。“他尽自己最大的努力进行教练。波波维奇只是在尽自己的职责。”

后卫史蒂夫·史密斯和穆奇·布雷洛克让波波维奇的工作变得困难。

两人合得46分，帮助马刺队遭遇三连败，主场六连败。史密斯以25分带领老鹰队，布雷洛克得到21分，其中15分来自上半场，当时来自东部联盟的夺冠热门球队取得了控制权。

“他们对我们来说火力太强了，”马刺队后卫弗农·麦克斯韦尔说。“我们人手不足。他们把我们耗尽了。他们有很多错位，他们利用了这些错位。”

随着周四的交易截止日期的临近，亚特兰大队教练伦尼·威尔肯斯引发了一条传言，说马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯可能重返老鹰队。

威尔金斯不会否认这两支球队正在谈判。

“我们的总经理负责所有谈判，”威尔肯斯说。“在确定之前，我不想谈论它。”

小前锋威尔金斯在肖恩·埃利奥特和蒙蒂·威廉姆斯受伤后首发出场，并没有做太多事情来帮助他的交易筹码。他在34分钟的比赛中13投5中，得到11分。

“我不期待任何交易，”波波维奇说。

随着这次失利，马刺队（12-37）在西部联盟第八个也是最后一个季后赛位置的争夺中落后9场比赛。老鹰队（33-16）在周五在亚特兰大以一分之差输给联盟领先的芝加哥公牛队后成功反弹。

老鹰队没有在情绪上懈怠，而是在上半场击败了人手不足的马刺队，在中场休息时以55:41领先。在那之后，比赛变得没有那么激烈。

“所有懈怠的理由都在那里，但我们没有让它发生，”威尔肯斯说。“我们在凌晨2点到达这里（亚特兰大时间）。我们昨天晚上进行了一场艰难的比赛，输掉了比赛。但优秀的球队需要有坚强的意志。我们不想因为芝加哥的比赛而出来对自己感到遗憾。你不能让对方球队一直纠缠着你。”

对于马刺队来说，在全明星周末后的第一周是一个艰难的星期，他们在五天内打了四场比赛。

在过去四天里，他们得知他们可能会因慢性股四头肌肌腱炎而失去肖恩·埃利奥特整个赛季，看到威尔·普度在输给温哥华的比赛中脚踝扭伤，看到威廉姆斯在对阵金州勇士队的比赛中摔伤手腕。

埃利奥特、普度和威廉姆斯是六名无法出场的受伤马刺队球员中的三位。马刺队在本赛季六人出局的比赛中以0-4落败。普度可能会在周二球队的下一场比赛中复出，对手是犹他队。

波波维奇说，与此同时，威廉姆斯可能还需要再休息两周时间。

就像周五晚108:94输给金州勇士队一样，马刺队一开始错失了空位投篮，然后在比赛结束时无法维持反击，这让他们的处境更加困难。

“在比赛快结束时，我们真的耗尽了能量，”马刺队控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊说，他在追逐布雷洛克时得到12分和6次助攻。“他们是篮球界排名前6或8的球队。关键是他们很早就发挥出了侵略性。”

布雷洛克在第二节最后6:28的比赛中得到9分，帮助老鹰队掌控比赛，引发了来访球队的21:9的得分高潮。在那段时间里，马刺队只进了一個球。

麦克斯韦尔让马刺队在比赛初期保持了比赛的势头，并最终以三分为5投10中的出色表现结束了比赛。麦克斯韦尔的替补球员文尼·德尔内格罗的夜晚也表现出色，他在10投7中的情况下得到了18分。

点击查看原文：Spurs sore, which helps Hawks soar - Atlanta backcourt too much for S.A.

Spurs sore, which helps Hawks soar - Atlanta backcourt too much for S.A.

If fans in Atlanta were still watching the Hawks and Spurs on television late in the fourth quarter Saturday night, they may have snickered a little. The Hawks were well on their way to a 109-89 victory over the Spurs in front of 26,809 at the Alamodome.

Less than two minutes remained when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called timeout following a three-pointer by Atlanta forward Henry James, a former star at St. Mary’s University.

Popovich called another timeout with 49.6 seconds left after Atlanta rookie center Priest Lauderdale powered inside and shook the basket standard with his second-straight dunk.

As the Hawks led by a comfortable 20 points, even some of the Spurs’ own fans may have rolled their eyes. The game clearly was over.

What was the purpose?'' asked Popovich, severely outmanned with only eight players suited up. The purpose was to coach. To instruct. To not allow things to happen, things that you want to stop. It’s the way you instill pride in a group.‘’

Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell defended the actions of his coach, whose team has lost 17 of its last 20.

He's still working hard,'' said Maxwell, who led the Spurs with 24 points. He’s coaching as hard as he can. Pop’s just doing his job.‘’

Guards Steve Smith and Mookie Blaylock made Popovich’s job a tough one.

The two combined for 46 points and helped hand the Spurs their third loss in a row and their sixth straight at home. Smith led the Hawks with 25 and Blaylock added 21, including 15 in the first half when the favored visitors from the Eastern Conference took control.

They just had too much firepower for us,'' said Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell. We ran out of bodies. They wore us down. They had a lot of mismatches and they exploited them.‘’

As Thursday’s trading deadline approached, Atlanta coach Lenny Wilkens fueled a rumor that Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins could be headed back to the Hawks.

Wilkins wouldn’t deny that the two teams were talking.

Our general manager does all the talking,'' Wilkens said. I don’t want to talk about it until it’s concrete.‘’

Wilkins, starting at small forward in the wake of injuries to Sean Elliott and Monty Williams, didn’t do much to help his trade stock. He struggled with 5-of-13 shooting in 34 minutes, scoring 11 points.

``I don’t anticipate any trades,‘’ Popovich said.

With the setback, the Spurs (12-37) fell nine games behind in the chase for the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference. The Hawks (33-16) successfully rebounded from an emotional, one-point loss to the league-leading Chicago Bulls on Friday in Atlanta.

Instead of letting down emotionally, the Hawks ripped the shorthanded Spurs in the first half, building a 55-41 lead at the break. After that, it was never much of a game.

All the reasons were there for a letdown and we didn't let it happen,'' Wilkens said. We got in here at 2 in the morning Atlanta time. We played a tough game last night and lost. But good teams need to be tough-minded. We didn’t want to come out feeling sorry for ourselves about the Chicago game. You just can’t let the other team hang around.‘’

It’s been a difficult first week following the All-Star break for the Spurs, who have played four games in five days.

In the last four days, they learned they might lose Sean Elliott for the season with chronic quadriceps tendinitis, saw Will Perdue sprain his ankle in a loss to Vancouver and watched as Williams sprained his wrist in a fall against Golden State.

Elliott, Perdue and Williams were among six injured Spurs who couldn’t play. The Spurs are 0-4 this season in games with six men out. Perdue could be back for the team’s next game at Utah on Tuesday.

Williams, meanwhile, might not play for two more weeks, Popovich said.

Just like in a 108-94 loss to Golden State Friday night, the Spurs didn’t help their cause when they missed wide-open shots early and then couldn’t sustain a rally at the end.

Near the end of the game we really did run out of gas,'' said Spurs point guard Avery Johnson, who had 12 points and six assists while trying to chase around Blaylock. They are one of the top six or eight teams in basketball. The key was, they were aggressive early.‘’

Blaylock helped the Hawks take control by scoring nine points in the final 6:28 of the second quarter, sparking a 21-9 run by the visitors. During that stretch, the Spurs managed only one field goal.

Maxwell kept the Spurs in the game early and finished with a solid 5-of-10 shooting night from three-point territory. Maxwell’s backup Vinny Del Negro also had a good night with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-16, By Kevin O’Keeffe

马刺队的珀森为前步行者球星布朗奔走

查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 坐在阿拉莫圆顶体育馆的更衣室前，汗流浃背地谈论他的训练计划，他正在为 10 月份进行的背部手术康复。珀森性格温和，乐于接受队友们关于他体重问题的调侃，然后又反过来调侃了球队的体能教练迈克·布朗加特(Mike Brungardt)。似乎那天布朗加特给珀森安排了比平时多一倍的训练量。

然而，片刻之后，珀森的语气发生了变化。他的笑容消失了，语气变得急切起来。

“我得让球员们给我签个球，”珀森对球队的器材管理员比尔·“萨奇”(Sarge)·坎特雷尔(Bill Cantrel)说。

“我还要让大卫(戴维斯)(David Robinson) 在他的球鞋上签名。我们有他以前穿的球衣可以让他签名吗？

“现在，我需要一张海报让球员们签名，然后……”

珀森的声音越来越低。

不，他不是在疯狂地收集纪念品。

珀森正在帮助他的朋友罗杰·布朗(Roger Brown)，这位是印第安纳步行者的元老。

布朗正在与结肠癌作斗争，病危。

据珀森说，医生说布朗可能活不过这个月。

“将会有一个拍卖会来帮助筹集资金帮助罗杰，”珀森解释说，“我只是想尽我所能。”

这在 NBA 中是一个美好的举动，令人遗憾的是，现在的 NBA 更出名的是年轻球员的贪婪。

当然，马刺球迷习惯了关心他人的球员。这是球队的标志 - 穿着银黑色球衣的优秀球员。

珀森在 1986 年被步行者队选中为状元秀，并在球队效力了 6 年。他正在准备前往印第安纳波利斯，与另外两位步行者球星梅尔·丹尼尔斯(Mel Daniels) 和乔治·麦金尼斯(George McGinnis) 一起为布朗筹款。

这位身高 6 英尺 5 英寸，体重 205 磅，来自代顿大学的球员在 1975 年结束了他的美国篮球协会 (ABA) 职业生涯。他在 1974-75 赛季开始时以自由球员的身份离开了步行者，但在当年的 3 月份回归。

在“博士 J”和“冰人”之前，布朗是 ABA 最顶级的球员之一。他三次入选 ABA 全明星阵容，并且与丹尼尔斯一起，是步行者队在 1970 年、1972 年和 1973 年获得 ABA 冠军的基石。

布朗是步行者队历史上的第三得分王。他也是步行者队历史上的出场时间排名第三，罚球命中率排名第三，投篮命中率排名第四，出场次数排名第七。

“布朗是一位出色的球员，也是一位好人，”前步行者和马刺队的训练师伯尼·拉罗(Bernie LaReau) 说。

“他也非常耐用。他就像“冰人”(马刺队球星乔治·格文(George Gervin))，从不受伤。”

而且，当步行者队在比赛的最后时刻需要得分时，球就会传到布朗手里。

拉罗现在在 HealthSouth 工作，他说布朗因为涉嫌参与大学的“假球”丑闻而被 NBA 封杀，就像康妮·霍金斯(Connie Hawkins) 和前马刺队教练道格·莫(Doug Moe) 一样。

这就是为什么布朗当时在俄亥俄州代顿的一家工厂工作，打着业余篮球，然后步行者队的管理人员迈克·斯托伦(Mike Storen) 将他招募到这个初创的 ABA 球队。

布朗的 35 号球衣与麦金尼斯的 30 号球衣和丹尼尔斯的 34 号球衣一起悬挂在市场广场球馆的屋顶上。

今天，这三人组之间充满了讽刺意味。

丹尼尔斯和麦金尼斯一直在照顾布朗，他一直待在家里。

“罗杰告诉大家，他再也不想被任何女人看到，因为他瘦了太多，”珀森笑着说。

“这个人很有自尊。”

还有很多好朋友。

点击查看原文：Spurs' Person comes through for ex-Pacers standout Brown

Spurs’ Person comes through for ex-Pacers standout Brown

Chuck Person sat in front of his locker in the Alamodome, sweating profusely and discussing his workout program as he rehabs from back surgery in October. Person, an amiable sort, took some ribbing from his Spurs teammates about his weight battle, and then threw a few barbs at Mike Brungardt, the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Seems on this day Brungardt surprised Person with double his normal routine.

Moments later, though, Person’s tone changed. His smile disappeared and there was an urgency in his voice.

I've got to get a ball autographed by the guys,'' Person told Bill Sarge’’ Cantrel, the team’s equipment manager.

``And I need to get Big Dave (Robinson) to autograph a pair of his shoes. Do we have an old David Robinson jersey he could sign?

``Now, I need a poster for the guys to sign and . . .‘’

Person’s voice trailed off.

No, he wasn’t in a memorabilia frenzy.

Person is trying to help a friend, Roger Brown, the original Indiana Pacer.

Brown is dying, having lost his battle with colon cancer.

According to Person, doctors have said Brown likely won’t live past this month.

There is going to be an auction to help raise money for Roger,'' Person explained, and I am just trying to help.‘’

That’s a nice touch in the NBA, which sadly now is better known for avarice on the part of its younger players.

Of course, Spurs fans are used to players who care about others. It’s been a hallmark of the franchise -the number of good guys to wear silver and black.

Person, who was the Pacers’ No. 1 draft choice in 1986 and spent six years with the club, was preparing for a trip to Indianapolis to join Mel Daniels and George McGinnis, two other Pacers greats, to help raise money for Brown.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Dayton University alum ended his American Basketball Association career in 1975. He had left the Pacers as a free agent at the start of the '74-75 season but returned that March.

Before Dr. J and the Iceman, Brown was one of the ABA’s premier players. He made the All-ABA team three times, and, along with Daniels, was a stalwart on the Pacers’ ABA championship teams in '70, '72 and '73.

Brown is the Pacers’ third all-time leading scorer. He also ranks third in minutes played and free-throw percentage, fourth in field- goal percentage and seventh in games played.

``Brown was a heck of a player and a great guy, too,‘’ said Bernie LaReau, former trainer for both the Pacers and the Spurs.

``He also was durable. He was like Ice (Spurs’ great George Gervin) in that he never got hurt.‘’

And when the Pacers needed a score late in a game, the ball went to Brown.

LaReau, now with HealthSouth here, said that Brown was blackballed by the NBA in the same manner as Connie Hawkins and former Spurs coach Doug Moe because of alleged involvement in a point-shaving scandal in college.

That’s why Brown was working in a factory in Dayton, Ohio, playing semipro ball when then-Pacers executive Mike Storen made him the first signee of the fledgling ABA club.

Brown’s No. 35 hangs from the roof in Market Square Arena, along with McGinnis’s No. 30 and Daniels’ No. 34.

There is an irony to that troika today.

Daniels and McGinnis have cared for Brown, who is at home.

``Roger told people he wasn’t going to be seen by any women any more because he’d lost so much weight,‘’ Person said, laughing.

``The guy’s got a lot of pride.‘’

And some very good friends.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-16, By Buck Harvey

选秀抽签争夺战：向多米尼克说再见？

马刺队上周又进行了一次交叉运球，目标直指蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)。他们现在正试图再次进行这样的操作。如果他们在周四的截止日期之前交易掉多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)，那么马刺队可能直到明年11月才能够在一场比赛中得到90分。上赛季3月份他们保持不败，而这一次他们可能会全败。

对于那些热爱对决的人来说，请期待3月14日与选秀抽签对手波士顿的比赛。卡迪拉克(Cadillac)会从控球后卫的位置开始比赛吗？

但是不要想着摆烂，要想着常识。向多米尼克告别是合乎逻辑的，就像让大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)在本赛季剩下的时间里休息一样。

上周球队决定让肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)接受手术也是一样的道理。这是球队首次明确表明他们未来的方向。

的确，如果马刺队在赛季中胜率很高，埃利奥特本赛季会缺席更长时间。但也同样真实的是，如果马刺队在2月底仍具有竞争力，他会在膝盖上敷上冰袋继续坚持比赛。

医生自己的措辞也说明了这次手术是可选的。埃利奥特的股四头肌将被“清理”。

当然，他一直带伤比赛。但上赛季查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)也是如此。他在对阵犹他队的系列赛结束后才接受了清理手术。如果还有机会争冠，埃利奥特也会等待。

这就是明智放弃的本质。现在不赢意味着比人们意识到的更多。选秀抽签的赔率总是对得到邓肯不利。但是由于扩军球队只能排在第二位，马刺队与波士顿和费城处于同一起跑线上。

关键是增加赔率，这就引出了威尔金斯的话题。由于他的最低工资，他很容易被交易，而且很难阻止他在几个不可思议的夜晚爆发，为什么不把他送到一支争冠球队呢？

这是一场双赢。对于威尔金斯来说，他来到圣安东尼奥是因为他以为自己已经签了一支争冠球队。对于马刺队来说，他们希望输掉比赛。这种逻辑非常明显，以至于威尔金斯的经纪人向马刺队提出了这个想法。

威尔金斯说，他在这里很开心。但是当被问及是否欢迎转会时，他补充说：“我认为没有人会介意。”

马刺队当然不会介意，尤其是如果他们能引进一个首轮低顺位的选秀权。他们从未打算在明年重新签下威尔金斯。要不是查克·帕森(Chuck Person)受伤，他根本不会来到这里。

但即使马刺队想留下威尔金斯，他们也只能给他比最低工资高出20%的工资。所以无论本周发生什么，他都会离开。

他的薪水也是交易如此简单的原因。任何球队都能在工资帽下容纳最低工资。但这些规则也阻碍了交易。由于威尔金斯的新球队也将在重新签下他方面受到限制，为了得到一个只效力几个月的人，他们是否愿意付出第27或28顺位的选秀权？

上周迈阿密在交易贾马尔·马什本(Jamal Mashburn)之前考虑过。奥兰多和印第安纳这两支球队在去年夏天也对威尔金斯感兴趣，他们可能仍然会考虑。然后就是威尔金斯自己的球队亚特兰大。

“他们缺失了一部分，”威尔金斯说。“一个在3号位（小前锋）上稳定的得分手。”

老鹰队目前还没有表示兴趣，部分原因是威尔金斯在3号位上一直没有成为稳定的得分手。本赛季他一直努力拼搏，他可能是马刺队的MVP。但是由于被迫打比预期更多的时间，他精疲力尽了。

在最近结束的一段五场比赛中，他的投篮命中率只有35%。周六的比赛也体现了这一点。在对阵金州勇士队时，威尔金斯得到了22分，但面对老鹰队，他却毫无斗志。又一场13投5中的表现意味着马刺队可能幸运地得到一个第二轮选秀权，也可能根本无法将他交易出去。

尽管如此，他替补出场难道不会有所帮助吗？他难道不能再制造几个犯规，抢篮板，提供一些进攻吗？难道他不能帮助某支球队获胜吗？

交易他，他也能帮助某支球队输球。

点击查看原文：The lottery stretch drive: Bid adieu to Dominique?

The lottery stretch drive: Bid adieu to Dominique?

The Spurs made another cross-over dribble toward Tim Duncan last week. They are trying to make another now. If they can trade Dominique Wilkins before Thursday’s deadline, then the Spurs might not score 90 points in a game until next November. Having gone unbeaten in March last season, they might go winless this time.

And for those who love a showdown: Wait for March 14 against lottery foe Boston. Does Cadillac start at the point?

But don’t think tank. Think common sense. It makes logical sense to bid adieu to Dominique, just as it does to hold back David Robinson for the rest of the season.

The same goes for last week when the decision was made to cut into Sean Elliott. That was the first clear signal where the franchise is trying to go now.

It’s true Elliott would have sat out for longer stretches this season if the Spurs had been winning. But it’s also true that, if the Spurs were contending in late February, he would have put an ice pack on the knee and kept trotting out.

The physician’s own language told about how elective this surgery was. Elliott will get his thigh muscle ``cleaned.‘’

Certainly he played in pain. But so did Charles Smith last season. He waited for his clean-up after the Utah series. Elliott would have waited, too, if there was anything to wait for.

That’s the essence of intelligent surrender. And not winning now means more than people realize. The lottery odds will always be against landing Duncan. But since the expansion teams can draft no higher than second, the Spurs are right in the race with Boston and Philadelphia.

The trick is to increase the odds - which brings up Wilkins. Easy to trade because of his minimum salary and hard to stop from exploding for a few improbable nights, why not send him to a contender?

It’s win-win. For Wilkins, who came to San Antonio because he thought he had signed with a contender. For the Spurs, who want to lose-lose. The logic is so obvious that Wilkins’ agent proposed the idea to the Spurs.

Wilkins says he’s happy here. But he adds when asked if he would welcome a move: ``I don’t think that anyone would mind that.‘’

The Spurs certainly wouldn’t, especially if they can lure a low first-round draft pick. They never had any intention of re-signing Wilkins for next year. He would never have been here except for the injury to Chuck Person.

But even if the Spurs wanted to, they couldn’t give Wilkins anything more than a 20 percent raise on top of his minimum salary. So he’s gone no matter what happens this week.

His salary is also what makes a trade so simple; anyone can fit a minimum salary under the cap. But those rules also discourage a trade. Since Wilkins’ new team also would be restricted in re-signing him, would it be worth even the 27th or 28th pick to get a guy for a couple of months?

Miami considered it last week before the Jamal Mashburn trade. Orlando and Indiana, both of whom were also interested in Wilkins last summer, might still bite. And then there is Atlanta, Wilkins’ own team.

They are missing one part,'' said Wilkins. A consistent scorer at the 3 (small forward).‘’

The Hawks show no interest yet, partly because Wilkins hasn’t been a consistent scorer at the 3. He’s competed hard this season, and he might be the Spurs’ MVP. But forced into more minutes than anyone anticipated, he’s worn down.

In a five-game stretch ending last week, he shot 35 percent. Saturday fit into that. Coming off a 22-point night against Golden State, Wilkins had no lift against the Hawks. Another 5-for-13 night means the Spurs might be lucky to get a second-round pick for him, might not be able to move him at all.

Still, wouldn’t he help coming off the bench? Can’t he still draw a few fouls, rebound, provide some offense? Couldn’t he help somebody win?

Trade him, and he’d help somebody lose, too.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-16

马刺队新闻

• 马克斯发声：马刺队后卫弗农·马克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell) 被问及如果他是球队的老板，会怎么做。他说他会要求受伤的中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 尽快上场，无论球队在排行榜上的位置如何。“如果他健康了，当然，”马克斯韦尔说。

但是，如果罗宾逊为了可能无疾而终的季后赛争夺而冒着再次受伤的风险呢？

“没关系，”马克斯韦尔说，显然对这种质疑感到恼火。“这是他的工作。其他人都在拼命努力。”

马克斯韦尔不想听关于球队明年会如何，如果一个新秀（可能是高顺位选秀）和罗宾逊搭档。

“我还没想过这个问题，”马克斯韦尔说，离开更衣室。“我不能对此发表评论。”

• 伤病情况：前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)（右腕扭伤）和中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)（左脚踝扭伤）在周二马刺队客场对阵犹他队的下一场比赛中都可能出战。

周六对威廉姆斯右腕进行的核磁共振检查结果为阴性，表明这位三年级球员在周五输给金州队的比赛中跌倒时扭伤了手腕。

马刺队最初担心他可能遭受了舟骨骨折。威廉姆斯将佩戴可移动的石膏。

珀杜的左脚踝到达阿拉莫穹顶时仍然严重肿胀和变色。他热身了，但被告知不要上场。- 杰里·布里格斯(Jerry Briggs)

点击查看原文：Spurs notes

Spurs notes

- Max speaks out: Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell, asked to put himself in the position of the team’s owner, said he would ask injured center David Robinson to play as soon as possible, regardless of the team’s position in the standings. ``If he’s healthy, yeah,‘’ Maxwell said.

But what about Robinson risking another injury in a run for the playoffs that may fall short?

It doesn't matter,'' Maxwell said, clearly irritated at the line of questioning. It’s his job. Everyone else is out there busting their butts.‘’

Maxwell didn’t want to listen to how the team would look next year with a rookie - potentially a high draft pick - playing alongside Robinson.

I haven't even thought about that,'' Maxwell said, walking away from his dressing cubicle. I can’t comment on it.‘’

- Injury update: Both forward Monty Williams (sprained right wrist) and center Will Perdue (sprained left ankle) are questionable for the Spurs’ next game at Utah on Tuesday.

An MRI on Williams’ right wrist Saturday was negative, indicating that the third-year player sustained a sprain when he fell on the court during Friday’s loss to Golden State.

The Spurs initially feared that he had suffered a scaphoid fracture. Williams will be wearing a moveable cast.

Perdue’s left ankle still was badly swollen and discolored when he arrived at the Alamodome. He warmed up but was told not to play. - Jerry Briggs

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-18, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队不会在犹他受到怜悯

盐湖城——当马刺队上次冒险进入犹他州时，一块翘曲的地板让他们免遭爵士队可能的痛击。这一次，地板完好无损。受伤使马刺队扭曲变形了。今晚 7 点马刺队面对爵士队时，仍有可能遭受痛击。

这一次还有另外一些关键性的不同。

格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 是马刺队的主教练，他解雇了鲍勃·希尔 (Bob Hill)

并使他陷入了流言之中，关于谁将成为奥兰多魔术队下一任常任教练。

马刺队上次来到三角洲中心时，他们希望赢得足够多的比赛以保持与季后赛的进攻距离。大卫·罗宾逊 (David Robinson) 的回归承载了未来连胜和可能的季后赛荣耀的希望。

但马刺队重返盐湖城时落后洛杉矶快船队 9 场比赛，洛杉矶快船队位居西部联盟季后赛的第八个也是最后一个名额。

圣安东尼奥现在面临的两个问题是球队在乐透中能跌到多低，并获得一个不错的选秀权，可能是最优先的，以及罗宾逊是否应该在整个本赛季都复出。

这位全明星中锋仍在从脚骨折中恢复，并继续康复自己的背部，他星期一表示，他仍然计划今年复出。他也不想听到球员们讨论马刺队的乐透机会。

媒体和球迷们可以讨论这件事。他们就是这样做的，''罗宾逊说。如果球员们谈论它，我会感到困扰。只要你在比赛，这个概念就不应该进入对话。‘’

罗宾逊喜欢他在球场上看到的那种努力。

``球队里并不是每个人都朝同一个方向前进，但这就是输球的本质，''他说。

波波维奇也是马刺队的篮球运营副总裁，他说健康将是决定罗宾逊是否重返阵容的决定因素。

媒体和球迷们可以讨论各种情况，但这只是表明对这支球队的兴趣，''波波维奇说。除此之外，它不会影响我们继续进步的举措。唯一影响我对大卫的决定的因素是健康。这个决定将在本赛季晚些时候做出。当解决这个问题的时候，他的比赛将基于医疗情况。

``我将采取（球队总裁）杰克·迪勒、我的教练团队以及每天与大卫和他所处的情况有关的所有人的所有意见。‘’

尽管马刺队显然看到乐透正盯着他们的脸，但他们说这不会影响他们的比赛。

``我尽量不介入。这不是我的工作，''埃弗里·约翰逊在被问及如何处理罗宾逊是否应该复出的问题时说。

``直到本赛季最后一场比赛，我才会回答任何这些问题。现在，我只打算比赛。波波将为大卫和球队尽最大努力。这不会影响我们在球场上的表现，因为任何可能发生在球队身上的事情已经发生在我们身上了。‘’

文尼·德尔·内格罗承认，选秀中的一个好的选秀权无疑会帮助这支球队走下去。但德尔·内格罗也认为，球队仍然必须尝试获胜。

德尔·内格罗说：“你必须做好比赛的准备，做好比赛的准备，因为如果你试探性地比赛，你就有受伤的风险。” ``挫折、消极的事情会进入你的脑海，但你必须为此而战。每个人都知道，如果没有身体，就没有体型。在这个联盟中获胜非常困难。

``如果球队进入乐透区，那么你希望赢得它（最优先的选秀权）。（韦克森林大学的）蒂姆·邓肯是一个伟大的前景。在那之后，一切都变瘦了。但现在我们还有很多篮球比赛要打。‘’

当提到乐透这个词时，多米尼克·威尔金斯 (Dominique Wilkins) 畏缩了。

我只是不喜欢那样的谈话，''威尔金斯说。如果发生，就会发生。但在这个联盟中，球队必须首先想到获胜。这不是你的工作去想别的事情。‘’

---

马刺队备忘录

- 老鹰队否决了“尼克”的交易：消息人士星期一表示，亚特兰大老鹰队已决定不尝试交易获得马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯。但一位联盟消息人士猜测，在星期四的交易截止日期之前，马刺队“50-50”的机会会将威尔金斯送到其他地方。

- 麦科姆斯的访问：马刺队前老板雷德·麦科姆斯参观了星期一的练习，他说：“我想让他们知道我们中的许多人欣赏他们的努力。在这个联盟中有一些黑暗的日子，我想说的是，他们正在专业地处理自己在球场上的表现，而且很多球迷也是这么认为的。”

- 一个人倒下，一个人回来：马刺队今晚将没有前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯，但威尔·珀杜预计将担任中锋开始比赛。

蒙蒂（手腕扭伤）将再休一两个星期，''波波维奇说。但威尔将前往犹他比赛。‘’

珀杜从脚踝扭伤中恢复过来，星期一早上在化身圣言大学的球队训练中跑边线。

点击查看原文：Spurs won't get mercy of court in Utah

Spurs won’t get mercy of court in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - When the Spurs last ventured to Utah, a warped floor spared them a possible mauling at the hands of Jazz. This time, the floor is fine. It’s the Spurs who are warped by injuries. That mauling is still a distinct possibility when the Spurs face the Jazz at 7 tonight.

There are another couple of crucial differences this time around.

Gregg Popovich is the Spurs’ coach, having fired Bob Hill and

thrust him into the rumor mill circulating over who will become the

next permanent coach of the Orlando Magic.

Last time the Spurs came to the Delta Center, they were hoping to win just enough games to remain within striking distance of the playoffs. The return of David Robinson held the promise of future winning streaks and possible postseason glory.

But the Spurs return to Salt Lake City having fallen nine games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

The two questions now facing San Antonio are how deep it can fall into the lottery and nab a nifty pick, perhaps the top choice, and whether or not Robinson should return to action at all this season.

The All-Star center, still recovering from a broken foot and continuing to rehab his back, said Monday he still plans to play this year. He also doesn’t want to hear players discussing the Spurs’ lottery chances.

The media and the fans can talk about that. That's what they do,'' Robinson said. If the players were talking about it, it would bother me. As long as you are playing, that concept shouldn’t enter the conversation.‘’

Robinson likes the effort he sees on the floor.

``Not everybody on the team is in the same direction, but that is the nature of losing,‘’ he said.

Popovich, also the Spurs’ vice president of basketball operations, said health would be the determining factor on whether or not Robinson returns to the lineup.

The media and the fans can discuss a variety of situations, but that just shows interest in the team,'' Popovich said. Beyond that, it doesn’t affect what we need to be doing to continue to improve. The only thing that affects my decision on David is health. That decision will come later in the season. When the time comes to address the situation, his playing in games will be based on the medical situation.

``I will take all the input from (team president) Jack Diller, my coaching staff and all the people involved with David and the situation on a daily basis.‘’

Although the Spurs obviously see the lottery staring them in the face, they say it won’t affect their play.

``I try not to get into it. It’s not my job,‘’ said Avery Johnson, when asked how he deals with the question of whether or not Robinson should return.

``I won’t address any of that until the last games of the season. Right now, I just intend to play. Pop will do what is best for David and for the team. It doesn’t affect us on the floor because whatever can happen to a team has already happened to us.‘’

Vinny Del Negro admits a top pick in the draft would undoubtedly help the team down the road. But Del Negro also believes the team must still try to win.

You have to be ready to play, play your game, because if you play tentatively, you run the risk of injury,'' Del Negro said. Frustrations, negative things, enter your mind, but you have to fight that. Everybody knows that if you don’t have the bodies, you don’t have the size. It is very difficult to win in this league.

``If the team does get into the lottery, then you hope to win it (the top pick). (Wake Forest’s) Tim Duncan is a great prospect. After that, it gets a little thin. But right now we have a lot of basketball left to play.‘’

Dominique Wilkins winced when the word lottery was mentioned.

I just don't like that kind of talk,'' Wilkins said. If it happens, it happens. But in this league, teams have to think `win’ first. It’s not your job to think otherwise.‘’ - - -

Spurs Notes

- Hawks nix ‘Nique deal: Sources said Monday the Atlanta Hawks have decided against trying to acquire Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins. But one league source speculated that there was a ``50-50’’ chance the Spurs would send Wilkins elsewhere before Thursday’s trade deadline.

- McCombs visits: Former Spurs owner Red McCombs visited Monday’s practice, saying: ``I wanted to let them know that a lot of us appreciate their efforts. There are some dark days in this league and I wanted to say that they are handling themselves professionally and that a lot of fans thought so, too.‘’

- One down, one back: The Spurs will be without forward Monty Williams tonight but Will Perdue is expected to start at center.

Monty (sprained wrist) will be out for another week or two,'' Popovich said. But Will will travel to Utah and play.‘’

Perdue, recovering from a sprained ankle, ran the sidelines during the team practice at the University of Incarnate Word Monday morning.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-18, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

“我没听说过魔术队的事” - 鲍勃·希尔否认将接替布莱恩

鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)和布莱恩·希尔(Brian Hill)在传统意义上并非兄弟。但他们都曾担任NBA主教练，因此他们拥有共同的纽带。

他们都了解管理层承诺逐渐消失的那种沉重感。他们知道自己的辛勤工作和长时间付出不会得到回报。他们知道自己即将因一些他们认为无法控制的事情而被解雇。

你可以称之为替罪羊兄弟会。

从这个意义上讲，鲍勃·希尔周一拒绝就有关他可能在下个赛季接任奥兰多魔术队主教练一职的报道发表评论。

“布莱恩还没有被解雇，”鲍勃·希尔说，他在两个月前被马刺队解雇了主教练职务。“他做得很好。他是一位挚友，我非常支持他。我还没有听说过奥兰多魔术队的事。”

布莱恩·希尔，现任魔术队主教练，据报道将在今天早些时候被解雇。

奥兰多总经理约翰·加布里埃尔(John Gabriel)在回应媒体报道时，拒绝透露希尔是否会在周一晚上与夏洛特黄蜂队的比赛结束后继续担任球队教练。

联盟中盛传，奥兰多助理教练里奇·阿杜巴托(Richie Adubato)将临时接管球队，然后鲍勃·希尔将在赛季结束后正式接任主教练职位。

鲍勃·希尔，现居圣安东尼奥，拒绝透露他是否对成为魔术队主教练感兴趣。他说他在周一下午给布莱恩·希尔打电话表达了支持。

“很难解释为什么他受到这样的待遇，”鲍勃·希尔说。“他做得很好。”

四年前，布莱恩·希尔聘请鲍勃·希尔担任魔术队助理教练。他们一起与中锋沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)合作，开始打造一支东部联盟顶级球队。

这对鲍勃·希尔来说是一个突破，他刚刚被印第安纳步行者队解雇了主教练职务。在1994年8月，鲍勃·希尔在魔术队工作了一个赛季后，离开了球队，接手了马刺队的主教练职位。

在赢得了两次中西部赛区冠军后，他在去年12月10日被马刺队解雇了主教练职务。布莱恩·希尔当时批评了马刺队的管理层。

如今，命运弄人，鲍勃·希尔的名字被提名为布莱恩·希尔在奥兰多的接班人。鲍勃·希尔表示，他周一下午给布莱恩·希尔打电话，向他的同行表达了支持。

“他在那里做得非常出色，”鲍勃·希尔说。“他带队打进了（NBA）总决赛。他应该得到尊重。嘿，他让我继续执教。我不会对任何事情进行猜测。他很特别。”

布莱恩·希尔在得知美国全国广播公司电视网周日报道他与球员之间关系恶化到他将被解雇的地步时感到震惊。

“我是教练，我们已经输了四场了，所以我非常失望，”希尔在芝加哥以110-89输给公牛队后说。“但我不知道为什么我们的能量水平和专注度没有像全明星赛休息前那样高。”

魔术队在周一晚上与夏洛特的比赛之前战绩为24胜24负。在全明星赛休息之前，魔术队取得了9胜1负的战绩。从那以后，情况就不一样了。

“我们想解决球队中的一些问题，”加布里埃尔告诉奥兰多哨兵报。“我将在接下来的几天里与布莱恩谈谈，然后我们再做决定。”

- 美联社对此报道有贡献。

点击查看原文：`I haven't heard from the Magic' - Bob Hill denies he's replacing Brian

`I haven’t heard from the Magic’ - Bob Hill denies he’s replacing Brian

Bob Hill and Brian Hill aren’t brothers in the traditional sense. But both of them have been NBA head coaches, and so they share that common bond.

Both know the sinking feeling that comes with the knowledge that management’s commitment is slipping away. That their hard work and long hours will not be rewarded. That they are about to be fired for things they believe are beyond their control.

You could call it the Brotherhood of the Scapegoats.

In that sense, Bob Hill didn’t want to comment Monday on reports that he might be in line to take over as head coach of the Orlando Magic next season.

Brian hasn't been fired,'' said Bob Hill, who was fired as head coach of the Spurs two months ago. He’s done a great job. He’s a dear friend and I am very supportive of him. I haven’t heard from the Orlando Magic.‘’

Brian Hill, the current head coach of the Magic, reportedly will be fired as early as today.

Orlando general manager John Gabriel, responding to media reports, declined to say whether Hill would be the team’s coach beyond Monday night’s game with the Charlotte Hornets.

Speculation is rampant around the league that Orlando assistant Richie Adubato will take over the team on an interim basis, and then Bob Hill will be in line to get the job permanently after the season.

Bob Hill, a San Antonio resident, declined to say whether he would be interested in becoming the Magic’s coach. He said he called Brian Hill on Monday afternoon to offer his support.

It's hard to explain why he's being treated that way,'' Bob Hill said. He’s done a great job.‘’

Four years ago, Brian Hill hired Bob Hill as an assistant on the Magic’s staff. Together, they worked with center Shaquille O’Neal and started to build one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

It was a break for Bob Hill, who had just been released as head coach of the Indiana Pacers. In August of 1994, Bob Hill left the Magic after one season to take the head coaching job with the Spurs.

After winning two Midwest Division championships, he was fired last Dec. 10 as head coach of the Spurs. Brian Hill, at the time, criticized Spurs management for the move.

Now, in a curious twist of fate, Bob Hill’s name has been mentioned as Brian Hill’s replacement in Orlando. Bob Hill said he called Brian Hill Monday afternoon to offer his peer some support.

He's done a phenomenal job there,'' Bob Hill said. He got them to the (NBA) Finals once. He deserves to be treated with respect. Hey, he kept me going in coaching. I’m not going to speculate on anything. He’s special.‘’

Brian Hill was shaken when he learned NBC television reported Sunday that the relationship between him and his players had deteriorated to the point that he would be fired.

I'm the coach and we've lost four straight, so I'm very disappointed,'' Hill said after a 110-89 loss to the Bulls in Chicago. But I don’t have the reasons for why the energy level or the concentration isn’t up to where it was before the All-Star break.‘’

The Magic were 24-24 going into Monday night’s game at Charlotte. Prior to the All-Star break, the Magic had produced a 9-1 record. Things haven’t been the same since.

There are a lot of areas with our team that we want to address,'' Gabriel told the Orlando Sentinel. I will talk to Brian about that over the next few days and we’ll go from there.‘’

- The Associated Press contributed to this report

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-19, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

爵士队能击败马刺队

盐湖城——是的，能源方案球馆的地板没问题。爵士队也没问题。

不出所料，犹他爵士队以 113-105 赢得了这场比赛，让马刺队吞下四连败，并连续第六场在主场取得胜利。

尽管爵士队打得并不轻松，但马刺队还是难逃更多坏消息。

弗农·马克斯韦尔在半场后不得不离场。马克斯韦尔因血小板减少而缺席了比赛，今晚 7:30 在阿拉莫穹顶球场对阵多伦多的比赛中也可能会缺席。

第三节一开始，爵士队以 6 个连续得分将比分扩大到 66-46，险些酿成大败。

犹他爵士队的卡尔·马龙势不可挡，在力量对抗中得分，在被犯规并摔倒在地后罚中罚球。但由多米尼克·威尔金斯 (全场最高得分 32 分）和维尼·德尔·内格罗（28 分）领衔的圣安东尼奥马刺队阻挡了爵士队猛烈的攻势，并用 15-6 的得分压制了球迷的热情。

德尔·内格罗在这段时间里得到 13 分，用单腿运球和跳投。埃弗里·约翰逊用一个抢断抛投——他比赛中的第一分——为这次得分狂潮画上了句号，马刺队以 72-61 落后。

德尔·内格罗说：“埃弗里从挡拆中跑出来，把球传过来，然后在节奏里接到我。”“球进了。”

马刺队继续发力，在最后一节开始时比分缩小到 83-74。然而，爵士队继续将球传到内线，并在第四节开场的几分钟内将比分扩大到 92-77。

比赛还剩 5 分钟时，威尔金斯一记妙传使马刺队将比分追到 101-91。

但当约翰·斯托克顿从威尔金斯手中抢断球，并在反击中传给马龙时，圣安东尼奥马刺队遭遇了最后一次毁灭性的打击。马龙以 37 分领跑所有得分者，他在比赛还剩 4:31 时的一记扣篮使犹他爵士队以 105-91 领先。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇说：“今晚我们对抗一支非常优秀的篮球队，我们做出了巨大的努力。”“随着比赛的进行，我们精疲力尽，还有一些奇怪的组合。”

其中一些是由马克斯韦尔的缺席造成的，这使得马刺队的阵容只剩 8 名球员。

波波维奇说：“但我们尽了全力。”“我们把所有的东西都放在了球场上。”

爵士队主教练杰里·斯隆对马刺队的坚韧印象深刻。

斯隆说：“他们坚持下来，真的很难对付。”“他们人手不足，但我们很难对付多米尼克。我们又遇到了挡拆的难题。”

威尔金斯以闪亮的风格打球，可能会在最后一刻引起交易市场的兴趣，他也对球队的表现给予了肯定。

威尔金斯说：“我们打得很好，也给了他们一场激烈的较量。”

对于裁判的一些判罚，他也忍不住露齿而笑，摇了摇头。

威尔金斯说：“我得到的那个进攻犯规……他在篮筐底下。那应该是封盖。”“球框上的那个球……那是进攻干扰。”

威尔金斯指的是爵士队的一次进球，当时球还明显在篮筐上，被爵士队的一名球员轻拍进了框。

威尔金斯还为自己的一次失误而懊悔——一次措手不及的空位上篮。

他说：“太轻松了。”“这就是我错失它的原因。” - - -

马刺队快讯

- 球员交易？马刺队已在联盟中致电询问，讨论了各种交易方案，但到目前为止，球队似乎并未能在周四下午 5 点的交易截止日期前做出任何举动。

主教练格雷格·波波维奇表示，他预计不会有任何变化。

但关于多米尼克·威尔金斯的猜测仍在继续，最新的传闻是洛杉矶湖人队。体育脱口秀节目主持人周二提到爵士队也对这位前锋感兴趣，但犹他爵士队的管理层否认了这些传闻。

威尔金斯必须被交易到工资帽以下的球队去换取选秀权，或者被交易到另一个最低薪资的球员。在极端情况下，马刺队可以放弃威尔金斯，然后任何球队，无论工资帽是否超标，都可以以最低薪资签下他。

当然，马刺队必须考虑到失去威尔金斯意味着失去他们目前进攻中很大一部分，也是失去他们主要的球迷关注点之一。-格伦·罗杰斯

点击查看原文：Jazz able to swing by Spurs

Jazz able to swing by Spurs

SALT LAKE CITY - Yes, the floor at the Delta Center was just fine. So were the Jazz.

As expected, Utah came out on top, handing the Spurs their fourth straight defeat and recording its sixth straight home win, 113-105, Tuesday night.

Even though this one didn’t come that easy for the Jazz, the Spurs could not avoid getting more bad news.

Vernon Maxwell had to leave the game after the first half. Maxwell is suffering from a low blood count and probably will sit out tonight’s 7:30 game against Toronto at the Alamodome.

The feared blowout almost materialized when the Jazz opened the third quarter with six unanswered points to widen their lead to 66- 46.

Utah’s Karl Malone had been on a rampage, scoring on power-post moves and putting down free throws after being was fouled and slammed to the floor. But San Antonio, sparked by Dominique Wilkins (game- high 32 points) and Vinny Del Negro (28), stymied the Jazz’s onslaught and quieted the fans with a 15-6 run.

Del Negro had 13 points in the period, driving and popping in those jumpers off one-leg. Avery Johnson capped the drive with a swooping layup -his first score of the game - and the Spurs were within 72-61.

Avery was coming off the pick-and-roll and swinging the ball over and catching me in my rhythm,'' Del Negro said. The shots were falling in.‘’

The Spurs continued their push to pull within 83-74 going into the final period. However, the Jazz continued forcing the ball inside and increased the margin to 92-77 within the opening minutes of the fourth.

The Spurs shoved back to within striking distance at 101-91 after a dancing, Wilkins layup with five minutes left to play.

But San Antonio absorbed its final, crushing blow when John Stockton stole the ball from Wilkins and fed Malone on the break. Malone, who led all scorers with 37 points, delivered a monster slam that put Utah ahead 105-91 with 4:31 left in the game.

We had a great effort tonight against a very good basketball team,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. As the game progressed, we ran out of gas and had some odd combinations out there.‘’

Some of those were created by the absence of Maxwell, which reduced the Spurs’ roster to eight players.

But we gave everything we have,'' Popovich said. We laid it all out on the court.‘’

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was impressed with the Spurs’ tenacity.

They hung in there really tough,'' Sloan said. They’re short- handed, but we had a tough time dealing with Dominique. We had a tough time dealing with the pick-and-roll again.‘’

Wilkins, who played with the flashing style that could create some last-minute interest in the trade market, also applauded the team’s showing.

``We played a good team and we gave them a good battle,‘’ Wilkins said.

He also grinned and shook his head at some of the referees’ calls.

That offensive charge I got . . . he was under the basket. That should have been a block,'' Wilkins said. And that ball on the rim . . . that was offensive interference.‘’

Wilkins was referring to a Utah basket that came when the ball, clearly still on the rim, was tapped in by a Jazz player.

Wilkins also bemoaned his own miscue - a botched wide-open layup.

It was just too easy,'' he said. That’s why I missed it.‘’ - - -

Spurs Notes

- Trading places? The Spurs have called around the league, talked about various trade scenarios, but thus far the team doesn’t appear close to making a move before the 5 p.m. Thursday trade deadline.

Coach Gregg Popovich has said he doesn’t anticipate any changes.

But speculation continues regarding Dominique Wilkins, with the latest talk featuring the Los Angeles Lakers. Sports talk-show hosts mentioned Tuesday that the Jazz were also interested in the forward but rumors were discounted by Utah management.

Wilkins would have to be traded to a team under the cap for a draft pick or traded for another player making the minimum salary. In an extreme case, the Spurs could waive Wilkins, and then any team, over or under the cap, could pick him up for the minimum.

The Spurs, of course, would have to consider the fact that losing Wilkins would mean losing a huge portion of their current offense and also losing one of their main fan attractions. -Glenn Rogers

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-19

手术让艾利奥特缺席 6-8 周

马刺队官员表示，前锋肖恩·艾利奥特(Sean Elliott)将在周二下午圣安东尼奥进行手术后，对右膝股四头肌肌腱进行 6-8 周的康复治疗。8 周的恢复期意味着他将缺席整个常规赛，只有在球队进入季后赛的情况下才能复出。如果康复时间为 6 周，艾利奥特可能能够参加最后 7 场常规赛。

“手术如预期般成功，”马刺队队医大卫·施密特(David Schmidt)博士说。

施密特博士在卫理公会门诊手术医院进行了手术。这是一项旨在纠正艾利奥特右膝上方慢性肌腱炎的手术。

“施密特博士表示他对手术结果感到非常满意，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说。“6 到 8 周后我们将评估肖恩的进一步比赛情况。我认为我们可能会在 4 月初看到肖恩能够进行训练。但在此之前，我们将不会进行评估。”

自常规赛开始以来，艾利奥特的膝盖一直或多或少地困扰着他。

艾利奥特预计将在今天出院。球队发布的公告称，他将佩戴腿部压缩绷带，并使用拐杖 7-10 天。 - 来自工作人员报道

点击查看原文：Surgery puts Elliott out 6-8 weeks

Surgery puts Elliott out 6-8 weeks

Spurs officials said forward Sean Elliott would rehabilitate his right knee quadriceps tendon for 6-8 weeks after surgery performed Tuesday afternoon in San Antonio. An eight-week recovery period indicates he is out for the regular season and would only be available if the team qualified for the playoffs. If the rehabilitation is six weeks, Elliott might be able to play the final seven regular-season games.

``The surgery was successful as anticipated,‘’ Spurs team physician Dr. David Schmidt said.

Schmidt performed the operation at the Methodist Ambulatory Surgical Hospital. It was a procedure designed to correct chronic tendinitis above Elliott’s right knee.

Dr. Schmidt said he felt very good about what went on with the surgery,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. It will be from six to eight week before we evaluate Sean for further play. I’d say that we might see Sean able to practice sometime in early April. But we won’t know that until we evaluate him again.‘’

The knee has bothered Elliott in varying degrees since the start of the regular season.

Elliott was expected to be released from the hospital today. He will wear a compression bandage on his leg and will be on crutches for 7-10 days, a release from the team said. - From Staff Reports

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-19, By Kevin O’Keeffe

现在就度假？不可能，罗宾逊说

在马刺队出色的力量和体能教练迈克·布朗加特(Mike Brungardt)的密切关注下，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)将他的整个7英尺1英寸的身躯伸展到一个被称为“A Back Ball”的器械上。“这太难了，”罗宾逊说道。

布朗加特笑着回应。

“这就是目的，对吧？”罗宾逊抬头看着他的教练说道。

这只是罗宾逊工作日中的一小部分，他正在继续康复自己的背部，希望能在这个如同史蒂芬·金(Stephen King)小说般糟糕的赛季结束后回归赛场。

罗宾逊在12月23日对阵迈阿密的比赛中左脚骨折，这使得他更难进行背部康复。他将在两周后进行一次足部X光检查，看看他是否可以开始跑步。

随着马刺队在毫无疑问将是他们自1988-89赛季以来最糟糕的一个赛季——或者说自“罗宾逊之前”(B.R.)——挣扎着走向赛季结束，你可能会问，他为什么要回来？

我也是。

但罗宾逊没有。

“但我意识到关于这个话题我收到了很多建议，”他笑着说道。

他指的是那些媒体人和球迷们，他们说在这个赛季回归就像抢着买泰坦尼克号上的最后一张船票一样。

罗宾逊的信仰坚定，这帮助他度过了这个赛季，他只打了6场比赛。他一直考虑在赛季结束前回归。

“我回来不只是为了赢球，”罗宾逊说，“这是关于尊重的。嘿，这是我的工作……我错过了它。”

罗宾逊谈到当有人在球场上轻松地扣篮然后庆祝时他所感受到的愤怒时，他的眼睛睁大了，这种情况在本赛季的阿拉莫圆顶体育场经常发生在对手身上。

“对手在我们主场对我们的不尊重让我感到恶心，”罗宾逊说。“我想如果我在场，我可以保护好篮下。看着比赛很艰难。”

罗宾逊不听取那些让他休息的建议的另一个原因是，他看到了队友们的努力。

“我不回来对大家都没有好处，”他说。

我不同意。

考虑到这个球队本赛季笼罩着乌云，罗宾逊不打球的好处是可以避免再受伤。

再说，我不认为罗宾逊的背部已经准备好承受冲击。

记住，在赛季结束时让罗宾逊赢下两场球可能是这支球队可能遇到的最糟糕的事情。

但不要跟他提选秀抽签。也不要谈论退役，这是关于31岁的罗宾逊的最新传言，他还有四年6600万美元的合同。

“完全没有根据，”罗宾逊说。

虽然我欣赏罗宾逊的决心，但我认为他的态度是导致他本赛季一直受伤的原因之一。

可以理解的是，罗宾逊对去年季后赛期间关于他太软弱的说法感到很受伤。

因此，在奥运会和疝气手术后背部疼痛的情况下，罗宾逊在训练营中拼命训练。

但我相信，罗宾逊进入这个赛季的热情是他以前从未有过的。

这就是为什么他在10月份过度训练。

这就是为什么他的背部还没好利索，他就于12月10日复出。

这就是为什么他想回到一支可能只赢得25场比赛的球队。

这就是为什么大卫·莫里斯·罗宾逊(David Maurice Robinson)与众不同。

点击查看原文：Vacation now? Not a chance, says Robinson

Vacation now? Not a chance, says Robinson

Under the watchful eye of the Spurs’ superb strength and conditioning coach, Mike Brungardt, David Robinson stretched all of his 7-foot-1 frame across what’s called A Back Ball.'' This is tough,‘’ Robinson said.

Brungardt responded with a smirk.

``That’s the idea, right?‘’ said Robinson, staring up at his coach.

This is just a small part of Robinson’s work day as he continues to rehabilitate his back in hopes of returning before the end of a season that reads like a Stephen King novel.

A broken bone in Robinson’s left foot, which he sustained Dec. 23 against Miami, has made working on his back more difficult. He will have an X-ray on that foot in two weeks to see whether or not he can begin running.

As the Spurs stumble to the finish line in what undoubtedly will be their worst season since 1988-89 - or 1 B.R. (Before Robinson) - you wonder why he wants to return.

I do, too.

Robinson does not.

``But I’m aware of all the advice I’ve been getting on this subject,‘’ he said, smiling.

He’s referring to the media-types and fans saying that to come back this season is akin to rushing to buy the last ticket on the Titanic.

Robinson, whose deep faith has helped him through a season where he has played but six games, has always considered trying to get back before season’s end.

Me coming back is more than just wins and losses,'' Robinson said. It’s about respect. Hey, it’s what I do . . . and I’ve missed doing it.‘’

Robinson’s eyes widen as he talks about the anger he feels when someone floats down the lane, dunks and then celebrates, as has often been the case for the opposition this season in the Alamodome.

The way teams have disrespected us at home makes me sick,'' Robinson said. I’d like to think if I was in there, I could protect the lane. It’s been hard for me to watch.‘’

Another reason Robinson isn’t taking the advice to sit out is that he sees the effort being given by his teammates.

``There is no benefit to me not coming back,‘’ he said.

I disagree.

Given the black cloud hovering over this team this season, the benefit to Robinson not playing is not finding another bone to break.

Besides, I don’t believe Robinson’s back is ready to take the pounding.

Remember, winning two more games with Robinson at season’s end might be the worst thing that could happen to the franchise.

But don’t mention the draft lottery to him. And don’t talk about retirement, which is the latest rumor regarding the 31-year-old Robinson, who has four years remaining on his $66 million contract.

``No truth to that whatsoever,‘’ Robinson said.

While I appreciate Robinson’s resolve, I think his attitude is part of the reason he has been ailing all season.

Understandably, Robinson was hurt by all the talk of him being soft during the playoffs last year.

Thus, Robinson pushed himself during training camp after having a sore back following the Olympics and his hernia surgery.

But I believe Robinson had a zeal coming into this season that he’s never had before.

That’s why he pushed too hard in October.

That’s why he returned when his back wasn’t ready Dec. 10.

That’s why he wants to return to a team that will be fortunate to win 25 games.

That’s why David Maurice Robinson is special.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-20, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺惨败猛龙

多伦多猛龙队的后卫达蒙·斯塔德迈尔(Damon Stoudamire)在周三晚上以 125-92 大胜马刺后，对这支被打得七零八落、伤痕累累的主队毫无同情。这是马刺本赛季最惨痛的失利。

“在这个联盟里，没有同情可言，”斯塔德迈尔说。“我们今年打了很多比赛，只有八个人上场。我知道球队会向你猛攻。他们得不到我的同情。”

只有八名球员可以上场的马刺队，甚至没有从阿拉莫圆顶球馆的 13,179 名球迷那里得到多少同情。

当比赛失利的分差扩大到猛龙队（NBA 最差球队之一）领先 35 分时，一些付费观众向马刺的替补席喊出比分。

马刺队之前最惨痛的失利发生在 12 月 8 日，当时他们在客场输给金州勇士队 26 分。那是鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)执教的最后一场比赛，两天后他被解雇了。

猛龙队在将马刺队拆解的过程中，在头三节的大部分时间里都进行了全场紧逼，并投进了创纪录的 15 个三分球，让主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)度过了一个糟糕的夜晚。

“在这个联盟里，球员就像鲨鱼，”马刺队的后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)说。“他们会把你吃掉。”

马刺队的后卫弗农·麦克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell)由于红细胞血红蛋白含量低，成为了球队最新的伤员。他没有参加对猛龙队的比赛，并且有可能缺席周五在圆顶球馆对阵雄鹿队的比赛。

这种疾病并不认为像两年前麦克斯韦尔在休斯顿火箭队时患上的贫血那样严重。

但他的缺席并没有让马刺队更容易，他们在周二晚上客场对阵爵士队的比赛中以 113-105 惜败。

球员们对猛龙队的压迫防守反应极其缓慢，似乎无法找到防守外线的方法。

斯塔德迈尔全场得到 21 分和 9 次助攻，带领猛龙队取得胜利，他投进了 4 个三分球，全部命中。猛龙队全队一共投进了 25 个三分球中的 15 个。

“他们在转换进攻中拉开了整个球场，”波波维奇说。“他们让他们投篮，并且命中了。我们无法通过轮转来防守他们。”

凭借这场比赛的表现，猛龙队在本赛季对阵马刺队的比赛中得分最多，还创造了圣安东尼奥对手的单场比赛三分球命中数、单节三分球命中数（第三节 7 个）和半场三分球命中数（第二节 9 个）的球队纪录。

“如果糟糕，就会真的糟糕，”马刺队的前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)说，他得到 17 分，与卡尔·埃雷拉(Carl Herrera)并列全队最高。“当你的球员不够的时候，这很难。今晚我们确实遇到了一点困难，但你能说什么呢？”

现在，球迷们都在说“彩票”，并且只希望能够得到一个好的选秀签。

马刺队（12-39）已经连续输了五场，最近 22 场比赛输了 19 场。这场失利让他们在西部联盟中距离第八名（最后一个季后赛席位）落后 10.5 场。

对于猛龙队（18-35）来说，这只是他们本赛季的第四场客场胜利，他们结束了五连败。

猛龙队在第二节将一场大胜变成了令人发笑的溃败。这支二年级扩张球队在第三节以 37-30 超过马刺队，在半场以 64-47 超过马刺队。

波波维奇赛后表示，他计划与前锋兼中锋杰米·费克(Jamie Feick)签下一份本赛季剩下的合同。费克完成了对阵猛龙队的第二份为期 10 天的合同。

波波维奇还表示，他正在考虑签下另一名球员，签署一份为期 10 天的合同，具体取决于麦克斯韦尔的状况。

波波维奇说麦克斯韦尔的病并不严重。他说，如果球队的主要三分射手不是因为膝盖疼痛正在服用消炎药，他可能可以参加对阵猛龙队的比赛。

几天前，当麦克斯韦尔的血红蛋白检测结果显示偏低时，球队出于谨慎，在对阵爵士队的比赛前停止为他服用消炎药。他只打了 17 分钟，然后不得不下场。

“他每天都会检查情况，”波波维奇说。“我们每三天左右会检查一次他的血液，如果他的血红蛋白含量足够高，他就可以上场。”

NBA 的交易截止日期是今天下午 5 点，但波波维奇认为球队不会进行任何交易。

“我们的政策是不公开讨论这些事情，”波波维奇说，他也是球队的篮球运营副总裁。“总之，我不预期会进行任何涉及任何球员的交易。”

威尔金斯是大多数猜测的中心，他不知道该预测什么。

“这是每年最有趣的时期，”威尔金斯说，这位 37 岁的球员是球队的得分王。“你永远不知道会发生什么。”

---

马刺队新闻

• 麦克斯韦尔病情：马刺队的后卫弗农·麦克斯韦尔在周三对阵猛龙队的比赛中缺席了本赛季的第一个比赛，他正在接受红细胞血红蛋白含量低的治疗。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇表示，这种情况似乎不像两年前在休斯顿那样严重，当时麦克斯韦尔在 1995 赛季末因休斯顿火箭队的伤病缺席了八场比赛。

“这和休斯顿发生的事情一样，”波波维奇说。“我们希望它不要发展到那个阶段。我们不想不得不处理这个问题。”

麦克斯韦尔在周二晚上在盐湖城对阵犹他爵士队的比赛中只打了 17 分钟。他无法继续比赛，因为医生告诉他，他的血红蛋白含量太低，无法服用治疗膝盖的消炎药。

在对阵爵士队的比赛结束后，麦克斯韦尔将自己的病情称为贫血。一位马刺队发言人拒绝使用这个词。“他的血红蛋白含量低，”发言人说。“这就是为什么他不能服用治疗膝盖的药物。” - 杰里·布里格斯(Jerry Briggs)

点击查看原文：Spurs keep reeling against the Raptors

Spurs keep reeling against the Raptors

Toronto Raptors guard Damon Stoudamire, reflecting on the 125-92 thrashing of the Spurs on Wednesday night, didn’t feel a bit sorry for the beaten, battered and bedraggled home team. It was the Spurs’ worst loss of the season.

There's no sympathy in this league,'' Stoudamire said. We’ve played a lot of games this year with eight guys. I know teams come right at you. They’ll get no sympathy from me.‘’

With eight players suited up, the Spurs didn’t even get much sympathy from 13,179 of their own fans at the Alamodome.

A few paying customers yelled out the score to the Spurs’ bench as the margin of defeat swelled to as many as 35 points against the Raptors, one of the worst teams in the NBA.

The Spurs’ previous worst loss came Dec. 8 at Golden State, when the Warriors won by 26 points. It was Bob Hill’s last game as head coach before being fired two days later.

In taking the Spurs apart, the Raptors pressed full court for most of the first three quarters, hit a franchise-record 15 three-point shots and generally made Coach Gregg Popovich’s evening miserable.

Guys are like sharks in this league,'' Spurs guard Avery Johnson said. They’ll eat you alive.‘’

Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell, suffering from low hemoglobin levels in his red blood cells, is the team’s latest casualty. He did not play against Toronto and is questionable for Friday’s game against Milwaukee at the dome.

The illness is not thought to be as serious as the bout with anemia that caused Maxwell to miss eight games as a member of the Houston Rockets two years ago.

But his absence didn’t make it any easier on the Spurs, who put up a good fight in a 113-105 loss on the road against Utah on Tuesday night.

Players were dreadfully slow in reacting to Toronto’s pressure defense and couldn’t seem to figure out how to guard the perimeter.

Stoudamire, who led the Raptors with 21 points and nine assists, hit 4 of 4 treys. As a team, Toronto nailed 15 of 25 from behind the three-point arc.

They spread the whole floor in transition,'' Popovich said. They were letting them fly and drilling them. We couldn’t get to them with our rotations.‘’

With the performance, the Raptors scored the most points against the Spurs in a game this season and also established San Antonio opponent franchise records for three-pointers made, threes in a quarter (seven, in the third) and in a half (nine, in the second).

When it goes bad, it really goes bad,'' said Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins, whose 17 points matched Carl Herrera for team-high honors. It’s hard when you don’t have enough players to play. Tonight we did hit a wall a little bit, but what can you say?‘’

Right now, fans are saying ``lottery,‘’ and hoping only for a solid off-season draft pick.

The Spurs (12-39) have lost five in a row and 19 of their last 22. The setback dropped them 10-1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.

It was only the fourth road win of the season for the Raptors (18- 35), who snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Raptors turned a blowout into a laughable runaway in the second half. The visitors, a second-year expansion team, outscored the Spurs 37-30 in the third period and 64-47 in the half.

Popovich said after the game that he planned to sign forward- center Jamie Feick for the remainder of the season. Feick completed his second 10-day contract against the Raptors.

Popovich also said he was considering bringing in another player on a 10-day contract, depending on Maxwell’s status.

Popovich said Maxwell’s illness is not serious. He said the team’s leading three-point shooter probably could have played against Toronto if he wasn’t taking anti-inflammatory medication for his sore knees.

When test results of Maxwell’s hemoglobin turned up low a few days ago, the team stopped giving him the anti-inflammatory pills before the Utah game as a precaution. He played only 17 minutes against the Jazz before he had to sit down.

He's day-to-day,'' Popovich said. We’ll check his blood every three days or so and if his hemoglobin is high enough, he’ll be able to play.‘’

The NBA trading deadline is 5 p.m. today, but Popovich doesn’t think the team will make a move.

It's our policy not to discuss those kind of things publicly,'' said Popovich, also the team's vice president of basketball operations. Suffice it to say, I don’t anticipate any moves involving anyone.‘’

Wilkins, the subject of most of the speculation, didn’t know what to predict.

It's a funny time of year,'' said Wilkins, at 37 the team's leading scorer. You never know what’s going to happen.‘’ - - -

Spurs Notes

- Maxwell ailing: Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell, who missed his first game this season when he was sidelined against Toronto on Wednesday, is being treated for low hemoglobin levels in his red blood cells.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the condition doesn’t appear to be as bad as it was in Houston two years ago, when Maxwell missed eight games at the end of the 1995 season with the Houston Rockets.

It's the same thing that happened in Houston,'' Popovich said. We hope it doesn’t get to that stage. We don’t want to have to deal with that.‘’

Maxwell played only 17 minutes Tuesday night in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz. He couldn’t continue because doctors told him his hemoglobin levels were too low for him to take anti-inflammatory drugs for his knees.

After the Jazz game, Maxwell referred to his condition as anemia. A Spurs spokesman declined to use the term. His hemoglobin is low,'' the spokesman said. That’s why he can’t take the medicine for his knees.‘’ - Jerry Briggs

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-20, By Kevin O’Keeffe

最后的呼吁：威尔金斯会继续留在马刺吗？

如果雅克·多米尼克·威尔金斯(Jacques Dominique Wilkins)的确在周三晚上打了他在马刺的最后一场比赛，至少他给了忠实球迷们一个难忘的时刻。比赛第四节还剩5分钟时，马刺队的科里·亚历山大(Cory Alexander)投出了一记三分球，球弹高后击中篮筐…落入了威尔金斯的怀抱，他随即暴扣得分。

这很经典的威尔金斯，这位在他在亚特兰大老鹰队13年的职业生涯初期被称为“人类电影精华”的男人。

当亚历山大投出他的球时，威尔金斯从球场左侧冲刺，跃过凡人们，轻松扣篮得分。

不幸的是，对于威尔金斯和马刺来说，除了这个精彩瞬间，其他时间并没有多少好表现。

当威尔金斯轻松地飞过空中时，马刺队已经落后于多伦多猛龙队32分。

诚实地说，周三晚上在阿拉莫穹顶(Alamodome)的结果——猛龙队以125-92大胜——实际上在周二晚上在盐湖城就已经注定。

面对犹他爵士队，马刺队奋力拼搏，最终以8分的差距惜败，他们将所有精力都投入到比赛中，为昨晚留下了不足。

“我们的杯子已经空了，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说。

从周三晚上比赛一开始，猛龙队球员们就能明显感觉到马刺队的虚弱，他们开始数着马刺队上场参加比赛的球员数量。

当每个猛龙球员都数到8个马刺球员时，他们迫不及待地告诉他们的队友，然后队友也开始数。

马刺队如此虚弱，以至于多伦多队的全场紧逼在中场休息前就扼杀了他们剩下的所有活力。

马刺队如此虚弱，以至于多伦多队在进攻中拉开空间，让这些穿着白色球衣的球员疲惫不堪，他们无法进行防守轮换。

这场比赛呼唤着10分制规则，这是高中棒球比赛中用来保护失败者的规则。

对于威尔金斯来说，这并不是马刺队希望看到的，无法让他向其他联盟的总经理展示自己的实力。

圣安东尼奥(S.A.)希望用他们得分手换来一个首轮选秀权。

威尔金斯在周二对阵犹他队的比赛中打了39分钟，导致这位37岁的小前锋在周三已经没有体力。

周二晚上在犹他队的32分表现，可能激发了波波维奇接到的许多关于威尔金斯的电话，但面对多伦多队时，他却只得到17分。

威尔金斯在首节的前两次突破中都失误了，证实了波波维奇的担忧。

“这是我在马刺队的最后一场比赛吗？”威尔金斯问道，重复着这个问题。“我无法控制。”

波波维奇，球队篮球运营副总裁兼主教练，可以控制这一切。他保持沉默。

威尔金斯不应该被送走，即使他很可能在下个赛季不会回到圣安东尼奥。

“所有（交易）的谈论都是对我的赞美，”威尔金斯说。“我喜欢这里。球迷们很棒，这是一群很棒的家伙。我只是很遗憾我没有和他们中的许多人一起打过球。”

由于没有太多可交易的资产，我相信马刺队必须坚持用威尔金斯换来一个第一顺位选秀权。

这个选秀权，可能是20-24顺位，加上马刺队将获得的彩票选秀权，让球队可以获得两名年轻球员来补充阵容，这个阵容很有天赋…只要他们健康。

请不要忘记这一点。

点击查看原文：Final call; Will Wilkins prolong stay with Spurs?

Final call; Will Wilkins prolong stay with Spurs?

If indeed Jacques Dominique Wilkins played his final game as a Spur Wednesday night, at least he gave the faithful a moment to remember. Just inside the 5-minute mark of the final quarter, the Spurs’ Cory Alexander launched a 3-pointer which bounced high off the iron . . . and into the waiting hands of Wilkins, who slammed it.

It was vintage Wilkins, the man dubbed ``The Human Highlight Reel’’ during the grand moments early in his 13-year career with the Atlanta Hawks.

As Alexander lofted his shot, Wilkins dashed from the left side of the lane, elevated above the mortals and jammed it through.

Unfortunately for Wilkins, there were few other good moments for him or the Spurs in their duel with the dinosaurs.

By the time, Wilkins flew through the air with the greatest of ease, the Spurs somehow were 32 points in arrears to the Toronto Raptors.

Honestly, though, Wednesday night’s result in the Alamodome - a 125-92 Raptor rout - was sealed Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.

Against the Utah Jazz, the Spurs fought valiantly in an eight- point loss, extending themselves to the limit and leaving nothing for last night.

``Our cup was too empty,‘’ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Raptors smelled blood from the outset Wednesday night as members of the team could be seen counting how many players the Spurs dressed for the game.

As each Raptor counted eight Spurs, he couldn’t wait to tell a teammate, who then counted, too.

So feeble were the Spurs that Toronto’s full-court press squeezed out whatever life remained in them before intermission.

So feeble were the Spurs that Toronto’s spreading the floor on offense wore down the men in white, who couldn’t rotate defensively.

This was a game which cried out for the 10-run rule, a feature in high school baseball to spare the vanquished.

For Wilkins, it wasn’t nearly the audition for other league GMs as the Spurs would have hoped for.

S.A. desires a first-round draft choice for their leading scorer.

Wilkins’ 39 minutes played in Utah Tuesday left the 37-year-old small forward with no legs Wednesday.

The 32-point night in Utah, which likely sparked several of the telephone calls Popovich received regarding Wilkins, wilted into a 17-point effort against Toronto.

Wilkins missed badly on his first two drives into the middle in the opening quarter, confirming Popovich’s fears.

Was this my last game as a Spur?'' Wilkins asked, repeating the question. I can’t control that.‘’

Popovich, VP/Basketball Operations as well as coach, can control it. His lips were sealed.

Wilkins shouldn’t be given away, even though he most likely won’t return to S.A. next season.

All the (trade) talk is a compliment to me,'' Wilkins said. I like it here. The fans have been great and this is a good bunch of guys. I am just sorry I haven’t gotten to play with many of them.‘’

Owning few tradeable commodities, I believe the Spurs must hold out for a No. 1 pick for Wilkins.

That pick, which could be numbered 20-24, plus the lottery choice the Spurs will get, gives the franchise two young players to add to a lineup which is talented . . . when healthy.

Try not to forget that.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-20, By Buck Harvey

人们说了算？现实的叙述

马刺队不应该任命新教练，他们应该选举一个。他们应该宣布一个提交日期，推出候选人及其口号（“道格·里弗斯(Doc Rivers) - 马刺队需要一个医生，不是吗？”）。然后让球员们在他们的储物柜的隐私中投票。

他们也可能这样做。教练不再被解雇了，他们被弹劾了。

民意投票可能是一件有趣的事情。例如，五年前，现已倒闭的圣安东尼奥光报(San Antonio Light) 对读者进行了民意调查，询问谁应该接替拉里·布朗(Larry Brown) 成为马刺队的教练。道格·科林斯(Doug Collins) 获得了 1265 票。紧随其后的是斯坦·阿尔贝克(Stan Albeck)、鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)、汤姆·彭德斯(Tom Penders) 和迈克·弗拉特洛(Mike Fratello)。

但获胜者是谁？格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)，当时一位看似默默无闻的助理教练。

如今，他很幸运能出现在选票上。尽管如此，这还是公众的想法。我猜：在更衣室里，他会做得很好。

这部分是因为波波维奇与球员建立了联系，部分是因为他是总经理。大多数教练都没有管理层支持。在薪资膨胀和自我膨胀的时代，教练们往往受制于他们应该指导的球员。难怪这是一支难跳的舞。难怪费城76人队的杰里·斯塔克豪斯(Jerry Stackhouse) 上周公开批评了他的教练约翰尼·戴维斯(Johnny Davis)。

戴维斯应该问问斯塔克豪斯为什么他的每分钟失误率比任何后卫都高。但他敢吗？看看布莱恩·希尔(Brian Hill) 在奥兰多魔术队发生了什么。球员们举行了一次球队会议，并以 12-0 的投票结果表明他们都没有错。

这场叛乱可能会困扰魔术队的球员们。魔术师约翰逊(Magic Johnson) 在 15 年前将保罗·韦斯特海德(Paul Westhead) 赶下台后赢得了冠军，但他仍然听到这件事。现在，随着希尔的离开，如果魔术队在剩下的比赛中表现不佳，难道不应该怪罪球员吗？

佩尼·哈达威(Penny Hardaway) 的声誉可能会受到损害，因为他被认为是主要叛乱者。但自然地，他不是最有可能受到伤害的人。如果这座城市背叛了哈达威，那么他就会转向自由球员市场，效仿沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaq)。

这正是唐·尼尔森(Don Nelson) 在达拉斯小牛队所做的事情的一些情感基础。他几乎没有得到任何回报——甚至没有薪资帽灵活性——而且他似乎没有计划。但最终有人交易了球队，而不是教练。难道这感觉不好吗？“我告诉他，‘伙计，你需要学会让球来，而不是让球来，”希尔说道。“但这不是当今年轻人的本性。”

关于年轻人的另一个故事。它来自德克萨斯州的塔夫特，一个靠近科珀斯克里斯蒂的拥有大约 6000 人口的小镇。你可能听说过这件事，这个 3A 级学校通过让学生运动员进行最终投票来聘请他们的橄榄球教练兼体育总监。

校长首先将候选人名单缩减至三人，他很喜欢这三个人。然后，他筛选了一份包含 11 个问题的清单，这些问题是学生们问每个教练的。男孩和女孩都参与了，最终获胜的教练在性别差距方面获胜。他之前曾执教过女子项目。

“我最终要负责，”校长唐·麦登(Don Madden) 周三说道。“但我认为这会让孩子们感到有责任……此外，这是孩子们学校。”

这与魔术队的做法形成了对比；如果说有什么不同的话，那就是在塔夫特传授了创造性的教训。尽管如此，那里的座右铭是 NBA 的座右铭。最终，这是孩子们学校。

那么为什么不放弃假装呢？从现在开始，球员们应该少担心快速推进，而应该更多地关注投票。

点击查看原文：The people have spoken? Reality recount

The people have spoken? Reality recount

The Spurs shouldn’t name a new coach. They should elect one. They should announce a filing date. Trot out the candidates and their slogans (``Doc Rivers - the Spurs Need a Doc, Don’t They?‘’). And then let the players vote in the privacy of their lockers.

They might as well. Coaches aren’t fired anymore. They are impeached.

The popular vote can be a funny thing. Five years ago, for example, the now-defunct San Antonio Light polled readers to see who should follow Larry Brown as the Spurs’ coach. Doug Collins received 1,265 votes. Following in descending order were Stan Albeck, Bob Bass, Tom Penders and Mike Fratello.

But the winner? Gregg Popovich, then a seemingly obscure assistant.

Today he’d be lucky to get his name on the ballot. Still, that’s with the public. A guess: In the locker room, he would do fine.

That’s partly because Popovich connects, partly because he’s the GM. Most coaches don’t have front-office juice on their side. In the age of the inflated salaries and egos, coaches are too often at the mercy of the same guys they are supposed to direct. No wonder it’s a tricky dance. No wonder Philadelphia’s Jerry Stackhouse publicly critiqued his coach, Johnny Davis, last week.

Davis should be the one asking Stackhouse why he has more turnovers-per-minute than any off guard. But does he dare? Look what happened to Brian Hill in Orlando. There the players held a team meeting and voted 12-0 that none of them were at fault.

It’s an insurrection that might haunt the Orlando players. Magic Johnson won titles after ousting Paul Westhead 15 years ago, yet he still hears about it. Now, with Hill gone, aren’t the players to blame should Orlando struggle the rest of the way?

Penny Hardaway’s reputation could sour, since he’s recognized as the chief mutineer. But naturally he’s not the one who stands to suffer the most. If the city turns on Hardaway, then he turns to free agency and does a Shaq.

That is precisely what lends some sentiment to what Don Nelson did in Dallas. He got little in return - not even salary-cap flexibility - and he seems to have no plan. But someone finally traded the team and not the coach. Didn’t that feel good?come to me,‘’ Hill said. ``But that’s not the nature of young people today.‘’

There’s another story about younger people. This comes from Taft, Texas, a town of about 6,000 near Corpus Christi. Maybe you read about it, how the 3A school there hired its football coach/athletic director by giving the student athletes the final vote.

The superintendent first whittled the list of candidates to three, all of whom he liked. Then he screened a list of 11 questions that the students asked each coach. Both boys and girls participated, and the coach who won did so with the gender gap. He had coached girls programs before.

I'm ultimately responsible,'' the superintendent, Don Madden, said Wednesday. But I think this makes the kids feel responsible . . . besides, it’s the kids’ school.‘’

This is a contrast to the Magic; if anything, creative lessons are being taught in Taft. Still, the motto there is the NBA’s. Ultimately, it is the kids’ school.

So why not quit the pretense? From now on players should worry less about getting out on the fast break. And more on getting out the vote.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-21, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

蹒跚的马刺队对阵雄鹿队 - 麦克斯韦尔因病将缺席接下来的两场比赛；球队签下费克

马刺队后卫弗农·麦克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell) 患有轻度贫血，将至少缺席接下来的两场比赛。麦克斯韦尔将被迫错过今晚在阿拉莫穹顶举行的与密尔沃基雄鹿队的比赛以及周日对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛。

在其他消息中，球队宣布前锋杰米·费克(Jamie Feick) 已与球队签署了一份持续到赛季结束的合同。

费克在完成两份为期 10 天的合同后，马刺队可以选择将他释放或重新签下他以完成本赛季剩余比赛。

此外，球队在短期内似乎不太可能签下另一位球员以签订为期 10 天的合同，这将使马刺队至少在麦克斯韦尔回归之前只剩下 8 名球员。

“如果有谁能加入球队，我会立即带他们进来。”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 说。

根据 NBA 规则，任何球队都必须有至少 8 名球员准备好并可以参加比赛。

雄鹿队（24-27）在周四晚上对阵达拉斯。马刺队（12-39）在 1 月 26 日在密尔沃基以 16 分的差距输掉了比赛。最近，他们已经连续输掉了 5 场比赛，11 场比赛中输了 10 场，最近 22 场比赛中输掉了 19 场，这是本赛季最糟糕的成绩。

马刺队已经连续 7 场主场失利，包括周三晚上在穹顶以 33 分的差距惨败给二年级多伦多猛龙队。

6 名马刺队球员因伤病或疾病缺阵。进入与密尔沃基的比赛，马刺队本赛季在 6 名球员缺阵的比赛中战绩为 0-5。

球迷们在本赛季看到中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 再次上场的可能性可能会随着球队进入季后赛的机会而逐渐消失，尽管波波维奇坚持认为罗宾逊从骨折中恢复的程度将取决于他的健康状况。

“我们将根据他的身体状况，而不是我们的战绩来决定大卫的复出时间。”波波维奇说。

波波维奇说麦克斯韦尔（他缺席了对阵多伦多的第一场比赛）下周将再次进行血液检查。

如果他红血球中的血红蛋白含量增加，他可以在周一对阵夏洛特或周三对阵明尼苏达的比赛中出战主场比赛。

麦克斯韦尔说，医生建议他停止吃“油炸食品，这是我生活的一部分。我喜欢汉堡王和 Whataburger。我每次比赛前都会吃一个 Whataburger。”

他还说，他可能需要减少因膝盖肌腱炎而服用抗炎药的数量。

“当我回来的时候，我可能只需要服用半片药，而不是整片。”麦克斯韦尔说，他的肌腱炎在周二晚上对阵犹他州的比赛中加重，此前他被建议不要服用药物。

麦克斯韦尔被任命为球队“午夜篮球联盟”的专员，该联盟是一个旨在让弱势儿童远离街头的一个项目。

“我能够理解他们（贫困儿童）所经历的许多事情。”麦克斯韦尔说，他还在今晚的比赛中为来自戴维斯中学的 100 名儿童购买了门票。

版次：Alamo

点击查看原文：Limping Spurs face Bucks - Ill Maxwell to miss the next two games; team inks Feick

Limping Spurs face Bucks - Ill Maxwell to miss the next two games; team inks Feick

Spurs guard Vernon Maxwell, suffering from a mild case of anemia, will be sidelined for at least two more games. Maxwell will be forced to sit out tonight’s 7:30 matchup at the Alamodome against the Milwaukee Bucks and Sunday’s game in Houston against the Rockets.

In other developments, the team announced that forward Jamie Feick had been signed to a contract for the rest of the season.

The Spurs had the option of either releasing Feick or re-signing him for the remainder of the year after he completed a pair of 10-day deals.

Also, it appears unlikely that the team will sign another player to a 10-day contract in the immediate future, which will leave the Spurs with only eight men at least until Maxwell returns.

``If there was someone out there who could add to the group, I’d bring them in in a New York minute,‘’ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

According to NBA rules, no team can have fewer than eight players suited up and available to compete.

The Bucks (24-27) played at Dallas on Thursday night. The Spurs (12-39) lost by 16 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 26. Most recently, they have lost five in a row, 10 of 11 and 19 of their last 22, their worst stretch of the season.

The Spurs have dropped seven in a row at home, including an embarrassing 33-point setback Wednesday night at the dome to the second-year Toronto Raptors.

Six Spurs players are out with injuries or illness. Going into the Milwaukee game, the Spurs are 0-5 in games played this season with six men out of action.

The chances of fans seeing center David Robinson play again this season could be fading along with the team’s chances of making the playoffs, although Popovich insisted that the return of Robinson from a broken foot will be dependent on his health.

``We’ll make a decision on David based on his medical condition, not our record,‘’ Popovich said.

Popovich said Maxwell, who missed his first game of the year against Toronto, will have his blood tested again next week.

If the hemoglobin count in his red blood cells increases, he could be available for home games on Monday against Charlotte or Wednesday against Minnesota.

Maxwell said he has been advised by doctors to stop eating ``fried foods, which is something I live on. I love Burger King and Whataburger. I have a Whataburger before every game.‘’

He also said he may need to cut back on the amount of anti- inflammatories he takes for tendinitis in his knees.

``When I get back I may just take half a pill instead of a whole,‘’ said Maxwell, whose tendinitis flared up in a loss at Utah on Tuesday night after he was advised not to take the medication.

Maxwell has been appointed commissioner of the team’s Midnight Basketball League, a program designed to give keep disadvantaged children off the streets.

``I can relate to a lot of the things they (poor children) are going through,‘’ said Maxwell, who is also buying tickets for tonight’s game for 100 children from Davis Middle School.

Edition: Alamo

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-21, By Dan Cook

NBA教练的未来？星辰指引

理解一些NBA总经理和球队老板的想法往往很困难。当球队战绩不佳时，无论原因是什么，他们都会怪罪教练。然后他们就会解雇教练。这种做法并不会让一支糟糕的球队变得更好，但这种做法却已经延续多年。

两年前，**布莱恩·希尔(Brian Hill)**带领奥兰多魔术队获得了分区冠军，并在NBA总决赛中败给了休斯顿火箭队。对于一支仅仅成立了六年的扩军球队来说，这真是一个了不起的成就。

许多人称赞布莱恩是十年来最优秀的教练。

当然，那时候他拥有沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)，而教练他打篮球就像教练**韦恩·格雷茨基(Wayne Gretzky)**打冰球一样。

但可惜的是，上赛季结束后，沙奎尔离开奥兰多加入了洛杉矶湖人队，因为他想离好莱坞和自己喜欢的一些其他小工作更近一些。

不用去**玛丹姆·马赞巴(Madam Mazamba)**家进行占卜，也能知道奥尼尔离开后奥兰多的胜场数会大幅下降。

整个NBA只有四五位真正伟大的中锋，而奥尼尔无疑是其中之一。这也是他年薪超过1300万美元的原因。

那么，为什么奥兰多魔术队的总经理**约翰·加布里埃尔(John Gabriel)**对魔术队只取得了24胜25负的战绩感到如此震惊和愤怒呢？他对这个数字如此不满意，以至于解雇了希尔。

一些奥兰多魔术队的球员，这些百万富翁游手好闲，在失去明星中锋后对比赛失去了兴趣，开始批评他们的教练，所以加布里埃尔——展示了他是一个行动派——解雇了教练。

好球员成就好教练，坏球员成就坏教练。

当然，我们不必跑到奥兰多去寻找这个例子，它只是球队失去一两个顶级球员后教练被解雇的最新案例而已。

就在我们自己的后院，我们看到了鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)（与布莱恩·希尔没有关系）被解雇，原因是**大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)**因伤病缺阵。大卫是NBA排名前四的顶级中锋之一，没有了他，马刺队甚至不是一个像样的分区冠军争夺者。

然而，这里的情况有很多不同的转折。

虽然布莱恩·希尔肯定失去了对叛逆球员的控制，但鲍勃·希尔并没有失去对球员的控制，即使人们声称他失去了控制。

当宣布鲍勃被解雇时，大多数球员都感到震惊，甚至悲伤。

这里的主流观点认为，马刺队的主要金主和办公室高管对球队上赛季季后赛早早出局感到失望，所以希尔必须在这赛季开局顺利，否则将面临着一场一人一票的投票。

但随后罗宾逊倒下了，希尔也随之倒下。

本赛季不应该拿来评价鲍勃·希尔或解雇他并接替他的**格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)**的执教能力。

这个特许经营的历史上从来没有这么多关键球员同时受伤。星期三晚上，圣安东尼奥马刺队只有八名球员足够健康，可以穿上球衣。

奥兰多解雇布莱恩·希尔的时候，他们的战绩是24胜25负，而马刺队的战绩是12胜38负。这里应该再换一个头儿吗？

这篇文章的重点是，如果教练被要求在没有顶级球星的情况下取得胜利——但如果他们没有做到就会被解雇——然后他们确实取得了胜利，他们应该得到与他们没有的那些球星相同的薪水。

这说得通吗？

编辑：阿拉莫

点击查看原文：NBA coach's future? It's in the stars

NBA coach’s future? It’s in the stars

It’s often difficult to understand the thoughts that swirl in the brain barrels of some NBA general managers and team owners. When things turn sour, for whatever reason, they blame the coach. Then they fire the coach. Not one time out of ten does that make a bad team better, but the practice has been followed for years.

Two years ago, Brian Hill coached Orlando to a division title and then bowed to Houston in the NBA finals. What an amazing feat for an expansion team just in its sixth season.

Brian was hailed by many as the coach of the decade.

Of course, at that time he had Shaquille O’Neal, and coaching him in hoops is like coaching Wayne Gretzky in hockey.

But, alas, after last season Shaquille left Orlando to play for the Lakers so he could be closer to Hollywood and his other little jobs that he loves so much.

Nobody needed to visit Madam Mazamba’s house for readings on the future to learn that there would be a major dropoff in Orlando’s number of wins with O’Neal gone.

There aren’t but four or five really great centers in the whole NBA, and O’Neal certainly is one of them. That’s why he’s paid well in excess of $13 million a season.

So why was Orlando general manager John Gabriel so shocked and disgusted when the Magic fell to a record of ``only’’ 24 wins with 25 losses? He was so unhappy with those numbers that he fired Hill.

Some Orlando players, millionaire loafers who lost interest in giving full effort after they lost their star center, criticized their coach, so Gabriel - showing himself to be a man of action - canned the coach.

Good players make good coaches. Bad players make bad coaches.

Of course, we didn’t have to go all the way to Orlando for this example. It just happens to be the latest case of a team losing its top one or two players and the coach getting canned.

Right here in our own back yard we saw Bob Hill - no relation to Brian Hill - axed after David Robinson was sidelined with ailments. David is another of those top four centers in the NBA, and without him the Spurs are not even good pretenders for a division title.

However, there were many different twists to the situation here.

While Brian Hill most certainly had lost control of his rebellious players, Bob Hill had not lost control of his players, even though it was claimed that he had.

Most of the players were shocked and even saddened when it was announced that Bob had been axed.

The popular opinion around here says that the Spurs’ main money men and office execs were disappointed with their team’s early exit from the playoffs last season, so Hill had to get off to a nice start this time around or face a one-man firing squad.

But then Robinson went down, so Hill went with him.

It’s not fair to judge the coaching talents of Bob Hill or those of the man who fired and replaced him, Gregg Popovich, on this season.

Never in this franchise’s history have there been so many injuries to so many key players. Wednesday night, San Antonio had only eight men healthy enough to don uniforms.

The day Orlando fired Brian Hill with his 24-25 record, the Spurs were sitting on a 12-38 report card. Should another head roll here?

The whole point of this is that if coaches are expected to win without their top stars - but fired if they don’t - and then they do win, they should be paid the same salaries as the stars they don’t have.

Does that make sense?

Edition: Alamo

By Dan Cook, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-22, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺终结5连败 98-93 战胜雄鹿

阿拉莫穹顶上空的一个充满魔幻的夜晚。马刺赢下了比赛，没有受到任何面部骨折。他们在周五以98-93击败了密尔沃基雄鹿队，从而终结了五连败。前锋卡尔·埃雷拉得分创职业生涯新高24分，帮助马刺队(13-39)终结了主场七连败。密尔沃基雄鹿队（25-28）在第三节后半段奋起直追，比分一度落后21分，并差点在最后阶段扳平比分。

雄鹿队由前锋文·贝克的27分领衔，比赛还剩96秒时，将比分缩小至1分差距。首先，贝克命中了一个上篮。随后，格伦·罗宾逊追加一记三分。最后，雷·阿伦完成了一个快攻扣篮，帮助雄鹿队将比分缩小至88-87。

从那时起，埃雷拉命中了一个勾手投篮，并补进一个12英尺的拖曳步投篮，帮助人手短缺的马刺队自2月11日以来首次赢球。这是他们自1月24日以来首次在主场获胜。

马刺队仅有8名球员上场比赛，因为6名球员因伤病缺席。埃雷拉在比赛上半场鼻子二次骨折，但他反弹回来在17次投篮中命中10球。

埃雷拉说：“我被人打了，但这并不像上次那么严重。” “没有流很多血。我继续打球。”

在马刺队10名球员因伤病缺席的一个赛季里，埃雷拉的鼻子在两个不同的部位遭遇骨折。

球迷们经常表达对其整体比赛的不满，他也因此受到了不小的打击。埃雷拉表示，马刺队的球迷对他进行批评并未伤害他的感情。

埃雷拉说道：“只有少数人知道我去年经历了什么，还有我的家人。”埃雷拉在第一个马刺赛季中表现不佳，原因是个人创伤和伤病缠身。“所以这不会困扰我。我有一些好的队友，他们一直陪伴着我。”

当雄鹿队发起进攻时，埃雷拉命中了一个勾手投篮。但贝克用一个罚球回应，使比分变为90-88。在另一边，埃雷拉接球面向篮筐，运球突破，最后用一个翻腕跳投越过一个伸出的手投中了球。

在比赛还剩46.2秒时，这一球使马刺队领先4分，迫使雄鹿队暂停比赛。密尔沃基队为阿伦制定了一个战术，后者沿着底线运球，但埃雷拉在那里将球破坏出界。

尽管雄鹿队还有机会，但当贝克沿着底线运球时踩到了底线，导致失误，葬送了这次机会。马刺队控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊（20分，14次助攻）迅速利用了这一机会，结束了悬念。

比赛还剩20.8秒时，他造成犯规，并投进两个罚球，以94-88领先。

约翰逊说：“通常情况下，在我们今晚所处的境地，我们会说‘我们又来了’”。“但暂停时，每个人都很积极。卡尔今晚的表现非常出色。他在场上的表现非常出色。”

自他们上次赢球以来已经过去很长时间了，马刺队几乎已经忘记了获胜的感觉。在他们最近的一场比赛中，他们在周三以33分的优势惨败给多伦多队，遭遇了本赛季最严重的失利。

马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇表示，球队在前一天晚上在犹他州比赛后，对阵多伦多队时没有能量。对阵密尔沃基队时，情况则不同，球员们在防守端积极换防并挑战投篮。

波波维奇说：“这支球队一直很努力。”“但今晚他们也有能量。前一天晚上，我们根本没有能量。它不存在，我们无法鼓起它。”

随着防守的遏制，进攻配合流畅精准。马刺队55.4%的投篮命中率以及26次助攻，仅失误12次。马刺队还以37-33的优势击败了雄鹿队的篮板。

为了支持埃雷拉和约翰逊，38岁的多米尼克·威尔金斯（18分，8个篮板，3次盖帽）表现出色。此外，由于弗农·马克维尔因贫血连续第二场缺席比赛，维尼·德尔·内格罗（18分，17投9中）作为得分后卫贡献了42分钟的稳定表现。

贝克表现顽强，18次投篮命中8次，14次罚球命中10次。

点击查看原文：Spurs on money vs. Bucks -S.A. snaps 5-game losing streak, 98- 93

Spurs on money vs. Bucks -S.A. snaps 5-game losing streak, 98- 93

It was one of those magical nights at the Alamodome. The Spurs won a game and failed to suffer any facial fractures. They held off the Milwaukee Bucks for a 98-93 victory Friday to snap a five-game losing streak. Forward Carl Herrera scored a career-high 24 points as the Spurs (13-39) broke a seven-game skid at home. Milwaukee (25-28) rallied from a 21-point deficit late in the third quarter and nearly won it at the end.

The Bucks, led by forward Vin Baker’s 27 points, pulled to within one with 96 seconds remaining.

First, Baker hit a layup. Then, Glenn Robinson followed with a three-pointer. Finally, Ray Allen added a breakaway dunk, bringing the Bucks to within 88-87.

From there, Herrera hit a hook shot and added a running 12-footer to help the shorthanded Spurs win for the first time since Feb. 11. It was their first win at home since Jan. 24.

The Spurs were playing with only eight players, as six were sidelined with injuries or illness. Herrera, who took a blow to his twice-fractured nose in the first half, rebounded to make 10 of 17 shots from the field.

I got hit, but it wasn't as bad as before,'' Herrera said. It wasn’t bleeding that much. I just kept playing.‘’

Herrera has suffered fractures on two different spots on the nose during a season in which the Spurs have seen 10 players go down with injuries or illness.

He has also taken more than a few blows to his pride, with fans regularly expressing their discontent with his overall game. Herrera said it doesn’t hurt his feelings that Spurs fans have targeted him for criticism.

Only a few people know what I went through last year, with my family,'' said Herrera, who played poorly in his first Spurs season in the midst of personal trauma and injuries. So it doesn’t bother me. I have good teammates who stick with me.‘’

As the Bucks threatened, Herrera nailed a short hook. But Baker answered with a free throw to make it 90-88. On the other end, Herrera received the ball facing the basket and drove, finally lofting a knuckleball jumper over an outstretched hand off the glass.

It gave the Spurs a four-point lead with 46.2 seconds left, forcing the Bucks to call time out. Milwaukee ran a play for Allen, who drove baseline, but Herrera was there to deflect the ball out of bounds.

Even though the Bucks had another chance, they squandered it when Baker went baseline and stepped on the end line for the turnover. Spurs point guard Avery Johnson (20 points, 14 assists) promptly took advantage of the break and put an end to the suspense.

He drew a foul and sank two free throws for a 94-88 lead with 20.8 seconds left.

Normally, in the situation we were in tonight, we would have said, `Here we go again,' '' Johnson said. But in the timeouts, everyone was positive. Carl was phenomenal tonight. His presence on the floor was huge.‘’

It had been so long since their last win, the Spurs had almost forgotten what it felt like. In their last game, they suffered their worst beating of the season, a 33-point blowout to lowly Toronto on Wednesday.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his team had no energy against Toronto, after playing the night before in Utah. Against Milwaukee, it was a different story, with players aggressively switching on defense and challenging shots.

This team has had the effort all along,'' Popovich said. But tonight they also had their energy. The other night there was just no energy in the cup. It wasn’t there and we couldn’t muster it.‘’

As the defense made stops, the offense clicked with crisp passing and ball movement. The Spurs shot 55.4 percent from the field and connected on 26 assists against only 12 turnovers. The Spurs also outrebounded the Bucks, 37-33.

In support of Herrera and Johnson, 38-year-old Dominique Wilkins (18 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots) played well. Also, Vinny Del Negro (18 points, 9-of-17 shooting) contributed 42 solid minutes at shooting guard as Vernon Maxwell sat out his second consecutive game with anemia.

Baker was tough, hitting 8 of 18 from the field and 10 of 14 at the free-throw line.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-02-23, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

别笑：马刺把枪瞄准火箭队

休斯敦——马刺队和他们这支八人小分队把目标定在了不可想象的事情上——在强大的休斯顿火箭队的主场取得一场胜利。更不用说全国电视直播了。马刺和火箭队今天中午在顶峰中心开球。天知道当球迷们看到马刺队派出的八个健康球员时他们会怎么想。

他们可能会取笑我们吧，''马刺队前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯说道。他们会嘲笑我们，就像我们自己嘲笑自己一样。这的确可笑。但是当你们那样打球的时候，人们也会低估你们。‘’

为了不让这个糟糕的赛季悲剧收场，马刺队（13-39）在周五晚上在阿拉莫圆顶球场以 98-93 爆冷战胜了密尔沃基雄鹿队。

在这场违背逻辑的比赛中——六名球员因伤病缺席——马刺队中断了他们过去 22 场比赛中输掉 19 场的连败势头。

然而，火箭队（35-19）可能无意于对这支残阵队伍放水。

休斯顿队输掉了最近的 12 场比赛中的 9 场。最新一场失利发生在周五晚上，他们在客场以 74-76 输给了亚特兰大老鹰队。

火箭队的中锋阿基姆·奥拉朱旺罕见地发挥失常，被老鹰队限制在 9 分。

我并不是很乐意看到那样的表现，''马刺队的中锋威尔·帕杜说。（亚特兰大队的中锋迪肯贝）穆托姆博有七次盖帽。其中可能有几次是盖的奥拉朱旺。我敢肯定阿基姆会为比赛做好准备的。‘’

至少马刺队不必面对因腿筋拉伤缺阵的克莱德·德雷克斯勒。

但奥拉朱旺和查尔斯·巴克利这对组合应该会给马刺队的防守施加巨大压力，马刺队在周三主场以难以启齿的方式以 125 分之差输给了多伦多猛龙队。

猛龙队 33 分的惨败之后，马刺队出人意料地没有陷入消极情绪。

他们保持冷静，以 55% 的命中率和前锋卡尔·埃雷拉职业生涯最高的 24 分击败了雄鹿队。这次胜利极大地提振了马刺队的士气。

例如，在周六短暂的训练结束后，艾弗里·约翰逊（对阵雄鹿队得到 20 分和 14 次助攻）咯咯地笑着，被迫中断了一次电视采访，因为替补科里·亚历山大在捉弄他。

采访期间，亚历山大从后面溜进来，开始挠约翰逊的脚踝。

``我不能这样了，''约翰逊一边摇头一边走开。

不管怎样，马刺队在与 I-10 德州州际公路的对手火箭队交锋时都会很放松。

无论何时取得胜利，都会提升士气，''对阵雄鹿队得到 18 分的后卫维尼·德尔·内格罗说。它可以帮助你建立信心和自尊。我们现在只需要向休斯顿进发，打一场聪明的比赛。‘’

埃雷拉的信心可能和球队中任何球员一样高。这位 6 英尺 9 英寸的前锋在比赛最后几分钟靠两个进球击败了雄鹿队，包括一个跳投和一个在人群中行进的 12 英尺投篮。

如果我们能够击败火箭队呢？''埃雷拉说道，他是从在休斯顿开始自己的 NBA 职业生涯的。那将意味着很多。就像我（周五）晚上说的，我们不仅仅是为了上场打球。我们要努力赢得比赛。‘’

维农·马克斯韦尔（贫血）和蒙蒂·威廉姆斯（手腕扭伤）本周的某个时候可能会复出，尽管今天他们都无法上场。马刺队将于周一向主场迎战夏洛特黄蜂队，周三迎战明尼苏达森林狼队。

点击查看原文：Don't laugh: Spurs take aim at Rockets

Don’t laugh: Spurs take aim at Rockets

HOUSTON - The Spurs and their merry band of eight players have their sights trained on the unthinkable - a victory over the powerful Houston Rockets. On the Rockets’ home court. On national television, no less. The Spurs and the Rockets tip off at noon today in The Summit. Heaven only knows what the fans will be thinking when they see the Spurs trot out their eight healthy bodies.

They're going to laugh, probably,'' Spurs forward Dominique Wilkins said. They’ll be laughing, just like us. It is funny. But, also, people underestimate you when you’re playing like that.‘’

Laughing to keep from crying over a lost season, the Spurs (13-39) rose up to surprise the Milwaukee Bucks 98-93 on Friday night at the Alamodome.

In a performance that defied logic - six players were out with injuries or illness - the Spurs interrupted a streak that included losses in 19 of their last 22 games.

The Rockets (35-19), however, probably won’t be in a mood to mess around with a crippled team.

Houston has lost nine of its last 12. The latest setback came Friday night, a 76-74 decision on the road against the Atlanta Hawks.

Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, in a rare off night, was held to nine points by the Hawks.

I didn't exactly like to see that,'' Spurs center Will Perdue said. (Atlanta center Dikembe) Mutombo had seven blocks. A few were probably on him. I’m sure Hakeem will be ready to play.‘’

At least the Spurs won’t have to deal with Clyde Drexler, out with a strained hamstring.

But the duo of Olajuwon and Charles Barkley should put intense pressure on a Spurs defense that gave up 125 points in an embarrassing loss at home to Toronto on Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the 33-point shellacking by the Raptors, the Spurs surprisingly didn’t fall into a deep funk.

They kept their wits about them and stung the Bucks with 55 percent shooting and a career-high 24 points from forward Carl Herrera. The victory lifted the Spurs’ spirits considerably.

For instance, after a short practice Saturday, a giggling Avery Johnson (20 points, 14 assists against the Bucks) was forced to cut off a television interview in progress because of a prank being pulled by reserve Cory Alexander.

During the interview, Alexander sneaked in from behind and started tickling Johnson’s ankles.

``I can’t do this,‘’ Johnson said, walking off and shaking his head.

If nothing else, the Spurs will be loose when they meet the Rockets, their Interstate 10 rivals.

Anytime you win, it helps morale,'' said guard Vinny Del Negro, who scored 18 against the Bucks. It helps your confidence and self- esteem. We just have to go in against Houston now and play an intelligent game.‘’

Herrera’s confidence may be as high as any player’s on the team. The 6-foot-9 forward beat the Bucks with two baskets in the final minutes, including a jump hook and a running 12-footer in traffic.

If we could beat the Rockets?'' said Herrera, who began his NBA career with Houston. It would mean a lot. Like I said (Friday) night, we’re not just coming in to play. We’re trying to win the game.‘’

Vernon Maxwell (anemia) and Monty Williams (sprained wrist) could be back sometime this week, although both are out today. The Spurs play at home Monday against Charlotte and Wednesday against Minnesota.

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