马刺1997-98赛季实录（680+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-15, By Glenn Rogers

银色马刺：最初的队伍

鲍勃·内托利基(Bob Netolicky)，这位身高6英尺9英寸、46岁的球员，在马刺队在圣安东尼奥的第一年里为球队打了19场比赛，场均得到14.7分。他在1973年11月11日被释放。随后，“内托”再次被印第安纳步行者队签下，此前他已经为步行者队效力了五个赛季（1967-68年到1971-72年），然后加入了达拉斯小牛队。内托利基在1975-76赛季为步行者队打了4场比赛后结束了他的职业生涯。他在618场职业比赛中场均得到16分，在73场中场均得到15.7分。

他现在在哪里？内托利基是印第安纳波利斯ADESA汽车拍卖公司的经理。该公司拥有25家这样的拍卖行，包括圣安东尼奥的一家，并向经销商批发汽车。内托利基也是一家公司的合伙人，该公司向体育用品商店分销ABA的红白蓝篮球“金钱球”。

离开马刺之后： “我进入了闲逛的行业，”内托利基说。“不，我从来没有真正考虑过在海外打球。那时候，海外并没有什么钱可赚，而且，海外球队在寻找大学年龄段的球员。”

相反，内托利基最终进入了汽车行业。“我也有参与体育用品店。我和我的兄弟在爱荷华州拥有10家体育用品店。后来我自己开了一段时间汽车经销店。”

对ABA的记忆：“那时候，NBA，它的阵地战，就像看剪头发一样无聊，”内托利基说。“这是一个非常封闭的兄弟会。我被圣地亚哥选中了（在他德雷克大学的职业生涯之后），但后来我收到了ABA的信，我被印第安纳队选中了。我认为ABA是以今天的方式开始篮球的。”

内托利基在印第安纳波利斯拥有自己的夜总会“内托的”，他在球员生涯中拥有狂野的名声，也拥有几只野生动物。

“这真的被夸大了，”内托利基说。“我在上大学的时候确实养了一只狮子，但我最大的宠物是在联盟里的时候的一只黑色拉布拉多犬。然后还有一个大新闻说（教练）鲍比·伦纳德在杜鲁斯的一场表演赛的中场休息时用球棍追我。他只是对我们大吼大叫——他在中场休息的时候喝了大约六瓶啤酒——然后我们出去赢了比赛。”

作为一名马刺球员的记忆：“我喜欢在圣安东尼奥打球，因为球迷们太疯狂了，”内托利基说。“底线球迷很棒，但当我和步行者队回来的时候，他们就开始对我大喊大叫。他们认为我是叛徒之类的。

“但我认识那里的老板，”他说。“安吉洛（德罗索斯）是我的朋友，我认识雷德（麦克科姆斯）。我曾经是步行者队的创始成员，然后加入一支在另一个城市成立的球队的感觉很好。”

个人生活：内托利基与伊莱恩结婚20年，他们有一个19岁的女儿妮可，她是印第安纳大学的大一新生，也是一名5英尺11英寸的时尚模特。

点击查看原文：Silver Spurs: The Original Team

Silver Spurs: The Original Team

Bob Netolicky The lowdown: The 6-9 Netolicky, 46, played in 19 games for the Spurs during the team’s first year in San Antonio and averaged 14.7 points. He was released Nov. 11, 1973. “Neto” then was signed again by the Indiana Pacers, for whom he had already played five seasons - 1967-68 through 1971-72 - before joining the Dallas Chaparrals. Netolicky finished his professional career after playing four games with the Pacers in the 1975-76 campaign. He averaged 16 points in 618 career games, 15.7 through 73

Where is he now? Netolicky is a manager for the ADESA Auto Auction in Indianapolis. The firm has 25 such auctions - including one in San Antonio - and wholesales cars to dealerships. Netolicky also is a partner in a firm distributing “The Money Ball,” the ABA’s red, white and blue basketball, to sporting goods stores.

History after the Spurs: “I went into the business of loafing,” said Netolicky. “No, I never really considered playing overseas. Back then, there was really no money in that and, in addition, the overseas teams were looking for college-age players.”

Instead, Netolicky eventually went into the car business. “I was involved, too, in sporting goods stores. My brother and I owned 10 in Iowa. Then I had my own car dealership for a while.”

Memory of ABA: “Back then, the NBA, with its post-up games, was about as exciting as watching a haircut,” Netolicky said. “It was a very closed fraternity. I was drafted by San Diego (after his career at Drake), but then I got a letter from the ABA and I was drafted by Indiana. I think the ABA started basketball the way it is played today.”

Netolicky, who owned his own nightclub in Indianapolis, Neto’s, had a wild reputation during his playing career and owned a few wild animals.

“That was really blown out of proportion,” Netolicky said. “I did have a lion while I was in college, but a black Labrador dog was the largest pet I ever had while I was in the league. Then there was the big story that (Coach) Bobby Leonard chased me around with a hockey stick at halftime during an exhibition game in Duluth. He just yelled at us - he had had about six beers during halftime - and we went out and won the game.”

Memory as a Spur: “I loved playing in San Antonio because the fans were so crazy,” Netolicky said. "The Baseline Bums were great, but then they started screaming at me when I came back with the Pacers. They thought I was a traitor or something.

“But I got to know the owners there,” he said. “Angelo (Drossos) was a friend, I knew Red (McCombs). I had been an original Pacer and then it was nice to be part of a team starting in another city.”

Personal: Netolicky has been married for 20 years to Elaine and the couple have a 19-year-old daughter, Nicole, a freshman at Indiana University and a 5-11 fashion model. - Glenn Rogers

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-15, By Buck Harvey

怪椅子？为什么珀杜的交易陷入僵局

威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue) 周六晚上踢了一把折叠椅，从一开始就是一场不公平的战斗。珀杜穿着 20 号耐克鞋。

尽管如此，珀杜有充分的理由这样做。珀杜站在太阳队球员面前，他们平均来说比折叠椅略高。他抢下篮板，得分，并证明——在他的单人对决中——打大个有优势。

但他可能没有改变联盟中那些将他与凯西·马丁(Casey Martin) 的购物车相提并论的人的看法。珀杜永远是那个在芝加哥无所事事，看着迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan) 飞奔而过，送出总冠军戒指的笨拙之人。没有人愿意承认珀杜可以打出一些中锋级别的表现。

问问珀杜周四的交易截止日期是什么时候，他不止知道日期，还知道具体时间。“中部时间下午五点，”他说。他的名字被提及了很多次，他已经不再对这件事感到敏感。事实上，他很想加盟明尼苏达或底特律，在那里他会得到上场时间，并为年轻球星抢下篮板。

他认为交易不会发生。“可能有很多我不知道的因素，”他说，“今晚又出现了一个。”他指向大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 的更衣柜，就在几英尺远的地方。

逻辑上讲，当另一个中锋右膝受伤时，你不应该放弃一个 7 英尺高的中锋。这也是马刺队可以接受连续第二个主场失利的理由。罗宾逊在对阵超音速队的比赛中一瘸一拐地走着，然后在对阵太阳队的比赛中打了一半，状态僵硬。如果没有健康的罗宾逊，这支马刺队还能期待什么呢？

然而，在同一场比赛中，珀杜对马刺队变得更有价值，而这也恰恰是交易呼声最高的时刻。马刺队的投篮命中率只有 36%。马刺队不会再费力寻找射手了，因为他们已经找了 9 个月了。但让波波维奇(Popovich) 困惑的是，在这段时间里，其他球队经理对珀杜的兴趣并没有那么大。波波维奇说，如果珀杜每晚打 35 分钟，他会成为联盟中前三或前四的篮板王。“他是一个首发中锋，”波波维奇说。

波波维奇显然有动机赞扬自己的球员。但波波维奇也有自己的观点。菲尼克斯和其他球队都与迈阿密谈论了他们的替补中锋艾克·奥斯汀(Ike Austin)，而奥斯汀的团队已经表示，如果交易达成，他们希望年薪达到 1000 万美元。

奥斯汀确实有所进步，但即使是太阳队也想知道，一旦他拿到了大合同，他是否会恢复之前的婴儿肥。现在——或许在未来几年——珀杜可以说是奥斯汀的平等者。而且没有人质疑珀杜的饮食、工作态度或金钱要求。那么到底是怎么回事呢？

珀杜摇了摇头。他不知道。他认为自己的年龄可能与之有关，因为他已经 32 岁了。“但我拥有，”他说，“在联盟中打过六年的球员的经验。”

更可能的是，是他的速度。例如，太阳队打得很快，他们不想要一个拖后腿的笨拙球员。这可能有一定道理，但周六的情况并不支持这一点。当马刺队打大个阵容时——当珀杜实际上对上了大前锋时——他大杀四方。

没有人比他抢下更多篮板，而太阳队的两位首发中锋也没有比他得分更多。季后赛提示：如果罗宾逊恢复健康，珀杜留下来，这两支球队在四月相遇，马刺队不会介意回到周六的强力战术。

珀杜看到了这一点，但也看到了自己留在无法给他足够上场时间的球队。因此，在第四节，当太阳队建立领先优势时，珀杜被换下场。在那里，一个折叠椅静静地待着，安然无恙。

点击查看原文：Blame a chair? Why a Perdue trade sits in limbo

Blame a chair? Why a Perdue trade sits in limbo

Will Perdue kicked a folding chair Saturday night, and it was an unfair fight from the start. Perdue wears size-20 Nikes.

Still, Perdue had every right. Perdue stood over Suns who, on the average, were slightly taller than folding chairs. He rebounded and scored and proved - in his singular matchup - that going big has its advantages.

But he probably changed few minds around a league that rates him on an athletic level with Casey Martin’s cart. Perdue is forever the klutz who stood around in Chicago while Michael Jordan whizzed past, handing out rings. And no one wants to admit Perdue can play some pivot.

Ask Perdue when Thursday’s trading deadline is, and he knows not only the day, but also the time. “Five o’clock Central,” he says. His name has been thrown around so much that he’s long past being sensitive about it. Truth is, he’d love to go to a Minnesota or a Detroit, where he’d find minutes and young stars to rebound for.

He doesn’t think a trade is going to happen. “There are probably a lot of factors I don’t know about,” he said, “and tonight gave us another one.” He pointed to David Robinson’s locker, a few feet away.

Logic says you don’t give away a 7-footer when another one has a sore right knee. And that’s also why the Spurs could accept a second consecutive home loss. Robinson limped against the Sonics, then played one, stiff half against Phoenix. Can these Spurs expect much else without a healthy Robinson?

Still, the same night that made Perdue more valuable to the Spurs was just another one that cried for a trade. The Spurs shot 36 percent. The Spurs won’t look any harder for a shooter, since they’ve been looking for nine months. But what baffles Popovich is that, during this time, other GMs haven’t been more interested in Perdue. Popovich says if Perdue played 35 minutes a night, he’d be among the league’s top three or four rebounders. “He’s a starting center,” said Popovich.

Popovich has obvious motive to praise the product. But Popovich also has a point. Phoenix and other teams talk with Miami about its backup center, Ike Austin, and Austin’s camp already says it wants a $10 million a year deal if a trade is made.

Austin is improved, all right, but even the Suns wonder if he will regain his baby fat once he gets his fat contract. Right now - and maybe for the next few years - Perdue is arguably Austin’s equal. And no one wonders about Perdue’s diet or work ethic or money demands. So what is it?

Perdue shakes his head. He doesn’t know. He thinks his age has something to do with it, since he’s 32. “But I have the mileage,” he says, “of someone who has been in the league a half-dozen years.”

More than likely, it’s his quickness. The Suns play fast, for example, and they don’t want a plodder slowing them down. That probably makes some sense, but Saturday didn’t back it up. When the Spurs went big - when Perdue essentially went against power forwards - he feasted.

No one had more rebounds, and neither of the Suns’ starting big men had more points. Playoff note: If Robinson is healthy, Perdue stays and these two teams meet in April, the Spurs won’t mind going back to the pound- pound strategy of Saturday.

Perdue sees that, but he also sees himself staying on a team that can’t find enough minutes for him. So in the fourth quarter, taken out as the Suns built a lead, Perdue went to the bench. There, minding its own business, was a folding chair.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-16, By Glenn Rogers

罗宾逊将接受膝盖检查

大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)今天将再次接受右膝检查。

马刺队的这位中锋在周六晚上对阵菲尼克斯太阳队的比赛中缺席了下半场，他将接受核磁共振成像 (MRI) 检查。

“在和医生(大卫)施密特(David Schmidt)谈过测试结果之前，我不会对大卫是否会在周二(对阵活塞队的比赛，在阿拉莫穹顶)复出发表评论，”教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)周日说道。

罗宾逊正在接受软骨软化症的治疗，这是一种膝盖骨下方关节软骨粗糙的疾病。有时被称为“跳跃者膝”，这在 NBA 中并非罕见。

在过去的几个赛季中，罗宾逊的右膝一直存在问题，但还不至于严重到让他连续缺席比赛。

他在 1992-1993 赛季的某些阶段忍受了痛苦的囊肿，并于 1993 年 6 月 16 日接受了手术，切除了一个小的外侧半月板撕裂和一个相关的囊肿。

他在 1993-94 赛季因右膝疼痛缺席了两场比赛。核磁共振检查确定了髂胫束发炎，髂胫束是穿过膝盖外侧的厚而宽的筋膜层。

据报道，目前的问题与之前的疼痛无关，而是由打篮球的力量造成的另一种疼痛刺激。

“他没事，他会回来的。他只需要休息一下，”蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)在周六晚上输给太阳队后说道。“他的移动能力下降了，横向移动也有限。他只需要休息几天就能恢复到最佳状态。”

查克·珀森(Chuck Person)在上赛季与罗宾逊一起因背部问题坐在板凳上，他表示保护背部的本能会导致其他问题。

“当你背部不好时，你就会试图进行补偿，身体的其他部位就会开始疼痛，”他说。“显然，我知道的比任何人都多。”

珀森还表示，马刺队必须专注于让更多球员参与进攻。

“必须有更多的传球。埃弗里(艾弗里·约翰逊)(Avery Johnson)必须投篮 - 无论是否投进 - 他只需要投篮，”珀森说。“贾伦(杰伦·杰克逊)(Jaren Jackson)必须在进攻端更加积极，我也一样。我们不能太依赖蒂姆·邓肯。”

自全明星赛后，马刺队连续输给了西雅图和菲尼克斯，现在落后于中西部联盟的犹他爵士队半场。

波波维奇表示，无论在 2 月 19 日截止日期之前是否进行交易，他对球队仍然充满信心。

“当然，我仍然相信我们能在季后赛中强势突围，”波波维奇说。“现在，我们的目标是逐场提高，这样我们才能在季后赛中达到最佳状态。”

教练表示他不相信球队会参与交易。

点击查看原文：Robinson to have knee examined

Robinson to have knee examined

David Robinson will undergo still another examination on his right knee today.

The Spurs’ center, who sat out the second half of Saturday night’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, will have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) exam.

“I’m not going to comment on whether or not David will be available Tuesday (against the Pistons at the Alamodome) until I talk with Dr. (David) Schmidt after the test,” Coach Gregg Popovich said Sunday.

Robinson is nursing a case of chondromalacia, a roughening of the articular cartilage under the knee cap. Sometimes referred to as “jumpers’ knee,” it is not an uncommon problem in the NBA.

Robinson has had problems with his right knee in the past few seasons but not seriously enough to force him out for a series of games.

He endured a painful cyst during portions of the 1992-1993 season and underwent surgery June 16, 1993, to remove a small tear of the lateral meniscus and an associated cyst.

He missed two games during the 1993-94 campaign with pain in the right knee. The MRI exam determined an inflamed iliotibial band, the thick, wide fascial layer that runs across the outside of the knee.

The current problem reportedly is not related to the earlier discomforts but to another painful irritation created by the force of playing basketball.

“He’s OK, he’ll be back. He just needs some rest,” Tim Duncan said after the loss to the Suns on Saturday night. “His mobility is cut down and his lateral movement is kind of limited. He justs needs a couple of days off to get back to par.”

Chuck Person, who joined Robinson on the bench last season with back problems, indicated the instinct to protect the back could lead to other problems.

“When you have a bad back, you try to compensate and other areas of the body start to hurt,” he said. “Obviously, I know that more than anybody.”

Person also said the Spurs have to concentrate on getting more players involved in the offense.

“There has to be more passing. Avery (Johnson) has to shoot the ball - whether or not it goes in and out - he just has to take them,” Person said. “Jaren (Jackson) has to be more aggressive on offense and I do, too. We can’t just rely so much on Tim Duncan.”

The Spurs have dropped consecutive games to Seattle and Phoenix since the All-Star break and now are half a game behind the Utah Jazz in the Midwest Division.

Popovich says he still has full confidence in his team regardless of whether or not a trade is made before the Feb. 19 deadline.

“Of course, I still feel that we can make a strong push in the playoffs,” Popovich said. “Right now, our object is to improve game-by-game so we will be at our best in the playoffs.”

The coach said he didn’t believe the team would be involved in a trade.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-17, By Glenn Rogers

罗宾逊可能缺席与活塞队的比赛 马刺球星膝盖受伤尽管核磁共振检查阴性

马刺准备今晚主场迎战底特律时，大卫·罗宾逊的状态仍然不明朗。

罗宾逊在周一接受了一系列检查，检查结果显示他的右膝仍然有伤。他是否能在与活塞队的比赛中出场，要到今天早些时候才能决定。

“大卫做了核磁共振和其他很多检查，”马刺教练格雷格·波波维奇说，“核磁共振基本呈阴性。我今天将与大卫和（马刺队医）戴维·施密特博士会面，并为近期决定采取的行动方案。这不会是个临场决定。我们今天早些时候将决定大卫是否会对战活塞队。”

有迹象表明，罗宾逊至少会缺席对阵底特律的比赛。马刺（34胜16负）在全明星赛后连续输掉了两场比赛，将在阿拉莫穹顶对阵活塞（23胜27负），比赛时间是晚上 7 点。

罗宾逊患有软骨软化症，这是膝盖骨下关节软骨粗糙的病症。此病症有时也称为“跳膝”，在 NBA 球员中并不少见。

“这段时间他一直在发炎，我们必须让他冷静下来，”波波维奇在球队周一的上午训练结束后说道，地点是圣道大学。“可能是再也无法根治的病症，但这不是坐下休息几个星期就能好的事。如果真是这样，我们早就做了。有些晚上会比其他晚上更痛苦。”

波波维奇表示，很明显，罗宾逊在周六晚上主场输给菲尼克斯队的比赛上半场无法全力以赴。

“连大卫自己也意识到了，”波波维奇说，“当我告诉他我觉得他不行时，他只是说，‘我能行。’但仅此而已。他并没有像以往不适时那样真正反抗。”

波波维奇还表示，周三晚上输给西雅图的比赛中，罗宾逊表现出活动受限。

波波维奇说：“山姆（帕金斯）就在那里投三分，大卫快步过去防守他。很明显，大卫需要让膝盖休息一下。”

周一早上，这位全明星中锋缺席训练后，他就休息了。只要膝盖炎症持续，罗宾逊可能不会进行太多训练。

波波维奇在周一晚上的广播节目中注意到，如果罗宾逊再次受伤严重到今年不得不缺席比赛，马刺队任何赢得 NBA 总冠军的希望都将落空。

如果罗宾逊缺席对阵底特律的比赛，预计文尼·德尔·内格罗将加入先发阵容，担任得分后卫。贾伦·杰克逊将改打小前锋，蒂姆·邓肯、威尔·珀杜和艾弗里·约翰逊将成为先发五人组的其他成员。

“显然，我们很担心大卫的身体，”德尔·内格罗说，“他是关键人物。一切都由他和蒂姆决定。所以我们必须做出调整。我们一直是一支内线球队。我们的后场不如前场，但我们坚持在一起。我们配合得很好。所以我们不会担心别人怎么说。”

德尔·内格罗自从 1 月 16 日对阵夏洛特时肘部受伤后回归以来，就没有再首发过。

德尔·内格罗说：“我真的觉得再次首发只是时间问题。但我们最不想担心的是个人问题。我们只想专注于变得更好并赢得比赛。”

查克·佩森不同意关于马刺队后场的普遍说法。

佩森说：“我不认为很弱。”“艾弗里、贾伦和文尼一直表现得很好。但我们的进攻取决于蒂姆和大卫。我们都是根据他们来打球的。总的来说，我们所有人都必须在进攻中更积极。当大卫不在场时，我们将多打几场比赛。我们会多接触一些。”

• 马刺笔记：有报道称，如果拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔本赛季获准复出，球队将向他提供一份合同。

马刺队教练波波维奇拒绝评论球队是否已经与斯普雷维尔谈过，并表示将为他提供本赛季的合同 - 联盟最低薪资合同。

波波维奇说：“我们一直对能够提升我们球队的球员感兴趣。”当被问及斯普雷维尔是否能提升马刺时，他回答说：“拉特雷尔是有能力帮助任何球队的球员。”

德尔·内格罗表示，签下斯普雷维尔将是很大的收获。

德尔·内格罗说：“毫无疑问，他是一位伟大的球员，是一位伟大的得分后卫。但在事情发生之前，我们无法真正对此发表评论。但他可以帮助任何一支球队。”

佩森更直接。

他说：“不考虑他（斯普雷维尔）会很疯狂，如果可能的话，不签下他也会很疯狂。”

波波维奇表示，马刺在周四截止日期之前进行交易的希望不大，但表示球队仍在寻找方案。

点击查看原文：Robinson could skip Pistons Spurs star may rest hurt knee despite negative result on MRI

Robinson could skip Pistons Spurs star may rest hurt knee despite negative result on MRI

As the Spurs prepare for tonight’s home game against Detroit, the status of David Robinson remains uncertain.

Robinson underwent a battery of tests Monday on his ailing right knee. Whether or not he plays against the Pistons won’t be decided until early today.

“David had an MRI and a lot of other tests,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “The MRI was basically negative. I will get together with David and (Spurs physician) Dr. David Schmidt (today) and we will decide a course of action for the near future. This will not be a game-time decision. We will decide early (today) whether or not David will play against the Pistons.”

Indications are that Robinson will sit out at least the game against Detroit. The Spurs (34-16), who have lost two straight since the All-Star break, meet the Pistons (23-27) at 7 p.m. at the Alamodome.

Robinson has a case of chondromalacia, a roughening of the articular cartilage under the knee cap. Sometimes referred to as “jumpers’ knee,” it is not an uncommon problem among NBA players.

“This is a period of inflammation and we have to let that calm down,” Popovich said after the team’s Monday morning workout at the University of the Incarnate Word. “It may be something that won’t heal, but it’s not something that goes away after sitting down for a couple of weeks. If that was the case, we already would have done it. It’s going to be something that will be more painful on some nights than others.”

Popovich said it became apparent that Robinson couldn’t go all out during the first half of Saturday night’s home loss to Phoenix.

“Even David realized it,” Popovich said. “When I told him I just didn’t think he could go, he just said, ‘I can go.’ But that was it. He didn’t really fight it as he would have if he felt OK.”

Popovich also said Robinson’s inability to move around showed against in Wednesday night’s loss to Seattle.

“Sam (Perkins) was out there, shooting those threes and David couldn’t get out to cover him,” Popovich said. “It’s clear that David needs to rest that knee.”

That time came Monday morning when the All-Star center sat out practice. Robinson probably will not work out much, as long as the knee inflammation continues.

Popovich did note during his radio show Monday night that any NBA championship hopes the Spurs might have would be futile if Robinson again was injured enough to put him on the sidelines this year.

Vinny Del Negro is expected to join the starting lineup at shooting guard if Robinson doesn’t play against Detroit. Jaren Jackson would move to small forward, with Tim Duncan, Will Perdue and Avery Johnson rounding out the starting five.

“Obviously, we’re concerned about David’s health,” Del Negro said. “He is the man. Everything runs through him, him and Tim. So we’ll have to make adjustments. We’ve always been an inside team. Our backcourt is not as good as our frontcourt, but we stick together. We work well together. So we don’t worry about what people say.”

Del Negro hasn’t started a game since returning from an elbow injury sustained Jan. 16 against Charlotte.

“I really just figured it was a matter of time before I started again,” Del Negro said. “But the last thing we want to worry about is personal things. We want to concentrate on just getting better and winning games.”

Chuck Person disagreed with the general statements about the Spurs’ backcourt.

“I don’t think it’s weak at all,” Person said. “Avery, Jaren and Vinny have been playing very well. But our offense is predicated on Tim and David. We all play off them. Generally speaking, we all have to be more aggressive on offense. When David is out, we’ll have a few more plays. We’ll get a few more touches.”

- Spurs notes: Reports persist about the team offering Latrell Sprewell a contract if he is allowed to return to action this season.

Spurs coach Popovich declined to comment on whether or not the franchise already has spoken with Sprewell and said it will offer him a deal for this season - the league- minimum contract.

“We are always interested in a player who would improve our team,” Popovich said. Asked if Sprewell could improve the Spurs, he replied, “Latrell is the caliber player who can help any team.”

Del Negro said picking up Sprewell would be a bonus.

“There’s no question he is a great player, a great shooting guard,” Del Negro said. “But we can’t really comment on this until it happens. But he could help any team.”

Person was more direct.

“It would be crazy not to look into it, (and) crazy not to get him (Sprewell) if we could,” he said.

Popovich indicated there is little hope the Spurs will make a trade before Thursday’s deadline, but said the team is still looking at scenarios.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-17, By Buck Harvey

拉特雷尔地狱？用封面来评判公关？

上个月，我在奥兰多参加马刺队的客场之旅时，一位为魔术队工作的女士问我是否看过她老板的新书。我摇了摇头，到了中场休息时，一本签名的书就送到了媒体室我的工作区。

书上签着“最好的祝福，帕特·威廉姆斯(Pat Williams)”。他是魔术队的资深副总裁，但签署他的书籍一定占了他很多时间。第一页上潦草地写着我的名字（我是一个喜欢私人化的人）以及这条信息：“请传播这个消息。团队合作中蕴藏着魔法。感谢你传播这个消息！”

他希望我传播这个消息，所以我就开始了。 “团队合作的魔力”并没有详细说明奥兰多是如何失去沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)，如何在更衣室兵变后解雇教练，以及如何在交易截止日期前将佩妮·哈达威(Penny Hardaway)挂牌交易。如果说有什么是魔法的话，那就是将90年代的球队变成了萨克拉门托国王队。

相反，威廉姆斯写了关于他八条原则中的每一章。他将最后一章命名为“培养和塑造性格”，许多人对此印象深刻。这本书包含了来自70多人的评论，从巴里·斯维策(Barry Switzer)到丹·奎尔(Dan Quayle)，再到菲尔兹夫人饼干店的黛比·菲尔兹(Debbi Fields)。我怎么会不传播这个消息呢？

但除了这233页的灵感之外，还有一张单页纸，同样是在那个1月份的晚上由魔术队组织散发出来的。这是一份新闻稿，讲述了威廉姆斯的魔术队刚刚与弗农·马克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell)签署了为期10天的合同。

就是那个在佛罗里达州法庭上指认他的吸毒朋友的弗农。就是那个在波特兰殴打球迷，一边投篮一边做出猥亵手势，并且在上个赛季的晨练中带着几杯鸡尾酒出现的弗农。就是那个渴望后卫的马刺队在本赛季不愿意要的弗农。

培养和塑造性格？

现在出现这种情况是因为有报道称，如果仲裁员允许拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔(Latrell Sprewell)在本赛季继续比赛，马刺队将会追求他。有些人会指责马刺队失去了他们的灵魂，有些人会说得更难听。也许犹他爵士队的弗兰克·莱登(Frank Layden)会说出他不久前说过的话，当时他说他宁愿输球也不要丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)，而不是带着他赢球。

这对球迷来说是一个很好的信息。但两年前，莱登的爵士队签下了臭名昭著的演员克里斯·莫里斯(Chris Morris)，因为他们也押注了天赋胜过性格。爵士队输掉了这场赌博，并在周一晚上将莫里斯交易到了威廉姆斯的奥兰多。

这是每支运动队都会跳的舞，而且并不总是像海豚队签下劳伦斯·菲利普斯(Lawrence Phillips)那样明显。特许经营权会忍受许多大多数人不知道的灰色地带的缺陷——自私、喜怒无常、懦弱——因为天赋有时会出现在这些包袱里。

每支特许经营权都想要童子军，但他们更需要胜利。所以他们希望别人的问题能够在他们的城市得到解决。有时会奏效，有时不会。但没有哪支特许经营权会用公民身份换取成功。问问活塞队吧，他们在今晚来到这里。他们是想拥有才华横溢、成熟的格兰特·希尔(Grant Hill)以及一支无缘季后赛的球队，还是想让“坏小子军团”回来再打一场恶战？

马刺队以前也越过这条线，然后又跳回来，与罗德曼、罗德·斯特里克兰(Rod Strickland)、劳埃德·丹尼尔斯(Lloyd Daniels)等麻烦人物发生过冲突。当他们在1996年签下马克斯韦尔时，他们做了很多功课。他们与约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas)以及咨询师和朋友们进行了交谈。此外，格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在两人早年在圣安东尼奥合作时就认识马克斯韦尔，就像波波维奇在他们两人在金州勇士队合作时就认识斯普雷维尔一样。

尽管如此，波波维奇认为这是一场豪赌。当它没有成功时，马刺队对切断与马克斯韦尔的联系的决定非常坚决，以至于在他们去年夏天唯一的选择是签下像贾伦·杰克逊(Jaren Jackson)和雷吉·吉里(Reggie Geary)这样的最低工资球员时，他们也这么做了。

与此同时，魔术队把自己宣传成一家高档的组织，而且球队花费了大量资金请来了朱利叶斯·欧文(Julius Erving)和查克·戴利(Chuck Daly)来强调这一点。但他们从来没有给马刺队打过电话，甚至没有询问过上赛季的马克斯韦尔。

魔术队最终也裁掉了马克斯韦尔，然后夏洛特——鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)的夏洛特——签下了马克斯韦尔，让他打完剩余的赛季。但奥兰多球队已经在没有媒体帮助的情况下传播了这个消息。

未出版的章节：体育球队是不一样的，没错。其中一些球队希望你认为它们与众不同。

点击查看原文：Latrell hell? Judging PR by its cover

Latrell hell? Judging PR by its cover

I was on a Spurs road trip last month in Orlando when a woman who worked for the Magic asked if I had seen her boss’ new book. I shook my head, and by halftime a copy arrived at my work space in the media room.

It was signed, “Best wishes, Pat Williams.” He’s the senior VP of the Magic, but autographing copies of his book must take up a good part of his day. Scribbled on the first page was my name (I’m a sucker for the personal touch) with this message: “Please spread the news. There is Magic in teamwork. Thanks for telling the word!”

He wants me to spread the news, so here goes. “The Magic of Team Work” did not detail how Orlando lost Shaquille O’Neal, fired a coach after a locker-room mutiny and now dangles Penny Hardaway around the league before the trade deadline. If anything constitutes magic, it’s turning the team of the '90s into the Sacramento Kings.

Instead, Williams wrote a chapter about each of his eight principles. He titled the last one, “Build and Model Character,” and many were impressed. The book included reviews from more than 70 people, from Barry Switzer to Dan Quayle to Debbi Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookies. How could I not tell the word?

But along with these 233 pages of inspiration came a single sheet of paper, also dispersed by the Magic organization that same January night. It was a news release telling how Williams’ Magic had just signed Vernon Maxwell to a 10-day contract.

The same Vern who fingered his drug friends in a Florida courtroom. The same Vern who punched a fan in Portland, shot obscene gestures along with jumpers and who showed up last season for morning workouts with a few cocktails on his breath. The same Vern who the guard-hungry Spurs wanted no part of this season.

Build and model character?

This comes up now as stories indicate the Spurs will go after Latrell Sprewell should an arbitrator free him to play this season. Some will assail the Spurs for losing their very soul, some will say worse. Maybe Utah’s Frank Layden will say what he said not long ago, when he announced he would rather lose without Dennis Rodman than win with him.

That makes for a nice message for fans. But two years ago Layden’s Jazz signed a notoriously bad actor, Chris Morris, because they also bet on talent over character. The Jazz lost the bet, and dumped Morris on Monday night in a trade with Williams’ Orlando.

It’s the dance every sports team moves to, and it’s not always as obvious as the Dolphins signing Lawrence Phillips. Franchises put up with a lot of gray-area flaws that most never know - selfishness, moodiness, wimpiness - because the talent sometimes comes in those packages.

Every franchise wants Boy Scouts, but, boy, they need wins first. So they hope that Other People’s Problems will be remade in their town. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But no franchise would trade citizenship for success. Ask the Pistons when they are in town tonight. Would they rather have bright, mature Grant Hill and a team that’s out of the playoffs, or the Bad Boys back for another nasty run?

The Spurs have crossed this line before, and jumped back again, with trouble named Rodman, Rod Strickland, Lloyd Daniels. And when they signed Maxwell in 1996, they did a lot of homework. They talked to John Lucas, as well as to counselors and friends. Besides, Gregg Popovich knew Maxwell when the two were together earlier in San Antonio, just as Popovich knows Sprewell from their time together in Golden State.

Still, Popovich saw it was a gamble. And when it didn’t work out, the Spurs were so resolute in their decision to cut Maxwell that they did so when their only alternative last summer was to sign minimum-salary guys such as Jaren Jackson and Reggie Geary.

The Magic, meanwhile, sell themselves as a classy organization, and the franchise spent a lot of money on Julius Erving and Chuck Daly to make that very point. But they never once called the Spurs to even ask about Maxwell last season.

The Magic eventually cut Maxwell, too, and then Charlotte - Bob Bass’ Charlotte - signed Maxwell for the rest of the season. But the Orlando franchise had already spread the news without any media assistance.

The unpublished chapter: Sports teams are different, all right. Some of them want you to think they are different.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

-0001-11-30, By Jerry Briggs

Minus star, Spurs motor along - Rbinson out as S.a. gets past Pistons

Playing without All-Star center David Robinson for the first time this season, the Spurs rallied for an adrenaline-pumping, heart-racing 95-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night in front of 14,474 at the Alamodome.

In the final, frantic moments, Reggie Geary came up with a critical steal off Detroit’s Malik Sealy. Veteran point guard Avery Johnson - shrugging off a sprained right ankle - followed by hitting the winning shot from 18 feet with 4.4 seconds remaining.

The crowd gasped in the last second when Pistons All-Star Grant Hill misfired on a 20-footer from the top of the key. If Hill’s attempt would have swished through the net, the Spurs would have tied a season high with their third loss in a row.

“This was a very important game for us,” Johnson said. “We needed this game. And with David out, a lot of people contributed to our success.”

Rookie forward Tim Duncan carried the Spurs, narrowly missing a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Joe Dumars led the Pistons with 21 points, and Hill added 20 points, 12 assists and four steals.

“We didn’t want to go into a three-game slide,” Duncan said. “We kept everything positive. Even though we got down (falling behind by eight points in the first quarter and by six in the fourth), we stayed with it.”

The loss dropped the Pistons to 23-27 and to 2-4 since Alvin Gentry, a former Spurs assistant, took over for the fired Doug Collins on Feb. 2. The Spurs, meanwhile, improved to 35-16 and to 1-2 since the All-Star break.

Trying to recover from soreness in his right knee, Robinson will miss at least one more game - Thursday night in Dallas against the Mavericks.

“Dr. (David) Schmidt has prescribed rest,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We will re-evaluate it on Friday. We want to let the inflammation calm down.”

With Robinson sitting and watching in street clothes, the Pistons and Spurs engaged in one of the best games of the season at the dome.

The lead changed hands 18 times, including three times in the final two minutes.

First, guard Vinny Del Negro hit a 15-foot jumper that completed a 9-2 run and lifted the Spurs into a 93-92 lead with 1:32 remaining. Fifteen seconds later, the Pistons retaliated to go up by one when reserve center Scot Pollard tipped in a miss.

But after an inbounds, Geary and Johnson trapped Sealy on the sideline near halfcourt. Sealy was holding the ball over his head when Geary, who played only three minutes in the game, reached up and snatched it away.

The Spurs, with about 14 seconds left, did not call timeout. They worked it downcourt, with Johnson dribbling on the right wing and looking inside for Duncan.

Detroit had Duncan covered, with Pollard between the rookie and the basket, and Dumars standing close by. With Dumars sagging off Johnson, the Spurs point guard - not known for his perimeter shooting - made the Pistons pay.

“I was looking for David,” Johnson joked. “But I couldn’t find him.”

Johnson, who suffered a badly sprained right ankle in Saturday’s loss to Phoenix, didn’t hesitate in calling his own number. He played 45 minutes with the ankle heavily taped, but he did not flinch when the game was on the line.

“The (right) ankle didn’t bother me until the fourth quarter,” Johnson said. “I just didn’t seem to have any lift on it. On the last shot, I had to jump off the left (foot) as hard as I could.”

Johnson finished with 15 points and seven assists. Forward Monty Williams was big off the bench, scoring 16 points in 30 minutes. Williams had not played in the last two games.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-18, By Jerry Briggs and Glenn Rogers

斯塔克豪斯(Jerry Stackhouse)、克里斯蒂(Doug Christie) 表现出对马刺队的兴趣

年轻的后卫们纷纷表示希望被交易到马刺队。

但是圣安东尼奥方面坚持表示，在周四下午 5 点的交易截止日期之前不太可能达成交易。

底特律的杰里·斯塔克豪斯和多伦多的道格·克里斯蒂是最新将马刺队列为他们心仪的目的地球队的球员。

洛杉矶快船队的布伦特·巴里(Brent Barry) 最近也表示希望与大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 和蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan) 一起打球。

马刺队主教练兼总经理格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 拒绝讨论任何潜在的交易。但在周二晚上马刺队以 95-94 击败活塞队后，波波维奇表示没有认真考虑过任何交易。

“我们没有跟任何人进行过任何交易，”波波维奇说道，“我们会继续倾听，但目前没有任何进展。”

尽管波波维奇持此态度，但一位消息人士周二表示克里斯蒂希望成为马刺队的一员。克里斯蒂在多伦多召开新闻发布会，表示他希望被交易。

“我今年 27 岁，时间紧迫，我需要在职业生涯中取得更大的成就，”克里斯蒂告诉记者。

他拒绝透露他的选择，但消息人士表示，克里斯蒂的一位代表可能在周二下午联系了马刺队。波波维奇拒绝就此发表评论。

“最终，”克里斯蒂在多伦多说道，“我希望获得一枚冠军戒指和一个冠军。”

在另一则消息中，有消息称马刺队参与了与费城 76 人队进行的一项潜在交易，涉及后卫吉姆·杰克逊(Jim Jackson)。

当 76 人队将杰克逊和前锋克拉伦斯·韦瑟斯彭(Clarence Weatherspoon) 送往金州勇士队，换取前锋乔·史密斯(Joe Smith) 和后卫布莱恩·肖(Brian Shaw) 时，这项交易谈判就变得毫无意义了。

斯塔克豪斯在周二早上底特律的训练结束后告诉圣安东尼奥快报，他希望为西部的一支争冠球队效力，并且他将“乐于”有机会成为一名马刺队员。

“每个人都认为我会留在这里（底特律）直到赛季结束，”斯塔克豪斯说道，他在周二晚上上场 24 分钟，得到 8 分，“但在接下来的几天里可能会有一些更多的谈话。我认为我的比赛风格更适合在西部的开放式球场上打球。

“自从我进入联盟以来，我就没有机会和一个真正的控球后卫一起打球。像（马刺队后卫）艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson) 这样的球员可以推进球并分配球。而拥有两名中锋（罗宾逊和邓肯）的奢华配置，会让我的比赛更加精彩。”

斯塔克豪斯表达了他对在活塞队临时主教练阿尔文·金特里(Alvin Gentry) 手下替补出场的沮丧情绪。

“自从（前主教练）道格（科林斯于 2 月 2 日被解雇）以来，我在这支球队的角色中一直无法取得成功。我从首发变成了替补，”他说道，“我认为这不是我最擅长的位置。”

去年秋天，在 76 人队将斯塔克豪斯交易到底特律之前，马刺队曾考虑过交易他。当时，活塞队也正在努力进行潜在的交易，以收购马刺队替补中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)。

点击查看原文：Stackhouse, Christie showing interest in S.A.

Stackhouse, Christie showing interest in S.A.

Young shooting guards are lining up to proclaim their desire to be traded to the Spurs.

But San Antonio has insisted that a deal isn’t likely before the 5 p.m. Thursday deadline.

Detroit’s Jerry Stackhouse and Toronto’s Doug Christie are the latest to list the Spurs as a destination point that would suit them.

Brent Barry of the Los Angeles Clippers also said recently that he would like to play alongside David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

Gregg Popovich, the Spurs’ coach and general manager, won’t discuss any potential trades. But Popovich said after the Spurs beat the Pistons 95-94 Tuesday night that there were no trades being seriously considered.

“We don’t have any trades going on with anybody,” Popovich said. “We’ll continue to listen, but we don’t have anything working.”

In spite of Popovich’s stance, a source said Tuesday that Christie wants to be a Spur. Christie called a news conference in Toronto to say he wants a trade.

“I’m 27 years old and time is of the essence to make something more (of my career),” Christie told reporters.

He declined to list his choices, but the source said one of Christie’s representatives may have contacted the Spurs on Tuesday afternoon. Popovich declined to comment on the matter.

“Ultimately,” Christie said in Toronto, “I want to win a ring and a championship.”

In another development, it was learned that the Spurs were involved with discussions for a potential deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for guard Jim Jackson.

The discussions were rendered moot when the Sixers shipped Jackson and forward Clarence Weatherspoon to the Golden State Warriors for forward Joe Smith and guard Brian Shaw.

Stackhouse told the San Antonio Express- News after Detroit’s shootaround Tuesday morning that he wants to play for a contender in the Western Conference, and that he would “enjoy” the chance to be a Spur.

“Everybody thought I’d be here (in Detroit) until the end of the season,” said Stackhouse, who scored eight points in 24 minutes Tuesday night. "But there could be some more talks in the next couple of days. I think my game is an open-court game. I’m better suited to playing in the West.

“Since I’ve been in the league, I haven’t had a chance to play with a true point guard. A guy like (Spurs guard) Avery Johnson is a guy who could push the ball and distribute. And with the luxury of having two centers (in Robinson and Duncan), it would be something that I would enjoy.”

Stackhouse expressed his frustration at coming off the bench for Pistons interim coach Alvin Gentry.

“I really haven’t been able to flourish in my role on this team, definitely since (former coach) Doug (Collins was fired Feb. 2). I went from starting to coming off the bench,” he said. “I don’t think that’s where I’m at my best.”

Last fall, the Spurs were considering a trade for Stackhouse before the Sixers dealt him to Detroit. The Pistons, at the time, also were working on potential deals to acquire Spurs reserve center Will Perdue.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-18, By Glenn Rogers

阿尔文·金特里(Alvin Gentry)在圣安东尼奥的回家之旅令人难忘

阿尔文·金特里或许可以原谅自己，因为他原本以为他会享受一次美妙的回家之旅。

这位前马刺助理教练，在休赛期住在圣安东尼奥，现在则是底特律活塞队的总教练，而活塞队是周二晚上在阿拉莫穹顶对阵马刺队的对手。

金特里在主教练道格·科林斯(Doug Collins)被解雇后升任主教练。

他到达圣安东尼奥后首先得知的是大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)因膝盖受伤缺阵。然后，比赛还剩26秒时，活塞队以94-93领先，并且控制着球权。

尽管活塞队的首发中锋在比赛开始8分钟后就因脚踝扭伤离场。

“我们控制着比赛，”金特里说。

但本赛季，23胜28负的活塞队又一次失控了。

马刺队首先对林赛·亨特(Lindsey Hunter)进行了包夹，亨特将球传过了防守球员，传到了马利克·西利(Malik Sealy)手中。埃弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)和雷吉·吉尔(Reggie Geary)随后冲向西利，吉尔抢下了球。

“我们只需要控制住球，就这么简单，”金特里说。“我们认为他们会试着包夹我们一次。但他们不会让时间流逝。他们会犯规让我们罚球，我们可以命中罚球。我们场上有很多出色的罚球手。我们对此有把握。”

但情况并非如此。吉尔将球传给了约翰逊，这位已经得到13分的马刺后卫，在压力之下，从右侧投出了一记跳投，在比赛还剩4.4秒时，帮助马刺队以94-93领先。

“埃弗里是一位被低估的球员，”金特里说。“他不害怕投这些艰难的球。而那个孩子（吉尔）做出了一个精彩的防守。”

活塞队的球星格兰特·希尔(Grant Hill)随后在蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)的防守下，错失了一记18英尺的投篮。希尔垂下了肩膀，将球衣从短裤里拉出来，带着又一次失利走下了球场。

“这是一场疯狂的比赛，一场脆弱的比赛，”希尔说，他得到了20分。“这是我们今年在客场打得最好的一场比赛了。这场胜利本将极大地提升我们的信心。”

关于他的最后一投：“他防守得很好。我觉得我今晚有点不在状态。”

希尔几乎是低声说，他认为在圣安东尼奥，这场输球的噩梦将要结束。

“我们控制了整场比赛，控制了比赛节奏。但我们就是无法完成比赛。”

在希尔投失前，金特里对胜利仍抱有希望。

“我们还有4.4秒的时间，时间充足。我们认为格兰特可以突破上篮或者传球，”金特里说。

西利对马刺队在最后几秒的防守并不满意，对他最后一次失误的判罚也不满意。

“让人失望的是，比赛以这样愚蠢的方式结束，”他说。“我被犯规了。无论在比赛的什么时候，犯规就是犯规。我不在乎被罚款。我希望裁判因为没有做出正确的判罚而被罚款。”

乔·杜马斯(Joe Dumars)为活塞队贡献了21分，并以15506分的总得分超过了鲍勃·拉尼尔(Bob Lanier)的15488分，成为活塞队历史上第二位得分超过15000分的球员。

“现在这对我来说意义不大，”杜马斯说。“这场比赛就像我们本赛季的一个缩影。”

点击查看原文：Gentry's homecoming to San Antonio was one to forget

Gentry’s homecoming to San Antonio was one to forget

Alvin Gentry could be forgiven if he was thinking he was going to enjoy a nice homecoming.

The former Spurs assistant coach, who lives in San Antonio during the off-season, now strides the sidelines as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, the Spurs’ opponent Tuesday night at the Alamodome.

Gentry was elevated when head coach Doug Collins was canned.

The first thing he learned when he arrived in San Antonio was that David Robinson was out with an injured knee. Then, with 26 seconds left in the game, the Pistons led 94-93 and had possession of the ball.

And this despite the fact that the Pistons’ starting center left the game after eight minutes with a sprained ankle.

“We had control of the game,” Gentry said.

But once again this season, the 23-28 Pistons’ hands slipped off the control button.

The Spurs first trapped Lindsey Hunter, who tossed the ball over the defense to Malik Sealy. Avery Johnson and Reggie Geary then ran to Sealy, and Geary stripped the ball.

“All we had to do was hold onto the ball; it’s that basic,” Gentry said. “We figured they would try to trap us once. But they wouldn’t have let the clock run down. They would have fouled us and we could have hit our free throws. We had great free- throw shooters on the floor. We had that covered.”

That scenario didn’t happen. Geary tossed the ball to Johnson and the Spurs’ guard, who already had 13 points, flipped in a pressure-packed jumper from the right side to give the Spurs the 94-93 advantage with 4.4 seconds left.

“Avery is a very underrated player,” Gentry said. “He is not afraid to take those tough shots. And that kid (Geary) made a great play.”

Pistons star Grant Hill then missed an 18-footer in the face of Monty Williams. Hill’s shoulders sagged and he pulled his shirt out of his shorts as he walked off the floor with another loss.

“It’s a crazy game, a fragile game,” said Hill, who had 20 points. “This is the best we’ve played on the road this year. It would have been a great confidence booster.”

On his last shot: “He played some good defense. I felt like I was a little off tonight.”

Hill, speaking almost in a whisper, said he thought the bleeding of losing was about to end in San Antonio.

“We controlled the whole game, the tempo. But we just couldn’t finish it.”

Gentry had his hopes up until Hill’s miss.

“We had plenty of time with the 4.4 seconds. We figured Grant could either drive to the basket or get a pass off,” Gentry said.

Sealy was not that impressed with the Spurs’ defense in those final seconds and unimpressed with the officiating of his final turnover.

“What’s disappointing is it ended on a stupid play like that,” he said. “I was (expletive) fouled. A foul is a foul at any time of the game. I don’t care about getting fined. I hope the referee gets fined for not making the right call.”

Joe Dumars led the Pistons with 21 points and became the second-highest career scorer in Pistons history with 15,506 points, ahead of Bob Lanier’s 15,488.

“It doesn’t mean much right now,” Dumars said. “This game was kind of a snapshot of our season.”

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-19, By Jerry Briggs

马刺交易可能性不大

马刺球员在今天 NBA 交易截止日期前夕谨慎地推测，球队将维持现有阵容。

“有很多传言，”马刺中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)周三说道，“而且今天还会出现更多（传言）。你可能会认为，如果要进行交易，现在应该已经完成了。但你永远不知道。”

今天下午 5 点之后，本赛季剩下的时间将不再进行任何交易。交易截止日期过后不久，马刺与小牛队的比赛将在达拉斯的复兴球馆进行，比赛将于晚上 7:30 开始。

马刺替补前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person)在周三上午接受医生检查后，已经获准复出。珀森在周二晚上对阵底特律活塞的比赛中，背部感到疼痛。

这对马刺（35-16）来说是个好消息，他们将迎战本赛季与小牛队（10-42）的第四场也是最后一场常规赛。马刺队此前三场比赛全部获胜。

马刺队已经知道，他们将没有明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)，他将因右膝疼痛连续第二场比赛缺席。罗宾逊，球队的八次全明星球员和得分王，将在周五接受重新检查，以确定他是否能参加周六主场对阵犹他爵士的比赛。

“感觉好多了，”罗宾逊说道，他并没有前往达拉斯。“最重要的是休息一下。感觉好多了。对阵犹他是场重要比赛。我希望我能参加那场比赛。”

在过去的一周里，马刺主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)一直坚持认为，交易不太可能发生。他说，球队在截止日期前维持相同阵容的可能性为 90%-95%。

波波维奇驳斥了最近出现的传言，几位球员，包括洛杉矶快船的布伦特·巴里(Brent Barry)、底特律活塞的杰里·斯塔克豪斯(Jerry Stackhouse)和多伦多猛龙的道格·克里斯蒂(Doug Christie)最近表示有兴趣加盟马刺队。

“事情没有那么容易做到（促成一笔交易），”波波维奇说道。“任何人都乐于与大卫和蒂姆（邓肯）一起打球，当你看到他们将会遭到双人包夹，而球将会被传到（外围）的时候，你就会明白。你会知道，你会在那里得到你想要的一切。球员们想要加入这样的球队是自然的。”

消息人士否认了马刺在最后一刻与斯塔克豪斯或克里斯蒂进行交易的可能性。虽然巴里交易的可能性还没有完全消失，但可能性很小。

一些马刺球员比其他球员更担心交易截止日期的到来，尤其是珀杜，他是本赛季大部分传言的中心。

“如果我能在（达拉斯）开球时在场，那就说明我本赛季剩下的时间都会在这里，”珀杜说道。

马刺后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)在对阵活塞的比赛中投出了制胜球，他说他确信球队中的一些球员一定感到焦虑。

“我敢肯定，有些人会感到不安，”约翰逊说道。“在一年中的这个时候，情况就是这样。这是人的正常反应。”

迹象表明，马刺队可能会等待，看看他们是否能签下拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔(Latrell Sprewell)来满足他们对额外进攻火力的需求。预计仲裁员将在 3 月 18 日之前裁决，是否会取消对这位前金州勇士队的后卫的禁赛。

但约翰逊说，如果波波维奇决定交易，他不会感到意外。

“波波没有说 100%（不会交易），”约翰逊说道。“那 10%意味着我们将尽他所能改变球队。我敢肯定，AT&T 和 Sprint 这些电话公司在这一年中的这个时候，从 NBA 球队身上赚了不少钱。”

罗宾逊说，他认为马刺队不会进行交易。

“我不明白为什么球队中任何人会感到（紧张），”罗宾逊说道。“我不知道有没有人能帮助我们。我个人认为，没有必要担心。但你永远不知道。”

• 马刺新闻：布伦特·巴里因为脚踝扭伤，周三没有参加快船在洛杉矶的训练。巴里的缺席加剧了他在今天交易截止日期前被交易的可能性。

电视报道称，快船正在努力交易这位 6 英尺 6 英寸的后卫。据报道，马刺和迈阿密热火都与快船就巴里的交易进行了谈判。

• 艾弗里·约翰逊的投篮命中率（0.483）在联盟后卫中排名第三。NBA 后卫中投篮命中率领先的是新泽西网队的谢尔曼·道格拉斯（0.510）和印第安纳步行者的雷吉·米勒（0.485）。

点击查看原文：Trade looks unlikely for Spurs

Trade looks unlikely for Spurs

Spurs players cautiously speculated on the eve of today’s NBA trading deadline that the team would stay with its present roster.

“There’s a lot of rumors,” Spurs center Will Perdue said Wednesday. “And there will be plenty more (today). You would think that if something was going to be done, that it would be done by now. But you never know.”

After 5 p.m. today, no trades can be made for the remainder of the season. Soon after the deadline passes, tipoff between the Spurs and Mavericks will follow at 7:30 p.m. at Dallas’ Reunion Arena.

Spurs reserve forward Chuck Person has been cleared to play after a doctor’s exam Wednesday morning. Person experienced pain in his back Tuesday night during the 95-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

It was good news for the Spurs (35-16) going into their fourth and final meeting of the regular season against the Mavericks (10-42). The Spurs have won all three previous meetings.

Already, the Spurs knew they would be without star center David Robinson, who will sit out his second straight game with a sore right knee. Robinson, the team’s eight-time All-Star and leading scorer, will be re-examined Friday to determine his status for Saturday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.

“It’s feeling pretty good,” said Robinson, who did not travel to Dallas. “The big thing is getting some rest. It feels better. Utah is a big game. I’m hoping I can get into that one.”

Over the past week, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has maintained a trade wasn’t likely. He said there was a 90-95 percent chance of the team staying with the same group through the deadline.

Popovich dismissed speculation that started when several players, including Brent Barry of the Los Angeles Clippers, Jerry Stackhouse of the Detroit Pistons and Doug Christie of the Toronto Raptors, indicated interest recently in playing for the Spurs.

“Things just aren’t that easy to do (to work a trade),” Popovich said. “It’d be fun for anyone to play with David and Tim (Duncan), when you know they’re going to get double-teamed and the ball is going to get kicked (to the perimeter). You know you’re going to get all you can eat out there. It’s only natural for guys to want to play on a team like that.”

Sources discounted the chance of the Spurs working any last-minute trades for Stackhouse or Christie. And while prospects for a Barry deal aren’t dead, it’s probably unlikely.

Some Spurs players are more anxious about the deadline’s arrival than others, particularly Perdue, who has been the subject of most of the rumors this season.

“If I’m there for the tip (at Dallas), that’ll tell you where I’ll be for the rest of the season,” Perdue said.

Spurs guard Avery Johnson, who hit the winning shot against Detroit, said he feels certain there is some anxiety among several players on the roster.

“I’m sure some people are uneasy,” Johnson said. “That’s just the way it is during this time of year. It’s a normal human reaction.”

Indications are that the Spurs probably will wait to see if they can sign Latrell Sprewell to fill their need for additional offensive firepower. An arbitrator is expected to rule by March 18 if a suspension will be lifted against the former Golden State guard.

But Johnson said he would not be surprised if Popovich pulled the trigger on a deal.

“Pop didn’t say 100 percent (that he wouldn’t trade),” Johnson said. “That 10 percent means that we are going to try to change the ballclub in the best way that he sees fit. I’m sure the phone companies - AT&T and Sprint - are making a lot of money off NBA teams this time of year.”

Robinson said he didn’t think the Spurs would deal.

“I can’t see why anybody (on the team) would be (nervous),” Robinson said. “I don’t know that there’s anyone out there who is going to help us. Personally, I don’t think there’s any reason to worry. But you never know.”

- Spurs notes: Nursing a sprained ankle, Brent Barry did not report to the Clippers’ practice in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Barry’s absence heightened speculation that he could be traded before today’s deadline.

Televised reports said the Clippers were working hard to deal the 6-foot-6 shooting guard. Both the Spurs and the Miami Heat reportedly have talked to the Clippers about a trade for Barry.

- Avery Johnson’s field-goal percentage (.483) ranks third in the league among guards. The NBA leaders among backcourt players are New Jersey’s Sherman Douglas (.510) and Indiana’s Reggie Miller (.485).

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-20, By Glenn Rogers

马刺惊险战胜小牛 - 实力不济的达拉斯险些上演I-35公路上的逆袭

达拉斯 - 如果这是部电影，它将会被命名为《大逃亡2》。

马刺在经历了数段不稳定的发挥和糟糕的投篮表现后，于周四晚上在联合球馆以 87-81 战胜了达拉斯小牛队，最终逃出生天。

马刺顶住了毫无技巧的小牛队的进攻，在第四节一直保持着微弱的 6 分和 7 分的领先优势。圣安东尼奥队自身间歇性的进攻得到了及时的防守亮点以及达拉斯持续不断的失误的帮助。

蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams) 一记三分球将圣安东尼奥队的领先优势扩大到 82-74，比赛还剩 3 分 33 秒，这几乎宣告了小牛队的命运。

“比赛变得非常激烈，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说道。“我们在第四节的投篮和防守都提升了。我们的投篮比他们进了更多。”

马刺队在没有大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 的情况下打了第二场比赛，他因为右膝疼痛回到了圣安东尼奥。他是否能够参加周六晚上对阵犹他队的比赛目前还没有确定。

除了罗宾逊之外，前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 是否能够上场也显得不确定。珀森说他左下背部疼痛严重，并一直延伸到腿部。

“那里有一些液体积聚，”珀森坐在更衣室里痛苦地说。“右侧，他们去年动了椎间盘手术的地方，还好。另一边却在发作，但我必须忍受。我只能无视疼痛。只要我能上场，防守仍然会尊重我。我今晚只得到了 4 次投篮机会。”

波波维奇在赛前曾表示，他不确定珀森是否能够对阵达拉斯。

马刺队克服了他们在第三节中段落后 10 分（56-46）时的任何恐慌情绪。

但达拉斯又开始投篮失误，并出现失误。圣安东尼奥队充分利用了这一点，并打出了一波 18-1 的攻势，将比分带入第四节时领先至 64-57。

达拉斯在第三节 21 次投篮中错失了 16 次，并出现了 6 次失误。他们的全场命中率为 36.7%，但他们通过 58-39 的篮板优势勉强保持了竞争力。

鲜有上场的巴伯·威尔斯(Bubba Wells) 从达拉斯替补席上站起来，凭借 14 投 10 中的出色表现，以 21 分的得分吓唬了马刺队。但他的队友中没有一个人能够与他的命中率相媲美。

“很长一段时间以来，这场比赛都非常有趣，”小牛队主教练唐·尼尔森(Don Nelson)说道。“每个人都打得很好。然后，你知道的，我们把首发球员重新放回场上，他们顽强地坚持了一段时间。我们最好的球员（迈克尔·芬利(Michael Finley)，15 投 3 中）表现不佳。”

“现在对我们来说最重要的是用防守来赢得比赛，”马刺队后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)说道。“即使大卫在的时候，有时我们也达不到我们想要的水平，因为我们正在尝试很多新东西。”

在没有罗宾逊的情况下，马刺队再次将进攻重点放在蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)身上，这位新秀以 26 分、16 个篮板和 5 次盖帽做出了回应。他在达拉斯最后可能的反扑中命中了一记 15 英尺跳投，然后在另一端封盖了肖恩·布拉德利(Shawn Bradley)的投篮，帮助圣安东尼奥队以 84-78 保持领先，比赛还剩不到一分钟。

“好吧，威尔(Perdue)把球传来传去，然后肖恩没有看到我来了，我抢到了球，”邓肯说。

• 马刺队新闻：马刺队在交易方面有一些想法，但没有足够的热度达成协议。

“不，我并不失望，”主教练格雷格·波波维奇说道。“我们拥有一支非常棒的球队。如果我们是一支糟糕的球队，那么我们如果什么都做不了就会感到失望。”

马刺队的主要目标，快船队的布伦特·巴里(Brent Barry)，被交易到了迈阿密热火队，换来了中锋艾萨克·奥斯汀(Isaac Austin)。

点击查看原文：Mavericks give Spurs a scare - Lowly Dallas nearly pulls off an I-35 upset

Mavericks give Spurs a scare - Lowly Dallas nearly pulls off an I-35 upset

DALLAS - If this had been a movie, it would been titled “The Great Escape II.”

The Spurs survived stretches of erratic play and poor shooting and left Reunion Arena with an 87-81 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

The Spurs held off the artless Mavericks, maintaining slim six- and seven-point leads through the fourth period. San Antonio’s own sporadic offense was bolstered by timely standout defensive plays and a continuing rain of missed shots by Dallas.

Monty Williams all but sealed the Mavs’ fate with a three-point play that gave San Antonio a 82-74 lead with 3:33 left in the game.

“It got to be real physical out there,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Our shooting and defense picked up in the fourth quarter. A few more of our shots than theirs went down.”

The Spurs played their second game without David Robinson, back in San Antonio with an aching right knee. His status for Saturday night’s game against Utah is still to be determined.

In addition to Robinson, forward Chuck Person’s ability to play appears iffy. Person said he is suffering severe pain in his lower left back that runs down into his leg.

“There is some fluid buildup there,” Person said, while sitting in pain in the locker room. “The right side, where they operated on the discs last year, is OK. The other side is acting up, but I just have to live with it. I just have to ignore the pain. If I can just get out on the floor, the defense still respects me. I only got four looks tonight.”

Popovich had said before the game that he wasn’t sure Person would be able to play against Dallas.

The Spurs fought off whatever feelings of panic they may have had when they fell behind by 10, 56- 46, midway through the third quarter.

But Dallas reverted to missing shots and turning the ball over. San Antonio took full advantage and went on an 18-1 run to take a 64-57 edge into the final period.

Dallas missed 16 of 21 shots and turned the ball over six times in the third quarter. They put down 36.7 percent through the game but managed to stay reasonably close by outrebounding San Antonio 58- 39.

The seldom-used Bubba Wells came off the Dallas bench and scared the Spurs with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting. But none of his teammates could match his accuracy.

“It was such a fun game for a long time,” Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. “Everybody was playing well. Then, what do you know, we put the starters back in and they gut it out for a period of time. Our best player (Michael Finley, 3 for 15) has a bad night.”

“The main thing for us right now is to win games with our defense,” Spurs guard Avery Johnson said. “Even when David is here, sometimes we are not as good as we want to be with a lot of new things that we are trying.”

Without Robinson, the Spurs again centered their offense on Tim Duncan and the rookie responded with 26 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots. He halted the last possible Dallas comeback when he hit a 15-foot jumper and then blocked a Shawn Bradley shot at the other end to keep San Antonio on top 84-78 with less than a minute to play.

“Well, Will (Perdue) knocked the ball around and then Shawn didn’t see me coming and I was able to get the ball,” Duncan said.

- Spurs note: The Spurs had a few irons in the trade fire but nothing heated up enough to strike a deal.

“No, I’m not disappointed,” Coach Gregg Popovich said. “We have a very good basketball team. If we had a poor team, then we would have been disappointed if we couldn’t do anything.”

A prime target for the Spurs, the Clippers’ Brent Barry, went to the Miami Heat in exchange for center Isaac Austin.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-20, By Kevin O’Keeffe

在圣安东尼奥，有志者事不成？

达拉斯 - 当威廉·爱德华·珀杜三世（William Edward Perdue III）在周四晚上早些时候漫步进入联合球馆时，这证实了格雷格·波波维奇（Gregg Popovich）希望为马刺队带来新面孔的愿望破灭了。

珀杜，他的首发球员身份部分是为了提高他的交易价值，他非常确信自己在圣安东尼奥已经成为过去，以至于他的妻子詹妮弗（Jennifer）去年秋天没有从芝加哥陪他来。

“我至少会待到今年年底，”珀杜在周四马刺队以 87-81 险胜毫无竞争力的独行侠队（10-43）后说道。

珀杜的言论无疑指的是他 1998-99 年合同选择年应得的 420 万美元，这很可能将结束他在圣安东尼奥的时光。

马刺队的总经理兼主教练波波维奇值得赞扬，因为他努力尝试为球队带来帮助。

现在，在周四晚上经过两个多节的比赛后，他可能希望自己已经交易掉了所有身穿黑色和银色球衣的球员。

马刺队再次在外线表现挣扎，贾伦·杰克逊 13 投 5 中，维尼·德尔·尼格罗 12 投 4 中，查克·珀森 4 投 1 中。

正是这种外线表现问题，波波维奇试图通过引入洛杉矶快船队的后卫布伦特·巴里（Brent Barry）来解决。

但波波维奇无法协商达成三方交易，将珀杜送到“X”队。快船队对马刺队的 7 尺中锋没有兴趣。

当迈阿密热火队提出用艾萨克·奥斯汀（Isaac Austin）换巴里时，这彻底打消了马刺队的念头。

底线是：除了蒂姆·邓肯（Tim Duncan）和大卫·罗宾逊（David Robinson）之外，马刺队没有其他球员能够引起其他球队的兴趣。

这并不是贬低任何球员。这只是一个事实，原因各不相同。

现在，马刺队开始进入“等待斯普雷维尔”阶段。

马刺队高层中有些人认为斯普雷维尔可能会被允许上场，也许最早在 3 月 18 日。斯普雷维尔必须以最低的 272,250 美元签署合同，因为马刺队已经超过了工资帽。

波波维奇此前曾说过，签下斯普雷维尔是“明智之举”。

请原谅我，但我认为签下斯普雷维尔会让人质疑智力问题。

但对于一个掐过教练脖子、殴打过教练，还威胁要杀死教练的人，我总是感到不舒服。

马刺队管理层的这种选择性道德令人好奇，因为他们抛弃了丹尼斯·罗德曼（Dennis Rodman），尽管他涂着口红，但还没有殴打、掐住或威胁过他的教练。

波波维奇显然相信他曾在金州勇士队担任助理教练时与斯普雷维尔的相处会起到作用。为此，波波维奇已经说服了马刺队董事长彼得·霍尔特（Peter Holt）签下这个社会不适应者是可以的。

斯普雷维尔对卡莱西莫的怒火绝非孤立事件。

我们不能忘记，据警方报告称，1995 年斯普雷维尔在一次交通拦截中对一名亚裔美国警察使用种族歧视性语言。

当然罗宾逊和艾弗里·约翰逊（Avery Johnson）都为斯普雷维尔辩护过。这两个和蔼可亲的家伙对罗德曼和维尔顿·麦克斯韦尔（Vernon Maxwell）也没有任何批评的话。

除了他恶劣的行为之外，斯普雷维尔还取得过什么成就？

简单来说，他是一个高出手次数的射手，他在金州勇士队五年中对球的支配可能会是一个难以改变的习惯。

但这将是斯普雷维尔最不令人反感的习惯。

点击查看原文：In S.A., where there's a Will, there's no way

In S.A., where there’s a Will, there’s no way

DALLAS - When William Edward Perdue III ambled onto the Reunion Arena floor early Thursday evening, it confirmed that Gregg Popovich’s hopes of bringing a new face to the Spurs had failed.

Perdue, whose status as starter was in part to try to raise his trade value, was so convinced he was history in San Antonio that his wife, Jennifer, did not accompany him from Chicago last fall.

“I’m here 'til the end of the year, at least,” Perdue said following the Spurs’ tense 87-81 victory against the hapless Mavericks (10-43) on Thursday.

Perdue’s remark no doubt refers to the $4.2 million due on the option year of his contract for 1998-99 that likely will end his time in S.A.

Popovich, the Spurs’ general manager/coach, deserves praise for trying diligently to bring help.

Now, through two-plus quarters Thursday night, he might have wished he’d have traded everyone wearing black and silver.

The Spurs again struggled from the outside with Jaren Jackson going 5 for 13, Vinny Del Negro 4 for 12 and Chuck Person 1 for 4.

And it is this perimeter game that Popovich tried to address by trying to bring in Los Angeles Clippers guard Brent Barry.

But Popovich was unable to negotiate a three-way deal to get Perdue to team “X.” The Clippers had no interest in the Spurs’ 7- footer.

When the Miami Heat offered Isaac Austin for Barry, that buried the Spurs.

Bottom line: The Spurs have no one, save for Tim Duncan and David Robinson, that teams have much interest in.

And that’s not to denigrate anyone. It’s just a fact, for varying reasons.

Now, the Spurs begin the “Waiting for Latrell” phase of their existence.

There is a feeling among some in the Spurs’ hierarchy that Sprewell will be cleared to play, perhaps as early as March 18. Sprewell would have to sign for the minimum $272,250 since the Spurs are over the salary cap.

Popovich has said previously that bringing in Sprewell is a “no- brainer.”

Forgive me, but I think bringing in Sprewell raises a question regarding brain power.

But I’m funny about a guy who chokes his coach, strikes his coach and then threatens to kill his coach.

The selective morality on the part of the Spurs’ management is curious since this group jettisoned Dennis Rodman, who despite wearing rouge, has yet to strike, strangle or threaten his coach.

Popovich apparently believes his time with Sprewell when he was an assistant coach in Golden State will make a difference. To that end, Popovich has convinced Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt that it would be OK to sign this social misfit.

Sprewell’s rage against Carlesimo is hardly an isolated incident.

Lest we forget in 1995 when Sprewell used racial slurs against an Asian-American police officer during a traffic stop, according to the police report.

Sure Robinson and Avery Johnson have spoken in Sprewell’s behalf. That congenial twosome also did not have a discouraging word for Rodman and Vernon Maxwell, either.

Forgetting his atrocious behavior, what has Sprewell ever won?

Simply, he is a high-volume shooter whose domination of the ball in five years with Golden State may be a hard habit to break.

But then, that would be Sprewell’s least offensive habit.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-20

该你说了

斯普雷维尔的名声与马刺队的形象不符

关于 2 月 16 日的 NBA 笔记专栏，“斯普雷维尔案今日结束”：

这篇文章部分写道，“马刺队官员私下确认了有关他们将向斯普雷维尔提供一份合同的猜测，合同金额为 272,500 美元的最低工资的按比例分配部分”。

马刺队怎么会想到雇佣拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔(Latrell Sprewell)？

如果他们真的在考虑这件事，他们无疑是赞同“目的正当化手段”理论的。

斯普雷维尔是个暴徒和恶棍。如果马刺队雇用这个人，他们怎么能继续宣传“我们支持家庭价值观”呢？

斯普雷维尔和所有这种恶棍的问题在于，他们从来没有被说过“不”，也没有为自己的行为承担责任。

雇佣他，只会助长和加剧这种恶劣的行为。

致马刺队和彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)：如果你雇佣斯普雷维尔，我将永远不再为我自己或我的孩子购买马刺队的球票，观看马刺队的电视比赛，或戴马刺队的帽子或夹克。

你关心吗？罗恩·哈里斯（Ron Harris）

点击查看原文：Your Turn

Your Turn

Don’t use Marines for Border Patrol’s job I am surprised at the “outrage” of U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, over the proposed end of the armed military patrols along the border.

No, on second thought, I am not surprised.

Congress cannot give trained Customs and Border Patrol services enough money to properly do their jobs, but, instead, they inundate the military with tax dollars and then send the U.S. Marines to do the job. Standard operating procedure, Washington, D.C., style.

From the hall’s of Montezuma to the shores to Tripoli, the Marines kill people. That’s their job.

The Board Patrol’s job is to patrol the border.

Normally, I agree with Rep. Smith. In this instance, however, I don’t. Adjust the budget. Don’t send our sons to kill us. Tom Nance George West

Cigarette companies cannot be trusted

A recent San Antonio Express News story reported how cigarette companies had planned marketing strategies around consumers, ages 14-24.

This evidence was revealed in court documents discussing the major cigarette companies.

You can’t help but believe that these companies were marketing to more then just legal age cigarette smokers.

To all you gentleman, I know you really don’t believe that if you smoke a cigarette, hundreds of women will come flocking to you, but a teenager who doesn’t know any better might believe it’s true.

One of the spokespersons for the cigarette companies claimed cigarette smoking isn’t addictive. If that’s true, why are companies coming up with products like gum or the patch to help people quit smoking?

Now, can we really trust the cigarette companies views on smoking? I don’t think so. Gina Bruno, Schertz

TAAS counter-productive, stressing out students

Parents, grandparents and teachers should start a petition to have the TAAS test eliminated from Texas schools.

As a parent and a volunteer at my child’s school, I see first hand what preparing for this test does to these children.

My observation has led me to believe that, because of the TAAS test, children suffer from low self-esteem and physical and mental stress. Watching these children who do not pass get teased and pushed harder, saddens me. This does not help them succeed, but lowers their self-confidence and makes them feel inadequate.

The children feel pressured, which stresses them out. Kids have to pass the test, or the teachers get blamed; therefore, the teachers put the pressure on the kids.

I believe in a good education and believe students should be up to par. But I also believe they can prove themselves worthy in other ways and in a more relaxed environment.

Maybe legislators forgot what it was like to be young; and, they did not have to take a TAAS test in their younger years to be where they are today.

School is a place for learning, not a training camp. Cassandra Mendoza

Sprewell reputation is not in Spurs image

Re: Feb. 16 NBA NOTES column, “Sprewell case ends today”:

This article states in part, “Spurs officials have privately confirmed speculation they will offer Sprewell a contract for the prorated portion of the minimum salary of $272,500.”

How can the Spurs even think of hiring Latrell Sprewell?

If they are indeed considering this, they certainly adhere to “the end justifies the means” theory.

Sprewell is a thug and a punk. How can the Spurs continue to advertise “We Support Family Values” if they hire this guy.

The problem with Sprewell and all such punks is they have never been told “no,” and been held accountable for their actions.

By hiring him, you would only perpetuate and contribute to such foul behavior.

To the Spurs and Peter Holt: If you do hire Sprewell, I will never again purchase a Spurs ticket for myself or my children, watch a Spurs TV game or wear a Spurs cap or jacket.

Do you care? Ron Harris

Remove constables until after trials concluded

Re: Feb. 5 news story, “Indictments Unit 2 Bexar County constables:”

Taxpayers in Bexar County will end up paying for elected public servants’ unchecked oppressive acts toward officers at the Bexar County constables offices.

These elected officials are being allowed to manage their offices while under indictment.

When they are indicted, should they not have been removed from a position of authority until a trial is held just like a reasonable person would assume?

These elected officials should be held accountable and denied access to prevent any pressure on deputies.

Hold them to a higher standard and maybe taxpayers will start to get a better qualified and educated individual to serve the voters. David Coffee

SASD should find other land for middle school

I am a homeowner living in the area that is supposed to be bought by the San Antonio School District to build a new Harris Middle School.

We have not been legally notified but, yet, SASD is making plans to acquire our land and promises to start construction in the spring of 1999. They need to purchase 31 homes in this area.

I agree that everyone needs to move forward, but some of these people living in these homes have been there for generations and have lots of memories.

The second area of this problem is the fact that these people are retired and cannot pay for new homes. I do not wish to move.

I don’t think that it’s fair after 26 years of sacrificing to pay for my home and remodeling it that they can do this without regard to that hard work.

I have memories of my deceased son, my daughters’ teen years and my grandchildren and memories of my husband. I feel close to my son in my house and don’t want that taken away.

To my way of thinking, SASD has no regard for human feelings, just as they had no regard for the students and parents of Jefferson High School.

I’m sure if SASD looked for vacant land, they would find some. The school has been in existence many years, so the little more time that it would take to look for other land would not hurt anyone. Juan Rodriguez

Growing population’s social problems not new

Re: Feb. 12 letter, “Church policies conflict with growing population”:

I don’t know if Dr. Peter Bonadero is having a religious problem or a population problem, but the social problems he mentioned have been with us since the beginning of time.

It is true that, as the population grows, so will social problems. Nevertheless, they do not grow exponentially.

He’s right by saying that the policies of the Catholic Church affect the mental and physical health of individuals and families.

Have you not read or heard the latest health news about people who pray and go to church on a regular basis? Eleazar Paredes

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-21, By Travis Poling

体育商业： “健康” 罗宾逊将为奥利奥带来甜蜜灌篮

在身着简装出演耐克超级碗广告后，圣安东尼奥马刺队的中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)与奥利奥饼干签署了一项新的代言协议，这次代言风格更加健康。

马刺队的这位主力球员将与他的两个儿子一起出现在奥利奥饼干的广告中。奥利奥饼干制造商纳贝斯克的代表没有透露罗宾逊的广告代言费。

在广告中，罗宾逊教他的儿子大卫·小罗宾逊(David Robinson Jr.)和科里(Corey)如何将奥利奥饼干浸泡在牛奶中。

一项消费者调查发现，30% 的奥利奥饼干爱好者喜欢将饼干浸泡在牛奶中，于是纳贝斯克开始寻找一位 NBA 球星。

“我们希望将奥利奥的标志性形象与一位拥有同样地位的篮球运动员结合起来，”该公司市场营销总监安妮·史密斯(Ann Smith)说。

丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)和查尔斯·巴克利(Charles Barkley)就不用考虑了。史密斯说，公司寻找的球员不仅要能灌篮（尽管这个 30 秒的广告中没有出现篮球），而且还要是一位“健康且以家庭为中心”的 NBA 球星。

- 杰克·迪勒(Jack Diller)，前马刺队首席执行官，在他的最新任职地纳什维尔正在为季票销售遇到一些困难。与马刺队不同，迪勒管理的纳什维尔掠食者曲棍球队并非城里唯一的主要联盟球队。

与掠食者队一样，NFL 的纳什维尔石油工人们正在与企业合作，为将于 1999 年开幕的体育场购买季票和豪华包厢。

据《娱乐商业》杂志报道，掠食者队总裁迪勒大约有 50 天的时间要再售出 4600 张季票，总数达到 12000 张，否则纳什维尔就有可能失去这支球队。

点击查看原文：Business of Sports: 'Wholesome' Robinson to make sweet dunk for Oreo

Business of Sports: ‘Wholesome’ Robinson to make sweet dunk for Oreo

After appearing stripped down in a Nike Super Bowl commercial, San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson has signed a new endorsement pact with a more wholesome twist.

The Spurs franchise player will appear in a commercial with two of his sons in an advertisement for Oreo cookies. The amount Robinson was paid for the ad was not disclosed by a spokesperson for Oreo-maker Nabisco.

In the commercial, Robinson coaches sons David Jr. and Corey on how to dunk an Oreo in milk.

After a consumer survey discovered 30 percent of Oreo munchers prefer to dunk the cookie, Nabisco set out looking for an NBA star.

“We were looking to marry the iconic image of Oreo with a basketball player with the same status,” said Ann Smith, director of marketing for the company.

Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley need not apply. Smith said the company sought out a player who could not only dunk the ball (although no basketballs appear in the 30 second spot), but an NBA star who also was “wholesome and family oriented,” Smith said.

- A group of local soccer enthusiasts are raising money for an ambitious plan to build 12 soccer fields on 30 acres north of Universal City on Interstate 35.

The five-year plan of the new San Antonio Metropolitan Youth Soccer Institute also calls for a soccer stadium with at least 2,000 seats and an indoor soccer field, said director and local lawyer Mike Dennis.

The nonprofit organization needs about $100,000 in seed money to build the first four lighted fields by September and another $1 million for the whole shooting match.

The organization already has the land. It was purchased by several monied soccer fans and leased to the nonprofit group for $1 a year.

Another hurdle cleared in drought-prone South Texas is the water source. Dennis said they have four sources of water - three of which are not dependent on the Edwards Aquifer. Passing through the planned soccer mecca is a 16- inch water line carrying recycled water to the Universal City Golf Course. Dennis said they will tap into that line for a lesser cost than potable water and keep the Baby Bermuda field green.

“We expect to be a mecca for soccer teams that want to play on a quality field where they can kick the ball and it goes where it is supposed to,” Dennis said.

He estimates that the soccer complex will eventually attract soccer tournaments from around the state and pump about $1 million a year into the local economy from restaurant and hotel spending. Tournaments usually last about three days.

Besides supporting existing soccer clubs, the fields will be offered free or at a low cost to help kids from low-income neighborhoods to develop their own clubs.

- Jack Diller, former chief executive officer of the Spurs, is having a little trouble selling season tickets at his latest posting in Nashville. Unlike the Spurs, Diller’s Nashville Predators of the NHL are not the only game in town.

Like the Predators, the NFL’s Nashville Oilers are hitting up corporations to buy season tickets and luxury boxes for a stadium opening in 1999.

Diller, president of the Predators, has about 50 days to sell 4,600 more season tickets - for a total of 12,000 - or run the risk of Nashville losing the franchise, according to Amusement Business magazine.

By Travis Poling, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-22, By Jerry Briggs
马刺仍为中西部头号组合，但马刺的末节反扑功亏一篑

周六上午，马刺队告诉中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)晚上晚些时候在阿拉莫圆顶球场身着便服。

他们告诉他计划在与犹他爵士队的比赛中以及至少另外两场比赛中作为预防措施休息，让他的右膝疼痛得到缓解。

虽然罗宾逊原本希望能获得参赛许可，但他不得不和其他几位因伤在场下的队友一道见证爵士队在主场球迷面前以身体对抗性极强的 79-77 获胜。

罗宾逊和马刺队的其他忠实球迷看着新秀全明星蒂姆·邓肯在比赛还剩六十分之一秒时走向罚球线，试图扳平比分。

在过去 16 场比赛中罚球命中率接近 80% 的邓肯大幅度进步，却罚丢了第一个球。球击中篮框前缘，反弹到篮板后又弹到篮框前缘。

接着它滚落下来，让马刺队别无选择，只能故意投丢第二个球。邓肯将球投向篮筐前缘，球弹向一边，被队友蒙蒂·威廉姆斯接住。

向后倒地的威廉姆斯在蜂鸣声响起时无法将球投向空中，将比赛打平。

“我只是想把第一个球罚进去。”邓肯感叹道，他最终得到了 29 分、15 个篮板和 3 次盖帽。“你把第一个球罚进去，后面的就会容易多了。但它却滚出来了。”

前锋卡尔·马龙为爵士队得到 24 分和 13 个篮板，赢下球队七连胜。杰夫·霍纳塞克得到 11 分，帮助犹他爵士队（37 胜 15 负）仍然位居中西部赛区榜首。

艾弗里·约翰逊在与爵士队明星控球后卫约翰·斯托克顿的比赛中发挥出色，得到 20 分、7 次助攻和 3 次抢断。维尼·德尔·内格罗得到 13 分，但其他球员都没有得分上双。

马刺队没有时间为这场失利而哀叹。

比赛结束后，球队原定会立刻登上包机前往菲尼克斯，在美西球馆与太阳队（36 胜 16 负）进行比赛，比赛时间是今晚 7 点。

球队的头号得分手罗宾逊不会在菲尼克斯的比赛以及周二晚上主场迎战明尼苏达队的比赛中出场。他将在周一会接受骨扫描，然后在周三重新接受评估。

“他有所好转，”波波维奇说。“施密特医生认为已经有了显著的改善。现在让他上场厮杀还为时过早。我们希望看到这种趋势是否会持续下去。这需要再过四五天时间。”

第四节由马刺队上演了一场激烈的反扑，他们在还剩 8 分 50 秒时以 14 分落后。

马刺队在前三节的外线命中率并不高，然后在最后 12 分钟内反弹，命中率达到 62.5%。

邓肯率先出击，得到 10 分，包括一个 12 英尺的转身投篮，命中后在还剩 29.2 秒时让马刺队将比分差距缩小到最终的 2 分。

马龙在最后一次进攻中对邓肯犯规，将这位新秀罚上罚球线，留给他的时间不到一秒钟。马刺队中锋威尔·珀杜说，他认为邓肯第一个罚球出手时很好。

“毫无疑问，他（今晚）会全力以赴，”珀杜说。“好在他没有几天时间去思考这件事。他必须立即重新上马。”

当邓肯故意投失第二次球时，禁区内身体相撞的情景就像来自旧西部片《生牛皮》。

马刺队的更衣室里没有人会否认，在威廉姆斯徒劳地试图投篮扳平比分之前，他最后一次进攻时遭到了冲撞。

“那不值得被吹罚，”威廉姆斯坚持说。

点击查看原文：Jazz remain top combo in Midwest Spurs' late rally falls short

Jazz remain top combo in Midwest Spurs’ late rally falls short

The Spurs on Saturday morning told star center David Robinson to wear street clothes to the Alamodome later in the evening.

They told him to plan on sitting out the game against the Utah Jazz and at least two more as a precautionary measure, to rest his sore right knee.

While Robinson had hoped for clearance to play, he was forced to watch along with a couple of other teammates on the injured list as the Jazz prevailed in a physical, 79-77 victory in front of 26,572 fans at the dome.

Robinson, along with the rest of the Spurs’ faithful, watched as rookie All-Star Tim Duncan went to the free throw line with six- tenths of a second remaining and a chance to tie.

Duncan, who has improved dramaticlaly to hit nearly 80 percent at the stripe over his last 16 games, missed the first one. It hit the front of the rim, glanced to the backboard and then to the front of the iron again.

And then it rolled off, leaving the Spurs no choice but to miss the second one intentionally. Duncan fired it off the rim, and it bounced off the side to teammate Monty Williams.

Falling bakcwards, Williams couldn’t get a game-tying attempt into the air as the buzzer sounded.

“I was just rying to get the first one down,” lamented Duncan who finished with 29 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots. “You get the first one down and it’s that much easier. But it rolled off.”

Forward Karl Malone paced the Jazz to their seventh win in a row with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Jeff Hornacek added 11 points as Utah (37-15) held onto the lead in the Midwest Division.

Playing an inspired game against Jazz star point guard John Stockton, Avery Johnson added 20 points, seven assists and three steals. Vinny Del Negro scored 13 points, but nobody else reached double figures.

The Spurs don’t have time to lament the loss.

They were scheduled to board a charter aircraft immediately after the game and fly to Phoenix, where they will take on the Suns (36-16) tonight at 7 at America West Arena.

Robinson, the team’s leading scorer, will not play at Phoenix or in a home game Tuesday night against Minnesota. He will undergo a bone scan on Monday and then will be re-evaluated Wednesday.

“He has improved,” Popovich said. “Dr. Schmidt thinks there has been significant improvement. It’s still too early to let him go out there and pound. We want to see if this trend continues. That’ll take four or five more days.”

The fourth quarter featured a spirited rally by the Spurs, who trailed by 14 points with 8:50 remaining.

The Spurs couldn’t hit much of anything from the perimeter in the first three quarters, and then they turned around and shot 62.5 percent in the final 12 minutes.

Duncan led the charge with 10 points, including a 12-foot turnaround over Malone to bring the Spurs within the final two-point margin with 29.2 seconds remaining.

Malone fouled Duncan on the final play, sending the rookie to the line with less than a second left. Spurs center Will Perdue said he thought Duncan’s first free throw was good when it left his hand.

“No doubt he’ll play all out (tonight),” Perdue said. “It’s a good thing he doesn’t have a couple of days to think about it. He has to get up on the horse again right away.”

When Duncan missed the second attempt on purpose, the clash of bodies in the paint looked like something out of the old Western, “Rawhide.”

Nobody in the Spurs locker room would dispute that Williams was bumped on the last play before he tried in vain to hoist up something that would tie the game.

“It didn’t warrant a call,” Williams insisted.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-22, By Glenn Rogers

银色马刺：最初的队伍

科比·迪特里克(Coby Dietrick)
基本情况：
这位身高 6 英尺 10.5 英寸的迪特里克现年 49 岁，他为圣安东尼奥出战了 492 场常规赛和 42 场季后赛。1972 年，他作为自由球员从达拉斯加盟圣安东尼奥。在 1978-79 赛季结束后，他未能获得续约。但他在 1982-83 赛季后半段回归，签了两份为期 10 天的合同，并出战了 8 场比赛。在圣安东尼奥效力于 ABA 的三年时间里，他场均得到 6.4 分和 5.7 个篮板，在效力于 NBA 马刺队的四年时间里，他场均得到 7.3 分和 4.3 个篮板。在为马刺效力之前，迪特里克曾在孟菲斯和达拉斯分别打过一个完整的赛季。

现在他在哪里？
迪特里克在圣安东尼奥拥有“放松背部”(Relax the Back) 特许经营权，这是一家专门为个人需求打造椅子的公司。

马刺之后的历史：
圣安东尼奥生涯结束后，迪特里克与芝加哥公牛队签约，并为公牛队效力了三个赛季。他在圣安东尼奥出战的八场比赛结束了他的 NBA 生涯。之后，他在意大利的的里雅斯特打了一个赛季。

“我想在一个拥有实质内容的欧洲城市打球，一个拥有多元文化的城市，”迪特里克说。

离开篮球之后，迪特里克拥有着繁忙而多元的职业生涯。

“我和我的姐姐和姐夫在南街的一家企业工作。我在一个儿童体育网络的电视台工作了一年，帮助他们成功地举办了一次募捐活动，”迪特里克回忆说。“然后我去了加州，和我的弟弟马克一起参与了一个土地开发项目，持续了两年。”

在奥斯汀参加一次与马刺相关的活动时，迪特里克遇到了“放松背部”第一家店的店主。“我看到了它的潜力，因此我在圣安东尼奥开设了第一家特许经营店，”迪特里克说。“现在已经有 115 家特许经营店了。”

在 1989-90 赛季，迪特里克以电视评论员的身份重返马刺队，首先与戴夫·巴内特(Dave Barnett) 共同主持了一个直播的电视电话节目。“我在盐湖城球场边的第一场比赛，”他说。

迪特里克一直担任评论员，直到上赛季结束。

“我真的很享受电视工作，”迪特里克说。“我喜欢让它变得有趣的挑战。我不想让人感到无聊，所以我在耳机里听到自己说的话时，我会给自己打分。

“与巴内特合作一直是一件令人愉快的事，”迪特里克说。

作为马刺队的回忆：
“我们成为了一支多么优秀的球队。我们从最初那支缺乏纪律的队伍成长起来的经历是最突出的，”迪特里克说。“我喜欢的是，每年的季后赛，我都会进入首发阵容。我防守过一些伟大的球员——朱利叶斯·欧文(Julius Erving)、卡里姆·阿卜杜尔-贾巴尔(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)、阿蒂斯·吉尔摩(Artis Gilmore)。

“我们像一个团队一样比赛，我们帮助乔治·格文(George Gervin) 成为名人堂球员，”迪特里克说。“他是一个很棒的人。他知道发生了什么，他知道我们这支球队对他有多大的帮助。”

迪特里克还回忆起马刺队出名后的惊喜。

“我记得有一次，我们都在机场的登机口集合，等待我们的飞机卸货。人们走了出来，看着我们说，‘你们是篮球运动员吗？’我们告诉他们我们是马刺队，他们马上就认出了我们中的每一个人；他们甚至知道我妈妈的名字。这一切都源于（当时的广播解说员）特里·斯滕布里奇(Terry Stembridge) 在广播中对我们的描述。这些人大多来自南达科他州，但广播电台在那里可以收听到。”

个人：
迪特里克与伊雷娜·奥蒂兹(Irene Ortiz) 订婚。他的儿子科比（“他更喜欢被称为‘迪克’，”迪特里克说）今年 12 岁。——格伦·罗杰斯(Glenn Rogers)

点击查看原文：Silver Spurs: The Original Team

Silver Spurs: The Original Team

Coby Dietrick The lowdown: The 6-101/2 Dietrick, 49, played in 492 regular-season games and 42 playoff games for San Antonio. He was signed as a free agent from Dallas in 1972. He was not re-signed after the 1978-79 season. But he did return during the latter part of the 1982-83 campaign, signing two 10- day contracts and playing in eight games. He averaged 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds during the three years San Antonio was in the ABA and 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds during his four-year stint with the NBA Spurs. Before playing for the Spurs, Dietrick played one full season in Memphis and one in Dallas.

Where is he now? Dietrick owns the Relax the Back franchise in San Antonio, a firm specializing in chairs constructed specifically to an individual’s needs.

History after the Spurs: Immediately after his San Antonio career, Dietrick signed with Chicago and played three seasons with the Bulls. He completed his NBA career with the eight games in San Antonio. He then played one season in Trieste, Italy.

“I wanted to play in a European city that had some substance to it, that boasted a diverse culture,” Dietrick said.

Dietrick has had a busy and diverse professional career since leaving basketball.

“I worked in a business on South Street with my sister and brother-in- law. I worked in television for a kids sports network for a year and helped them put on a successful fund-raiser,” Dietrick recalled. “I then went to California and worked in a land development project with my brother, Mark, for two years.”

While doing a Spurs-related appearance in Austin, Dietrick met the woman who owned the original Relax the Back store. “I saw the potential there so I opened the first franchise in San Antonio,” Dietrick said. “Now there are 115 franchises.”

Dietrick rejoined the Spurs as a television color analyst during the 1989-90 season, working first on a live television call-in show with Dave Barnett. “My first game at courtside was in Salt Lake City,” he said.

Dietrick remained as a color analyst until the end of last season.

“I really enjoyed the television work,” Dietrick said. "I enjoyed the challenge of making it interesting. I didn’t want to be boring so I kind of graded myself while I was hearing what I said over my earpiece.

“It was always such a pleasure to work with Barnett,” Dietrick said.

Memory as a Spur: “The sense of how good a team we became. How we grew from the undisciplined group that we had originally is what stands out the most,” Dietrick said. "I enjoyed the fact that each year, in the playoffs, I moved into the starting lineup. I guarded some great players - Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Artis Gilmore.

“We played as a team, we helped make George Gervin a Hall of Fame player,” Dietrick said. “He is a great guy. He knew what was going on, how he benefited from the team we had.”

Dietrick also recalled the surprise of how well-known the Spurs became.

“I remember once, we were all in the airport gathered at the gate, waiting for our plane to unload. The people came out, looked at us and said, ‘Are you basketball players?’ We told them we were the Spurs and they then knew each one of us; they knew my mom’s name. This all came from the way (then-radio play-by-play man) Terry Stembridge talked about us on the radio. These people were mostly from South Dakota, but the radio station was heard there.”

Personal: Dietrick is engaged to Irene Ortiz. His son, Coby (“He’s best known as ‘Deke,’” said Dietrick), is 12 years old. - Glenn Rogers

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-22, By Jerry Briggs

邓肯在罚球线上花费时间

马刺队的新秀前锋蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)会记得他错失的罚球，这使得犹他爵士队在周六晚上在阿拉莫穹顶以 79-77 险胜。

在比赛还剩 0.6 秒，马刺队落后最终比分的情况下，邓肯走上了罚球线。他第一个球失手，球从篮筐前沿滚出。

“球出手的感觉很好，”邓肯说，“只是滚出去了。”

邓肯被迫故意罚丢第二个球，以便给马刺队一次篮板球的机会，让他们可以投篮扳平比分。但当队友蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)拿到球时，他却无法在时间到之前把球投出。

这对马刺队来说是一次令人沮丧的失败。

但有预感邓肯不会因此而沮丧太久。

在过去的 16 场比赛中，他的罚球命中率接近 80%，这比他在 NBA 的头几个月有了显著的提高。

“我找回了我的手感，”邓肯在周六对阵犹他爵士队的比赛前夕解释道。“我知道我能投进。我只是遵循一种我感觉舒适的方式。”

在本赛季早期，邓肯因为罚球不准而遭到队友和教练的不少批评。

一度，他的罚球命中率跌至沙克般的水平——50% 以下。现在，他的罚球命中率已接近 61%。在对阵犹他爵士之前的 15 场比赛中，这位新秀已经投进了 93 球中的 72 球，命中率为 77.4%。

这是这位新秀全明星球员技术库中的一个细微变化。但如果你问联盟中的教练和老球员，这可能对一名进攻手的表现产生很大的影响。

例如，在过去的 15 场比赛中，邓肯场均得分接近 23 分。他似乎在篮下进攻更加积极，几乎不担心有人把他送上罚球线。

从更广阔的角度来看，这清楚地表明了邓肯对工作的认真态度。与联盟中其他一些高薪中锋不同，他发现了自己比赛中的弱点，并着手纠正它。

邓肯在罚球线上的冒险经历与 1985 年一位名叫卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)的新秀所经历的类似。马龙以 48.1% 的罚球命中率进入 NBA，这是他在犹他爵士队的第一个赛季。第二年情况并没有好多少——59.8%。

目前，马龙的职业生涯罚球命中率为 72.5%，得分超过 26000 分，他将毫无疑问地入选名人堂。作为一名年轻球员，他努力练习罚球，并且不断进步，改变了进攻的面貌。

“在这个联盟里，只要你花时间，就能变得更好，”马龙说。“我不会花很多时间在上面。我只是花一点时间。”

当被告知邓肯在罚球线上也像他早期一样挣扎时，马龙笑了。

“蒂姆·邓肯的比赛没有任何问题，”马龙说。“他不必（效仿我的道路）。他会走自己的路。他是一个很棒的球员。他是一个会努力练习，做任何需要做的事情的球员。”

- 截止日期已过：马刺队显然没有接近达成任何交易，上周四的交易截止日期悄然过去。

马刺队管理层对快船队的后卫布伦特·巴里(Brent Barry)很感兴趣，但洛杉矶快船队不愿意放弃威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)。从某种意义上来说，这对快船队来说是一个遗憾。

如果快船队签下珀杜，他们将拥有 1998-99 赛季的两位两位数篮板手。此外，我相信马刺队会提供一个首轮选秀权，如果快船队认真考虑进行交易的话。

但现实情况是，快船队从迈阿密热火队得到了中锋艾萨克·奥斯汀(Isaac Austin)，新秀后卫查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)以及一个首轮选秀权。奥斯汀是一名很有潜力的进攻球员，但很有可能在今年夏天跳槽到犹他爵士队或菲尼克斯太阳队以获得更好的待遇。

- 松了一口气：马刺队球迷应该向罗尼·塞卡利(Rony Seikaly)和他的经纪人史蒂夫·考夫曼(Steve Kauffman)送一束花，因为他们决定拒绝犹他爵士队的邀请。当这位 6 英尺 11 英寸的中锋没有报道时，爵士队取消了与奥兰多魔术队的塞卡利交易。

“我松了一口气，”马刺队前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)说。“我不希望他去犹他队。他是一名优秀的球员。他会帮助他们很多。他会很适合他们的体系。”

周六早上，一位爵士队的随行人员在阿拉莫穹顶告诉埃利奥特，塞卡利从来不想在犹他队打球，这暗示——在被交易到新泽西网队之后——他更愿意在纽约这样的大城市打球。

点击查看原文：Spurs Beat: Duncan spending time at free-throw line

Spurs Beat: Duncan spending time at free-throw line

Spurs rookie forward Tim Duncan will remember his missed free throw that allowed the Utah Jazz to escape with a 79-77 victory Saturday night at the Alamodome.

With six-tenths of a second remaining and the Spurs trailing by the eventual final score, Duncan went to the line. He missed the first one, with it rolling off the front of the iron.

“It felt good coming off my hand,” Duncan said. “It just rolled off.”

Duncan was forced to miss the second one on purpose to give the Spurs a chance to rebound and shoot for the tie. But while teammate Monty Williams got his hands on the ball, he couldn’t get a shot into the air as time expired.

It was a crushing defeat for the Spurs.

But something tells me that Duncan will not let this get him down for too long.

He has hit close to 80 percent at the stripe over his last 16 games, a drastic improvement over his first few months in the NBA.

“I’ve got my stroke back,” Duncan explained on the eve of Saturday’s game with the Utah Jazz. “I knew I could shoot 'em. I’m just following a style that I feel comfortable with.”

Duncan took quite a bit of grief from his teammates and coaches over missed free throws earlier in the season.

At one point, he was shooting Shaq-like numbers - low 50s in percentage. Now, it’s up to almost 61 percent. Over the last 15 games before Utah, the rookie had knocked down 72 of 93 for 77.4 percent.

It’s a subtle change in the rookie All-Star’s repertoire. But if you ask coaches and veteran players around the league, it can make a lot of difference in an offensive threat’s production.

For instance, Duncan is averaging nearly 23 points a game during the 15-game stretch. He appears to be more aggressive in his moves to the basket, almost like he doesn’t care if someone puts him on the line.

In a broader sense, it is graphic evidence of how seriously Duncan takes his job. Unlike some of the other higher-priced centers in the league, he identified a weakness in his game and went about the business of correcting it.

Duncan’s adventures at the stripe are not unlike those that a rookie named Karl Malone faced in 1985. Malone entered the NBA as a tentative 48.1 percent free-throw shooter in his first year with the Utah Jazz. The next year wasn’t much better - 59.8 percent.

Presently, Malone is a career 72.5 percent free-throw shooter with more than 26,000 points - a certain Hall of Famer. As a young player, he worked on free throws and he got better, changing the complexion of his offense.

“In this league, you can get better if you spend time,” Malone said. “I don’t spend hours and hours on it. I just spend some time.”

Told that Duncan has struggled at the line like he did earlier in his career, Malone laughed.

“There ain’t nothing wrong with Tim Duncan’s game,” Malone said. “He doesn’t need (to follow my path). He’ll follow his own path. He’s a helluva player. He’s the kind of player who will work on his game, whatever he needs to do.”

- Deadline passes: The Spurs apparently were nowhere near making a deal as the trade deadline passed quietly last Thursday.

Spurs management was intrigued with Clippers guard Brent Barry, but the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t want any part of Will Perdue. That, in a sense, was too bad for the Clippers.

In Perdue, the Clippers would have had a double-digit rebounder through 1998-99. Plus, I am sure the Spurs would have thrown in a first- round pick had the Clippers been serious about making the trade.

As it is, the Clips got center Isaac Austin, rookie guard Charles Smith and a first-round pick from the Miami Heat. Austin is a promising offensive player, but he likely will bolt to take a better deal with the Utah Jazz or Phoenix Suns this summer.

- Sigh of relief: Spurs fans should send a bouquet to Rony Seikaly and his agent, Steve Kauffman, who decided to stiff the Utah Jazz. The Jazz killed the Seikaly trade with the Orlando Magic when the 6-11 center did not report.

“I was relieved,” Spurs forward Sean Elliott said. “I didn’t like him going to Utah. He’s a good ball player. He would have helped them out a lot. He would have fit in well with their system.”

A member of the Jazz traveling party told Elliott in the Alamodome on Saturday morning that Seikaly never wanted to play in Utah, suggesting - in the wake of a deal that sent him to the New Jersey Nets - that he would rather play near the big city of New York.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-22, By Glenn Rogers

人手不足的圣安东尼奥险些从爵士手中偷走一场胜利

犹他州教练杰里·斯隆(Jerry Sloan)可能预感到了些什么。

在周六晚上带他的爵士队上场迎战马刺队之前，他提到犹他队几乎在每一场比赛中都遇到了麻烦。

尽管犹他队战绩为36胜15负，尽管马刺队将缺席中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person)。

斯隆还是说对了。

阿拉莫穹顶的球迷们怀着担忧的心情，害怕马刺队会被卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)和他的队友们打得溃不成军。但事实并非如此。

诚然，爵士队在大部分比赛中都压制着马刺队，而且看起来圣安东尼奥队将会坚持到底，并打出一场有尊严的比赛。然而，马刺队在爵士队糟糕的投篮命中率和反常的失误的帮助下，点燃了穹顶观众的热情，并且险些偷走了这场比赛。

“考虑到我们在比赛结束前大约六分钟的时候领先了12分，是的，比赛最后关头才分出胜负，这有点令人惊讶，”犹他队后卫杰夫·霍纳塞克(Jeff Hornacek)说道。

马刺队在内线顽强防守和外线强硬防守的帮助下，在蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)在比赛结束前29秒投进一记12英尺的跳投后，将比分追至79-77。

爵士队拖延时间，马刺队拒绝犯规，马龙从侧翼投出一记困难的投篮，篮球在弹离篮筐后，从犹他队身上反弹出界，给了马刺队3.5秒的时间创造奇迹。

令人难以置信的是，在这场不可思议的比赛中，马龙犯规了邓肯，将他送上了罚球线，比赛还剩下0.6秒。但邓肯第一罚不中。他故意打偏了第二罚，蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)抓住了球，但却无法从篮筐下密集的人群中将球送回篮筐。

“他是一个真正的球员，”马龙谈到邓肯时说道。“他让周围的每个人都变得更好。看到一个新人来到这里，并且只专注于打球，真是令人耳目一新。他不爱说话。”

输掉比赛对他们来说可能不会太让人耳目一新。

“总的来说，我们限制了他们，”马龙说道。“这场比赛并不漂亮。但每支球队都会在回顾比赛的时候说，‘嘿，我们不应该让这场比赛溜走。’我想今天晚上轮到他们了。”

斯隆说：“我们总是很难打马刺队。即使没有大卫，他们也是一支强大的球队，我们很难在内线得分。我们必须命中外线投篮，而我们今天晚上没有做到。”

爵士队只有38%的投篮命中率，三分球4投1中。此外，他们也少了几次以前常常让马刺队陷入困境的快攻上篮和扣篮。

点击查看原文：Short-handed San Antonio nearly stole one from Jazz

Short-handed San Antonio nearly stole one from Jazz

Utah coach Jerry Sloan may have had some premonitions.

Before he took his Jazz to the floor against the Spurs on Saturday night, he mentioned that Utah had been having trouble with almost every team.

This despite Utah’s 36-15 record. This despite the fact that the Spurs would be without center David Robinson and forward Chuck Person.

Sloan still was right.

The fans at the Alamodome went in worried about a blowout, a battering at the hands of Karl Malone & Co. It didn’t happen.

True, the Jazz held the Spurs at arm’s length most of the way, and it looked as if San Antonio would hang in and make it respectable. Instead, the Spurs, aided by some ugly Utah shooting and uncharacteristic turnovers, roused the dome crowd and almost stole this one.

“Considering we were up by 12 points with about six minutes left, yes, it was a little surprising it went down to the wire,” Utah guard Jeff Hornacek said.

The Spurs, employing some tenacious inside and tough outside defense, rallied and pushed to 79-77 after a Tim Duncan 12-footer with 29 seconds left.

The Jazz milked the clock, the Spurs refused to foul, and Malone missed a tough shot from the side and the ball bounced out of bounds off Utah to give the Spurs 3.5 seconds to work the miracle.

Incredibly enough in the incredible game, Malone fouled Duncan, sending him to the line with .6 seconds to go. But Duncan missed the first free throw. He deliberately missed the second, and Monty Williams grabbed it but couldn’t get the ball back up from the dense traffic under the hoop.

“He’s a real player,” Malone said of Duncan. “He makes everyone around him better. It’s refreshing to see a guy come in and just play the game. He doesn’t do a lot of talking.”

It wouldn’t have been overly refreshing to lose the game.

“For the most part, we stopped them,” Malone said. “It was not pretty. But every team looks back sometimes and says, ‘Hey, we shouldn’t have let that one get away.’ I guess tonight was their turn.”

Said Sloan: “We always have trouble with the Spurs. Even without David, they are a big team and it’s difficult for us to score inside. We have to hit our outside shots, and we weren’t doing that tonight.”

The Jazz were able to convert just 38 percent of their shots and hit 1 of 4 three-point attempts. In addition, there were few of the fast-breaking layups and jams that have swamped the Spurs in the past.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-22, By Buck Harvey

邓肯的电脑崩溃？内存存储

他们让他双脚分开更远。让他的右肩更靠近篮筐。并且缩短了他的投篮动作。

蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan) 认真听着，把所有相关信息都记住了。两个月后，他的罚球命中率达到了80%。

但他们没有告诉他，在比赛结束前不到一秒钟，落后两分的情况下，在26,000名观众的注视下，如何投篮。那将是下一课。而当邓肯进行计算时，他毫无疑问也会掌握这一点。

惊叹于这台有着柔软双手的硬盘。按照他的发展轨迹，他可以带领这支伤病满营的阵容，看起来很像去年只赢了20场比赛的阵容，并使其达到季后赛水平。

邓肯似乎对一切都了如指掌，甚至是最细微的细节，以至于他的纹身应该写着“英特尔芯”。例如，星期六晚上，一位裁判告诉他“整理一下”。犹他州的老将杰夫·霍纳塞克(Jeff Hornacek)站在附近，皱起了鼻子。整理？

邓肯面无表情地伸手把球衣塞进短裤里。格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)看到了裁判的眼睛，说：“他是个聪明的孩子。”

裁判说：“哦，天哪。”

这并不全是脑力。当邓肯转身，在比赛还剩29秒时，用一个擦板跳投越过卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)时，他确实也展现了一些技巧。但这在如今的时代是一个令人惊叹的组合。两年前的状元秀，乔·史密斯(Joe Smith)上周被交易到76人，此前76人试图在去年将去年的状元秀阿伦·艾弗森(Allen Iverson)交易出去。

马刺队无论何时何地都不会用任何人交换邓肯，部分原因是他很健康。按照目前的形势，现在是解雇鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)并等待乐透抽签的时候了。这真是似曾相识。肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)的膝盖受伤了，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)也一样。这就是查克·珀森(Chuck Person)看起来准备加入美国退休人员协会的原因。伤病从他的背部中间蔓延开来。

如果这种情况持续下去，马刺队将无法争夺总冠军。但现在，马刺队并没有去考虑多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)会爆发还是崩溃，而是将邓肯融入阵容，组建了一支不需要掘金队就能取得成功的球队。

当伤病的球员一个接一个倒下时，马刺队找到了邓肯，对他说了一些惯常的话。他们说，没有罗宾逊，他们会更多地依靠他，需要他更多，他们会更加严格地要求他。邓肯看着他们，似乎在说：“然后呢…”

如果邓肯去年就在球队中，当马刺队为了得到状元签而一路跌落到乐透区时会怎么样？“蒂姆值25场胜利，”艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)说道，“所以加上去年的20场，我们会有45场。这不算差。”

邓肯的学习速度可能比这更快。而他的罚球提升证明了这一点。他在维克森林大学的罚球命中率逐年下降，等到他来到这里时，他的罚球看起来就像奥尼尔在电影拍摄间隙练习罚球一样。

波波维奇对他进行了指导。脚步、角度、投篮动作。但波波维奇和其他教练一直都在指导射手，机械性的改变并不能在一夜之间把泥瓦匠变成雕刻家。问问马龙，他用了两年时间才将他的罚球命中率提高到60%以上。

所以，这个孩子来了，在最近15场比赛中他的罚球命中率超过77%，然后在星期六晚上在得分和篮板方面都领先两队，在比赛后期被换到马龙的位置上时成功地限制了马龙，并在比赛还剩0.6秒时假动作晃过了马龙，就像马龙总是晃过其他人一样，并且造成了犯规。

哦，天哪。

邓肯站上罚球线，用了一个月前才掌握的投篮动作。再次问问马龙，压力是如何改变即使是13年的老将的。去年六月，在芝加哥总决赛第一场比赛中，这位MVP在比赛还剩不到30秒的情况下，在比分相持的情况下执行了两个罚球。他两个都没进。

邓肯说，投篮感觉是一样的。就像其他球一样。然后他耸耸肩，站起来，看了看一些邮件。他有一些新东西要下载。

下次。

点击查看原文：Duncan's computer crashes? Memory stored

Duncan’s computer crashes? Memory stored

They spread his feet farther apart. Angled his right shoulder more to the rim. And shortened the motion.

Tim Duncan listened, naturally, saving all pertinent material. Within two months, he turned into an 80 percent free-throw shooter.

But they didn’t tell him about shooting with less than a second left, behind by two, with 26,000 people watching. That will be the next lesson. And when Duncan computes, he will no doubt master that one, too.

Marvel at the hard drive with the soft hands. The way he’s going, he could take an injured roster that looks a lot like the one that won 20 games last year, and make it playoff decent.

Duncan seemingly comprehends everything so much, even the minutia, that his tattoo ought to read “Intel Inside.” Saturday night, for example, a ref told him to “Do some housekeeping.” The Utah vet, Jeff Hornacek, stood nearby and wrinkled up his nose. Housekeeping?

Duncan, expressionless, reached down and tucked his uniform top into his shorts. Gregg Popovich saw the ref’s eyes and said, “He’s a smart kid.”

From the ref: “Oh, man.”

It isn’t all brains. When Duncan spun, banking a jumper over Karl Malone with 29 seconds left, some skill was involved. But it’s a package that amazes in this era. The No. 1 pick of two years ago, Joe Smith, was traded to the Sixers last week after the Sixers tried to trade last year’s No. 1, Allen Iverson, before that.

The Spurs wouldn’t trade Duncan for anyone, anytime, partly because he’s healthy. The way this is going, it’s about time to fire Bob Hill and wait for the lottery. This is deja blue. Sean Elliott’s knees went out, alone with one of David Robinson’s. And there’s the reason Chuck Person looks ready to join AARP. It runs down the middle of his back.

The Spurs aren’t going to contend if this keeps up. But instead of wondering whether Dominique Wilkins will explode or implode, the Spurs now plug in Duncan and form something that doesn’t require the presence of the Nuggets to be successful.

As the wounded went down, the Spurs went to Duncan and said the usual stuff. That without Robinson, they would go to him more and need him more, and that they would push him harder. Duncan looked at them as if to say, “And …”

So what if Duncan had been around last year, when the Spurs raced to lottery depths in order to get the No. 1 pick? “Tim is worth 25 wins,” says Avery Johnson. “So add that to last year’s 20, and we’d have 45. That’s not bad.”

The speed at which Duncan learns, it might be more. And his free-throw turnaround sums that up. His percentage fell every year at Wake Forest, and by the time he got here he looked like Shaq practicing between movie takes.

Popovich worked with him. Feet, angle, stroke. But Popovich and other coaches work with shooters all the time, and mechanical changes don’t turn bricklayers into sculptors overnight. Ask Malone, who needed two years in the league to get above 60 percent.

So here comes this kid, shooting over 77 percent from the line the last 15 games, then leading both teams in scoring and rebounding Saturday night, slowing Malone when switched to him late, up- faking Malone as Malone always does others, drawing a foul with .6 of a second left.

Oh, man.

Duncan went to the line with mechanics he’s had in place for a month. Again, ask Malone how pressure changes even 13-year veterans. Last June, in Game 1 of the Finals in Chicago, the MVP faced two free throws in a tie game with less than 30 seconds left. He missed both.

Duncan says the shot felt the same. Just like the others. And then he shrugged, stood up and looked at some mail. He had new things to download.

Next time.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-22, By Glenn Rogers

NBA 交易：新时代开启，球员权力崛起，薪资帽成为交易的关键

交易截止日已经过去，让我们来回顾一下交易的成果。

一些球员展现了强大的影响力，让原本简单的交易变得波澜起伏。

肯尼·安德森(Kenny Anderson)几周前就对被交易到多伦多换取达蒙·斯塔德迈尔(Damon Stoudamire)的传言感到愤怒。他表示自己不会去多伦多。他是认真的。

开拓者将安德森的合同送到了多伦多，但安德森却悄悄地溜到了洛杉矶。他在那里躲了起来，他的经纪人大卫·福尔克(David Falk)帮助他策划了另一笔交易——这次是去波士顿，主要换取控球后卫昌西·比卢普斯(Chauncey Billups)。你能想象皮蒂诺(Pitino)在夏天谈论交易安德森吗？

开拓者对此感到非常高兴。他们得到了斯塔德迈尔，一位才华横溢、充满活力的控球后卫，他可以在球场两端发动进攻，而且他的职业生涯才刚刚开始。他们还可以享受支付他薪水的乐趣。

“我喜欢这种比赛方式，”斯塔德迈尔说。“这正是我当初踏入 NBA 时所期待的。”

至少中西部赛区幸运地躲过了一劫——斯塔德迈尔并没有最终加入休斯顿。

西雅图教练乔治·卡尔(George Karl)知道，他南边的球队更加强大。“一开始，我的直觉告诉我，波特兰做了一笔非常棒的交易。现在，他们还有了一个可以在外线投三分的大个子（沃尔特·威廉姆斯(Walt Williams)）。”

中西部赛区又躲过了一劫，因为罗尼·塞卡利(Rony Seikaly)效仿了安德森的做法，拒绝前往犹他与卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)和约翰·斯托克顿(John Stockton)一起打球。

大多数人仍然不明白为什么塞卡利会拒绝前往犹他。他告诉马龙和斯托克顿，他对这笔交易感到兴奋，但就是不愿离开。

爵士队坚持表示，他们至少会考虑塞卡利的经纪人史蒂夫·考夫曼(Steve Kauffman)关于保证塞卡利未来两年合同的提议，这份合同价值约 850 万美元。

“他的经纪人从未明确提出任何他们想要的东西，”爵士队老板拉里·H·米勒(Larry H. Miller)说。

魔术队对此非常愤怒，甚至考虑暂停塞卡利的比赛，但随后他们又将他送到了新泽西。这对篮网队来说是一个不错的交易，他们现在可以将杰森·威廉姆斯(Jayson Williams)移到大前锋的位置，看看基斯·范霍恩(Keith Van Horn)在小前锋位置上的表现如何。

也许塞卡利只是不喜欢盐湖城，而且他的家人在新泽西。

温哥华有多么渴望摆脱奥蒂斯·索普(Otis Thorpe)？他们将他交易到国王队，换来了鲍比·赫利(Bobby Hurley)。国王队还失去了迈克尔·史密斯(Michael Smith)，一位出色的篮板手，曾经受到马刺队的青睐。国王队还获得了克里斯·罗宾逊(Chris Robinson)。

这笔交易是为了经济原因。由于球员下赛季的薪资差异，国王队将在今年夏天拥有另外 145 万美元的薪资空间。

灰熊队对安东尼·皮勒(Anthony Peeler)做了一件好事。而森林狼队对他们的老队员道格·韦斯特(Doug West)可就没有那么友好了。

皮勒将在一个渴望打进季后赛的球队中担任重要的替补球员，尽管他们失去了汤姆·古利奥塔(Tom Gugliotta)，这让他们的希望黯淡了许多。

“我来到这里后亲吻了地面，”皮勒说，他以前是湖人队的球员。“能够回到一个篮球至上的环境中，每一回合都十分重要，这让我感到快乐。”

韦斯特不得不重新开始，与另一支扩张球队一起经历失败。如果他不愿意去温哥华，我们也能理解。

马刺队在所有的交易尝试中都失败了，最著名的就是早期争夺米奇·里奇蒙德(Mitch Richmond)和后期争夺布伦特·巴里(Brent Barry)。

巴里应该感到高兴。他身处温暖的迈阿密，为一支能够在季后赛中掀起波澜的球队效力。对于同样身处温暖气候但为一支试图停止计算失利次数的球队效力的艾克·奥斯汀(Ike Austin)来说，这是一个坏消息。

好消息是，他们两人都将在今年夏天成为自由球员，可以与其他球队进行谈判。

巴里被交易到热火后，热火与76人队关于将奥斯汀交易到费城换取克拉伦斯·韦瑟斯彭(Clarence Weatherspoon)的谈判告吹。

谁没有被交易？里奇蒙德将继续留在萨克拉门托，但他的名字将在今年夏天再次出现在无数的交易谈判中。

莱利表示，当他展望未来，无法想象在 2000 年（迈阿密新球馆落成时），里奇蒙德和蒂姆·哈达威(Tim Hardaway)这对组合年近 35 岁时，还能一起为球队效力，因此他放弃了对里奇蒙德的追逐。

点击查看原文：Around the NBA: Trades mark new era in NBA Players' power, salary cap dictate moves more than talent level

Around the NBA: Trades mark new era in NBA Players’ power, salary cap dictate moves more than talent level

It’s been a busy end of the trading season - let’s look at some of the results.

A couple of players flexed muscle and turned straightforward deals into turmoil.

Kenny Anderson howled weeks ago when rumors surfaced that he would be traded to Toronto for Damon Stoudamire. He said he wouldn’t go. He meant it.

The Blazers sent Anderson’s contract to Toronto, but the player slid down the coast to Los Angeles. He hid there while his agent, David Falk, helped construct another Anderson move - this time to Boston, primarily for point guard Chauncey Billups.hear Pitino talking about a summer trade for Kenny.

The Blazers are ecstatic. They have Stoudamire, a talented, energetic point guard who can attack at both ends of the floor and is just beginning his career. They can also have fun trying to pay him.

“I can get to like playing like this,” said Stoudamire. “This is how I envisioned the NBA when I first stepped into it.”

The Midwest Division at least lucked out some - Stoudamire didn’t wind up in Houston.

Seattle coach George Karl knows he has a more menacing team just to the South. “Initially, my gut tells me Portland made a hell of a deal. Now, too, they have a big man (Walt Williams) who can stay out there and hit the three.”

The Midwest got another break when Rony Seikaly pulled his own Anderson pout and refused to travel to Utah and play with Karl Malone and John Stockton.

Most still don’t know why Seikaly wouldn’t report. He told Malone and Stockton he was excited about the move - then wouldn’t budge.

The Jazz insist they would have at least entertained proposals from Seikaly’s agent (Steve Kauffman) about guaranteeing the last next two years of the player’s pact, worth about $8.5 million.

“His agent never would lay out anything concrete that they wanted,” Jazz owner Larry H. Miller said.

The Magic were furious enough to consider suspending Seikaly but then turned around and sent him to New Jersey. A nice move for the Nets, who now can move Jayson Williams to power forward and see how Keith Van Horn will do at small forward.

Maybe Seikaly simply didn’t like Salt Lake City, and he does have family in New Jersey.

How badly did Vancouver want to rid itself of Otis Thorpe? They traded him for Bobby Hurley. The Kings also lost Michael Smith, a pretty fair rebounder who was once coveted by the Spurs. The Kings also got Chris Robinson.

That deal was done for monetary reasons. The Kings will have another $1.45 million to work with under the cap this summer, thanks to the difference in the players’ salaries next season.

The Grizzlies did Anthony Peeler a nice favor. The Timberwolves weren’t so kind to original Wolf Doug West.

The Peel will get to play some important backup minutes on a team that hopes to make a nice playoff run, although those hopes were dimmed with the loss of Tom Gugliotta.

“I kissed the ground when I got here,” said Peeler, a former Laker. "It’s fun to be back in a situation where basketball is serious, where every possession is serious.

West has to start all over again, enduring the losses with another expansion group. One could sympathize if he didn’t show up in Vancouver.

The Spurs missed on all their trade tries, most notably early grabs for Mitch Richmond and a late push for Brent Barry.

Barry should be happy. He’s in the warm climate of Miami, toiling for a team that can make some noise in the playoffs. Bad news for Ike Austin, also in a warm climate but toiling for a team trying to stop counting the losses

Good news for both: As free agents this summer, they can strike up conversations with other teams.

The Barry deal ended a Miami talk with the Sixers that would have sent Austin north for Clarence Weatherspoon.

Who didn’t go? Richmond will continue to pine away in Sacramento but his name again will be involved in countless trade talks this summer.

Riley said he ended his pursuit of Richmond when he looked down the road and couldn’t envision a backcourt of Richmond and Tim Hardaway in the year 2000 (when Miami has its new arena), when the duo are hovering about the age 35.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1998-02-23, By Jerry Briggs

太阳对马刺的比赛中，马刺暴露出的问题太多，输掉与菲尼克斯的第三场比赛

菲尼克斯 - 天赋差距太大。

这可能是菲尼克斯太阳队本赛季对马刺队取得3-0战绩的原因，包括周日晚上在美洲西区体育场以97-79战胜马刺队。

但这可能也是最合理的解释。

太阳队在比赛后期全面压制马刺队，在第四节以29-10的比分将他们打垮。圣安东尼奥队此前曾领先9分，并在进入最后一节时领先1分。

但丹尼·曼宁(Danny Manning)在第四节得到17分中的9分，太阳队以37-16的比分取得了胜利。马刺队输球后战绩跌至36-18，全明星赛后取得2胜4负。

蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)以17分领跑马刺队。中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)贡献16分和19个篮板。马刺队已经连续四场比赛没有受伤的全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)。

在罗宾逊缺席的四场比赛中，马刺队取得2胜2负。

马刺队从周六在圣安东尼奥对阵犹他队的两分失利中恢复过来，在上半场对阵太阳队打得非常精神，中场休息时双方战成46平。

在防守方面，他们努力紧盯对方的三分射手，而在进攻方面，他们展现出均衡的进攻，良好的空间和传球。

太阳队在比赛初期可能有些放松，出现传球失误，也错失了一些轻松得分的机会。结果，马刺队一度领先9分，并在第一节结束时以29-22领先。

点击查看原文：Too much exposure to Suns - Spurs battle, drop third to Phoenix

Too much exposure to Suns - Spurs battle, drop third to Phoenix

PHOENIX - Too much talent.

It might be an oversimplified reason why the Phoenix Suns are 3- 0 against the Spurs this season, including a 97-79 victory Sunday night at America West Arena.

But it might be as good a reason as any.

The Suns ran down the Spurs late, blowing them out 29-10 in the fourth quarter. San Antonio had led by nine earlier in the game and by one entering the final period.

But Danny Manning scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth as the Suns romped to improve to 37-16. With the loss, the Spurs fell to 36-18, 2-4 since the All-Star break.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 17 points. Center Will Perdue added 16 points and 19 rebounds. The Spurs played their fourth game in a row without injured All-Star center David Robinson.

In the four games Robinson has missed, the Spurs are 2-2.

Rebounding from a heartbreaking two-point loss to Utah in San Antonio on Saturday, the Spurs played a spirited first half against the Suns, going into intermission tied at 46.

Defensively, they hustled to cover the three-point shooters, and on offense they displayed a balanced attack with good spacing and ball movement.

The Suns may have been a bit too relaxed in the early going, throwing away passes and missing some easy shots. As a result, the Spurs went up by as many as nine and then settled for a 29-22 lead after the first quarter.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News