马刺1998-99赛季实录（780+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-04, By Johnny Ludden

波波维奇当选月最佳教练

格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)于周一成为马刺队历史上第五位获得NBA月最佳教练的教练。

波波维奇在3月份也入围了该奖项的决赛。他在4月份带领马刺队取得了联盟最佳的13胜3负战绩，包括在阿拉莫体育馆取得了9胜0负的完美战绩。在此期间，马刺队对阵西部的另外7支可能进入季后赛的球队取得了7胜2负的战绩。

在6胜8负的开局之后，马刺队取得了29胜5负（.853）的战绩。

“在我看来，波波维奇做得非常出色，”马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)说。“不仅是本赛季，去年也是如此。

“我很高兴看到他得到认可。这甚至不包括本周末的两场胜利。这些胜利证明了他们选择了正确的人。”

斯坦·阿尔贝克(Stan Albeck)、科顿·菲茨西蒙斯(Cotton Fitzsimmons)、约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas)在执教马刺队期间都曾获得过该奖项。鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)则三次获得该奖项。

波波维奇击败了迈阿密的帕特·莱利(Pat Riley)、奥兰多的查克·戴利(Chuck Daly)、费城的拉里·布朗(Larry Brown)、萨克拉门托的里克·阿德尔曼(Rick Adelman)和犹他的杰里·斯隆(Jerry Sloan)。

点击查看原文：Popovich named coach of the month

Popovich named coach of the month

Gregg Popovich became the fifth coach in Spurs history Monday to be named the NBA Coach of the Month.

Popovich, who also was a finalist for the award in March, guided the Spurs to a NBA-best 13-3 record in April, including a perfect 9-0 at the Alamodome. During that stretch, the Spurs went 7-2 against the other seven Western Conference teams likely to make the playoffs.

After a 6-8 start, the Spurs have gone 29-5 (.853).

“Pop, in my opinion, has done a great, great job,” Spurs chairman Peter Holt said. "Not only this season, but also last year.

“I’m very, very pleased to see him get the recognition. And this doesn’t even include the two wins this weekend. Those affirm the fact they picked the right man.”

Stan Albeck, Cotton Fitzsimmons, John Lucas each won the award once during their tenure with the Spurs. Bob Hill won it three times.

Popovich beat out Miami’s Pat Riley, Orlando’s Chuck Daly, Philadelphia’s Larry Brown, Sacramento’s Rick Adelman and Utah’s Jerry Sloan. - Johnny Ludden

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-04, By Buck Harvey

无稽之谈，还是战斗宣言？艾弗里·约翰逊的引擎

达蒙·斯塔德迈尔(Damon Stoudamire)很久以前说过这句话，他现在可能已经忘记了。当时他在多伦多，为一支乐透球队得分，让所有人印象深刻，这时他评价了一位住在1500英里外的人。

“马刺队永远不会赢得总冠军，”斯塔德迈尔当时和艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)一起说道。

圣安东尼奥的一些人可能同意。圣安东尼奥的一位人士把这句话记在了心里。那就是约翰逊和他的激情。他利用一切优势，让自己进入一个不断拒绝他的联盟，而没有什么比一个强硬的轻视更适合这位34岁的引擎了。

所以，如果今晚为联盟头号种子球队打球还不够，AJ来到玫瑰花园球馆就像斯塔德迈尔15分钟前才批评过他一样。

斯塔德迈尔的观点与其说是令人震惊，不如说是幼稚。斯塔德迈尔对赢得比赛了解多少，更不用说总冠军了？但是当时很少有人会反驳斯塔德迈尔的说法。约翰逊是一个如此奇怪的组合，甚至他的家乡也想知道他有多厉害。

脱口秀的粉丝们看到安东尼奥·丹尼尔斯(Antonio Daniels)为ESPN扣篮，他们不禁注意到丹尼尔斯也拥有射程、年轻和身高优势。那么，丹尼尔斯不应该抢走AJ的出场时间吗？

1999年春天，没有什么比这更错误的了。丹尼尔斯可以像周六那样值得5分钟的冲刺，或者像周日那样糟糕得让马刺队无法尽快把他换下场。

丹尼尔斯可能会成长起来，而球队需要他。但就目前而言，对于这支球队而言，一切都要取决于AJ。

约翰逊有他的弱点。他在周六常规赛结束时，尽他所能地压制了斯塔德迈尔。斯塔德迈尔仍然用一记强硬的跳投越过他，将比赛拖入加时赛。AJ永远无法投出同样的球。

但AJ没有尝试他不会做的事情，而是坚持他会的。他把自己变成了一个斯托克顿(Stockton)式的实用主义力量。他强迫自己达到这个水平，然后强迫其他人加入他。“一切都是精神上的，”他说，并指了指他的头以示强调。

这并不完全是精神上的。在与新的训练师合作时，AJ监控着他的髋部，去年他的髋部受了伤。如果他的身体状况不好，他就不可能在上周末做到这一点，当时他打了两场比赛，对手的控球后卫轮流上场。

他也是蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)和大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)的物理补充，因为他和斯托克顿是最后几个纯粹的控球后卫。也许斯塔德迈尔做同样的事情会更令人震惊。但斯塔德迈尔会多少次先看向篮筐，把名人堂球员作为第二选择？

只有当对手夹击邓肯和罗宾逊倾斜时，AJ才会得分，而最容易的得分路线是留给他的各种跑动。这在周六对阵波特兰的比赛中发生了，就像去年季后赛对阵菲尼克斯一样。

AJ拿下了全场最高的24分，而斯塔德迈尔只得到了他的一半。赛后，当有人问AJ关于斯塔德迈尔几年前所说的话时，AJ笑着回答。AJ承认那天他去阿拉莫圆顶球馆的路上就想起了这件事。

他想起那种轻视。他想起那些把他裁掉过的球队。他想起过去对爵士队的季后赛失利，以及主场优势会有帮助，以及他对马刺队早早出局感到厌倦。

所以，当马刺队今晚试图在联盟最佳主场球队面前延续这场不可思议的连胜时，斯塔德迈尔几年前的预言应该被推翻。如果马刺队没有他，他们还能赢得总冠军吗？

点击查看原文：Foolish words, or fighting ones? In AJ's engine

Foolish words, or fighting ones? In AJ’s engine

Damon Stoudamire said it so long ago, he’s probably forgotten. He was in Toronto at the time, impressing everyone by scoring for a lottery team, when he judged someone living 1,500 miles away.

The Spurs will never win a championship, Stoudamire said then, with Avery Johnson.

Some in San Antonio probably agreed. One in San Antonio locked it away. That’s Johnson and his passion. He has used every edge to pry himself into a league that kept rejecting him, and nothing fits into this 34-year-old engine better than a heavy-handed slight.

So if playing for the conference’s top seed tonight isn’t enough, AJ comes into the Rose Garden as if Stoudamire had critiqued him just 15 minutes ago.

Stoudamire’s opinion was less shocking than it was immature. What did Stoudamire know about winning games, much less championships? But few quarreled with Stoudamire then for saying it. Johnson is such an odd package that even his own city wonders how good he is.

Talk-show fans have seen Antonio Daniels go up for ESPN dunks, and they can’t help but notice that Daniels also has range, youth and height on his side. So shouldn’t Daniels be taking AJ’s minutes?

Nothing could be more wrong in the spring of 1999. Daniels can be worth a five-minute spurt, as he was Saturday, or he can stumble so badly the Spurs can’t get him out fast enough, as he did Sunday.

Daniels might develop, and the franchise needs him to. But for now - for this team - everything hinges on AJ.

Johnson has his holes. He bellied up Stoudamire at the end of regulation on Saturday as well as he could. Stoudamire still went over him with a tough jumper to send the game to overtime. AJ could never make the same shot.

But instead of trying what he can’t do, AJ sticks with what he can. He’s turned himself into a Stockton-shaped, utilitarian force. He wills himself to this level, then wills others to join him. “It’s all mental,” he says, and he points to his head for emphasis.

It isn’t entirely mental. Working with the new trainer, AJ monitors a hip that went out on him last year. If he wasn’t as physically sound, he couldn’t have done what he did last weekend when he played more than 80 minutes against teams that alternate quality point guards.

He’s also a physical complement to Tim Duncan and David Robinson, since he and Stockton are among the last pure point guards. Maybe Stoudamire would be more sensational doing the same job. But how many times would Stoudamire look first at the basket, leaving Hall of Famers as the second option?

AJ only scores when bodies lean toward Duncan and Robinson, and the easiest path to the basket is left open for his assortment of runners. That happened Saturday against Portland, just as it did last year against Phoenix in the playoffs.

AJ went for a season-high 24 points, while Stoudamire ended with half that. Afterward AJ smiled when someone asked him about what Stoudamire had said a few years before. AJ admitted he thought about it that day on the way to the Alamodome.

He thinks about the slight. He thinks about the teams that have cut him. He thinks about past playoff losses to Utah, and how the home-court advantage would help, and how he’s sick of seeing the Spurs go out early.

So when the Spurs try to stretch this improbable run tonight against the league’s best home team, Stoudamire’s pronouncement of a few years ago should be reversed. Could the Spurs win a championship without this?

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-04, By Chris Sheridan

大部分MVP投票已完成 - 赛季末的英雄事迹不会被计入

无论蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)、卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)或阿朗佐·莫宁(Alonzo Mourning)在赛季最后三天如何表现，都不会改变太多MVP的投票结果。

大多数投票者已经投出了他们的选票。

“这太难了。我真的不知道是这个样子的，”圣安东尼奥的蒂姆·邓肯在周日战胜马龙后说道，他认为自己可能改变了一些投票者的想法，因为他在马刺队关键的胜利中在最后阶段的表现出色。

MVP、最佳新秀、最佳教练和其他奖项的选票大约两周前就邮寄给了118名投票者 - 来自每个NBA城市的3名投票者和31名全国媒体成员。

NBA告知投票者在5月2日周日之前返回他们的选票，尽管他们可以选择等到周三晚上常规赛结束，如果他们认为有必要将最后三天的比赛考虑在内。

周一，一位联盟发言人拒绝透露目前已经收到多少张选票。

盐湖城的《Deseret News》周日报道，根据对50多名投票者的调查，马龙很可能是赢家。莫宁将获得第二名，邓肯获得第三名。

“我知道结果会是什么样的，但我不会说，”马龙说道。

在赛季结束之前邮寄和收集选票的做法由来已久，美联社对一些投票者的调查发现，没有一个人认为自己因为过早投票而承受了任何不必要的压力。

然而，邓肯对于很多选票已经投出感到非常惊讶。

“我以为他们确实在（赛季结束时）投票，但无论结果如何，”邓肯说，他的队友也认为马刺队最近的成功可能会带来一些改变MVP投票的结果。

“听起来真的很蠢，”圣安东尼奥的史蒂夫·科尔(Steve Kerr)说。

NBA在1996年全明星赛中也因过早收集选票而受到批评，当时迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan)被评为MVP。沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)在比赛最后阶段表现出色，但投票已经结束。结果公布时，乔丹遭到了嘘声。

本赛季的个人奖项将在季后赛期间公布，而MVP的得主通常在第二轮后期公布。

“老实说，对我来说，这根本不算是竞争，”小牛队的广播员马特·平托(Matt Pinto)说，他投票给了莫宁。“他在这整个赛季中都统治着比赛，而他的球队还缺了两个首发球员，这已经很明显了。”

《体育画报》的杰基·麦克穆兰(Jackie MacMullan)在周六晚上投出了她的选票，选择了马龙而不是邓肯。

“这是我记得的最接近的一次，我一直犹豫不决，”她说。

《体育画报》的菲尔·泰勒(Phil Taylor)在周日早上投出了他的选票，选择了费城的阿伦·艾弗森(Allen Iverson)。

“考虑到费城这么长时间的糟糕表现，我不得不投给阿伦。他真的符合最有价值的定义，”泰勒说。

圣安东尼奥《快报》的格伦·罗杰斯(Glenn Rogers)，他定期报道邓肯，在周一下午提交了他的选票，选择了马龙。

“他仍然是主力球员，是顶级的强力前锋，邓肯紧随其后，但还没有超越他，”罗杰斯说。

点击查看原文：Most MVP votes are in already - Season-ending heroics won't be factored in

Most MVP votes are in already - Season-ending heroics won’t be factored in

No matter what Tim Duncan, Karl Malone or Alonzo Mourning do in the final three days of the season, it won’t change many MVP votes.

Most of the voters have already cast their ballots.

“That’s tough. I really didn’t know it was like that,” San Antonio’s Tim Duncan said after believing he might have changed a few voters’ minds Sunday by outplaying Malone down the stretch of a critical victory by the Spurs.

Ballots for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and other awards were mailed almost two weeks ago to 118 voters - three from each NBA city and 31 members of the national media.

The NBA told voters to return their ballots by Sunday, May 2, although they could wait until the end of the regular season Wednesday night if they felt it was necessary to take the final three days into account.

A league spokesman refused to say Monday exactly how many ballots had been returned so far.

The Deseret News in Salt Lake City reported Sunday that based upon a survey of more than 50 voters, Malone is the likely winner. Mourning will finish second and Duncan third.

“I have an idea which way it’s going to go, but I’m not saying,” Malone said.

The practice of mailing and collecting ballots before the season is over is a long-standing one, and a sampling of several voters by the Associated Press found no one who felt any undue pressure to cast a vote too early.

Duncan, however, was very surprised to hear that many ballots had already been cast.

“I thought they did actually (vote at the end of the season), but whatever happens,” said Duncan, whose teammates also were under the impression that the Spurs’ recent success could translate into a few changed MVP votes.

“It sounds pretty stupid, really,” San Antonio’s Steve Kerr said.

The NBA’s standard procedure of collecting ballots early also was criticized during the 1996 All-Star game when Michael Jordan was selected the MVP. Shaquille O’Neal finished that game with a flourish, but the votes were already in. When the result was announced, Jordan was booed.

This season’s individual awards will be announced during the playoffs, and the winner of the MVP traditionally is announced late in the second round.

“Honestly, it wasn’t even that close for me,” said Mavericks broadcaster Matt Pinto, who voted for Mourning. “The way he has dominated over the course of the season while his team was missing two starters, it was clear-cut for a long time.”

Jackie MacMullan of Sports Illustrated cast her ballot Saturday night, choosing Malone over Duncan.

“This is one of the closest ones I can remember, and I was back and forth all the way,” she said.

SI’s Phil Taylor cast his ballot Sunday morning, choosing Allen Iverson of Philadelphia.

“Looking at how bad Philadelphia had been for so long, I had to give it to Allen. He really fit the definition of most valuable,” Taylor said.

Glenn Rogers of the San Antonio Express- News, who covers Duncan on a regular basis, submitted his ballot Monday afternoon and picked Malone.

“He’s still the main man, the premiere power forward, with Duncan close to edging him out of there,” Rogers said.

By Chris Sheridan, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-05, By Johnny Ludden

马刺有望锁定西部第一 - 再次击败开拓者，冲刺最佳战绩

正如往常一样，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)是马刺队中最早起床的人。圣经学习是两人比赛日的惯例，罗宾逊在周二有一篇特别的讲道：不要相信炒作。

“当我们战绩为6胜8负时，人们向我们扔石头。现在，我们打出了一波连胜，人们都在拍我们的马屁，”罗宾逊说。“当我们6胜8负时，我们相信自己。所以我只是说，‘不要因为人们的赞美而得意忘形，也不要因为人们的批评而灰心丧气。’”

约翰逊将这个信息简化为一句话：“大卫说，赢一场重大比赛很重要。”

就像每个优秀的传教士一样，罗宾逊身体力行。

罗宾逊在周二晚上玫瑰花园球馆，在20715名球迷面前，以29分的高分（最后两分为比赛结束前12.2秒时完成的一个精彩的补篮扣篮）带领气势如虹的马刺队以87-81战胜了波特兰开拓者队。

凭借这场胜利，马刺队距离联盟最佳战绩、中西部联盟冠军和季后赛主场优势只有一场胜利的距离。对于这一切，他们都要感谢那个多年来为他们带来其他令人难忘里程碑的人——罗宾逊。

“我对AJ说，”马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)说，“那是老五十号出马了。”

他们今晚可能还需要老五十号。

如果马刺队（36胜13负）击败金州勇士队，他们将获得西部联盟的头号种子进入季后赛。如果他们输了，他们将排名第三，而犹他爵士队（37胜13负）将赢得西部联盟冠军。

至少，马刺队在四天内第二次、本赛季第三次击败波特兰队后，将获得第二轮的主场优势。

“感觉我们只有不到一个小时的时间来庆祝这些日子，”罗宾逊说。“每一场比赛对我们来说都很重要。上周末，我们遇到了本赛季最重要的两场比赛（对阵爵士队和开拓者队）。（周二）是我们最重要的比赛。

“现在这场（对阵勇士队）是本赛季最重要的比赛。”

毫无疑问，罗宾逊为开拓者队奉献了最佳表现。

在第三节从落后9分的情况下反超后，马刺队在约翰逊的快攻上篮（他全场得到18分）中取得领先，当时比赛还剩5分45秒。一分钟后，罗宾逊在用一个扭身跳投和一个来自蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)的传球后空中接力得分后将马刺队的领先优势扩大到78-74。

邓肯在布莱恩·格兰特(Brian Grant)头上投进了一个艰难的钩射，但吉米·杰克逊(Jimmy Jackson)的补篮将马刺队的领先优势缩小到81-78。在肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)的投篮高高弹起后，罗宾逊从空中抢下球并完成扣篮。

“那，”埃利奥特说，“真是太棒了。”

罗宾逊说：“我一直说，即使艾弗里或肖恩突破投篮不中，也几乎算是一个进球，因为我们有两个7英尺高的球员在内线。”

阿尔维达斯·萨博尼斯(Arvydas Sabonis)得到18分领跑开拓者队（35胜14负），他在比赛还剩10秒时投进了一个三分球，让比赛变得有趣，但埃利奥特命中了两个关键的罚球，然后示意玫瑰花园球馆的球迷闭嘴。

罗宾逊还抢下12个篮板，并封盖了达蒙·斯塔德迈尔(Damon Stoudamire)的跳投，完美地粉碎了开拓者队最后的希望。他在第三节得到13分。

真是个好时机。

开拓者队打出一波15-0的攻势，在杰克逊的三分球命中后将比分扩大到65-56，当时本节还剩不到4分钟。但就像第二节一样，马刺队打进了最后的7分，将比分追至2分，进入最后12分钟。

“我不仅为大卫所说的话感到自豪，”约翰逊说，“也为他在球场上的表现感到自豪。”

开拓者队将在今晚结束他们的赛季，对手是洛杉矶湖人队。

“我们现在有点沮丧，”格兰特说。

马刺队赛程

周二：马刺队 87，@开拓者队 81

得分最高者：马刺队 - 罗宾逊 29；开拓者队 - 萨博尼斯 18

连胜：4场

今晚：对阵金州勇士队（21胜28负）

时间地点：晚上9:30，奥克兰（加州）竞技场

电视：KRRT

广播：WOAI-AM 1200（西班牙语：KCOR-AM 1350）

点击查看原文：Spurs can sew NO. 1 seed - S.A. pounds Portland again to hone in on best record

Spurs can sew NO. 1 seed - S.A. pounds Portland again to hone in on best record

As usual, David Robinson and Avery Johnson were the first Spurs out of bed. Bible study is a game-day ritual for the duo and Robinson had a special sermon for Tuesday: Don’t Believe the Hype.

“When we were 6-8, people were throwing stones at us. Now, we’re on a nice run and people are patting us on the back,” Robinson said. “We believed in ourselves when we were 6-8. So I just said, ‘Don’t get too high on what people are saying and don’t get too low on what people aren’t saying.’”

Johnson condensed the message into this: “Dave said it was important to have a big game.”

And like every good minister, Robinson practiced what he preached.

Matching his season high with 29 points - the last pair coming on a stunning putback dunk with 12.2 seconds left - Robinson led the surging Spurs to an 87-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night before 20,715 at the Rose Garden.

With the win, the Spurs moved one victory away from the NBA’s best record, the Midwest Division title and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. For all of that, they can thank the one man who has provided a few other memorable milestones over the years - Robinson.

“I told AJ,” Mario Elie said, “that was the old Five-O out there.”

They could use the old Five-O again tonight.

If they beat Golden State, the Spurs (36-13) will receive the Western Conference’s top seed heading into the playoffs. If they don’t, they will settle for the third seed and Utah (37-13) claims the Midwest Division crown.

At the least, the Spurs will have home court through the second round after beating Portland for the second time in four days and the third time this season.

“It seems like we only get an hour to celebrate these days,” Robinson said. "Every game is huge for us. Last weekend, we had two of our biggest games of the season (against Utah and Portland). (Tuesday) was our biggest game.

“Now this (one against the Warriors) is the biggest game of the season.”

Without question, however, Robinson saved his best performance for the Blazers.

After battling back from a nine- point deficit in the third quarter, the Spurs took the lead on Johnson’s fast-break layup - two of his 18 points - with 5:45 left. Robinson pushed the Spurs’ lead to 78-74 a minute later on a twisting fallaway and a lay-in off a lob pass from Tim Duncan.

Duncan hit a tough hook shot over Brian Grant, but Jimmy Jackson’s tip-in cut the Spurs’ lead to 81-78. After Sean Elliott’s shot bounced high off the rim to the rim, Robinson plucked the ball out of the air and threw down the dunk.

“That,” Elliott said, “was pretty good.”

Said Robinson: “I always say even when Avery or Sean drive and miss, it’s almost like a basket because we have two 7-footers down there.”

Arvydas Sabonis, who had 18 points to lead Portland (35-14), hit a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to make things interesting, but Elie sunk two clutch free throws then motioned for the Rose Garden crowd to shut up.

Robinson, who also had 12 boards, blocked Damon Stoudamire’s pull-up to fittingly snuff out any last hope for the Blazers. He scored 13 of his points in the third quarter.

That was nice timing.

The Trail Blazers ripped off 15 straight points, eventually taking a 65-56 lead on Jackson’s three-pointer with less than four minutes left in the quarter. But like the second quarter, the Spurs scored the final seven points to claw within two heading into the final 12 minutes.

“I’m not only proud of what Dave said,” Johnson said, “but what he then did on the court.”

The Blazers finish their season tonight at the Los Angeles Lakers.

“We’re a little down now,” Grant said.

Spurs watch

Tuesday: Spurs 87, @Blazers 81

Top scorers: Spurs - Robinson 29; Blazers - Sabonis 18

Streak: Won 4

Tonight: vs. Golden State (21-28)

When, where: 9:30, The Arena in Oakland (Calif.)

TV: KRRT

Radio: WOAI-AM 1200 (in Spanish on KCOR-AM 1350)

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-05, By Johnny Ludden

马刺队笔记

谁想要面对爵士？联盟中一直有传言称，菲尼克斯太阳队希望避免与马刺队相遇，并争取在第一轮对阵犹他爵士队。

这对于肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)来说再好不过了，他已经看够了太阳队。

“我认为菲尼克斯今年让所有人都感到害怕，”埃利奥特说。

马刺队与太阳队在四场比赛中战成2:2，两队各在自己主场赢了一场。太阳队在最后两场比赛中缺少首发前锋汤姆·古利奥塔(Tom Gugliotta)和中锋卢克·朗利(Luc Longley)，但仍然在4月10日美国西部竞技场以110-84的比分给马刺队造成了本赛季最惨痛的失利。

太阳队在2月17日阿拉莫穹顶体育馆以79-76战胜马刺队，他们克服了第四节11分的落后。3月12日，埃利奥特在美西球馆以19尺的距离命中压哨球，帮助马刺队以99-97获胜。

据认为，太阳队更喜欢与爵士队交锋，因为他们在过去两周内两次战胜了爵士队，并在4月9日以93-92惜败，当时卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)在最后几秒钟罚进了3个罚球。爵士队也在2月11日以82-74战胜了太阳队。

“他们拥有古利奥塔和克里福德·罗宾逊(Clifford Robinson)——这对我们来说是很难缠的对手，”埃利奥特说。“而且，很明显，我认为联盟中最好的球员是杰森·基德(Jason Kidd)。”

迟到：马刺队的训练师威尔·塞文宁(Will Sevening)在周一下午错过了前往波特兰的航班。他有一个很好的理由：他的妻子特里(Terri)生下了一个男孩，本杰明·保罗(Benjamin Paul)。

威尔在周二及时赶上比赛，为球员们贴上了护踝。

仍然感到不适：杰罗姆·克西(Jerome Kersey)在周二比赛之前说，他的右小腿仍然感到疼痛。

克西在4月18日对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中拉伤了小腿。他上周没有参加萨克拉门托国王队和温哥华灰熊队的比赛。在周六对阵波特兰开拓者队的比赛中打了13分钟后，他第二天没有参加对阵犹他爵士队的比赛。

点击查看原文：Spurs Notes

Spurs Notes

Who wants the Jazz? There have been whispers around the league that Phoenix would like to avoid the Spurs and position itself for a first-round matchup with Utah.

That’s just fine with Sean Elliott, who has seen enough of the Suns.

“I think Phoenix is scaring everyone this year,” Elliott said.

The Spurs split their four-game series with the Suns, with each team winning once on the other’s court. Phoenix was missing starting forward Tom Gugliotta and center Luc Longley for the last two games, but still handed the Spurs their worst loss of the season (110-84) April 10 at America West Arena.

The Suns overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Spurs 79-76 Feb. 17 at the Alamodome. Elliott’s 19-footer at the buzzer gave the Spurs a 99-97 win March 12 at America West.

Phoenix is thought to favor a matchup with the Jazz after beating them twice in the past two weeks and losing a 93-92 heartbreaker on April 9, when Karl Malone hit three free throws in the final seconds. Utah also beat the Suns 82-74 on Feb. 11.

“They have Gugliotta and (Clifford) Robinson - those guys are tough matchups for us,” Elliott said. “And, obviously, I think the best player in the league is Jason Kidd.”

Late arrival: Spurs trainer Will Sevening missed the team’s flight to Portland on Monday afternoon. He had a good excuse: His wife, Terri, gave birth to a boy, Benjamin Paul.

Will flew up for the game Tuesday in time to tape the players’ ankles.

Still ailing: Jerome Kersey said before Tuesday’s game his right calf continues to bother him.

Kersey originally strained the calf against Houston on April 18. He did not suit up for the Sacramento and Vancouver games last week. After playing 13 minutes against Portland on Saturday, he was not used the next day against Utah. - Johnny Ludden

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-05, By Johnny Ludden

太阳希望避开马刺 - 据传菲尼克斯渴望与爵士在首轮相遇

有传言称，菲尼克斯希望避开马刺，并为与犹他的首轮对决做好准备。

肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)对此表示赞同，他已经对太阳队感到厌倦了。

“我认为菲尼克斯今年让每个人都感到害怕，”埃利奥特说道。

马刺队与太阳队四场比赛战成2-2，双方各在自己主场取胜一次。太阳队在最后两场比赛中缺席了先发前锋汤姆·古格里奥塔(Tom Gugliotta)和中锋卢克·朗利(Luc Longley)，但仍在4月10日于美国西部体育馆以110-84击败了马刺队，创下了马刺队本赛季的最大失利。

太阳队在2月17日于阿拉莫穹顶体育馆以79-76击败马刺队，他们在第四节克服了11分的落后。3月12日，埃利奥特在比赛结束时命中了一个19英尺的投篮，帮助马刺队以99-97战胜太阳队。

人们认为太阳队更倾向于与爵士队交手，他们在过去两周内两度战胜爵士队，并在4月9日以93-92惜败，当时卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)在最后几秒钟罚进了三个罚球。犹他队也在2月11日以82-74战胜了太阳队。

“他们有古格里奥塔和(克利福德)罗宾逊(Clifford Robinson) - 这些家伙对我们来说都是艰难的对手，”埃利奥特说道。“而且，很明显，我认为联盟中最棒的球员是杰森·基德(Jason Kidd)。首先，他的数据说明了一切。但从防守端来说，他也是个怪兽。他抢下篮板，抢断，让周围的每个人都变得更强。”

杰罗姆·克西(Jerome Kersey)在周二对阵开拓者队的比赛前表示，他的右小腿仍然感到疼痛。

克西是在4月18日对阵火箭队的比赛中拉伤了小腿。他缺席了与国王队和灰熊队的比赛。

点击查看原文：Suns hope to dodge Spurs - Phoenix rumored to covet first-round series with Jazz

Suns hope to dodge Spurs - Phoenix rumored to covet first-round series with Jazz

There have been whispers around the NBA that Phoenix would like to avoid the Spurs and position itself for a first-round matchup with Utah.

That’s just fine with Sean Elliott, who has seen enough of the Suns.

“I think Phoenix is scaring everyone this year,” Elliott said.

The Spurs split their four-game series against the Suns, with each team winning once on the other’s court. Phoenix was missing starting forward Tom Gugliotta and center Luc Longley for the last two games, but still handed the Spurs their worst loss of the season (110- 84) April 10 at America West Arena.

The Suns overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Spurs 79-76 Feb. 17 at the Alamodome. Elliott’s 19-footer at the buzzer gave the Spurs a 99-97 win March 12 at America West.

Phoenix is thought to favor a matchup with the Jazz after beating them twice in the past two weeks and losing a 93-92 heartbreaker April 9 when Karl Malone hit three free throws in the final seconds. Utah also beat the Suns 82-74 Feb. 11.

“They have Gugliotta and (Clifford) Robinson - those guys are tough matchups for us,” Elliott said. “And, obviously, I think the best player in the league is Jason Kidd. First off, his numbers speak for themselves. But, defensively, he’s a monster, too. He gets loose balls, steals, makes everyone around him better.”

Jerome Kersey said before Tuesday’s game against Portland that his right calf continues to bother him.

Kersey originally strained the calf against Houston on April 18. He did not suit up for the Sacramento and Vancouver games.

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-05, By Arthur Garcia

观看付费季后赛回归

免费观看的时代结束了，恰逢 NBA 季后赛的到来。

观看付费将回归，适用于圣安东尼奥马刺队主场季后赛中未被 NBC 全国转播的比赛。百视达有线电视公司将为其用户提供每场 $24.95 的观看付费服务。

KSAT 或 KRRT 当地电视台将转播所有未被 NBC 转播的马刺队客场比赛。此外，TNT 和 TBS 将转播不确定的场次马刺队比赛，但这些有线电视网络转播的任何在阿拉莫穹顶体育馆进行的比赛将在圣安东尼奥地区被屏蔽。

NBA 规则要求 TNT 和 TBS 转播的比赛在距比赛地点 35 英里的范围内被屏蔽。

在停摆结束之后，马刺队官员决定在常规赛期间不使用观看付费。这是一种善意之举，旨在平息停摆后的负面反应。

观看付费回归背后的原因：主场优势。

“我们首要的目标是让我们的球迷来到阿拉莫穹顶体育馆，”马刺队副总裁劳伦斯·佩恩 (Lawrence Payne) 周二在一份声明中表示。

“我们想要为我们的球队创造一切可能的竞争优势，而一个重要的优势就是爆满、喧闹的主场。”——阿瑟·加西亚 (Arthur Garcia)

点击查看原文：Pay-per-view returns for playoffs

Pay-per-view returns for playoffs

The free ride is over, just in time for the NBA playoffs.

Pay-per-view makes its return for Spurs home playoff games not nationally televised by NBC. Paragon Cable will offer those to subscribers for $24.95 apiece.

Local stations KSAT or KRRT will telecast all Spurs road games not picked up by NBC. In addition, TNT and TBS will carry an undetermined number of games involving the Spurs, but any Alamodome games aired by those cable networks would be blacked out in the San Antonio area.

NBA rules require games shown on TNT and TBS be blacked out in a 35-mile radius from the originating city.

In the aftermath of the lockout, Spurs officials decided against using pay-per-view during the regular season. It was an act of good will designed to smooth over post- lockout backlash.

The reasoning behind its return: home-court advantage.

“Our first and foremost goal is to have our fans in the Alamodome,” Spurs vice president Lawrence Payne said in a release Tuesday.

“We want to create every competitive advantage we can for our team, and a big one is a sold-out, noisy home court.” - Arthur Garcia

By Arthur Garcia, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-05, By Associated Press

犹他爵士队逆转战胜快船队

犹他爵士队通常不会关注客场比分。

“我不喜欢把事情交给别人。我喜欢在球场上自己解决，”卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)说道，他的赛季首个三双帮助爵士队在周二晚上以 99-82 击败了洛杉矶快船队。

“但我们把自己置于了这种境地，我们必须应对它。”

爵士队以 37胜13负的战绩结束了本赛季，但他们现在需要马刺队今晚在金州勇士队输球才能在整个 NBA 季后赛中获得主场优势。马刺队以 87-81 击败了波特兰开拓者队，如果获胜，他们将锁定西部联盟的季后赛席位。

犹他爵士队在周日输给了圣安东尼奥马刺队，从而失去了决定自己季后赛命运的权利。马龙的 29 分、12 个篮板和 10 次助攻是爵士队战胜快船队的重要因素，否则快船队可能会让无所事事的爵士队陷入困境。

快船队（9胜40负）今晚将在主场对阵西雅图超音速队，他们从未给爵士队任何喘息的机会。爵士队在中场休息时以 49-52 落后，拉蒙德·默里(Lamond Murray)在比赛还剩 7 分 49 秒时抢断并上篮，将爵士队的领先优势缩小至 79-75。

但马龙在爵士队接下来的两次进攻中分别送出一次助攻和一次得分，格雷格·奥斯特塔格(Greg Ostertag)连续两次得分，帮助爵士队摆脱困境。自 1991 年三角洲中心球馆开馆以来，快船队在犹他州的比赛中已经 0胜16负。

比赛结束后，爵士队在球馆的大屏幕上播放了马刺队与开拓者队比赛的下半场。大部分球迷留下来观看，他们都为开拓者队加油。

季后赛排名一览

球队 胜 负 百分比 差距

犹他爵士队 37 13 .740 - 0

波特兰开拓者队 35 14 .714 1 1/2 1

马刺队 36 13 .735 1/2 1

休斯顿火箭队 30 19 .612 6 1/2 1

洛杉矶湖人队 30 19 .612 6 1/2 1

菲尼克斯太阳队 26 23 .531 10 1/2 1

萨克拉门托国王队 26 23 .531 10 1/2 1

明尼苏达森林狼队 25 24 .510 11 1

周二比赛

休斯顿火箭队 @ 明尼苏达森林狼队 100-83

犹他爵士队 @ 洛杉矶快船队 99-82

点击查看原文：Utah rallies to close out Clippers

Utah rallies to close out Clippers

Utah doesn’t usually keep an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard.

“I don’t like having things taken out of my hands. I like to take care of it myself on the court,” said Karl Malone, whose first triple- double of the season propelled the Jazz to a 99- 82 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

“But we put ourselves into this situation, and we’ve got to deal with it.”

The Jazz finished their season with a 37-13 record, but they now need the Spurs to lose at Golden State tonight to claim home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. The Spurs, 87-81 winners over Portland on Tuesday, can clinch the Midwest Division title and top seed in the West with a victory.

Utah lost the right to determine its playoff destiny by losing at San Antonio on Sunday, and Malone’s 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists were all that kept the Clippers from making things quite uncomfortable for the lackadaisical Jazz at home.

The Clippers (9-40), who end their season tonight at home against Seattle, never gave the Jazz much breathing room. Utah trailed 52-49 at halftime, and Lamond Murray’s steal and layup with 7:49 left the Jazz’s lead to 79-75.

But Malone recorded an assist and a basket on Utah’s next two possessions, and Greg Ostertag scored back-to-back hoops to pull the Jazz out of danger. The Clippers are 0-16 in Utah since the Delta Center opened in 1991.

After the game, the Jazz played the second half of the Spurs-Portland game over the arena’s JumboTRON screen. A large portion of the crowd remained to watch, all cheering the Trail Blazers.

Playoff race at a glance

Team W L Pct. GB GL

Utah 37 13 .740 - 0

Portland 35 14 .714 11/2 1

SPURS 36 13 .735 1/2 1

Houston 30 19 .612 61/2 1

L.A. Lakers 30 19 .612 61/2 1

Phoenix 26 23 .531 101/2 1

Sacramento 26 23 .531 101/2 1

Minnesota 25 24 .510 11 1

Tuesday’s games

@Houston 100, Minnesota 83

@Utah 99, L.A. Clippers 82

By Associated Press, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-05, By Glenn Rogers

短赛季，群星闪耀，剧情跌宕起伏

停摆季锁定了常规赛，也锁定了它真正的意义。

回顾这段旅程，让我们在比赛开始前，重温那些难忘的时刻。

一开始，50场比赛的赛制遭到了不少人的诟病，但事实是，许多球迷和球员并没有抱怨。

82场比赛的赛制，更像是对球员的体力和精神耐力的考验，而非技术水平的检验。到季后赛时，球员们已经筋疲力尽，很难保持稳定的高水平表现。

而如今，这些球员们依然精力充沛。

令人担忧的三天三赛，并没有带来人们预期的负面影响。

教练们对此并不买账，他们抱怨没有时间训练。教练们热爱训练，球员们却恨之入骨。每周一次就足够了。拉里·伯德(Larry Bird)一针见血地指出，下赛季让球员们进入训练模式会很困难。

我们再也看不到少于82场比赛的赛制了。电视转播商不会同意，因为他们还要为转播权支付数十亿美元。球队也无法从经济上支撑，除非球员们同意按比赛场次比例降低薪酬。

什么？降低薪酬？不可能。大多数球员认为，球队从他们身上获得了便宜。即使他们不会罚球，比赛时间有限，从未打过冠军，也依然如此。

所以，让我们一起回顾这50场比赛，这将是我们唯一一次看到如此短的赛季。

我们见证了三位杰森的崛起——太阳队的基德(Jason Kidd)、国王队的威廉姆斯(Jason Williams)和篮网队的威廉姆斯(Jason Williams)。

基德在比赛后期接管比赛，用精妙的传球、灵活的运球和不断提升的投篮，摧毁了对手的士气，带领太阳队走向胜利。

国王队的菜鸟威廉姆斯，点燃了球场，吸引了球迷重返奥克兰球馆。他的神奇表现，让人们联想起传奇球星皮特·马拉维奇(Pete Maravich)，也为球队带来了梦寐以求的季后赛资格。

篮网队的威廉姆斯，即使在腿部骨折后，仍然保持着乐观的心态，尽管他的伤势粉碎了篮网队从赛季初的低迷中复苏的希望。

杰森笑着说，他唯一预测正确的事情，就是自己会被送进救护车。

我们也看到了，一些奇思妙想毁掉了球队的重建计划。

斯蒂芬·马布里(Stephon Marbury)和汤姆·古格里奥塔(Tom Gugliotta)离开了森林狼队，因为他们不喜欢明尼苏达的气候，也许还因为他们对凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)的高薪感到不满。

安东尼奥·麦克戴斯(Antonio McDyess)告诉太阳队，他更喜欢丹佛。太阳队在失去古格里奥塔后，依然表现出色。而麦克戴斯和马布里似乎都很满意只打常规赛。

我们见证了多伦多球迷的欢呼，“文斯·卡特(Vince Carter)，他可是个厉害的角色，对吧？”

我们见证了卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)和迪肯贝·穆托姆博(Dikembe Mutombo)毫不犹豫地突破骨骼极限。

我们看到了芝加哥两名杰瑞——莱恩斯多夫(Jerry Reinsdorf)和克劳斯(Jerry Krause)——遭受的攻击。他们毁掉了自己的冠军球队，让联合中心球馆在接下来的几年里变得冰冷而沉闷。

也许他们确实毁掉了球队，也许没有。无论如何，菲尔·杰克逊(Phil Jackson)和迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan)都已经决定离开。杰克逊已经连续几个赛季表示，他需要休息。乔丹则表示，去年季后赛之后，他感觉空虚。

评论员认为，球队应该一直保持阵容，直到战败为止。这种逻辑令人费解——这究竟能持续多久？为什么要让他们在年龄和实力下降之后，还要经历失败？

卢克·朗利(Luc Longley)说得最好：“我们利用三角战术和迈克尔，榨取了我们所能榨取的一切。”

我们看到了灾难性的、过早的决定。

洛杉矶的两名杰瑞——巴斯(Jerry Buss)和韦斯特(Jerry West)——将自己的机器弄得支离破碎。他们认为自己需要一名定点射手，于是把埃迪·琼斯(Eddie Jones)以及替补球员埃尔登·坎贝尔(Elden Campbell)交易出去，失去了球队的活力、得分能力和防守。

巴斯被丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)关于团队化学反应的言论所迷惑，结果发现罗德曼的存在导致了球队内部的爆炸。

在夏洛特，戴夫·考文斯(Dave Cowens)抱怨自己没有得到重视，于是离开了黄蜂队的巢穴，因为他不想成为一支挣扎球队的教练。

保罗·西拉斯(Paul Silas)接任主教练，欢迎琼斯和坎贝尔的到来，如果能在最后几天击败尼克斯队，他就能获得年度最佳教练的提名。现在，西拉斯可以等待安东尼·梅森(Anthony Mason)的回归，并期待乔丹告诉总经理鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)，最终的目标是赢得比赛。

尼克斯队放弃了查尔斯·奥克利(Charles Oakley)，并在得到拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔(Latrell Sprewell)后欣喜若狂。马刺队的球迷可以欢呼，蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)、大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)不必担心与斯普雷维尔争抢球权。

我们见证了圣安东尼奥队或许将迎来真正的崛起。马刺队变得坚韧、强硬，也更加敏锐。

邓肯的活力和决心都在提升。埃利奥特也是如此。马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)一直都很出色，而罗宾逊在攻防两端都展现出了火热的状态。

他们都将目光投向了艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)。邓肯是联盟最有价值球员的候选人，而约翰逊已经锁定了球队最有价值球员的荣誉。

点击查看原文：Short season long on stars, storylines

Short season long on stars, storylines

The lockout season is locking up the regular games and locking into what it’s really all about.

It’s been some ride, so we’ll look back before the action begins.

The run of 50 games was scorned at first but, face it, many fans and lots of players aren’t complaining.

The 82-game slate is a grind, designed more to test mental and physical endurance rather than skills. The players are ground down by playoff time, and consistent top performances are rare in the postseason.

These guys today have plenty left in their tanks.

The dreaded three games in three nights were handled without the feared physical repercussions.

Coaches didn’t like it. No practice time, they wailed. Coaches love practices. Players hate them. One a week would do them fine. Larry Bird hit the nail on the head when he said it will be tough to get the guys into practice mode next season.

We will never see fewer than 82 games again. Television wouldn’t permit it, not while continuing to lay out a billion for telecast rights. The teams couldn’t sustain it financially, unless the players agreed to slice their paychecks in proportion to games played.

What? Cut pay? No can do. Most of these guys still figure teams are getting bargains for their services. Even if they can’t hit a free throw, are limited in their games and never play on a championship team.

So let’s look at the only 50 we will ever see.

We had the three Jasons - the Suns’ Kidd, the Kings’ Williams and the Nets’ Williams (forgive the use of the “Y”).

Kidd demoralized Phoenix’s opponents with his late-game takeovers, his brilliant guidance, fancy passes and an ever- improving jumper.

Williams, the Sacramento rookie, brought electricity and fans back to Arco Arena. His magical play brought comparisons to the legendary Pete Maravich and the long-awaited visit to the playoffs.

The Williams in New Jersey kept his own good humor even after his fractured leg shattered whatever chances the Nets had of recovering from their early season slumber.

Joking to the end, Jayson said the only prediction he made that came true was that he would have to be carried out of the arena in an ambulance.

We saw whims and fancies ruin teams’ building plans.

Stephon Marbury and Tom Gugliotta removed the fangs from the Timberwolves because they didn’t really like the Minnesota climate - and perhaps were a bit put out by the super money earned by Kevin Garnett.

Antonio McDyess told the Suns that he just liked Denver better. Phoenix recovered nicely enough with Gugliotta. McDyess seems satisfied playing regular-season games only, as does Marbury.

We saw Toronto fans exude, “Vince Carter, he’s a player, eh?”

We saw Karl Malone and Dikembe Mutombo make no bones about breaking bones.

We read and heard the abuse piled on the two Jerrys in Chicago - Reinsdorf and Krause. They gored their own championship team, leaving the United Center cold and gloomy for years to come.

Maybe they did, perhaps they didn’t. Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan were done regardless of the Jerrys’ actions. Jackson had been saying for seasons that he needed the break. Jordan said he was empty after last year’s playoffs.

Pundits claim the team should have been held together until defeated. Logic belies this - how long could it possibly go on? Why subject it to defeat after age wore down its talents?

Luc Longley said it best: “We milked the triangle offense and Michael, too, for about all we could milk it.”

We saw disastrous and premature moves.

The two Jerrys in Los Angeles - Buss and West - jammed rods into their own machine. They convinced themselves they needed a spot-up shooter and traded away spirit, scoring and defense in Eddie Jones and back-up help in Elden Campbell.

Buss fell for Dennis Rodman’s yapping about chemistry and discovered the Rodman element led to an internal explosion.

In Charlotte, Dave Cowens whined about not being appreciated and slipped out of the Hornets’ nest, figuring he would avoid the sting attached to coaching a floundering team.

Paul Silas took over, welcomed Jones and Campbell and was ready to nab coach-of-the-year votes if he could have nicked the Knicks in the final days. Now Silas can await the return of Anthony Mason and expect Jordan to tell General Manager Bob Bass that the bottom line is winning.

The Knicks got rid of Charles Oakley and swooned when they captured Latrell Sprewell. Spurs fans can rejoice that Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Sean Elliott didn’t have to worry about finding ball time for Sprewell.

We saw what may be a true blossoming right here in San Antonio. The Spurs got gritty, a little mean and a lot sharper.

Duncan grew in verve and determination. So did Elliott. Mario Elie always had it, and Robinson is catching fire at both ends.

And they all look to Avery Johnson. Duncan was the candidate for league MVP, Johnson already has sewed up team MVP.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-06, By Associated Press

罗宾逊重拾状态，助马刺火热

正如圣安东尼奥马刺队的队友马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)所说，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)看起来又像昔日的“海军上将”了。

这位33岁的老将，打出了本赛季最佳状态，周二晚上在对阵波特兰开拓者的比赛中得到29分，帮助马刺以87-81战胜对手，将他们推向西部常规赛冠军的边缘。

如果马刺队（36-13）在周三晚上客场战胜金州勇士，他们将获得季后赛的主场优势。犹他爵士队（37-13）在与马刺队的系列赛中以1-2告负后，将被排在西部第三位，落后于排名第二的波特兰（35-14）。

罗宾逊的复苏帮助圣安东尼奥队在最近35场比赛中赢下了30场，抹去了球队糟糕的6胜8负开局的记忆。2月28日，马刺队在主场输给了爵士队14分，球迷们对球队发出了嘘声，那是他们本赛季的最低谷。

“当我们6胜8负的时候，每个人都在向我们扔石头。现在，每个人都在拍我们的后背，”罗宾逊说道。“当我们6胜8负的时候，我们相信自己。所以我当时说，‘不要因为人们现在的评价而沾沾自喜，也不要因为人们不相信你而感到沮丧。’”

对于马刺队来说，现在几乎没有不相信他们的人了。在过去几周，他们在向与爵士队争夺联盟最佳战绩的道路上，战胜了西部联盟的众多强队。自4月14日客场输给达拉斯之后，圣安东尼奥队在接下来的12场比赛中赢下了11场，击败了明尼苏达、休斯顿、洛杉矶湖人、爵士队（两场）和开拓者队（三场）。

在这段时间里，罗宾逊场均得到18分，此前他前36场比赛的场均得分是14.8分。虽然他的场均得分将以15.7分创造生涯新低，但他一直保持着稳定的篮板和防守表现。而且，他优雅地将大部分聚光灯让给了二年级前锋蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)，这位最有价值球员候选人以场均21.6分排名联盟第七。

埃利在休斯顿效力了五个赛季并获得了两个总冠军后，作为自由球员加盟球队，他为球队带来了火爆的激情和领导力，同时也是一支以内线进攻为主的球队中最出色的三分射手。

控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)也表现出色。在马刺队最近两次战胜波特兰的比赛中，他分别得到24分和18分，在对决中压制了开拓者队的控球后卫达蒙·斯塔德迈尔(Damon Stoudamire)。几年前，斯塔德迈尔在效力多伦多的时候，曾说过马刺队永远无法在约翰逊带领下赢得 NBA 冠军。

斯塔德迈尔在周二晚上得到8分，14投4中，他说他仍然坚持自己的观点。

“我当时是这么说的，我不会收回我的言论，”他说道。“他们仍然没有赢得冠军，直到他们赢得冠军，我的评论就会一直保留。”

约翰逊没有回应斯塔德迈尔的最新评论。

“我只是觉得我们现在的信心非常高，”约翰逊说道。“这并不意味着我们会相信所有关于我们的报纸、广播和电视媒体报道，但我们的自信足够高，我们对自己在进攻和防守方面的表现充满信心。”

马刺队可能有机会让斯塔德迈尔收回他的话。除了爵士队，马刺队也是争夺总冠军的有力竞争者。对于一支在上赛季取得了56胜26负战绩的球队来说，这是他们完成了一次惊人的逆袭，这比他们在1996-97赛季的乐透签位（56胜26负，比上赛季提高了36场胜利），让他们获得了选中邓肯的机会。

“我们已经走过了很长的路，”邓肯说道。“去年这个时候，我们输掉了很多比赛……输给了西部联盟的强队。我们已经成长了，积累了更多经验，并且知道如何结束比赛。”

季后赛争夺战一览

球队 胜 负 百分比 落后场次

1. 马刺 37 13 .740 0 2. 波特兰 35 15 .700 2 3. 犹他 37 13 .740 0 4. 湖人 31 19 .620 6 5. 休斯顿 31 19 .620 6 6. 萨克拉门托 27 23 .540 10 7. 菲尼克斯 27 23 .540 10 8. 明尼苏达 25 25 .500 12

周三的比赛

休斯顿 95 @丹佛 88

@菲尼克斯 100 明尼苏达 96

@萨克拉门托 99 温哥华 95

@湖人 119 波特兰 91

点击查看原文：Robinson regains form for hot Spurs

Robinson regains form for hot Spurs

As San Antonio Spurs teammate Mario Elie put it, David Robinson looked like the Admiral of old.

The salty 33-year-old, playing his best basketball of the season, scored 29 points Tuesday night in an 87-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, a win that pushed the Spurs to the brink of the Western Conference regular-season title.

A victory at Golden State to end the season Wednesday night would give the Spurs (36-13) homecourt advantage through the playoffs. The Utah Jazz (37-13), after losing the season series to the Spurs 2-1, would be seeded No. 3 in the Western Conference behind No. 2 Portland (35-14).

Robinson’s resurgence has helped San Antonio win 30 of its last 35, erasing memory of the team’s dismal 6-8 start. It was back on Feb. 28 when the Spurs hit that low point, as home fans booed the team after a 14-point loss to the Jazz.

“When we were 6-8, everybody was throwing stones at us. Now, everybody’s patting us on the back,” Robinson said. “We believed in ourselves when we were 6-8. So I said, ‘Don’t get too high on what people are saying now, and don’t get too low when people don’t believe in you.’”

There are few nonbelievers left regarding the Spurs, who have beaten the best in the West in the last few weeks on their march toward tying Utah for the league’s best record. Since losing at Dallas on April 14, San Antonio has won 11 of 12, defeating Minnesota, Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz twice and the Blazers three times.

During that stretch, Robinson has averaged 18 points after averaging 14.8 his first 36 games. At 15.7 a game, he’ll still finish with a career low in points, but his rebounding and defense have remained consistently strong. And he’s gracefully given up a large slice of the spotlight to second- year forward Tim Duncan, an MVP candidate who’s seventh in the league in scoring at 21.6 a game.

Elie, signed as a free agent after five seasons and two titles in Houston, has given the team a fiery emotional leader, and he’s also the best 3-point shooter in an offense dominated by the post.

Point guard Avery Johnson has also played well. In the Spurs’ last two wins over Portland, he scored 24 and 18 points, outplaying Blazers counterpart Damon Stoudamire. A couple years back, when he was with Toronto, Stoudamire said the Spurs would never win an NBA title with Johnson leading the team.

Stoudamire, who scored eight points on 4-of-14 shooting Tuesday night, said his remark stands.

“I said it then; I’m not backing away from the comment,” he said. “They still haven’t won it, either. Until they win it, the comment can stay as it is.”

Johnson didn’t respond to Stoudamire’s latest comments.

“I just think our confidence right now is really high,” Johnson said. “It’s not so high that we’re going to believe all of the print and radio and TV media about ourselves, but it’s high enough that we have a confidence level in what we’re doing offensively and defensively.”

The Spurs may get a chance to make Stoudamire eat his words. Along with the Jazz, San Antonio has to be considered a contender to make the Finals. It’s the completion of a remarkable turnaround for a team that went 56-26 last season, a 36-win improvement over the 1996-97 lottery season that made the drafting of Duncan possible.

“We’ve come a long way since last year,” Duncan said. “Last year around this time, we were losing games … to the better teams in the West. We’ve grown up, got more experience and know how to finish games.” D

Playoff race at a glance

Team W L Pct.GBGL

1. SPURS 3713.740 - 0 2. Portland3515.7002 0 3. Utah 3713.740 - 0 4. L.A. Lakers 3119.620 6 0 5. Houston 3119.620 6 0 6. Sacramento 2723.54010 0 7. Phoenix 2723.54010 0 8. Minnesota 2525.50012 0

Wednesday’s games

Houston 95, @Denver 88

@Phoenix 100, Minnesota 96

@Sacramento 99, Vancouver 95

@L.A. Lakers 119, Portland 91

By Associated Press, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-06, By Jerry Briggs

加内特不惧对阵马刺

明尼苏达森林狼队的前锋凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)似乎并不担心在季后赛首轮对阵马刺。

坐在美国西部球馆的客队更衣室里，加内特甚至没有关注电视，电视上正在播放马刺以 88-81 击败金州勇士队的比赛最后时刻。

马刺凭借这场胜利锁定了西部第一的种子排名，并获得了与第八种子森林狼队的比赛资格。森林狼队此前以 100-96 输给了菲尼克斯太阳队。

“对我来说，我们对阵谁都一样，”加内特说，“在我看来，我们无论如何都会震惊世界。”

震惊世界？

“你们甚至还没意识到，”他说，“你必须有这样的自信。”

考虑到马刺在最后 36 场比赛中赢下了 31 场，森林狼队在这场五场三胜制的系列赛中获胜将是一件令人震惊的事情。

“他们一直在打得很好，”加内特说，“但同时，季后赛是一个完全不同的画面。你必须有这样的自信。”

比赛开始前，森林狼队的教练弗利普·桑德斯(Flip Saunders)和太阳队的教练丹尼·安吉(Danny Ainge)在抵达常规赛收官战的比赛场地时，脑海中都充满了思绪。

他们都在思考这场比赛的影响，并考虑着关于未来训练时间和各种细节的最后一刻的安排，这些细节将引导他们进入这个周末开始的 NBA 季后赛。

但桑德斯和安吉还是花时间达成了一致意见——马刺在进入季后赛之前已经明显提升了他们的比赛水平。

“看看圣安东尼奥在过去 35 场比赛中做了些什么，”桑德斯说，“他们过去的 35 场比赛（在对阵金州勇士队之前）可能和（芝加哥）公牛队在过去几年中的最后 35 场比赛一样出色。”

当然，公牛队最终赢得了最近三届 NBA 冠军。

“他们打得非常出色，”桑德斯说，“他们的比赛水平非常高。进入季后赛，他们是状态最好的球队，展现出最好的化学反应。这很有意思。波特兰和犹他州的球队在赛季初期取得了不错的开局，但现在他们打得并不好。”

安吉表示，他并不惊讶马刺能够从他们 6-8 的开局中反弹。

“惊讶？”安吉问道，“不，并没有。我应该说印象深刻。我认为他们已经引起了所有人的注意。”

安吉表示，马刺比上赛季在首轮系列赛中淘汰他太阳队的球队更强。但安吉暗示，马刺在季后赛中的表现将取决于他们的明星前锋蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)。

“去年，”安吉说，“我认为在邓肯扭伤脚踝之前，他们很有机会击败犹他州（在第二轮）。他们在今年做出了一些补充。（马里奥）埃利(Mario Elie)对他们来说很重要。而且，很明显，拥有一个健康的肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)会带来很大的不同。”

前马刺队教练科顿·菲茨西蒙斯(Cotton Fitzsimmons)，太阳队的资深执行副总裁，表示他认为邓肯和大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)明显比休斯顿火箭队以前的两座高塔组合哈基姆·奥拉朱旺(Hakeem Olajuwon)和拉尔夫·萨姆森(Ralph Sampson)更出色。

“我一直认为大卫·罗宾逊真的很出色，”菲茨西蒙斯说，他曾在 1984-1986 年间执教马刺队两个赛季。“而且，我认为蒂姆·邓肯已经比拉尔夫更早地确立了自己的地位。”

菲茨西蒙斯通过卫星电视观看了马刺队在周二晚上从落后九分的情况下反弹并战胜了客场作战的开拓者队的比赛。

“罗宾逊和邓肯太强大了，他们迫使你从外线投篮，”菲茨西蒙斯说，“另外，由于他们一直在赢球，艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)似乎获得了更多的自信，肖恩·埃利奥特也是如此。

“马里奥·埃利，他不会改变。他就是一个意志坚定的球员。”

季后赛争夺概览

球队 胜 负 百分比 落后 胜负场次

1. 马刺 37 13 .740 - 0
2. 波特兰 35 15 .700 2 0
3. 犹他 37 13 .740 - 0
4. 洛杉矶湖人 31 19 .620 6 0
5. 休斯顿 31 19 .620 6 0
6. 萨克拉门托 27 23 .540 10 0
7. 菲尼克斯 27 23 .540 10 0
8. 明尼苏达 25 25 .500 12 0

周三的比赛

休斯顿 95，@丹佛 88

@菲尼克斯 100，明尼苏达 96

@萨克拉门托 99，温哥华 95

@洛杉矶湖人 119，波特兰 91

点击查看原文：Garnett not fazed by facing the Spurs

Garnett not fazed by facing the Spurs

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett didn’t seem fazed by the prospect of playing the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

Sitting in the visitors’ dressing quarters at America West Arena, Garnett wasn’t even paying attention to a television, showing the final moments of the Spurs’ 88-81 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

With the win, the Spurs clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and secured a date with the eighth-seeded Timberwolves, who lost to the Phoenix Suns 100-96.

“It don’t matter to me who we play,” Garnett said. “The way I see it, we’re going to shock the world, anyway.”

Shock the world?

“Ya’ll don’t even know it, yet,” he said. “You got to have that confidence.”

A Timberwolves victory in the best-of-five series would be a shocker, considering the Spurs won 31 of their final 36 games.

“They have been playing very well,” Garnett said. “At the same time, the playoffs are a whole different picture. You have to have that confidence.”

Before the game, coaches Flip Saunders of the Timberwolves and Danny Ainge of the Suns had a lot on their minds as they arrived at the site of the regular-season finale.

Both contemplated the ramifications of the game and juggled last- minute thoughts on future practice times and assorted details leading into the NBA playoffs, which start this weekend.

But Saunders and Ainge took time out to agree on one opinion - that the Spurs have clearly raised the level of their game over the rest of the league going into the postseason.

“Look at what San Antonio has done over the last 35 games,” Saunders said. “Their last 35 games (before Golden State) were probably as good as the (Chicago) Bulls were in their last 35 over the last few years.”

The Bulls, of course, went on to win the last three NBA championships.

“They’re playing extremely well,” Saunders said. “They’re playing at an extremely high level. Going into the playoffs, they’re the team that is playing the best (and) showing the best chemistry. It’s interesting. The teams in Portland and Utah that got out to great starts are not playing as well.”

Ainge said he wasn’t surprised that the Spurs rebounded from their 6-8 start.

“Surprised?” Ainge asked. “Not really. I’d say impressed. I think they’ve got everyone’s attention.”

Ainge said the Spurs are better than the team that eliminated his Suns in a first-round series last season. But Ainge suggested that the Spurs will be as good in the playoffs as star forward Tim Duncan makes them.

“Last year,” Ainge said, “I thought they had a good chance of beating Utah (in the second round) before Duncan sprained his ankle. They’ve made some additions this year. (Mario) Elie has been big for them. And, obviously, having Sean Elliott healthy makes a difference.”

Former Spurs coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, a senior executive vice president for the Suns, said he thinks Duncan and David Robinson are clearly better than the Houston Rockets’ former Twin Towers combination of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

“I always thought David Robinson was really outstanding,” said Fitzsimmons, who coached the Spurs two seasons from 1984-1986. “Also, I think Tim Duncan has already established himself more than Ralph.”

Fitzsimmons watched on satellite television as the Spurs rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat the Trail Blazers on the road Tuesday night.

“Robinson and Duncan are so tough, they force you to shoot it from the perimeter,” Fitzsimmons said. "What’s also happened is that since they’ve been winning, Avery Johnson seems to have gained more confidence and so did Sean Elliott.

“Mario Elie, he doesn’t change. He’s just a hard-minded player.”

Playoff race at a glance

Team W L Pct.GBGL

1. SPURS 3713.740 - 0 2. Portland3515.7002 0 3. Utah 3713.740 - 0 4. L.A. Lakers 3119.620 6 0 5. Houston 3119.620 6 0 6. Sacramento 2723.54010 0 7. Phoenix 2723.54010 0 8. Minnesota 2525.50012 0

Wednesday’s games

Houston 95, @Denver 88

@Phoenix 100, Minnesota 96

@Sacramento 99, Vancouver 95

@L.A. Lakers 119, Portland 91

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-06, By From Staff Reports

马刺队笔记

防守，防守，再防守: 由于本赛季缩短，全联盟的投篮命中率都下降了，因此马刺队将打破他们在上赛季创造的联盟投篮命中率防守纪录并不令人意外。

截至周三的比赛，他们将对手的投篮命中率限制在40.3% (3968投1600中)。这远低于他们上赛季的41.1%，而这个数据打破了1971-72赛季密尔沃基雄鹿队保持了26年的纪录。

然而，纽约尼克斯队很可能会创造新的标准。截至他们周三对阵迈阿密的比赛，他们将对手的投篮命中率限制在40.1%，略好于马刺队。

马刺队在盖帽(7.10)和防守篮板(31.59)方面领跑联盟，并且在三分球命中率防守(30.2%)方面排名第二。

祈祷一切顺利: 尽管担心在这个繁忙的赛程中伤病增多，但马刺队在进入常规赛最后一轮对阵金州勇士队的比赛前，保持了相对健康的状态。

最大的挫折发生在赛季初，替补中锋威尔·珀迪(Will Perdue)因为右脚踝扭伤缺席了12场比赛。马里奥·伊利(Mario Elie)在3月4日至7日期间因左大腿拉伤缺席了三场比赛。

杰罗姆·柯西(Jerome Kersey)在过去五场比赛中缺席了四场，因为右小腿拉伤，但他预计将在本周末为季后赛做好准备。

球队最担心的大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)只缺席了4月1日对阵温哥华的比赛，原因是左膝肿胀。肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)的右膝有一些酸痛，但参加了每一场比赛。

艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)在上赛季曾受困于髋部问题，他是球队出场时间第二多的球员(33.3分钟)。

“我仍然有些疼痛和瘀伤，但你能怎么办呢？”罗宾逊说。“每次我去看训练师，前面都有三个人排队。在这个赛季的这个时候，你只能坚持打下去。”

收视率冠军: 周二在 KRRT 播出的波特兰比赛，获得了马刺队电视转播的收视率最高纪录。

16.8 的收视率和 25 的收视份额，超过了上周四在 KRRT 对阵萨克拉门托比赛的 10 和 18 的最高收视率。 - 来自工作人员报告

点击查看原文：Spurs Notes

Spurs Notes

Defense, defense, defense: With shooting down league wide in this shortened season, it’s no surprise the Spurs will break the NBA record they set for field-goal percentage defense last year.

Entering Wednesday’s game, they were holding opponents to 40.3-percent shooting (1,600 of 3,968). That’s well below last year’s mark of 41.1 percent which broke a 26-year-old record set by the 1971-72 Milwaukee Bucks.

The New York Knicks, however, likely will set the new standard. Entering their game against Miami on Wednesday, they were holding opponents to 40.1 percent shooting, slightly better than the Spurs.

The Spurs lead the league in blocks (7.10), defensive rebounds (31.59) and are second in three-point percentage defense (30.2 percent).

Cross your fingers: Despite the concern about an increase in injuries during this hectic schedule, the Spurs have remained relatively healthy heading into their final game of the regular season against Golden State.

The biggest setback came when backup center Will Perdue missed 12 games at the start of the season because of a sprained right ankle. Mario Elie’s strained left hamstring sidelined him for three games from March 4-7.

Jerome Kersey has not played in four of the last five games because of a strained right calf, but is expected to ready for the playoffs this weekend.

David Robinson, the team’s main worry, only missed the April 1 victory over Vancouver with a swollen left knee. Sean Elliott has experienced a little soreness in his right knee, but played in every game.

Avery Johnson, who was bothered by a hip problem last season, is second on the team in minutes (33.3).

“I still have some aches and bruises, but what are you going to do?” Robinson said. “Every time I go to see the trainer, there are three guys in line in front of me. At this point of the season you just have to play through it.”

Ratings winner: Tuesday’s Portland game on KRRT pulled the highest rating of the year for a Spurs telecast.

The 16.8 rating and 25 share bettered the previous high of 10 and 18 set last Thursday on KRRT against Sacramento. - From Staff Reports

By From Staff Reports, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-07, By Ihosvani Rodriguez

狂热的粉丝欢呼 - 马刺队抵达机场

备忘录给大卫·菲登西奥(David Fidencio)的老板： 请原谅大卫周四从“午餐”回来迟到。他是马刺队的球迷，你知道的，他正在圣安东尼奥国际机场与另外800名狂热的篮球迷一起狂欢，庆祝球队凯旋。

“他应该知道我今天早上穿成这样来上班的，”菲登西奥说，他戴着马刺队的帽子和T恤，露出了他真正的颜色——黑色和银色。

兴奋的球迷们被一根铁丝网隔在跑道之外，几乎要欣喜若狂了，因为马刺队的球员们正从光滑的飞机上走下来。

毕竟，他们有值得庆祝的事情。他们的英雄们从西部海岸的客场之旅中凯旋而归，胜利的味道依然在他们的舌尖上。

马刺队在本周三晚上以战胜金州勇士队结束了这个缩短的停摆赛季，取得了联盟最佳战绩（37-13），并赢得了在季后赛中主场作战的权利，成为中西部赛区和西部联盟的霸主。

马刺队在接下来的几周内成为篮球世界冠军的几率看起来相当不错。

“毫无疑问，我们来这里是为了迎接这支将要赢得总冠军的球队，”艾琳·加茨(Eileen Gartz)说，与菲登西奥不同，她带了她的老板玛塔·卡桑德拉斯(Marta Casandras)来到这场欢呼大会。

除了主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Greg Popovich)之外，只有一名球员直接对着人群讲话，波波维奇告诉球迷们要继续“疯狂”和“疯狂”。那是球队领袖大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)，他站在围栏前，高举双臂，庆祝胜利。

这就像电影《斯巴达克斯》中的一个场景，人群像狂热的罗马人一样欢呼。

“你们整年都是我们的第六人，”罗宾逊大声说。“你们一直都在那里支持我们。继续做好你们的本职工作，我们会尽力做好我们的。”

在马刺队的飞机着陆之前（晚点了30分钟），银舞者和当地电台的广播主持人通过向球迷们扔免费的绒球和马刺队的纪念品以及播放大声的音乐，让现场的人群保持高度兴奋的状态。

他们还带领聚集的信徒们进行欢呼和狂热的舞蹈。

“我感受到了，每个人都感受到了，”伊格纳西奥·亚涅斯(Ignacio Yanez)说。“现在没有人能阻止马刺队。”

在他说话的时候，亚涅斯跳了一支欢乐的舞蹈，这可以被描述为“过于开心”。

休班的急救人员大卫·希克斯(David Hicks)说，他是在周四早上得知马刺队回归的欢呼大会。他是一个足智多谋的技工，他用一张床单、两块2x4的木板和喷漆，拼凑了一个很棒的标语，上面写着：Go, Spurs。

希克斯的标语只是现场数百个标语中的一个。

“他们是最好的，”这位医疗技术员说。

随着抵达时间的临近，人群越来越大。欢呼声越来越大，舞蹈也越来越疯狂。最后，飞机抵达了。欢呼声。舞蹈。

球员们一个个地从飞机上走下来，穿着全新的黑白T恤，上面印着他们中西部赛区冠军的称号。

拿着摄像机和麦克风的媒体成员蜂拥而至，寻找一个巨人，任何一个巨人，来采访。

“回到家，看到每个人都支持我们，感觉很棒。我希望这种情况能够在季后赛中持续下去，”最有价值球员的竞争者蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)在钻进自己的汽车开车离开之前告诉记者。

邓肯的下次公开露面将在周日下午2点，在阿拉莫穹顶，马刺队将迎战明尼苏达森林狼队。

愿这场疯狂继续下去。

点击查看原文：Frenetic fans hail - Spurs at airport

Frenetic fans hail - Spurs at airport

Memo to David Fidencio’s boss: Please forgive David’s tardy return from “lunch” Thursday. He’s a Spurs fan, you know, and he was busy whooping it up with 800 other berserk hoops fans at the team’s homecoming shindig at the San Antonio International Airport.

“He should’ve known when I showed up this morning dressed like this,” said Fidencio, showing his true colors - black and silver - in a Spurs cap and T-shirt.

The jubilant crowd members, kept off the tarmac by a wire fence, were nearly delirious as the Spurs filed off the sleek jet.

After all, they had something to celebrate. Their heroes were returning from a successful West Coast road trip, the taste of victory still on their tongues.

The Spurs ended this shortened lockout season Wednesday night by defeating the Golden State Warriors, posting the NBA’s top record (37-13) and earning the right to play at home throughout the playoffs as king daddies of the Midwest Division and Western Conference.

Chances of the Spurs becoming champions of the basketball world within the next couple of weeks are looking pretty good.

“There’s no question about it, we’re here to greet the team that’s going to win it all,” said Eileen Gartz, who unlike Fidencio, brought her boss, Marta Casandras, to the pep rally.

Only one player addressed the crowd directly, not counting head coach Greg Popovich, who told the fans to continue being “wild” and “crazy.” That was team leader David Robinson, who stood in front of the fence and raised his arms in victory.

It was like a scene from “Spartacus,” and the crowd roared like rabid Romans.

“You’ve been our sixth man all year long,” Robinson yelled. “You’ve always been there for us. Keep doing your part, we’ll do our best to do ours.”

Before the Spurs’ plane touched down (30 minutes late), the Silver Dancers and radio personalities from local stations kept the crowd in a high state of agitation by tossing fans free pompons and Spurs’ paraphernalia and playing loud music.

They also led the gathered faithful through chants and wild episodes of exuberant dancing.

“I feel it. Everyone’s feeling it,” Ignacio Yanez said. “There’s nobody out there that’s going to stop the Spurs now.”

As he spoke, Yanez performed a joyous dance that might be described as “way too happy.”

Off-duty paramedic David Hicks said he learned about the Spurs homecoming pep rally Thursday morning. An ingenious handyman, he used a bed-sheet, two 2-by-4 studs and spray paint to cobble together one heck of sign that read: Go, Spurs.

Hicks’ was one of hundreds of signs at the scene.

“They are the best,” the medical technician said.

The crowd grew larger as arrival time approached. The chanting grew louder and the dancing got crazier. Finally, the plane arrived. Chanting. Dancing.

One by one, the players left the plane wearing brand new black and white T-shirts proclaiming them Midwest Division champs.

Media members toting cameras and microphones swarmed the plane, looking for a giant, any giant, to interview.

“It’s a great feeling coming home and seeing everyone supporting us. I hope it continues throughout the playoffs,” Most Valuable Player-contender Tim Duncan told reporters moments before ducking into his vehicle and driving off.

Duncan’s next public appearance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Alamodome when the Spurs take on the Timberwolves of Minnesota.

May the madness continue.

By Ihosvani Rodriguez, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-07, By Johnny Ludden

马刺队在考验之前稍作休息 - 在艰难的赛程之后，在艰难的系列赛之前，休息日非常有用

艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson) 周三晚上坐在马刺队的替补席上，用拳头猛击着自己的大腿。约翰逊一次又一次地猛击，试图让自己的肌肉抽搐，但没有成功。

在附近，马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie) 因为勇士队中锋埃里克·丹皮尔(Erick Dampier) 用手指戳了他的右眼而看不清东西。肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott) 正准备进行他标准的两个冰袋夜。而球队的体能教练迈克·布伦加特(Mike Brungardt) 甚至不得不赶回家接受右臂手术。

因此，在以五天四胜的战绩击败勇士队，并锁定整个季后赛的主场优势后，马刺队穿上他们的中西部赛区冠军 T 恤，适度地庆祝了一番。然后他们向 NBA 联盟总裁大卫·斯特恩(David Stern) 提出一个要求：给我们一个休息的机会。

马刺队如愿以偿。他们将在周日下午 2 点在阿拉莫穹顶球馆开始季后赛第一轮。自联盟将他们放假七个月以来，马刺队还没有在比赛之间休息过三天。

“在经历了这段时间之后，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 说，“我们担心我们已经没有东西可以留到季后赛了。”

与过去三周相比，季后赛的“比赛-休息-比赛-休息”节奏对于马刺队来说几乎像是悠闲的散步。从 4 月 14 日到 24 日，他们击败了明尼苏达、波特兰、休斯敦和犹他。在前往西海岸进行三场比赛的旅行之后，他们在周六和周日击败了开拓者队和爵士队。然后他们飞回西海岸，在击败波特兰和金州后锁定西部的头号种子。

约翰逊在过去五场比赛中的四场比赛中都打了 42 分钟，最后终于在周三撞墙了。“我感觉自己在泥潭里奔跑，”他说。

由于季后赛开始时间推迟到周日，约翰逊和马刺队其他球员得以在周四飞回圣安东尼奥，在机场迎接了 800 名球迷，然后回家休息。这让他们有整整两天的时间来备战对阵森林狼队的比赛。

“他们是一支强硬的球队，一支非常有运动能力的球队，”蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan) 说。“我们在常规赛中与他们有一些麻烦，但我们在赛季末打得要好很多。

“希望我们可以与他们进行几场比赛，但不要太好。”

马刺队和明尼苏达队在四场比赛中战成 2 比 2，双方都没有在对方的球场上获胜。前三场比赛是在马刺队开局 6 胜 8 负的时候进行的。在他们的两场胜利中，明尼苏达队利用自己的体型和速度有效地对邓肯进行了双人夹防，将他的总得分限制在 18 分。

“他们是娱乐界最努力的球队，”波波维奇说。“我并不是在开玩笑。他们有很高的天赋和身高，但他们总是在场上努力。”

然而，明尼苏达队将向马刺队展示一种全新的面貌。森林狼队在赛季中段交易了控球后卫斯蒂芬·马布里(Stephon Marbury)，换来了特雷尔·布兰登(Terrell Brandon)。布兰登和凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett) 没有参加马刺队在 4 月 14 日以 95-79 击败森林狼队的比赛。

“我觉得他们因为斯蒂芬的离开而失去了一些锐气，”埃利说。“我认为他和 KG 彼此之间有很好的默契。当你将特雷尔这样的优秀球员带到球队时，很难建立起化学反应。

“…他们一直在受伤。我们大部分时间都很健康。我们对我们的机会感到很乐观。”

在周三晚上将金州队限制在 33.3% 的投篮命中率之后，马刺队超越了纽约队，成为连续第二个赛季的联盟最佳防守球队。马刺队将对手的投篮命中率限制在 40.2%，打破了他们去年创造的 41.1% 的 NBA 纪录。

“我们正在以最佳的状态进入季后赛，”埃利说。“球员们对彼此感觉良好，我们能感觉到。

“再赢 15 场，我们就是世界冠军。”

点击查看原文：Spurs take a little rest before test - After tough stretch, before tough series, days off handy

Spurs take a little rest before test - After tough stretch, before tough series, days off handy

Avery Johnson sat on the Spurs’ bench Wednesday night, pounding his fist into his thigh. Again and again Johnson pounded, trying unsuccessfully to make his muscles twitch.

Nearby, Mario Elie couldn’t see straight after Golden State center Erick Dampier jammed a finger in his right eye. Sean Elliott was headed for his standard two ice- pack night. And Mike Brungardt, the team’s strength coach, even had to rush home for surgery on his right arm.

So after edging the Warriors for their fourth win in five days to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, the Spurs donned their Midwest Division Champions T-shirts and celebrated in moderation. Then they made a request to NBA commissioner David Stern: Give us a break.

The Spurs got their wish. They will open the first round of the playoffs at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Alamodome. The Spurs have not had three days off in between games since the league put them on a seven-month unpaid vacation.

“After going through this stretch,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, “we were worried we wouldn’t have anything left for the playoffs.”

Compared to the past three weeks, the game-off-game-off pace of the postseason may seem almost leisurely to the Spurs. From April 14-24, they beat Minnesota, Portland, Houston and Utah. After a three-game trek to the West Coast they knocked off the Trail Blazers and Jazz Saturday and Sunday. Then they flew back out to the West Coast to wrap up the Western Conference’s top seed with victories over Portland and Golden State.

Johnson logged 42 minutes in four of the last five games before finally hitting the wall Wednesday. “I was running in mud,” he said.

With the playoff start date pushed back to Sunday, Johnson and the rest of the Spurs were able to fly to San Antonio on Thursday, greet 800 fans at the airport and head home for some much-needed rest. That leaves two full days of preparing for the Timberwolves.

“They’re a tough team, a very athletic team,” Tim Duncan said. "We had some problems with them during the regular season, but we’ve played a lot better at the end of the year.

“Hopefully, we can have some games with them, but not too good.”

The Spurs and Minnesota split their four-game series with neither team winning on the other’s court. The first three games came during the Spurs’ 6-8 start. In their two victories, Minnesota used its size and quickness to effectively double-team Duncan, holding him to a total of 18 points.

“They’re the hardest-working team in show business,” Popovich said. “And I’m not just saying that. They have great talent and length, but they’re constantly working on the court.”

Minnesota, however, will throw somewhat of a new look at the Spurs. The Timberwolves shipped out point guard Stephon Marbury and brought in Terrell Brandon in the middle of the season. Brandon and Kevin Garnett did not play in the Spurs’ 95-79 victory April 14 at the Alamodome.

“I feel they sort of lost a little bit of edge with Stephon,” Elie said. "I thought him and KG had a good rapport with each other. When you bring a great player like Terrell to the team, it’s hard to get the chemistry going.

“… They’ve been banged up. We’ve been pretty healthy for most of the season. We’re feeling pretty good about our chances.”

After holding Golden State to 33.3-percent shooting from the field Wednesday night, the Spurs slipped past New York as the NBA’s top defensive team for the second straight season. The Spurs held opponents to 40.2-percent shooting, breaking the NBA-record 41.1 percent they set last year.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” Elie said. "Guys are feeling good about each other and we feel it.

“Fifteen more wins and we’re the world champs.”

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-07

马刺强势进军季后赛，球迷热情高涨

当地传来的锤击声和钻孔声，正是圣安东尼奥马刺球迷方阵扩大的声音。背景中嘈杂的喧嚣，是圣安东尼奥人争先恐后跳上这辆胜利战车的证明。

在赛季开局低迷，取得6胜8负的糟糕战绩后，银黑军团在接下来的赛程中势如破竹，取得了36场比赛中的31场胜利，最终以联盟最佳战绩结束常规赛。同时，他们也获得了季后赛所有主场比赛的优势。

马刺在对阵达拉斯小牛、洛杉矶快船和丹佛掘金等实力较弱的球队时，轻松取胜，大快朵颐。但他们真正赢得尊重，是在与联盟中实力更强的球队交锋时，展现出了强大的实力，这最终在过去周末他们以戏剧性的方式在家门口战胜犹他爵士和波特兰开拓者队时达到顶峰。

在蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan) 享受着最有价值球员级别的赛季，以及大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 以焕然一新的深度和激情展现出昔日MVP的风采的情况下，马刺似乎已经准备好克服过去季后赛的困扰。

新加入马刺的新秀马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)，他充满斗志的性格为球队注入了活力，表示这让他想起他在休斯顿火箭队获得两座总冠军时的感觉。马刺和他们的球迷从未感受过这种胜利的滋味。

但在这个充满意外的NBA赛季，因为停摆而缩短了赛程，又少了迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan) 的身影，通往NBA总冠军的道路将途经圣安东尼奥。愿这场旅程能一路高歌猛进，最终抵达终点。

点击查看原文：As Spurs surge to playoffs, their bandwagon gets larger

As Spurs surge to playoffs, their bandwagon gets larger

The hammering and drilling heard locally is the expansion of the San Antonio Spurs’ bandwagon. The clamor in the background is San Antonians jumping on.

After a dismal 6-8 start to the season, the men in silver and black stormed through the rest of the schedule, winning 31 of their last 36 games to finish with the best record in the National Basketball Association. With it, they also won home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Spurs fattened up on NBA cupcakes like the Mavericks, Clippers and Nuggets. But they earned respect as they feasted on the meatier teams in the league, a buffet that culminated with dramatic back-to-back home victories last weekend against Utah and Portland.

With Tim Duncan enjoying a most-valuable-player season and David Robinson playing with newfound depth and emotion - like the MVP he’s been - the Spurs seem ripe to dispel past postseason woes.

New Spur Mario Elie, whose feisty personality has helped rejuvenate the team, says this is starting to remind him of how he felt when he won two championships with the Houston Rockets. The Spurs and their fans never have known that sensation.

But in this strange NBA season, shortened by a lockout and absent Michael Jordan, the road to the NBA championship goes through San Antonio. May the ride go the distance.

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-07, By Jerry Briggs

狼群不甘示弱

虽然马刺队在缩水赛季的最后阶段取得了31胜6负的战绩，但明尼苏达森林狼队在3月11日交易掉后卫斯蒂芬·马布里(Stephon Marbury)后，却在挣扎中以13胜19负的战绩结束赛季。

作为西部联盟第一种子，马刺队将在与森林狼队的五场制系列赛中拥有主场优势。他们在阿拉莫穹顶取得了13连胜。

与此同时，森林狼队在与马刺队的季后赛首场比赛之前，已经连续输掉了10场客场比赛，这场比赛将于周日下午2点在穹顶举行。

那么，为什么这群年轻的狼，他们在过去17场比赛中仅仅取得了5胜12负的成绩，却在周四上午美国西部竞技场的训练后欢呼雀跃呢？

是他们开始变得疯狂了吗？

还是因为他们处于狂喜状态，知道他们在输球数上与马刺队持平了？

零比零。这可能是森林狼队的非正式口号，他们认为自己能够爆冷获胜。

“你今天能感觉到，”森林狼队主教练弗利普·桑德斯(Flip Saunders)在90分钟的训练结束后说道。“一切都变得积极起来。现在最重要的是我们相信自己能赢。这是最重要的。”

“无论报纸、电视、广播还是其他媒体怎么说，我们的球员相信他们会赢。”

森林狼队最佳球员，前锋凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)表示，无论对手是马刺队、犹他爵士队还是波特兰开拓者队，对他来说都没有区别。

“对我来说，我们和谁打都没关系，”加内特说道。“我认为，无论如何，我们都会震惊世界。”

如果你拥有像加内特这样的球员，你就有机会获胜。即使面对拥有蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)和大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)两大巨头的马刺队，身高7英尺的加内特凭借他的运动能力和速度也能给对手制造麻烦。

此外，森林狼队（25胜25负）可能拥有出其不意的优势。他们不再是马刺队（37胜13负）过去几年在中西部赛区比赛中熟悉的球队。

马刺队从未在森林狼队拥有控球后卫特雷尔·布兰登(Terrell Brandon)的情况下与他们交手。当这位前克利夫兰骑士队和密尔沃基雄鹿队球员的新球队在4月14日与圣安东尼奥队在阿拉莫穹顶比赛时，他因伤缺阵。

布兰登在三方交易中从密尔沃基队加盟森林狼队，而马布里则被交易到新泽西。他是两届全明星球员，渴望证明自己可以成为季后赛赢家。

此外，森林狼队已经展现出限制邓肯发挥的潜力。邓肯在与明尼苏达队的四场比赛中，场均仅得到14分，命中率为38%，而森林狼队本赛季与圣安东尼奥队的四场比赛中赢得了两场。

同样重要的是，他们只需要在马刺队的主场赢下一场，无论是在周日的比赛一还是周二的比赛二，就能改变系列赛的心理形势。

“圣安东尼奥队取得了不可思议的一年，”桑德斯说道。“（但是）这始终是一个艰难的局面。你的期望值非常高。当你成为顶尖球员，你理所当然地应该获胜，你的球队是否会陷入一种不输球而非赢球的状态？”

“作为一个团队，我们希望能够做到这一点，看看我们能否将他们置于这种境地。而你只需要专注于自己的比赛，并保持侵略性。”

上赛季，森林狼队在首轮系列赛的第二场比赛中，在客场爆冷击败了西雅图超音速队。突然之间，这支排名第七的狼队有了赢得系列赛的机会，尤其是在他们在主场赢得了第三场比赛之后。

事实证明，排名第二的超音速队及时调整了状态，避免了爆冷，但他们以3比2赢得系列赛，却需要付出巨大的精神意志，而许多人认为他们将轻松地统治系列赛。

“我认为，无论常规赛期间发生了什么，一旦进入季后赛，每个人都处于同一条船上，”桑德斯说道。“每个人都需要赢得相同数量的比赛才能赢得冠军。”

点击查看原文：Wolves not talking as underdogs

Wolves not talking as underdogs

While the Spurs went 31-6 down the stretch of a lockout-shortened season, the Minnesota Timberwolves floundered around at 13-19 following the March 11 trade of guard Stephon Marbury.

The top-seeded Spurs, who have homecourt advantage against the Timberwolves in a best- of-five, NBA Western Conference playoff series, have won 13 in a row at the Alamodome.

The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have lost 10 in a row on the road going into Game 1 of the postseason series with the Spurs Sunday at 2 p.m. at the dome.

So why were the young Wolves, 5-12 in their last 17 games overall, whooping and hollering following a Thursday morning practice at America West Arena?

Was it the onset of insanity?

Or was it a delirious state of euphoria knowing that they are now tied with the Spurs in the loss column?

Zero and zero. It might be the unofficial battle cry of the Timberwolves, who are thinking that they can pull off an upset.

“You could sense it today,” Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said following a 90-minute practice. "Everything picks up. The most important thing right now is that we believe we’re going to win. That’s the most important thing.

“Whatever the papers say, or TV, or radio or anything else - our players believe that they’re going to win.”

Forward Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves’ best player, said it wouldn’t matter if they were playing the Spurs, the Utah Jazz or the Portland Trail Blazers.

“It don’t matter to me who we play,” Garnett said. “The way I see it, we’re going to shock the world, anyway.”

If you have a player like Garnett, you have a chance. Even against the Spurs, who boast one of the most dominating front lines in basketball with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, the 7- foot Garnett can cause problems with his athleticism and quickness.

Also, the Timberwolves (25-25) may have an element of surprise working in their favor. They are not the same team that the Spurs (37- 13) have grown used to seeing in Midwest Division battles over the past few years.

The Spurs have never played the Wolves when the Wolves had point guard Terrell Brandon running the offense. The former member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks was on the injured list when his new team played San Antonio at the Alamodome on April 14.

Brandon, acquired from Milwaukee in the three-team trade that sent Marbury to New Jersey, is a two-time All-Star who is eager to show that he can be a playoff winner.

In addition, the Timberwolves have shown an ability to limit Duncan’s effectiveness. Duncan has averaged a subpar 14 points on 38-percent shooting in four games against Minnesota, which won two of the four games against San Antonio this season.

Also, all it takes is one win on the Spurs’ home court - either in Game 1 Sunday or in Game 2 on Tuesday - to change the psychological complexion of the series.

“San Antonio’s had an unbelievable year,” Saunders said. "(But) it’s always a tough situation. Your expectations are so high. When you’re the top gun and you’re supposed to win, does your team ever get in a situation where they play not to lose, rather than playing to win?

“As a team, that’s what we’ve got to hope that we can do, (to see) if we can put them in that situation. And you do that by playing your game and playing aggressive.”

The Timberwolves pulled off a shocker on the road in Game 2 of a first-round series last season when they knocked off the Seattle SuperSonics. All of a sudden, the seventh-seeded T- Wolves were in position to win the series, especially after they took Game 3 at home.

As it turned out, the No. 2-seeded Sonics pulled it together in time to stave off the upset, but it took some mental toughness for them to win the series 3-2, a series many thought they would dominate.

“I think the one thing you realize, no matter what happens during the regular season, come (the playoffs), everyone is in the same boat,” Saunders said. “Everyone has to win the same amount of games to win the championship.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-08, By Johnny Ludden

家，甜蜜的家——球场 - 马刺队迈出了朝着西部决赛目标迈进的第一步，他们拿下了联盟第一的种子。现在，最艰难的部分来了。

周三晚上很快就要进入周四凌晨，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)站在奥克兰体育馆客队更衣室的一个角落。

霍尔特想知道罗宾逊认为马刺队将走向何方。罗宾逊点了点头，然后吹嘘了板凳深度、球队的化学反应和自信。

简而言之，他说，没有极限。

这一切是如何发生的？马刺队是如何从6胜8负变成37胜13负的？一支教练差点被罚出场，球员们有时互相攻击的球队，是如何从谷底爬到NBA顶端的？

“你想让它成为一个简短的答案吗？”马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)最近告诉一位电视记者。“我做不到。”

马刺队逆转没有快速解释。波波维奇和控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)更多地转向挡拆。马刺队开始推进球。老队员和新队员融为一体。赛程在合适的时间变得轻松起来。替补席稳固了。

蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)一如既往地稳定，成长为MVP候选人。与此同时，罗宾逊接受了他的新角色，赛季结束时看起来像他的7尺高的搭档一样年轻。不出所料，防守一直是球队的中流砥柱。

季前赛的预期，在2月的沉睡中被遗忘，现在又回来了。霍尔特说，马刺队正在按照他们的两年计划顺利前进。

“我们本赛季的目标是进步，”霍尔特上周末说。“而进步意味着要突破第二轮。

“如果我们没有进入西部决赛，我会失望。非常失望。”

当然，球队的目标更高。三个月前，这个目标看起来岌岌可危。在一个寒冷的明尼阿波利斯夜晚，马刺队在输给洛杉矶湖人队之后，再次在比赛结束时崩溃。

马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)对邓肯和罗宾逊没有积极地冲击篮筐感到不满，他说：“那些家伙是我们那里的领袖。如果他们做不到，我们就得找其他人。”

埃利的评论令人惊讶，因为这仅仅是赛季的第四场比赛，但更令人惊讶的是，马刺队很少，如果有的话，在他们队伍中会有一位如此直言不讳的球员。

情况变得更糟。马刺队在明尼阿波利斯再次输球，几乎以相同的方式。他们又输给了湖人队。在西雅图输球后，邓肯保证会扭转局面。两天后，犹他爵士队在阿拉莫穹顶的全国电视直播中给马刺队带来了毁灭性的打击，他的话被遗忘了。

当马刺队在3月2日来到休斯敦时，媒体都在关注波波维奇。霍尔特支持他的教练，但他警告他，少数股东担心失去新建球场的希望。

“我们新来的球员，在赛季开始时还没有准备好应对艰难的赛程，”波波维奇说。“赛程改变后，我们团结起来了。然后，当它再次变得更加艰难时，我们已经准备好了。”

伊莱说：“他们让我们早早地投入到火海中，我们被打得屁股开花。然后我们醒了。”

随着进攻转向约翰逊所说的85%的挡拆，马刺队以99-82战胜了休斯敦火箭队，并在接下来的36场比赛中赢得了31场。自4月以来，他们在对阵犹他爵士队、波特兰开拓者队、休斯敦火箭队和洛杉矶湖人队的8场比赛中保持不败。除了其中一场胜利，其他所有胜利都在过去的20天内取得。在他们本赛季的最后四场比赛中，马刺队在下半场都处于落后状态，但最终赢得了所有比赛，锁定西部联盟的头号种子。

“在赛季开始的时候，当我们进入一场激烈的比赛，并且有一个糟糕的进攻时，球员们总是互相争吵，”埃利说。“我知道。我就是其中之一。

“我们会在大赛中争吵，互相生气。现在，当我们进入一场激烈的比赛时，球员们都冷静而放松。我喜欢这一点。”

罗宾逊对马刺队快速团结起来感到惊讶。敌意消失了。防守是球队历史上最好的。板凳深度也可能如此。进攻上有一个明确的核心球员，但也有可靠的第二、第三选择。

“我一直说，你不能仅仅在球队中加入7个新球员，就期望他们能够赢球，”罗宾逊说。“但看看我们从赛季开始到现在的成长。

“我知道我不需要每晚都出去做所有的事情。这是你在季后赛中需要的。你需要12个球员。”

然而，历史告诉我们，不要对马刺队抱有希望。即使他们拥有最好的战绩。他们只有一次在一个赛季中赢得两个季后赛系列赛。他们最近的外线投篮表现不稳定。在经历了这个艰苦的赛季后，他们保持了惊人的健康，但一个扭伤的脚踝或一个酸痛的膝盖可能会毁掉一切。

但如果接下来的五周像过去的五周一样？

“如果我们继续像现在这样打球，”肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)说，“我们认为没有哪支球队是我们无法战胜的。”

点击查看原文：Home, sweet home-court - The Spurs took the first step toward their goal of reaching the Western Conference finals by capturing the No. 1 seed. Now comes the hard part.

Home, sweet home-court - The Spurs took the first step toward their goal of reaching the Western Conference finals by capturing the No. 1 seed. Now comes the hard part.

Wednesday night was fast becoming Thursday morning when David Robinson and Spurs chairman Peter Holt stood in a corner of the visitors locker room at Oakland Arena.

Holt wanted to know where Robinson saw the Spurs headed. Robinson nodded, then bragged about the depth of the bench, the team’s chemistry and confidence.

In short, he said, there’s no limit.

How did this happen? How did the Spurs go from 6-8 to 37-13? How did a team with its coach dangerously close to being ejected, its players sometimes sniping at each other, go from rock bottom to the top of the NBA?

“You want that in a sound bite?” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich recently told a television reporter. “I can’t do it.”

There is no quick explanation for the Spurs’ turnaround. Popovich and point guard Avery Johnson went more to the pick-and-roll. The Spurs started pushing the ball. The old players meshed with the new. The schedule lightened up at the right time. The bench solidified.

Steady as ever, Tim Duncan developed into an MVP candidate. Robinson, meanwhile, accepted his new role and closed the season looking as young as his 7-foot sidekick. Defense, as expected, was the backbone through it all.

The preseason expectations, forgotten during the February slumber, have returned. The Spurs, Holt said, are proceeding smoothly on their two-year timetable.

“Our goal this season was progress,” Holt said last weekend. "And progress means making it past the second round.

“If we don’t make the Western Conference finals, I would be disappointed. Very disappointed.”

The team, of course, has a loftier goal. One that seemed very much in jeopardy three months ago. On a cold night in Minneapolis, the Spurs followed up a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Lakers by again collapsing down the stretch.

Upset that Duncan and Robinson weren’t going to the basket aggressively, Mario Elie said: “Those guys are our leaders down there. If they can’t get it done then we’ve got to find someone else.”

Elie’s comments came as a surprise because it was only the fourth game of the season, but more so because the Spurs had rarely, if ever, had such an outspoken player in their ranks.

It got uglier. The Spurs lost in Minnesota again, in almost identical fashion. They dropped another one to the Lakers. After losing in Seattle, Duncan guaranteed a turnaround. His words were forgotten two days later when Utah delivered a crushing defeat on national television at the Alamodome.

When the Spurs rolled into Houston on March 2, the media was on Pop Watch. Holt stood by his coach, but warned him that minority ownership was worried about losing any hope for a new arena.

“With the new guys we had coming in, we weren’t ready for the tough schedule at the start,” Popovich said. “After it changed we came together. Then we were ready when it got tougher again.”

Said Elie: “They threw us into the fire early and we got our butts kicked. Then we woke up.”

With the offense shifting to what Johnson called 85 percent pick- and-roll, the Spurs dumped Houston 99-82 and went on to win 31 of their final 36 games. Since April, they are undefeated in eight games against Utah, Portland, Houston and the Lakers. All but one of those wins came in the past 20 days. In their final four games of the season, the Spurs trailed in the second half, but won all of them to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference.

“At the beginning of the season when we would get in a close game and have a bad run, guys were always bickering,” Elie said. "I know. I was one of the guys.

“We would bicker in the huddle and get mad at each other. Now, when we’re in a close game, guys are calm and relaxed. That’s what I like.”

Robinson has marveled at how quickly the Spurs put it together. The animosity is gone. The defense is the franchise’s best. The bench might be as well. There is a clear go-to guy offensively, but there also are dependable second and third options.

“I’ve always talked about how you can’t just put seven new guys on a team and expect to win it,” Robinson said. "But look at the way we’ve grown from the beginning of the season.

“I know that I don’t have to go out every night and do everything. That’s what you need in the playoffs. You need 12 guys.”

History, however, says bet against the Spurs. Even with the best record. They have captured two playoff series in a season just once. Their outside shooting has been inconsistent recently. Having remained remarkably healthy during this rugged season, one sprained ankle or one sore knee could unravel everything.

But if the next five weeks look like the last five?

“If we continue to play like we have,” Sean Elliott said, “there’s no one we feel we can’t beat.”

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-08, By Arthur Garcia

马刺高层：预计大部分季后赛比赛将在 NBC 播出

付费观看（PPV）可能将在季后赛中回归，但马刺官员预计“大部分”主场比赛将在 NBC 播出。

圣安东尼奥马刺队，西部联盟的头号种子，将于周日下午 2 点在 NBC 频道开始首轮季后赛，对手是明尼苏达森林狼队。

周二的第二场比赛预计是唯一一场将在 Paragon 付费观看频道播出的首轮比赛。不在 NBC 播出的主场比赛 - 在 TNT 或 TBS 上全国播出的比赛 - 将在 35 英里半径内屏蔽。Paragon 和屏蔽区域内其他参与的有线电视系统的 PPV 价格为 24.95 美元。

周四的第三场比赛将在 KSAT 频道播出。如果系列赛进行到周六的第四场比赛，它将在 NBC 或 KSAT 频道播出。如果 KSAT 播出第四场比赛，将提前 30 分钟进行赛前节目。

“绝大多数比赛，70% 到 80%，应该可以在无线电视上观看，”马刺广播副总裁劳伦斯·佩恩 (Lawrence Payne) 说。

格雷格·帕帕 (Greg Papa) 将在 KSAT 和 PPV 频道进行解说，前球员乔恩·桑沃德 (Jon Sunvold) 和汤姆·托尔伯特 (Tom Tolbert) 将轮流担任评论员。马刺的常驻评论员道格·里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) 将无法参加季后赛。他将为特纳体育 (Turner Sports) 解说季后赛。

桑沃德在本赛季常规赛期间解说了几场比赛，托尔伯特在赛季末在 KRRT 频道解说了三场比赛，包括最后两场比赛。佩恩承认，里弗斯，他一直被认为是 NBA 执教和总经理职位的候选人，在下个赛季回归的可能性很小。

季后赛可能会成为桑沃德和托尔伯特两人的试镜机会，尽管两人都没有表示对全职担任评论员感兴趣。

托尔伯特解说的两场比赛获得了马刺本赛季比赛的最高收视率。周二对阵波特兰的比赛，马刺以 87-81 获胜，获得了西部头号种子的资格，在 KRRT 频道取得了 16.8 的收视率和 25 的份额，创下了本赛季的最高纪录。

这一成绩在周三被打破，圣安东尼奥马刺队以 88-81 击败金州勇士队，锁定西部第一和中西部赛区冠军。比赛的收视率为 17.1/28，赛前节目的收视率为 7.5/10。

NBC 说明：在本十年中，NBC 决定首次将他们的顶级解说团队鲍勃·科斯塔斯 (Bob Costas) 和道格·科林斯 (Doug Collins) 派往西部进行首轮系列赛。

随着公牛队的解体，联盟的权力平衡已经转移到了西部联盟。再加上 NBC 对洛杉矶湖人队的喜爱，科斯塔斯和科林斯解说湖人对阵休斯顿的比赛也就不足为奇了。

点击查看原文：Spurs brass: Expect few PPV games

Spurs brass: Expect few PPV games

Pay-per-view may be back for the playoffs, but Spurs officials expect the “lion’s share” of home games to be televised on NBC.

San Antonio, the Western Conference’s top seed, opens the first round of the playoffs at 2 p.m. Sunday against Minnesota on NBC.

Tuesday’s Game 2 is the only first-round game expected to be on Paragon pay-per-view. Home games not on NBC - those shown nationally on TNT or TBS - will be blacked out within a 35-mile radius. The PPV cost on Paragon, and other participating cable systems within the blackout area, is $24.95.

Thursday’s Game 3 road game is being carried by KSAT. Should the series reach Saturday’s Game 4, it’ll be on either NBC or KSAT. Should KSAT have the fourth game, it will be preceded by a 30-minute pregame show.

“The vast majority of games, 70-80 percent, should be available on over-the-air television,” said Lawrence Payne, Spurs vice president of broadcasting.

Greg Papa will call the action on KSAT and PPV, with color-analyst duties split between former players Jon Sunvold and Tom Tolbert. Regular Spurs color analyst Doc Rivers won’t be available during the postseason. He’ll be working the playoffs for Turner Sports.

Sunvold did a handful of games during the regular season, and Tolbert did three games on KRRT late in the campaign, including the final two games. Payne admitted the prospects of getting Rivers, who’s always mentioned as a candidate for NBA coaching and GM positions, back for next season are dicey.

The playoffs may act as an audition for both Sunvold and Tolbert, though neither has expressed interest in the color job full-time.

Tolbert’s two games pulled the highest two ratings for Spurs games this season. Tuesday’s 87-81 victory over Portland, which gave the Spurs a shot at the top seed in the West, drew a season-best 16.8 rating and 25 share on KRRT.

That mark was bettered Wednesday, when San Antonio nailed down the top spot and Midwest Division crown with an 88-81 victory over Golden State. The game did a 17.1/28, and the pregame show managed a 7.5/10.

NBC notes: For the first time this decade, NBC has decided to send its top announcing team, Bob Costas and Doug Collins, to the West for a first-round series.

With the breakup of the Bulls, the balance of power in the league has shifted to the Western Conference. Throw in NBC’s love affair with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it’s no surprise Costas and Collins are working the Lakers- Houston series.

By Arthur Garcia, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-08, By Buck Harvey

最畅销的人生指南？马刺出品

除了再举行几次机场庆祝活动和一场胜利游行之外，其他一切都已尘埃落定。所有人都确信马刺队可能还会再输一场比赛，然后凭借难以想象的侥幸获胜，以至于出版社已经拟好了名为“隔壁的百万富翁”的图书项目。

隔壁的百万富翁

一本理财指南。冠军蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)为您解读其他人是如何赚钱的，以及您也可以如何赚钱。

节选： “明尼苏达州明尼阿波利斯市的加内特(Garnett)先生明智地提升了市场所需的技能，充分利用了他的雇主，最后，在比利·亨特(Billy Hunter)出现之前就进入了职场。”

序言作者： 大卫·斯特恩(David Stern)

“我迫不及待地想迎接明天，因为我每天都少受一点憎恨。”

南德克萨斯州最受欢迎的儿子格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)谈到他想让球迷们高兴，并回归卫冕，但他也说他已经筋疲力尽了，需要一些时间在蒙大拿州的牧场上独处。

节选： “我想如果价钱合适，我会回来的。”

序言作者： 菲尔·杰克逊(Phil Jackson)

“我来自金星，而你们这些混蛋来自火星。”

马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)探讨人际关系。

节选： “最后一次告诉你们这些混蛋，我的名字念作‘马里奥(Mary-o)’。”

序言作者： 奥斯卡(Oscar the Grouch)

篮球傻瓜教程

斯蒂芬·马布里(Stephon Marbury)详细阐述了他上个月的言论。当时，马布里为了能在新泽西州与朋友们住在一起，已经拆散了森林狼队，他宣称，在这个糟糕的赛季里，NBA篮球比赛太糟糕了，天哪，他们应该继续下去，取消一切。

节选： “但我还是想要我的钱。”

序言作者： 大卫·福尔克(David Falk)

肘击鼻子

威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)的儿童读物。

节选： “如果可以的话，如果可能的话，我们可以来一记漂亮的右勾拳吗?”

“哎哟，”我说，“不过话说回来，我可以用下巴防守。”

序言作者： 泡泡先生(Mr. Puffy Ankle)

烧烤季

安德鲁·盖兹(Andrew Gaze)用你最喜欢的澳大利亚俚语，带你回顾马刺队的赛季，每天都会有一篇报道。

节选： “4月21日——我那该死的脚伤让我上了伤病名单，伙计，但我记不清是应该在我左脚踝还是右脚踝上放一杯冰镇福斯特啤酒。”

序言作者： 保罗·霍根(Paul Hogan)

马利克医生的健身革命

马利克·罗斯(Malik Rose)医生为您提供循序渐进的指导，教您如何更有效地燃烧脂肪。

节选： “犯规乔·史密斯(Joe Smith)，撞击凯文·加内特，拉扯迪恩·加内特(Dean Garrett)，跳过拉多斯拉夫·内斯特洛维奇(Radoslav Nesterovic)。重复以上动作，直到呼吸困难或被要求离开。”

序言作者： 丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)医生

莫妮卡和O.J.

凯文·加内特在几个月前宣称他的森林狼队将通过击败马刺队来“震惊世界”之后，试图用类似的耸人听闻的方式再次尝试。

节选： “莫妮卡经常打电话给O.J.，有时甚至太频繁了。”

序言作者： 菲利普·桑德斯(Flip Saunders)

孤独的戴夫

大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)创作的西部小说。一个高大、有灵性的牛仔发现自己不再是最棒的了。

节选： “该死的另一个牛仔！”

序言作者： 斯利姆·邓肯(Slim Duncan)

乔丹统治的时代，就像过去式一样

史蒂夫·科尔(Steve Kerr)在又一次赢得总冠军后解释了他是如何在两个州支持失败者的。

节选： “把它传过来，你这个秃头、爱说闲话的棒球弃儿，”我对伊利诺伊州的那个笨蛋说。

序言作者： 杰里·克劳斯(Jerry Krause)

第二卷：殉道之后的生活

鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)在他的第二本书中探讨了美容秘诀，以及其他可以打发空闲时间的事情。

节选： “高尔夫球。高尔夫球还不错。”

序言作者： 蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)

六百万美元的人

科幻惊悚片。肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)写了一个男人为了他那老迈的第一步，换了新的肾脏、膝盖和心脏的故事。

节选： “书中的人名、角色和事件要么是作者虚构的，要么是虚构的，与任何真实人物，无论是死人还是穿32号球衣的人，都纯属巧合。”

序言作者： 底特律活塞队

心灵鸡汤

艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)的励志故事仅提供音频版本。

节选： “啊，我说，‘好吧，好吧，小心胳膊肘！’”

序言作者： 好吧，珀杜

点击查看原文：Best-selling words to live by? Book it, Spurs

Best-selling words to live by? Book it, Spurs

All that’s left are a few more airport celebrations, as well as the victory parade. Everyone is so sure the Spurs will lose maybe one more game, and then by an unimaginable fluke, that publishing houses have already drawn up book projects, titled: “The Millionaire Next Door.”

A financial guide. Champion Tim Duncan looks at how others made their money, and how you can, too.

Excerpt: “A Mr. Garnett of Minneapolis, Minn., was smart to refine skills valued in the market, leverage his employers and, lastly, enter the workplace before anyone ever heard of Billy Hunter.”

Forward by: David Stern.

“I Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow, 'Cause I’m Less Hated Every Day.”

South Texas’ favorite son, Gregg Popovich, talks about how he wants to make fans happy and return for the two-peat, but that he’s just burned out and needs some time to himself on his Montana ranch.

Excerpt: “I guess I’d come back if the money was right.”

Forward by: Phil Jackson.

“I’m from Venus, the Rest of You Bleeps Are From Mars.”

Mario Elie examines relationships.

Excerpt: “For the last time, you bleeps, my bleepin’ name is pronounced Mary-o.”

Forward by: Oscar the Grouch.

“Basketball for Dummies.”

Stephon Marbury elaborates on what he said last month. Then, having already broken apart the Timberwolves so he could live among friends in lottery-bound New Jersey, Marbury declared NBA basketball has been so awful this crunched season that, gosh, they should have gone ahead and canceled everything.

Excerpt: “But I’d still want my money.”

Forward by: David Falk.

“Elbows Knows Nose.”

A children’s book by Will Perdue.

Excerpt: “If we may, if we might, could we throw this nasty right?”

“Ouch, I said, but then again, I could play defense with my chin.”

Forward by: Mr. Puffy Ankle.

“A Season on the Barbie.”

Andrew Gaze takes us through the Spurs’ season with a day-by- day report using all your favorite Australian sayings.

Excerpt: “April 21 - Me bloody foot down-under keeps me on the injured list, mate, but I can’t remember whether to put an icy Fosters on me left or right ankle.”

Forward by: Paul Hogan.

“Dr. Malik’s Fitness Revolution.”

Dr. Malik Rose gives step-by- step instruction on how to burn fat more effectively.

Excerpt: “Foul Joe Smith, bump Kevin Garnett, yank on Dean Garrett, hop past Radoslav Nesterovic. Repeat until breathing hard, or asked to leave.”

Forward by: Dr. Dennis Rodman.

“Monica and O.J.”

Kevin Garnett, months after declaring his Timberwolves would “shock the world” by beating the Spurs, tries again with similar sensationalism.

Excerpt: “Monica telephoned O.J. often, sometimes too often.”

Forward by: Flip Saunders.

“Lonesome Dave.”

A western novel by David Robinson. A tall, spiritual cowboy finds he is no longer the top hand.

Excerpt: “Darn that other cowboy!”

Forward by: Slim Duncan.

“Jordan Ruled, as in Past Tense.”

Steve Kerr explains, after winning yet another championship, how he propped up chumps in two states.

Excerpt: “Pass it here, you bald, tongue-wagging, baseball wash- out,” I said to the chump in Illinois.

Forward by: Jerry Krause.

“Volume Two: Life after Martyrdom.”

In his second book, Bob Hill explores grooming tips, as well as other things to do with your free time.

Excerpt: “Golf. Golf is OK.”

Forward by: Monty Williams.

“Six Million Dollar Man.”

Sci-fi thriller. Sean Elliott writes about a man who gets new kidneys, knees and heart to go with his old first step.

Excerpt: “Names, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, dead or wearing No. 32, is entirely coincidental.”

Forward by: The Detroit Pistons.

“Gumbo for the Soul.”

Avery Johnson’s feel-good anecdotes available in audio version only.

Excerpt: “Ahh say-yed, ‘Wee-ill, Wee-ill, waah-ch the ale-bow!’”

Forward by: Wee-ill Perdue.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1999-05-08, By Johnny Ludden

新人渴望添上第五枚金戒指

马里奥·埃利(Mario Elie)做了一个承诺：再赢15场，他就露出笑容。不是那种冷笑，而是开怀大笑，那种毫无疑问他很开心、露出牙齿的笑容。

“你可以相信我，”埃利说。“我一定会很开心的。”

“我来这里可不是为了赢得中西部赛区冠军。我来这里只有一个目的：我需要一枚新的戒指。”

埃利、杰罗姆·柯西(Jerome Kersey)和史蒂夫·科尔(Steve Kerr)是马刺队的“雇佣兵”，他们是自由球员，被球队选中来抹除球队季后赛的不佳历史。这三位球员拥有296场季后赛经验，与球队其他9名球员的总和相同。除了埃利和科尔众所周知的五枚NBA总冠军戒指，柯西在1990年和1992年也曾与波特兰队进入总决赛。

“我认为很多人一直怀疑我们是否展现出心理韧性，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说。“今年我们拥有了这种韧性。”

埃利在增强马刺队的韧性方面发挥了不可忽视的作用。从第一天起，他就不断激励新队友，要求他们保持强度。他将总决赛称为“应许之地”，邀请大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)、肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)以及他的好朋友艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)与他一同前往。

“大卫在这个联盟里有一个目标需要完成，那就是赢得冠军，”埃利说。“MVP、最佳防守球员——他什么都做到了。这就是他们招我来这里的目的。”

“我只希望他拿到一枚戒指。那样的话，就没有人可以对这个人说三道四了。”

埃利已经在NBA征战了9个赛季，并且每年都进入季后赛，他在休斯敦队期间赢得了声誉。在火箭队连续两次夺冠期间，埃利的三分球命中率高达52.6%（19投10中），在总决赛历史上排名第二。

柯西是一位15年资深老将，他的季后赛数据也有所提升。进入本赛季之前，柯西的季后赛生涯场均得分（13.8分）比他的常规赛场均得分（11.1分）高出近3分。他的季后赛场均篮板、抢断和投篮命中率也更高，而失误则有所减少。

柯西一开始作为蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)的替补，但告诉波波维奇，他觉得在埃利奥特之后打小前锋更加舒服。最近，由于右小腿拉伤，他的出场时间受到了限制，但除了20英尺的跳投外，柯西还带来了许多人认为马刺队在上赛季所缺少的强硬。

“波波一直告诉我，这就是他们招我来这里的原因，”柯西说。“我是一个在季后赛中表现更出色的人。我相信我更加积极。”

“我喜欢竞争。我希望在压力最大的时候能够上场。你可以打一整个赛季，但当比赛到了关键时刻，当比分是0比0时，你必须拿出真本事。”

科尔在芝加哥公牛队的王朝时代曾多次证明过自己的实力。在1997年总决赛第六场比赛还剩5秒时，他在罚球线附近出手命中了制胜球，帮助公牛队获得了第五座总冠军奖杯。

然而，本赛季对于科尔来说无疑是最令人沮丧的一个赛季。他的场均得分只有4.4分，是自新秀赛季以来的最低值，他的三分球命中率为31.3%，比他进入本赛季之前的NBA生涯平均命中率低了16%以上。

点击查看原文：Newcomers want to add to five golden rings

Newcomers want to add to five golden rings

Mario Elie made a promise. Fifteen more wins and he will smile. Not a smirk, but an ear-to-ear, no- doubt-he’s-happy, teeth-showing grin.

“You can count on it,” Elie said. "I’ll be a happy camper.

“I didn’t come here to win a Midwest Division title. I came here for one reason: I need another ring.”

Elie, Jerome Kersey and Steve Kerr are the Spurs’ hired guns, free-agent pickups brought in to erase the franchise’s checkered postseason history. The trio has 296 games of playoff experience, the same number as the other nine players on the roster combined. In addition to Elie and Kerr’s well- documented five NBA titles, Kersey went to the Finals with Portland in 1990 and '92.

“I think a lot of people always doubted whether we exhibited mental toughness,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “This year we have that.”

Elie has played no small role in hardening the Spurs. From Day 1, he goaded his new teammates about their intensity. He calls the Finals the “Promised Land,” inviting David Robinson, Sean Elliott and his good friend Avery Johnson to join him there.

“Dave has one goal in this league he needs to accomplish and that’s to win a championship,” Elie said. "MVP, defensive player - he’s done everything. That’s what they brought me here for.

“I just want him to get a ring. Then nothing can be said about that man.”

Elie, who has made the playoffs in all nine of his NBA seasons, earned his reputation with Houston. During the Rockets’ back-to- back championships, Elie shot 52.6 percent (10 of 19) from three-point range, second-highest in Finals history.

A 15-year veteran, Kersey, too, has seen his numbers climb during the postseason. Entering this season, Kersey’s career playoff scoring average (13.8) was almost three points higher (11.1) than his regular-season average. His rebounding, steals and field-goal percentage also are higher in the postseason while his turnovers have dropped.

Kersey initially started the season backing up Tim Duncan, but told Popovich he felt more comfortable playing small forward behind Elliott. His minutes have been limited recently because of a strained right calf, but, along with a 20-foot jump shot, Kersey provided some toughness many thought the Spurs were lacking last season.

“Pop keeps telling me this is why they brought me in here,” Kersey said. "I’m one of those guys who thrives on the playoffs. I believe I’m a lot more active.

“I enjoy the competition. I want to be out there when the pressure is on. You can play the whole season, but when it’s big-time money time, when it’s zero-zero, you better bring it to the table.”

Kerr was known to deliver a time or two during the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty days. With five seconds left in Game 6 of the 1997 Finals, he hit the game-winning shot from just above the free-throw line to give the Bulls their fifth title.

This season, however, has admittedly been one of the most frustrating for Kerr. His scoring average of 4.4 points per game is his lowest since his rookie season, and his 31.3-percent three-point shooting is more than 16 percent lower than his NBA-record career average coming into the season.

By Johnny Ludden, via San Antonio Express-News