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Spurs could learn from Cardinals’ comeback

Column by Mike Monroe

Texans don’t have to look far to find evidence that even the most daunting deficit in a best-of-7 series can be overcome.

Take Game 6 of last year’s World Series.

The Rangers were one Game 6 out and one Neftali Feliz strike away from the first World Series championship in franchise history.

Leading 3-2 in the series, ahead 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth and with Feliz flinging high-90s fastballs at Cardinals third baseman David Freese, the Rangers had the champagne wheeled into their clubhouse.

Then, Freese smashed a 98-mph, two-strike fastball off the right field wall, driving in two runs to tie the score.

But just as the Thunder answered the Spurs’ third-quarter rally in Game 5, the Rangers responded with two more runs in the top of the 10th.

Then, New Braunfels native Lance Berkman, whose competitive spirit fits squarely into Gregg Popovich’s mold of what makes an ideal Spur, faced another two-out, two-strike situation with two runners on. He lined a two-run single to center, knotting the score a second time.

Freese’s walk-off home run in the 11th ended the most dramatic World Series game in years.

There’s one big difference between baseball and basketball, and it’s what turned Yogi Berra’s “It ain’t over until it’s over” from malaprop to logical genius: There’s no clock in baseball. That means a nine-inning game isn’t over until the 27th out is secured, however long that takes.

It was the late Express-News columnist Dan Cook who first told us “It’s not over until the fat lady sings.” Bullets coach Dick Motta co-opted the folksy aphorism when the Spurs took a 3-1 lead in the 1979 Eastern Conference finals. His team won three in a row to crush hearts all over Bexar County.

Popovich doesn’t do folksy, but if he wants to remind his players what is possible in the darkest situations, he might want to splice footage of Freese’s two-out double into the videotape the Spurs watch before Game 6.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Ginobili hopeful to get touch back

By Jeff McDonald

The Western Conference finals are sure to bring about comparisons between a pair of super subs: Oklahoma City’s James Harden and the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili.

Both are left-handed. Both have NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards on their mantles. Both play with a herky-jerky style that can be murder to defend.

Harden, however, is the one with The Beard.

“Mine doesn’t get that good,” Ginobili said. “I’ve tried.”

One other key difference between the two: only Harden will enter Game 1 on Sunday with soaring confidence.

Ginobili is coming off his second straight poor-shooting series, going 17 for 42 in the second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Clippers.

That included a 6-for-21 showing from 3-point range that dropped his playoff percentage to 25.7 percent (9 of 35).

Asked after practice Wednesday to gauge his confidence level in his jump shot, Ginobili said: “Not the best it’s been.”

“I wasn’t worried against Utah (in the first round), because I didn’t take many (shots),” Ginobili said. “Against the Clippers, I took a few open, and they didn’t go in.”

Despite his shooting woes, Ginobili is averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in the playoffs. Harden, 22, is averaging 19.1 points, five boards and 3.1 assists off the bench for the Thunder.

For the second time in this postseason, Ginobili is hopeful the start of a new series will change his luck.

“This is a whole new story, a new series, and we don’t care about what happened against Utah or the Clippers,” Ginobili said. “Hopefully, I start off on the right foot.”

Can’t block the truth: Thunder players were thrilled to learn Wednesday that forward Serge Ibaka had been voted to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team by the league’s 30 head coaches.

The notion Ibaka might not have made the first team after leading the league in blocked shots seemed impossible for some players to contemplate.

“Serge was first team?” said teammate Nazr Mohammed, a former Spurs center. “Well, duh. If he wasn’t, then it would have been a travesty.”

Ibaka averaged 3.65 blocks during the regular season, netting double figures three times. Though it wasn’t a factor in All-Defensive team balloting, the 6-foot-10 Ibaka has also logged 33 blocks in nine playoff games so far.

Ibaka’s case for first team was simple, Mohammed said.

“He affects the game without scoring a bucket, and guys like that are first-team All-Defense,” Mohammed said.

Russell Westbrook went even further in his praise of Ibaka’s defensive work.

“I feel he should have been Defensive Player of the Year,” the Thunder’s All-Star point guard said of the award, voted on by media, that went to New York center Tyson Chandler.

Honorable mention: The Spurs did not place a player on the first or second All-Defensive team for the third consecutive season.

Tim Duncan landed in the “also receiving votes” category, garnering five points, including one first-team vote.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Staff writer Mike Monroe contributed to this report.

SPURS VS. THUNDER
Western Conference finals (best-of-7)

Game 1: Sunday – Spurs vs. Thunder, 7:30 p.m. TNT

Game 2: Tuesday – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

Game 3: Thursday May 31 – Spurs @ Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

Game 4: Saturday June 2 – Spurs @ Thunder, 7:30 p.m. TNT

*Game 5: Monday June 4 – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

*Game 6: Wednesday June 6 – Spurs @ Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

*Game 7: Friday June 8 – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

– All times Central
*If necessary

Slideshow: Spurs vs. Thunder Game 2

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Spurs 120, Thunder 111: Game 2

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) lays the ball in against San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) near San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) shoots near San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) and San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) reacts after hitting a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) gets a hand on a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) is trapped between San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) slams the ball near San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) is under pressure from San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33), San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2), San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) talks to San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich stands near San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) makes a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) holds his daughter Sydney and his son, Draven, before the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) gestures after a play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) gestures after a play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) passes around Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nazr Mohammed (8) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) passes over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nazr Mohammed (8) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Matt Bonner (15) shoots a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) reacts after a play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

A fan holds up a sign during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Fans hold up signs during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

A fan holds up a sign during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after hitting a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) gesture for possession of the ball during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (3) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nick Collison (4) and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) fights for control of the ball with San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) with Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) nearby during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) falls out of bounds after the play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) swipes the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) drives against San Antonio Spurs’ Matt Bonner (15) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) shoots against San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) and San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) passes around San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) pulls in a rebound against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) and San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Fans hold up signs during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) dunks against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)