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Pop calls Spurs ‘soft’ after collapse against Heat

By Jeff McDonald

MIAMI — For the better part of a month, Gregg Popovich’s instincts have been to comfort.

As his young team, playing without its best player, continued to falter on the road, he spared the rod in favor of an encouraging pat on the backside.

Tuesday night at American?Airlines Arena, in the moments after the Miami Heat turned on an all-out second-half blitz to send the Spurs tumbling to a 120-98 defeat, Popovich made one thing evident to his players.

There would be no more Mr. Nice Pop.

“I thought in the second half they got real physical, and I thought we folded,” Popovich said. “The physicality killed us. We had nobody that stepped up. We let the physicality beat us in a lot of different ways — whether it was cuts, or passing or boards. It didn’t matter what it was. Their physicality put us in a ditch.

“They beat our ass in the second half. We should be embarrassed by that, playing that soft.”

With Dwyane Wade celebrating his 30th birthday in street clothes, sidelined with a sprained right ankle, the other two-thirds of Miami’s Big Three did the Heat’s heavy lifting.

LeBron James scored 17 of his 33 points in a stunning third quarter that saw Miami flip a 14-point halftime deficit into an 88-75 lead entering the fourth. Chris Bosh added 30 points to help smash a three-game losing streak.

Miami (9-4) outscored the Spurs 39-12 in the third quarter and 71-35 after intermission.

“LeBron started hitting some shots, and the intensity went up because of it,” said Tim Duncan, whose team played its ninth game without injured guard Manu Ginobili. “One thing turned into another. Their intensity in the second half changed the whole game.”

The Spurs are now 0-5 away from the ATT Center, matching their worst road start since 1983-84.

Four of those losses have come by double dig?its. Tuesday’s 22-point defeat was the most lopsided and most disheartening of the bunch, given how it began.

For one half, it appeared as if the Spurs (9-5) would end their road skid against the defending Eastern Conference champions.

They shared the ball. They defended. They were patient in finding easy shots. And behind 16 points from Tony Parker and 12 from DeJuan Blair, the Spurs took a 63-49 lead into the half.

Miami certainly played a role in the Spurs’ first-half success, appearing unfocused and disinterested.

“We stunk it up in the first half,” said Bosh, sounding a little like Popovich.

James, who was 1 for 5 in the first quarter while being guarded by rookie Kawhi Leonard, agreed.

“The way we started off the game is not the way we play basketball,” James said.

For the Heat, it all seemed as simple as flipping a switch.

In the third quarter, Miami put on a clinic, hitting 15 of 20 shots, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range. Mike Miller, playing in his first game of the season after battling a thumb injury, tied a career high with six 3-pointers on six tries.

He finished with 18 points, all in the second half.

James, meanwhile, dropped in 4 of 6 from long range, staring down the Spurs’ bench after the last of them. He also posted 10 assists.

“There’s not much you can do,” said Parker, who had 18 points, second to Danny Green (20) for the Spurs. “He was on fire in the third quarter. He’s coming on fast breaks, and he’s shooting 3s. There’s no defense against that.”

Sparked by James’ scoring binge, Miami ended the night shooting 58.2 percent, including 16 of 26 from beyond the arc.

“Every once in a while, somebody’s going to get in a zone where they can make those shots and change a game,” Duncan said.

As the Spurs boarded their charter plane for tonight’s game at Orlando, in search of their first road win of the season in a place they’ve lost three seasons in a row, this much was clear:

Mr. Nice Pop wouldn’t be coming with them.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

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Heat 120, Spurs 98: Jan. 17, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) looks to pass as Miami Heat’s Mike Miller (13) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) passes the ball as Miami Heat’s LeBron James, left, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) wipes his face during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) shoots over San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) and DeJuan Blair (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra puts his hand to his head during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) looks to pass as San Antonio Spurs’ Daniel Green (4) and Matt Bonner (15) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Norris Cole (30) looks to pass the ball as San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and Richard Jefferson (24) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh (1) shoots as San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade cheers from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat defeated the Spurs 120-98. Wade did not play due to a sprained right ankle. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Mike Miller (13) reacts after shooting a 3-pointer as San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. Miller contributed 18 points as the Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’, from left, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Danny Green watch from the bench in the closing seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) drives to the basket as Miami Heat’s James Jones (22) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich watches his team during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Game rewind: Two point guards are better than one

Here’s a look at how the Spurs escaped with a 101-95 victory over Golden State Wednesday night.

Game analysis: The Spurs employed a scoring-by-committee rotation to help overcome their first game without scoring leader Manu Ginobili. It looked ugly at times, but the Spurs caught fire in the fourth quarter when they needed to win the game.

Where the game was won: Golden State was ahead 88-84 with 5:53 left when Gregg Popovich inserted Tony Parker into the lineup to play with T.J. Ford in the same backcourt. The two guards helped spark the Spurs on an immediate 11-2 run, finishing by hitting all six of their shots in the fourth quarter.

Player of the game: Golden State guard Monta Ellis erupted for a season-high 38 points and added seven assists in a losing cause. He eventually wore down at the end of the game after chasing Parker across the court and playing 44 minutes for the Warriors.

Player of the game II: Parker came up big at the end, scoring 10 points in the final 5:53 to lead the Spurs’ comeback. Parker finished with a team-high 21 points and eight assists.

Player of the game III: Tim Duncan filled the statistic sheet with his strongest all-around game of the season. Duncan had 15 points and 11 rebounds, including six caroms in six minutes in the fourth quarter. He also was a disruptive force defensively with three steals and three blocked shots.

Most unsung: Danny Green. For the second straight game, Green provided the team with a defensive lift. He shackled Ellis in the fourth quarter, forcing him to miss five of his final seven shots after a blistering start.

Most glum looking person in the ATT Center: Ginobili. As his team trailed for most of the game, Ginobili looked like he would rather have been anywhere but sitting on the bench in his street clothes. Or maybe he might have been a little worried about his impending visit to the surgeon Thursday morning.

Stat of the game: The Spurs shot 70.6 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, while the Warriors shot 35.0 percent in the fourth quarter.

Stat of the game II: Through the first three quarters, Golden State shot 50 percent from the field. The Spurs shot 41 percent after three quarters.

Stat of the game III: The Spurs are now 4-0 at home. That mark ties them with Denver and Orlando for the most home victories without a loss.

Weird stat of the game: After trailing in fast break points 12-4 after three quarters, the Spurs outraced the Warriors 10-3 in the fourth quarter to take control of the game.

Quote of the game: ”Luckily, Steph Curry got hurt. When those guys were shooting like that, we were in for a long night,” Spurs guard Danny Green, describing the difficulties of trying to contain Curry and Ellis in the Golden State backcourt.

How the schedule stacked up: The Spurs will play a rare home back-to-back when defending NBA champion Dallas visits Thursday night. It will be the second game in the middle of an arduous stretch of four games in five days. The Warriors started three games in four nights with an upcoming back-to-back Friday night at the Lakers and Saturday night at home against Utah.

Injuries: Ginobili missed his first game with a fractured fifth left metacarpal. Gary Neal returned to the lineup after missing the first five games of the season with an appendectomy. Golden State guard Stephen Curry sustained a sprained right ankle with 2:49 left in the third quarter and did not return. Golden State forward David Lee returned to the lineup after missing Monday’s game with a bout of food poisioning. He produced 13 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of play.

Game rewind: Slumping Bucks add to Spurs road woes

It was one of those nights for the Spurs.

After getting strong offensive efforts from Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to start the game, the Spurs appeared ready to snap the nagging road losing streak that had dogged them since the start of the season.

But the Spurs discombulated down the stretch, allowing the Bucks to snatch a victory away despite San Antonio leading for much of the second half. The Spurs squandered a seven-point lead — their largest of the game — early in the fourth quarter.

Game analysis: The Spurs received strong efforts from Duncan, Parker and Kawhi Leonard throughout most of the game, but it wasn’t enough as they couldn’t hold off Milwaukee’s fast-closing duo of Stephen Jackson and Brandon Jennings.

Where the game was won: The Spurs squandered two chances to win or tie in the final minute. Trailing 104-103, Parker was stripped by Jennings, who finished the play with a transition dunk giving gave them a 106-103 with less than 50 seconds. And after San Antonio had won a jump ball with 15 seconds remaining, Gregg Popovich couldn’t get his team to call a timeout. Parker fed the ball to Richard Jefferson, who missed a 3-pointer as time expired for the final margin.

Player of the game I: Jackson bounced out of a slump that had dogged him all season to score 34 points and provide eight assists. Coming into the game, he was shooting 32.0 percent from the field.

Player of the game II: Duncan had his strongest game of the season with 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and three blocked shots. It was his first game with at least 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists since his vintage 21-point, 16-rebound, eight-assist, five-blocked shot game against New York last Jan. 21.

Player of the game III: Leonard had the best game of his young NBA career with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals in 33 minutes. It may have shown enough to convince Popovich to provide him with his first career start while T.J. Ford recuperates.

Most unsung: Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut spent most of Monday flying back from Australia after taking care of an undisclosed family emergency. Despite struggling in the first half to stick with Duncan and find his conditioning, Bogut played through his weariness and provided a strong second half. Bogut snatched seven of his game-high 11 rebounds in the second half, providing the Bucks with an inside presence that helped free Jackson and Jennings outside.

Did you notice: The Spurs led in the second half for the first time on the road this season and even had an advantage into the fourth quarter. In their three previous road losses, the Spurs had not led after halftime.

Stat of the game: The Bucks forced 16 Spurs turnovers and turned them into 25 points. Six of the turnovers came in the fourth quarter, including two in the final minute.

Stat of the game II: Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory.

Stat of the game III: The Bucks hit 9 of 14 3-point shots for a season-best 64.3 percent.

Weird stat of the game: The Spurs shot 60 percent from the field and still lost. An NBA team has shot 60 percent and lost only four times since 1999.

Weird stat of the game II: Since the 1999 lockout, the Bucks have beaten the Spurs 13 out of 25 times. Their victory Tuesday night snapped a four-game losing streak to the Spurs.

Quote of the game: ”It’s the worst defensive team we’ve ever had. We have a long way to go,” Popovich on his team’s defensive struggles.

How the schedule stacks up: The Spurs were on the front end of of a back-to-back and will play Houston Wednesday night at the ATT Center. The Bucks will rest until a back-to-back with a Thursday game against Detroit and a Friday night game at Dallas.

Injuries: Manu Ginobili missed his fifth game after undergoing surgery for a fractured fifth left metacarpal. Ford strained his hamstring late in the first quarter and did not return. Popovich said there is no timetable for his return. Milwaukee played without guard Mike Dunleavy (groin injury), forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (right knee tendinitis) and former Spurs guard Beno Udrih (left shoulder sprain).