Category: In the News

Pop unmoved by tales of Rondo’s heroism

Much of the basketball-watching public was willing to cast Rajon Rajon’s return from a dislocated elbow in Boston’s Game 3 victory over Miami in the Eastern Conference semifinals last week as his “Willis Reed moment.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, however, wasn’t one of them.

As the playoffs have progressed, Popovich — who had  star guard Manu Ginobili dealing with an elbow injury in the Spurs’ first-round ouster against Memphis — has been unmoved by the tall tales of Rondo’s heroism.

“It’s really been hard to watch the playoffs and have them make Rondo out like Willis Reed,” Popovich said Thursday, in wide-ranging interview with the Express-News. “It’s like, Manu couldn’t even play the first game (against Memphis), and we  probably shouldn’t have played him again. He went out there and worked through it, and you didn’t hear any of that kind of crap.”

Ginobili sprained his right elbow in the Spurs’ regular-season finale at Phoenix and was limited throughout the Memphis series, a turn of events Popovich believes played a prime role in the Spurs’ early ouster.  Ginobili averaged 20.6 points in five games against the Grizzlies.

“If Manu ain’t heathy, historically, we go nowhere,” Popovich said.  ”When he was hurt against Dallas (in 2009), they beat us. Last year, we  beat them in the first round, because Manu was healthy. Manu was half-assed one year against the Lakers (in 2008), or they don’t win three (Western Conference titles) in a row. His health is huge for us.”

Rondo was injured in the third quarter of Boston’s 97-81 victory over Miami on May 8, but returned to dish out 11 assists and score a pair of baskets in the fourth quarter. The Heat went on to win the series in five games.

Popovich says Ginobili should have  received similar kudos for laboring through a similar situation.

“It’s like Rondo is the next coming of Willis Reed, the thing he did and the character he showed,” Popovich said. “Maybe he did show character and  he was tough and all that, but it is no different than what  Manu did. That just kind of angers me on a selfish level, so to speak.”

Buford: Spurs not caught up in Parker’s pessimism

By Mike Monroe
mikemonroe@express-news.net

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford was at the NBA’s pre-draft combine in Chicago on Thursday when he heard that point guard Tony Parker this week said the Spurs, as constituted, aren’t capable of contending for an NBA championship.

“Who knows what the motivation is to say something like that,” Buford said. “I’m not going to get caught up in comments. All I can say is that we’re going to continue to build our team and try to be as good as we can be in the future.”

At a press conference in Paris early this week Parker was asked about the Spurs and their disappointing finish to a 61-win season.

The French sports publication L’Equipe quoted Parker on his concern about the team’s ability to remain among the NBA’s legitimate title contenders.

“Our team can still perform at the highest level, but next year I don’t think we can play for the title,” he said. “We have to be realistic. It was kind of our last chance this season because (Tim) Duncan and (Manu) Ginobili are getting older.”

Parker also said he understands it will be difficult for the Spurs to improve through trades because of the nature of the team’s contracts.

“We don’t have many players that can be traded, and we’re going to have to be lucky during the draft,” he said. “But Pop (head coach and president of basketball Gregg Popovich) always makes the right choices.”

Parker acknowledged that, as a 29-year-old three-time All-Star with a hefty contract, he has more trade value than his teammates.

“If they have a player they can trade, it is clearly me,” he said, “but Pop told me I will not go anywhere, so we’ll see. Obviously, the NBA is a business. You have to be ready for everything.

“That being said, I don’t think they would have signed me for four more years to trade me, but you just never know.”

Buford understands that Parker’s comments are apt to spawn another round of trade speculation.

“I can’t control that,” he said, “and I’m not going to worry about it. We’re just going to move forward and work to improve the team.”

Garnett’s muscle, Rondo’s grit lead Boston’s win and pace S&Ds

Boston’s big stars had huge games Saturday night to pull the Celtics back into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Kevin Garnett went for 28 points and 18 rebounds in the Celtics’ 97-81 victory over Miami. Paul Pierce added 27 and Ray Allen chipped in with 15 points.

But the most clutch contribution came from point guard Rajon Rondo, who played through a dislocated left elbow that sidelined him midway through the game.

Rondo scored only six points, but added 11 assists and was plus-19 as he directed the Celtics to the victory and pulled them within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

“I didn’t have to do much scoring—just directing,” Rondo told the Associated Press. “That’s using your mouth, using my legs.”

With his injured left elbow protected in a sleeve and dangling lifelessly at his side, Rondo still came up with some huge plays down the stretch. After he was injured earlier in the third quarter after colliding with Dwyane Wade, Rondo returned to the Celtics’ bench at the end of the third quarter to a standing ovation from the Boston fans. He was back in the game shortly thereafter.

“Once he [Rondo] walked out [of the locker room], it didn’t surprise me,” Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the game. “We got a bunch of guys like that [on this team]. They just play and find a way. And that’s what he did.”

And despite his lack of shooting production because of the injury, Rondo thought he could help the team in other ways.

“I thought I could try to change the game’s momentum by getting to the ball defensively,” Rondo said. ” I only need two legs for that.”

However he was involved, Wade was impressed with the resiliency that Rondo and the rest of the Celtics produced when they most needed it.

“They played with their championship DNA that they have,” Wade told NBA.com. “We can learn a lot by their effort that they put forth tonight.”

Here’s a look at the players who sparkled and others who struggled in Saturday’s two playoff games.

STUDS

Boston F Kevin Garnett: Produced 28 points and 18 rebounds — more than he had in the first two games of the series combined — along with two steals, an assist and was plus-17 in the Celtics’ convincing 97-81 Game 3 victory over Miami.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Went for 27 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and was plus-12 in the Celtics’ victory over the Heat.

Memphis F Zac Randolph: Notched 21 points and a franchise playoff-record 21 rebounds (including eight offensive boards), two assists and a blocked shot in the Grizzlies’ 101-93 Game 3 overtime victory over Oklahoma City.

Memphis G O.J. Mayo: Came off the bench to provide 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocked shots and a team-best plus-23 in the Grizzlies’ triumph over the Thunder.

Memphis G Mike Conley: Went for 18 points, five  rebounds, four assists, two steals, a blocked shot and was plus-7 in the Grizzlies’ victory over the Thunder.

Memphis C Marc Gasol: Tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots, two assists, a steal and was plus-11 in the Grizzlies’ triumph over the Thunder.  

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Bravely played through a dislocated left elbow in the fourth quarter, scoring six points with 11 assists and was plus-19 in the Celtics’ victory over Miami.

Miami G Dwyane Wade: Produced 23 points, six rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a blocked shot in the Heat’s loss at Boston.

Miami G Mario Chalmers: Tallied 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field, had four rebounds, three assists and three steals and was plus-2 in the Heat’s loss at Boston.

Oklahoma City F Serge Ibaka: Produced 14 points, eight rebounds, six blocked shots and was plus-7 in the Thunder’s loss at Memphis.

Miami C Joel Anthony: Scored 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and was plus-5 in the Heat’s loss to the Celtics.

DUDS

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Went for 23 points, six rebounds and 12 assists, but was only 5-for-16 from the field after halftime and finished 7-for-22 in his shooting. He also committed five of his seven turnovers after the third quarter before fouling out late in overtime of the Thunder’s loss to the Grizzlies.

Miami F LeBron James: Tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots, but also was 6-for-16 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-21 in the Heat’s loss at Boston.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Produced 22 points and 12 rebounds, but hit only 10-for-22 from the field and missed all three shots in overtime of the Thunder’s loss at Memphis.

Miami F Chris Bosh: Limited to six points on 1-for-6 shooting with two turnovers and was minus-16 in the Heat’s loss to Boston. 

Memphis F Sam Young: Went 2-for-6 from the field with two turnovers and was minus-13 in the Grizzlies’ victory over Oklahoma City.