Category: In the News

About last night: What the pundits had to write about Game 4

As you might expect, the national media appear ready to stick a toe tag on the Spurs after last night’s devastating loss at the FedExForum.

Read them at your own risk, Spurs Nation.  

  • Yahoo.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski wonders if we’rein the Memphis series.
  • Rob Mahoney of the Pro Basketball Talk writes that the this year’s Spurs’ team is in the ground, .
  • ESPN.com’s Marc Stein writes about how Memphis’ bench — including journeyman center Hamed Haddadi — in the Grizzlies’ Game 4 victory over the Spurs.
  • The Elias Sports Bureau provides a from the Grizzlies’ Game 4 victory.
  • CBS Sports.com’s Matt Moore opines that the Spurs’ chances of making a comeback to win the series “.”
  • NBA.com’s Fran Blinebury compares the Spurs’ struggles Monday night to watching Willie Maysfor the New York Mets late in his career.
  • Kevin Pelton of the Basketball Prospectus and ESPN.com has the Spurs pegged among the in the 2011-12 season — if it’s ever played.
  • Memphis Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins writes that the Grizzlies’ last two games have been a .  
  • Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk.com writes that thehave caught up with the Spurs in the playoffs.
  • Grizzlies beat writer Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal aptly describes the in the Grizzlies’ victory.  
  • Ron Higgins of the Commercial Appeal writes the by Memphis’ success in the series and provides a with Tillery’s help.
  • Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer.com describes the victorious Grizzlies’ locker room aswith still more work to do.
  • James Dowd and Wayne Risher of the Commerical Appeal to gauge the depth of the Grizzlies’ support during their Game 4 triumph.
  • CBS Sports.com’s Gary Parrish writes about the many new followers now found on.
  • ESPN.com’s Stats and Information Department describes the Grizzlies’ in their second-half comeback Monday night.

Buck Harvey: Of Dirk’s two paths, one is to be David

DALLAS — He’s a one-time MVP, and he’s been called a longtime softie.

He’s a 7-footer with unusual gifts, and he’s been the superstar of a Texas franchise with a history of unusual losses.

Now he has a 3-0 second-round lead on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, and what comes next will change Dirk Nowitzki.

Lose as no one has in NBA history, and his image will be indelible.

Win, and he’s David Robinson in 1999.

Nowitzki won’t exactly be Robinson, of course. Nowitzki remains the Mavericks’ scoring leader, and he was Friday with 32 points. What was more impressive that night — his four 3-pointers, or his late, left-handed runner for the lead?

“Just about everything that happened down the stretch,” Rick Carlisle said afterward, “was a direct result of him either scoring the ball or making a play to get somebody a shot.”

Robinson wasn’t that after Tim Duncan showed up. When the Spurs swept the Lakers in 1999, also in the second round, a Sports Illustrated headline announced, “Substance over Style.” Duncan’s outstretched arms were on the cover.

Still, Robinson was integral for a dominating group that went 15-2 on the way to a title. In another sweep, in the next round against Portland, Robinson was the best Spur.

Along the way, he shed the baggage that Nowitzki carries now, including his own disappointment at the hands of Don Nelson and a small Golden State team. The change began a dozen years ago, when the Lakers looked the way they do now.

Then, the season before Phil Jackson arrived, a young Kobe couldn’t correct the confusion any more than an old one has in the first three games. But there are differences, since the current Lakers are the two-time defending champions with a few things to lean on.

Two of them: They blew leads in Game 1 and Game 3.

Bryant isn’t “sick in the head,” as he put it, for thinking a comeback is possible. Nowitzki seems to understand all of this, too. Nowitzki takes nothing for granted.

Part of that is the humble Nowitzki profile. Anyone who has known him has liked him, and he’s handled failure without blaming others or lashing out at his critics. Maybe nothing makes him seem more like Robinson than this.

But Nowitzki is also wary for a reason. From the 2006 Finals collapse to the following season, when he was presented the MVP trophy shortly after losing in the first round with a 67-win team, he’s become the figurehead of a franchise that continues to win 50 games every season and nothing else.

Last year was the same. Just as his playoff numbers have always increased over his regular-season ones, they did against the Spurs when he averaged 27 points. But when the Mavericks lost as the favorites, the details of failure didn’t matter. As it was with Robinson, it’s his franchise, and he’s the star, and he owns what happens.

He will own success, too. If sweeping the Lakers is just a start, since the Mavericks would still face both the conference and NBA Finals, Robinson began the same way.

And if Nowitzki eventually draws the Heat, as he did in 2006? The nation will be rooting for him, even with Mark Cuban and Jason Terry on his side, against LeBron James.

That’s getting ahead of everything, including today. Nowitzki understood that just minutes after Friday’s win. Then, with Dallas fans celebrating, Nowitzki saw the danger in a 3-0 advantage that no NBA team has ever lost.

“I’ve seen a lot in this league already,” Nowitzki said, “and I don’t want to be the first one.”

Yes. The other path would be better.

bharvey@express-news.net

Spurs roster analysis

Spurs beat writer Jeff McDonald breaks down the team’s assets heading into the offseason:

Tim Duncan, forward
Age: 35
Contract status: One year, $21.2 million
Future: Still vital piece of franchise despite producing career-low numbers. Could exercise early-termination option this summer and sign longer-term deal for less money to give Spurs financial flexibility. No player in NBA stands to lose more money during potential lockout than him.

Manu Ginobili, guard
Age: 33
Contract status: Two years, $27 million
Future: Survived season relatively healthy, except for sprained elbow he took into playoffs. Getting older, but remains one of league’s toughest covers.

Tony Parker, guard
Age: 28
Contract status: Four years, $50 million (final season non- guaranteed)
Future: Approached All-Star form again after signing big contract extension in October. Stands as Spurs’ most viable trade chip entering offseason, though it is unlikely team would go that route.

Richard Jefferson, forward
Age: 30
Contract status: Three years, $30.3 million
Future: Enjoyed a better second season in San Antonio than first, but again faded during playoffs. Long-term deal inked last summer likely to keep him in Spurs uniform for foreseeable future.

Antonio McDyess, center/forward
Age: 36
Contract status: One year, $5.2 million (partially guaranteed)
Future: A rocking chair. Though he has a year left on his deal, McDyess has announced plans to retire after 15 seasons. Spurs will miss his toughness and veteran voice in locker room.

Matt Bonner, center/forward
Age: 31
Contract status: Three years, $11.3 million (final season partially guaranteed)
Future: Emerged as NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter this season. Likely to remain a part of team’s plans as a coveted “spread-four” man.

George Hill, guard
Age: 24
Contract status: One year, $1.5 million
Future: Continued to play key role at both guard spots in third NBA season. Entering final season of rookie-scale contract. Under current guidelines, Spurs have until Oct. 31 to sign Hill to an extension or he becomes restricted free agent in 2012.

DeJuan Blair, center/forward
Age: 22
Contract status: Two years, $2 million (next season partially guaranteed, final season non- guaranteed)
Future: Started first 63 games before being replaced in starting lineup by McDyess. Best used as situational player against smaller frontcourts. Cheap contract makes him payroll-friendly.

Gary Neal, guard
Age: 26
Contract status: Two years, $1.75 million (both seasons non- guaranteed)
Future: One of NBA’s most compelling storylines after emerging from European League obscurity to set Spurs’ rookie 3-point records. Though contract is not guaranteed, he’s a lock to return next season.

Tiago Splitter, center
Age: 26
Contract status: Two years, $7.61 million
Future: Much-anticipated Brazilian never quite found his place as rookie but remains an integral part of the future. Offseason development will be imperative, but could be hampered by lockout.

James Anderson, guard
Age: 22
Contract status: Three years, $5.5 million (final two seasons at team option)
Future: Promising rookie was swallowed up by foot fracture that cost him 39 games. His development could be another casualty of labor strife, especially if there is no summer league.

Danny Green, guard/forward
Age: 23
Contract status: Free agent
Future: A raw but versatile defender who showed promise in separate stints with team and was active for every playoff game. A probable training camp invitee with a chance to stick.

Steve Novak, forward
Age: 27
Contract status: Free agent
Future: A deadly outside shooter the Spurs have been charting since before 2006 draft. Could be invited to training camp if he doesn’t hook on elsewhere.

Chris Quinn, guard
Age: 27
Contract status: Free agent
Future: Little-used as emergency option at point guard. Could return for camp, though Spurs could just as easily look elsewhere to fill role.

Da’Sean Butler, forward
Age: 23
Contract status: One year, $788,972 (non- guaranteed)
Future: Easily most intriguing name at bottom of roster. Will have a chance to make team out of camp if fully recovered from knee injury suffered in 2010 Final Four with West Virginia.