Tag: Manu Ginobili

Neal’s buzzer-beating three ranks as best memory of the season

We’ve finally come to the moment all of Spurs Nation has been awaiting for the last two weeks. 

Our countdown of the best and worst memories has taken us throughout the highs and lows of a 61-21 season for the Spurs that ended much too early. 

The most memorable moment of the season still resonates, although it is doomed to fade among the franchise’s top historical moments because of the eventual result of the stunning first-round series loss to Memphis. 

Gary Neal’s buzzer-beating three that forced overtime of San Antonio’s eventual victory in Game 5 was a neat moment. And considering all that he endured en route to his first season in the NBA, it was even sweeter. 

Unfortunately for Neal and Spurs, they lost the next game in Memphis. But Neal’s clutch shot remains a moment frozen in time for all of Spurs Nation as they remember where they were when he made his shot.

No. 1:  Neal’s clutch three forces OT in Spurs’ Game 5 victory over plucky Grizzlies 

When: April 27, 2011 

Where: ATT Center, San Antonio 

What happened: Rookie guard Gary Neal caught an inbounds pass with 1.7 seconds left and sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime after the Spurs had trailed for the entire fourth quarter appeared ready to have their season end. Tony Parker then scored six of his 24 points in overtime to lead the Spurs to a dramatic 110-103 victory over Memphis in Game 5, staving off elimination for the Spurs.   

What was said, Part I: ”It felt good. I knew I had good legs going into it. I followed through and it went in,” Neal on his game-tying shot at the end of regulation. 

What was said, Part II: ”I once hit a buzzer-beater to win a state championship in high school. This feels a little bigger,” Neal on the magnitude of his game-tying shot. 

What was said, Part III: ”When you are facing elimination, you always seem to get something out of nowhere,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, telling the Express-News of the Spurs’ resiliency. 

What was said, Part IV: ”I’m not lying. I saw him miss the first 20 shots he took,” Ginobili, describing the first time he saw Neal shoot shortly before training camp started. 

What was said, Part V: ”I think we were down after the loss of the lead. We had too many guys that were hurt and not mature enough at this stage to just let it go,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, on what happened to his team in overtime after Neal’s crucial shot.   

GAME  NOTES: The Spurs needed another dramatic shot before Neal’s big basket to force overtime. Ginobili’s foot-on-the-3-point-line basket with 2.2 seconds that pulled them within 95-94. After two Zach Randolph free throws, Neal hit his dramatic shot. The Grizzlies were obviously deflated after Neal’s shot as they went 1-for-7 in overtime, compared to San Antonio’s 4-for-8 in the overtime. Ginobili scored a game-high 33 points, Parker had 24, Tim Duncan with 13 points and 12 rebounds and George Hill chipped in with 12 for the Spurs. Randolph led the Grizzlies 26 points and 11 rebounds with 18 of his points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. Mike Conley added 20 points, Sam Young had 18 and Marc Gasol added 11 points and 17 rebounds for Memphis. Ginobili’s clutch basket late in regulation originally was ruled a 3-pointer before video replays indicated it was made with his foot on the line for two points. Duncan scored 11 points in the first 9 1/2 minutes of the game and scored two afterwards. The Grizzlies led the entire fourth quarter before Neal’s clutch shot, which came with defender O.J. Mayo in his face. The Spurs led by 16 points at one point in the first half before Memphis rallied to pull within 50-42 at the half. The Spurs’ clutch rally kept them from being eliminated from the playoffs on their home court for a third straight season. 

Previous worst memories: 

No. 10: . 

No. 9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse against Dallas helps snap Spurs’ .   

No. 8: : Spurs blown out by Orlando by 22. 

No. 7: Lowly Clips to Spurs. 

No. 6:  Heat’sfrom 30-point loss 10 days earlier. 

No. 5: Blowout loss to Lakers . 

No. 4: Duncan’s ankle injury.   

No.3: Manu injures elbow in. 

No. 2: Grizzlies stun Spurs in Game 1 .   

No. 1: Z-Bo’s monster fourth quarter finishes off . 

Previous best memories: 

No. 10: . 

No. 9: boosts comeback victory over Thunder. 

No. 8: leads overtime victory over Memphis. 

No. 7:boosts Spurs past Warriors. 

No. 6: TD becomesin one game. 

No. 5:with record 3-point binge. 

No. 4: Pop passes Auerbach on. 

No. 3: McDyess’ tip over Lakers. 

No. 2: “Big Three” erupts for 80 as .

Parker says he’s committed to Spurs

Spurs guard Tony Parker says he didn’t make controversial comments to French reporters about his team’s inability to contend for an NBA championship.

Appearing at the Spurs summer camp at the University of the Incarnate Word on Tuesday, Parker said he remains committed to the team. He also said that the Spurs could contend for a fifth NBA title as long as he remains together with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

Despite pessimistic comments to French reporters last month in Paris, Parker was decidedly more upbeat on Tuesday.

“I’m in a great situation. I love the Spurs. I love being a Spur. I re-signed four years,” Parker said. “If I didn’t think we could win a championship, I wouldn’t have re-signed four years.”

Parker signed a four-year contract extension last October that will stretch through the end of the 2014-15 season.

While appearing before French reporters last month, Parker painted a gloomier picture of the franchise’s future shortly after the Spurs’ first-round playoff elimination by Memphis.

“I don’t think this current team will play for the title in the future,” Parker told French reporters. “We are aging. We must be realistic. It was sort of our last chance this season.”

Parker denied making those comments — even though there was video evidence of the remarks — and said they might have been blown out of proportion by the media.

He also said that questions about his loyalty to the Spurs are similarly out of line.

“I don’t have to justify anything,” Parker said. “The only thing I care (about) is Pop, Timmy, Manu and my teammates obviously.”

Parker turned 29 last month and is the youngest of the club’s “Big Three.” He said he has not talked to any team officials or coach Gregg Popovich since making his comments.

Tony Parker speaks to youngsters attending the Spurs Basketball Camp at Incarnate Word on Tuesday. (Billy Calzada/gcalzada@express-news.net)

“No, they don’t need to contact me,” Parker said, chuckling. “Pop doesn’t have time. He’s drinking wine and having fun. He doesn’t have time right now.”

The Spurs notched the best record in the Western Conference, winning the Southwest Division with a 61-21 mark. Parker said the Spurs can contend again with some help from the draft and continued development of young players such as Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair and George Hill.

“I think with a couple of tweaks and a couple of guys that we can improve our team and will be fine,” Parker said.

He’s not as confident about settling a potential lockout by the looming July 1 deadline.

“We don’t know what will happen,” he said. “Maybe we can find an agreement, and we won’t miss games. Hopefully, we’ll start on time.”

The lockout also could make it costly for Parker to obtain insurance to join the French national team in the European championships this summer.

The French Basketball Federation is working to obtain insurance that would enable French NBA players such as Parker, Boris Diaw and Joakim Noah to play by guaranteeing their NBA contracts.

“If there’s no insurance, obviously the Spurs are my priority,” Parker said. “If there’s no insurance, I won’t play because the Spurs are No. 1 on my list. But if I’m insured, I’ll definitely play with the national team.”

Bad memory No. 9: Spurs squander fourth-quarter lead in Black Friday collapse to Mavs

In our continuing look at the best and worst moments of the 2010-11 Spurs’ season, we look at the Black Friday tumble where they saw their early 12-game winning streak snapped by Dallas.

No.  9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse snaps Spurs’ 12-game winning streak.

When:  Nov. 26, 2010

Where: ATT Center, San Antonio.

What happened: The Spurs’ offense fell apart down the stretch as they were held without a field goal for a four-minute stretch late in their 103-94 home loss to Dallas on the day after Thanksgiving. Despite 31 points from Manu Ginobili, the Spurs saw Dallas take control as they scored nine straight points late in the game. It enabled the Mavericks to earn a a small measure of revenge for their 2010 playoff series loss to San Antonio. Dirk Nowitzki went 12-for-14 from the field en route to a team-high 26 points and Tyson Chandler and Shawn Marion each scored 19 points for the Mavericks. Tony Parker was limited to nine points and was minus-17 in plus/minus. And Richard Jefferson clanked through a miserable shooting night with only two points as he missed all four field-goal attempts.

What was said:  ”Dallas did a great job tonight. As a group they executed better than we did. I think they were a bit hungry and a bit more competitive than we were tonight. And it showed up in the fourth quarter,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, describing the late collapse.   

What was said, Part II:  ”The last few games we were executing great down the stretch and making shots, but today they did. It was pretty clear they made all the shots they needed and we didn’t,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, describing the end of the Spurs’ 12-game winning streak.

What was said, Part III: We didn’t know what the streak was. It was just a matter that they’ve been playing well. We’ve been playing pretty good and we know this is our rival. And this is what the rivalry is all about,” Dallas guard Jason Terry on snapping the Spurs’ 12-game winning streak.

What was said, Part IV: “I guess it’s a magnet (for Nowitzki’s elbow). Things happen and you’ve just got to be tough and be ready to keep playing,” Ginobili, who sustained a bloody nose early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of an elbow from Nowitzki. Ginobili’s nose was broken by Nowitzki in the 2010 playoffs.

The upshot: The victory snapped San Antonio’s 12-game losing streak which was their longest of the season. But it was the Spurs’ last home loss in a long time as they immediately started a 22-game home winning streak that would stretch through March 6 and finish as the longest home winning streak in team history. And after that loss to Dallas, the Spurs would beat the eventual Western Conference champions in each of the three remaining games against them during the regular season.

Previous bad memories:

No. 10: .

Previous good memories:

No. 10: .