Spurs avenging earlier stings

Posted 12/8/2006 12:44 AM
By Oscar Dixon, USA TODAY



By Eric Gay, AP
Tim Duncan has been the Spurs' cornerstone this season, leading the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks.

Memo to Dallas, Utah and Cleveland: the San Antonio Spurs have long memories.

The Spurs have lost five games this season, to the Mavericks, Jazz, Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Bobcats.

On Tuesday, they played the Warriors for the second time and pounded them 129-89, the most points San Antonio had scored in 11 years. Wednesday night, it was time to avenge a loss to the Bobcats, and San Antonio came away with a 20-point win, 96-76 and improved to a league-best 8-2 on the road.

"San Antonio came in to prove a point," Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "They are a very good basketball team, their execution, their recognition of mismatches and the isolations. … That's a very good basketball team. There's no reservation about it."

And should get better.

Manu Ginobili missed four games with a back contusion, but since returning to the lineup against Golden State, he is averaging 9.5 points, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 18.5 minutes.

"I think Manu is getting back into his rhythm," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "He is always going to be aggressive, and I think he is getting his timing down."

But the Spurs' success still centers around Tim Duncan, who is having another MVP-caliber season. He leads San Antonio in scoring (22.1), rebounding (10.6), blocks (1.8) and is second in assists (3.5).

San Antonio, which has won three championships in the last seven years, was the center of dynasty talk last season trying to repeat for the first time in franchise history. But after losing to Dallas, the Mavericks and Phoenix Suns emerged as preseason favorites.

"They don't really have a flashy player, they just get it done," says Bobcats forward Sean May. "We need to learn and emulate some of the stuff they do."

Clip joint:

The Los Angeles Clippers are the only team left in the NBA that hasn't won a road game. They try to get their first Friday night at San Antonio.

The Clippers, 9-8 overall but 0-6 on the road, reached the second round of the playoffs last year and realize they need to turn around their road woes.

"We're at kind of a crossroads," said Clippers All-Star Elton Brand. "Being at .500 is OK for some teams, but we have some lofty goals."

Allen out:

Ray Allen has a contusion of the talus bone in his right ankle and will not accompany the Seattle Sonics on their upcoming five-game road trip.

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Contributing: Wire reports

As much as I would love to see 20 or 40 point wins against teams like the Cavs, Mavs and Jazz I wouldn't expect it. They are different caliber teams than the Bobcats and Warriors. Especially with players like Dirk and Lebron, who you can only hope to contain.