EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – A day later, the San Antonio Spurs still couldn’t stop talking about Malik Rose’s dunk over Dikembe Mutombo.
“It was thunderous,” Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. “I didn’t see Mutombo shaking his finger at that. I was really happy for Malik. When you go at a somebody like that who can change the game, it makes a big statement.”
In case you missed the game and the highlights, Rose sparked the Spurs’ 84-79 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday night when he threw down a one-handed slam right in the face of Mutombo, the four-time defensive player of the year.
The basket shook up Mutombo, who was knocked back a few steps, and it started a decisive 14-3 run by San Antonio early in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals. With one opportunistic dunk, Rose energized the Spurs to a strong finish in an otherwise dismal game.
“I don’t know if it has a carry-over effect (to Game 4), but it had an effect in that game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I think it elevated our aggressiveness and confidence, and that was a big play.”
It also was a rare moment of glamour for Rose, the Spurs’ top reserve forward. Rose specializes in doing San Antonio’s dirty work, but he relished a moment in the spotlight.
“I saw it on ‘SportsCenter,’ but I haven’t seen the (game) tape,” Rose said. “I want to slow-mo it. I probably won’t get another one like that ever, so I’m going to relish this one.”
No Kidd gloves
Jason Kidd insists his right ankle isn’t hampering his play in the finals. He also says his conditioning isn’t a problem.
So the only explanation for Tony Parker’s success against Kidd is Parker’s superior play. What a depressing thought for the New Jersey Nets.
Kidd sprained his ankle in the final game of the Nets’ Eastern Conference finals victory over the Detroit Pistons. He barely practiced during New Jersey’s 10 days off before the NBA Finals.
He hasn’t received any breaks against the Spurs. He played 44 minutes in Game 1 and 42 minutes apiece in games 2 and 3.
“I can play 48,” Kidd insisted Monday. “I didn’t lead the league in scoring, so I don’t always have to be the scoring leader. Fatigue was not a factor (in Game 3). It was just a matter of being confident and feeling that the ball was going to go in.”
But Nets coach Byron Scott isn’t so sure. After backup point guard Anthony Johnson’s success in a short stint Sunday, Scott might try to maximize Kidd’s effectiveness with a bit of down time.
“(Fatigue) was something I talked to J-Kidd about and tried to address with him, because I know he probably needs a few more minutes of rest,” Scott said. “But I just have to go with the feel of the game.
“Most of the time (when) I ask him, he says he’s fine, but I think if I can get him a couple more minutes (of rest) at the end of the third quarter, early fourth, that probably would do him a lot of good.”
Smith sits
While most of the San Antonio Spurs chatted with the media and prepared for practice on Monday, Steve Smith perched on a stationary bike at the Nets’ training complex, idly kicking one pedal back and forth.
Smith dreamed of a trip to the NBA Finals for most of his life – and now that he’s finally here after a stellar college career at Michigan State and 12 pro seasons, he still hasn’t played. The seldom-used guard is stuck on the sideline, a spare part on the Spurs’ powerful roster.
Smith shares his predicament with Kevin Willis, his fellow Detroit native and Michigan State alumnus.
Both players went to Pershing High School, they were once traded for each other – and now both have prime seats on the Spurs’ bench in their first trips to the NBA Finals.
But at least Willis and fellow veterans Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry have played in the finals – even if it was only a total of 6 minutes among the three. Smith has spent all three games on the bench.
All four will be free agents at the end of the season, but they haven’t expressed any disappointment in their plight – not even Smith, who started 15 straight games for San Antonio early in the season before sliding down the bench.
“I think our veteran guys will be happy to get the ring, and then we’ll move on,” Smith said. “Winning makes everything a lot easier.”
Even Smith realizes much of the Spurs’ success is due to the organization’s willingness to trust young players still learning how to perform under pressure. Emanuel Ginobili and Speedy Claxton have taken backup roles that otherwise would fall to Smith and Kerr.
“I’ve been forced just by common sense and my assistant coaches to let them go probably more than I would want them to,” Popovich said of his youngsters, including starting point guard Parker.
“It became obvious as the year went along that if I did rein them in more, we would get much less. They’re the kind of players that have to feel a little bit free out on the court.”
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LOOSE BALLS: Tim Duncan is averaging 24 points, 16 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.3 blocks per game in the finals. … Parker has taken 52 shots in the series – three more than Duncan. … Kidd is 21-for-60 from the field. … Stephen Jackson has made 14 turnovers while enduring two dismal shooting games in the series, but he’s thrilled to be starting for an NBA title contender – in a finals against his former team, no less. “If you had to say what was your closest point of getting to Heaven without dying, this would be it for me,” he said. … Popovich thinks Duncan is to blame for some of the balls stripped from him by Kenyon Martin: “I think Timmy has presented the basketball a little too much, especially with Kenyon being so aggressive.” Duncan has 10 turnovers in the series.
AP-ES-06-09-03 1901EDT
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