March 10th: Lakers vs.Spurs tonight. Bryant above all in fourth quarter.

 
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Phil
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:29 am    Post subject: March 10th: Lakers vs.Spurs tonight. Bryant above all in fourth quarter.

Friday night: Spurs (48-13) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (32-30)

Web Posted: 03/10/2006 12:36 AM CST


San Antonio Express-News

Spurs scouting report: This will be the Spurs' fourth game in five nights. They are 4-7 in the second game of a back-to-back this season. ... The Spurs are 6-0 against the Lakers since Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami. ... The Spurs matched a franchise record by making 10 3-pointers in the second half of Monday's victory over the Lakers. Michael Finley and Manu Ginobili each went 5 of 6 behind the arc.

Spurs injuries: Nick Van Exel (sore left elbow) is doubtful.

Spurs projected inactive list: Van Exel.


Last edited by Phil on Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:32 am; edited 1 time in total
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Phil
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:31 am    Post subject:

Bryant above all in fourth quarter

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register

SAN ANTONIO – There is no reason to feel pressure in the fourth quarter, according to Kobe Bryant, if you are confident and well prepared.

Bryant established himself years ago as arguably the league's premier shot-maker with the game on the line, and this season has seen the NBA's Lone Ranger even more precise with the final silver bullets in his chamber.

Bryant is scoring more fourth-quarter points - 9.8 per game - than anyone in recorded history.

The Elias Sports Bureau's highest fourth-quarter average since first tracking the statistic in the 1997-98 season is Tracy McGrady's 8.6 in 2002-03. Bryant's 8.1 last season and 7.6 in 2002-03 rank in the top five.

This season Bryant might discover the land of double-figure fourth-quarter scoring - the next most prolific fourth-quarter scorer is nearly two points back, Allen Iverson at 8.1.

Just imagine if Bryant hadn't sat out the fourth quarter Dec.20 after scoring 62 points vs. Dallas.

In the Lakers' recent 3-1 stretch, Bryant scored at least 40 points in each game, with his fourth-quarter totals increasing each contest: 11, 12, 17 and 18. Bryant said Thursday it boils down to this for him: "Score buckets when we need 'em. Take the game over. Do what I do."
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Phil
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:34 am    Post subject:

Zeroing In on Problem
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
March 10, 2006

SAN ANTONIO — The Lakers finally found a way to beat Detroit, and also took it to their old friend Shaquille O'Neal on his most recent pass through Staples Center, but they haven't figured out how to beat San Antonio and Phoenix since the O'Neal trade.

They are now 0-12 against the Spurs and Suns since O'Neal moved to South Beach — average margin of loss: 10.5 points — with another chance tonight against the Spurs.

Tied with New Orleans for seventh in the Western Conference, the Lakers are in better shape than a year ago, but to go anywhere in the playoffs — and to help guarantee such a thing will exist for them in a month — they might want to win a game against two of the West's elite.

Four of their final 20 games are against the Spurs and Suns, two against each.

"Right now, while we're building, they're making us pay the price," Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. "It's time for this team to put some things together against either one of these teams. We should be able to win a game or so right now every year against them."

Jackson has seen this play out before.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:35 am    Post subject:

Lakers notes: Bryant goes back to 40s
By Ross Siler, Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO - It's a testament to the season Kobe Bryant is having that the superstar guard could score 40 points or more in the Lakers' past four games and barely cause a stir across the league.

So far in March, Bryant is back to scoring at nearly the same clip he did in January, when he averaged 43.4 points per game, the most by any player not named Wilt Chamberlain in a month in NBA history.

Even while battling a sinus infection, Bryant went for 42 points Friday against Golden State and 40 the next night against Detroit. He followed those games by hitting jumper after jumper in the fourth quarter Monday against San Antonio and finishing with 43.

And Bryant overcame a terrible shooting night (5 of 22) through three quarters Wednesday to deliver 18 in the fourth quarter and 40 for the game against the Hornets in New Orleans.

"You could start seeing his shot coming together in the fourth quarter," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, "as he started relaxing and losing that little edge that sometimes makes it difficult for a player."
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:37 am    Post subject:

Bryant needs rest

12:34 AM PST on Friday, March 10, 2006

Broderick Turner

SAN ANTONIO - If Lakers coach Phil Jackson has his way, two things will happen for Kobe Bryant down the stretch in these last 20 games.

Jackson will try to cut Bryant's minutes and slow the recent 40-point outbursts from his All-Star guard.

Bryant is averaging 40.8 minutes per game, sixth most in the NBA.

"We want to get him into that 36-minute mark somewhere going down the stretch here," Jackson said.

Bryant didn't practice Thursday. He stood against a basket standard and was the score-keeper of a spirited three-on-three game.

In his last five games, he has played less than 40 minutes just once, going 36:10 against Detroit.

"It's always good to have more rest, in the perfect-case scenario," Bryant said. "But I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

For the fourth straight game, Bryant scored 40 points or more.

He scored 40-plus points in five consecutive games earlier this season and has done so 19 times this season.

His record for consecutive 40 points or more in a game is nine, accomplished during the 2002-03 season.

Bryant's latest run hasn't drawn much attention.

"Well, we want him to have less attention anyway, because we think you guys are the ones that inspired him to try and go out and have a 40-point night," Jackson cracked. "It just puts it in his head, 'Oh, I've got to get 40 again tonight.' I'm going to take him out early this next game so that he doesn't."

During this current 40-point streak, Bryant has shot the ball relatively well, making 44.1 percent (53 for 120) of his shots and 40 percent (10 for 25) of his three-pointers.

"I just score buckets when we need them," Bryant said. "I just take the game over. Doing what I do."
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:09 am    Post subject:

Spurs, Lakers to tangle at AT&T Center
LAST UPDATE: 3/10/2006 11:34:11 AM
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.

San Antonio is tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the top spot in the Southwest Division.

The Spurs return home after going 2-1 on a three-game road trip. On Thursday, Tony Parker poured in 29 points and San Antonio put an end to Phoenix's 11- game winning streak with an impressive 117-93 victory at America West Arena.

Manu Ginobili added 18 points, while Tim Duncan netted 16 in the win over the Suns for the Spurs, who rebounded from Tuesday's loss to the Clippers and posted their eighth win in their nine games overall.

Ginobili ended 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, while Duncan was 8-of-11 from the floor. San Antonio shot a sizzling 55.2 percent as a team.

San Antonio, which will also host Houston, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, and Phoenix on the current stand, is an impressive 26-3 as the host this season. The Spurs have won seven in a row at home.

The Lakers play the finale of a brief two-game road trip. Kobe Bryant spoiled the Hornets' return to New Orleans, as he recorded 40 points in a 113-107 win for the Lakers at New Orleans Arena. Bryant shot 12-of-33 from the floor and hit 14-of-16 free throws for the Lakers, who have won three of their last four games overall.

Lamar Odom added 18 points and 17 boards, while Smush Parker had 16 points and seven assists in the win over the Hornets for Los Angeles, which used a late run to pull away from its opponent.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:04 pm    Post subject:

Spurs look to continue dominance over Lakers

By Covers.com newswire
Fri, Mar 10, 2006

The San Antonio Spurs can move into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with a win tonight.

Fortunately for San Antonio, on the docket are the Los Angeles Lakers, a team they have dominated recently winning six straight, including a 103-96 win over Los Angeles last Monday as 4 ½ point road favorites.

In fact, San Antonio has not lost to the Lakers since an 88-76 defeat May 5, 2004 in the Western Conference semifinals. The Spurs are 4-2 ATS against the Lakers since that loss and are listed as 8 ½-point favorites for tonight’s game.

San Antonio ended the Suns` 11-game winning streak, 117-93 on Friday in Phoenix. Tony Parker scored 29 points in just 27 minutes, and backcourt mate Manu Ginobili made three 3-pointers and finished with 18 points.

San Antonio, which shot 55.2 percent from the floor, faced a Suns team without reigning MVP Steve Nash (ankle) and Leandro Barbosa (groin).

``Steve Nash didn`t play, but we`ll take it,`` Parker said. ``We`re trying to be first in the West.
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