05-01-2007, 01:57 PM
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#80 (permalink)
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MeLo aND ai=ChAMpIonShIP!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Australia
Age: 16
Posts: 4,855
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Re: NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets (1-0) vs San Antonio Spurs (0-1)
Quote:
Allen Iverson never has had any trouble putting up points in the
playoffs - until now.
When the Denver Nuggets opened their Western Conference
first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, Iverson and
Michael Jordan were the only players in NBA history who had
averaged better than 30 points per game in the postseason.
His 30.6 average was compiled in 62 playoff games with the
Philadelphia 76ers, who dealt Iverson to Denver in December. It
included 10 40-point games and often came against defenses
totally tuned into trying to keep him under control.
When Iverson arrived in the Rocky Mountains, he could hardly
contain his excitement at the thought of playing alongside
Carmelo Anthony, the bona fide scorer he never had in 10-plus
seasons in Philadelphia.
Opponents acknowledged how dangerous Denver could be with
Iverson and Anthony, the type of 1-2 punch every team with
championship aspirations knows it has to have.
But while Anthony has upheld his end by averaging 28.3 points on
50 percent shooting against the defensively dedicated Spurs,
Iverson is struggling like he never has before in the
postseason.
"The Answer" is averaging 23.3 points - by far the lowest mark
of his career - while shooting just 39 percent (36-of-92) from
the field.
Monday's 96-89 loss which put the Nuggets in a virtually
inextricable 3-1 hole was the third straight subpar game for
Iverson, who made just 9-of-25 shots and scored 22 points. He
was 1-of-6 in the fourth quarter, when Denver surrendered the
lead.
"I'm searching for my game," Iverson admitted. "I had so many
good looks, so many easy baskets that I missed. It's getting
frustrating at times. It's just something I've got to fight
through."
The 6-foot Iverson fought through a slow start in Game One,
where he missed his first six shots. He found a rhythm and
finished 11-of-22 from the field, scoring 31 points. Perhaps not
coincidentally, that is the only game the Nuggets have won.
They lost the next three games as their superstar guard has made
just 25-of-70 shots.
The Spurs were the NBA's best defensive team during the season,
allowing just over 90 points per game. They are anchored by
7-footer Tim Duncan, who controls the paint with his ability to
rebound, alter and block shots.
But on the perimeter, San Antonio also has 6-7 stopper Bruce
Bowen, whose primary duties are on Anthony but also has taken
exetnded turns defending the quicksilver Iverson. The Spurs
also point guard Tony Parker, whose quickness has made Iverson
work harder at both ends of the floor.
"I thought (Bowen) and Tony both were spending time trying to
guard him and they are working very hard and using most of their
energy trying to guard him," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
"And they are doing a decent job."
The Spurs have made a commitment to preventing the Nuggets from
getting their potent transition game in gear, which has limited
the opportunities for easy baskets that could get Iverson
untracked.
They also are shading Iverson when he has the ball, shifting
their defense to the strong side of the court to establish a
help defender - or at least the appearance of one.
"The scheme that they are running on me has been effective,"
Iverson admitted. "They are making me take tough shots. I
drive to the basket, they are shadowing me and making sure I see
more than one defender."
By limiting Iverson, the Spurs have reduced the one advantage
the Nuggets had entering the series - the presence of a reliable
second offensive option.
Most players - and coaches - would be overjoyed if the team's
second option was scoring 23 points per game. But Iverson is
not like most players.
"We are trying hard," Popovich said. "We are not going to stop
people like Allen Iverson; he's a great player. But we hope at
the end of a game that he's worked hard to get what he does end
up with."
"It's just something I've got to get through," Iverson said.
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Says it all...
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