http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14250414p-15067134c.html
Kings notes: Wells says a little hustle goes a long way
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 2, 2006
SAN ANTONIO - Bonzi Wells has had some notable playoff outings.
With Portland Trail Blazers, he scored a career-high 43 points against Dallas in a 2003 first-round playoff series.
But Wells reminds that nothing beats his current ride with the Kings. He remains the primary figure the San Antonio Spurs can't seem to figure out. There were glimpses of that in Game 2, when he upped the feisty tempo while Ron Artest served a suspension, and it carried into Sunday, when he had 25 points and 17 rebounds in the Kings' Game 4 triumph.
His 12.3-rebound average is the league's best this postseason. His 17 rebounds Sunday tied two others for the most in a playoff game this season. And he has shot 58.6 percent (34 for 58).
"Bonzi was incredible," the Spurs' Tim Duncan said. "It seems like Bonzi continues to get open and continues to get to the rack. I think Game 2 really gave him a lot of confidence when Ron was out. They really had to go to him. He just kind of flowed from there.
"He is going to be the guy that we are going to have to find an answer for."
Wells said he's just being Bonzi.
"I just try to hustle - that's all I can really do," he said. "We've got so many other guys that are so much better than I, and I just try to fit in and get in where I can. Make the hustle plays, the little things that guys may not want to do."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said simply: "He's just been a monster. They have a hard time guarding him. He's quick, he's aggressive, he's strong. He's just been spectacular."
SPURS CALLING MANU - Manu Ginobili said he wondered if he had tried too hard to regain his form in Game 4 after his late turnover cost the Spurs in Game 3.
Final tally: Still too little of Manu to notice. The All-Star guard had just three points, as he was again foiled by Artest. In short, wherever Ginobili went, there was Artest, who can move his bigger and wider body just as quickly as Ginobili, cutting off all angles to the open floor.
"I think the opposite was true," Ginobili said of bouncing back strong. "I was playing still like my head wasn't ready after what happened in (Game 3). I can't believe it, because I've been in situations that were tough, and you come back and put it behind and play strong. But (Sunday), I just couldn't."
Said teammate Tony Parker: "We need to get him going, because we definitely need him."
CORLISS MOMENT - When Sunday's game became a rout and the Arco Arena fans wanted to see popular Corliss Williamson play, Adelman inserted his classy veteran, though it's not the norm when there's only about a minute to go.
"I always talk to Corliss in a game like this," Adelman said. "He told me he'd just as soon not play. I said, 'They're going to start yelling at me.' He said, 'Nah, that's OK.' Then he goes in and scores. Very rarely do I put him in a situation like that, in deference to him. But it was fun to see the reaction the crowd had."
DOWNS, THEN UPS - This isn't new territory for the Spurs, taking early series leads only to stall. It happened twice last season, against Seattle and Detroit, though San Antonio downed both en route to its third NBA championship.
"It's very similar," Parker said. "Ever since I have been with the Spurs, we have gone up a lot of times 2-0, only to lose two straight. We just have to focus on Game 5 (tonight) because it's the only thing that counts right now."
CAN'T MISS - Kevin Martin has made all 23 of his free throws in this series.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Wells says a little hustle goes a long way
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 2, 2006
SAN ANTONIO - Bonzi Wells has had some notable playoff outings.
With Portland Trail Blazers, he scored a career-high 43 points against Dallas in a 2003 first-round playoff series.
But Wells reminds that nothing beats his current ride with the Kings. He remains the primary figure the San Antonio Spurs can't seem to figure out. There were glimpses of that in Game 2, when he upped the feisty tempo while Ron Artest served a suspension, and it carried into Sunday, when he had 25 points and 17 rebounds in the Kings' Game 4 triumph.
His 12.3-rebound average is the league's best this postseason. His 17 rebounds Sunday tied two others for the most in a playoff game this season. And he has shot 58.6 percent (34 for 58).
"Bonzi was incredible," the Spurs' Tim Duncan said. "It seems like Bonzi continues to get open and continues to get to the rack. I think Game 2 really gave him a lot of confidence when Ron was out. They really had to go to him. He just kind of flowed from there.
"He is going to be the guy that we are going to have to find an answer for."
Wells said he's just being Bonzi.
"I just try to hustle - that's all I can really do," he said. "We've got so many other guys that are so much better than I, and I just try to fit in and get in where I can. Make the hustle plays, the little things that guys may not want to do."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said simply: "He's just been a monster. They have a hard time guarding him. He's quick, he's aggressive, he's strong. He's just been spectacular."
SPURS CALLING MANU - Manu Ginobili said he wondered if he had tried too hard to regain his form in Game 4 after his late turnover cost the Spurs in Game 3.
Final tally: Still too little of Manu to notice. The All-Star guard had just three points, as he was again foiled by Artest. In short, wherever Ginobili went, there was Artest, who can move his bigger and wider body just as quickly as Ginobili, cutting off all angles to the open floor.
"I think the opposite was true," Ginobili said of bouncing back strong. "I was playing still like my head wasn't ready after what happened in (Game 3). I can't believe it, because I've been in situations that were tough, and you come back and put it behind and play strong. But (Sunday), I just couldn't."
Said teammate Tony Parker: "We need to get him going, because we definitely need him."
CORLISS MOMENT - When Sunday's game became a rout and the Arco Arena fans wanted to see popular Corliss Williamson play, Adelman inserted his classy veteran, though it's not the norm when there's only about a minute to go.
"I always talk to Corliss in a game like this," Adelman said. "He told me he'd just as soon not play. I said, 'They're going to start yelling at me.' He said, 'Nah, that's OK.' Then he goes in and scores. Very rarely do I put him in a situation like that, in deference to him. But it was fun to see the reaction the crowd had."
DOWNS, THEN UPS - This isn't new territory for the Spurs, taking early series leads only to stall. It happened twice last season, against Seattle and Detroit, though San Antonio downed both en route to its third NBA championship.
"It's very similar," Parker said. "Ever since I have been with the Spurs, we have gone up a lot of times 2-0, only to lose two straight. We just have to focus on Game 5 (tonight) because it's the only thing that counts right now."
CAN'T MISS - Kevin Martin has made all 23 of his free throws in this series.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
