http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13112526p-13956977c.html
NBA Finals notes: Five rings still not enough for Horry
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, June 23, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - Spurs forward Robert Horry, who enters tonight's game with a perfect record in five NBA Finals appearances, won his first ring with the 1994 Houston Rockets club that outlasted the New York Knicks in seven games - the last time the championship series went the distance.
But Horry, who has earned the nickname "Big Shot Bob" because of his penchant for converting game-deciding jumpers, most recently in Game 5 at the Palace, says he recalls few specifics.
"That was 10, 11 years ago," he said. "I just know the joy of having it over. I can't remember how I felt going into the game. I just know I wanted to do my best to help my team get the championship.
"(But) I thought I would win lots more. It's like how your kids are. You want more, more, more. It's like candy, it's sweet to you ... I think about it all the time. You always set a goal. Every guy on this team wants to be like Bill Russell (11 titles), wants to catch him."
Asked if the pressure of a seventh game causes mental meltdowns, Horry said it can.
"It depends on the individual. Some guys love pressure. Some get tight in a game, kind of fold under pressure. This is going to be a true test of what we got."
MVP leader - While the series' Most Valuable Player most likely will be determined during tonight's seventh game, Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups has emerged as a leading candidate for a repeat. Billups, the MVP of last year's Finals, leads his club in scoring (21.7 points) and assists (6.0), and is grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game. But his floor game has been most impressive; he has committed a meager eight turnovers (1.3 per game average).
"I always think super players are the ones that make players around them better," Pistons coach Larry Brown said, "and sometimes it's at a great sacrifice. Anybody that knows me, that's played for me, I've put a lot of responsibility on the point guard. And he's probably had to sacrifice as much as anybody I've ever coached.
"I think that (1), he's as good a shooter as I've ever coached. You know, Reggie (Miller) was ... I don't count Reggie. I don't think that's fair. But (Billups is) not afraid to fail. He just shows up. He has great confidence in himself, and he knows his teammates feel the same way, so he's able to perform at a high level when it matters most."
Offered Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: "(Billups has) created a lot of problems for us in a lot of different ways with pulling up, shooting, penetrating, finding people, being aggressive offensively. Other times, finding the right guy at the right time. And he's a tough defender. We have to figure out a way to handle Chauncey a little bit better."
Et cetera - Tonight will be the Spurs' first Game 7 since losing the conference semifinals to Portland in double overtime in 1990.
* If the Spurs claim their third title in seven years, San Antonio officials expect a crowd of approximately 100,000 to clog the downtown streets.
The Bee's Ailene Voisin can be reached at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
NBA Finals notes: Five rings still not enough for Horry
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, June 23, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - Spurs forward Robert Horry, who enters tonight's game with a perfect record in five NBA Finals appearances, won his first ring with the 1994 Houston Rockets club that outlasted the New York Knicks in seven games - the last time the championship series went the distance.
But Horry, who has earned the nickname "Big Shot Bob" because of his penchant for converting game-deciding jumpers, most recently in Game 5 at the Palace, says he recalls few specifics.
"That was 10, 11 years ago," he said. "I just know the joy of having it over. I can't remember how I felt going into the game. I just know I wanted to do my best to help my team get the championship.
"(But) I thought I would win lots more. It's like how your kids are. You want more, more, more. It's like candy, it's sweet to you ... I think about it all the time. You always set a goal. Every guy on this team wants to be like Bill Russell (11 titles), wants to catch him."
Asked if the pressure of a seventh game causes mental meltdowns, Horry said it can.
"It depends on the individual. Some guys love pressure. Some get tight in a game, kind of fold under pressure. This is going to be a true test of what we got."
MVP leader - While the series' Most Valuable Player most likely will be determined during tonight's seventh game, Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups has emerged as a leading candidate for a repeat. Billups, the MVP of last year's Finals, leads his club in scoring (21.7 points) and assists (6.0), and is grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game. But his floor game has been most impressive; he has committed a meager eight turnovers (1.3 per game average).
"I always think super players are the ones that make players around them better," Pistons coach Larry Brown said, "and sometimes it's at a great sacrifice. Anybody that knows me, that's played for me, I've put a lot of responsibility on the point guard. And he's probably had to sacrifice as much as anybody I've ever coached.
"I think that (1), he's as good a shooter as I've ever coached. You know, Reggie (Miller) was ... I don't count Reggie. I don't think that's fair. But (Billups is) not afraid to fail. He just shows up. He has great confidence in himself, and he knows his teammates feel the same way, so he's able to perform at a high level when it matters most."
Offered Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: "(Billups has) created a lot of problems for us in a lot of different ways with pulling up, shooting, penetrating, finding people, being aggressive offensively. Other times, finding the right guy at the right time. And he's a tough defender. We have to figure out a way to handle Chauncey a little bit better."
Et cetera - Tonight will be the Spurs' first Game 7 since losing the conference semifinals to Portland in double overtime in 1990.
* If the Spurs claim their third title in seven years, San Antonio officials expect a crowd of approximately 100,000 to clog the downtown streets.
The Bee's Ailene Voisin can be reached at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
