Twix
Starter
Bibby may have gotten a break
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 29, 2006
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili had possession of the ball, and all of a sudden, he didn't.
And a few seconds later, the Spurs had seen a potentially commanding 3-0 series lead evaporate into a layup at the other end of the court by Kings guard Kevin Martin.
That layup off the glass over and around the outstretched arms of Spurs forward Tim Duncan at the buzzer gave the Kings a 94-93 victory over the Spurs and trimmed San Antonio's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.
The hard-fought contest may have been decided by a non-called foul by Mike Bibby, who reached in on Ginobili as he tried to turn the corner on a high pick-and-roll. Ginobili is a hard-driving left-hander.
Kings center Brad Miller moved to the outside of Duncan, who set the pick, but Ginobili still was able to get around him.
Bibby was waiting for Ginobili and reached in. The Kings guard definitely got some of the ball but appeared to get a large portion of Ginobili's arm as well.
"Who cares?" said Bibby, who like virtually each of the participants on both teams complained about the officiating. "Do you know how many times I got hit and nothing was called?"
Ginobili, who committed a game-high seven turnovers, did not complain about the play after the game.
"I don't know," he said when told replays appeared to show him getting fouled by Bibby. "I don't know. I really have to see it again. Players always think they get fouled."
Bibby recovered the ball following the strip and passed ahead to Martin, who was streaking down the court. All Martin had to do was score on Duncan, who clearly isn't totally healthy, but not the defender you'd pick to score a basket on to save your season.
And Duncan appeared to be in pretty good position to stop Martin.
"I had to ask the guys after the game how (Martin) got the shot up," the perennial All-Star said. "I went to block his right hand. I thought he was going to flip it up."
Martin, who rarely uses his left hand on drives to the basket, was able to lay the ball in with an unorthodox shot off the glass, where it bounced on the rim twice before finally dropping through.
Said Martin, "I went up with my right hand. Actually, I might have thrown it up with both. I really don't know."
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 29, 2006
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili had possession of the ball, and all of a sudden, he didn't.
And a few seconds later, the Spurs had seen a potentially commanding 3-0 series lead evaporate into a layup at the other end of the court by Kings guard Kevin Martin.
That layup off the glass over and around the outstretched arms of Spurs forward Tim Duncan at the buzzer gave the Kings a 94-93 victory over the Spurs and trimmed San Antonio's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.
The hard-fought contest may have been decided by a non-called foul by Mike Bibby, who reached in on Ginobili as he tried to turn the corner on a high pick-and-roll. Ginobili is a hard-driving left-hander.
Kings center Brad Miller moved to the outside of Duncan, who set the pick, but Ginobili still was able to get around him.
Bibby was waiting for Ginobili and reached in. The Kings guard definitely got some of the ball but appeared to get a large portion of Ginobili's arm as well.
"Who cares?" said Bibby, who like virtually each of the participants on both teams complained about the officiating. "Do you know how many times I got hit and nothing was called?"
Ginobili, who committed a game-high seven turnovers, did not complain about the play after the game.
"I don't know," he said when told replays appeared to show him getting fouled by Bibby. "I don't know. I really have to see it again. Players always think they get fouled."
Bibby recovered the ball following the strip and passed ahead to Martin, who was streaking down the court. All Martin had to do was score on Duncan, who clearly isn't totally healthy, but not the defender you'd pick to score a basket on to save your season.
And Duncan appeared to be in pretty good position to stop Martin.
"I had to ask the guys after the game how (Martin) got the shot up," the perennial All-Star said. "I went to block his right hand. I thought he was going to flip it up."
Martin, who rarely uses his left hand on drives to the basket, was able to lay the ball in with an unorthodox shot off the glass, where it bounced on the rim twice before finally dropping through.
Said Martin, "I went up with my right hand. Actually, I might have thrown it up with both. I really don't know."
About the writer:
- The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
