http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13097363p-13942240c.html
Ailene Voisin: That's a dagger the Pistons see before them
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, June 20, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Of course it was a three-pointer. Of course it was the dagger. And, of course, it was Robert Horry.
Of course.
He can despise his nickname - Big Shot Bob - all he likes, but when you live up to it, you have to live with it. You make a career out of making people miserable, you get very little sympathy. The Portland Trail Blazers have yet to recover from his exploits in the 2002 NBA playoffs. Kings fans continue to boo the guy for all the same reasons, still cringe at the video of the veteran forward snatching that Vlade Divac tapback in Game 6, releasing the game-winner with 0.6 left, denying Sacramento its first experience in the championship series. And now the Detroit Pistons have felt the sting of his stroke.
So, no, no sympathy for Horry.
But, geez, what a night.
The veteran forward was absolutely awful in the opening half - dropping passes, losing rebounds, missing all three of his field goals - and unbelievable in the second. Dunking, defending, shooting threes. Driving, passing, making plays. He was as calm as always, as good as ever. Clutch, mostly he was clutch. On the play that tipped this best-of-seven series toward San Antonio, the aging wonder who looks like he never breaks a sweat, and who is known for his intense dislike for the insignificant regular season, inbounded the ball and ambled over to one of his favorite spots.
Left wing. Less than six seconds remaining in overtime.
No defender within several feet, with the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace inexplicably doubling Manu Ginobili in the left corner, leaving Horry to do what he so often does: Catch the pass, shoot the ball, win the game.
"Robert isn't a mystery," Ginobili said after the 96-95 victory. "Everybody knows what he does. (When) I was in Europe, I was a big fan of the NBA, and especially the playoffs. ... Always my first option is Robert, especially in those moments."
Within a matter of minutes, in fact, Horry not only provided the Spurs with the overtime victory and a 3-2 series lead, his performance helped transform a clunker into a fascinating series. Until Sunday night, Pistons-Spurs offered compelling individual stories but lousy basketball. Four games and not a competitive outing in the bunch. The Spurs had been exceptional in San Antonio, far less so on the road. The Pistons countered with their own unique issues, foremost among them whether their coach and his health woes/job search would become a distraction.
This very likely was Larry Brown's final home game as the Pistons' coach, but based on the reaction in the Palace, his long-anticipated parting would be neither unexpected nor unduly mourned. The perception remains that, for all that preaching about playing the right way, Brown is a vagabond at heart even when healthy. And he's not healthy. A visit to the Mayo Clinic awaits whenever this series concludes. After that, who knows?
Larry probably doesn't even know. Depending upon whether his condition (dormant bladder) can be corrected, he likely is headed in one of three directions: (1) into the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers; (2) off to the Hamptons or Malibu, where he can recover during a one-year retirement; (3) perusing the NBA phone book, checking to see which franchises have coaching vacancies and an interest in hiring the NBA's best all-around coach.
And after the way Wallace darted toward Ginobili, apparently forgetting Brown's warnings about a possible, crippling three-pointer, the coach probably can't wait to get out the door.
"There was miscommunication," he acknowledged, "but ultimately it's on me."
This nonetheless was a classic Finals performance, with a ferocious fourth quarter that included one tremendous play after another. Wallace (turnaround over Tim Duncan), Chauncey Billups (driving layups), Tayshaun Prince (feathery baseline floaters) and Ben Wallace (offensive rebounds) matched the visitors, earning an extra period when Duncan's horrendous foul shooting persisted. Then there were the Spurs, with the off-the-cuff Ginobili penetrating, creating for teammates and scoring on an assortment of acrobatic forays, Duncan offsetting his free-throw problems by grabbing crucial boards (19).
As for Horry? As for these latest memorable moments?
At 34, hasn't he had enough of this? Or better yet, has he ever had a better night than this?
"To be honest with you," he said, "it felt a little bit better (Sunday). One time, I had a shot from three, from way out deep, and I made it. Oh, I'm ready now.
I just had that feeling."
Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: That's a dagger the Pistons see before them
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, June 20, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Of course it was a three-pointer. Of course it was the dagger. And, of course, it was Robert Horry.
Of course.
He can despise his nickname - Big Shot Bob - all he likes, but when you live up to it, you have to live with it. You make a career out of making people miserable, you get very little sympathy. The Portland Trail Blazers have yet to recover from his exploits in the 2002 NBA playoffs. Kings fans continue to boo the guy for all the same reasons, still cringe at the video of the veteran forward snatching that Vlade Divac tapback in Game 6, releasing the game-winner with 0.6 left, denying Sacramento its first experience in the championship series. And now the Detroit Pistons have felt the sting of his stroke.
So, no, no sympathy for Horry.
But, geez, what a night.
The veteran forward was absolutely awful in the opening half - dropping passes, losing rebounds, missing all three of his field goals - and unbelievable in the second. Dunking, defending, shooting threes. Driving, passing, making plays. He was as calm as always, as good as ever. Clutch, mostly he was clutch. On the play that tipped this best-of-seven series toward San Antonio, the aging wonder who looks like he never breaks a sweat, and who is known for his intense dislike for the insignificant regular season, inbounded the ball and ambled over to one of his favorite spots.
Left wing. Less than six seconds remaining in overtime.
No defender within several feet, with the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace inexplicably doubling Manu Ginobili in the left corner, leaving Horry to do what he so often does: Catch the pass, shoot the ball, win the game.
"Robert isn't a mystery," Ginobili said after the 96-95 victory. "Everybody knows what he does. (When) I was in Europe, I was a big fan of the NBA, and especially the playoffs. ... Always my first option is Robert, especially in those moments."
Within a matter of minutes, in fact, Horry not only provided the Spurs with the overtime victory and a 3-2 series lead, his performance helped transform a clunker into a fascinating series. Until Sunday night, Pistons-Spurs offered compelling individual stories but lousy basketball. Four games and not a competitive outing in the bunch. The Spurs had been exceptional in San Antonio, far less so on the road. The Pistons countered with their own unique issues, foremost among them whether their coach and his health woes/job search would become a distraction.
This very likely was Larry Brown's final home game as the Pistons' coach, but based on the reaction in the Palace, his long-anticipated parting would be neither unexpected nor unduly mourned. The perception remains that, for all that preaching about playing the right way, Brown is a vagabond at heart even when healthy. And he's not healthy. A visit to the Mayo Clinic awaits whenever this series concludes. After that, who knows?
Larry probably doesn't even know. Depending upon whether his condition (dormant bladder) can be corrected, he likely is headed in one of three directions: (1) into the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers; (2) off to the Hamptons or Malibu, where he can recover during a one-year retirement; (3) perusing the NBA phone book, checking to see which franchises have coaching vacancies and an interest in hiring the NBA's best all-around coach.
And after the way Wallace darted toward Ginobili, apparently forgetting Brown's warnings about a possible, crippling three-pointer, the coach probably can't wait to get out the door.
"There was miscommunication," he acknowledged, "but ultimately it's on me."
This nonetheless was a classic Finals performance, with a ferocious fourth quarter that included one tremendous play after another. Wallace (turnaround over Tim Duncan), Chauncey Billups (driving layups), Tayshaun Prince (feathery baseline floaters) and Ben Wallace (offensive rebounds) matched the visitors, earning an extra period when Duncan's horrendous foul shooting persisted. Then there were the Spurs, with the off-the-cuff Ginobili penetrating, creating for teammates and scoring on an assortment of acrobatic forays, Duncan offsetting his free-throw problems by grabbing crucial boards (19).
As for Horry? As for these latest memorable moments?
At 34, hasn't he had enough of this? Or better yet, has he ever had a better night than this?
"To be honest with you," he said, "it felt a little bit better (Sunday). One time, I had a shot from three, from way out deep, and I made it. Oh, I'm ready now.
I just had that feeling."
Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
