No Love to Be Lost in Game 7 : Western Conference: Parting will be sweet for Spurs and Trail Blazers, with only today’s loser feeling sorrow.
This can’t go on any longer, this NBA Western Conference semifinal playoff series between San Antonio and Portland, which reaches its seventh game today.
That’s fine with Trail Blazer guard Clyde Drexler, who is glad the series isn’t any longer than that.
“Thank goodness it’s not a best-of-15 series or something,” Drexler said. “If it was, you could just pass out the boxing gloves and put ropes around the court.
“When did we start this series--February?”
No, on May 5, exactly two weeks ago today, or long enough for some serious dislike to develop.
Drexler seemed to be the primary recipient, especially after he was ejected for punching the Spurs’ Willie Anderson during Game 6 Thursday night. The Spurs won, 112-97, in San Antonio.
Drexler had scored only four points when he raised his forearm and caught the jaw of Anderson.
“He’s one of the dirtiest players I’ve ever played against,” Anderson said of Drexler. “I figured out the way he plays. He cries and cries. A guy like that, he just goes out crying and acting and cheap-shoting people,” Anderson said.
Drexler replied: “I’m fully aware of what the little punk has said. He’s a big baby. You’ve got to consider the source. That guy is searching.”
Drexler was ejected in the third quarter after having made one of 10 shots.
“I believe I’m going to get him back for that one,” said Anderson, who had 30 points.
He has one more chance. So far, each team has won the three games played on its home court, and if that trend continues at the Coliseum, it will be the Trail Blazers who advance to the conference finals against the Phoenix Suns.
Of the six games played, only one was decided by fewer than 10 points, and that was Portland’s 138-132 double-overtime victory in Game 5.
Said Portland guard Terry Porter: “The home court has been the dominant issue in this series, so if you think it’s all of a sudden going to change in Game 7, you’re crazy.”
Also, the Trail Blazers never have lost a series after leading by three games to two, as they did against the Spurs.
The Spurs carry a 12-game losing streak at the Coliseum into today’s game, a span of more than four years. San Antonio is 0-5 here this season, including the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers barely won the double-overtime game at home, and their situation at center is still unsettled.
Portland may have a couple of surprises ready. Starting center Kevin Duckworth, who has not played in the series because of a broken hand, was shooting in practice Friday. There was speculation that Coach Rick Adelman might even start Duckworth today for shock value.
Wayne Cooper, Duckworth’s backup, has missed three games because of back spasms, but he also practiced Friday and might be ready today.
After coming so close to winning Game 5 in Portland, the Spurs say that their winless streak there is due to end. They may also be thinking about playing Phoenix, considering they were 4-0 against the Suns this season.
“I think we have the momentum,” Spur forward Terry Cummings said. “We’ve put a lot of pressure on them time and time again. They’ve beaten us three times (in Portland). I think we owe them one.”
No matter who owes whom what, it is certain that there will be no more games in this series after Game 7. Spur first-year forward Sean Elliott also asked how long this series has lasted.
“It’s been so long that I was a rookie when it started, and now I’m getting ready to retire,” he said.
“I think I’ve even got a gray hair.”
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