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Show B4 __The Salt Lake Tribune BASKETBALL Sunday, June20, 1999 While the Finals AreIdle, Knicks Need Johnson for A Comeback BY KEVIN West 4th Has Best Hoops THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — There was no gamein the NBAFinals on Saturday. Thereis always a game, how- DING THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER ever, at the West 4th Street play- NEW YORK — The Knicks are back home in the big city, and they had Saturday off to ponder how they can reverse the direc- ground in Manhattan. Onthe court where Mario Elie, Jayson Williams, Anthony Mason and others once scuffed their soles, a game between the Flat- tion of these NBA Finals. Something or someone mustbe bush Suns and Chaz Hoopattracted a large crowd on a sunnyafter- the impetus to change this series -ome Monday night and Game3, noon. New York's title hopes Dozens of onlookers gazed through a fence surrounding the court as the teams played in one ng If the Knicks’ heretofore heroic play is to be believed, though, there is one player who cangetit together this weekend and cause major problemsfor the San Antonio Spurs: Larry Johnson, Johnson acknowledged that his Sprained knee did not hamper arlyy as much in Game 2 as him { did in Game 1. He played 43 of the oldest and best summer basketball tournaments in the country. The West 4th Street Pro League is in its 22nd year, with a history some would argue is as rich as the NBA’s. “The team that wins out here sometimes gets by just on athleti- cism,” said Ken Graham, the minutes, yet he made only two of 12 shots Friday night — missing eyery league's founder. “But when they get into a gamewith a team that shot hetried in the second andthird quarters, He scored five points for the second consecutive can match their athleticism and can use their heads, that’s the team that wins.” ‘There’s a lot of pressure on Elie, the steady guard who has helped the San Antonio Spurs game Allan Houston and Latrell take a 2-0 lead over the New York Knicks in the finals, already has Sprewell to score,” Spurs guard Mario Eliesaid. “Those guys are twoterrific players, but I always say, “T'wo can't beat 12." They need another scorer out there to help those guys out. There are three guys whom two NBA championship rings earned with the Houston Rockets. But healso played for a team that arguably was the greatest New York playground dynasty ever. Elie was a three-time MVP of fnicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy ONSIGENS st ers on this team — Houston, Sprewell and Johnson. Van Gundy’s game plan entails nevet ving fewer than two of the three on the floor at one time, ve the Knicks some hope 4 against this outstanding Spurs defense. And these werethefirst words out of V ndy's mouth after the Game 2 luss: “We need our main thre suys tobe efficient of- the West 4th Street league during Harlem USA'srunoffive straight Rick Egan/The Salt LakeTribune Ex-Ute Keith Van Hornsayshe hashis eye on a long-termcontract with the New Jersey Nets. Net Working: Van Horn Keeps Utah Ties, But Plans to Keep Playing in New Jersey son's disappearing act is all the moreharmful because he » team’s leader, Even with star Patrick Ewing still id Johnson is the player evryune on this vuster can relate to. it didn't matter that Johnson idolize Ewing — wearing u high-schooler. L.J. has 1 rising young star, a fun- loving Grandmama and also a newly down-to-earth man since his conversion to Islam — and that means all these Knicks see something of themselves in him. It does something for the team that Johnson is playing on a sore knee. but Johnson must do something for theteamonthe court for the Knicks to win | felt better.’ Johnsonsaid af- BY PATRICK KINAHAN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Whea Keith Van Horn left Utah fur New Jersey two years ago, hedid notseverhisties to thestate He returns often, to visit family and friends. He will be back again next month, conducting a basket- ball camp at Murray Highwith fellow NBA player and formercollege teammate Mike Doleac He even wants to buy a house on the Wasatch Front It makes sense that he might want to continue his NBAcareer with the Jazz. Keep dreaming. Entering the third and final year of his contract with the Nets, Van Horn wants to sign a long-term deal with NewJersey. Van Horn s agent. David Valk can begin negotiating a contract extension July 1 We hopetohavea deal done byJuly 2,’ said Van Horn, speaking fromhis New Jersey home ter Game 2. “But I missed too shots, open threes. It falling for me. Johuson hit an opening threepointer. but he missed six from belind the arc insteadof using his Jazz. Obviously, [loved playing for the University of Utah, and I loved my four years there. But at the sametime, when I was drafted by the Nets, they ferise the Knicks need with Ewing sdeliued That's one reason the nicks could get to the free-throw it would be hard to walk away from that Under the new labor agreement, Van Horn is cligi ble to sign a six-year deal worth $71 million. The Nets, who have long ta a backseat to the neigh bulk to provide the low-postofline only 12 times in Game2; the went 35 times. Even worse, Johnson's defense Was, to use a Shaquille O'Neal ador-ish, On repeated he waslate with rota} novility was there,” John- son said. “I felt it there a couple of times on a coupleof box-outs But agai, just pain as long as I know it’s no problem. As long 43 | know Im not hurting it any just by playing,I'm fine.” “I've heardalot of talk about meplaying for the looked at me as a cornerstone of their franchise. They are committedto winning a championship, and boring New York Knicks, likely would want to keep Van Horn After two seasons, the 6-foot 9 forwe ard has devel opedinto a star, Last season, he averay and 8.5 reboundsa game, numbersthat ly similar to those during his record-shattering reer at Utah ca season, but slumpedbadly in his second year. The teamwasbesiegedbyinjuries, finishing 16 34 and in last placein the Atlantic Division Afterstarting 3-17, Coach John Calipari was playing jor the University of Utah, and T loved myfour years there, But at the sametime, when I was drafted by the Nets, they looked at me as a cornerstone oftheir franchise. They are committed to winning a championship, and it would be hard to walk away from that.” Keith Van Horn On the future with the New Jersey Nets | Uo ASSOCIATED PRESS second role to a second-year pro wouldn't appeal to many vet eran s obinson doesn't seem to Duy i especially if teaming with tun Duucan helps the San Antovio Spurs win an NBA champion son, the Nets acquired point guard Stephon Mar bury Van Horn was excited bythe coaching change and Marbury s acquisition » going to be a great combination n orn said. “When T heard they were tryingto get him, I was all for if We'realot like the Jaz. If wecan keepthings together, we can turn into a contender Van HornandDoleachopetoturnchildrenag 18 into better basketball players next month twowill stagetheir basketball campJuly 19 23. The campwill havetwo separate four-hour sessions, be Call 236-2164 for information. “We both wanted tostay in some way a part of the community in Salt Lake,” Van Horn. “Webothenjoyedour timeat the University of Utah Each session also will include speakers who will talk about life skills, “just to get something other than basketball,” Van Horn said. “A lot of times these kids see Mike and me play basketball, but they don't realize we got to play basketball becauseof our education ship When he came to San Antonio when we first drafted him, I know theextent of what his tulents were,” Robinson said. He didn fuunu out quickly what the top k could do. two 7-footers worked out during the summer of 1997 before Duncan's rookie season in what Robinson describes as “a good, positive competitive. ness They've built on that foun dation sine In the Spurs’ first trip to the NBA Finals, San Antonio rode the Duncan Kobinsonduoto consecu tive victories over the New York Knicks The best-of-7 series shifts tO Madison Square Garden for Game 3 Monday night. So far, Robinson has found the finals a blast Winning makes a big differ ence a the fun factor,” he said Everybody works hard, This is when it all paysoff.” Dunean scored $3 points and , rebounds and y, Duncan led “By the time hefinished play- ing here, he was doing that move where he swoops to the basket like he did [Friday night) against the Knicks. I sawhim do that 100 tonio Spurs have played well away from the Alamodome all season. Their biggest road test will come when the NBA Finals moye to Madison Square Garden. The Spurs defeated the cold- blocks. Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy the road and knowing that we haven't lost two gamesin a row in however long, westill have to take it one game at a time,” Spurs guard Mario Elie said. San Antonio's six-game road winning streak in the playoffs is the second-longest in one postseason run in NBAhistory. The long- est was seven by Houstonin 1995, the year the Rockets won a championship by sweeping Orlando in thefinals. The Spurs have beaten their opponents by an average of 13.4 points on the road during the postseason. “We haven't lost on the road Robinson, that’s enough if you have a team around them.” Spurs lead series, 2.0 SanAntonio 89, Now York 77 jan *June 27 — NY. at San Ant ‘June 29 — NY. at San Antonio, 7 pm. (-itnecessary) Antonio guard Steve “It's a tough place to San Antonio took advantage of the nearly 40,000 screaming fans at the first two games in the Alamodome. Asthe contest cameto a close Friday night, the rowdy crowd Shouted, veep, sweep, sweep." We're excited about this vic- tory,” point guard Avery Johnson said. ‘We're not going to take our shirts off, but we are excited about it. We know we canplay a lot better.” Latrell Sprewell of the Knicks said New York needs to simply concentrate on winning the first gameat the Garden, comes easy with those two guys in there doubtedly among the nearly 40,000 chanting “Sweep, Sweep” while the Spurs have made Dun cantheir chief offensive weapon Timis the guy wego to, and we go to him down the stretch quite a Friday night A sampling of what the Spurs ries to return here for Games 6 or feel like we're in a good situation.” @ Steve Kerr: “We haven't lost have dominated New York, it's more that the Knicks simply ap- pear to be too small, too injured Michael Conray/ the Assoclated Pres San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson says the chance to win an NBA Championship more than makes up for his diminishedscoring role with the team. onhis way out of the Alamodome Avery Johnson: Being up 2-0 andfeeling like weare oneof the It's not so much that the Spurs when the gameis at a pivotal Jeff Van Gundy found somenugget of overconfidence in the post. game quote sheets he picked up Antonio's 80-67 victory over the New York Knicks Friday night, first two games, it's hard to blame them. But offensive aggressiveness is still part of Robinson's game, es pecially in the fourth quarter for Game 3 Monday night Only two teams in NBA history have comeback from 2-0 deficits to winthefinals, and no teamever has comebackaftertrailing 3-0 If that’s not enough motivation for the Knicks, perhaps Coach hadto say: After what they've saw in the pressureis off me now pected to quit when the series during the fourth quarter of San and none of them expect the se- “A lot of that get to the boards extremely well shifts to Madison Square Garden history Defensive leadership has been Robinson's main job this season guys runall over the place, they They're not quitting.” Nor should the Knicks beex. basket, they're terrific, Nothing San Antonio a 10-point lead see a guy like Steve Kerr, and I From their looks early Saturday, it appeared that the Spurs already hadwon their first NBA ti- Some of those fans were un- dunk, then hit a 17-foot jumper less than 30 secondslater, giving “The most obviousthingis that Michael Jordan did it because he was the best player ever,” Robinson said. “The second most obvi- celebrating is supposed to wait fans descending on downtown and “At the point After the Knicks closed within 63-57 with 7:55 left Friday night Robinson responded with a slam Bulls, but he sees some similarities in how the teamswerebuilt. “They are very explosive. Those waving broomsout their car windows. It might have been thefirst 1 a.m, traffic jam in San Antonio's Robinson said. said the Spurs don’t pretend to rival Michael Jordan’s Chicago series, which continues Mondayin New York ‘Knowingthat we play great on eachshot in thepaint difficult Theyre a great defensive bit,” madeit. a NO BULLS San Antonio’s David Robinson Best Road Test This Season THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NBA FINALS SAN ANTONIO — TheSan An- The euphoria over Game 2 lasted past midnight in this smallmarket city, with horn-honking said Robinson and Duncan make Van Gundysaid, lar to the list the NBA came up with for its 50th anniversary years ago. He hasn't had much success yet. For every NBA player groomed on the playground, there were thousands whonever Garden Could Provide Spurs’ tle, blocks. while Robinson scored 16points, grabbed11 rebounds and hadfive team,” “Big Daddy Boogie to the hole . ..NO GOOD!” the announcer shouts through a megaphone. Graham is asking Niketo help him organize a search for the 50 greatest players in the history of West4th Street basketball, simi- mean there’s a lot of things you can say about Steve Kerr that he can’t do. But here’s a guy who's committed to the team. They had a team full of guyslike that. “Everybody can’t have a Michael Jordan. It just doesn’t happen. But Tim Duncan and David until the series is officially over. points and had four basket, seem to knowtheplayers by their nicknames. ous thingis that they had a team. I “When Mario first came out SAN ANTONIO — Somebody son's precision passes to Duncan under the basket accounted for 15 announcer and fans, including girlfriends or wives who sit on chairs inthe first row behind the powerofthe early 1990s. forgot to tell Spurs fans that the several easypoints Game2Frid: public address announcer. The here, he was a skinnylittle kid,” Graham said. “He got pushed around, because it was so physical. He couldn't even get on the court. ‘THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS points, nine rebounds, three blocks and seven assists. Robin In times out here.” The summer tournament is much more sophisticated than plain old pickup games. There are referees, uniformsthat feature — of course — Nike swooshes, anda While Spurs Fans Talk About Sweep, San Antonio’s Players More Cautious had 16 rebounds in Game 1, and Robinson backed him with 13 the Spurs with Graham said Mason's team, Prime Time, was the playground Friday night. San Antonio's 12th Robinson Happy Despite No. 2 Role BY KELLEY SHANNON championships from 1978-82. shooting New York Knicks 80-67 ginning at 8:30 am The Nets madethe playoffs in Van Horn’s first andreplaced by DonCasey. Midwaythrough the se ener “Tve hearda lot of talk abouen me wing for the Jazz. Obviously, I loved Once the Spurs’ Center of Attention, SAN ANTONIO — Playing a NBA FINALS NOTEBOOK and too spent to put up a decent fight against an opponent that hasn't lost in more than five weeks, “Playing the Knicks is not easy," David Robinson said best road teamsin the NBA, we in the playoffs on the road yet either, and this is the best team we've played in the playoffs, So, it’s not going to be easy, but we like our chance @ Tim Duncan: “We know what we have to do — get two more. However we get it, we're not thinking sweep. We never think sweep. We think one game at a time, no matter how cliche that sounds,”’ . . | ‘ POORC |
