Spurs can feel right at homeBy DWAIN PRICE Star-Telegram Staff Writer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/ERIC GAY Mavericks guard Jason Terry, bottom, will return to the court tonight to take on Manu Ginobili and the Spurs.SAN ANTONIO -- As great as they've been in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs know they probably would have one less NBA championship trophy if Game 7 of last season's Finals weren't played on their home court. After six physical, up-and-down games, the Spurs won their third title in seven years with an 81-74 victory. It's the same court where the score will be settled between the Spurs and Mavericks in their Western Conference semifinal. After battling back from a 3-1 series deficit, the Spurs hope to have the advantage with the home crowd urging them on in Game 7 tonight at the AT&T Center. So why is home court such a big deal? "You're more comfortable, you sleep at home, you have your fans behind you when you make runs, and that's important at times," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "But it's the game being played on the court, and it's important that we understand that it's not given to us because we're at home." In their history, the Spurs are 2-5 in Game 7s. Besides last year's matchup with the Pistons, their only other Game 7 victory occurred in 1979 -- when they resided in the Eastern Conference and defeated Philadelphia in a semifinal game that also was played in San Antonio. The only Game 7 the Spurs lost in San Antonio was in 1981 to Houston in the Western Conference semifinals. The Rockets were coached by Del Harris, who now is an assistant coach with the Mavs. When they were in the ABA, the Spurs lost a Game 7 at Indiana in 1974 in the Western Division semifinals. They also lost Game 7 at New York in the 1976 ABA semifinals, and at Washington in the NBA East semifinals in 1979. The Spurs' other Game 7 loss occurred at Portland in two overtimes in the 1990 West semifinals. As expected, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the home team doesn't have a magical advantage when it plays a Game 7 at home. However, the home team has won 82 percent of the Game 7s, and it happened again Sunday when the host Detroit Pistons won Game 7 against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "It doesn't matter where it's being played and thinking about whether it's home or away," Popovich said. "It's just fool's gold." Said Bowen: "You try to get that No. 1 spot, and this is the benefit of having one of the best records in the league. You don't necessarily go into the playoffs saying, "Hey, we want a Game 7.' "But it's just the way it happened, and we're happy with that." Especially if they do to the Mavs what they did last year to the Pistons.
I think that "comfort" was the their problem in the 1st quarter. The Mavs played with desperation and an edge in the 1st quarter, and the Spurs layed back and played as if they already won. To their credit, they came back strong in the 2nd half like the champions that they are, but that first quarter was critical.
I love Manu, and he makes some of the biggest plays ever for us, but sometimes, he makes those non-plays that cost you. He hits the big go-ahead three for the 104-101 lead. That was absolutely huge for us. Then he fouls Dirk on the and-one. Bad, bad play for us.
