Artest feels as though HE is the DPOYhttp://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er.914c26e.htmlSpurs lose game, groundWeb Posted: 04/06/2006 12:04 AM CDTJohnny LuddenExpress-News Staff WriterBy the time the Sacramento Kings were finished with the Spurs on Wednesday night, Mike Bibby had 31 points, Tony Parker was on a training table getting his head glued together, Ron Artest was boasting about his defensive prowess and Friday night's showdown with Dallas suddenly had a bit more drama.Oh, and the Spurs had tacked on another back-to-back loss.With Bibby and Artest leading the way, the Kings bullied the Spurs 97-87 in front of an AT&T Center crowd that arrived late and had every reason to leave early. The loss reduced the Spurs' lead atop the Western Conference to two games heading into Friday's Mavericks visit."They killed us," Manu Ginobili said, "everywhere."In other words, Sacramento treated the Spurs the same way the Spurs usually have been treated when they haven't had a day to rest before playing. Ten of the Spurs' 17 losses have come in the second game of a back-to-back.The average margin of defeat in those 10 games: 11.9 points."Thank God there's no back-to-back games in the playoffs," Brent Barry said, "because at this point, I don't know if maybe it creeps into your psyche."If the playoffs began today, the Spurs would face the Kings in the first round. If the matchup holds, the Spurs would be wise to bring more energy than they showed Wednesday.Sacramento led by at least seven points from the midpoint of the second quarter. The Kings hiked their advantage to 13 at the end of the first half, 16 at the end of the third quarter and led by as much as 19 in the fourth.Bibby and Artest combined to make six 3-pointers as the Kings shot 50 percent from behind the arc and 47.5 percent overall."Defensively, we just didn't play our normal game," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "And it cost us."The Spurs arrived in town around 2 a.m. Wednesday after winning in Utah. By rallying from a 24-point deficit to close within five, the Jazz forced the Spurs' regulars to play deep into the game."When we had the team down big last night, it was a great opportunity to rest our starters and give the bench guys a lot more playing time," Michael Finley said. "Instead, we made it a ball game."The Kings also played Tuesday night. But after being routed in Dallas, they looked like a new team once they took the floor Wednesday.Sacramento overwhelmed the Spurs on the boards early, back-doored them for layups and often beat them down the floor.After a 3-pointer from Artest pushed the Kings' lead to 33-22 with 9:40 left in the second quarter, the Spurs' frustration boiled over. Popovich and Tim Duncan, upset over a non-call, received back-to-back technicals.Duncan finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes. In the 15 games he's played without a day of rest this season, Duncan has averaged 14.7 points on 39.8 percent shooting.Much of Duncan's back-to-back problems have to do with the plantar fasciitis in his right foot. A stomach virus, however, also has sapped his energy since Friday."Hopefully," Popovich said, "he's getting stronger every day."With 48 points in his previous two games, Ginobili seemed to be doing the same. Then he ran into Artest, who was facing the Spurs for the first time since Sacramento acquired him for Peja Stojakovic.Artest, who said before the game he deserved the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, backed up his credentials by holding Ginobili to eight points on eight shots. He blocked Ginobili from behind midway through the third quarter, leading to a layup by Bibby that pushed the Kings' lead to 17.When Artest posted Bruce Bowen on the other end, the Spurs double-teamed him. He also complained of Bowen "smacking" him."That's why I'm the defensive player of the year ? because I play good defense," said Artest, who totaled 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. "No gimmicks."Parker finally started to put the Kings on their heels in the fourth quarter when he scored eight of his 16 points. His layup brought the Spurs within 83-73 with 8:56 left.But after a timeout, Artest juked Bowen and hit a jump shot. The Kings never looked back.Clubbed on a drive to the basket, Parker left the game with a gash on the top of his head. Instead of stitches, the team's medical staff used glue to close it.The cut further symbolized the back-to-back pain the Spurs have endured this season."It doesn't matter who our competition is, whether it's Sacramento or whoever," Barry said. "We've had some bad losses in back-to-back games. There's no excuse."
