Scott guns for driver’s seat

NEW JERSEY–A generous serving of home cooking is whetting New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott’s appetite as he shoots for the lead against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the best-of-7 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals at the Continental Airlines Arena here this morning (Manila time).

After the Spurs regained the homecourt advantage in Game 3, the usually cool Scott complained about officiating. He pointed out the Spurs took a total of 88 free throws compared to the Nets’ 58 in the first three contests, two of which were played in San Antonio.

"We’ve been a team all season that’s gone to the line a ton," said Scott. "In this series, it’s 2-to-1, it seems. I’m not trying to take anything away from San Antonio. I think Tim Duncan gets away with a lot of things on the defensive end that Kenyon Martin does not get away with. So in my opinion, the officiating has been a little one-sided."

As expected, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chastised Scott for putting the blame on the referees instead of himself. "I don’t think they (referees) have anything to do with it," said Popovich who’s using his military psy-war background to play mind games. "You create your own opportunities by being aggressive. Whenever you start to think about officials being part of something, you’re going down the wrong road. If you make it an issue, your focus gets a little bit off course."

In Game 4 last Wednesday, Scott got the breaks he’d been hoping for. The Nets shot 29 free throws and the Spurs, 24. Duncan and David Robinson were in early foul trouble, allowing the Nets to exploit their inability to play aggressively. Robinson fouled out with 1:51 to go.

But free throws didn’t decide the outcome. The Nets played tough, physical, and aggressive ball. They challenged the Spurs big men in the interior, didn’t settle for jump shots, and forced the Twin Towers into contact situations.

A key defensive adjustment in Scott’s gameplan was assigning Kerry Kittles on Tony Parker, leaving Jason Kidd to freelance on offense. As a result, Parker hit only three points on 1-of-12 from the floor as his rhythm was clearly disrupted.

"Kerry did a wonderful job," said Scott. "J-Kidd doesn’t have to chase around all over the place so he doesn’t expend a lot of energy on defense doing that. Kerry is longer and it gives Parker a different look. The only other adjustment was Dikembe (Mutombo) guarding Tim. Our rotations were better. We challenged shots."

Another factor was reserve Aaron Williams’ contribution. The undrafted 6-9 journeyman, playing for his seventh NBA team in eight years, typified the Nets’ all-game intensity and compiled eight points, seven rebounds, and four blocked shots in 17 minutes.

Now that the series is tied at two wins apiece, Scott said the Nets are back in the hunt and warned the Spurs to watch out.

"A lot of people thought it wasn’t going to be a series," he said. "It took a lot of heart to win Game 4. We just continued to play, the heart of a champion. You’ve got two great teams that are playing, battling. We feel we’ve got as good a chance as any. Both teams are very, very good on defense. Both teams keep their poise no matter what he situation is and that’s probably because of the leaders we have. Jason doesn’t get rattled. Duncan doesn’t get rattled. It’s going to be a defensive battle, low scoring and you’re not talking about teams that can’t score. You’re just talking about two teams that just compete in defense."

Kidd, held to only 12 points in Game 3, came alive in the late going and shot the Nets’ last four points to seal it, 77-76. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in 47 minutes, the most of any player that night.

Last Monday, Kidd went to the Nets’ practice facility and shot hoops from 9 to 11 p.m. in the company of his wife Joumana, mother Anne, and son T. J. He has the key to the gym and surprised the janitors by showing up with his family late at night.

"I took my whole family, let them rebound for me," said Kidd. "I was working on shots. I saw on tape what type of shots I was getting. Joumana was tired but I needed a rebounder. She rebounded for me. My mom rebounded for T.J. I made some, missed some, experimented some." That kind of dedication is what Scott said will bring the title to New Jersey.

Martin promised the Nets will play even tougher in Game 5. "Banging, running, no matter what we want to do, we’re going to be aggressive doing it," he said. "That’s the attitude of our team, we are never going to quit until it’s over. We don’t quit. It was huge for us to get this thing 2-2. Basketball is a game of runs. They made their run, we sustained, we staggered a little bit, we didn’t fall. That’s the makeup of our team each and every day."

With the series tied, the Nets host Game 5 then Game 6 will be played in San Antonio on Sunday (Monday morning, Manila). If there’s a Game 7, it, too, will be played on the Spurs homecourt on Wednesday (Thursday morning, Manila).