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Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
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By Lauren Brill
The Global Top 10 is your weekly guide to NBA global news. In this week's edition find out who helped their team make a comeback, who stuffed the stat sheet and who made a season-saving shot.
Parker Nails Crucial ShotThings may not have played out the way Spurs coach Gregg Popovich envisioned, but he couldn’t be happier. San Antonio entered the fourth quarter of Game 7 up by 15 points but its final period was anything but smooth. The Hornets looked to be making a comeback and brought the game within three with 1:37 left on the clock. On the verge of a fourth-quarter breakdown, San Antonio needed a boost and fast. The reigning champs had a play set up for Manu Ginobili. “I ran ‘wedge roll’ for Manu because I wanted him to get to the free-throw line," Popovich explained to the San Antonio Express-News. But the plans fell through and the ball landed in the hands of last year's Finals MVP Tony Parker. Parker at the time had missed 6-of-9 from the floor in the second half. But the French native rose to the occasion, nailing a jump shot that sealed the win and saved his team's season. Parker finished with 17 points and five dimes in the Spurs' 91-82 victory. The point guard's shining moment was his big shot down the stretch. Following the game the Popovich explained the magnitude of the jumper as he told the San Antonio Express-News, “He came off that pick and just knocked it down. That took it from three (points) to five. I told the team: Biggest shot of the game."
1. Parker Nails Crucial Shot Things may not have played out the way Spurs coach Gregg Popovich envisioned, but he couldn’t be happier. San Antonio entered the fourth quarter of Game 7 up by 15 points but its final period was anything but smooth. The Hornets looked to be making a comeback and brought the game within three with 1:37 left on the clock. On the verge of a fourth-quarter breakdown, San Antonio needed a boost and fast. The reigning champs had a play set up for Manu Ginobili. “I ran ‘wedge roll’ for Manu because I wanted him to get to the free-throw line," Popovich explained to the San Antonio Express-News. But the plans fell through and the ball landed in the hands of last year's Finals MVP Tony Parker. Parker at the time had missed 6-of-9 from the floor in the second half. But the French native rose to the occasion, nailing a jump shot that sealed the win and saved his team's season. Parker finished with 17 points and five dimes in the Spurs' 91-82 victory. The point guard's shining moment was his big shot down the stretch. Following the game the Popovich explained the magnitude of the jumper as he told the San Antonio Express-News, “He came off that pick and just knocked it down. That took it from three (points) to five. I told the team: Biggest shot of the game."
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2. Duncan Knows How to Get it Done With four NBA championships in the last 10 years, Tim Duncan knows how to fight battles and win wars. Despite the fact that the Spurs had not won a game in New Orleans in the 2008 postseason, Duncan told CBC Sports, "We really believed we had a chance to win on the road here. It's just a lot of confidence. A lot of games under our belt." They believed and they achieved, as the reigning champs defeated the Hornets 91-82 in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals. Helping to keep his season alive, The Big Fundamental logged a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. With The Big Easy out of the way, the Spurs new nemesis is the L.A. Lakers in the Conference Finals.
3. Vujacic Plays Tough DefenseSasha Vujacic's assignment was simply put but hard to accomplish, as coach Phil Jackson explained to the AP, "Sasha had an assignment out there tonight and he played Ginobili very well." Guarding the Sixth Man of the Year is no easy task but the Slovenian athlete rose to the occasion and helped the Lakers' defeat the Spurs 89-85. In Game 1 of the Conference Finals series Vujacic held Ginobilli to 3-of-13 from the field, as the Argentinean barely finished in double-digits with 10 points on the night. While the Lakers' reserve only had 10 points himself, coach Jackson was more than pleased with his play as he told the AP, "Offensively, Sasha had a lot better games, but defensively, that was one of his best.''
4. Gasol Completes the PuzzleThere is no better feeling than putting the last piece of a puzzle in place and finally viewing a complete picture. Pau Gasol looks to have been the missing piece of the Lakers' roster. In Game 6 L.A. clinched its spot in the Conference Finals for the first time since 2004. Dominating the paint in the final game of the Jazz-Lakers series, the Spanish athlete registered a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Also, the seven-footer had four blocks on the night. As a powerful force on both ends of the floor, after the Jazz lost Game 6 108-105, Utah's Jarron Collins told the Salt Lake Tribune, "Gasol has made them an excellent team. He's a very intelligent player and a good finisher around the basket. He's really long and he's been really, really effective playing for them."
5. Vujacic Provides a Needed Spark No team wants to go to seven games in a Conference Semifinals series. The sooner they can clinch the better. Heading into Game 6 in the Lakers-Jazz series, L.A. had a 3-2 lead. Playing a tough Utah team on the road, the Lakers squad knew if they wanted to get the job done, they'd need production from their starters and their reserves. Successfully implementing their plan, the visiting squad accomplished their mission. All five starters scored in double-digits and Sasha Vujacic provided a spark off the bench. En route to a 108-105 series clinching Game 6 victory, the Slovenia native knocked down 5-of-7 from the field for 12 points. Excited about moving on to the Conference Finals, after the matchup Vujacic told the Los Angeles Times, " We got away with a win and it was great."
 6. Duncan Stuffs the Stat Sheet
If Game 1 between the Spurs and the Lakers ended 17.5 minutes early, then Tim Duncan would have been a hero. At that point he had outscored super star Kobe Bryant 20-4 and his squad had a 65-45 lead. But unfortunately for San Antonio a full game was played, giving the MVP enough time to rally his team and make an incredible comeback. While the reigning champs dropped Game 1 of the Conference Finals 89-85, The Big Fundamental's performance still should not be overlooked. He finished the night with a game-high 30 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks. While he stuffed the stat sheet, Duncan did not relish in his individual accomplishment following the game. Instead he began to look to the future along with his coach, as Popovich explained to ESPN, "We've got to dig down deep, forget about this and figure out a way to come back just as aggressively as we did the first three quarters. … That will hang in there a while, so it will take some good mental toughness to let that go."
 Photo: Duncan Gives a Solid Effort
7. Ginobili Scores Game-HighIntense and focused, Manu Ginobili used all his assets to help his team move on to the Conference Finals. In Game 7 against the Hornets in the Conference Semifinals, the Sixth Man of the Year gave his best and it was good enough. The Argentinean athlete scored a game-high 26 points and came through when his team needed him most. With less than a minute left in the deciding game, the sharp shooter nailed 6-of-6 from the line. Thanks to Manu and company, the Spurs triumphed over the Hornets 91-82. After the game the Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich expressed his relief, as he told the New York Times, “We feel thrilled to be able to get out of here with everything."
Video:
Ginobili Lights it Up
8. Kirilenko: Block of the NightThe Lakers and the Jazz faced off in Utah on Friday night for Game 6. It was an elimination game for the Jazz and with a minute left, the home team trailed by six. Andrei Kirilenko stepped up on defense, attempting to send the series to a Game 7. With 44 seconds left on the clock, Kobe Bryant drove to the basket but the Russian-born athlete prevented the MVP from collecting his points on the play with a block. The rejection received the Block of the Night honor. Despite the spectacular defensive play, the Jazz fell to the team from Tinseltown 108-105.
Video:
Kirilenko: Block of the Night
9. International Prospects International players make up some of the best players in the NBA, including Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Dirk Nowitzki. With the recent lottery and the upcoming draft, teams are on the search for top talent. Knowing that talent crosses boarders, coaches and scouts will span the globe to find the right player. NBA TV's Andre Aldridge and Simon Sandri discuss international prospects, providing a sneak peak at some of the players you just may see in NBA gear next season.
Video:
Prospects Around the World
10. Gasol Contributes to WinThe Lakers trailed by 20 points against the reigning NBA champs, the San Antonio Spurs, in the third quarter of Game 1 in the Conference Finals. While most probably thought the Spurs had the win in the bag, L.A. pictured a different outcome. In an incredible second half, L.A. came through with a 89-85 win on its home floor. While Kobe, Hollywood's resident hero, came through with 27 points on the night, sidekick Pau Gasol chipped in 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocks to help secure the win. Following the win an elated coach Jackson told the AP, "We almost gave up home-court advantage to a great effort by the Spurs. That was a big comeback. We were deep in the hole, there was no doubt about it. Twenty down and half the quarter gone in the third period. It was a struggle to fight back into the ballgame by the end of the third quarter."
Photo: Gasol Contributes to Win
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