Contra Costa Times:

My bad if this has been posted

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Posted on Thu, Nov. 20, 2003



Late shot misses; Warriors fall by 2
DUNLEAVY OFF TARGET ON OPEN THREE-POINTER
By Matt Steinmetz
Contra Costa Times

HOUSTON - Everyone in the locker room seemed to like Mike Dunleavy's three-point shot with four seconds remaining.

Dunleavy liked it. Teammate Clifford Robinson did, too. Coach Eric Musselman didn't have a problem with it.

But considering the Warriors' struggles from beyond the arc, it wasn't a shock when the potential game-winner glanced off the rim and the Houston Rockets eventually walked off with an 85-83 victory Wednesday.

``You want to keep the floor spread,'' said Dunleavy, who was wide open after Speedy Claxton drove through the lane. ``Speedy kicked it out, and I wasn't really concerned if it was a three or a two since we were down one. So I just stepped into it. I don't know where it was really at. It might have been a three. I don't really know right now. But I stepped into it, let it go and it was a little off.''

Perhaps Dunleavy should have taken notice. He is shooting 29.6 percent from three-point range, compared with 45.6 percent from two-point range. His miss capped a 3-for-17 evening from beyond the arc for the Warriors, who are shooting 27.1 percent as a team from out there, second worst in the NBA.

The Warriors went winless on their three-game trip, with tough two-point losses to Sacramento and Houston.

``You've got to keep playing,'' said Robinson, who had 23 points and five assists. ``We haven't been able to pull these out. We've got to do what we can to get some of these types of games. That's all it takes. We're right there. It's a matter of finishing the games.''

With the Warriors down 84-83, Claxton penetrated into the lane and found Dunleavy, who could have taken a step inside the three-point line before or after he received the pass.

``You couldn't ask for a better look,'' said Robinson, who was option No. 1 on the play. ``Mike Dunleavy with an open shot he's capable of making. He didn't knock it down, but we'll take that again.''

Said Musselman: ``We're happy any time we get any of our players an open look.''

Dunleavy certainly couldn't have been too loose, however, when he let it go. He had been taken out of the game with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter and didn't return until 15 seconds remained.

``Some may see it as tough, but I always want to be on the court having a chance to win the game,'' he said. ``I'm confident in myself in end-of-game situations. So, it's fine with me to be put in like that.''

Dunleavy's miss wasn't the only missed opportunity for the Warriors, who dropped to 0-4 on the road this season. Center Erick Dampier, who finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, missed two free throws with Houston leading 84-83 and 18.5 seconds remaining.

Rockets center Yao Ming, who had 15 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, missed two free throws shortly after, which set up Dunleavy's potential game-winner.

``It's basketball,'' said Dampier, who had his 10th double-double in 11 games. ``You miss free throws, you make free throws. You try to learn from that situation.''

After Dunleavy's miss, Kelvin Cato came down with the rebound and was fouled with 2.4 seconds left. He made one of two, giving the Warriors one last chance with an inbounds pass at half court. But Jason Richardson couldn't handle Dunleavy's pass in the lane and wound up not even getting off a shot off as Houston defenders surrounded him.

``I got fouled,'' Richardson said. ``No question about it. The ref thought otherwise, and that's how games go. In that situation you've got to either put it in the basket or get your head knocked off'' to get the call. ``I didn't get either one of them.''