Mutombo Got His Break Before Series

According to New Jersey Net Coach Byron Scott, center Dikembe Mutombo needed every bit of New Jersey’s 10-day break before the NBA Finals.

Echoing comments by Mutombo earlier in the Finals, Scott said he didn’t feel comfortable playing the defensive stalwart for too many minutes until his conditioning improved. Mutombo missed four months of the regular season because of a wrist injury.

“I think the best thing for Deke, as far as the layoff was concerned, was the fact that he had six or seven days of straight practice,” Scott said.

Mutombo barely played in the first three rounds, but he had a big impact on Game 2 with 20 minutes of strong defense against Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Mutombo was less effective in Game 3, playing 18 minutes and finishing with two points, three rebounds and no blocks.

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The Spurs improved their road record in this year’s playoffs to 7-3 in the first of three games in New Jersey.

Since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format in the NBA Finals in 1985, no home team has won all three middle games.

Asked if the league might change the format, NBA Commissioner David Stern said: “We like it this way. It gives people a chance to spend some time at the three games.”

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The Spurs are staying in New York and taking a bus here for practices and games. The Lakers did the same last season.