Kori Ellis
02-10-2005, 01:37 AM
Spurs notebook: Add Horry to list of walking wounded
Web Posted: 02/10/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA021005.7C.BKNspurs.notebook.91f775e3.html
WASHINGTON — Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic aren't the only Spurs big men on the mend.
Robert Horry has a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula. An MRI revealed the small crack.
Because the bone isn't weight bearing, Horry can continue to play depending on how much pain he can tolerate.
"It's got to heal on its own," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
"He is allowed to play on it, as bad as that sounds, but I'm trying to play him as little as possible so we can have him down the stretch."
Horry initially was hit on his fibular head in the Jan. 24 loss in Portland, then was kicked in the same spot in the next game.
He also suffered a hip pointer on his right side and had his right kneecap knocked out of place — all within the past three weeks. His left leg has fared considerably better.
Horry is wearing a protective sleeve over the upper part of his right leg.
"It's one of those things where it's either going to feel good or not feel good," Horry said. "Rest will always help anything, but it's not a situation where it hurts so bad I need to take some time off."
One finger down: Beno Udrih had some swelling in his left index finger after getting hacked across his shooting hand in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's victory over Charlotte.
X-rays taken of Udrih's hand were negative, but he had to play Wednesday with his index and middle fingers taped together.
The injury didn't keep him from drilling a 3-pointer on his first shot.
Don't hurry, but: Popovich said he doesn't have a deadline for when he wants to hear back from Karl Malone, but the All-Star Game sounds as good as any.
"I think it's a reasonable thought that if it went beyond the All-Star break that would make it difficult to do something," Popovich said. "Karl knows that. He's just wondering if he wants to get back in, whether he has it in his heart and has the juice. He feels pretty good healthwise."
Popovich and forward Tim Duncan met with Malone on Saturday in San Antonio. The following day, Malone told the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise he hoped to make a decision on whether to sign with the Spurs by the end of the week.
"He's doesn't want to disrupt anything," Popovich said. "He doesn't want any drama. He's had enough of that.
"He's just trying to figure out, 'Do I really want to do this?' He wanted to know if we really wanted him and if this is a place he can feel comfortable."
From one champion to another: Malik Rose, a Philadelphia native and lifelong Eagles fan, might not be too happy with the New England Patriots, but Popovich has admired the NFL's newest dynasty from afar.
Popovich compared the Patriots to the Utah Jazz.
"They're always organized," Popovich said of the Jazz. "They always have character, they always have a system they fit people into. They're just class all the time and they're always competitive. We've tried to use them as an example.
"That's the same kind of organization the New England Patriots are. I respect everything they do."
Popovich said he doesn't know Patriots coach Bill Belichick. But Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has spoken recently to New England officials about establishing a relationship where the two franchises can exchange ideas about how they do business.
Does Denver have a nice art-house theater? Popovich has vowed to make the best of his first All-Star experience.
But that doesn't mean he won't miss going to the West Coast for a little rest and relaxation like he usually does each All-Star break.
"I usually take four or five days, go some place by myself, no family, no friends," Popovich said. "I'll go over what we did well, what we did poorly, what stuff we might add. Just try to become more knowledgeable about our team. And I'll see some independent films, go to some dinners, walk the streets."
Web Posted: 02/10/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA021005.7C.BKNspurs.notebook.91f775e3.html
WASHINGTON — Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic aren't the only Spurs big men on the mend.
Robert Horry has a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula. An MRI revealed the small crack.
Because the bone isn't weight bearing, Horry can continue to play depending on how much pain he can tolerate.
"It's got to heal on its own," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
"He is allowed to play on it, as bad as that sounds, but I'm trying to play him as little as possible so we can have him down the stretch."
Horry initially was hit on his fibular head in the Jan. 24 loss in Portland, then was kicked in the same spot in the next game.
He also suffered a hip pointer on his right side and had his right kneecap knocked out of place — all within the past three weeks. His left leg has fared considerably better.
Horry is wearing a protective sleeve over the upper part of his right leg.
"It's one of those things where it's either going to feel good or not feel good," Horry said. "Rest will always help anything, but it's not a situation where it hurts so bad I need to take some time off."
One finger down: Beno Udrih had some swelling in his left index finger after getting hacked across his shooting hand in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's victory over Charlotte.
X-rays taken of Udrih's hand were negative, but he had to play Wednesday with his index and middle fingers taped together.
The injury didn't keep him from drilling a 3-pointer on his first shot.
Don't hurry, but: Popovich said he doesn't have a deadline for when he wants to hear back from Karl Malone, but the All-Star Game sounds as good as any.
"I think it's a reasonable thought that if it went beyond the All-Star break that would make it difficult to do something," Popovich said. "Karl knows that. He's just wondering if he wants to get back in, whether he has it in his heart and has the juice. He feels pretty good healthwise."
Popovich and forward Tim Duncan met with Malone on Saturday in San Antonio. The following day, Malone told the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise he hoped to make a decision on whether to sign with the Spurs by the end of the week.
"He's doesn't want to disrupt anything," Popovich said. "He doesn't want any drama. He's had enough of that.
"He's just trying to figure out, 'Do I really want to do this?' He wanted to know if we really wanted him and if this is a place he can feel comfortable."
From one champion to another: Malik Rose, a Philadelphia native and lifelong Eagles fan, might not be too happy with the New England Patriots, but Popovich has admired the NFL's newest dynasty from afar.
Popovich compared the Patriots to the Utah Jazz.
"They're always organized," Popovich said of the Jazz. "They always have character, they always have a system they fit people into. They're just class all the time and they're always competitive. We've tried to use them as an example.
"That's the same kind of organization the New England Patriots are. I respect everything they do."
Popovich said he doesn't know Patriots coach Bill Belichick. But Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has spoken recently to New England officials about establishing a relationship where the two franchises can exchange ideas about how they do business.
Does Denver have a nice art-house theater? Popovich has vowed to make the best of his first All-Star experience.
But that doesn't mean he won't miss going to the West Coast for a little rest and relaxation like he usually does each All-Star break.
"I usually take four or five days, go some place by myself, no family, no friends," Popovich said. "I'll go over what we did well, what we did poorly, what stuff we might add. Just try to become more knowledgeable about our team. And I'll see some independent films, go to some dinners, walk the streets."