duncan228
09-30-2008, 03:48 PM
Jeff McDonald: One practice down ... (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/09/jeff_mcdonald_o_2.html)
The first day of training camp is a time of renewal and refreshment, a time when every team (except those in, say, Memphis or Minnesota) can feel like an NBA title contender.
The Spurs opened their 2008-09 camp with a Tuesday morning workout at their training facility, the first leg of a planned two-a-day session. After it was over, they did not exactly join hands and sing kumbaya.
After all, this is training camp.
"It was terrible," Michael Finley said with a hint of a grin. "It was the worst day of camp, which is a good thing. We can only go forward from here."
It was a good day, however, for Gregg Popovich, who looks forward to the start of each season like a 5-year-old looks forward to birthday cake.
"The beginning of the season is always wonderful," Popovich said. "You look forward to all the competitive situations in camp. You get to look at the young guys, who is going to make your team. You put in new ideas, things you thought about all summer.
"It's always a fun time of year, without a doubt."
If nothing else, the start of the new campaign finally allows the Spurs some closure on the old one. Finley says the sting of last year's loss to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals stuck with him throughout the offseason.
When did he that bad taste finally subside?
"I lost it yesterday," he said. "I'm ready to start over."
Meanwhile, the first day of camp brought with some actual news.
Center/forward Kurt Thomas sat out the season's initial workout with a mild strain of his left hamstring, while backup guard Salim Stoudamire suffered a right groin strain during the session. Both players are day-to-day.
Meanwhile, the Spurs also finalized their preseason roster, signing second-round pick Malik Hairston and free-agent Brian Morrison.
The first day of training camp is a time of renewal and refreshment, a time when every team (except those in, say, Memphis or Minnesota) can feel like an NBA title contender.
The Spurs opened their 2008-09 camp with a Tuesday morning workout at their training facility, the first leg of a planned two-a-day session. After it was over, they did not exactly join hands and sing kumbaya.
After all, this is training camp.
"It was terrible," Michael Finley said with a hint of a grin. "It was the worst day of camp, which is a good thing. We can only go forward from here."
It was a good day, however, for Gregg Popovich, who looks forward to the start of each season like a 5-year-old looks forward to birthday cake.
"The beginning of the season is always wonderful," Popovich said. "You look forward to all the competitive situations in camp. You get to look at the young guys, who is going to make your team. You put in new ideas, things you thought about all summer.
"It's always a fun time of year, without a doubt."
If nothing else, the start of the new campaign finally allows the Spurs some closure on the old one. Finley says the sting of last year's loss to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals stuck with him throughout the offseason.
When did he that bad taste finally subside?
"I lost it yesterday," he said. "I'm ready to start over."
Meanwhile, the first day of camp brought with some actual news.
Center/forward Kurt Thomas sat out the season's initial workout with a mild strain of his left hamstring, while backup guard Salim Stoudamire suffered a right groin strain during the session. Both players are day-to-day.
Meanwhile, the Spurs also finalized their preseason roster, signing second-round pick Malik Hairston and free-agent Brian Morrison.