duncan228
10-20-2008, 06:25 PM
Jeff McDonald: Hill gets good news (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/10/jeff_mcdonald_h_6.html)
An MRI taken of rookie guard George Hill's sprained left thumb came back negative Monday. As such, Hill and the Spurs are almost positive he will play in at least one of the team's remaining preseason games.
Hill, who is right-handed, has been fitted with a hard plastic splint, similiar to what Manu Ginobili wore on his jammed finger last season. He will test the splint out during practice Tuesday, and if all goes well, might give it a go Wednesday night against Washington.
A more likely scenario would have Hill returning for the Spurs' preseason finale Friday against Miami. He has missed two games since suffering the injury against Detroit last Tuesday.
"Some of it is going to be tolerance," coach Gregg Popovich said. "How he feels when he catches a pass, see how he feels in the splint we give him."
If it comes down to Hill's own tolerance level, expect to see him on the floor sooner, rather than later. After all, he once played on a broken foot in college.
Were he an established veteran, Hill might opt to take it easy until the regular season begins Oct. 29. Being a rookie with much to prove, Hill said he plans to play again as soon as humanly possible.
"I think I've still got to prove I'm supposed to be here," Hill said after Monday's practice. "I don't want to take anything for granted and say, 'Oh, it's only preseason.' "
***
The end of practice Monday offered a rare Ginobili sighting. When the doors opened for the media to enter, Ginobili was still on the floor, shooting around with teammates.
Yes, he actually did take a few jump shots -- empahsis on the word "jump" -- landing on the left ankle he had scoped in the offseason.
***
This should probably go without saying, but don't pay too much attention to the number of 3-pointers the Spurs have been flinging up this preseason.
They are averaging 23 attempts in five preseason games, which, if that pace continued into the regular season, would basically make them Golden State.
The Spurs have been playing extended minutes this preseason without Tim Duncan, in two games playing without him on the floor at all. That tends to make the long ball a bigger part of the Spurs' aresenal than it normally would be.
With Duncan on the sidelines against Indiana, the Spurs shot 35 3-pointers, making 15.
***
Be on the lookout for another Spurs-HEB television commerical coming soon. Production crews were on site following Monday's practice, putting together a makeshift set that included, of all things, a washer/dryer combo. We're interested in seeing where this is leading.
We're also interested in seeing how these popular commericials come together without comic genius Brent Barry, who now (presumably) is doing spots for Randall's in Houston. We have a feeling they might come off like Saturday Night Live after Eddie Murphy left.
An MRI taken of rookie guard George Hill's sprained left thumb came back negative Monday. As such, Hill and the Spurs are almost positive he will play in at least one of the team's remaining preseason games.
Hill, who is right-handed, has been fitted with a hard plastic splint, similiar to what Manu Ginobili wore on his jammed finger last season. He will test the splint out during practice Tuesday, and if all goes well, might give it a go Wednesday night against Washington.
A more likely scenario would have Hill returning for the Spurs' preseason finale Friday against Miami. He has missed two games since suffering the injury against Detroit last Tuesday.
"Some of it is going to be tolerance," coach Gregg Popovich said. "How he feels when he catches a pass, see how he feels in the splint we give him."
If it comes down to Hill's own tolerance level, expect to see him on the floor sooner, rather than later. After all, he once played on a broken foot in college.
Were he an established veteran, Hill might opt to take it easy until the regular season begins Oct. 29. Being a rookie with much to prove, Hill said he plans to play again as soon as humanly possible.
"I think I've still got to prove I'm supposed to be here," Hill said after Monday's practice. "I don't want to take anything for granted and say, 'Oh, it's only preseason.' "
***
The end of practice Monday offered a rare Ginobili sighting. When the doors opened for the media to enter, Ginobili was still on the floor, shooting around with teammates.
Yes, he actually did take a few jump shots -- empahsis on the word "jump" -- landing on the left ankle he had scoped in the offseason.
***
This should probably go without saying, but don't pay too much attention to the number of 3-pointers the Spurs have been flinging up this preseason.
They are averaging 23 attempts in five preseason games, which, if that pace continued into the regular season, would basically make them Golden State.
The Spurs have been playing extended minutes this preseason without Tim Duncan, in two games playing without him on the floor at all. That tends to make the long ball a bigger part of the Spurs' aresenal than it normally would be.
With Duncan on the sidelines against Indiana, the Spurs shot 35 3-pointers, making 15.
***
Be on the lookout for another Spurs-HEB television commerical coming soon. Production crews were on site following Monday's practice, putting together a makeshift set that included, of all things, a washer/dryer combo. We're interested in seeing where this is leading.
We're also interested in seeing how these popular commericials come together without comic genius Brent Barry, who now (presumably) is doing spots for Randall's in Houston. We have a feeling they might come off like Saturday Night Live after Eddie Murphy left.