duncan228
10-26-2008, 10:12 PM
Bowen, veteran Spurs encouraged by their young, talented teammates (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Bowen_veteran_Spurs_encouraged_by_their_young_tale nted_teammates.html)
By Mike Monroe
Spurs fans who have been yearning for the team to get younger during the past few seasons have gotten their wish.
The average age of the 15 players who remain on the roster after the final cuts is 29 years and four months.
Last season, the average age of the players on the opening night roster was 30 years and two months.
For the oldest of the Spurs, having competitive young players in camp was a welcome difference from previous seasons.
“I commend them,” said Bruce Bowen, 37, “because they stuck to their guns and did what they do. They didn't try to change their games to make the team. ... I've been encouraged to see guys doing things the way they've done things their whole careers in basketball.”
Both Bowen and 36-year-old Kurt Thomas, who completed his 14th training camp, said the arrival of the regular season is welcomed by young and old alike.
“We're definitely ready,” Thomas said. “I think we had a good training camp. The guys have been working really hard, and the coaching staff has done a good job of preparing us.”
Thomas said his left hamstring remains slightly sore, but not to the point it will keep him from playing in Wednesday's regular season opener against the Phoenix Suns.
Hill ailing: Rookie George Hill, who missed the final four preseason games with a sprained left thumb, missed Sunday's practice session with flu-like symptoms.
Hill, the Spurs' first-round draft pick from Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI), had been ticketed for some playing time in Friday's preseason finale. However, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich opted to keep him on the bench when that game remained competitive to the final buzzer.
Popovich made Hill promise that if he were allowed to play he would take no chances trying to make a steal, or any sort of play that might risk reinjuring his sore thumb.
By Mike Monroe
Spurs fans who have been yearning for the team to get younger during the past few seasons have gotten their wish.
The average age of the 15 players who remain on the roster after the final cuts is 29 years and four months.
Last season, the average age of the players on the opening night roster was 30 years and two months.
For the oldest of the Spurs, having competitive young players in camp was a welcome difference from previous seasons.
“I commend them,” said Bruce Bowen, 37, “because they stuck to their guns and did what they do. They didn't try to change their games to make the team. ... I've been encouraged to see guys doing things the way they've done things their whole careers in basketball.”
Both Bowen and 36-year-old Kurt Thomas, who completed his 14th training camp, said the arrival of the regular season is welcomed by young and old alike.
“We're definitely ready,” Thomas said. “I think we had a good training camp. The guys have been working really hard, and the coaching staff has done a good job of preparing us.”
Thomas said his left hamstring remains slightly sore, but not to the point it will keep him from playing in Wednesday's regular season opener against the Phoenix Suns.
Hill ailing: Rookie George Hill, who missed the final four preseason games with a sprained left thumb, missed Sunday's practice session with flu-like symptoms.
Hill, the Spurs' first-round draft pick from Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI), had been ticketed for some playing time in Friday's preseason finale. However, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich opted to keep him on the bench when that game remained competitive to the final buzzer.
Popovich made Hill promise that if he were allowed to play he would take no chances trying to make a steal, or any sort of play that might risk reinjuring his sore thumb.