duncan228
11-12-2008, 11:47 PM
Spurs' Ginobili takes step forward (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Ginobili_takes_step_forward.html)
By Jeff McDonald
MILWAUKEE Injured Spurs guard Manu Ginobili took another significant step toward rejoining the team Wednesday, psychologically if not physically.
He made the trip to Milwaukee for the Spurs' game against the Bucks. It marked the first road trip of the season for Ginobili, who has been out recovering from offseason surgery on his left ankle.
I'm getting better every day, said Ginobili, who led the Spurs in scoring at 19.5 points per game last season. But I still haven't practiced with the team or anything like that.
His rehab has progressed without setback, to the point where he can stop and cut on the repaired ankle. The next stage will be to get him involved in some one-on-one and two-on-two drills.
After that comes conditioning work.
Officially, the timetable for Ginobili's return remains mid-December, with the optimistic hope he might be able to play earlier.
Asked Wednesday if there is a chance Ginobili might be able to suit up before the end of the month, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich did not say yes. But he also did not say no.
I don't want to paint myself into a corner, Popovich said. When he's ready, he'll play. That's the best way to put it.
With fellow All-Star Tony Parker also on the injured list, Ginobili would obviously like to play again as soon as possible. However, he understands the need for caution.
I want to be smart, Ginobili said. I don't want to rush it and make it worse.
Courting Dice: Now that Antonio McDyess has cleared waivers, the Spurs are expected to explore the possibility of signing him.
The chances of them actually landing the 34-year-old forward, however, appear remote.
McDyess was traded from Detroit to Denver in the Nov. 3 blockbuster that made Allen Iverson a Piston. He is now free to sign with any NBA team, but the league-wide consensus expects McDyess to re-sign with Detroit after a mandatory 30-day waiting period.
Fellow traveler: Ian Mahinmi, who is also recuperating from an offseason ankle injury, also made the trip to Milwaukee. Parker and his sprained ankle, however, stayed home.
Elson reflections: Wednesday's game marked a reunion of sorts for the Spurs. Francisco Elson, a part-time starting center on the Spurs' 2007 NBA championship team, now comes off the bench for the Bucks.
It was the second meeting between Elson and his former team since his trade to Seattle last February. Elson signed a free-agent deal with Milwaukee over the offseason.
Popovich praised Elson as a skilled player and solid teammate who occasionally suffered from a crisis of confidence.
I think maybe I wasn't able to make him believe in his skills as much as I wanted to make him believe, Popovich said.
Redd out: Michael Redd, Milwaukee's leading scorer, sat out his fifth consecutive game with a sprained right ankle.
By Jeff McDonald
MILWAUKEE Injured Spurs guard Manu Ginobili took another significant step toward rejoining the team Wednesday, psychologically if not physically.
He made the trip to Milwaukee for the Spurs' game against the Bucks. It marked the first road trip of the season for Ginobili, who has been out recovering from offseason surgery on his left ankle.
I'm getting better every day, said Ginobili, who led the Spurs in scoring at 19.5 points per game last season. But I still haven't practiced with the team or anything like that.
His rehab has progressed without setback, to the point where he can stop and cut on the repaired ankle. The next stage will be to get him involved in some one-on-one and two-on-two drills.
After that comes conditioning work.
Officially, the timetable for Ginobili's return remains mid-December, with the optimistic hope he might be able to play earlier.
Asked Wednesday if there is a chance Ginobili might be able to suit up before the end of the month, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich did not say yes. But he also did not say no.
I don't want to paint myself into a corner, Popovich said. When he's ready, he'll play. That's the best way to put it.
With fellow All-Star Tony Parker also on the injured list, Ginobili would obviously like to play again as soon as possible. However, he understands the need for caution.
I want to be smart, Ginobili said. I don't want to rush it and make it worse.
Courting Dice: Now that Antonio McDyess has cleared waivers, the Spurs are expected to explore the possibility of signing him.
The chances of them actually landing the 34-year-old forward, however, appear remote.
McDyess was traded from Detroit to Denver in the Nov. 3 blockbuster that made Allen Iverson a Piston. He is now free to sign with any NBA team, but the league-wide consensus expects McDyess to re-sign with Detroit after a mandatory 30-day waiting period.
Fellow traveler: Ian Mahinmi, who is also recuperating from an offseason ankle injury, also made the trip to Milwaukee. Parker and his sprained ankle, however, stayed home.
Elson reflections: Wednesday's game marked a reunion of sorts for the Spurs. Francisco Elson, a part-time starting center on the Spurs' 2007 NBA championship team, now comes off the bench for the Bucks.
It was the second meeting between Elson and his former team since his trade to Seattle last February. Elson signed a free-agent deal with Milwaukee over the offseason.
Popovich praised Elson as a skilled player and solid teammate who occasionally suffered from a crisis of confidence.
I think maybe I wasn't able to make him believe in his skills as much as I wanted to make him believe, Popovich said.
Redd out: Michael Redd, Milwaukee's leading scorer, sat out his fifth consecutive game with a sprained right ankle.