duncan228
12-07-2008, 10:18 PM
Easy wins offer warning for Spurs (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Easy_wins_offer_warning_for_Spurs.html)
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs don't have to search too far to get a reminder that one thoroughly convincing victory has no carryover effect to the next game. Their early domination on Thursday night of a Denver team that had breezed to a 39-point win over Toronto in its previous game provides a fresh prompt.
Coach Gregg Popovich and his assistants will spend much of Monday's practice session reinforcing the need for continued adherence to the defensive principles that limited two of the league's most potent teams, Denver and Golden State, to 91 and 88 points in the Spurs' most recent games.
Belief that an average victory margin of 26 points carries carryover significance is the danger as the Spurs prepare for a Tuesday game against the Mavericks, in Dallas, and a home game on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks.
“There's always a chance for slippage,” Popovich said after Saturday's 123-88 victory over the Warriors. “Success breeds complacency in some ways. It's always something to guard against.”
Spurs players understand the reinforcement, both positive and negative, is coming at Monday's scheduled practice session.
“That's when the coaching staff comes in and earns their checks,” said forward Michael Finley. “They're going to keep us focused, keep us humble, and let us know that our next opponent, which is Dallas, is going to give us a lot tougher game than what we got (against Golden State).”
Even before playing the Warriors, a team that had lost eight straight games, Popovich warned his players about respecting the opponent and the game.
“It's the NBA, so no matter what their record is, on any night they can come out and kick your butt,” said guard Roger Mason Jr. “So we wanted to respect them, and moving forward we want to have that state of mind every game. Have that respect and do our job.”
Manu Ginobili, now eight games into his return from off-season ankle surgery, warns that the Spurs must continue to focus on the long view.
“As I always say, we were not as bad as we thought after the Detroit game, and now it's not as if all our problems are solved,” he said. “In the NBA, 82 games, you're going to have ups and downs. Starting the season, the ups are really high, the downs are really low.
“We're trying to stay humble, knowing we've gone through some problems, but we're on the right track.”
Hill's wrist list: Rookie point guard George Hill played Saturday's game against the Warriors without the splint he had worn on his left wrist and thumb since suffering a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in the preseason.
“You have a lot more control now,” Hill said. “The thumb you couldn't use at first, now you can use it to control the crossover and things like that. That's the main thing.”
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs don't have to search too far to get a reminder that one thoroughly convincing victory has no carryover effect to the next game. Their early domination on Thursday night of a Denver team that had breezed to a 39-point win over Toronto in its previous game provides a fresh prompt.
Coach Gregg Popovich and his assistants will spend much of Monday's practice session reinforcing the need for continued adherence to the defensive principles that limited two of the league's most potent teams, Denver and Golden State, to 91 and 88 points in the Spurs' most recent games.
Belief that an average victory margin of 26 points carries carryover significance is the danger as the Spurs prepare for a Tuesday game against the Mavericks, in Dallas, and a home game on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks.
“There's always a chance for slippage,” Popovich said after Saturday's 123-88 victory over the Warriors. “Success breeds complacency in some ways. It's always something to guard against.”
Spurs players understand the reinforcement, both positive and negative, is coming at Monday's scheduled practice session.
“That's when the coaching staff comes in and earns their checks,” said forward Michael Finley. “They're going to keep us focused, keep us humble, and let us know that our next opponent, which is Dallas, is going to give us a lot tougher game than what we got (against Golden State).”
Even before playing the Warriors, a team that had lost eight straight games, Popovich warned his players about respecting the opponent and the game.
“It's the NBA, so no matter what their record is, on any night they can come out and kick your butt,” said guard Roger Mason Jr. “So we wanted to respect them, and moving forward we want to have that state of mind every game. Have that respect and do our job.”
Manu Ginobili, now eight games into his return from off-season ankle surgery, warns that the Spurs must continue to focus on the long view.
“As I always say, we were not as bad as we thought after the Detroit game, and now it's not as if all our problems are solved,” he said. “In the NBA, 82 games, you're going to have ups and downs. Starting the season, the ups are really high, the downs are really low.
“We're trying to stay humble, knowing we've gone through some problems, but we're on the right track.”
Hill's wrist list: Rookie point guard George Hill played Saturday's game against the Warriors without the splint he had worn on his left wrist and thumb since suffering a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in the preseason.
“You have a lot more control now,” Hill said. “The thumb you couldn't use at first, now you can use it to control the crossover and things like that. That's the main thing.”