duncan228
12-22-2008, 12:46 AM
Wanted: Spurs 3-pointers, but don't overdo it (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Wanted_Spurs_3-pointers_but_dont_overdo_it.html)
By Jeff McDonald
Some records are made to be broken. And some records, a team would rather not break.
The Spurs matched a franchise mark by attempting 23 3-pointers in the first half of Saturday's 107-97 victory over Toronto. At least one Spurs player said it was not a record the team necessarily set out to reach.
“We shot too many in the first half,” Manu Ginobili said. “We shot 23, and that's way too much.”
By game's end, the Spurs had laid claim to a more acceptable record. After going 9 for 23 from the 3-point stripe in the first half, the Spurs were a more efficient 7 of 15 in the second.
They wound up connecting on 16 3-pointers, again equaling a franchise mark.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has said his team needs to take and make 3-pointers in order to be at its most effective. With Tim Duncan frequently drawing double teams, and with Tony Parker and Ginobili often able to collapse the defense with a drive, open perimeter jumpers are sure to be plentiful.
So far, the Spurs rank third in the league in 3-point accuracy at 39.9 percent. Matt Bonner, the Spurs' center, still leads the NBA at 49.3 percent.
“We don't want to get too caught up in living and dying by the 3-point shot,” said Roger Mason Jr., who has made 63 3-pointers, third-most in the league. “But when Tim is getting double-teamed and Tony's coming off those screens and Manu is going to the basket, guys are going to have to hit open shots.”
The good news for the Spurs and their on-going 3-point shootout? The Sacramento Kings, tonight's opponent at the AT&T Center, are the worst in the league at defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot an average of 41.6 percent.
On fumes: The Spurs are in the midst of a particularly grueling portion of their schedule. By the time they complete their latest back-to-back, tonight against the Kings and Tuesday against Minnesota, they will have played five times in seven days.
While Popovich admits his team is a tad worn out, he sees no use complaining about it.
“At the end of the season, you don't get handicap points for how much you were tired or what your schedule is like,” Popovich said. “We don't dwell on that. Everybody has periods where they feel like they're getting screwed on the schedule. You've just got to let that go.”
The best thing Popovich figured he could do was to provide his players some rest. So he gave the team Sunday off and didn't schedule a shootaround session this morning.
Forgetting Mahinmi: Don't expect to see center/forward Ian Mahinmi in a Spurs uniform any time soon.
Mahinmi, who sprained his right ankle before the start of training camp, has not played in a game this season. After that healed, Mahinmi appeared in one game for the NBA Development League's Austin Toros, but sprained his left ankle.
Mahinmi has been so star-crossed, Popovich has trouble keeping straight which ankle is bothering him now.
“I don't even know which one is which,” Popovich said. “All I know is that he's had an ankle problem for four months. I don't think about Ian too much as far as playing goes right now.”
By Jeff McDonald
Some records are made to be broken. And some records, a team would rather not break.
The Spurs matched a franchise mark by attempting 23 3-pointers in the first half of Saturday's 107-97 victory over Toronto. At least one Spurs player said it was not a record the team necessarily set out to reach.
“We shot too many in the first half,” Manu Ginobili said. “We shot 23, and that's way too much.”
By game's end, the Spurs had laid claim to a more acceptable record. After going 9 for 23 from the 3-point stripe in the first half, the Spurs were a more efficient 7 of 15 in the second.
They wound up connecting on 16 3-pointers, again equaling a franchise mark.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has said his team needs to take and make 3-pointers in order to be at its most effective. With Tim Duncan frequently drawing double teams, and with Tony Parker and Ginobili often able to collapse the defense with a drive, open perimeter jumpers are sure to be plentiful.
So far, the Spurs rank third in the league in 3-point accuracy at 39.9 percent. Matt Bonner, the Spurs' center, still leads the NBA at 49.3 percent.
“We don't want to get too caught up in living and dying by the 3-point shot,” said Roger Mason Jr., who has made 63 3-pointers, third-most in the league. “But when Tim is getting double-teamed and Tony's coming off those screens and Manu is going to the basket, guys are going to have to hit open shots.”
The good news for the Spurs and their on-going 3-point shootout? The Sacramento Kings, tonight's opponent at the AT&T Center, are the worst in the league at defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot an average of 41.6 percent.
On fumes: The Spurs are in the midst of a particularly grueling portion of their schedule. By the time they complete their latest back-to-back, tonight against the Kings and Tuesday against Minnesota, they will have played five times in seven days.
While Popovich admits his team is a tad worn out, he sees no use complaining about it.
“At the end of the season, you don't get handicap points for how much you were tired or what your schedule is like,” Popovich said. “We don't dwell on that. Everybody has periods where they feel like they're getting screwed on the schedule. You've just got to let that go.”
The best thing Popovich figured he could do was to provide his players some rest. So he gave the team Sunday off and didn't schedule a shootaround session this morning.
Forgetting Mahinmi: Don't expect to see center/forward Ian Mahinmi in a Spurs uniform any time soon.
Mahinmi, who sprained his right ankle before the start of training camp, has not played in a game this season. After that healed, Mahinmi appeared in one game for the NBA Development League's Austin Toros, but sprained his left ankle.
Mahinmi has been so star-crossed, Popovich has trouble keeping straight which ankle is bothering him now.
“I don't even know which one is which,” Popovich said. “All I know is that he's had an ankle problem for four months. I don't think about Ian too much as far as playing goes right now.”