duncan228
12-29-2008, 12:07 AM
Spurs earn break after working OT (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_earn_break_after_working_OT.html)
Mike Monroe
We'll never know if Saturday's Spurs-Grizzlies game at the AT&T Center would have gone into a second overtime session had Spurs All-Star post man Tim Duncan not committed his sixth personal foul with 1:13 remaining in the first extra period.
Duncan had scored 29 points before fouling out, and Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni had been forced to aggressively double-team him, which accounted for many of the scoring opportunities afforded his teammates.
One more open look for Tony Parker, Michael Finley or Manu Ginobili in the final minute of the first OT, and perhaps the Spurs could have ended things without needing a second extra period to record a 106-103 victory.
What we do know is this: Duncan, who played just one second shy of 46 minutes, is thoroughly grateful that the Spurs don't play again until Tuesday, when the Milwaukee Bucks are to visit the AT&T Center.
“Two days is a very long break,” Duncan said, “especially with the type of schedule we have been holding lately. It will be great for us to get off our legs, especially Tony and Manu, who have played so many minutes lately.
“We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of minutes so a break will be great. We will use these days as best we can, and hopefully we'll get back on the court and play better basketball than we did (Saturday night).”
Saturday's game was the Spurs' third double-overtime game of the season, all three resulting in Spurs wins.
Popovich always tries to monitor the minutes worked by his veteran players. The goal each season is to have key players as fresh as possible when the playoffs arrive in April.
It is not always possible to think long term, because winning each game remains the short-term goal. Popovich cites his team's game at Orlando as an example of how well-conceived schemes can be spoiled by the give-and-take of the play.
Playing the second game of a back-to-back set that had begun in New Orleans on Dec. 17, and after arriving in Orlando at 3:30 in the morning, Popovich was prepared to give his key players more bench time than usual if the game got lopsided, one way or the other.
“You always have a plan,” Popovich said, “but circumstances often dictate otherwise.”
When the Magic jumped out to a 22-point lead in the first half, the Spurs coach believed he would at least be able to rest Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Finley in the second half. Then a Spurs rally trimmed Orlando's lead to six early in the fourth and persuaded Popovich to give his stars a chance to complete what would have been a splendid comeback. Parker ended up with more than 38 minutes, Duncan with nearly 37.
On Saturday, Duncan was one of four Spurs who played at least 40 minutes. He logged 45 minutes and 59 seconds; Parker played 47:44; Ginobili went 40:57; and Finley logged 40:25.
The Spurs will be back on their practice court for a Monday workout, but Popovich joked before Saturday's game that he may not remember how to conduct a practice. With seven games in 11 days, Monday's session will be the first practice in nearly two weeks.
For a team its coach contends is “older than dirt,” double-overtime games aren't recommended, even if his team has won all three of them thus far.
The Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 129-125, in double-overtime on Nov. 5, when Parker scored a career-high 55 points. They prevailed, 133-126, in double-overtime in Dallas on Dec. 9, a game in which Duncan logged a season-high 50 minutes and 21 seconds.
The last time a Spurs team worked so many multiple-extra-session games was in the 1983-84 season, when the Spurs played two double-overtime games and one game that went triple-overtime.
Mike Monroe
We'll never know if Saturday's Spurs-Grizzlies game at the AT&T Center would have gone into a second overtime session had Spurs All-Star post man Tim Duncan not committed his sixth personal foul with 1:13 remaining in the first extra period.
Duncan had scored 29 points before fouling out, and Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni had been forced to aggressively double-team him, which accounted for many of the scoring opportunities afforded his teammates.
One more open look for Tony Parker, Michael Finley or Manu Ginobili in the final minute of the first OT, and perhaps the Spurs could have ended things without needing a second extra period to record a 106-103 victory.
What we do know is this: Duncan, who played just one second shy of 46 minutes, is thoroughly grateful that the Spurs don't play again until Tuesday, when the Milwaukee Bucks are to visit the AT&T Center.
“Two days is a very long break,” Duncan said, “especially with the type of schedule we have been holding lately. It will be great for us to get off our legs, especially Tony and Manu, who have played so many minutes lately.
“We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of minutes so a break will be great. We will use these days as best we can, and hopefully we'll get back on the court and play better basketball than we did (Saturday night).”
Saturday's game was the Spurs' third double-overtime game of the season, all three resulting in Spurs wins.
Popovich always tries to monitor the minutes worked by his veteran players. The goal each season is to have key players as fresh as possible when the playoffs arrive in April.
It is not always possible to think long term, because winning each game remains the short-term goal. Popovich cites his team's game at Orlando as an example of how well-conceived schemes can be spoiled by the give-and-take of the play.
Playing the second game of a back-to-back set that had begun in New Orleans on Dec. 17, and after arriving in Orlando at 3:30 in the morning, Popovich was prepared to give his key players more bench time than usual if the game got lopsided, one way or the other.
“You always have a plan,” Popovich said, “but circumstances often dictate otherwise.”
When the Magic jumped out to a 22-point lead in the first half, the Spurs coach believed he would at least be able to rest Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Finley in the second half. Then a Spurs rally trimmed Orlando's lead to six early in the fourth and persuaded Popovich to give his stars a chance to complete what would have been a splendid comeback. Parker ended up with more than 38 minutes, Duncan with nearly 37.
On Saturday, Duncan was one of four Spurs who played at least 40 minutes. He logged 45 minutes and 59 seconds; Parker played 47:44; Ginobili went 40:57; and Finley logged 40:25.
The Spurs will be back on their practice court for a Monday workout, but Popovich joked before Saturday's game that he may not remember how to conduct a practice. With seven games in 11 days, Monday's session will be the first practice in nearly two weeks.
For a team its coach contends is “older than dirt,” double-overtime games aren't recommended, even if his team has won all three of them thus far.
The Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 129-125, in double-overtime on Nov. 5, when Parker scored a career-high 55 points. They prevailed, 133-126, in double-overtime in Dallas on Dec. 9, a game in which Duncan logged a season-high 50 minutes and 21 seconds.
The last time a Spurs team worked so many multiple-extra-session games was in the 1983-84 season, when the Spurs played two double-overtime games and one game that went triple-overtime.