duncan228
01-29-2009, 01:14 AM
Parker hopes to return to Phoenix soon (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Parker_hopes_to_return_to_Phoenix_soon.html)
Mike Monroe
PHOENIX — Spurs guard Tony Parker and Suns stars Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal find out tonight if they’ve earned the call to be 2009 All-Star Game reserves.
The announcement is scheduled to happen a few hours before the Spurs and Suns play at the US Airways Center, where the All-Star contest will take place Feb. 15.
Spurs forward Tim Duncan already has his spot in the game reserved, voted a starter for the 10th time in his career, and two of the league’s most successful coaches believe he is having one of his best seasons of the past several campaigns.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was effusive in his praise of Duncan, who scored 24 points and had nine rebounds, eight assists and three blocks in leading the Spurs to their 106-100 victory at Energy Solutions Arena on Tuesday.
“We try to do everything we can to try to keep him in hand, but that’s a difficult task,” Sloan said. “I haven’t seen anybody do it since he’s played, even from his rookie year, right on down the line.
“He’s been terrific every night; plays hard every night; keeps his mouth shut. You don’t hear much out of him, except he does it out there on the floor. That’s what you’ve got to admire about a guy who’s been around as long as he has. He seems to be very inspirational to his teammates and helps them become better players. He’s an interesting guy to watch, but very difficult to play against.”
Duncan’s coach, Gregg Popovich, cites many of the same qualities that Sloan admires in discussing Duncan’s play this season.
“I think for the last five or six years this is one of his best years,” Popovich said. “He’s been our most consistent player from the beginning to this point, scoring and rebounding and being a leader, being out there every night, every practice. It all started with his conditioning back in August. He did some remarkable things to get his body the way it is, and I think he’s doing really well.”
Hill snubbed: George Hill, the Spurs rookie who has established himself as the backup for Parker, was not selected to play in the NBA Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend.
Hill had expressed hope he might be included among the nine-player rookie roster that will take on a nine-man team of second-year players at the US Airways Center on Feb. 13.
Selected for the game were Chicago point guard Derrick Rose, Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook, Miami forward Michael Beasley, Portland swing man Rudy Fernandez, Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Memphis guard O.J. Mayo, Memphis center Marc Gasol, New Jersey center Brook Lopez and Portland center Greg Oden.
Mike Monroe
PHOENIX — Spurs guard Tony Parker and Suns stars Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal find out tonight if they’ve earned the call to be 2009 All-Star Game reserves.
The announcement is scheduled to happen a few hours before the Spurs and Suns play at the US Airways Center, where the All-Star contest will take place Feb. 15.
Spurs forward Tim Duncan already has his spot in the game reserved, voted a starter for the 10th time in his career, and two of the league’s most successful coaches believe he is having one of his best seasons of the past several campaigns.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was effusive in his praise of Duncan, who scored 24 points and had nine rebounds, eight assists and three blocks in leading the Spurs to their 106-100 victory at Energy Solutions Arena on Tuesday.
“We try to do everything we can to try to keep him in hand, but that’s a difficult task,” Sloan said. “I haven’t seen anybody do it since he’s played, even from his rookie year, right on down the line.
“He’s been terrific every night; plays hard every night; keeps his mouth shut. You don’t hear much out of him, except he does it out there on the floor. That’s what you’ve got to admire about a guy who’s been around as long as he has. He seems to be very inspirational to his teammates and helps them become better players. He’s an interesting guy to watch, but very difficult to play against.”
Duncan’s coach, Gregg Popovich, cites many of the same qualities that Sloan admires in discussing Duncan’s play this season.
“I think for the last five or six years this is one of his best years,” Popovich said. “He’s been our most consistent player from the beginning to this point, scoring and rebounding and being a leader, being out there every night, every practice. It all started with his conditioning back in August. He did some remarkable things to get his body the way it is, and I think he’s doing really well.”
Hill snubbed: George Hill, the Spurs rookie who has established himself as the backup for Parker, was not selected to play in the NBA Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend.
Hill had expressed hope he might be included among the nine-player rookie roster that will take on a nine-man team of second-year players at the US Airways Center on Feb. 13.
Selected for the game were Chicago point guard Derrick Rose, Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook, Miami forward Michael Beasley, Portland swing man Rudy Fernandez, Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Memphis guard O.J. Mayo, Memphis center Marc Gasol, New Jersey center Brook Lopez and Portland center Greg Oden.