duncan228
03-12-2009, 12:58 AM
Ginobili takes another step toward returning (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Ginobili_takes_another_step_toward_returning.html)
Mike Monroe
The cautious process of getting Spurs guard Manu Ginobili back took another incremental step Wednesday at the team's practice facility.
The All-Star guard and reigning NBA Sixth Man Award winner has not played since Feb. 11 because of a stress reaction in his right ankle. On Wednesday, he was allowed to shoot on the move for the first time since his injury was diagnosed.
The Spurs even allowed the media to watch as Ginobili took passes from assistant coach Brett Brown and went around the 3-point arc taking, and mostly making, long-distance shots.
“This is the first day he's had any movement on the court,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He's been on the court before, stationary, to do some shooting. Today, he moved to shoot.”
After his shooting drills, Ginobili conferred with head athletic trainer Will Sevening, strength and conditioning coach Mike Brungardt and Popovich before heading to an exercise bicycle for some aerobic conditioning.
How did Ginobili's first on-the-move work go?
“We'll find out as time goes by,” Popovich said.
Gooden's debut closer: Drew Gooden, the power forward who became a Spur when he signed a free agent contract a week ago, also participated in on-the-court drills for the first time since joining the team.
The 6-foot-10 veteran has been working with Brungardt and assistant strength coach Chris White to strengthen groin and abdominal muscles that have limited him most of the season.
“He felt strong enough with the groin to get out there and work a little bit,” Popovich said. “He's a proven professional who has certain skills. It won't be a surprise to see what he does on the court, but we want to make sure he's healthy.
“We want to take it slowly, like Manu to make sure they're both totally healthy before they come back. An error now could make them unavailable for the rest of the deal, and it's a big decision, on both their parts.”
All Lakers welcome: Ime Udoka, the backup forward whose role off the bench has been magnified over the past three games, said the Spurs were interested observers of the NBA's disciplinary process after an incident in the Lakers' Monday game at Portland that resulted in a one-game suspension for veteran forward Lamar Odom.
Lakers swingman Trevor Ariza was called for a flagrant 2 foul on Portland's Rudy Fernandez in the fourth quarter of Portland's victory, but it was Odom who got the suspension for leaving the Lakers' bench area to mix in a brief melee that followed the foul.
“Everybody saw that play, and more people thought Ariza would get a suspension, but Odom was the one who got off the bench,” Udoka said.
Odom served his one-game suspension during the Lakers' Wednesday night game at Houston, but Udoka said the Spurs are happy he will be back for tonight's game at the AT&T Center.
“We like to play them at full force, especially the way they beat us in L.A.,” he said.
The Lakers beat the Spurs 99-85 at Staples Center on Jan. 25.
Mike Monroe
The cautious process of getting Spurs guard Manu Ginobili back took another incremental step Wednesday at the team's practice facility.
The All-Star guard and reigning NBA Sixth Man Award winner has not played since Feb. 11 because of a stress reaction in his right ankle. On Wednesday, he was allowed to shoot on the move for the first time since his injury was diagnosed.
The Spurs even allowed the media to watch as Ginobili took passes from assistant coach Brett Brown and went around the 3-point arc taking, and mostly making, long-distance shots.
“This is the first day he's had any movement on the court,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He's been on the court before, stationary, to do some shooting. Today, he moved to shoot.”
After his shooting drills, Ginobili conferred with head athletic trainer Will Sevening, strength and conditioning coach Mike Brungardt and Popovich before heading to an exercise bicycle for some aerobic conditioning.
How did Ginobili's first on-the-move work go?
“We'll find out as time goes by,” Popovich said.
Gooden's debut closer: Drew Gooden, the power forward who became a Spur when he signed a free agent contract a week ago, also participated in on-the-court drills for the first time since joining the team.
The 6-foot-10 veteran has been working with Brungardt and assistant strength coach Chris White to strengthen groin and abdominal muscles that have limited him most of the season.
“He felt strong enough with the groin to get out there and work a little bit,” Popovich said. “He's a proven professional who has certain skills. It won't be a surprise to see what he does on the court, but we want to make sure he's healthy.
“We want to take it slowly, like Manu to make sure they're both totally healthy before they come back. An error now could make them unavailable for the rest of the deal, and it's a big decision, on both their parts.”
All Lakers welcome: Ime Udoka, the backup forward whose role off the bench has been magnified over the past three games, said the Spurs were interested observers of the NBA's disciplinary process after an incident in the Lakers' Monday game at Portland that resulted in a one-game suspension for veteran forward Lamar Odom.
Lakers swingman Trevor Ariza was called for a flagrant 2 foul on Portland's Rudy Fernandez in the fourth quarter of Portland's victory, but it was Odom who got the suspension for leaving the Lakers' bench area to mix in a brief melee that followed the foul.
“Everybody saw that play, and more people thought Ariza would get a suspension, but Odom was the one who got off the bench,” Udoka said.
Odom served his one-game suspension during the Lakers' Wednesday night game at Houston, but Udoka said the Spurs are happy he will be back for tonight's game at the AT&T Center.
“We like to play them at full force, especially the way they beat us in L.A.,” he said.
The Lakers beat the Spurs 99-85 at Staples Center on Jan. 25.