duncan228
03-13-2009, 11:08 PM
Spurs Notebook: Budenholzer helps Gooden learn ropes (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Notebook_Budenholzer_helps_Gooden_learn_rope s.html)
Jeff McDonald
HOUSTON For newly acquired Spurs forward Drew Gooden, practice ends at the same time every day about half an hour after the rest of his teammates have left the court.
Each workout since he's joined the team has ended with assistant coach Mike Budenholzer tutoring Gooden in the Xs and Os of the Spurs' offensive and defensive schemes, using whatever live bodies they can find to fill out a fivesome.
Throughout Gooden's first week in San Antonio, Budenholzer has become more than just his drill instructor.
He's like my best friend right now, Gooden said. I've been practicing with him more than the team. He's helped me develop the terminology and learn the plays.
Spurs coaches plan to start Gooden out with a smaller package of core plays and will add to it as he begins to get more comfortable.
Before Gooden made his Spurs debut in Thursday's 102-95 loss to the Lakers, coach Gregg Popovich said he wasn't sure how much of the team's scheme Gooden had picked up.
I just kind of assume he knows zero, Popovich said.
After Gooden grabbed four rebounds and scored a basket in 3 minutes and 32 seconds of work against the Lakers, Popovich had tweaked his expectations a bit.
He looked like he's been here all year, Popovich said.
Now that he has his feet wet, Gooden is expected to play a larger role.
I think I'm going to do a good job, Gooden said. I think I'll help a lot. I haven't really had time to practice with the team. All the work I've been doing is with the coaches. But I feel like, it's just the game of basketball.
File it away: The Spurs fell into an 18-point hole in the first quarter against the Lakers, before rallying to within two points in the fourth.
Tim Duncan said the team's biggest problem was attitude.
I think we were being a little tentative in the first half, Duncan said. We were just trying to make the right plays and right passes. In the second half, we came out a little more aggressively. It's an attitude we'll have to remember.
Scoring machine: Point guard Tony Parker has either led the Spurs in scoring or tied for the team scoring lead in 10 consecutive games. The last time a teammate outscored him was in a Feb. 21 blowout victory at Washington, in which Parker played just 23 minutes.
Jeff McDonald
HOUSTON For newly acquired Spurs forward Drew Gooden, practice ends at the same time every day about half an hour after the rest of his teammates have left the court.
Each workout since he's joined the team has ended with assistant coach Mike Budenholzer tutoring Gooden in the Xs and Os of the Spurs' offensive and defensive schemes, using whatever live bodies they can find to fill out a fivesome.
Throughout Gooden's first week in San Antonio, Budenholzer has become more than just his drill instructor.
He's like my best friend right now, Gooden said. I've been practicing with him more than the team. He's helped me develop the terminology and learn the plays.
Spurs coaches plan to start Gooden out with a smaller package of core plays and will add to it as he begins to get more comfortable.
Before Gooden made his Spurs debut in Thursday's 102-95 loss to the Lakers, coach Gregg Popovich said he wasn't sure how much of the team's scheme Gooden had picked up.
I just kind of assume he knows zero, Popovich said.
After Gooden grabbed four rebounds and scored a basket in 3 minutes and 32 seconds of work against the Lakers, Popovich had tweaked his expectations a bit.
He looked like he's been here all year, Popovich said.
Now that he has his feet wet, Gooden is expected to play a larger role.
I think I'm going to do a good job, Gooden said. I think I'll help a lot. I haven't really had time to practice with the team. All the work I've been doing is with the coaches. But I feel like, it's just the game of basketball.
File it away: The Spurs fell into an 18-point hole in the first quarter against the Lakers, before rallying to within two points in the fourth.
Tim Duncan said the team's biggest problem was attitude.
I think we were being a little tentative in the first half, Duncan said. We were just trying to make the right plays and right passes. In the second half, we came out a little more aggressively. It's an attitude we'll have to remember.
Scoring machine: Point guard Tony Parker has either led the Spurs in scoring or tied for the team scoring lead in 10 consecutive games. The last time a teammate outscored him was in a Feb. 21 blowout victory at Washington, in which Parker played just 23 minutes.