duncan228
03-20-2009, 12:34 AM
Spurs get taste of strong bench attack (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_get_taste_of_strong_bench_attack.html)
Mike Monroe
Spurs practice officially had ended, but for an additional 20 minutes assistant coach Mike Budenholzer directed a foursome of bench players as they ran through some offensive sets.
Manu Ginobili, Drew Gooden, George Hill and Malik Hairston took part in an after-work session that signals what may be a potent second unit for the Spurs.
For Gooden, who signed with the Spurs on March 5, it was his first chance to work with Ginobili, who practiced Thursday for the first time in more than a month. The prospect of an off-the-bench scoring punch made Gooden smile.
“I think it can be a great second unit, with Manu and me being out there, especially if we build some chemistry,” Gooden said. “It's going to take some time being in that second group, but it will be a powerful group. I'm cool with it. As long as I'm helping this team I'm cool with it.”
Gooden has played a total of 40 minutes in four games since joining the Spurs. He expects coach Gregg Popovich to increase his workload in the remaining 15 games, and with it, his efficiency.
“It's something Pop and I talked about,” Gooden said. “I was overcoming an injury myself, and he wanted to make sure I was close to 100 percent before going out there trying to push, going 20 or 25 minutes a game. When Manu had an ankle sprain earlier this year, from the outside looking in, it looked like he did the same thing with him.
“It's more of a precautionary thing right now, as far as my minutes.”
A bus too far: Starting center Matt Bonner, who grew up a Celtics fan in New Hampshire, won't have busloads of friends and relatives from the Granite State cheering him on when the Spurs play the Celtics tonight at the AT&T Center.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “the 35-hour drive from New Hampshire wasn't feasible this time around.”
A few dozen of Bonner's fans made the trip to Boston when the Spurs beat the Celtics, 105-99, in a nationally televised game on Feb. 8.
He said he needs no additional motivation from the stands against the team he grew up supporting.
“I'm equally motivated,” he said. “It's still the Celtics, and they're still the team to beat. It's going to be a big game.”
March mad: Spurs players are following the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament, with brackets filled.
Matt Bonner, a former Florida star, feigned outrage when asked which team the Gators were playing in the first round.
Florida did not make the field.
Gooden, who played for Roy Williams during his days as a Kansas Jayhawk, admitted he had Williams' team, North Carolina, advancing further in the tournament than his old school.
Mike Monroe
Spurs practice officially had ended, but for an additional 20 minutes assistant coach Mike Budenholzer directed a foursome of bench players as they ran through some offensive sets.
Manu Ginobili, Drew Gooden, George Hill and Malik Hairston took part in an after-work session that signals what may be a potent second unit for the Spurs.
For Gooden, who signed with the Spurs on March 5, it was his first chance to work with Ginobili, who practiced Thursday for the first time in more than a month. The prospect of an off-the-bench scoring punch made Gooden smile.
“I think it can be a great second unit, with Manu and me being out there, especially if we build some chemistry,” Gooden said. “It's going to take some time being in that second group, but it will be a powerful group. I'm cool with it. As long as I'm helping this team I'm cool with it.”
Gooden has played a total of 40 minutes in four games since joining the Spurs. He expects coach Gregg Popovich to increase his workload in the remaining 15 games, and with it, his efficiency.
“It's something Pop and I talked about,” Gooden said. “I was overcoming an injury myself, and he wanted to make sure I was close to 100 percent before going out there trying to push, going 20 or 25 minutes a game. When Manu had an ankle sprain earlier this year, from the outside looking in, it looked like he did the same thing with him.
“It's more of a precautionary thing right now, as far as my minutes.”
A bus too far: Starting center Matt Bonner, who grew up a Celtics fan in New Hampshire, won't have busloads of friends and relatives from the Granite State cheering him on when the Spurs play the Celtics tonight at the AT&T Center.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “the 35-hour drive from New Hampshire wasn't feasible this time around.”
A few dozen of Bonner's fans made the trip to Boston when the Spurs beat the Celtics, 105-99, in a nationally televised game on Feb. 8.
He said he needs no additional motivation from the stands against the team he grew up supporting.
“I'm equally motivated,” he said. “It's still the Celtics, and they're still the team to beat. It's going to be a big game.”
March mad: Spurs players are following the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament, with brackets filled.
Matt Bonner, a former Florida star, feigned outrage when asked which team the Gators were playing in the first round.
Florida did not make the field.
Gooden, who played for Roy Williams during his days as a Kansas Jayhawk, admitted he had Williams' team, North Carolina, advancing further in the tournament than his old school.