duncan228
04-12-2009, 11:57 PM
Pop saves Duncan for Warriors (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Pop_saves_Duncan_for_Warriors.html)
Jeff McDonald
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When Tim Duncan put together a suitcase for the Spurs' two-game road trip to northern California, he knew to pack a sport coat.
He was sure he'd sit out one of the two games on the itinerary. He just didn't know which one.
Turns out, Duncan's day off came Sunday against the Kings.
Playing the matchup odds, coach Gregg Popovich opted to sit Duncan on the front end of a back-to-back, saving his All-Star forward for today's trip to Golden State.
“In the past, he's been a difference-maker against Golden State, so we're going to opt to use him in that game,” Popovich said. “We're not going to play him in both. It's just not good for him.”
The small-ball happy Warriors don't have a player big enough to match up with Duncan. In three games against them this season, he is averaging 24.3 points.
In Duncan's absence, the Spurs had to rally from an early deficit to beat Sacramento 95-92.
Duncan has been battling soreness in his knees for more than a month. He said before Sunday's game that though he felt well enough to play, he understands the decision to rest him.
“They don't want me to play back-to-backs this late in the year,” Duncan said. “We're just going to try to be smart about it and do things the right way.”
Ole, ole, ole: Fabricio Oberto was warming up on the floor at Arco Arena when he saw a familiar face on the courtside TV monitors.
It was Angel Cabrera, his Argentine buddy, celebrating a thrilling victory at the Masters.
Cabrera, who won a two-hole playoff to beat Kenny Perry and become the first Argentine to don the green jacket, is from Oberto's hometown of Cordoba.
“All of Argentina is excited,” Oberto said. “Everybody was following it. I'm going to have to call and congratulate him.”
It was Cabrera's second big victory for Argentina to celebrate. He won the U.S. Open in 2007.
Hardly knew ya: Drew Gooden was a King for 12 days earlier this season. Sacramento interim coach Kenny Natt says he wished the organization could have talked him into staying.
Gooden sought and received a contract buyout after his trade from Chicago, which freed him up to sign with the Spurs.
“I was hopeful to have him,” said Natt, who was an assistant in Cleveland when Gooden was a Cavalier. “He's a legitimate inside post player.”
Jeff McDonald
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When Tim Duncan put together a suitcase for the Spurs' two-game road trip to northern California, he knew to pack a sport coat.
He was sure he'd sit out one of the two games on the itinerary. He just didn't know which one.
Turns out, Duncan's day off came Sunday against the Kings.
Playing the matchup odds, coach Gregg Popovich opted to sit Duncan on the front end of a back-to-back, saving his All-Star forward for today's trip to Golden State.
“In the past, he's been a difference-maker against Golden State, so we're going to opt to use him in that game,” Popovich said. “We're not going to play him in both. It's just not good for him.”
The small-ball happy Warriors don't have a player big enough to match up with Duncan. In three games against them this season, he is averaging 24.3 points.
In Duncan's absence, the Spurs had to rally from an early deficit to beat Sacramento 95-92.
Duncan has been battling soreness in his knees for more than a month. He said before Sunday's game that though he felt well enough to play, he understands the decision to rest him.
“They don't want me to play back-to-backs this late in the year,” Duncan said. “We're just going to try to be smart about it and do things the right way.”
Ole, ole, ole: Fabricio Oberto was warming up on the floor at Arco Arena when he saw a familiar face on the courtside TV monitors.
It was Angel Cabrera, his Argentine buddy, celebrating a thrilling victory at the Masters.
Cabrera, who won a two-hole playoff to beat Kenny Perry and become the first Argentine to don the green jacket, is from Oberto's hometown of Cordoba.
“All of Argentina is excited,” Oberto said. “Everybody was following it. I'm going to have to call and congratulate him.”
It was Cabrera's second big victory for Argentina to celebrate. He won the U.S. Open in 2007.
Hardly knew ya: Drew Gooden was a King for 12 days earlier this season. Sacramento interim coach Kenny Natt says he wished the organization could have talked him into staying.
Gooden sought and received a contract buyout after his trade from Chicago, which freed him up to sign with the Spurs.
“I was hopeful to have him,” said Natt, who was an assistant in Cleveland when Gooden was a Cavalier. “He's a legitimate inside post player.”