duncan228
04-17-2009, 11:03 PM
Finley savoring playoffs as career winds down (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Finley_savoring_playoffs_as_career_winds_down.html )
Mike Monroe
Nothing about these playoffs will be routine for Spurs forward Michael Finley, a 36-year-old playing in his 13th season.
Finley made it clear on Friday that he understands he is in the twilight of his career, so he intends to savor the experience.
I don't know about the other guys, he said, but I'm a little up in age, so I know my window of opportunity not only for advancing in the playoffs, but being in the league is closing. So I, myself, want to take advantage of these opportunities that I have and not take for granted any game, any practice or any meeting.
I'm soaking it all in, knowing the time for me to hang it up is near.
Finley has missed only six games in his four seasons with the Spurs; only one in the past three seasons. His shooting percentages this season 43.7 percent overall, and 41.1 from 3-point range are the best of his time with the Spurs. He has a player option to play the 2009-10 season with the Spurs.
Bracing for Mavs: Spurs power forward Tim Duncan said the rest he has gotten over the past two weeks has him feeling more like himself as the playoffs begin.
Duncan said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's decision to hold him out of last Sunday's game at Sacramento, ahead of a Monday game against Golden State in which he played only 23 minutes in a blowout victory, has had the desired effect on knees that gave him pain all season.
It worked out at the end of the season that I got a good schedule going, he said. Within a five or six-day period, I played about 20 minutes against Golden State, and then I had the final game. So just have to give Pop a lot of credit. I didn't do a lot during that stretch and was able to get my legs back.
Duncan sported a large, composite brace on his left knee at Friday's practice but called it a practice precaution.
I'm just trying to get used to it, he said. It's a precautionary, in-practice thing.
Howard OK: Mavericks forward Josh Howard, who has been bothered all season by a left ankle injury, is expected to be in the starting lineup for tonight's Game 1.
Howard sat out Monday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves to rest the sore ankle but played 36 minutes in Dallas' season finale victory over Houston on Wednesday. He has sprained the ankle twice this season, most recently on March 5. He missed 11 games, returning on March 31.
Mike Monroe
Nothing about these playoffs will be routine for Spurs forward Michael Finley, a 36-year-old playing in his 13th season.
Finley made it clear on Friday that he understands he is in the twilight of his career, so he intends to savor the experience.
I don't know about the other guys, he said, but I'm a little up in age, so I know my window of opportunity not only for advancing in the playoffs, but being in the league is closing. So I, myself, want to take advantage of these opportunities that I have and not take for granted any game, any practice or any meeting.
I'm soaking it all in, knowing the time for me to hang it up is near.
Finley has missed only six games in his four seasons with the Spurs; only one in the past three seasons. His shooting percentages this season 43.7 percent overall, and 41.1 from 3-point range are the best of his time with the Spurs. He has a player option to play the 2009-10 season with the Spurs.
Bracing for Mavs: Spurs power forward Tim Duncan said the rest he has gotten over the past two weeks has him feeling more like himself as the playoffs begin.
Duncan said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's decision to hold him out of last Sunday's game at Sacramento, ahead of a Monday game against Golden State in which he played only 23 minutes in a blowout victory, has had the desired effect on knees that gave him pain all season.
It worked out at the end of the season that I got a good schedule going, he said. Within a five or six-day period, I played about 20 minutes against Golden State, and then I had the final game. So just have to give Pop a lot of credit. I didn't do a lot during that stretch and was able to get my legs back.
Duncan sported a large, composite brace on his left knee at Friday's practice but called it a practice precaution.
I'm just trying to get used to it, he said. It's a precautionary, in-practice thing.
Howard OK: Mavericks forward Josh Howard, who has been bothered all season by a left ankle injury, is expected to be in the starting lineup for tonight's Game 1.
Howard sat out Monday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves to rest the sore ankle but played 36 minutes in Dallas' season finale victory over Houston on Wednesday. He has sprained the ankle twice this season, most recently on March 5. He missed 11 games, returning on March 31.