Kori Ellis
03-21-2005, 01:14 AM
Duncan out after painful early sprain
Web Posted: 03/21/2005 12:00 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032105.1C.BKNspurs.pistons.gamer.159c3caab.htm l
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — As he stood outside the visitor's locker room Sunday afternoon, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich explained his goals for the next four weeks. First, he wants to set a consistent rotation. Then, he would like to see improved halfcourt execution.
"You know, a clean-up, paint-up, fix-up kind of thing," Popovich said.
About an hour later, Popovich had reason to wonder if his touch-up work had grown into a complete remodel.
By the time the Spurs finished their 110-101 loss to Detroit on Sunday evening, Tim Duncan was 20,000 feet above Michigan and climbing. He was on a private jet belonging to Pistons owner Bill Davidson, his right ankle was wrapped and his immediate future contained only another date with an MRI machine in San Antonio.
Duncan left the Palace of Auburn Hills at halftime on crutches after re-spraining his right ankle less than two minutes into the game. He will miss at least two games, though Popovich expects to be absent his best player for "a while."
Spurs officials said they would not have a more definitive timetable for Duncan's return until an MRI today.
Duncan's sprain was classified as a grade 2 on a 1-to-3 scale, more severe than the previous two sprains he sustained to the same ankle this season. He missed two games after injuring his ankle in practice Feb.7. He re-sprained it against Utah on March 6, played the next game then sat out a loss in Phoenix.
It is not unusual for players to miss at least two weeks with grade 2 sprains. The playoffs start April 23.
"It's hard," Manu Ginobili said. "We're where we should be getting ready and taking playoff shape. We were very healthy in the first 40, 50 games. Now it's all happening to us."
Duncan's exit came at the same time as Ginobili's return. After missing five games with a groin strain, Ginobili scored 14 points in 16 minutes, less than two of which were spent with Duncan on the floor.
Duncan landed on Rasheed Wallace's foot after scoring over the Pistons forward with 10:15 left in the first quarter. His ankle immediately buckled at almost a 90-degree angle.
Duncan grabbed his foot even before he fell to the floor. Unable to put any weight on his ankle, he was helped off the court by Tony Massenburg and Sean Marks.
"Normally he just grabs his ankle and walks to the locker room," Ginobili said. "This time he stayed there for a while, and his face didn't look that good."
Not surprisingly, the rest of the Spurs looked better with Duncan than without. Detroit, whose field-goal percentage of .439 had ranked 20th in the league, shot 64.9 percent in the first half in taking a 62-52 lead.
Buoyed by 54 points from their bench, the Spurs closed within three points or fewer six times in the final quarter. After Robert Horry made a 3-pointer to cut Detroit's lead to 99-97 with 3:25 left, the Spurs had a chance to at least tie, but Rasho Nesterovic fumbled the ball into the hands of Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince.
Chauncey Billups then drove around Devin Brown and tossed in a runner as Nesterovic fouled him for three of his 25 points.
The Spurs committed only nine turnovers, but Detroit took advantage of almost every one to collect 19 points.
"Every time we were down three or four, they made a big basket," Tony Parker said. "We missed wide-open shots and had turnovers, so every time we got close, we never really had a chance to tie."
Bruce Bowen sat for the rest of the game after Prince drove by him early in the third quarter and drew a foul in the lane. Prince went on to score 16 of his 22 in the second half.
Brown played the remaining 20 minutes as the Spurs leaned on their reserves. They probably will have to do more of the same tonight in New York and Wednesday in Indiana.
Duncan will miss both games, if not more.
"We can't do much about it," Ginobili said. "We just have to face it and get better."
Web Posted: 03/21/2005 12:00 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032105.1C.BKNspurs.pistons.gamer.159c3caab.htm l
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — As he stood outside the visitor's locker room Sunday afternoon, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich explained his goals for the next four weeks. First, he wants to set a consistent rotation. Then, he would like to see improved halfcourt execution.
"You know, a clean-up, paint-up, fix-up kind of thing," Popovich said.
About an hour later, Popovich had reason to wonder if his touch-up work had grown into a complete remodel.
By the time the Spurs finished their 110-101 loss to Detroit on Sunday evening, Tim Duncan was 20,000 feet above Michigan and climbing. He was on a private jet belonging to Pistons owner Bill Davidson, his right ankle was wrapped and his immediate future contained only another date with an MRI machine in San Antonio.
Duncan left the Palace of Auburn Hills at halftime on crutches after re-spraining his right ankle less than two minutes into the game. He will miss at least two games, though Popovich expects to be absent his best player for "a while."
Spurs officials said they would not have a more definitive timetable for Duncan's return until an MRI today.
Duncan's sprain was classified as a grade 2 on a 1-to-3 scale, more severe than the previous two sprains he sustained to the same ankle this season. He missed two games after injuring his ankle in practice Feb.7. He re-sprained it against Utah on March 6, played the next game then sat out a loss in Phoenix.
It is not unusual for players to miss at least two weeks with grade 2 sprains. The playoffs start April 23.
"It's hard," Manu Ginobili said. "We're where we should be getting ready and taking playoff shape. We were very healthy in the first 40, 50 games. Now it's all happening to us."
Duncan's exit came at the same time as Ginobili's return. After missing five games with a groin strain, Ginobili scored 14 points in 16 minutes, less than two of which were spent with Duncan on the floor.
Duncan landed on Rasheed Wallace's foot after scoring over the Pistons forward with 10:15 left in the first quarter. His ankle immediately buckled at almost a 90-degree angle.
Duncan grabbed his foot even before he fell to the floor. Unable to put any weight on his ankle, he was helped off the court by Tony Massenburg and Sean Marks.
"Normally he just grabs his ankle and walks to the locker room," Ginobili said. "This time he stayed there for a while, and his face didn't look that good."
Not surprisingly, the rest of the Spurs looked better with Duncan than without. Detroit, whose field-goal percentage of .439 had ranked 20th in the league, shot 64.9 percent in the first half in taking a 62-52 lead.
Buoyed by 54 points from their bench, the Spurs closed within three points or fewer six times in the final quarter. After Robert Horry made a 3-pointer to cut Detroit's lead to 99-97 with 3:25 left, the Spurs had a chance to at least tie, but Rasho Nesterovic fumbled the ball into the hands of Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince.
Chauncey Billups then drove around Devin Brown and tossed in a runner as Nesterovic fouled him for three of his 25 points.
The Spurs committed only nine turnovers, but Detroit took advantage of almost every one to collect 19 points.
"Every time we were down three or four, they made a big basket," Tony Parker said. "We missed wide-open shots and had turnovers, so every time we got close, we never really had a chance to tie."
Bruce Bowen sat for the rest of the game after Prince drove by him early in the third quarter and drew a foul in the lane. Prince went on to score 16 of his 22 in the second half.
Brown played the remaining 20 minutes as the Spurs leaned on their reserves. They probably will have to do more of the same tonight in New York and Wednesday in Indiana.
Duncan will miss both games, if not more.
"We can't do much about it," Ginobili said. "We just have to face it and get better."