duncan228
04-29-2009, 12:10 AM
Carlesimo says Spurs' run isn't done (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Carlesimo_says_Spurs_run_isnt_done.html)
Tom Orsborn
P.J. Carlesimo disagrees with fans and media who say the Spurs will be hard pressed to seriously contend for another championship in the Tim Duncan era.
I don't believe it, said the former Spurs assistant coach, who worked Tuesday's game as an analyst for TNT. I've been here, and I talk to people. Anybody that feels that way is incorrect. I don't sense that at all.
Asked to elaborate, Carlesimo said, What was the team this year when Manu (Ginobili) played, 32-12 or something like that? There's your answer.
A lingering ankle injury ended Ginobili's season on April 7. Ginobili, who turns 32 in July, finished his seventh NBA season with averages of 15.5 points and 3.6 assists.
Carlesimo's five-season stint on the Spurs' bench ended after they swept Cleveland in the 2007 NBA Finals for their fourth title in nine years. He's been working for TNT since Oklahoma City fired him as its head coach earlier this season.
The Seattle SuperSonics, who later moved to Oklahoma City, named him head coach on July 5, 2007.
The Spurs greeted Carlesimo warmly when he showed up at the club's shootaround Tuesday morning.
At least one Spurs player greeted him with an expletive, a nod to Carlesimo's frequent use of salty language.
Bruce Bowen took a break from practicing free throws to chat with Carlesimo.
I can't share the things he said, because some of it would be bleeped out, Bowen said. I think the majority of it would.
Asked before the game what his plans are for next season, Carlesimo said, I'd like to coach. This has been great, fantastic. But there's no question I'd much rather be coaching, and hopefully I'll get another opportunity down the line.
If he doesn't, there's always more broadcasting work.
I love it, he said of being an analyst. It's very difficult. It's a lot of work. It's fun, but it's difficult. I've enjoyed it when I get the opportunity, but I still hope I get another opportunity to coach.
Losing the third: In each of the Spurs' first three playoff losses to the Mavericks, the third quarter was the tipping point. Dallas won those three periods by a combined score of 87-53, and Duncan said going into Game 5 that the first few minutes after halftime would be crucial to the team's success.
We have to find a way to solve that problem, Duncan said. We seem to come out of the half and lose leads or let people back in the game or increase people's lead.
If the Spurs learned any kind of lesson in the first four games, they didn't show it Tuesday. In Game 5, the Mavericks blew open what had been a four-point game at halftime with a 30-19 edge in the third quarter. They opened the second half with an 11-5 run and closed the third quarter with a 10-2 spurt.
Staff writers Mike Finger and Jeff McDonald contributed to this story.
Tom Orsborn
P.J. Carlesimo disagrees with fans and media who say the Spurs will be hard pressed to seriously contend for another championship in the Tim Duncan era.
I don't believe it, said the former Spurs assistant coach, who worked Tuesday's game as an analyst for TNT. I've been here, and I talk to people. Anybody that feels that way is incorrect. I don't sense that at all.
Asked to elaborate, Carlesimo said, What was the team this year when Manu (Ginobili) played, 32-12 or something like that? There's your answer.
A lingering ankle injury ended Ginobili's season on April 7. Ginobili, who turns 32 in July, finished his seventh NBA season with averages of 15.5 points and 3.6 assists.
Carlesimo's five-season stint on the Spurs' bench ended after they swept Cleveland in the 2007 NBA Finals for their fourth title in nine years. He's been working for TNT since Oklahoma City fired him as its head coach earlier this season.
The Seattle SuperSonics, who later moved to Oklahoma City, named him head coach on July 5, 2007.
The Spurs greeted Carlesimo warmly when he showed up at the club's shootaround Tuesday morning.
At least one Spurs player greeted him with an expletive, a nod to Carlesimo's frequent use of salty language.
Bruce Bowen took a break from practicing free throws to chat with Carlesimo.
I can't share the things he said, because some of it would be bleeped out, Bowen said. I think the majority of it would.
Asked before the game what his plans are for next season, Carlesimo said, I'd like to coach. This has been great, fantastic. But there's no question I'd much rather be coaching, and hopefully I'll get another opportunity down the line.
If he doesn't, there's always more broadcasting work.
I love it, he said of being an analyst. It's very difficult. It's a lot of work. It's fun, but it's difficult. I've enjoyed it when I get the opportunity, but I still hope I get another opportunity to coach.
Losing the third: In each of the Spurs' first three playoff losses to the Mavericks, the third quarter was the tipping point. Dallas won those three periods by a combined score of 87-53, and Duncan said going into Game 5 that the first few minutes after halftime would be crucial to the team's success.
We have to find a way to solve that problem, Duncan said. We seem to come out of the half and lose leads or let people back in the game or increase people's lead.
If the Spurs learned any kind of lesson in the first four games, they didn't show it Tuesday. In Game 5, the Mavericks blew open what had been a four-point game at halftime with a 30-19 edge in the third quarter. They opened the second half with an 11-5 run and closed the third quarter with a 10-2 spurt.
Staff writers Mike Finger and Jeff McDonald contributed to this story.