Kori Ellis
04-02-2005, 03:28 AM
Duncan misses trip to Denver to rehab
Web Posted: 04/02/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040205.9C.BKNspurs.duncan.198da303a.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
DENVER — Spurs All-Star power forward Tim Duncan didn't accompany the team on its one-game trip to Denver, in part because of the effect air travel has on swollen joints.
Duncan, who suffered a Grade 2 sprain of the right ankle on March 20, continued his rehabilitation regimen in San Antonio, including walking on a treadmill, running in a swimming pool and doing some balance work on the Spurs' practice court.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Duncan likely will travel with the team on its three-game road trip to Dallas, Los Angeles (Clippers) and Golden State. The trip begins Thursday.
"As we move along and his ankle gets better he will start to come on the trips, when the swelling is down and it's not a problem," Popovich said. "I think it's good for the team to see him around while they're playing without him. It gives them a little confidence. But this trip was too soon after the ankle sprain."
Popovich said the club's goal for Duncan's return remains the final five games of the season, which would make the April 12 home game against Portland the target game. He emphasized that there is no way to accurately predict when Duncan will be able to play again.
"I honestly don't know," Popovich said. "He's still got a lot of pain in it and still can't walk normally, put all his weight on it. But we're still just guessing. We're hoping to get five games out of him before the playoffs begin, but we really don't know."
More shots for Brown: Backup guard-forward Devin Brown has undergone a second round of injections to ease the pain in his lower back that has had him on the injured list since March 25.
Brown has been diagnosed with an inflamed nerve root in the L4-L5 section of his back.
"He reacted a little bit better than he did to the first round of injections," Popovich said, "but we're still quite concerned that he's going to have a difficult time coming back." :(
Karl honored: Denver Nuggets coach George Karl was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for the second consecutive month. Karl's team went 12-2 in March and entered Friday's game with a 22-6 record since he took over.
Karl said he was giving this month's award to assistant coach Doug Moe, the former Spurs and Nuggets head coach he brought back to the bench after the All-Star break.
"The pace of the game is his philosophy," Karl said of Moe, whose Spurs and Nuggets teams led the NBA in scoring, "and we've been running. That's been our most significant improvement since February. Everybody's getting comfortable with the pace of the game, so we'll give this award to Doug."
Moe, who still lives in San Antonio during the offseason, suffered a heart attack in June and has his blood pressure checked before and after each game. When Karl was ejected from the Nuggets' game in Phoenix on Monday, Moe turned the coaching duties over to fellow assistant Scott Brooks.
"Too much stress," he said.
Moe said his health remains robust, which he attributes to the first extended period of exercise in his life. He has been walking on a treadmill daily, and said he feels better than he has in years.
Web Posted: 04/02/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040205.9C.BKNspurs.duncan.198da303a.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
DENVER — Spurs All-Star power forward Tim Duncan didn't accompany the team on its one-game trip to Denver, in part because of the effect air travel has on swollen joints.
Duncan, who suffered a Grade 2 sprain of the right ankle on March 20, continued his rehabilitation regimen in San Antonio, including walking on a treadmill, running in a swimming pool and doing some balance work on the Spurs' practice court.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Duncan likely will travel with the team on its three-game road trip to Dallas, Los Angeles (Clippers) and Golden State. The trip begins Thursday.
"As we move along and his ankle gets better he will start to come on the trips, when the swelling is down and it's not a problem," Popovich said. "I think it's good for the team to see him around while they're playing without him. It gives them a little confidence. But this trip was too soon after the ankle sprain."
Popovich said the club's goal for Duncan's return remains the final five games of the season, which would make the April 12 home game against Portland the target game. He emphasized that there is no way to accurately predict when Duncan will be able to play again.
"I honestly don't know," Popovich said. "He's still got a lot of pain in it and still can't walk normally, put all his weight on it. But we're still just guessing. We're hoping to get five games out of him before the playoffs begin, but we really don't know."
More shots for Brown: Backup guard-forward Devin Brown has undergone a second round of injections to ease the pain in his lower back that has had him on the injured list since March 25.
Brown has been diagnosed with an inflamed nerve root in the L4-L5 section of his back.
"He reacted a little bit better than he did to the first round of injections," Popovich said, "but we're still quite concerned that he's going to have a difficult time coming back." :(
Karl honored: Denver Nuggets coach George Karl was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for the second consecutive month. Karl's team went 12-2 in March and entered Friday's game with a 22-6 record since he took over.
Karl said he was giving this month's award to assistant coach Doug Moe, the former Spurs and Nuggets head coach he brought back to the bench after the All-Star break.
"The pace of the game is his philosophy," Karl said of Moe, whose Spurs and Nuggets teams led the NBA in scoring, "and we've been running. That's been our most significant improvement since February. Everybody's getting comfortable with the pace of the game, so we'll give this award to Doug."
Moe, who still lives in San Antonio during the offseason, suffered a heart attack in June and has his blood pressure checked before and after each game. When Karl was ejected from the Nuggets' game in Phoenix on Monday, Moe turned the coaching duties over to fellow assistant Scott Brooks.
"Too much stress," he said.
Moe said his health remains robust, which he attributes to the first extended period of exercise in his life. He has been walking on a treadmill daily, and said he feels better than he has in years.