iilluzioN
10-08-2009, 10:43 PM
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0505/nba_g_duncan_spurs_580.jpg
By Mike Monroe (http://www.mysanantonio.com/email_us?contentID=63821947)- Express-News
For the first time since Manu Ginobili left the Spurs in Cleveland on April 5 with a stress fracture in his right ankle, the team's “Big Three” will be back on the court tonight in game action.
Ginobili played in the Spurs' preseason opener against Houston on Tuesday, but All-Stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker did not suit up for the game. They were held out by head coach Gregg Popovich so he could test younger players.
Popovich said Duncan and Parker will join Ginobili on the court when the Spurs host Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece at the AT&T Center.
That the opponent is not another NBA team doesn't matter to Ginobili.
“It's going to be fun, for sure,” Ginobili said. “For me, it was great the last game. I just wanted to play. I didn't care with whom, against whom. I just wanted to be out there.
“But it's important for us to play again together, to be involved with Richard (Jefferson) and (Antonio) McDyess. I don't know who else is going to play, but it's going to be a fun game, and I really can't wait to play against them.”
Duncan said he is eager for a game situation after 10 days of practice.
“I'm looking forward to getting on the floor and getting up and down a little bit in a live situation,” he said. “... To go out there against real players, against guys who don't know what we're doing, specifically, and play real basketball is going to be great for us.”
The jocular cameraman: Moments after answering questions for reporters, Popovich saw Ginobili sliding in front of the TV mini-cams and microphones. Grabbing a boom microphone away from KENS-TV videographer Marcus Floyd, Popovich fired the first question at Ginobili.
“How does it feel,” said Popovich, thrusting the microphone in Ginobili's direction, “always having Pop jacking you around? Sometimes you start. Sometimes you come off the bench. You don't know what your minutes are going to be.”
Without missing a beat, Ginobili cracked up everyone, including Popovich.
“I'm really freaking tired of that,” he said, then handed Floyd his microphone and retreated to the locker room.
Greek tragedy: A member of the U.S. Olympic team that finished third in the 2004 Games in Athens, Duncan's memories of Greece are mixed.
“I don't have a great memory (of the Olympics),” he said, “but the city was nice and the people were beautiful. My wife had a great time down there. We went out and looked around a little bit. It was nice.”
Asked by a Greek reporter if he might be tempted to jump some day to a European team, Duncan said, “I don't think so. I enjoy playing in the NBA. Hopefully, I can play it out until I'm done playing in the NBA.”
By Mike Monroe (http://www.mysanantonio.com/email_us?contentID=63821947)- Express-News
For the first time since Manu Ginobili left the Spurs in Cleveland on April 5 with a stress fracture in his right ankle, the team's “Big Three” will be back on the court tonight in game action.
Ginobili played in the Spurs' preseason opener against Houston on Tuesday, but All-Stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker did not suit up for the game. They were held out by head coach Gregg Popovich so he could test younger players.
Popovich said Duncan and Parker will join Ginobili on the court when the Spurs host Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece at the AT&T Center.
That the opponent is not another NBA team doesn't matter to Ginobili.
“It's going to be fun, for sure,” Ginobili said. “For me, it was great the last game. I just wanted to play. I didn't care with whom, against whom. I just wanted to be out there.
“But it's important for us to play again together, to be involved with Richard (Jefferson) and (Antonio) McDyess. I don't know who else is going to play, but it's going to be a fun game, and I really can't wait to play against them.”
Duncan said he is eager for a game situation after 10 days of practice.
“I'm looking forward to getting on the floor and getting up and down a little bit in a live situation,” he said. “... To go out there against real players, against guys who don't know what we're doing, specifically, and play real basketball is going to be great for us.”
The jocular cameraman: Moments after answering questions for reporters, Popovich saw Ginobili sliding in front of the TV mini-cams and microphones. Grabbing a boom microphone away from KENS-TV videographer Marcus Floyd, Popovich fired the first question at Ginobili.
“How does it feel,” said Popovich, thrusting the microphone in Ginobili's direction, “always having Pop jacking you around? Sometimes you start. Sometimes you come off the bench. You don't know what your minutes are going to be.”
Without missing a beat, Ginobili cracked up everyone, including Popovich.
“I'm really freaking tired of that,” he said, then handed Floyd his microphone and retreated to the locker room.
Greek tragedy: A member of the U.S. Olympic team that finished third in the 2004 Games in Athens, Duncan's memories of Greece are mixed.
“I don't have a great memory (of the Olympics),” he said, “but the city was nice and the people were beautiful. My wife had a great time down there. We went out and looked around a little bit. It was nice.”
Asked by a Greek reporter if he might be tempted to jump some day to a European team, Duncan said, “I don't think so. I enjoy playing in the NBA. Hopefully, I can play it out until I'm done playing in the NBA.”