duncan228
12-24-2009, 08:56 PM
http://media.mysanantonio.com/images/BKN_Spurs_Notebook_1225.ART_GDS7J2DO.1_SPURS_WIZAR DS_KMH_14.15345538.jpg
Spurs center Theo Ratliff, gesturing after scoring a basket, will get to open Christmas presents with his wife and their six children before he heads to Milwaukee with the team.
Spurs' Ratliff dreams of cheap Christmas (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Ratliff_dreams_of_cheap_Christmas.html)
Jeff McDonald
With no game to play on Christmas Day this year, Spurs players, coaches and staff members have the rare opportunity to spend the morning with their families before boarding a late afternoon charter flight to Milwaukee.
For reserve center Theo Ratliff, that means approximately a metric ton of torn wrapping paper. Ratliff, 36, and his wife Kristina have six children, ranging in age from 13 to 21/2-year old twin girls.
He said he can't wait to watch Adonia, Darius, Stacia, Yasmeen, Alexis and Sasha tear into their Christmas goodies this morning.
“It's always crazy,” Ratliff said. “But it's good.”
Ratliff jokes that most of his NBA earnings have gone to pay for large family Christmases. When he plays Santa, the price tag can get expensive.
“That's the only reason Theo Ratliff is still in the league,” teammate Richard Jefferson said. “To pay for those kids.”
A vote of confidence: At least one NBA coach predicts the Spurs will soon return to their winning ways, even after a 15-11 start.
“We were going through the same things, earlier, with chemistry and the new players,” said Portland coach Nate McMillan, whose team beat the Spurs 98-94 on Wednesday. “Some people expect things to happen right away, but it takes time. They've been able to stay afloat. They're a good team, and they're going to be OK.”
Saving Theo: Ratliff did not play against Portland, marking the 14th time this season Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has not used him in a game. He is averaging better than a block a game in the 12 games he has played.
“Theo's played well every time I've put him on the court,” Popovich said. “He's been great every single time.”
Ratliff is averaging 10 minutes per game this season. Despite his productivity, his playing time has been limited both by age and by Popovich's desire to get Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair better acclimated to the Spurs' rotation players.
“We wanted to get the players on the court who are going to play the most minutes during the season,” Popovich said, “and we want Theo to be available for certain teams and at the end of the season. There have been certain games he's come in for certain reasons and helped us.”
A notch higher: With 24 points in the loss to Portland, Spurs forward Tim Duncan passed Hall of Famer John Stockton for 35th on the league's all-time scoring list.
Duncan, in his 13th season, has produced 19,724 points. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki holds the 34th slot with 19,816.
Duncan also needs 19 more rebounds to pass Jack Sikma for 27th on that list.
Spurs center Theo Ratliff, gesturing after scoring a basket, will get to open Christmas presents with his wife and their six children before he heads to Milwaukee with the team.
Spurs' Ratliff dreams of cheap Christmas (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Ratliff_dreams_of_cheap_Christmas.html)
Jeff McDonald
With no game to play on Christmas Day this year, Spurs players, coaches and staff members have the rare opportunity to spend the morning with their families before boarding a late afternoon charter flight to Milwaukee.
For reserve center Theo Ratliff, that means approximately a metric ton of torn wrapping paper. Ratliff, 36, and his wife Kristina have six children, ranging in age from 13 to 21/2-year old twin girls.
He said he can't wait to watch Adonia, Darius, Stacia, Yasmeen, Alexis and Sasha tear into their Christmas goodies this morning.
“It's always crazy,” Ratliff said. “But it's good.”
Ratliff jokes that most of his NBA earnings have gone to pay for large family Christmases. When he plays Santa, the price tag can get expensive.
“That's the only reason Theo Ratliff is still in the league,” teammate Richard Jefferson said. “To pay for those kids.”
A vote of confidence: At least one NBA coach predicts the Spurs will soon return to their winning ways, even after a 15-11 start.
“We were going through the same things, earlier, with chemistry and the new players,” said Portland coach Nate McMillan, whose team beat the Spurs 98-94 on Wednesday. “Some people expect things to happen right away, but it takes time. They've been able to stay afloat. They're a good team, and they're going to be OK.”
Saving Theo: Ratliff did not play against Portland, marking the 14th time this season Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has not used him in a game. He is averaging better than a block a game in the 12 games he has played.
“Theo's played well every time I've put him on the court,” Popovich said. “He's been great every single time.”
Ratliff is averaging 10 minutes per game this season. Despite his productivity, his playing time has been limited both by age and by Popovich's desire to get Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair better acclimated to the Spurs' rotation players.
“We wanted to get the players on the court who are going to play the most minutes during the season,” Popovich said, “and we want Theo to be available for certain teams and at the end of the season. There have been certain games he's come in for certain reasons and helped us.”
A notch higher: With 24 points in the loss to Portland, Spurs forward Tim Duncan passed Hall of Famer John Stockton for 35th on the league's all-time scoring list.
Duncan, in his 13th season, has produced 19,724 points. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki holds the 34th slot with 19,816.
Duncan also needs 19 more rebounds to pass Jack Sikma for 27th on that list.