duncan228
01-28-2010, 01:12 AM
Ankle likely to shelve Spurs' Parker (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Ankle_likely_to_shelve_Spurs_Parker.html)
Mike Monroe
The Spurs won't know until today or Friday how long Tony Parker will be out with another left ankle sprain, but Manu Ginobili offered a hint.
“Tony said it wasn't so bad, but he will probably miss a couple of games,” said Ginobili, one of three Spurs who will be asked to fill in at the point until the All-NBA guard returns.
Parker's ankle rolled as he drove to the basket with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter of the Spurs' 105-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at the AT&T Center.
X-rays taken at the arena were negative, but a timetable for Parker's return won't be established until he is re-examined by the team's medical staff.
Parker missed two games in November after mildly spraining the same ankle in a loss at Portland.
George Hill likely will start in Parker's absence, but Ginobili and Roger Mason Jr. are apt to get some time running the club, as well.
“George, for sure, will play the point,” Ginobili said, “but Roger and me will interchange, too and figure it out.”
Hill hopes his time as the primary point guard is minimal.
“I'm always ready,” he said. “It's happened before. The only thing I can do is pray for him to get healthy sooner than later so he can help us win ball games.”
Blair honored: Calling his selection to the NBA's Rookie Challenge on All-Star Weekend “a good honor,” Spurs rookie forward-center DeJuan Blair has a goal for the Feb. 12 rookie vs. sophomore competition at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
“I guess I'll see what the rebounding record in the rookie game is and try to go from there,” Blair said before grabbing nine rebounds against the Hawks.
“This wasn't a goal for me,” he said of the All-Star Weekend event. “My goal was just to play and do well. This is just a cherry on top, a nice bonus.”
Hill, averaging 10.0 points and 2.2 assists and a starter at shooting guard in the last two games, said he wasn't disappointed he was passed over for the sophomore team.
“I told myself I wasn't going to make it, so I was prepared,” Hill said. “I did my part. I think I've played good. I'm not mad. I'll take the weekend off.”
For the record, and Blair's benefit, the Bulls' Elton Brand set the mark with 21 rebounds in the 2000 Rookie Challenge.
Blair had 21 rebounds in the Spurs' 109-108 victory over Oklahoma City on Jan. 13.
Rumor mill: Asked before tipoff about a Yahoo! Sports report that the Spurs had “researched and debated” getting involved in the bidding for Suns All-Star center Amare Stoudemire, head coach Gregg Popovich said he had no knowledge of the report.
“What the heck is Yahoo?” Popovich said. “Is it one of those computer things? Is that like Twittering?
“It's that time of year, I guess. Trade deadline. Everybody's going to come up with something.”
League sources insist the Spurs have had no direct conversations whatever with the Suns about Stoudemire.
Mike Monroe
The Spurs won't know until today or Friday how long Tony Parker will be out with another left ankle sprain, but Manu Ginobili offered a hint.
“Tony said it wasn't so bad, but he will probably miss a couple of games,” said Ginobili, one of three Spurs who will be asked to fill in at the point until the All-NBA guard returns.
Parker's ankle rolled as he drove to the basket with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter of the Spurs' 105-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at the AT&T Center.
X-rays taken at the arena were negative, but a timetable for Parker's return won't be established until he is re-examined by the team's medical staff.
Parker missed two games in November after mildly spraining the same ankle in a loss at Portland.
George Hill likely will start in Parker's absence, but Ginobili and Roger Mason Jr. are apt to get some time running the club, as well.
“George, for sure, will play the point,” Ginobili said, “but Roger and me will interchange, too and figure it out.”
Hill hopes his time as the primary point guard is minimal.
“I'm always ready,” he said. “It's happened before. The only thing I can do is pray for him to get healthy sooner than later so he can help us win ball games.”
Blair honored: Calling his selection to the NBA's Rookie Challenge on All-Star Weekend “a good honor,” Spurs rookie forward-center DeJuan Blair has a goal for the Feb. 12 rookie vs. sophomore competition at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
“I guess I'll see what the rebounding record in the rookie game is and try to go from there,” Blair said before grabbing nine rebounds against the Hawks.
“This wasn't a goal for me,” he said of the All-Star Weekend event. “My goal was just to play and do well. This is just a cherry on top, a nice bonus.”
Hill, averaging 10.0 points and 2.2 assists and a starter at shooting guard in the last two games, said he wasn't disappointed he was passed over for the sophomore team.
“I told myself I wasn't going to make it, so I was prepared,” Hill said. “I did my part. I think I've played good. I'm not mad. I'll take the weekend off.”
For the record, and Blair's benefit, the Bulls' Elton Brand set the mark with 21 rebounds in the 2000 Rookie Challenge.
Blair had 21 rebounds in the Spurs' 109-108 victory over Oklahoma City on Jan. 13.
Rumor mill: Asked before tipoff about a Yahoo! Sports report that the Spurs had “researched and debated” getting involved in the bidding for Suns All-Star center Amare Stoudemire, head coach Gregg Popovich said he had no knowledge of the report.
“What the heck is Yahoo?” Popovich said. “Is it one of those computer things? Is that like Twittering?
“It's that time of year, I guess. Trade deadline. Everybody's going to come up with something.”
League sources insist the Spurs have had no direct conversations whatever with the Suns about Stoudemire.