duncan228
01-30-2010, 11:12 PM
Ship righted, Spurs on even keel (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Ship_righted_Spurs_on_even_keel.html)
Jeff McDonald
Unlike the majority of their fan base, the Spurs did not fall into full-scale, freak-out mode when they lost three games in a row at home earlier this month.
Now that they've stopped the skid with back-to-back quality victories over Atlanta and Memphis, the Spurs aren't exactly crowing about turning a corner, either.
If nothing else, they've learned over the past few games the fine line between winning and losing.
“There's going to be ups and downs, smiles and frowns,” forward Richard Jefferson said. “When we were struggling, we weren't shooting the ball particularly well, but we weren't getting blown out. We were in every single game. It was coming down to one or two shots here and there that we weren't making.”
If the Spurs were inclined to rest on their laurels, today's opponent should put a quick end to that urge.
At 31-15, Denver owns the second-best record in the Western Conference, behind only the Lakers, and has already beaten the Spurs at the AT&T Center once this season. With or without NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony, who has missed three games with an ankle sprain, the Nuggets pose a tough test.
Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. called talk of his team completely righting the ship “premature.”
“We're getting wins, we're trying to correct a lot of the things that we've done, but we've got a long way to go,” Mason said. “We're not fooling ourselves.”
Sayonara Spurs: Today's game marks the Spurs' final game of a six-game homestand leading into the annual rodeo road trip, which opens Wednesday at Sacramento.
A victory would give the Spurs a split of the homestand after an 0-3 start.
“We want to get rolling a little bit so that once we get to that road trip, we'll be ready,” Mason said.
Passing Manu: While he waits to rediscover his shooting stroke, Manu Ginobili has found other ways to contribute on offense.
Ginobili is shooting 39.4 percent, a career low, and is averaging 12.9 points, his fewest since his second NBA season, but his assist numbers are at an all-time high. He is averaging 4.5 per game, matching the career best set in 2007-08.
“I don't know what's happening this year, but I'm finding people better,” Ginobili said. “I really enjoy it. I really don't mind scoring less if I can get everybody involved and make everybody happy.”
Finley active, inert: Michael Finley was in uniform Friday against Memphis for the first time since spraining his ankle Dec. 5 against Denver. He replaced the newly injured Tony Parker on the active list, but did not enter the game.
Jeff McDonald
Unlike the majority of their fan base, the Spurs did not fall into full-scale, freak-out mode when they lost three games in a row at home earlier this month.
Now that they've stopped the skid with back-to-back quality victories over Atlanta and Memphis, the Spurs aren't exactly crowing about turning a corner, either.
If nothing else, they've learned over the past few games the fine line between winning and losing.
“There's going to be ups and downs, smiles and frowns,” forward Richard Jefferson said. “When we were struggling, we weren't shooting the ball particularly well, but we weren't getting blown out. We were in every single game. It was coming down to one or two shots here and there that we weren't making.”
If the Spurs were inclined to rest on their laurels, today's opponent should put a quick end to that urge.
At 31-15, Denver owns the second-best record in the Western Conference, behind only the Lakers, and has already beaten the Spurs at the AT&T Center once this season. With or without NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony, who has missed three games with an ankle sprain, the Nuggets pose a tough test.
Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. called talk of his team completely righting the ship “premature.”
“We're getting wins, we're trying to correct a lot of the things that we've done, but we've got a long way to go,” Mason said. “We're not fooling ourselves.”
Sayonara Spurs: Today's game marks the Spurs' final game of a six-game homestand leading into the annual rodeo road trip, which opens Wednesday at Sacramento.
A victory would give the Spurs a split of the homestand after an 0-3 start.
“We want to get rolling a little bit so that once we get to that road trip, we'll be ready,” Mason said.
Passing Manu: While he waits to rediscover his shooting stroke, Manu Ginobili has found other ways to contribute on offense.
Ginobili is shooting 39.4 percent, a career low, and is averaging 12.9 points, his fewest since his second NBA season, but his assist numbers are at an all-time high. He is averaging 4.5 per game, matching the career best set in 2007-08.
“I don't know what's happening this year, but I'm finding people better,” Ginobili said. “I really enjoy it. I really don't mind scoring less if I can get everybody involved and make everybody happy.”
Finley active, inert: Michael Finley was in uniform Friday against Memphis for the first time since spraining his ankle Dec. 5 against Denver. He replaced the newly injured Tony Parker on the active list, but did not enter the game.