Kori Ellis
05-07-2005, 12:07 AM
Spurs notebook: Popovich uncertain on starting Ginobili
Web Posted: 05/07/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050705.4C.BKNspurs.notebook.24c53be09.html
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has yet to decide if he will put All-Star guard Manu Ginobili back into the starting lineup for the team's Western Conference semifinals matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics.
Brent Barry, the Spurs guard who replaced Ginobili, an Argentine national hero after leading his homeland to the Olympic gold medal last summer, sounded Friday as if he thought it might be a good idea.
Barry said he has been the object of Argentine national anger for being the player who replaced Ginobili.
"It really doesn't matter to me," Barry said, when asked if he wanted to remain in the starting lineup. "I've got people in Argentina mad at me for something that Pop did.
"There have been cars parked outside my house late at night with the lights on and the engine running," he said. "I'm not sure if they're still mad. Heads are going to roll, I fear. I don't know. Manu won't translate for me. I'm not sure if Manu is in the car, but it's a long-nosed car, so maybe he is." :lol
It was strictly a joke, Barry said. He loves all Argentines, most especially Ginobili.
Talking heads: Spurs defensive star Bruce Bowen had little response to Seattle shooting star Ray Allen's latest rant about Bowen's rough-and-tumble defensive tactics.
"I don't have a reaction," Bowen said Friday.
Will he try to get into Allen's head in Game 1?
"I don't know," Bowen said. "We shall see. I don't know what they're thinking with some of the things that are being said. But so be it. That's the way they feel. We can't change the way they feel. We're definitely not going to go word for word, as far as, 'Hey, they said this about you, and what do you think of that?'
"Let's just play the game."
Kind words: Not all the Sonics are saying nasty things about the Spurs.
Former Spurs guard Antonio Daniels, one of Tim Duncan's closest friends when they played together from 1998-2002, had high praise for Duncan, though in a back-handed sort of way.
"He is the slowest, most effective big man with no athleticism," Daniels said. "We used to joke about it. He just knows how to use what he has. He has really long arms and can't jump that high, but is a terrific shot blocker because he knows what to do. He's basketball smart."
Getting defensive: Popovich was asked if Glenn Robinson's defensive work on Carmelo Anthony for a brief stretch of Game 5 made him more comfortable about using him in the series.
"I don't know," Popovich said. "He hasn't been playing defense that long. How long has he been here? He's trying."
Web Posted: 05/07/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050705.4C.BKNspurs.notebook.24c53be09.html
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has yet to decide if he will put All-Star guard Manu Ginobili back into the starting lineup for the team's Western Conference semifinals matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics.
Brent Barry, the Spurs guard who replaced Ginobili, an Argentine national hero after leading his homeland to the Olympic gold medal last summer, sounded Friday as if he thought it might be a good idea.
Barry said he has been the object of Argentine national anger for being the player who replaced Ginobili.
"It really doesn't matter to me," Barry said, when asked if he wanted to remain in the starting lineup. "I've got people in Argentina mad at me for something that Pop did.
"There have been cars parked outside my house late at night with the lights on and the engine running," he said. "I'm not sure if they're still mad. Heads are going to roll, I fear. I don't know. Manu won't translate for me. I'm not sure if Manu is in the car, but it's a long-nosed car, so maybe he is." :lol
It was strictly a joke, Barry said. He loves all Argentines, most especially Ginobili.
Talking heads: Spurs defensive star Bruce Bowen had little response to Seattle shooting star Ray Allen's latest rant about Bowen's rough-and-tumble defensive tactics.
"I don't have a reaction," Bowen said Friday.
Will he try to get into Allen's head in Game 1?
"I don't know," Bowen said. "We shall see. I don't know what they're thinking with some of the things that are being said. But so be it. That's the way they feel. We can't change the way they feel. We're definitely not going to go word for word, as far as, 'Hey, they said this about you, and what do you think of that?'
"Let's just play the game."
Kind words: Not all the Sonics are saying nasty things about the Spurs.
Former Spurs guard Antonio Daniels, one of Tim Duncan's closest friends when they played together from 1998-2002, had high praise for Duncan, though in a back-handed sort of way.
"He is the slowest, most effective big man with no athleticism," Daniels said. "We used to joke about it. He just knows how to use what he has. He has really long arms and can't jump that high, but is a terrific shot blocker because he knows what to do. He's basketball smart."
Getting defensive: Popovich was asked if Glenn Robinson's defensive work on Carmelo Anthony for a brief stretch of Game 5 made him more comfortable about using him in the series.
"I don't know," Popovich said. "He hasn't been playing defense that long. How long has he been here? He's trying."