Kori Ellis
06-07-2005, 12:22 AM
Remember Rasho? Nesterovic's limited playoff role may expand to balance Pistons' size edge
Web Posted: 06/07/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA060705.1D.BKNspurs.nesterovic.2ec0011ac.html
The billboards sprinkled across town feature the six flags representing the different homelands of the Spurs, as well as the season-long marketing slogan uniting them: One team, one goal.
Pictured are three players who figure to help the Spurs toward that final objective: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and ... Rasho Nesterovic?
While Nesterovic doesn't figure to tower over the Finals the way his likeness does over U.S. 281, his role could receive a slight bump in size if Detroit's stable of big men tests the Spurs' depth.
"I'll just try to fit in and not break our rhythm," Nesterovic said. "Do whatever I can do."
What he's done a lot lately is sit. When the Spurs open the Finals on Thursday, it will be two months to the day since Nesterovic last started a game. He sprained his left ankle against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 9, missed the final six games of the regular season and still wasn't completely healthy when the playoffs began.
Nazr Mohammed has played well since moving into the starting lineup, averaging an efficient 8.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in 23.1 minutes during the postseason. Nesterovic, in the meantime, has become a part-time reserve, filling in for short stretches when Mohammed or Duncan has foul trouble.
A poor fit against the athleticism of the Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire, he appeared in three of the five games in the Western Conference finals, totaling only nine minutes.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who primarily has relied on Duncan, Mohammed and Robert Horry at power forward and center during the playoffs, doesn't figure to expand his regular rotation immediately to include Nesterovic. Mohammed's aggressiveness at the rim — something the Spurs have tried, unsuccessfully, to coax out of his predecessor — and his offensive rebounding have contributed to the team's success.
"I'm the fifth wheel," Mohammed said. "Just trying to fit in and get some lucky tip-ins."
Nesterovic also has tried to keep rolling along, despite being tethered to the bench for much of the playoffs. He was most active in the first round against Denver, playing in all four of the Spurs' victories. When Mohammed struggled in Game 3, Nesterovic provided seven rebounds, five on offense, in 17 minutes.
"He's been the same at practice as he's always been, positive and working hard," assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "The hard part is the not playing. You lose your sharpness.
"Forget whether you're a starter or not, if you're a guy used to getting a regular 20, 25 minutes, to go games without playing and then all of a sudden get thrown in, that's an adjustment."
Even more so for a guy who hadn't come off the bench in more than four years. Since moving into Minnesota's lineup during the 2000-01 season, Nesterovic had started every game in which he played.
His first appearance as a reserve was the second game of this season's playoffs.
"It's pretty tough because it's something new for me," Nesterovic said. "But that's part of the life, part of the game. You must just get used to it and get stronger out of it."
Mohammed had to do the same after he joined the Spurs more than midway through the season. After entrenching himself as New York's starting center for almost a year, he lost that job when the Spurs acquired him for Malik Rose. A groin injury he suffered with the Knicks further limited his effectiveness as well as his minutes.
It wasn't until Nesterovic sprained his left ankle for the second time this season that Mohammed received his opportunity. Given the starting job and, more important, the consistent minutes that came with it, he produced.
"Injuries are just part of the game," Mohammed said. "If it wasn't for Theo Ratliff getting hurt in Atlanta, who knows where I would be right now.
"The guys in Philadelphia used to tell me to always be prepared. That's something I've always remembered."
Nesterovic has tried to do the same. Seattle frequently went small during the latter part of its second-round series against the Spurs, further limiting his chances to get on the court. With Phoenix trying to match up, the Spurs stayed big throughout the conference finals, but Nesterovic received only a handful of minutes of spot duty.
Detroit has a more traditional lineup, starting Ben Wallace (6-foot-9) alongside Rasheed Wallace (6-11). Antonio McDyess (6-9) and Elden Campbell (7-0) come off the bench.
Nesterovic would have had a better opportunity to play had Miami and Shaquille O'Neal advanced to the Finals, where his 7-foot frame and six fouls likely would have been needed. But he did contribute 13 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes against the Pistons on March 20 after Duncan sprained his ankle. He also remains one of the Spurs' best team defenders.
"Whenever they need me," Nesterovic said, "I'm here."
Web Posted: 06/07/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA060705.1D.BKNspurs.nesterovic.2ec0011ac.html
The billboards sprinkled across town feature the six flags representing the different homelands of the Spurs, as well as the season-long marketing slogan uniting them: One team, one goal.
Pictured are three players who figure to help the Spurs toward that final objective: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and ... Rasho Nesterovic?
While Nesterovic doesn't figure to tower over the Finals the way his likeness does over U.S. 281, his role could receive a slight bump in size if Detroit's stable of big men tests the Spurs' depth.
"I'll just try to fit in and not break our rhythm," Nesterovic said. "Do whatever I can do."
What he's done a lot lately is sit. When the Spurs open the Finals on Thursday, it will be two months to the day since Nesterovic last started a game. He sprained his left ankle against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 9, missed the final six games of the regular season and still wasn't completely healthy when the playoffs began.
Nazr Mohammed has played well since moving into the starting lineup, averaging an efficient 8.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in 23.1 minutes during the postseason. Nesterovic, in the meantime, has become a part-time reserve, filling in for short stretches when Mohammed or Duncan has foul trouble.
A poor fit against the athleticism of the Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire, he appeared in three of the five games in the Western Conference finals, totaling only nine minutes.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who primarily has relied on Duncan, Mohammed and Robert Horry at power forward and center during the playoffs, doesn't figure to expand his regular rotation immediately to include Nesterovic. Mohammed's aggressiveness at the rim — something the Spurs have tried, unsuccessfully, to coax out of his predecessor — and his offensive rebounding have contributed to the team's success.
"I'm the fifth wheel," Mohammed said. "Just trying to fit in and get some lucky tip-ins."
Nesterovic also has tried to keep rolling along, despite being tethered to the bench for much of the playoffs. He was most active in the first round against Denver, playing in all four of the Spurs' victories. When Mohammed struggled in Game 3, Nesterovic provided seven rebounds, five on offense, in 17 minutes.
"He's been the same at practice as he's always been, positive and working hard," assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "The hard part is the not playing. You lose your sharpness.
"Forget whether you're a starter or not, if you're a guy used to getting a regular 20, 25 minutes, to go games without playing and then all of a sudden get thrown in, that's an adjustment."
Even more so for a guy who hadn't come off the bench in more than four years. Since moving into Minnesota's lineup during the 2000-01 season, Nesterovic had started every game in which he played.
His first appearance as a reserve was the second game of this season's playoffs.
"It's pretty tough because it's something new for me," Nesterovic said. "But that's part of the life, part of the game. You must just get used to it and get stronger out of it."
Mohammed had to do the same after he joined the Spurs more than midway through the season. After entrenching himself as New York's starting center for almost a year, he lost that job when the Spurs acquired him for Malik Rose. A groin injury he suffered with the Knicks further limited his effectiveness as well as his minutes.
It wasn't until Nesterovic sprained his left ankle for the second time this season that Mohammed received his opportunity. Given the starting job and, more important, the consistent minutes that came with it, he produced.
"Injuries are just part of the game," Mohammed said. "If it wasn't for Theo Ratliff getting hurt in Atlanta, who knows where I would be right now.
"The guys in Philadelphia used to tell me to always be prepared. That's something I've always remembered."
Nesterovic has tried to do the same. Seattle frequently went small during the latter part of its second-round series against the Spurs, further limiting his chances to get on the court. With Phoenix trying to match up, the Spurs stayed big throughout the conference finals, but Nesterovic received only a handful of minutes of spot duty.
Detroit has a more traditional lineup, starting Ben Wallace (6-foot-9) alongside Rasheed Wallace (6-11). Antonio McDyess (6-9) and Elden Campbell (7-0) come off the bench.
Nesterovic would have had a better opportunity to play had Miami and Shaquille O'Neal advanced to the Finals, where his 7-foot frame and six fouls likely would have been needed. But he did contribute 13 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes against the Pistons on March 20 after Duncan sprained his ankle. He also remains one of the Spurs' best team defenders.
"Whenever they need me," Nesterovic said, "I'm here."