Kori Ellis
06-08-2005, 12:08 AM
Spurs notebook: Brown's status still not clear
Web Posted: 06/08/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA060805.3C.BKNspurs.notebook.2f11123df.html
After watching Devin Brown practice the past week, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't sound ready to throw the guard back into the regular rotation.
But he also wouldn't rule out Brown playing in the NBA Finals.
Brown has spent much of the past three months trying to overcome a back injury that also weakened his right leg. He has yet to regain his explosiveness.
"I see a rare sparkle here and there," Popovich said. "I'm still reticent to pull the trigger and get him on the floor, but in this series we may be forced to do that."
Before getting hurt, Brown had become one of the Spurs' most dependable reserves. With the problems Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince present on the perimeter, the Spurs might need Brown's defense for short stretches.
Brown didn't play in the Western Conference finals. He has appeared in six of the Spurs' 16 playoff games, averaging 4.2 minutes.
Brown initially injured his back while shooting before the Spurs played Detroit on March 20. He scored 18 points against the Pistons but aggravated the injury the next night in New York.
Special delivery: Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo didn't get much of an opportunity to scout Detroit's victory over Miami on Monday. But he had a good excuse.
His wife Carolyn gave birth to their second son early in the first quarter.
Casey Carlesimo weighed in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Neither Casey nor his 2-year-old brother, Kyle, has his father's mouth. Yet.
Carolyn had her labor induced, in part, not to conflict with the NBA Finals.
Assistant coach Mike Budenholzer's wife, Mary Bet, is expected to give birth to their fourth child by the end of the week.
Movers are on his speed dial: Carlesimo knew Detroit coach Larry Brown before he met Popovich. Over the years, he's noticed one distinct difference between the two friends.
"It's easier to remember Pop's address," Carlesimo said, "than it is Larry's."
The Spurs will be the third of Brown's former teams the Pistons have played in this season's playoffs. Brown could be on the move again if he becomes Cleveland's vice president of basketball operations after the season.
Don't bother calling: The Spurs' players are trying to take care of any ticket requests from family and friends early this week and reduce any other distractions that usually arrive with the NBA Finals.
"If you can limit those things, it will certainly help you focus on the task at hand," Brent Barry said. "I'm sure people in the media are getting calls from people they worked with at the school newspaper back in college about trying to get a press pass for the games."
Worth the trip: Spurs center Nazr Mohammed said he was uncertain about a lot of things when he was traded from the Knicks at midseason. But as he prepared Tuesday to play in his first NBA Finals, he said he was pretty sure he still would be playing in June.
"I thought I would be here," Mohammed said.
One surprise for Mohammed has been the way people seem to come out of the woodwork to ask for Finals tickets. He said he didn't have to wait long after Detroit beat Miami in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals for the bombardment to begin.
"As soon as the buzzer rang," Mohammed said, "my phone started ringing."
Baby on board: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said he was flattered to hear that a local couple, Renee San Miguel and Jorge Ramirez, named their newborn son Ginobili.
"That's what happens whenever your team is so important in the community," Ginobili said.
He said he's pretty sure he's not the only Spurs player to be so honored.
"(The attention) is just because my name is so particular," Ginobili said. "I bet there are many Duncans and Robinsons out there."
Ginobili said he planned to talk to expectant parents Tim and Amy Duncan about naming their child after him.
"Ginobili Duncan," he said. "That sounds good."
Web Posted: 06/08/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA060805.3C.BKNspurs.notebook.2f11123df.html
After watching Devin Brown practice the past week, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't sound ready to throw the guard back into the regular rotation.
But he also wouldn't rule out Brown playing in the NBA Finals.
Brown has spent much of the past three months trying to overcome a back injury that also weakened his right leg. He has yet to regain his explosiveness.
"I see a rare sparkle here and there," Popovich said. "I'm still reticent to pull the trigger and get him on the floor, but in this series we may be forced to do that."
Before getting hurt, Brown had become one of the Spurs' most dependable reserves. With the problems Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince present on the perimeter, the Spurs might need Brown's defense for short stretches.
Brown didn't play in the Western Conference finals. He has appeared in six of the Spurs' 16 playoff games, averaging 4.2 minutes.
Brown initially injured his back while shooting before the Spurs played Detroit on March 20. He scored 18 points against the Pistons but aggravated the injury the next night in New York.
Special delivery: Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo didn't get much of an opportunity to scout Detroit's victory over Miami on Monday. But he had a good excuse.
His wife Carolyn gave birth to their second son early in the first quarter.
Casey Carlesimo weighed in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Neither Casey nor his 2-year-old brother, Kyle, has his father's mouth. Yet.
Carolyn had her labor induced, in part, not to conflict with the NBA Finals.
Assistant coach Mike Budenholzer's wife, Mary Bet, is expected to give birth to their fourth child by the end of the week.
Movers are on his speed dial: Carlesimo knew Detroit coach Larry Brown before he met Popovich. Over the years, he's noticed one distinct difference between the two friends.
"It's easier to remember Pop's address," Carlesimo said, "than it is Larry's."
The Spurs will be the third of Brown's former teams the Pistons have played in this season's playoffs. Brown could be on the move again if he becomes Cleveland's vice president of basketball operations after the season.
Don't bother calling: The Spurs' players are trying to take care of any ticket requests from family and friends early this week and reduce any other distractions that usually arrive with the NBA Finals.
"If you can limit those things, it will certainly help you focus on the task at hand," Brent Barry said. "I'm sure people in the media are getting calls from people they worked with at the school newspaper back in college about trying to get a press pass for the games."
Worth the trip: Spurs center Nazr Mohammed said he was uncertain about a lot of things when he was traded from the Knicks at midseason. But as he prepared Tuesday to play in his first NBA Finals, he said he was pretty sure he still would be playing in June.
"I thought I would be here," Mohammed said.
One surprise for Mohammed has been the way people seem to come out of the woodwork to ask for Finals tickets. He said he didn't have to wait long after Detroit beat Miami in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals for the bombardment to begin.
"As soon as the buzzer rang," Mohammed said, "my phone started ringing."
Baby on board: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said he was flattered to hear that a local couple, Renee San Miguel and Jorge Ramirez, named their newborn son Ginobili.
"That's what happens whenever your team is so important in the community," Ginobili said.
He said he's pretty sure he's not the only Spurs player to be so honored.
"(The attention) is just because my name is so particular," Ginobili said. "I bet there are many Duncans and Robinsons out there."
Ginobili said he planned to talk to expectant parents Tim and Amy Duncan about naming their child after him.
"Ginobili Duncan," he said. "That sounds good."