Kori Ellis
06-16-2005, 12:36 AM
Spurs notebook: Wolves no longer looking at Carlesimo
Web Posted: 06/16/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061605.4S.BKNspurs.notebook.1314da6f.html
San Antonio Express-News
Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo appears to have been passed over in the Minnesota Timberwolves' search for a head coach.
Seattle assistant Dwane Casey reportedly has begun contract negotiations with the Timberwolves.
Carlesimo, who had interviewed with Minnesota officials and was considered one of the team's top candidates, said he hadn't been informed of his status as of Wednesday afternoon.
Carlesimo also has interviewed with New York, but thought he had a better chance of being hired by Minnesota.
"The best thing I have going for me is the job I have," Carlesimo said. "I have a great job. I think the job is better than some of the head (coaching) jobs in the league for me. I'm not disparaging any other franchises, but, for me, where I'm at right now, it's a fantastic situation.
"If I could get, what to me is a good head (coaching) job, I would be delighted. But what I'm looking for and what other people are looking for is different. I'm happy to be where I am."
Trendy Duncan: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't plan to give Tim Duncan a pep talk before tonight's game.
While Duncan missed 10 of 15 shots Tuesday — his worst performance in a Finals game — Popovich isn't worried.
After Duncan missed 15 of 22 shots in the first-round Game 1 loss to Denver, he went 11 of 15 in Game 2. He missed 14 of 19 shots in Game 3, then scored 39 points two nights later.
Against Seattle, Duncan posted a 7-for-16 performance in Game 3. He scored 35 points in Game 4.
After Duncan missed 9 of 12 free throws and was limited to 15 points in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, he closed out Phoenix the following game with 31 points and 15 rebounds.
"He's hardest on himself," Popovich said. "He didn't have a good game (Tuesday), but I won't even talk to him about it for (tonight). I mean, that's the way he is. He will pound himself, he will go over it in his head. He watched the film with us and he knows what he's got to do to respond. He'll do everything in his power to do that and he usually does respond very, very well."
Quick-draw Mohammed: Nazr Mohammed needed only 81 seconds to pick up two fouls Tuesday night.
"It was disappointing, but that's the way the game goes sometimes," Mohammed said. "I've probably done it before. I've probably picked up quick fouls before, but I just tried to keep my focus and, you know, stay in the game."
Bowen like 'gnat': Detroit guard Richard Hamilton doesn't think Bruce Bowen is dirty — just crafty.
"Like any player in this league, you try to figure out the rules and you just try to be crafty, be sneaky with it," Hamilton said. "He hits you at times when the ref don't even look.
"He hits you with all parts of his body. You don't even have the ball and the guy hits you. One of the biggest things was not allowing him to get in my head."
Robert Horry describes Bowen differently.
"He's like a gnat," Horry said. "He's wherever you don't want him to be. He's in the passing lanes. He's in front of you, contesting every shot. He's like a magnet. If you say that's who you're guarding, that's who he's drawn to."
The Pistons, Horry said, should be used to Bowen's tactics.
"Dennis Rodman used to frustrate people so bad," Horry said. "That's what it's all about, being a good defender, getting in people's head, frustrating them and making them take bad shots."
Johnny Ludden
Web Posted: 06/16/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061605.4S.BKNspurs.notebook.1314da6f.html
San Antonio Express-News
Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo appears to have been passed over in the Minnesota Timberwolves' search for a head coach.
Seattle assistant Dwane Casey reportedly has begun contract negotiations with the Timberwolves.
Carlesimo, who had interviewed with Minnesota officials and was considered one of the team's top candidates, said he hadn't been informed of his status as of Wednesday afternoon.
Carlesimo also has interviewed with New York, but thought he had a better chance of being hired by Minnesota.
"The best thing I have going for me is the job I have," Carlesimo said. "I have a great job. I think the job is better than some of the head (coaching) jobs in the league for me. I'm not disparaging any other franchises, but, for me, where I'm at right now, it's a fantastic situation.
"If I could get, what to me is a good head (coaching) job, I would be delighted. But what I'm looking for and what other people are looking for is different. I'm happy to be where I am."
Trendy Duncan: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't plan to give Tim Duncan a pep talk before tonight's game.
While Duncan missed 10 of 15 shots Tuesday — his worst performance in a Finals game — Popovich isn't worried.
After Duncan missed 15 of 22 shots in the first-round Game 1 loss to Denver, he went 11 of 15 in Game 2. He missed 14 of 19 shots in Game 3, then scored 39 points two nights later.
Against Seattle, Duncan posted a 7-for-16 performance in Game 3. He scored 35 points in Game 4.
After Duncan missed 9 of 12 free throws and was limited to 15 points in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, he closed out Phoenix the following game with 31 points and 15 rebounds.
"He's hardest on himself," Popovich said. "He didn't have a good game (Tuesday), but I won't even talk to him about it for (tonight). I mean, that's the way he is. He will pound himself, he will go over it in his head. He watched the film with us and he knows what he's got to do to respond. He'll do everything in his power to do that and he usually does respond very, very well."
Quick-draw Mohammed: Nazr Mohammed needed only 81 seconds to pick up two fouls Tuesday night.
"It was disappointing, but that's the way the game goes sometimes," Mohammed said. "I've probably done it before. I've probably picked up quick fouls before, but I just tried to keep my focus and, you know, stay in the game."
Bowen like 'gnat': Detroit guard Richard Hamilton doesn't think Bruce Bowen is dirty — just crafty.
"Like any player in this league, you try to figure out the rules and you just try to be crafty, be sneaky with it," Hamilton said. "He hits you at times when the ref don't even look.
"He hits you with all parts of his body. You don't even have the ball and the guy hits you. One of the biggest things was not allowing him to get in my head."
Robert Horry describes Bowen differently.
"He's like a gnat," Horry said. "He's wherever you don't want him to be. He's in the passing lanes. He's in front of you, contesting every shot. He's like a magnet. If you say that's who you're guarding, that's who he's drawn to."
The Pistons, Horry said, should be used to Bowen's tactics.
"Dennis Rodman used to frustrate people so bad," Horry said. "That's what it's all about, being a good defender, getting in people's head, frustrating them and making them take bad shots."
Johnny Ludden