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10-15-2014, 12:31 AM
http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nflssnews.php?classid=nba/eye-on-basketball/24751786/tom-thibodeau-praises-spurs-stars-big-preseason-minutes
Chicago Bulls (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/teams/page/CHI/chicago-bulls) head coach Tom Thibodeau, who famously pushes his starters' playing time and once played Jimmy Butler (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/1646703/jimmy-butler) 48 minutes in a preseason game, is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/teams/page/SA/san-antonio-spurs) giving their stars major minutes. He's also not thrilled about how his team is performing, via the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/30434069-419/bulls-top-nuggets-but-thibodeau-wants-spurs-like-mindset.html#.VD0yDdTF9y-):
It's not only what he hasn't been seeing from his core players but what he has observed this preseason from the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. In the two preseason games the Spurs played overseas last week, veteran Tim Duncan played 33 and 35 minutes, while Tony Parker played 35 and 36.
‘‘I'm watching San Antonio, and they're going after it,'' Thibodeau said. ‘‘Parker, Duncan, they're playing huge minutes right off the start. I think it's a strong message what they're saying right now. They're preparing themselves to defend their championship. And so in order to get that way from them, you're going to have to wrestle it away from them. They're not just going to give it away. Your mind-set has to be right.''
…
‘‘I keep harping on it: The regular season is going to be here before you know it,'' Thibodeau said after the win improved the Bulls to 2-2 in preseason play. ‘‘We have a lot of guys that aren't sharp right now.''
For the record, the Spurs are heading to Phoenix on Wednesday and leaving Kawhi Leonard (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/1715792/kawhi-leonard), Tim Duncan (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/6552/tim-duncan), Manu Ginobili (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/139066/manu-ginobili) and Tiago Splitter (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/1231898/tiago-splitter) at home. Leonard has an eye infection and Splitter has a strained right calf muscle, but Duncan and Ginobili will simply be resting. Yes, San Antonio did play its starters a lot in its first couple of preseason games, but it's pretty funny that Thibodeau referencing the team that cares the most about keeping guys rested. The Spurs also lost to ALBA Berlin (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nflssnews.php?classid=nba/eye-on-basketball/24744028/video-spurs-lose-to-alba-berlin-at-the-buzzer), so I'm not sure what kind of message they're sending.
Anyway, this sort of stuff is familiar to Bulls fans. Thibodeau always stresses the importance of preparation, and he's not one to dismiss these exhibition games as meaningless. The demanding coach is generally saying things like this at this time of year.
Chicago Bulls (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/teams/page/CHI/chicago-bulls) head coach Tom Thibodeau, who famously pushes his starters' playing time and once played Jimmy Butler (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/1646703/jimmy-butler) 48 minutes in a preseason game, is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/teams/page/SA/san-antonio-spurs) giving their stars major minutes. He's also not thrilled about how his team is performing, via the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/30434069-419/bulls-top-nuggets-but-thibodeau-wants-spurs-like-mindset.html#.VD0yDdTF9y-):
It's not only what he hasn't been seeing from his core players but what he has observed this preseason from the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. In the two preseason games the Spurs played overseas last week, veteran Tim Duncan played 33 and 35 minutes, while Tony Parker played 35 and 36.
‘‘I'm watching San Antonio, and they're going after it,'' Thibodeau said. ‘‘Parker, Duncan, they're playing huge minutes right off the start. I think it's a strong message what they're saying right now. They're preparing themselves to defend their championship. And so in order to get that way from them, you're going to have to wrestle it away from them. They're not just going to give it away. Your mind-set has to be right.''
…
‘‘I keep harping on it: The regular season is going to be here before you know it,'' Thibodeau said after the win improved the Bulls to 2-2 in preseason play. ‘‘We have a lot of guys that aren't sharp right now.''
For the record, the Spurs are heading to Phoenix on Wednesday and leaving Kawhi Leonard (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/1715792/kawhi-leonard), Tim Duncan (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/6552/tim-duncan), Manu Ginobili (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/139066/manu-ginobili) and Tiago Splitter (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nba/players/playerpage/1231898/tiago-splitter) at home. Leonard has an eye infection and Splitter has a strained right calf muscle, but Duncan and Ginobili will simply be resting. Yes, San Antonio did play its starters a lot in its first couple of preseason games, but it's pretty funny that Thibodeau referencing the team that cares the most about keeping guys rested. The Spurs also lost to ALBA Berlin (http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nflssnews.php?classid=nba/eye-on-basketball/24744028/video-spurs-lose-to-alba-berlin-at-the-buzzer), so I'm not sure what kind of message they're sending.
Anyway, this sort of stuff is familiar to Bulls fans. Thibodeau always stresses the importance of preparation, and he's not one to dismiss these exhibition games as meaningless. The demanding coach is generally saying things like this at this time of year.