Kori Ellis
10-03-2005, 06:18 PM
NBA champion Spurs to begin title defense on island paradise
T.A. BADGER
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO - The U.S. Virgin Islands mean sun, surf and laid-back Caribbean attitudes, but don't count on the San Antonio Spurs spending much time sipping umbrella drinks at a beachside cabana.
The NBA champion Spurs left town Monday to begin their title defense with a nine-day training camp at the University of St. Thomas, not far from where their star player, Tim Duncan, grew up.
Duncan said he's ready for his dual role as on-court centerpiece and off-court tour guide.
"It's going to be stressful, but it's going to be fun," he said. Duncan is from the nearby island of St. Croix.
Training camp opens Tuesday and will wrap up Oct. 13, when the team flies to Charleston, S.C., for a preseason game the following night against Philadelphia. (I guess he forgot about the game in Miami on the 10th)
On St. Thomas, newcomer free agents Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel will begin to get used to their roles on a stable and successful squad where they have little to no chance to crack the starting lineup.
"I know that my role will be off the bench and I have no problem with that," said Finley, the former Dallas swingman who passed up much bigger money elsewhere to sign with San Antonio. "They've been successful without me, so I'm just going to try to contribute in any way, shape or form that I can."
San Antonio also signed Fabricio Oberto, a 6-foot-10 forward who has played for years with Manu Ginobili on the Argentina national team that last year won the Olympic gold medal in Athens.
Ginobili said Oberto, a 30-year-old star in the Spanish league, is not only coming into a city where many people speak his language, but also onto a team where the ball-sharing philosophy is reminiscent of the playing style in Europe.
"It's hard to find a better situation than this," Ginobili said. "He's a smart guy, a smart player. ... Hopefully he's going to feel good and start contributing from the beginning."
Finley, 32, became one of the NBA's most coveted free agents when the Mavericks waived him in August under the league's new one-time amnesty clause. The 10-year veteran, who has averaged 19 points and 37 percent accuracy on 3-pointers in his career, is still owed nearly $52 million in salary from the Mavs.
He said joining the Spurs will provide his best chance so far to finally win a league title.
"For this team to want to repeat and me to want to get my first (championship), I think will be a great combination," said Finley, who is coming off his best season as a 3-point shooter (40.7 percent) but one of his worst years overall at 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Repeating is also on the minds of returning players, and they see Finley and Van Exel helping in that cause.
"I want to repeat really, really bad and I know a lot of the other guys want to repeat," said Robert Horry, who will be going for his seventh title. "And I know especially Nick and Mike coming in, they want a ring, so that's going to give us extra fuel."
San Antonio is favored by many to win a third championship in four years, but Duncan waves off all the talk.
"It doesn't matter to us if we're the favorite or not, we play the same way," Duncan said. "More than anything it's about chemistry. It's about people understanding what you do and accepting their roles. More talent doesn't always mean a better team."
Not that Duncan doesn't think the Spurs are better than last year, at least on paper.
"We reloaded pretty good," he said. "We like our team, we like our chances ... We're not thinking we're the best out here. We're thinking we have to work to be the best out here."
T.A. BADGER
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO - The U.S. Virgin Islands mean sun, surf and laid-back Caribbean attitudes, but don't count on the San Antonio Spurs spending much time sipping umbrella drinks at a beachside cabana.
The NBA champion Spurs left town Monday to begin their title defense with a nine-day training camp at the University of St. Thomas, not far from where their star player, Tim Duncan, grew up.
Duncan said he's ready for his dual role as on-court centerpiece and off-court tour guide.
"It's going to be stressful, but it's going to be fun," he said. Duncan is from the nearby island of St. Croix.
Training camp opens Tuesday and will wrap up Oct. 13, when the team flies to Charleston, S.C., for a preseason game the following night against Philadelphia. (I guess he forgot about the game in Miami on the 10th)
On St. Thomas, newcomer free agents Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel will begin to get used to their roles on a stable and successful squad where they have little to no chance to crack the starting lineup.
"I know that my role will be off the bench and I have no problem with that," said Finley, the former Dallas swingman who passed up much bigger money elsewhere to sign with San Antonio. "They've been successful without me, so I'm just going to try to contribute in any way, shape or form that I can."
San Antonio also signed Fabricio Oberto, a 6-foot-10 forward who has played for years with Manu Ginobili on the Argentina national team that last year won the Olympic gold medal in Athens.
Ginobili said Oberto, a 30-year-old star in the Spanish league, is not only coming into a city where many people speak his language, but also onto a team where the ball-sharing philosophy is reminiscent of the playing style in Europe.
"It's hard to find a better situation than this," Ginobili said. "He's a smart guy, a smart player. ... Hopefully he's going to feel good and start contributing from the beginning."
Finley, 32, became one of the NBA's most coveted free agents when the Mavericks waived him in August under the league's new one-time amnesty clause. The 10-year veteran, who has averaged 19 points and 37 percent accuracy on 3-pointers in his career, is still owed nearly $52 million in salary from the Mavs.
He said joining the Spurs will provide his best chance so far to finally win a league title.
"For this team to want to repeat and me to want to get my first (championship), I think will be a great combination," said Finley, who is coming off his best season as a 3-point shooter (40.7 percent) but one of his worst years overall at 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Repeating is also on the minds of returning players, and they see Finley and Van Exel helping in that cause.
"I want to repeat really, really bad and I know a lot of the other guys want to repeat," said Robert Horry, who will be going for his seventh title. "And I know especially Nick and Mike coming in, they want a ring, so that's going to give us extra fuel."
San Antonio is favored by many to win a third championship in four years, but Duncan waves off all the talk.
"It doesn't matter to us if we're the favorite or not, we play the same way," Duncan said. "More than anything it's about chemistry. It's about people understanding what you do and accepting their roles. More talent doesn't always mean a better team."
Not that Duncan doesn't think the Spurs are better than last year, at least on paper.
"We reloaded pretty good," he said. "We like our team, we like our chances ... We're not thinking we're the best out here. We're thinking we have to work to be the best out here."