Kori Ellis
10-05-2005, 02:45 AM
Guest Nellie takes a peek at workout
Web Posted: 10/05/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100505.3E.BKNspurs.nelson.12ef2b00.html
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — The Spurs feel so comfortable in their Caribbean camp that they've invited a former rival to spend the week with them.
Former Dallas coach Don Nelson accompanied the team here as a guest of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. He watched the team work out Tuesday and plans to do the same for the rest of the week.
"Nellie is an old friend, a great basketball guy," Popovich said. "He knows a lot about the game. He just wanted to be involved to some degree and be able to see a camp different from what he's seen in a while, probably.
"I was more excited to have him come and do that."
Nelson resigned as the Mavericks' coach midway through last season, but remains on the team's payroll as a consultant.
"It's been a while since I've been to a different camp," Nelson said. "I figured I'd learn something; learn how to do it the right way."
Popovich said he isn't worried about Nelson giving any of the Spurs' secrets to Dallas coach Avery Johnson.
"That would be the most obvious spy work that's ever been done," Popovich said. "That would be like us calling some country and saying, 'Excuse me, when you have your next meeting, could we have somebody from our State Department come over and sit in?'
"Avery's only been to 10 of my training camps. I think there are no secrets for Avery. He already knows what we're doing here."
Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley, who both played for Nelson in Dallas, were surprised to see their former coach at practice.
"They asked who was coaching the team," Popovich said. "I told them we both are."
Finley and Van Exel did tell Nelson to lose the Mavericks shirt he was wearing.
"If he put on a Spurs shirt," Popovich said, "that might get him in trouble."
No need to fix it: Popovich said he expects to begin the season with the same five starters he used at the end of last season: guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili; forwards Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen; and center Nazr Mohammed.
"If somebody proves that wrong, then that happens," Popovich said. "But if we had a game tomorrow, the same guys would start."
Ginobili's styling advice: After seeing how much Duncan let his hair grow during the summer, Ginobili hopes his teammate will soon consider wearing an afro like that of Detroit center Ben Wallace.
"This is the I Haven't Touched It Since The Finals look," Duncan said. "We'll see how it goes."
Web Posted: 10/05/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100505.3E.BKNspurs.nelson.12ef2b00.html
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — The Spurs feel so comfortable in their Caribbean camp that they've invited a former rival to spend the week with them.
Former Dallas coach Don Nelson accompanied the team here as a guest of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. He watched the team work out Tuesday and plans to do the same for the rest of the week.
"Nellie is an old friend, a great basketball guy," Popovich said. "He knows a lot about the game. He just wanted to be involved to some degree and be able to see a camp different from what he's seen in a while, probably.
"I was more excited to have him come and do that."
Nelson resigned as the Mavericks' coach midway through last season, but remains on the team's payroll as a consultant.
"It's been a while since I've been to a different camp," Nelson said. "I figured I'd learn something; learn how to do it the right way."
Popovich said he isn't worried about Nelson giving any of the Spurs' secrets to Dallas coach Avery Johnson.
"That would be the most obvious spy work that's ever been done," Popovich said. "That would be like us calling some country and saying, 'Excuse me, when you have your next meeting, could we have somebody from our State Department come over and sit in?'
"Avery's only been to 10 of my training camps. I think there are no secrets for Avery. He already knows what we're doing here."
Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley, who both played for Nelson in Dallas, were surprised to see their former coach at practice.
"They asked who was coaching the team," Popovich said. "I told them we both are."
Finley and Van Exel did tell Nelson to lose the Mavericks shirt he was wearing.
"If he put on a Spurs shirt," Popovich said, "that might get him in trouble."
No need to fix it: Popovich said he expects to begin the season with the same five starters he used at the end of last season: guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili; forwards Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen; and center Nazr Mohammed.
"If somebody proves that wrong, then that happens," Popovich said. "But if we had a game tomorrow, the same guys would start."
Ginobili's styling advice: After seeing how much Duncan let his hair grow during the summer, Ginobili hopes his teammate will soon consider wearing an afro like that of Detroit center Ben Wallace.
"This is the I Haven't Touched It Since The Finals look," Duncan said. "We'll see how it goes."