Spurs notebook: Parker shrugs off coach's fatigue concern

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs notebook: Parker shrugs off coach's fatigue concern
Web Posted: 10/06/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100605.3C.BKNspurs.parker.17a519c4.html

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — When Tony Parker returned to San Antonio from the European Championships last week, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich asked if he should cut back Parker's workload in training camp.

Parker's answer? No.

Parker said the tendinitis in his right knee, which troubled him toward the end of last season, no longer is an issue. He also isn't worried about being too tired after helping the French national team win the bronze medal in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro.

"After we won the (NBA) championship, Pop didn't really want me to play with the national team because he wanted to rest my knee and be in shape for the start next season," Parker said. "I told Pop it would be crazy if I don't go.

"It would be like Manu not going to play with Argentina. They would kill him. I had to go."

Parker limited his practice time during France's training to rest his knee. He said he felt fatigued when he struggled early in the tournament but grew stronger in the later rounds.

"I did treatment and stretched a lot to be very careful with it," Parker said. "I'm just feeling good right now.

"I think maybe in January and February, I might be tired. But the main thing is to finish strong and be there for the playoffs."

Life's a beach? The Spurs worked out twice Wednesday, scrimmaging four-on-four in the evening session.

The sun even made a rare appearance, but only while the Spurs were in the gym.

"People immediately think it's rest and relaxation," Bruce Bowen said, "but it's work going on here."

New arrivals: Tim Duncan wasn't the only member of the Spurs to gain an addition to his family this summer.

The wives of Bowen, Sean Marks, assistant coaches Mike Budenholzer and P.J. Carlesimo and trainer Will Sevening all gave birth within the past five months. Nazr Mohammed's wife, Mandy, and Brent Barry's wife, Erin, are expecting.

"If anyone plans to be infertile," Bowen said, "don't have a cup of water in San Antonio."

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Ever since the international worries started like 4 years ago, You have to realize they dont really try as hard in those games as they do in clutch NBA games


Parker may be young, but being a soldier that plays 82 reg season games + an entire full post season, he knows what's up

im not worried about him at all. He's like richard: he KNOWS HIS BODY.
He'll slack off for a while when this new season starts

look for Van Exel to wow us alot on early

come Two Thousand Six



IT'S GONNA BE PARKER TIME, BOYYYYYS!

[Horry For 3!]

The wives of Bowen, Sean Marks, assistant coaches Mike Budenholzer and P.J. Carlesimo and trainer Will Sevening all gave birth within the past five months. Nazr Mohammed's wife, Mandy, and Brent Barry's wife, Erin, are expecting.

"If anyone plans to be infertile," Bowen said, "don't have a cup of water in San Antonio."
:lmao I have never drank any San Antoino water, does that make me infertile? :lol

[Solid D]

I guess Parker ices his knees more, now.

http://www.uvi.edu/pub-relations/current_events/spurs_slides/images/spurs_10.05.05_026.jpg

[lilmads]

Go parker go:)

[loveforthegame]

Again, I cannot copy/paste the article.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=9003901

[1Parker1]

:lol Parker looks gangsta in that pic....

[Extra Stout]

Parker is really hardheaded sometimes. As he gets older, he just gets more arrogant and dismissive, rather than more mature.

[angel_luv]

Again, I cannot copy/paste the article.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=9003901

Great article thanks!

I have never seen an online newspaper before with that no copy & paste rule.
I guess I don't read enough publications.

[TDMVPDPOY]

so when are we tradin him?

[1Parker1]

Parker is really hardheaded sometimes. As he gets older, he just gets more arrogant and dismissive, rather than more mature.


Kinda like most men..........:)

[angel_luv]

Kinda like most men..........:)


No, that is how boys act.

[cheguevara]

Great, let's see how he feels after 70+ games. Come playoff time I suspect, NVE and Beno better be ready for the call, or we'll be fucked

[TheTruth]

Saw Tony working with Chip on his free throws last night on the news. Anyone else see, and if you did was there any difference in his motion? I couldn't tell

[genghisrex]

Sprs get back to basics (http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=9003901)
Duncan in spotlight as Spurs begin quest to retain NBA title
By PATRICK JOY
Wednesday, October 5th 2005

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/shared/images/2005/10/05/sports48a.jpg
Daily News Photo by SEAN McCOY St. Croix's Tim Duncan, left, battles San Antonio Spurs teammate Robert Horry during drills Tuesday at UVI.


ST. THOMAS - It could have been a gym anywhere in the world: the players working through three- and five-men weaves, facing down each other in one-on-one drills and stroking foul shot after foul shot as practice wound down.

But even in the isolated bubble of the gym, the location of the San Antonio Spurs' training camp was hard to ignore. The Spurs are in the Virgin Islands, and Tim Duncan is as close to home as he's been in a long time.

"You know Tim," said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. "He's not necessarily going to show you. But when you talk to him and watch his body language, you can see how excited he is."

Spurs management and coach Gregg Popovich have said hosting camp on St. Thomas was a reward of sorts for Duncan, who helped San Antonio lock up the NBA Championship last year, earning MVP honors along the way. Duncan was soaking in the sights, sounds and smells of the island Tuesday - even if his teammates were just getting soaked in the steady drizzle of a tropical wave.

"I hope it clears up a bit," he said, noting that teammates were harassing him about the weather even before the plane landed Tuesday. "I've taken a lot of crap for that already."

The clouds did part a bit Tuesday afternoon as the Spurs wrapped up practice just after 2 p.m., and Popovich said the team's afternoon plans would likely be a bit different than an evening in San Antonio.

"Either get a massage or get to the beach, something Caribbean-like," he said. "We're very grateful. The food is great and the people are great and it's very private. It's all we could ask for. The facility is wonderful."

Popovich said he was ready for driving on the left side of the road - a trip to St. Croix to visit Duncan almost a decade ago provided a crash course in Virgin Islands driving.

"Nobody said a word," he said, explaining that he left the airport on the right side of the road. "I must have gesticulated at 10 people before I figured out I was the jerk. So, I remembered that."

Popovich will have to do no driving on his own on this trip. A police escort surrounding buses carried the Spurs to their two-hour practice Monday and will be shuttling them across the island this week. The Spurs said they have a boat trip and some community outreach planned for later in the week but did not release specific details. The training camp will culminate in an intra-squad scrimmage on Friday, an event Duncan said he is looking forward to.

"It'll be great," he said. "I'm just waiting to see what will happen. I don't even know what I'm in for."

Duncan praised the facilities at the University of the Virgin Islands, a message many of his teammate echoed.

"It's been tremendous all around," he said. "I knew it would be great. They've got a lot of baskets for us to work with."

The gymnasium Tuesday was packed with players, coaches and training personnel working through various drills and conditioning workouts. The first day of practice was also a chance for the Spurs' coaches to check out their recent high profile acquisitions, Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley and Fabricio Oberto. Popovich said it was too early for any real evaluations and he was pleased just to get through practice with all of his players intact.

"Nobody got hurt and everybody came into camp in relatively good shape," he said.

Also in good shape for Tuesday's practice was Duncan's hair. The medium-length Afro style cut and the scruffy half-beard garnered almost as many questions from the media as the Spurs far-flung camp location and many wondered if he'd be clean shaven or doing his best Ben Wallace impersonation by the end of the season.

Duncan said he was fashioning himself after Ginobli.

"I hope to look like him," he said. "When it gets long enough I'm going to put in some straightener and run and fling it around like him."

Forward Robert Horry said he was planning on riding Duncan's coattails all week.

"I'm going to be tagging along with him," he said. "I can tell it's a beautiful island. He's going to have an in on everything."

- Contact Patrick Joy at 774-8772 ext. 458 or e-mail [email protected].

[Phenomanul]

Will Duncan wear his ankle braces from now on or will that just mess up his knees???

[cheguevara]

:lmao genghisrex Awesome Avatar!!!!!!!!!!!

[GoSpurs21]

Parker is really hardheaded sometimes. As he gets older, he just gets more arrogant and dismissive, rather than more mature.this comment is the most immature post I have ever read...are you even old enough to drink mother's milk (Guinness)?
I dont know how you interpreted his comments as dismissive and arrogant, you must hate the French or something. Grow up

[Extra Stout]

this comment is the most immature post I have ever read...are you even old enough to drink mother's milk (Guinness)?
I dont know how you interpreted his comments as dismissive and arrogant, you must hate the French or something. Grow upFuck you.

"Immature" my ass. You just don't agree with it. Are you a Tony worshipper or something?

Again, fuck you. And while you're at it, eat shit.

Parker is very dismissive of Pop's advice:

Pop: "Are you sure you want to play for France this summer? That's a heavy workload."

Parker: "I have to play. It's my country. I'll be fine."

Result: Parker suffers from tendinitis and plays below expectations.

Pop: "Maybe we should limit your workload in training camp, since you've been playing nonstop for so long."

Parker: "Psshht. I'll be fine."

Result: ???

Parker even says he figures he'll be tired in January and February. Lovely. That's just what the Spurs need -- their starting point guard hitting the wall in midseason. It will be marvelous when he's hampered by nagging little injuries. I hope NVE is ready and can handle the extra minutes.

Oh, I'm sure Tony will be fine. It's not as if his game is predicated upon quickness, right?

He's a pretty boy and he's quick as lightning, but that's not exactly a MENSA melon up top.

[Marcus Bryant]

this comment is the most immature post I have ever read...are you even old enough to drink mother's milk (Guinness)?
I dont know how you interpreted his comments as dismissive and arrogant, you must hate the French or something. Grow up


Damn. That was Manu Mob®-esque.

[Extra Stout]

Damn. That was Manu Mob®-esque.Call 'em Tony's Forlorn Legion.

[Marcus Bryant]

Parker's Posse?
Tony's Tricks?

[Kori Ellis]

Parker is very dismissive of Pop's advice:

Pop: "Are you sure you want to play for France this summer? That's a heavy workload."

Parker: "I have to play. It's my country. I'll be fine."

Result: Parker suffers from tendinitis and plays below expectations.

Pop: "Maybe we should limit your workload in training camp, since you've been playing nonstop for so long."

Parker: "Psshht. I'll be fine."

Actually Parker and Pop discussed it before he left and though Pop and Tony's family thought that Tony could get worn out, Pop told him he understood about wanting to rep his country. Pop is a big advocator of that. They made an agreement of a reduced work load while he was with the French team (which Tony adhered to). Parker had tendinitis LAST summer -- so I don't think playing in France this year had much to do with it. Also Pop didn't tell Tony that he should limit his workload in training camp and Parker disagree. Pop asked Tony if he needed him to limit his workload in training camp.

And as you may know, when Pop was asked on Media Day if he had concerns about Tony because of summer play - Pop said no, that he was glad that he went to France and repped his country. It kept him in shape and ready to go. Pop said he wasn't worried at all about Tony playing heavy minutes this season but he'd continue to monitor/regulate the minutes of MANU, TIM, and HORRY.

[Bruno]

Actually Parker and Pop discussed it before he left and though Pop and Tony's family thought that Tony could get worn out, Pop told him he understood about wanting to rep his country. Pop is a big advocator of that. They made an agreement of a reduced work load while he was with the French team (which Tony adhered to). Parker had tendinitis LAST summer -- so I don't think playing in France this year had much to do with it. Also Pop didn't tell Tony that he should limit his workload in training camp and Parker disagree. Pop asked Tony if he needed him to limit his workload in training camp.


It seems that TP had tendinitis this summer too (since march, in fact)
Tony said on a french radio that :
- His knees are well (he uses the word perfect).
- Medicals exams show that he is fully healthy
- Pop was happy for him about the medal :elephant
- Pop said him that he will limit the workload during the preseason so that tony be fresh for the beggining of the season.(like the french team made in August)

[TheWriter]

Parker had tendinitis LAST summer

I thought Parker said he had tendi in his knee the last two months of this past season.

[Kori Ellis]

It seems that TP had tendinitis this summer too (since march, in fact)
Tony said on a french radio that :
- His knees are well (he uses the word perfect).
- Medicals exams show that he is fully healthy
- Pop was happy for him about the medal :elephant
- Pop said him that he will limit the workload during the preseason so that tony be fresh for the beggining of the season.(like the french team made in August)

I know that he had it this summer.

I'm saying that it has been bothering his since last summer .. so it wasn't caused by playing in France this summer.

[Bruno]

I'm saying that it has been bothering his since last summer .. so it wasn't caused by playing in France this summer.

My bad, I haven't unterstand you said that.