Kori Ellis
10-10-2005, 03:31 AM
Spurs Notebook: Boeheim lends hand in practice
Web Posted: 10/10/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101005.3D.spurs_notebook.8ab4fbb.html
Express-News Staff Writer
MIAMI — Don Nelson wasn't the only coach to visit the Spurs at their St. Thomas training camp in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim directed much of the Spurs' practice Sunday afternoon to teach the team some of the principals of his 2-3 zone defense.
Boeheim, a good friend of Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, has long been known for employing one of college basketball's best zones.
"It's always great to get somebody else in who's been so successful with it," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's good enough to come down here as his season is about to begin, and we're really thankful he did that."
The Spurs sometimes use a zone after timeouts and at the start of quarters when the opposing team is more apt to run a set play. They also used it successfully in the 2003 NBA Finals to lure the New Jersey Nets into settling for jump shots.
"It was good to have our guys be so attentive," Popovich said. "There are some things we gained from it that will help us without a doubt. It will make us a little more varied in our defense."
Caribbean return? The Spurs left the islands Sunday after finishing training camp. The locals hope they'll return.
U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Charles Turnbull said the Spurs' decision to train in St. Thomas, along with Tim Duncan's fame, has generated "millions" of dollars in free publicity for the territory.
"I can't see it being an every-year kind of thing," Popovich said. "But I wouldn't doubt we would come back again at some point."
The Spurs likely won't be back next year. The team hopes to finalize a deal to hold next season's training camp in Moscow.
The NBA plans to have four teams train in different parts of Europe next fall and play in a tournament.
The Spurs didn't plan to have camp in St. Thomas until they received an invitation in the mail this summer from Peter Sauer, athletic director for the University of the Virgin Islands. Sauer also has talked with the Charlotte Bobcats about holding training camp on the island.
The team enjoyed its weeklong stay, despite some logistical difficulty: The hotel was on the opposite side of the island from the gym, requiring a police escort to get the team to and from practice.
"It was a nice experiment and a good reward for last season," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "It was a great chance to get away. Peter and everyone here were great hosts."
Fish out of water: Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Rasho Nesterovic, Sean Marks, Beno Udrih and Kyle Bailey spent part of Saturday scuba diving or snorkeling. Other players used their day off to play golf.
The Spurs held a team dinner Saturday night in St. John.
Web Posted: 10/10/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101005.3D.spurs_notebook.8ab4fbb.html
Express-News Staff Writer
MIAMI — Don Nelson wasn't the only coach to visit the Spurs at their St. Thomas training camp in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim directed much of the Spurs' practice Sunday afternoon to teach the team some of the principals of his 2-3 zone defense.
Boeheim, a good friend of Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, has long been known for employing one of college basketball's best zones.
"It's always great to get somebody else in who's been so successful with it," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's good enough to come down here as his season is about to begin, and we're really thankful he did that."
The Spurs sometimes use a zone after timeouts and at the start of quarters when the opposing team is more apt to run a set play. They also used it successfully in the 2003 NBA Finals to lure the New Jersey Nets into settling for jump shots.
"It was good to have our guys be so attentive," Popovich said. "There are some things we gained from it that will help us without a doubt. It will make us a little more varied in our defense."
Caribbean return? The Spurs left the islands Sunday after finishing training camp. The locals hope they'll return.
U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Charles Turnbull said the Spurs' decision to train in St. Thomas, along with Tim Duncan's fame, has generated "millions" of dollars in free publicity for the territory.
"I can't see it being an every-year kind of thing," Popovich said. "But I wouldn't doubt we would come back again at some point."
The Spurs likely won't be back next year. The team hopes to finalize a deal to hold next season's training camp in Moscow.
The NBA plans to have four teams train in different parts of Europe next fall and play in a tournament.
The Spurs didn't plan to have camp in St. Thomas until they received an invitation in the mail this summer from Peter Sauer, athletic director for the University of the Virgin Islands. Sauer also has talked with the Charlotte Bobcats about holding training camp on the island.
The team enjoyed its weeklong stay, despite some logistical difficulty: The hotel was on the opposite side of the island from the gym, requiring a police escort to get the team to and from practice.
"It was a nice experiment and a good reward for last season," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "It was a great chance to get away. Peter and everyone here were great hosts."
Fish out of water: Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Rasho Nesterovic, Sean Marks, Beno Udrih and Kyle Bailey spent part of Saturday scuba diving or snorkeling. Other players used their day off to play golf.
The Spurs held a team dinner Saturday night in St. John.