Kori Ellis
10-18-2005, 12:08 AM
Van Exel finding his way through new system, city
Web Posted: 10/18/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101805.9D.spurs.vanexel.d7dca0f.html
INDIANAPOLIS — As he shuttled from Dallas to Golden State to Portland the past three seasons, Nick Van Exel had little reason to learn San Antonio's highway system. Any trip he made to the SBC Center was a quick three-mile ride from downtown aboard the visiting team's bus.
So, when it came time to drive to the Spurs' arena for the first time Saturday night, Van Exel left early. Just not early enough.
"I went the wrong way," he said. "So I'm still figuring some things out."
Van Exel will be happy if navigating San Antonio's streets is his biggest worry. After spending the past two years with a pair of franchises in the midst of extensive rebuilding projects, the 13-year veteran signed with the Spurs for what may be his final chance at winning a championship.
The transition, Van Exel said, won't be an overnight process.
"You have to get familiar with the roles, you have to get familiar with the system, you have to get to know your teammates and the coaches and the way things are run around here," he said. "It's pretty much like being a rookie all over again."
While Van Exel will probably play fewer minutes than he's accustomed, he has plenty of experience coming off the bench. The Warriors and Trail Blazers both used him as an occasional starter. Of the 73 games he played with Dallas during the 2002-03 season, all but one came as a reserve.
"I've sacrificed probably the last four or five years," Van Exel said. "This is nothing new for me."
The Spurs know as much, having seen firsthand the type of jolt Van Exel provides. Two seasons ago with Golden State, he came off the bench to score 29 points against the Spurs. His 3-pointer with just under 19.2 seconds remaining gave the Warriors the upset victory.
"Nick is Nick," Popovich said after the game with a sigh. "He loves that mano-y-mano stuff. He's one of the best at it."
Van Exel's coolness under pressure also was evident during the 2003 playoffs when he averaged 19.5 points — seven more than he averaged in the regular season — to help Dallas reach the Western Conference finals. Although the Spurs went on to win the series thanks to Steve Kerr's own clutch shooting, Van Exel scared them, scoring 12 fourth-quarter points as the Mavericks rallied from a 19-point deficit to win Game 5.
Van Exel is expected to begin the season backing up Tony Parker, though he also figures to occasionally eat into Parker's minutes at the end of games. Beno Udrih's inexperience, along with Parker's annual playoff struggles, helped spur the team to search for a dependable veteran point guard.
At the least, the Spurs hope Van Exel, who turns 34 next month, and Michael Finley will give the team a more prolific reserve unit. The bench's inability to provide consistent scoring last season eventually led Popovich to use Manu Ginobili as a reserve for part of the playoffs.
Van Exel and Finley "understand what kind of team we are and the kind of basketball we play and they want to fit into that kind of team," Tim Duncan said. "That's the best part about it."
So far, Van Exel has been impressed by his new team's humility.
"There's not a lot of arrogance about them even though they've won three of the last (seven) championships — from the management on down to the players," he said. "That's unbelievable. When you win championships, your head can get a little bigger, but these guys are very low-key and down to earth. I like that about them."
Van Exel also has learned this about the Spurs: "If you don't play defense," he said, "you don't play."
Although Van Exel never has been considered a strong defender, even when he was young and healthy, the same was said of Danny Ferry, Brent Barry and Kerr, all of whom survived in the Spurs' system.
"There are a few things I've already learned in training camp," Van Exel said of the team's defense, "that we've never done since I've been in the league."
His teammates have tried to help shorten the learning curve.
"Guys are always talking to me," he said. "Everybody wants to see me succeed."
Now if they can just find him a map.
Web Posted: 10/18/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101805.9D.spurs.vanexel.d7dca0f.html
INDIANAPOLIS — As he shuttled from Dallas to Golden State to Portland the past three seasons, Nick Van Exel had little reason to learn San Antonio's highway system. Any trip he made to the SBC Center was a quick three-mile ride from downtown aboard the visiting team's bus.
So, when it came time to drive to the Spurs' arena for the first time Saturday night, Van Exel left early. Just not early enough.
"I went the wrong way," he said. "So I'm still figuring some things out."
Van Exel will be happy if navigating San Antonio's streets is his biggest worry. After spending the past two years with a pair of franchises in the midst of extensive rebuilding projects, the 13-year veteran signed with the Spurs for what may be his final chance at winning a championship.
The transition, Van Exel said, won't be an overnight process.
"You have to get familiar with the roles, you have to get familiar with the system, you have to get to know your teammates and the coaches and the way things are run around here," he said. "It's pretty much like being a rookie all over again."
While Van Exel will probably play fewer minutes than he's accustomed, he has plenty of experience coming off the bench. The Warriors and Trail Blazers both used him as an occasional starter. Of the 73 games he played with Dallas during the 2002-03 season, all but one came as a reserve.
"I've sacrificed probably the last four or five years," Van Exel said. "This is nothing new for me."
The Spurs know as much, having seen firsthand the type of jolt Van Exel provides. Two seasons ago with Golden State, he came off the bench to score 29 points against the Spurs. His 3-pointer with just under 19.2 seconds remaining gave the Warriors the upset victory.
"Nick is Nick," Popovich said after the game with a sigh. "He loves that mano-y-mano stuff. He's one of the best at it."
Van Exel's coolness under pressure also was evident during the 2003 playoffs when he averaged 19.5 points — seven more than he averaged in the regular season — to help Dallas reach the Western Conference finals. Although the Spurs went on to win the series thanks to Steve Kerr's own clutch shooting, Van Exel scared them, scoring 12 fourth-quarter points as the Mavericks rallied from a 19-point deficit to win Game 5.
Van Exel is expected to begin the season backing up Tony Parker, though he also figures to occasionally eat into Parker's minutes at the end of games. Beno Udrih's inexperience, along with Parker's annual playoff struggles, helped spur the team to search for a dependable veteran point guard.
At the least, the Spurs hope Van Exel, who turns 34 next month, and Michael Finley will give the team a more prolific reserve unit. The bench's inability to provide consistent scoring last season eventually led Popovich to use Manu Ginobili as a reserve for part of the playoffs.
Van Exel and Finley "understand what kind of team we are and the kind of basketball we play and they want to fit into that kind of team," Tim Duncan said. "That's the best part about it."
So far, Van Exel has been impressed by his new team's humility.
"There's not a lot of arrogance about them even though they've won three of the last (seven) championships — from the management on down to the players," he said. "That's unbelievable. When you win championships, your head can get a little bigger, but these guys are very low-key and down to earth. I like that about them."
Van Exel also has learned this about the Spurs: "If you don't play defense," he said, "you don't play."
Although Van Exel never has been considered a strong defender, even when he was young and healthy, the same was said of Danny Ferry, Brent Barry and Kerr, all of whom survived in the Spurs' system.
"There are a few things I've already learned in training camp," Van Exel said of the team's defense, "that we've never done since I've been in the league."
His teammates have tried to help shorten the learning curve.
"Guys are always talking to me," he said. "Everybody wants to see me succeed."
Now if they can just find him a map.