Manu20
11-12-2005, 10:32 AM
Spurs notebook: Barry, Finley out again Saturday night
Web Posted: 11/12/2005 12:47 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111205.8C.BKNspurs.barry.finley.12d0a5c2.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
BOSTON — The Spurs hope to have Brent Barry and Michael Finley back for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the two guards, who have both missed the past two games, won't play tonight in Washington.
Barry has been sidelined since hurting his back Monday in Chicago. Finley, who rode an exercise bike during Friday morning's shootaround, was a late scratch from the lineup Wednesday in Charlotte after his groin tightened.
"With a groin, if you come back too quick, you're really in trouble," Popovich said, "We don't think it was a very serious pull or anything, just a tweak."
Still, any time Finley misses just means it will take him that much longer to get adjusted to his new teammates.
"Mike's really pretty devastated right now," Popovich said. "After only five games he has to sit there. He was in the rotation and playing, so it's really tough for him."
From Beantown with love: The Spurs can thank Boston's Emerson College for helping them assemble one of the league's top front-office staffs.
Spurs assistant general manager Sam Presti and basketball operations assistant Rob Hennigan are both Emerson graduates.
Presti, 29, joined the Spurs in the summer of 2001 as an intern. He has quickly moved up in the organization and is considered one of the league's top young executives. In addition to helping general manager R.C. Buford convince Popovich to take Tony Parker, Presti — who Popovich calls the team's "resident genius" — also found this year's first-round draft pick, Ian Mahinmi.
Hennigan graduated from Emerson in 2004 before Presti recommended the team hire him as an intern last season. Danny Ferry tried to hire Hennigan for his new staff in Cleveland this summer before the Spurs promoted him to basketball operations assistant.
"He's our secret weapon," Popovich said of Hennigan. "He does all the research for us, makes sure we're not leaving any stone unturned. He just has a real good feel for the game, offers great suggestions about possible additions to the team, who's out there, how it can help us cap-wise.
"Both those guys' intelligence has worked well for us."
Looking good: Melvin Sanders, who signed with the Spurs on Wednesday, picked up the first points of his NBA career on a pair of free throws with 6:07 left in the third quarter.
But it was Sanders' defense that most pleased Popovich. The rookie teamed with Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili to help limit Ricky Davis and Paul Pierce to a total of 30 points.
"I thought they did as good a job as you can do on two great players," Popovich said.
Sanders' teammates also were happy to see him contribute. He finished with six points and two rebounds in 19 minutes.
"I thought he did great tonight," Tony Parker said. "He's been working hard every day at practice, so it's good to see him do well."
Faces in the crowd: The New England Patriots were well represented at the Garden on Friday night. Tom Brady, Corey Dillon, Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Jarvis Green all attended the game. Boston Bruins legend Cam Neely and comedian Denis Leary also were in the stands.
Web Posted: 11/12/2005 12:47 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111205.8C.BKNspurs.barry.finley.12d0a5c2.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
BOSTON — The Spurs hope to have Brent Barry and Michael Finley back for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the two guards, who have both missed the past two games, won't play tonight in Washington.
Barry has been sidelined since hurting his back Monday in Chicago. Finley, who rode an exercise bike during Friday morning's shootaround, was a late scratch from the lineup Wednesday in Charlotte after his groin tightened.
"With a groin, if you come back too quick, you're really in trouble," Popovich said, "We don't think it was a very serious pull or anything, just a tweak."
Still, any time Finley misses just means it will take him that much longer to get adjusted to his new teammates.
"Mike's really pretty devastated right now," Popovich said. "After only five games he has to sit there. He was in the rotation and playing, so it's really tough for him."
From Beantown with love: The Spurs can thank Boston's Emerson College for helping them assemble one of the league's top front-office staffs.
Spurs assistant general manager Sam Presti and basketball operations assistant Rob Hennigan are both Emerson graduates.
Presti, 29, joined the Spurs in the summer of 2001 as an intern. He has quickly moved up in the organization and is considered one of the league's top young executives. In addition to helping general manager R.C. Buford convince Popovich to take Tony Parker, Presti — who Popovich calls the team's "resident genius" — also found this year's first-round draft pick, Ian Mahinmi.
Hennigan graduated from Emerson in 2004 before Presti recommended the team hire him as an intern last season. Danny Ferry tried to hire Hennigan for his new staff in Cleveland this summer before the Spurs promoted him to basketball operations assistant.
"He's our secret weapon," Popovich said of Hennigan. "He does all the research for us, makes sure we're not leaving any stone unturned. He just has a real good feel for the game, offers great suggestions about possible additions to the team, who's out there, how it can help us cap-wise.
"Both those guys' intelligence has worked well for us."
Looking good: Melvin Sanders, who signed with the Spurs on Wednesday, picked up the first points of his NBA career on a pair of free throws with 6:07 left in the third quarter.
But it was Sanders' defense that most pleased Popovich. The rookie teamed with Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili to help limit Ricky Davis and Paul Pierce to a total of 30 points.
"I thought they did as good a job as you can do on two great players," Popovich said.
Sanders' teammates also were happy to see him contribute. He finished with six points and two rebounds in 19 minutes.
"I thought he did great tonight," Tony Parker said. "He's been working hard every day at practice, so it's good to see him do well."
Faces in the crowd: The New England Patriots were well represented at the Garden on Friday night. Tom Brady, Corey Dillon, Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Jarvis Green all attended the game. Boston Bruins legend Cam Neely and comedian Denis Leary also were in the stands.