TMTTRIO
12-13-2005, 02:42 AM
Big Three hurt; Ginobili will sit
Web Posted: 12/13/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
Tony Parker has a bruised left knee, Tim Duncan needed an injection in his right foot, and they were the least of the Spurs' concerns Monday.
While Parker and Duncan expect to play tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at the SBC Center, Manu Ginobili can't say the same. He sprained his right foot — the same one that's troubled him much of the season — in Monday's practice and likely will be sidelined for the rest of the week at least.
Ginobili underwent an MRI Monday afternoon that revealed a sprain, which is in a different spot than the bone bruise he suffered on his ankle two weeks ago.
Ginobili missed two games because of his previous injury. Team officials hope to have a better estimate of how long he will be out in the next few days. For now, he is wearing a boot to stabilize his foot.
"Other than that, everyone's healthy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich quipped after relaying a list of injuries to the team's top three players.
Duncan didn't practice Monday after receiving a shot in his right heel to relieve inflammation in his plantar fascia, a thin layer of tissue supporting the arch of the foot. He was feeling better Monday afternoon and told Popovich he wants to play tonight but will be re-evaluated this morning.
Duncan periodically has talked of having discomfort in his foot since training camp but always called it "a little thing."
"It just hasn't gone away," Popovich said. "They tried to wait and work it out, work it out, work it out, so they did something a little more aggressive."
Plantar fasciitis, a common basketball injury, could explain why Duncan has struggled when playing on consecutive nights. He made only 5 of 14 shots in Saturday's loss in Atlanta and is averaging 13.7 points on 34.1 percent shooting in the second game of the Spurs' three back-to-backs. :depressed
"I'm sure it's his foot," Parker said. "He says he's OK, but you never know the truth.
"With me last year, from April to the playoffs, I said I was OK, but I was hurting. You don't want to say you're hurting because then Pop won't play you."
Parker is expected to play tonight, despite suffering a knee-on-knee collision with Atlanta guard Royal Ivey on Saturday. Parker said his knee stiffened Sunday but since has improved.
Limited by injuries since the start of the season, Ginobili said last week he was beginning to find his rhythm, a process that figures to take longer now. Parker said Ginobili told him he fell over Bruce Bowen during a drill at practice.
"When Manu or Tim goes down, it's panic," Parker said. "We just hope it's not like big."
Michael Finley started the previous two games Ginobili missed. Ginobili's absence also figures to increase playing time for Brent Barry, who has made 14 of 25 shots in the past six games.
"Every team gets dinged up a little bit," Popovich said. "It's part of the process. You just have to roll with it and continue to play."
Web Posted: 12/13/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
Tony Parker has a bruised left knee, Tim Duncan needed an injection in his right foot, and they were the least of the Spurs' concerns Monday.
While Parker and Duncan expect to play tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at the SBC Center, Manu Ginobili can't say the same. He sprained his right foot — the same one that's troubled him much of the season — in Monday's practice and likely will be sidelined for the rest of the week at least.
Ginobili underwent an MRI Monday afternoon that revealed a sprain, which is in a different spot than the bone bruise he suffered on his ankle two weeks ago.
Ginobili missed two games because of his previous injury. Team officials hope to have a better estimate of how long he will be out in the next few days. For now, he is wearing a boot to stabilize his foot.
"Other than that, everyone's healthy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich quipped after relaying a list of injuries to the team's top three players.
Duncan didn't practice Monday after receiving a shot in his right heel to relieve inflammation in his plantar fascia, a thin layer of tissue supporting the arch of the foot. He was feeling better Monday afternoon and told Popovich he wants to play tonight but will be re-evaluated this morning.
Duncan periodically has talked of having discomfort in his foot since training camp but always called it "a little thing."
"It just hasn't gone away," Popovich said. "They tried to wait and work it out, work it out, work it out, so they did something a little more aggressive."
Plantar fasciitis, a common basketball injury, could explain why Duncan has struggled when playing on consecutive nights. He made only 5 of 14 shots in Saturday's loss in Atlanta and is averaging 13.7 points on 34.1 percent shooting in the second game of the Spurs' three back-to-backs. :depressed
"I'm sure it's his foot," Parker said. "He says he's OK, but you never know the truth.
"With me last year, from April to the playoffs, I said I was OK, but I was hurting. You don't want to say you're hurting because then Pop won't play you."
Parker is expected to play tonight, despite suffering a knee-on-knee collision with Atlanta guard Royal Ivey on Saturday. Parker said his knee stiffened Sunday but since has improved.
Limited by injuries since the start of the season, Ginobili said last week he was beginning to find his rhythm, a process that figures to take longer now. Parker said Ginobili told him he fell over Bruce Bowen during a drill at practice.
"When Manu or Tim goes down, it's panic," Parker said. "We just hope it's not like big."
Michael Finley started the previous two games Ginobili missed. Ginobili's absence also figures to increase playing time for Brent Barry, who has made 14 of 25 shots in the past six games.
"Every team gets dinged up a little bit," Popovich said. "It's part of the process. You just have to roll with it and continue to play."