loveforthegame
12-30-2005, 01:29 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA123005.6C.BKNspurs.notebook.1ccb40b0.html
Spurs notebook: Van Exel's bad elbow gives Udrih rare chance
Web Posted: 12/30/2005 12:10 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
The left elbow of Spurs guard Nick Van Exel's has been bothering him since he aggravated an old injury Dec. 15.
When it flared up in the first half of Thursday's game against the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets at SBC Center, he pulled Beno Udrih aside during halftime and told him to be ready to play in the second half.
Udrih had played only 20 minutes in the previous five games, but he took advantage of his opportunity and played perhaps his best game of the season in the Spurs' 111-84 victory.
In 15 minutes, Udrih made 3 of 5 shots, including both his 3-point attempts, for eight points. He also had three rebounds and three assists.
"Nick told me at half he was done for the game and I need to get ready, so I got ready," Udrih said. "Actually, I've been trying to stay ready all the time, but this time I knew I was going to play, so it made it a little easier."
Last season, his first in the NBA, Udrih was the primary backup to Tony Parker. He played in 80 of 82 games, averaging 5.9 points and 1.9 assists. With Van Exel signed as a free agent in August, Udrih had played in only 19 of the first 29 games, usually in garbage time.
"It's been tough, but I knew when they signed Nick that it was gong to be like that," Udrih said. "I just try to work hard and stay ready for when they need me."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was happy to see Udrih's aggressive approach to his first extended play of the season.
"I thought Beno was really good," Popovich said. "He was aggressive, and he looked for shots. He played good defense. He played physically and aggressively, rather than tentatively, or being worried about coming off the bench. He just played. It was good to see."
Van Exel said he would get a cortisone injection in his elbow, most likely today. He ventured no guess on his availability for the Spurs' next game, in Denver on Saturday.
Popovich jersey retirement: Popovich won't join the team for its flight to Denver this afternoon. Instead, he'll be in Indiana having his No. 21 jersey retired by Merrillville High School.
Popovich will be honored tonight at halftime of Merrillville's game against Crown Point. Several former teammates and coaches are expected to attend the ceremony.
"It's been fun in the sense that I've already caught so much grief over the last couple months since they've known we're going to do this," Popovich said. "I don't know why they want to do it now. My scoring average hasn't changed in the 40 years since I went there."
Popovich will catch a flight early Saturday to meet the Spurs in Denver.
Briefly: Tim Duncan remains in third place in fan balloting for the two starting forward spots on the Western Conference All-Star team. He has 786,689 votes, trailing Houston's Tracy McGrady (1,066,013) and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett (793,078). Duncan has started the past six All-Star Games. Manu Ginobili is a distant third among West guards. Parker is fifth. Balloting continues through Jan. 22. ... The Spurs scored 35 points in the first quarter, the second-most they've scored in any quarter this season. Their 64 points in the first half were two shy of the season-high 66 they scored against Golden State on Nov. 23.
Spurs notebook: Van Exel's bad elbow gives Udrih rare chance
Web Posted: 12/30/2005 12:10 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
The left elbow of Spurs guard Nick Van Exel's has been bothering him since he aggravated an old injury Dec. 15.
When it flared up in the first half of Thursday's game against the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets at SBC Center, he pulled Beno Udrih aside during halftime and told him to be ready to play in the second half.
Udrih had played only 20 minutes in the previous five games, but he took advantage of his opportunity and played perhaps his best game of the season in the Spurs' 111-84 victory.
In 15 minutes, Udrih made 3 of 5 shots, including both his 3-point attempts, for eight points. He also had three rebounds and three assists.
"Nick told me at half he was done for the game and I need to get ready, so I got ready," Udrih said. "Actually, I've been trying to stay ready all the time, but this time I knew I was going to play, so it made it a little easier."
Last season, his first in the NBA, Udrih was the primary backup to Tony Parker. He played in 80 of 82 games, averaging 5.9 points and 1.9 assists. With Van Exel signed as a free agent in August, Udrih had played in only 19 of the first 29 games, usually in garbage time.
"It's been tough, but I knew when they signed Nick that it was gong to be like that," Udrih said. "I just try to work hard and stay ready for when they need me."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was happy to see Udrih's aggressive approach to his first extended play of the season.
"I thought Beno was really good," Popovich said. "He was aggressive, and he looked for shots. He played good defense. He played physically and aggressively, rather than tentatively, or being worried about coming off the bench. He just played. It was good to see."
Van Exel said he would get a cortisone injection in his elbow, most likely today. He ventured no guess on his availability for the Spurs' next game, in Denver on Saturday.
Popovich jersey retirement: Popovich won't join the team for its flight to Denver this afternoon. Instead, he'll be in Indiana having his No. 21 jersey retired by Merrillville High School.
Popovich will be honored tonight at halftime of Merrillville's game against Crown Point. Several former teammates and coaches are expected to attend the ceremony.
"It's been fun in the sense that I've already caught so much grief over the last couple months since they've known we're going to do this," Popovich said. "I don't know why they want to do it now. My scoring average hasn't changed in the 40 years since I went there."
Popovich will catch a flight early Saturday to meet the Spurs in Denver.
Briefly: Tim Duncan remains in third place in fan balloting for the two starting forward spots on the Western Conference All-Star team. He has 786,689 votes, trailing Houston's Tracy McGrady (1,066,013) and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett (793,078). Duncan has started the past six All-Star Games. Manu Ginobili is a distant third among West guards. Parker is fifth. Balloting continues through Jan. 22. ... The Spurs scored 35 points in the first quarter, the second-most they've scored in any quarter this season. Their 64 points in the first half were two shy of the season-high 66 they scored against Golden State on Nov. 23.