Bruno
01-24-2006, 08:30 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012406.1D.spurs.d4d2d69.html
Web Posted: 01/24/2006 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs have arrived at the midpoint of their schedule with 31 victories, 10 losses, two ailing right feet and a 23-year-old point guard who looks capable of bunny-hopping his way to Houston for next month's All-Star game.
They have absorbed two beatings from Detroit, their opponent in last season's NBA Finals. Winning on consecutive nights has proven near impossible, and their home-court edge, which used to send shivers through the league, has melted in recent weeks.
As for the 70-victory chatter they heard (and dismissed) in October? It now fills airtime in the Motor City.
And yet as the Spurs begin the season's second half tonight against Charlotte, they share the top rung of the Western Conference with Dallas. They also believe they can get better.
"I think," coach Gregg Popovich said, "we've weathered the first half of the storm pretty well."
The Spurs, who stood at 32-9 after 41 games last season, traditionally have saved their best for last. They again hope to use their annual rodeo trip, which begins next week, to sharpen their focus.
Their first goal, however, may also be their most important: Get healthy.
Although Robert Horry likely will miss his fourth game with a lower abdominal strain tonight, officials are optimistic he'll be back by the end of the week. Manu Ginobili's sprained right ankle isn't believed to be as serious as initially feared, but he's expected to be out up to two weeks, slowing the progress he had made since returning from two other injuries to the same foot.
"He was starting to roll and take a lot of pressure off me and Timmy (Duncan)," Tony Parker said. "It was hard to see him go down because now it's going to take another two, three weeks to get him back at his best level."
Duncan, like Parker, has yet to miss a game. But he also hasn't been in top health, playing on a sore right foot since training camp.
The plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the fibrous tissue that stretches along the bottom of the foot from the heel bone — particularly has bothered Duncan when the Spurs play on back-to-back nights and he doesn't have time to recover. But he also has been less dominant overall, failing, at times, to protect the rim and stop opposing rebounders. Even his bank shot, usually his most consistent weapon, has looked shaky.
In 10 games this month, Duncan is averaging 18.0 points while shooting 43.8 percent.
The Spurs have two five-day breaks next month, which should afford Duncan some rest. The medical staff also is trying a variety of therapies — orthotics, long- and shortwave treatment and anti-inflammatory medication among them — to help reduce his pain.
"At least it's not getting worse," Popovich said, "and we still have hope it will get better."
In the meantime, the Spurs increasingly have leaned on Parker, who is enjoying the best season of his five-year career. He is averaging a career-high 19.6 points while shooting 54.6percent, second-best in the league.
"I still think the key to their team, no matter what, is Parker," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "Not to take anything away from Timmy. He's the MVP of our league. But ... the barometer, though, is Parker, and he's playing great right now."
Though Parker repeatedly has carved up opposing defenses by using his quickness — he's scored a league-high 514 points in the lane — teams increasingly have begun to force him to use his mid-range shot.
"That's fine with me," said Parker, who hopes his work with the team's new shooting coach, Chip Engelland, pays off in the second half. "And if they're going to put their whole defense to stop me, I'm going to have to find my teammates a little more."
Parker's faith went unrewarded Sunday when the Spurs made 4 of 23 3-pointers in their loss to Denver. The Spurs are shooting 47.4 percent for the season, second-best in the league, though Popovich thinks that number is inflated by Parker's season-long layup drill.
Of more concern: They rank 21st in scoring with 94.8 points per game, partially the result of poor free-throw shooting.
Popovich has been pleased with the gradual defensive improvement. The Spurs lead the league in field-goal percentage defense (.428) and are second in scoring defense (88.9 points per game).
Newcomers Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel have looked their age at times, but Popovich doesn't fault their effort.
"Our defense is really what sustains us on nights when offense doesn't work out," Popovich said. "Every team has that problem, but the good teams play defense such that they still have an opportunity to win games.
"I think we know that, understand it and accept it."
As well as the Spurs have guarded, they occasionally have struggled to finish their defense with a rebound. Teams with athletic, physical big men — such as the Pistons — have given them matchup problems.
While Spurs officials continue to assess their trade options — Nazr Mohammed's size and contract make him attractive to some suitors — the team's biggest improvement likely will have to come internally, most notably with Duncan.
"As we approach the All-Star break, we want to become a little more consistent with our physical nature," Popovich said. "The edgy part of the game."
From night to night, the Spurs repeatedly have faced the top-level effort of their opponents — a common challenge for defending champions. Some nights, they have handled it well. On others, like Sunday, they haven't.
Of the team's 10 losses, four have come against Washington, Chicago, Atlanta and New Orleans — none of which has a winning record.
"Those," Bruce Bowen said, "are the ones that keep coaches up late at night."
Web Posted: 01/24/2006 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs have arrived at the midpoint of their schedule with 31 victories, 10 losses, two ailing right feet and a 23-year-old point guard who looks capable of bunny-hopping his way to Houston for next month's All-Star game.
They have absorbed two beatings from Detroit, their opponent in last season's NBA Finals. Winning on consecutive nights has proven near impossible, and their home-court edge, which used to send shivers through the league, has melted in recent weeks.
As for the 70-victory chatter they heard (and dismissed) in October? It now fills airtime in the Motor City.
And yet as the Spurs begin the season's second half tonight against Charlotte, they share the top rung of the Western Conference with Dallas. They also believe they can get better.
"I think," coach Gregg Popovich said, "we've weathered the first half of the storm pretty well."
The Spurs, who stood at 32-9 after 41 games last season, traditionally have saved their best for last. They again hope to use their annual rodeo trip, which begins next week, to sharpen their focus.
Their first goal, however, may also be their most important: Get healthy.
Although Robert Horry likely will miss his fourth game with a lower abdominal strain tonight, officials are optimistic he'll be back by the end of the week. Manu Ginobili's sprained right ankle isn't believed to be as serious as initially feared, but he's expected to be out up to two weeks, slowing the progress he had made since returning from two other injuries to the same foot.
"He was starting to roll and take a lot of pressure off me and Timmy (Duncan)," Tony Parker said. "It was hard to see him go down because now it's going to take another two, three weeks to get him back at his best level."
Duncan, like Parker, has yet to miss a game. But he also hasn't been in top health, playing on a sore right foot since training camp.
The plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the fibrous tissue that stretches along the bottom of the foot from the heel bone — particularly has bothered Duncan when the Spurs play on back-to-back nights and he doesn't have time to recover. But he also has been less dominant overall, failing, at times, to protect the rim and stop opposing rebounders. Even his bank shot, usually his most consistent weapon, has looked shaky.
In 10 games this month, Duncan is averaging 18.0 points while shooting 43.8 percent.
The Spurs have two five-day breaks next month, which should afford Duncan some rest. The medical staff also is trying a variety of therapies — orthotics, long- and shortwave treatment and anti-inflammatory medication among them — to help reduce his pain.
"At least it's not getting worse," Popovich said, "and we still have hope it will get better."
In the meantime, the Spurs increasingly have leaned on Parker, who is enjoying the best season of his five-year career. He is averaging a career-high 19.6 points while shooting 54.6percent, second-best in the league.
"I still think the key to their team, no matter what, is Parker," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "Not to take anything away from Timmy. He's the MVP of our league. But ... the barometer, though, is Parker, and he's playing great right now."
Though Parker repeatedly has carved up opposing defenses by using his quickness — he's scored a league-high 514 points in the lane — teams increasingly have begun to force him to use his mid-range shot.
"That's fine with me," said Parker, who hopes his work with the team's new shooting coach, Chip Engelland, pays off in the second half. "And if they're going to put their whole defense to stop me, I'm going to have to find my teammates a little more."
Parker's faith went unrewarded Sunday when the Spurs made 4 of 23 3-pointers in their loss to Denver. The Spurs are shooting 47.4 percent for the season, second-best in the league, though Popovich thinks that number is inflated by Parker's season-long layup drill.
Of more concern: They rank 21st in scoring with 94.8 points per game, partially the result of poor free-throw shooting.
Popovich has been pleased with the gradual defensive improvement. The Spurs lead the league in field-goal percentage defense (.428) and are second in scoring defense (88.9 points per game).
Newcomers Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel have looked their age at times, but Popovich doesn't fault their effort.
"Our defense is really what sustains us on nights when offense doesn't work out," Popovich said. "Every team has that problem, but the good teams play defense such that they still have an opportunity to win games.
"I think we know that, understand it and accept it."
As well as the Spurs have guarded, they occasionally have struggled to finish their defense with a rebound. Teams with athletic, physical big men — such as the Pistons — have given them matchup problems.
While Spurs officials continue to assess their trade options — Nazr Mohammed's size and contract make him attractive to some suitors — the team's biggest improvement likely will have to come internally, most notably with Duncan.
"As we approach the All-Star break, we want to become a little more consistent with our physical nature," Popovich said. "The edgy part of the game."
From night to night, the Spurs repeatedly have faced the top-level effort of their opponents — a common challenge for defending champions. Some nights, they have handled it well. On others, like Sunday, they haven't.
Of the team's 10 losses, four have come against Washington, Chicago, Atlanta and New Orleans — none of which has a winning record.
"Those," Bruce Bowen said, "are the ones that keep coaches up late at night."