Bruno
01-28-2006, 06:48 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012806.7C.BKNspurs.wolves.preview.22234070.htm l
Web Posted: 01/28/2006 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
With their Minnesota scouting reports suddenly in need of revision, the Spurs didn't bother to watch much film Friday afternoon. Tony Parker did well enough to project a new starting five for tonight's opponent.
"Marko Jaric," Parker said before pausing. "Ricky Davis ... Trenton Hassell ... Mark Blount ... (Kevin) Garnett."
While the Spurs can't be sure what they'll face tonight at the AT&T Center after Minnesota reshuffled its roster with a seven-player trade with Boston, they hope their own lineup looks more familiar.
Manu Ginobili and Robert Horry participated in Friday's practice and could play tonight. Tim Duncan didn't work out after receiving treatment for his sore right foot, but coach Gregg Popovich thinks he will play.
"All three are in the probable range," Popovich said. "But we want to make sure they're OK (at this morning's shootaround)."
Ginobili has missed the past three games after spraining his right ankle in Miami on Jan. 20. Horry has sat out the past five because of a lower abdominal strain.
"They were looking good in practice," Parker said.
This will be the third time this season Ginobili has returned after an injury to his right foot. His latest sprain — which occurred when he stepped on the foot of Heat forward Udonis Haslem while driving through the lane — looked like his most serious because he had to be carried to the locker room.
At the time, Popovich expected Ginobili to be out "a while, that's for sure." But Ginobili walked with only a slight trace of a limp the next day.
"Obviously when you see it on replay, you think, 'Oh my God, that's got to hurt,'" Parker said. "But he said he was going to be back after two or three games, so he's feeling good."
Duncan, meanwhile, underwent short-wave lithotripsy treatment to help relieve his plantar fasciitis. The treatment, which is similar to one used to break up kidney stones, sends shock waves to the foot.
Popovich said the treatment was part of Duncan's therapy and that he didn't aggravate the injury during the Spurs' back-to-back victories over Charlotte and New Orleans.
Duncan, finding his outside shot for the first time in a while, scored 17 points Wednesday against the Hornets. He said his foot didn't bother him much, in part because he played only 25 minutes the previous night against the Bobcats.
Ginobili is expected to start if he is cleared to play. Popovich alternated starting Brent Barry and Nick Van Exel during Ginobili's absence to allow Michael Finley to continue coming off the bench — his expected role for the remainder of the season.
Fabricio Oberto helped fill in for Horry, averaging 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds the past four games.
"It was a plus for the coaches to see a lot of the guys step up and take advantage of the time they had," Bruce Bowen said.
Minnesota's lineup has undergone a far more dramatic transformation the past two days. On Thursday night, the Timberwolves traded Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and Dwayne Jones to Boston for Davis, Blount, Marcus Banks and Justin Reed.
Unsure whether Minnesota's new players would even be available for tonight's game, the Spurs primarily focused on their own work at Friday's practice.
Davis started and scored 26 points in Minnesota's 96-92 victory over Houston Friday night. Blount came off the bench and played 24 minutes.
"You don't know what they're going to do just yet, so how do you prepare for them?" Bowen said. "You have to go by the old things you used to do against them and just sort of wing it."
Notebook: Because the NBA doesn't allow coaches to work the All-Star Game in consecutive years, Dallas' Avery Johnson has already earned the right to guide the Western Conference team. Popovich, who grudgingly coached in last season's game, deadpanned disappointment over the rule: "I really hurt," he said. His advice for Johnson? "Don't get in the way. Just enjoy the heck out of it." ... Parker enjoyed his Thursday appearance on "Oprah" with girlfriend Eva Longoria. "Eva made me watch every single DVD of 'Oprah' the last 10 days," Parker said. "So I was on page and knew what she did."
Web Posted: 01/28/2006 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
With their Minnesota scouting reports suddenly in need of revision, the Spurs didn't bother to watch much film Friday afternoon. Tony Parker did well enough to project a new starting five for tonight's opponent.
"Marko Jaric," Parker said before pausing. "Ricky Davis ... Trenton Hassell ... Mark Blount ... (Kevin) Garnett."
While the Spurs can't be sure what they'll face tonight at the AT&T Center after Minnesota reshuffled its roster with a seven-player trade with Boston, they hope their own lineup looks more familiar.
Manu Ginobili and Robert Horry participated in Friday's practice and could play tonight. Tim Duncan didn't work out after receiving treatment for his sore right foot, but coach Gregg Popovich thinks he will play.
"All three are in the probable range," Popovich said. "But we want to make sure they're OK (at this morning's shootaround)."
Ginobili has missed the past three games after spraining his right ankle in Miami on Jan. 20. Horry has sat out the past five because of a lower abdominal strain.
"They were looking good in practice," Parker said.
This will be the third time this season Ginobili has returned after an injury to his right foot. His latest sprain — which occurred when he stepped on the foot of Heat forward Udonis Haslem while driving through the lane — looked like his most serious because he had to be carried to the locker room.
At the time, Popovich expected Ginobili to be out "a while, that's for sure." But Ginobili walked with only a slight trace of a limp the next day.
"Obviously when you see it on replay, you think, 'Oh my God, that's got to hurt,'" Parker said. "But he said he was going to be back after two or three games, so he's feeling good."
Duncan, meanwhile, underwent short-wave lithotripsy treatment to help relieve his plantar fasciitis. The treatment, which is similar to one used to break up kidney stones, sends shock waves to the foot.
Popovich said the treatment was part of Duncan's therapy and that he didn't aggravate the injury during the Spurs' back-to-back victories over Charlotte and New Orleans.
Duncan, finding his outside shot for the first time in a while, scored 17 points Wednesday against the Hornets. He said his foot didn't bother him much, in part because he played only 25 minutes the previous night against the Bobcats.
Ginobili is expected to start if he is cleared to play. Popovich alternated starting Brent Barry and Nick Van Exel during Ginobili's absence to allow Michael Finley to continue coming off the bench — his expected role for the remainder of the season.
Fabricio Oberto helped fill in for Horry, averaging 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds the past four games.
"It was a plus for the coaches to see a lot of the guys step up and take advantage of the time they had," Bruce Bowen said.
Minnesota's lineup has undergone a far more dramatic transformation the past two days. On Thursday night, the Timberwolves traded Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and Dwayne Jones to Boston for Davis, Blount, Marcus Banks and Justin Reed.
Unsure whether Minnesota's new players would even be available for tonight's game, the Spurs primarily focused on their own work at Friday's practice.
Davis started and scored 26 points in Minnesota's 96-92 victory over Houston Friday night. Blount came off the bench and played 24 minutes.
"You don't know what they're going to do just yet, so how do you prepare for them?" Bowen said. "You have to go by the old things you used to do against them and just sort of wing it."
Notebook: Because the NBA doesn't allow coaches to work the All-Star Game in consecutive years, Dallas' Avery Johnson has already earned the right to guide the Western Conference team. Popovich, who grudgingly coached in last season's game, deadpanned disappointment over the rule: "I really hurt," he said. His advice for Johnson? "Don't get in the way. Just enjoy the heck out of it." ... Parker enjoyed his Thursday appearance on "Oprah" with girlfriend Eva Longoria. "Eva made me watch every single DVD of 'Oprah' the last 10 days," Parker said. "So I was on page and knew what she did."