Kori Ellis
10-08-2004, 12:19 AM
Strong words for Rasho: Spurs work with Nesterovic to help him realize his physical potential
Web Posted: 10/08/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs did not send strength coach Mike Brungardt to Slovenia this summer to turn Rasho Nesterovic into David Robinson. Or Ben Wallace. Or, as coach Gregg Popovich famously announced during last season's playoffs, even Man Mountain Dean.
Nor was Brungardt dispatched, as Nesterovic said jokingly, "to make me big dunker."
Not that the Spurs would mind a few more dunks from their starting center this season, big or otherwise. The purpose of Brungardt's visit, however, wasn't to build a better center as much as it was to help Nesterovic realize his potential.
"The best thing you can do is give him the physical tools to be the best he can," Brungardt said. "He's never going to be a real fast athlete, he's never going to be huge, but he can be real solid, real strong.
"And, obviously, he already has the skills and knows how to play the game."
Nesterovic demonstrated that during his first season with the Spurs.
Despite playing fewer minutes per game than he did in his final season in Minnesota, he averaged career highs in rebounds (7.7) and blocked shots (2.01). Factor in Nesterovic's 8.7 points per game and his numbers were almost identical to what Robinson averaged (8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.73 blocks) during his final season when the Spurs won the NBA championship.
"He's always in the right place defensively," said a rival Western Conference head coach who would like to have Nesterovic on his roster. "And you have to guard him."
Nesterovic's biggest misfortune is that he has had to follow Robinson, whose combination of strength and athleticism was unmatched in his younger days. Robinson's biceps even appeared to have biceps of their own.
"They call Jevon Kearse (of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles) a freak," Brungardt said. "But the truest freak I ever saw was David. There will never be another like him."
Not all Spurs fans seemed to accept that fact last season. Nesterovic moved a step slow at times and had trouble finishing at the rim. When the team struggled, he became an easy target.
Nesterovic said he feels more comfortable this fall, if for no other reason than he has played a full season in the Spurs' system. He also has two fewer dates with Shaquille O'Neal, though he doesn't yet see the 330-pound center's move to the Eastern Conference as cause for celebration.
"If you want to win the title, you still have to beat (Miami)," he said, "or somebody better than they are."
Though the Spurs never expected O'Neal to be traded when they signed Nesterovic, they knew their own new center needed to get stronger, regardless of who he was assigned to guard. During training camp last season, Brungardt began tailoring a program for Nesterovic, realizing the most intensive work would need to be done in the offseason.
Nesterovic worked with the Spurs' strength coaches at the team's practice facility for a couple of weeks before returning home to Slovenia. After Brungardt visited him in August, Nesterovic saw his progress slow when he couldn't train as much while playing for Slovenia's national team.
"He's a hard worker; he's not someone who ducks it," Brungardt said. "We'll just keep hammering away and get him stronger and stronger. He's definitely stronger now than when he came in."
The Spurs hope stronger also means more aggressive.
"Like any athlete, any time you start feeling your body becoming stronger, it automatically translates into confidence," said Don Newman, who has helped work with the big men as the team's new assistant coach. "It makes you feel like you can throw your weight around instead of just reacting."
Brungardt compares Nesterovic's frame to that of former Spurs center Will Perdue. Perdue became bigger, but not huge, Brungardt said, because his bone structure was not conducive to adding a lot of mass. As a result, neither Nesterovic nor the Spurs' coaches expect to see results overnight.
"He's never going to be an explosive, rip-the-rim-off kind of a center," forward Malik Rose said. "But he's probably more durable now. I think we'll see the benefits of what Rasho did with 'Brungy' later in the year when guys start getting more tired and Rasho maybe starts to stand up straight a little more because he's stronger."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100804.1D.BKNSpursnesterovic.f99d3d1e.html
Web Posted: 10/08/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs did not send strength coach Mike Brungardt to Slovenia this summer to turn Rasho Nesterovic into David Robinson. Or Ben Wallace. Or, as coach Gregg Popovich famously announced during last season's playoffs, even Man Mountain Dean.
Nor was Brungardt dispatched, as Nesterovic said jokingly, "to make me big dunker."
Not that the Spurs would mind a few more dunks from their starting center this season, big or otherwise. The purpose of Brungardt's visit, however, wasn't to build a better center as much as it was to help Nesterovic realize his potential.
"The best thing you can do is give him the physical tools to be the best he can," Brungardt said. "He's never going to be a real fast athlete, he's never going to be huge, but he can be real solid, real strong.
"And, obviously, he already has the skills and knows how to play the game."
Nesterovic demonstrated that during his first season with the Spurs.
Despite playing fewer minutes per game than he did in his final season in Minnesota, he averaged career highs in rebounds (7.7) and blocked shots (2.01). Factor in Nesterovic's 8.7 points per game and his numbers were almost identical to what Robinson averaged (8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.73 blocks) during his final season when the Spurs won the NBA championship.
"He's always in the right place defensively," said a rival Western Conference head coach who would like to have Nesterovic on his roster. "And you have to guard him."
Nesterovic's biggest misfortune is that he has had to follow Robinson, whose combination of strength and athleticism was unmatched in his younger days. Robinson's biceps even appeared to have biceps of their own.
"They call Jevon Kearse (of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles) a freak," Brungardt said. "But the truest freak I ever saw was David. There will never be another like him."
Not all Spurs fans seemed to accept that fact last season. Nesterovic moved a step slow at times and had trouble finishing at the rim. When the team struggled, he became an easy target.
Nesterovic said he feels more comfortable this fall, if for no other reason than he has played a full season in the Spurs' system. He also has two fewer dates with Shaquille O'Neal, though he doesn't yet see the 330-pound center's move to the Eastern Conference as cause for celebration.
"If you want to win the title, you still have to beat (Miami)," he said, "or somebody better than they are."
Though the Spurs never expected O'Neal to be traded when they signed Nesterovic, they knew their own new center needed to get stronger, regardless of who he was assigned to guard. During training camp last season, Brungardt began tailoring a program for Nesterovic, realizing the most intensive work would need to be done in the offseason.
Nesterovic worked with the Spurs' strength coaches at the team's practice facility for a couple of weeks before returning home to Slovenia. After Brungardt visited him in August, Nesterovic saw his progress slow when he couldn't train as much while playing for Slovenia's national team.
"He's a hard worker; he's not someone who ducks it," Brungardt said. "We'll just keep hammering away and get him stronger and stronger. He's definitely stronger now than when he came in."
The Spurs hope stronger also means more aggressive.
"Like any athlete, any time you start feeling your body becoming stronger, it automatically translates into confidence," said Don Newman, who has helped work with the big men as the team's new assistant coach. "It makes you feel like you can throw your weight around instead of just reacting."
Brungardt compares Nesterovic's frame to that of former Spurs center Will Perdue. Perdue became bigger, but not huge, Brungardt said, because his bone structure was not conducive to adding a lot of mass. As a result, neither Nesterovic nor the Spurs' coaches expect to see results overnight.
"He's never going to be an explosive, rip-the-rim-off kind of a center," forward Malik Rose said. "But he's probably more durable now. I think we'll see the benefits of what Rasho did with 'Brungy' later in the year when guys start getting more tired and Rasho maybe starts to stand up straight a little more because he's stronger."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100804.1D.BKNSpursnesterovic.f99d3d1e.html