timvp
10-18-2004, 12:07 AM
Notebook: Spurs taking extensive looks at backup big men in preseason
Web Posted: 10/18/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
One of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's stated goals heading into the exhibition season was to get a good look at the big men competing for playing time behind Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic at power forward and center.
Turns out there will be a little more backup "big" time than expected throughout the preseason. Veteran power forward-center Sean Marks was declared out of action for two to four weeks on Sunday with a lower back strain.
Marks, who spent the entire 2003-04 season on the injured list with various injuries, did not make the trip to New York for the first preseason game against the Knicks on Saturday and will not be available for any preseason games if it does take him the full four weeks to get back on the court.
"It's really a shame," assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "Sean was really looking forward to competing hard during the preseason."
Popovich gave each of the other big men some court time in New York and likely will continue to look at all of them in the first few exhibition games, including Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns at the SBC Center.
Asked if anyone had looked good in the 98-84 loss to the Knicks, Popovich said the only players who had impressed him had been Knicks guards Jamal Crawford and rookie Trevor Ariza.
Popovich said the arrival of the team's preseason games didn't change his approach to getting the club ready for the season. The emphasis remains getting the new players fully ingrained in the team's system.
"The veteran guys have a lot of corporate knowledge," Popovich said, "and the new guys are catching on, surely but slowly. But we're going very slowly this year, really concentrating on all the little things and trying not to skip any sets."
Worth noting: Though the club won't officially waive guard Valter Monteiro, who had some good moments in Saturday's game, Monteiro returned to his home country of Angola after the game, cutting the number of players in camp to 17. Forward Linton Johnson III remains sidelined with a badly sprained right ankle and the club has no timetable for his return to action.
Web Posted: 10/18/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
One of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's stated goals heading into the exhibition season was to get a good look at the big men competing for playing time behind Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic at power forward and center.
Turns out there will be a little more backup "big" time than expected throughout the preseason. Veteran power forward-center Sean Marks was declared out of action for two to four weeks on Sunday with a lower back strain.
Marks, who spent the entire 2003-04 season on the injured list with various injuries, did not make the trip to New York for the first preseason game against the Knicks on Saturday and will not be available for any preseason games if it does take him the full four weeks to get back on the court.
"It's really a shame," assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "Sean was really looking forward to competing hard during the preseason."
Popovich gave each of the other big men some court time in New York and likely will continue to look at all of them in the first few exhibition games, including Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns at the SBC Center.
Asked if anyone had looked good in the 98-84 loss to the Knicks, Popovich said the only players who had impressed him had been Knicks guards Jamal Crawford and rookie Trevor Ariza.
Popovich said the arrival of the team's preseason games didn't change his approach to getting the club ready for the season. The emphasis remains getting the new players fully ingrained in the team's system.
"The veteran guys have a lot of corporate knowledge," Popovich said, "and the new guys are catching on, surely but slowly. But we're going very slowly this year, really concentrating on all the little things and trying not to skip any sets."
Worth noting: Though the club won't officially waive guard Valter Monteiro, who had some good moments in Saturday's game, Monteiro returned to his home country of Angola after the game, cutting the number of players in camp to 17. Forward Linton Johnson III remains sidelined with a badly sprained right ankle and the club has no timetable for his return to action.