DieMrBond
10-11-2006, 11:16 PM
Horry prepares like it's his last
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101206.01D.BKN_spurs-horry_1012.30a4c6b.html
Web Posted: 10/11/2006 10:48 PM CDT
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
Their season having ended in overtime in a dramatic Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs gathered at their practice facility the day after the crushing loss to clean out their lockers and have a final team meeting.
Robert Horry, owner of six championship rings and the oldest player on the roster, spoke up. He told teammates he was headed to his offseason home to work harder than ever on his conditioning so he could come into training camp fully prepared to get the 2006-07 season off to a good start.
The player known as "Big Shot Rob" admonished them all to do the same.
His teammates took his words to heart because they knew, as he did, that this season might be the last for a 36-year-old whose clutch playoff accomplishments are among the greatest in NBA history.
"I wanted to say that because so many people are saying this might be my last year," Horry said Wednesday after the Spurs' first training-camp practice in San Antonio following nine days in France. "I just wanted to tell them that I'm coming back like it's my fifth or sixth year in the league, and I'm ready to go out and win another championship, and that I was ready to go home and work hard."
Horry insists he won't know if this will be his final season until it shakes out. He admits he has considered the possibility.
"Only time will tell," said Horry, who is preparing for the second year of the three-year contract he signed in 2005. "I want to play as much as I'm allowed to play and as much as my body will allow me to play. I want to be treated like I'm in my first or second year in the league. Just treat me like a basketball player.
"If I can't go, I'm not going to force myself out there to where I hurt the team. Just treat me regular and let me play, and whatever happens, happens."
Horry believes he is still in his prime, as long as 'prime' is properly defined.
"Depends on what you mean by prime," he said. "There's early prime and prime-time prime. I'm twilight prime. I'm not as fast or explosive as I used to be. It's just age, and I've played a lot of basketball throughout my NBA career."
With that experience has come wisdom about the game that makes Horry valuable even beyond his remaining athleticism and his 3-point shot.
"He knows the game and he knows how to get himself in position to do so many little things," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "Robert has an uncanny ability to do good things like that."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has asked Matt Bonner, 26, acquired as an eventual successor to Horry, to watch how Horry thinks his way around both ends of the floor.
"Pop came to him in one of our games in France," Horry said, "and told him, 'Go talk to Robert ... Robert, tell him how to get an open shot.'"
That this could be Horry's final season is of no concern to Popovich, at least not now.
"My only concern is this season," Popovich said. "The future is the future. I'm concerned about what he can do this season. Hopefully, he will be healthy enough to give us a good season and we'll worry about later later."
Notebook: Tony Parker skipped Wednesday's lengthy practice with a sore finger on his right hand, but it had nothing to do with the fracture to his right index finger he suffered on Aug. 22. A cut finger had developed a minor infection, so Parker sat out as a precaution. ... Forward Eric Williams and point guard Beno Udrih also sat out the practice session, both with sore hamstrings. ... The Spurs, who had taken Tuesday off after their long travel day on Monday, practiced for more than two hours. "It was nice to get back on the floor after getting back from France and sweat out all that cheese," guard Brent Barry said. "Yesterday was good for us to have off, but we're still trying to get on schedule and recovered."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101206.01D.BKN_spurs-horry_1012.30a4c6b.html
Web Posted: 10/11/2006 10:48 PM CDT
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
Their season having ended in overtime in a dramatic Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs gathered at their practice facility the day after the crushing loss to clean out their lockers and have a final team meeting.
Robert Horry, owner of six championship rings and the oldest player on the roster, spoke up. He told teammates he was headed to his offseason home to work harder than ever on his conditioning so he could come into training camp fully prepared to get the 2006-07 season off to a good start.
The player known as "Big Shot Rob" admonished them all to do the same.
His teammates took his words to heart because they knew, as he did, that this season might be the last for a 36-year-old whose clutch playoff accomplishments are among the greatest in NBA history.
"I wanted to say that because so many people are saying this might be my last year," Horry said Wednesday after the Spurs' first training-camp practice in San Antonio following nine days in France. "I just wanted to tell them that I'm coming back like it's my fifth or sixth year in the league, and I'm ready to go out and win another championship, and that I was ready to go home and work hard."
Horry insists he won't know if this will be his final season until it shakes out. He admits he has considered the possibility.
"Only time will tell," said Horry, who is preparing for the second year of the three-year contract he signed in 2005. "I want to play as much as I'm allowed to play and as much as my body will allow me to play. I want to be treated like I'm in my first or second year in the league. Just treat me like a basketball player.
"If I can't go, I'm not going to force myself out there to where I hurt the team. Just treat me regular and let me play, and whatever happens, happens."
Horry believes he is still in his prime, as long as 'prime' is properly defined.
"Depends on what you mean by prime," he said. "There's early prime and prime-time prime. I'm twilight prime. I'm not as fast or explosive as I used to be. It's just age, and I've played a lot of basketball throughout my NBA career."
With that experience has come wisdom about the game that makes Horry valuable even beyond his remaining athleticism and his 3-point shot.
"He knows the game and he knows how to get himself in position to do so many little things," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "Robert has an uncanny ability to do good things like that."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has asked Matt Bonner, 26, acquired as an eventual successor to Horry, to watch how Horry thinks his way around both ends of the floor.
"Pop came to him in one of our games in France," Horry said, "and told him, 'Go talk to Robert ... Robert, tell him how to get an open shot.'"
That this could be Horry's final season is of no concern to Popovich, at least not now.
"My only concern is this season," Popovich said. "The future is the future. I'm concerned about what he can do this season. Hopefully, he will be healthy enough to give us a good season and we'll worry about later later."
Notebook: Tony Parker skipped Wednesday's lengthy practice with a sore finger on his right hand, but it had nothing to do with the fracture to his right index finger he suffered on Aug. 22. A cut finger had developed a minor infection, so Parker sat out as a precaution. ... Forward Eric Williams and point guard Beno Udrih also sat out the practice session, both with sore hamstrings. ... The Spurs, who had taken Tuesday off after their long travel day on Monday, practiced for more than two hours. "It was nice to get back on the floor after getting back from France and sweat out all that cheese," guard Brent Barry said. "Yesterday was good for us to have off, but we're still trying to get on schedule and recovered."