maldita21
11-28-2006, 01:16 AM
Spurs Mailbag: We're talking about practice, Elson, Duncan and more
Web Posted: 11/27/2006 10:00 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Practice? Are we talking about practice?
Allen Iverson would have appreciated spending this month with the Spurs. Since the season began, the team has practiced just twice.
The reason: This month's schedule had the Spurs playing five back-to-backs. Given their struggles when playing on consecutive nights last season, coach Gregg Popovich wants to make sure the players have as much rest as possible.
After the Spurs arrived home six hours late from Portland because of mechanical problems with their charter jet last Tuesday, Popovich opted to let the players spend all of Thanksgiving with their families instead of bringing them in for a workout. That type of gesture can go a long ways in preserving locker-room harmony.
The Spurs have used their shootarounds on the morning of games –- or a team breakfast when they're playing a back-to-back -- to prepare for their opponents. A couple of times, they've had film sessions after arriving in town. But full-scale practices have been few and far between.
"That's definitely less of an issue for a veteran team," Popovich said. "You can still show some film and they know what you're talking about. Or you can take a short amount of time and get something done.
"If you had three new free agents that are young kids and you had a couple draft choices, and you were a new coach or something like that, games are like the most worthless situations. You need that practice time to get a system in and get people understanding what they're supposed to do."
That doesn't mean Popovich isn't looking forward to getting a chance to do some teaching. The Spurs will probably work out on Friday –- their first practice since Nov. 13.
The only motivation a coach needs to get his team in the gym, he said, is a losing streak.
"This will sound really strange, but when you do have a bad run –- and we all do during the season -– it's almost exciting because you know as a coach that's an opportunity to make your team better," Popovich said. "You really have their focus and you know specifically what has to get better. When you win a bunch in a row, at some point it just dissipates because you haven't had any practices and your team starts skipping steps.
"It's odd in that respect. It's not fun and you don't look forward to (a losing streak), but when it does happen, you know what opportunity you do have."
Web Posted: 11/27/2006 10:00 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Practice? Are we talking about practice?
Allen Iverson would have appreciated spending this month with the Spurs. Since the season began, the team has practiced just twice.
The reason: This month's schedule had the Spurs playing five back-to-backs. Given their struggles when playing on consecutive nights last season, coach Gregg Popovich wants to make sure the players have as much rest as possible.
After the Spurs arrived home six hours late from Portland because of mechanical problems with their charter jet last Tuesday, Popovich opted to let the players spend all of Thanksgiving with their families instead of bringing them in for a workout. That type of gesture can go a long ways in preserving locker-room harmony.
The Spurs have used their shootarounds on the morning of games –- or a team breakfast when they're playing a back-to-back -- to prepare for their opponents. A couple of times, they've had film sessions after arriving in town. But full-scale practices have been few and far between.
"That's definitely less of an issue for a veteran team," Popovich said. "You can still show some film and they know what you're talking about. Or you can take a short amount of time and get something done.
"If you had three new free agents that are young kids and you had a couple draft choices, and you were a new coach or something like that, games are like the most worthless situations. You need that practice time to get a system in and get people understanding what they're supposed to do."
That doesn't mean Popovich isn't looking forward to getting a chance to do some teaching. The Spurs will probably work out on Friday –- their first practice since Nov. 13.
The only motivation a coach needs to get his team in the gym, he said, is a losing streak.
"This will sound really strange, but when you do have a bad run –- and we all do during the season -– it's almost exciting because you know as a coach that's an opportunity to make your team better," Popovich said. "You really have their focus and you know specifically what has to get better. When you win a bunch in a row, at some point it just dissipates because you haven't had any practices and your team starts skipping steps.
"It's odd in that respect. It's not fun and you don't look forward to (a losing streak), but when it does happen, you know what opportunity you do have."