Emanuel20
12-04-2006, 08:57 AM
Spurs look past troubled stretch
Web Posted: 12/04/2006 03:01 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
On those occasions when the Spurs have played poorly — or in this case, according to their coach, "pathetic" — Gregg Popovich has usually ushered them into the theater at their practice facility for a film session.
Not, however, on Sunday. Popovich instead put the Spurs through a short yet crisp workout designed to flush away any remnants of their mistake-filled performance in the second half of Saturday's 100-98 victory over Sacramento.
"You see me sweating?" Bruce Bowen asked. "As we like to say, we kind of 'blew the pipes out' a little bit today.
"I think (the other coaches) said, 'We're not going to go into film because it might make him even more upset.'"
The Spurs hope to use tonight's game against Golden State to put their coach in better spirits. Manu Ginobili was still listed as doubtful to play on the team's injury report, but he worked out for Popovich after practice — a possible sign his return might not be far off.
The Spurs gave up 111 points — their most this season — during last week's loss to the Warriors. Their defense didn't look too much better against the Kings, who shot 49.4 percent for the game and scored at least 26 points in three of the four quarters.
The Spurs could have helped themselves by taking better care of the ball. Thirty of Sacramento's 98 points came from the Spurs' 18 turnovers, 11 of which came in the final 15 minutes, 3 seconds.
Only Bowen's timely shooting helped the Spurs avoid their fourth loss in five games.
"All the things we prepared for during practice kind of slipped away during the third quarter," Bowen said. "It's kind of like we took a couple steps back."
The Spurs were in position to win each of the three previous games (Dallas, Golden State and Utah) they lost. But, much like Saturday, they struggled in the fourth quarter.
"Now that it's happened for a few games, we can focus on it," Bowen said. "We don't want a repeat performance. That means making a conscious effort to do the little things sometimes ... (like) going on the floor for a loose ball."
Bowen was referring to Jacque Vaughn, who made the team's best hustle play of the season in Saturday's third quarter when he dove into the first row of baseline seats to save a deflected Sacramento pass. Vaughn's effort created an easy layup for Robert Horry on the other end of the floor.
Popovich called on Vaughn after watching Beno Udrih throw away consecutive passes not long after he replaced Tony Parker. It was the third time in five games Udrih had been benched.
"Sometimes we need that kind of fist-pumping energetic play," Brent Barry said. "I don't think we've been as excitable with Manu out."
Popovich hopes the team will have a little more energy after completing the first month of its schedule. The Spurs played five back-to-backs in November and ended with seven games in 11 days.
Ginobili's absence also shortened the team's rotation with Barry, Bowen and Michael Finley initially sharing minutes at both wing positions.
Popovich decided to utilize his depth Saturday by using 11 players — everyone but Vaughn — by the start of the second quarter. Matt Bonner and Eric Williams, who had played only eight minutes in the first 16 games, gave the team a lift, combing for 13 points in the first half.
"We're not happy with the way we played, but we won the game," Barry said. "You can't have too much doom and gloom over getting wins. Sometimes there are good losses. I don't know if there's ever really a bad win."
Web Posted: 12/04/2006 03:01 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
On those occasions when the Spurs have played poorly — or in this case, according to their coach, "pathetic" — Gregg Popovich has usually ushered them into the theater at their practice facility for a film session.
Not, however, on Sunday. Popovich instead put the Spurs through a short yet crisp workout designed to flush away any remnants of their mistake-filled performance in the second half of Saturday's 100-98 victory over Sacramento.
"You see me sweating?" Bruce Bowen asked. "As we like to say, we kind of 'blew the pipes out' a little bit today.
"I think (the other coaches) said, 'We're not going to go into film because it might make him even more upset.'"
The Spurs hope to use tonight's game against Golden State to put their coach in better spirits. Manu Ginobili was still listed as doubtful to play on the team's injury report, but he worked out for Popovich after practice — a possible sign his return might not be far off.
The Spurs gave up 111 points — their most this season — during last week's loss to the Warriors. Their defense didn't look too much better against the Kings, who shot 49.4 percent for the game and scored at least 26 points in three of the four quarters.
The Spurs could have helped themselves by taking better care of the ball. Thirty of Sacramento's 98 points came from the Spurs' 18 turnovers, 11 of which came in the final 15 minutes, 3 seconds.
Only Bowen's timely shooting helped the Spurs avoid their fourth loss in five games.
"All the things we prepared for during practice kind of slipped away during the third quarter," Bowen said. "It's kind of like we took a couple steps back."
The Spurs were in position to win each of the three previous games (Dallas, Golden State and Utah) they lost. But, much like Saturday, they struggled in the fourth quarter.
"Now that it's happened for a few games, we can focus on it," Bowen said. "We don't want a repeat performance. That means making a conscious effort to do the little things sometimes ... (like) going on the floor for a loose ball."
Bowen was referring to Jacque Vaughn, who made the team's best hustle play of the season in Saturday's third quarter when he dove into the first row of baseline seats to save a deflected Sacramento pass. Vaughn's effort created an easy layup for Robert Horry on the other end of the floor.
Popovich called on Vaughn after watching Beno Udrih throw away consecutive passes not long after he replaced Tony Parker. It was the third time in five games Udrih had been benched.
"Sometimes we need that kind of fist-pumping energetic play," Brent Barry said. "I don't think we've been as excitable with Manu out."
Popovich hopes the team will have a little more energy after completing the first month of its schedule. The Spurs played five back-to-backs in November and ended with seven games in 11 days.
Ginobili's absence also shortened the team's rotation with Barry, Bowen and Michael Finley initially sharing minutes at both wing positions.
Popovich decided to utilize his depth Saturday by using 11 players — everyone but Vaughn — by the start of the second quarter. Matt Bonner and Eric Williams, who had played only eight minutes in the first 16 games, gave the team a lift, combing for 13 points in the first half.
"We're not happy with the way we played, but we won the game," Barry said. "You can't have too much doom and gloom over getting wins. Sometimes there are good losses. I don't know if there's ever really a bad win."