Solid D
01-02-2007, 12:57 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA010207.1D.BKN.spurs.cavs.adv.2e2df5c.html
Web Posted: 01/02/2007 12:46 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
CLEVELAND — After more than three months and dozens of errant 3-pointers, Robert Horry had finally begun to get used to the NBA's new composite basketball.
Horry still didn't like the ball. Nor did it like him, as evidenced by his shooting percentage. But he had at least become more familiar with the ball's microfiber texture and quirky bounces.
Until, that is, the Spurs rolled out a cart of leather balls during practice three days ago.
"We shot around with the old ball, and it just made me realize how much I missed it even more," Horry said. "The ball's heavier, you get a better feel for it. It doesn't feel like a Nerf ball anymore.
"It's what we're accustomed to. It's a real basketball."
In a case of out with the new, in with the old, the Spurs will return to using the leather ball during tonight's game against Cleveland. They should be happy if it performs as well for them as the synthetic model.
For all the complaints about the new ball — which, to be exact, officially became the old ball Monday when the NBA made its league-wide return to leather — the Spurs seemed to put it to good use. They enter tonight averaging 100.4 points on 48.1 percent shooting, putting the team on pace to record its highest averages in both categories in more than a decade.
In addition to ranking second in field-goal percentage behind Phoenix, the Spurs also lead the league in 3-point accuracy at 41.3 percent.
Still, it's hard to find anyone in the locker room who has a problem with returning to the leather ball. Even Tony Parker, the only player on the team — and one of the few in the league — who likes the microfiber ball, said he doesn't mind the switch.
The Spurs didn't practice Monday, but they used leather balls during some of their shooting drills Saturday. Most of the players think there will be a short adjustment period.
"Only because (the change) is in the middle of the year," Brent Barry said. "Games will be played, balls will bounce off the rim, balls will go in, and it will be a moot point very quickly.
"It's different, but guys know that ball and know it well. Every guy made their bones by shooting that ball to get here."
Barry said he's "indifferent" to the change even though he made 50.5 percent of his 3-pointers with the microfiber ball. Tim Duncan made it clear from the start of the season he didn't like the ball, even though he is shooting a career-best 56.1 percent.
Horry and Michael Finley, however, have more reason to welcome the return to leather. Each is shooting the worst of his career.
Among the many criticisms of the synthetic ball were that it was too sticky at the start of a game, too slick later in the game and too light. Some coaches and players think the abundance of Spalding and NBA logos on the ball made it even more difficult to grip.
What ultimately caused NBA commissioner David Stern to return to leather, however, were complaints that the microfiber was leaving small cuts on players' hands. Duncan was among those who were cut. Matt Bonner also had trouble in training camp but said it became less of a problem after his hands began to callus.
"I'm happy we're going back," Bonner said. "It's weird because you can say a basketball is a basketball: They're round, they have air and whatever. But they're two very different balls.
"Just the grip and how heavy they are — it's a big difference."
The synthetic ball seemed to die softer on the rim, which led to shorter rebounds and possibly made it easier for big men like Duncan to clean up around the basket. To ease the transition, the league sent each team 10 new leather balls Dec. 14 — along with a letter saying each ball was ready for play because it had been "officially bounced 50 times." A second shipment of 14 more balls arrived a week later.
"Each of the balls has been 'officially bounced 50 times and is ready for play,'" Barry said, shaking his head. "How is that? I want to see this facility or who they have hired to do this because I can send my son to go do that. Get him some work.
"With all the money the league put into researching the (synthetic) ball, maybe it's a robot machine at the Spalding factory that bounces it 50 times."
NBA officials had hoped the synthetic model would give the league a uniform ball that eliminated the game-to-game discrepancies between leather balls furnished by teams. The officiating crew chief will now be asked to measure the inflation of the game ball to make sure it meets league specifications.
The league also has asked teams to not throw away their supply of microfiber balls in case they're needed for further testing. Horry has already come up with one use for them.
"It's good for the kiddies," Horry said. "That's the perfect ball for my son to play with."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Web Posted: 01/02/2007 12:46 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
CLEVELAND — After more than three months and dozens of errant 3-pointers, Robert Horry had finally begun to get used to the NBA's new composite basketball.
Horry still didn't like the ball. Nor did it like him, as evidenced by his shooting percentage. But he had at least become more familiar with the ball's microfiber texture and quirky bounces.
Until, that is, the Spurs rolled out a cart of leather balls during practice three days ago.
"We shot around with the old ball, and it just made me realize how much I missed it even more," Horry said. "The ball's heavier, you get a better feel for it. It doesn't feel like a Nerf ball anymore.
"It's what we're accustomed to. It's a real basketball."
In a case of out with the new, in with the old, the Spurs will return to using the leather ball during tonight's game against Cleveland. They should be happy if it performs as well for them as the synthetic model.
For all the complaints about the new ball — which, to be exact, officially became the old ball Monday when the NBA made its league-wide return to leather — the Spurs seemed to put it to good use. They enter tonight averaging 100.4 points on 48.1 percent shooting, putting the team on pace to record its highest averages in both categories in more than a decade.
In addition to ranking second in field-goal percentage behind Phoenix, the Spurs also lead the league in 3-point accuracy at 41.3 percent.
Still, it's hard to find anyone in the locker room who has a problem with returning to the leather ball. Even Tony Parker, the only player on the team — and one of the few in the league — who likes the microfiber ball, said he doesn't mind the switch.
The Spurs didn't practice Monday, but they used leather balls during some of their shooting drills Saturday. Most of the players think there will be a short adjustment period.
"Only because (the change) is in the middle of the year," Brent Barry said. "Games will be played, balls will bounce off the rim, balls will go in, and it will be a moot point very quickly.
"It's different, but guys know that ball and know it well. Every guy made their bones by shooting that ball to get here."
Barry said he's "indifferent" to the change even though he made 50.5 percent of his 3-pointers with the microfiber ball. Tim Duncan made it clear from the start of the season he didn't like the ball, even though he is shooting a career-best 56.1 percent.
Horry and Michael Finley, however, have more reason to welcome the return to leather. Each is shooting the worst of his career.
Among the many criticisms of the synthetic ball were that it was too sticky at the start of a game, too slick later in the game and too light. Some coaches and players think the abundance of Spalding and NBA logos on the ball made it even more difficult to grip.
What ultimately caused NBA commissioner David Stern to return to leather, however, were complaints that the microfiber was leaving small cuts on players' hands. Duncan was among those who were cut. Matt Bonner also had trouble in training camp but said it became less of a problem after his hands began to callus.
"I'm happy we're going back," Bonner said. "It's weird because you can say a basketball is a basketball: They're round, they have air and whatever. But they're two very different balls.
"Just the grip and how heavy they are — it's a big difference."
The synthetic ball seemed to die softer on the rim, which led to shorter rebounds and possibly made it easier for big men like Duncan to clean up around the basket. To ease the transition, the league sent each team 10 new leather balls Dec. 14 — along with a letter saying each ball was ready for play because it had been "officially bounced 50 times." A second shipment of 14 more balls arrived a week later.
"Each of the balls has been 'officially bounced 50 times and is ready for play,'" Barry said, shaking his head. "How is that? I want to see this facility or who they have hired to do this because I can send my son to go do that. Get him some work.
"With all the money the league put into researching the (synthetic) ball, maybe it's a robot machine at the Spalding factory that bounces it 50 times."
NBA officials had hoped the synthetic model would give the league a uniform ball that eliminated the game-to-game discrepancies between leather balls furnished by teams. The officiating crew chief will now be asked to measure the inflation of the game ball to make sure it meets league specifications.
The league also has asked teams to not throw away their supply of microfiber balls in case they're needed for further testing. Horry has already come up with one use for them.
"It's good for the kiddies," Horry said. "That's the perfect ball for my son to play with."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]