Bruno
02-10-2007, 01:42 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA021007.05C.BKNspurs.notebook.1fd2da9.html
Web Posted: 02/10/2007 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
ORLANDO, Fla. — While Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker both praised former Spurs guard Hedo Turkoglu for the inbounds pass he made to Dwight Howard for the winning basket, Michael Finley saw it differently.
"It was a bad pass," Finley said.
The pass appeared to be too high and Orlando coach Brian Hill said he also thought it was "a little to the outside."
"But being the athlete that Dwight is he was able to get it under control and dunk the ball," Finley said. "It was a special play on his part."
Parker said the Spurs talked "a little" about watching for the lob in the preceding timeout.
"I knew that was the only way they could score," Finley said. "A catch-and-shoot would be tough in that situation.
"Two things had to happen: You have to have an athlete who can catch the ball, which they had; and you had to have a perfect pass, which I thought was a bad pass. But they executed it and got a win."
Bonner planning swift return: Matt Bonner, who has missed the past 12 games after tearing his left medial collateral ligament, thinks he's close to returning — possibly even before the end of the team's current trip.
"I feel good," Bonner said. "But it's still up to Pop to decide when he thinks I'm ready."
Popovich said last week he didn't think Bonner would be back until after the All-Star break, but Bonner has since gone through two full-contact practices without any problem.
"The main thing was when I started going full speed it was more mental," Bonner said. "Just having the confidence to push off and explode off it like I normally would."
The Spurs' doctors also examined Bonner before the team left for its trip and said his knee was healing without complication. Bonner is wearing a brace on his leg and probably will have to continue to do so for a while after he returns.
After not playing for much of the season's first six weeks, Bonner had begun to help the Spurs with his rebounding and 3-point shooting before he injured his knee against Washington on Dec. 13.
Vaughn backing up Parker: Popovich used Jacque Vaughn to back up Parker for the second consecutive game.
Beno Udrih didn't play for only the second time this season. Vaughn had four points, one assist and two turnovers in 15 minutes.
With their own backup point-guard position in flux, the Spurs probably found it all the more frustrating to watch Jameer Nelson score 31 points. They tried unsuccessfully to trade up for him in the 2004 draft before taking Udrih.
Gervin in for Kerr: Parker will have a new teammate when he tries to help the Spurs defend their Shooting Stars title at All-Star weekend.
Steve Kerr has a back injury, so George Gervin will take his place in the event. Parker, Kerr and Silver Stars forward Kendra Wecker won last season's competition, which requires each team to make six shots from different locations in increasing difficulty.
"How about George Gervin stepping in for me?" Kerr said on Thursday night's TNT NBA broadcast."Shouldn't it be the other way around? I'm the sub and he's the star.
"I think this is the first time in this competition that someone had to sit out because of an injury."
Said Parker: "I'm going to have to tell Ice he better not mess up the chemistry."
Web Posted: 02/10/2007 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
ORLANDO, Fla. — While Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker both praised former Spurs guard Hedo Turkoglu for the inbounds pass he made to Dwight Howard for the winning basket, Michael Finley saw it differently.
"It was a bad pass," Finley said.
The pass appeared to be too high and Orlando coach Brian Hill said he also thought it was "a little to the outside."
"But being the athlete that Dwight is he was able to get it under control and dunk the ball," Finley said. "It was a special play on his part."
Parker said the Spurs talked "a little" about watching for the lob in the preceding timeout.
"I knew that was the only way they could score," Finley said. "A catch-and-shoot would be tough in that situation.
"Two things had to happen: You have to have an athlete who can catch the ball, which they had; and you had to have a perfect pass, which I thought was a bad pass. But they executed it and got a win."
Bonner planning swift return: Matt Bonner, who has missed the past 12 games after tearing his left medial collateral ligament, thinks he's close to returning — possibly even before the end of the team's current trip.
"I feel good," Bonner said. "But it's still up to Pop to decide when he thinks I'm ready."
Popovich said last week he didn't think Bonner would be back until after the All-Star break, but Bonner has since gone through two full-contact practices without any problem.
"The main thing was when I started going full speed it was more mental," Bonner said. "Just having the confidence to push off and explode off it like I normally would."
The Spurs' doctors also examined Bonner before the team left for its trip and said his knee was healing without complication. Bonner is wearing a brace on his leg and probably will have to continue to do so for a while after he returns.
After not playing for much of the season's first six weeks, Bonner had begun to help the Spurs with his rebounding and 3-point shooting before he injured his knee against Washington on Dec. 13.
Vaughn backing up Parker: Popovich used Jacque Vaughn to back up Parker for the second consecutive game.
Beno Udrih didn't play for only the second time this season. Vaughn had four points, one assist and two turnovers in 15 minutes.
With their own backup point-guard position in flux, the Spurs probably found it all the more frustrating to watch Jameer Nelson score 31 points. They tried unsuccessfully to trade up for him in the 2004 draft before taking Udrih.
Gervin in for Kerr: Parker will have a new teammate when he tries to help the Spurs defend their Shooting Stars title at All-Star weekend.
Steve Kerr has a back injury, so George Gervin will take his place in the event. Parker, Kerr and Silver Stars forward Kendra Wecker won last season's competition, which requires each team to make six shots from different locations in increasing difficulty.
"How about George Gervin stepping in for me?" Kerr said on Thursday night's TNT NBA broadcast."Shouldn't it be the other way around? I'm the sub and he's the star.
"I think this is the first time in this competition that someone had to sit out because of an injury."
Said Parker: "I'm going to have to tell Ice he better not mess up the chemistry."