TMTTRIO
04-04-2007, 12:33 AM
Spurs notebook: Barry rests aching back; Ginobili mulls decision to play for Argentina this summer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040407.09C.BKNspurs.notebook.3c0a100.html
Web Posted: 04/04/2007 12:20 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Brent Barry hopes to return for the Spurs' game Thursday against Phoenix but admitted his back hasn't improved much since he tweaked it Sunday in Indiana.
Barry sat out Tuesday's victory over Seattle after suffering back spasms in the second quarter against the Pacers. He missed six games last season with back spasms but said this injury is a bit different.
"I was just kind of going for a loose ball — as hard as it is to believe I was going for a loose ball — and I just got in a bad position when I turned and kind of tweaked my back, and it didn't let up," Barry said. "It's been something that's been kind of bothering for a few weeks then finally said enough is enough is enough.
"Now I'm just going to try to rest it, listen to it and get back when I can."
Barry hopes that is Thursday, but he likely will be listed as questionable to play at best.
"It hasn't let up," Barry said. "I just have to kind of wait and see what happens."
The Spurs also played Tuesday without Robert Horry, who has missed four of the past five games with an abdominal contusion. James White and Jackie Butler replaced Barry and Horry on the active roster.
Ginobili out this summer? Spurs guard Manu Ginobili may skip this summer's Tournament of the Americas where his Argentine team must finish first or second to gain a chance to defend next summer the Olympic title it won in 2004. The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-Sept. 2 in Las Vegas.
"I still don't know," Ginobili said after the Spurs' 110-91 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics at AT&T Center.
"It's not an easy question right now. At this point, I'm closer to saying no and skip the summer, rather than say yes."
Ginobili and Spurs center Fabricio Oberto were key players on Argentina's 2004 Olympic gold medal team, along with Spurs 2002 second-round draft pick Luis Scola and Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni.
"I am worried," Ginobili said, "because it is probably not going to just be me. Nocioni is hurt and Fab (Oberto) is not sure, either. So we're probably not going to send the best team possible. So yes, I am worried."
Should Argentina fail to qualify this summer, it would have a final chance to qualify next summer in a special tournament that would require a grueling summer of nearly non-stop play for the teams that qualify in that competition.
Strength coaches capture NCAA pool: Strength coaches Mike Brungardt and Chris White won the team's NCAA pool. Beno Udrih would have won had Ohio State beaten Florida on Monday.
With Fabricio Oberto winning last season, the Spurs' international players have proven to be better college prognosticators than their U.S. peers.
"Maybe the guys who think they know basketball aren't quite as smart as they think they are," Barry said. "Including the coaches who were in the pool but will remain nameless, though their initials are Mike Budenholzer."
Barrys host run: Barry and his wife Erin will play host to their third annual Ashley Home Furniture 5k run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday at the AT&T Center.
The event helps raise money to fight child abuse in San Antonio.
Advance registration is available at spurs.com and is $30.
Registration the day of the race is $35. Each paid participant will receive a T-shirt and a ticket to a Spurs game.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040407.09C.BKNspurs.notebook.3c0a100.html
Web Posted: 04/04/2007 12:20 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Brent Barry hopes to return for the Spurs' game Thursday against Phoenix but admitted his back hasn't improved much since he tweaked it Sunday in Indiana.
Barry sat out Tuesday's victory over Seattle after suffering back spasms in the second quarter against the Pacers. He missed six games last season with back spasms but said this injury is a bit different.
"I was just kind of going for a loose ball — as hard as it is to believe I was going for a loose ball — and I just got in a bad position when I turned and kind of tweaked my back, and it didn't let up," Barry said. "It's been something that's been kind of bothering for a few weeks then finally said enough is enough is enough.
"Now I'm just going to try to rest it, listen to it and get back when I can."
Barry hopes that is Thursday, but he likely will be listed as questionable to play at best.
"It hasn't let up," Barry said. "I just have to kind of wait and see what happens."
The Spurs also played Tuesday without Robert Horry, who has missed four of the past five games with an abdominal contusion. James White and Jackie Butler replaced Barry and Horry on the active roster.
Ginobili out this summer? Spurs guard Manu Ginobili may skip this summer's Tournament of the Americas where his Argentine team must finish first or second to gain a chance to defend next summer the Olympic title it won in 2004. The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-Sept. 2 in Las Vegas.
"I still don't know," Ginobili said after the Spurs' 110-91 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics at AT&T Center.
"It's not an easy question right now. At this point, I'm closer to saying no and skip the summer, rather than say yes."
Ginobili and Spurs center Fabricio Oberto were key players on Argentina's 2004 Olympic gold medal team, along with Spurs 2002 second-round draft pick Luis Scola and Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni.
"I am worried," Ginobili said, "because it is probably not going to just be me. Nocioni is hurt and Fab (Oberto) is not sure, either. So we're probably not going to send the best team possible. So yes, I am worried."
Should Argentina fail to qualify this summer, it would have a final chance to qualify next summer in a special tournament that would require a grueling summer of nearly non-stop play for the teams that qualify in that competition.
Strength coaches capture NCAA pool: Strength coaches Mike Brungardt and Chris White won the team's NCAA pool. Beno Udrih would have won had Ohio State beaten Florida on Monday.
With Fabricio Oberto winning last season, the Spurs' international players have proven to be better college prognosticators than their U.S. peers.
"Maybe the guys who think they know basketball aren't quite as smart as they think they are," Barry said. "Including the coaches who were in the pool but will remain nameless, though their initials are Mike Budenholzer."
Barrys host run: Barry and his wife Erin will play host to their third annual Ashley Home Furniture 5k run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday at the AT&T Center.
The event helps raise money to fight child abuse in San Antonio.
Advance registration is available at spurs.com and is $30.
Registration the day of the race is $35. Each paid participant will receive a T-shirt and a ticket to a Spurs game.