THE SIXTH MAN
04-21-2007, 12:12 AM
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Spurs notebook
Web Posted: 04/20/2007 10:19 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Spurs center Fabricio Oberto has passed follow-up tests after a complicated procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat and could be cleared to practice today.
Oberto didn't work out with the team Friday, but coach Gregg Popovich said if he checks out fine after another test he could be practicing today and playing Sunday.
"This is a good reason to be cautious," Popovich said.
Oberto had the procedure Wednesday night after he complained of feeling "racy." The problem stemmed from a blow to the throat in Sunday's game against Dallas.
Without a change this season in the NBA's postseason eligibility rules, the Spurs might have been prompted to leave Oberto off the playoff roster.
The NBA no longer requires teams to designate 13 eligible players for the playoffs before they begin. Now, all players on each team's roster are eligible. Coaches designate 12 players to suit up for each game.
"I think it's a great rule," Popovich said. "It makes a lot of sense. It's logical and it's better for the game and better for fans. You could really get in a tough spot if you make a decision at one point, and then two weeks later an injury occurs and you picked the wrong guy. It shouldn't be about total luck. So this is good."
Tickets available: Tickets for the Spurs' first two playoff games have been selling slowly.
The team still had more than 1,400 tickets available to Sunday's opening game as of Friday morning. Close to 3,000 tickets are available to Wednesday's Game 2.
Regardless of how many more tickets the Spurs sell, the AT&T Center is expected to be filled close to capacity. The Spurs have a history — at least during the regular season — of giving some of their remaining tickets to one of their corporate sponsors or a charitable organization.
Draft potential: The Spurs barely missed on acquiring Chicago's second-round draft pick after the Bulls finished with the league's eighth-best record. But they still have reason to be more excited about this year's draft than in previous seasons.
The Spurs will have three picks: Nos. 28, 33 and 58.
The Spurs made out well by swapping last season's second-round pick (No. 59) for Milwaukee's second-rounder this year (No. 33). The Bucks' injury-plagued season allowed the Spurs to get a considerably better pick in a draft that also is supposed to be much deeper than last year's.
Slow pace in postseason: As fast as the Nuggets played during the regular season — they averaged 105.6 points, third-highest in the league — coach George Karl knows they won't score as often in the playoffs.
"I think everybody knows you're never going to play as fast in the playoffs as you do in the regular season," Karl said. "We're going to push the tempo. Phoenix is going to push the tempo. I think Washington will push the tempo. Maybe four or five teams will try to push the tempo.
"But the pendulum definitely swings. When everybody is playing at a high level of intensity, it's hard to play fast, in tempo, with pace, every possession."
No more Mr. Nice Guy: Karl began shortening his player rotation even before the playoffs arrived, and he won't expand it with the playoffs starting.
"They've earned it," Karl said. "I told them two months ago: 'If you don't start paying attention and have more focus, this is how it's going to be.'
"Short leashes, man. I'm tired of being nice. You make mistakes, you're not going to play."
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[email protected]
Spurs notebook
Web Posted: 04/20/2007 10:19 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Spurs center Fabricio Oberto has passed follow-up tests after a complicated procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat and could be cleared to practice today.
Oberto didn't work out with the team Friday, but coach Gregg Popovich said if he checks out fine after another test he could be practicing today and playing Sunday.
"This is a good reason to be cautious," Popovich said.
Oberto had the procedure Wednesday night after he complained of feeling "racy." The problem stemmed from a blow to the throat in Sunday's game against Dallas.
Without a change this season in the NBA's postseason eligibility rules, the Spurs might have been prompted to leave Oberto off the playoff roster.
The NBA no longer requires teams to designate 13 eligible players for the playoffs before they begin. Now, all players on each team's roster are eligible. Coaches designate 12 players to suit up for each game.
"I think it's a great rule," Popovich said. "It makes a lot of sense. It's logical and it's better for the game and better for fans. You could really get in a tough spot if you make a decision at one point, and then two weeks later an injury occurs and you picked the wrong guy. It shouldn't be about total luck. So this is good."
Tickets available: Tickets for the Spurs' first two playoff games have been selling slowly.
The team still had more than 1,400 tickets available to Sunday's opening game as of Friday morning. Close to 3,000 tickets are available to Wednesday's Game 2.
Regardless of how many more tickets the Spurs sell, the AT&T Center is expected to be filled close to capacity. The Spurs have a history — at least during the regular season — of giving some of their remaining tickets to one of their corporate sponsors or a charitable organization.
Draft potential: The Spurs barely missed on acquiring Chicago's second-round draft pick after the Bulls finished with the league's eighth-best record. But they still have reason to be more excited about this year's draft than in previous seasons.
The Spurs will have three picks: Nos. 28, 33 and 58.
The Spurs made out well by swapping last season's second-round pick (No. 59) for Milwaukee's second-rounder this year (No. 33). The Bucks' injury-plagued season allowed the Spurs to get a considerably better pick in a draft that also is supposed to be much deeper than last year's.
Slow pace in postseason: As fast as the Nuggets played during the regular season — they averaged 105.6 points, third-highest in the league — coach George Karl knows they won't score as often in the playoffs.
"I think everybody knows you're never going to play as fast in the playoffs as you do in the regular season," Karl said. "We're going to push the tempo. Phoenix is going to push the tempo. I think Washington will push the tempo. Maybe four or five teams will try to push the tempo.
"But the pendulum definitely swings. When everybody is playing at a high level of intensity, it's hard to play fast, in tempo, with pace, every possession."
No more Mr. Nice Guy: Karl began shortening his player rotation even before the playoffs arrived, and he won't expand it with the playoffs starting.
"They've earned it," Karl said. "I told them two months ago: 'If you don't start paying attention and have more focus, this is how it's going to be.'
"Short leashes, man. I'm tired of being nice. You make mistakes, you're not going to play."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]