timvp
10-10-2007, 03:28 AM
Spurs' key players rest in loss to Mavs
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
DALLAS — A giant banner draped across the façade of American Airlines Center welcomed the Spurs upon their arrival for Tuesday's preseason opener against Dallas.
"Walking With Dinosaurs," it read in large block letters.
The signage was meant to provide notice of a prehistoric exhibit coming to Big D. Instead, it provided an obvious "insert aging Spurs joke here" moment — one Brent Barry was all too happy to oblige.
"Did they put that up there just for us?" Barry cracked.
Come game time, the Spurs' version of a dinosaur display proved to be a limited engagement. Many of the most Jurassic among them — Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan, Michael Finley and Robert Horry — played scarce minutes in the Spurs' 88-67 loss.
Instead, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich — like his Dallas counterpart, Avery Johnson — used the occasion to take a hard look at unproven players fighting for roster spots and playing time.
The conclusion: Right now, the Mavericks' junior varsity is better than the Spurs' junior varsity.
Dallas broke open the game in the fourth quarter using a lineup consisting of J.J. Barea, Jared Newsom, Trenton Hassell, Nick Fazekas and Darvin Ham, a 34-year-old who at this time last year was working as a TV analyst.
Matt Bonner, a second-year Spurs player battling for an increased role in Popovich's rotation, turned in a productive 25 minutes off the bench. He scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
For the most part, it was hardly the kind of heated Spurs-Mavs rivalry game to which fans had become accustomed. Minutes before tipoff, Popovich was spied on the bench stifling a yawn.
"One down, six to go," Popovich said afterward, alluding to the team's remaining preseason schedule.
Josh Howard led Dallas with 18 points, while reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki scored 13. Neither played after halftime, by which time most of the Spurs' regulars had also packed it in for the game.
Manu Ginobili was the only Spurs starter to log more than 18 minutes. Duncan was the only starter to play more than 16.
The clear winners for the Spurs were Bonner and Ime Udoka, who provided a solid 15 minutes off the bench in his first action with the team.
Popovich was most impressed with Udoka's work at the defensive end of the floor.
"Ime's a solid player," Popovich said. "He's not going to go Michael Jordan on you, but he might go Mario Elie on you."
Elie, of course, is the former Spurs player who was in the building as a Mavericks assistant Tuesday.
Ginobili, meanwhile, tried his best to be Tony Parker. He drew a rare start at point guard with Parker, Jacque Vaughn and Beno Udrih all taking the day off with varying degrees of injury.
Ginobili finished with 14 points and seven assists, but he isn't apt to be taking Parker's job anytime soon.
"I told Tony to be careful," Ginobili joked. "Or this will be the last year he plays point guard."
By the end of the third quarter, even Ginobili was on the bench, replaced by free agent Darius Washington.
Sign No. 1 that this was the preseason: The Spurs closed the quarter with a lineup consisting of Ian Mahinmi, Marcus Williams, Keith Langford, Kris Lang and Washington. None of those players are expected to remain in San Antonio at the end of training camp.
By the start of the fourth, the cast of Spurs veterans had long since retired for the evening. The dinosaur show was officially over.
"We just wanted to get those guys a good run in the first half, and call it a night," Popovich said. "And that's what we did."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101007.01C.BKNspurs.mavs.gamer.34a6414.html
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
DALLAS — A giant banner draped across the façade of American Airlines Center welcomed the Spurs upon their arrival for Tuesday's preseason opener against Dallas.
"Walking With Dinosaurs," it read in large block letters.
The signage was meant to provide notice of a prehistoric exhibit coming to Big D. Instead, it provided an obvious "insert aging Spurs joke here" moment — one Brent Barry was all too happy to oblige.
"Did they put that up there just for us?" Barry cracked.
Come game time, the Spurs' version of a dinosaur display proved to be a limited engagement. Many of the most Jurassic among them — Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan, Michael Finley and Robert Horry — played scarce minutes in the Spurs' 88-67 loss.
Instead, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich — like his Dallas counterpart, Avery Johnson — used the occasion to take a hard look at unproven players fighting for roster spots and playing time.
The conclusion: Right now, the Mavericks' junior varsity is better than the Spurs' junior varsity.
Dallas broke open the game in the fourth quarter using a lineup consisting of J.J. Barea, Jared Newsom, Trenton Hassell, Nick Fazekas and Darvin Ham, a 34-year-old who at this time last year was working as a TV analyst.
Matt Bonner, a second-year Spurs player battling for an increased role in Popovich's rotation, turned in a productive 25 minutes off the bench. He scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
For the most part, it was hardly the kind of heated Spurs-Mavs rivalry game to which fans had become accustomed. Minutes before tipoff, Popovich was spied on the bench stifling a yawn.
"One down, six to go," Popovich said afterward, alluding to the team's remaining preseason schedule.
Josh Howard led Dallas with 18 points, while reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki scored 13. Neither played after halftime, by which time most of the Spurs' regulars had also packed it in for the game.
Manu Ginobili was the only Spurs starter to log more than 18 minutes. Duncan was the only starter to play more than 16.
The clear winners for the Spurs were Bonner and Ime Udoka, who provided a solid 15 minutes off the bench in his first action with the team.
Popovich was most impressed with Udoka's work at the defensive end of the floor.
"Ime's a solid player," Popovich said. "He's not going to go Michael Jordan on you, but he might go Mario Elie on you."
Elie, of course, is the former Spurs player who was in the building as a Mavericks assistant Tuesday.
Ginobili, meanwhile, tried his best to be Tony Parker. He drew a rare start at point guard with Parker, Jacque Vaughn and Beno Udrih all taking the day off with varying degrees of injury.
Ginobili finished with 14 points and seven assists, but he isn't apt to be taking Parker's job anytime soon.
"I told Tony to be careful," Ginobili joked. "Or this will be the last year he plays point guard."
By the end of the third quarter, even Ginobili was on the bench, replaced by free agent Darius Washington.
Sign No. 1 that this was the preseason: The Spurs closed the quarter with a lineup consisting of Ian Mahinmi, Marcus Williams, Keith Langford, Kris Lang and Washington. None of those players are expected to remain in San Antonio at the end of training camp.
By the start of the fourth, the cast of Spurs veterans had long since retired for the evening. The dinosaur show was officially over.
"We just wanted to get those guys a good run in the first half, and call it a night," Popovich said. "And that's what we did."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101007.01C.BKNspurs.mavs.gamer.34a6414.html