Bruno
10-13-2007, 03:53 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA101307.SpursNotebook.EN.34a5fb3.html
Web Posted: 10/13/2007 12:37 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and the young camp invitees will man the point guard position for the Spurs for a second preseason game tonight.
Coach Gregg Popovich said neither starter Tony Parker (sprained ankle) nor backup Jacque Vaughn (pulled calf muscle) would play against European champion Panathinaikos at AT&T Center. Beno Udrih, the other veteran reserve point guard, is out for an extended period with a broken left index finger.
"Our three point guards are still down," said Ginobili, who started at the point in the preseason opener against Dallas on Tuesday. "So it's on me, Brent and the new guys, and we'll try to do as good a job as possible."
Ginobili likely will start again. Brent Barry, Darius Washington and Anthony Lever-Pedroza will get turns at the point as well.
Greek week: Tonight's game will be the second game in Texas this week for Panathinaikos, which lost to the Houston Rockets 107-70 on Wednesday at Toyota Center. The Greek team struggled with the NBA's style of refereeing in that game, especially illegal defenses.
"It was tough for them last night," Popovich said. "They'll be a lot better tomorrow night, because the rules are so different. It's a lot more physical in Europe. It's much more physical as far as setting picks and bumping and grinding and all that kind of thing.
"It's kind of like the NBA used to be. To come here and have that game, they have learned a lot, because they got called for a lot of fouls they were mystified by. But that's the way it is called in the NBA. It was unfortunate for them."
Ginobili, who played three seasons in the Italian League, is very familiar with the more rugged European style of play.
"You not only prepare to play an opponent one-on-one, but a lot of off screens and double screens for shooters," Ginobili said. "You have to be prepared for off screens, not only on the ball, but away from the ball. It's going to be a great thing for us.
"Panathinaikos is the defending Euroleague champions. The know how to move the ball, and they have a couple of great additions — (Sarunas) Jasikevicius and (Vassilis) Spanoulis — so it's going to be a tough team. (The team) didn't have a great game yesterday, but they are a much better team than that."
Both Jasikevicius (Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors) and Spanoulis (Houston Rockets) played in the NBA last season.
Spanoulis stays home: Spanoulis, whose rights briefly belonged to the Spurs this summer, will not be with Panathinaikos tonight.
Spanoulis was Panathinaikos' key signing this offseason. He skipped the team's trek to Texas this week to face the Rockets and Spurs, remaining in Greece with a sore hamstring.
The Spurs originally acquired Spanoulis' rights in the deal that sent Luis Scola to Houston in July, but waived him almost immediately so he could play in Europe.
Web Posted: 10/13/2007 12:37 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and the young camp invitees will man the point guard position for the Spurs for a second preseason game tonight.
Coach Gregg Popovich said neither starter Tony Parker (sprained ankle) nor backup Jacque Vaughn (pulled calf muscle) would play against European champion Panathinaikos at AT&T Center. Beno Udrih, the other veteran reserve point guard, is out for an extended period with a broken left index finger.
"Our three point guards are still down," said Ginobili, who started at the point in the preseason opener against Dallas on Tuesday. "So it's on me, Brent and the new guys, and we'll try to do as good a job as possible."
Ginobili likely will start again. Brent Barry, Darius Washington and Anthony Lever-Pedroza will get turns at the point as well.
Greek week: Tonight's game will be the second game in Texas this week for Panathinaikos, which lost to the Houston Rockets 107-70 on Wednesday at Toyota Center. The Greek team struggled with the NBA's style of refereeing in that game, especially illegal defenses.
"It was tough for them last night," Popovich said. "They'll be a lot better tomorrow night, because the rules are so different. It's a lot more physical in Europe. It's much more physical as far as setting picks and bumping and grinding and all that kind of thing.
"It's kind of like the NBA used to be. To come here and have that game, they have learned a lot, because they got called for a lot of fouls they were mystified by. But that's the way it is called in the NBA. It was unfortunate for them."
Ginobili, who played three seasons in the Italian League, is very familiar with the more rugged European style of play.
"You not only prepare to play an opponent one-on-one, but a lot of off screens and double screens for shooters," Ginobili said. "You have to be prepared for off screens, not only on the ball, but away from the ball. It's going to be a great thing for us.
"Panathinaikos is the defending Euroleague champions. The know how to move the ball, and they have a couple of great additions — (Sarunas) Jasikevicius and (Vassilis) Spanoulis — so it's going to be a tough team. (The team) didn't have a great game yesterday, but they are a much better team than that."
Both Jasikevicius (Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors) and Spanoulis (Houston Rockets) played in the NBA last season.
Spanoulis stays home: Spanoulis, whose rights briefly belonged to the Spurs this summer, will not be with Panathinaikos tonight.
Spanoulis was Panathinaikos' key signing this offseason. He skipped the team's trek to Texas this week to face the Rockets and Spurs, remaining in Greece with a sore hamstring.
The Spurs originally acquired Spanoulis' rights in the deal that sent Luis Scola to Houston in July, but waived him almost immediately so he could play in Europe.