Spurs Brazil
10-19-2007, 10:26 PM
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2007/10/jeff_mcdonald_t_2.html
Jeff McDonald: The trouble with Darius
Darius Washington was the undisputed star of the Spurs' 116-111 victory over Golden State on Thursday night. Earning an unexpected start that was a surprise even to him, Washington scored a team-best 18 points. He doled out eight assists. He grabbed nine rebounds, a startling number for a 6-1 point guard. He nearly had a triple double.
And he did it all against a Golden State team that played a good number of real, live NBA players for a significant amount of minutes.
Added up, here's what it means for Washington: When the Spurs wind up having to waive him, they're going to feel awfully bad about it.
Make no mistake: Spurs coaches love the guy. Gregg Popovich believes Washington, the former undrafted free agent out of Memphis, has an NBA career ahead of him.
It just isn't likely to be with the Spurs. At least not right now.
There is a harsh reality at work in Spurs camp. We don't call it Camp Status Quo for nothing. The Spurs have the maximum 15 players under contract, including three point guards. They aren't likely to keep a fourth.
"The numbers aren't in anyone's favor here," Popovich said after Friday's practice.
Unless, of course, you're one of the 15. Washington is not. He can have four more preseason nights like he did against Golden State. It still won't matter. It still won't change the math.
It's a shame. But it's also reality.
"His future is probably a bright one, but when he'll be ready to really appreciate what he can do and have it appreciated by another team is another question," Popovich said.
It's the question Washington will probably be asking himself, someday soon. The Spurs have until Oct. 29 to pare their roster to 15 players.
Jeff McDonald: The trouble with Darius
Darius Washington was the undisputed star of the Spurs' 116-111 victory over Golden State on Thursday night. Earning an unexpected start that was a surprise even to him, Washington scored a team-best 18 points. He doled out eight assists. He grabbed nine rebounds, a startling number for a 6-1 point guard. He nearly had a triple double.
And he did it all against a Golden State team that played a good number of real, live NBA players for a significant amount of minutes.
Added up, here's what it means for Washington: When the Spurs wind up having to waive him, they're going to feel awfully bad about it.
Make no mistake: Spurs coaches love the guy. Gregg Popovich believes Washington, the former undrafted free agent out of Memphis, has an NBA career ahead of him.
It just isn't likely to be with the Spurs. At least not right now.
There is a harsh reality at work in Spurs camp. We don't call it Camp Status Quo for nothing. The Spurs have the maximum 15 players under contract, including three point guards. They aren't likely to keep a fourth.
"The numbers aren't in anyone's favor here," Popovich said after Friday's practice.
Unless, of course, you're one of the 15. Washington is not. He can have four more preseason nights like he did against Golden State. It still won't matter. It still won't change the math.
It's a shame. But it's also reality.
"His future is probably a bright one, but when he'll be ready to really appreciate what he can do and have it appreciated by another team is another question," Popovich said.
It's the question Washington will probably be asking himself, someday soon. The Spurs have until Oct. 29 to pare their roster to 15 players.