some_user86
11-05-2007, 02:37 AM
NBA: Spurs off to a perfect start
Web Posted: 11/05/2007 12:37 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
So far so good for the Spurs' NBA title defense. At 3-0, they are just 79 victories away from a perfect regular season.
Staff writer Jeff McDonald takes a position-by-position glance at how the Spurs have fared so far:
Point guards
Tony Parker has been Tony Parker so far, meaning the real intrigue with this group can be found on the bench. Darius Washington played well enough in the preseason to make the team out of training camp and earn most of the backup minutes. It will be interesting to see how playing time is divided once Jacque Vaughn returns from injury.
Shooting guards
A side effect of the Spurs' deep bench: Michael Finley has barely had to play. Finley, the Spurs' second-oldest starter at age 34, has only logged 20 minutes per game so far. That should go a ways toward keeping him fresh for later in the year.
Small forwards
Bruce Bowen's shot isn't falling yet, not surprising considering the limited minutes he logged in the preseason. In Bowen's defense, his defense hasn't gone anywhere. His best work so far: harassing last season's rookie of the year Brandon Roy into seven points on 2-of-10 shooting in the opener against Portland.
Power forwards
So far so good for Tim Duncan at the foul line. He's hitting 72.7 percent of his freebies so far, including a perfect 9 of 9 against Sacramento.
Center
The tandem of Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson — we'll call them Fabrisco — is contributing 11 points and 12.4 rebounds a game. The Spurs will take that from the center position every night.
Bench
Led by an invigorated Manu Ginobili, the Spurs are getting nearly 50 points per game out of their bench. And Robert Horry and Vaughn haven't gotten out of street clothes yet.
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110507.04D.SpursCharticle-1105.en.2dc85e4.html
Web Posted: 11/05/2007 12:37 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
So far so good for the Spurs' NBA title defense. At 3-0, they are just 79 victories away from a perfect regular season.
Staff writer Jeff McDonald takes a position-by-position glance at how the Spurs have fared so far:
Point guards
Tony Parker has been Tony Parker so far, meaning the real intrigue with this group can be found on the bench. Darius Washington played well enough in the preseason to make the team out of training camp and earn most of the backup minutes. It will be interesting to see how playing time is divided once Jacque Vaughn returns from injury.
Shooting guards
A side effect of the Spurs' deep bench: Michael Finley has barely had to play. Finley, the Spurs' second-oldest starter at age 34, has only logged 20 minutes per game so far. That should go a ways toward keeping him fresh for later in the year.
Small forwards
Bruce Bowen's shot isn't falling yet, not surprising considering the limited minutes he logged in the preseason. In Bowen's defense, his defense hasn't gone anywhere. His best work so far: harassing last season's rookie of the year Brandon Roy into seven points on 2-of-10 shooting in the opener against Portland.
Power forwards
So far so good for Tim Duncan at the foul line. He's hitting 72.7 percent of his freebies so far, including a perfect 9 of 9 against Sacramento.
Center
The tandem of Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson — we'll call them Fabrisco — is contributing 11 points and 12.4 rebounds a game. The Spurs will take that from the center position every night.
Bench
Led by an invigorated Manu Ginobili, the Spurs are getting nearly 50 points per game out of their bench. And Robert Horry and Vaughn haven't gotten out of street clothes yet.
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110507.04D.SpursCharticle-1105.en.2dc85e4.html