Spurs Brazil
11-25-2007, 08:18 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/mmonroe/stories/MYSA112507.14C.SpursSonicsAdvance.en.2fad932.html
Spurs to put aside fondness for Carlesimo
Web Posted: 11/25/2007 01:06 AM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
When media members filtered into the locker room after the Spurs' victory over the Lakers on Nov. 13, they discovered an empty room. Not one player was going through the postgame dress-and-groom ritual that precedes postgame interviews.
Reporters wondered what could be keeping the players.
A roar from the team's private area gave a hint: The players had been watching the final moments of the Seattle-Atlanta game. Kevin Durant had just nailed a game-winning 3-pointer to give the SuperSonics their first victory of the season.
"We were all yelling and screaming," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
The reason for such glee: P.J. Carlesimo's first victory as Seattle's head coach after nine-straight losses.
Such was the relationship between Carlesimo, now in his third incarnation as an NBA head coach, and his former colleagues.
The Spurs will take little delight if they manage to keep the Sonics winless at home when the two teams meet tonight.
Carlesimo's biggest challenge is keeping a team that has young players with great potential from losing faith as the losses mount. He frets about the pressure put on former Texas star Kevin Durant, the second pick in the 2007 draft.
"Kevin has a great deal of resiliency," Carlesimo said, "and he's special. He's going to figure things out, but it's been difficult."
Carlesimo knows a thing or two about resiliency. He was out of the NBA for two years after the Golden State Warriors fired him as head coach in 2000 in the aftermath of an incident in which star player Latrell Sprewell attacked Carlesimo after a practice session.
Popovich added Carlesimo to his Spurs coaching staff in 2002 and Carlesimo immediately became a popular figure inside the organization.
"There's always kind of a yin to a yang when it comes to a coaching staff," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "I don't want to call P.J. a yang, because that doesn't sound complimentary, but P.J. was a great balancing act for the coaching staff. But we could see that chemistry between Pop and Coach Carlesimo."
Spurs players believed Carlesimo would make a good head coach for another NBA team, but wondered if he ever would get another opportunity.
Popovich was Carlesimo's No. 1 booster when NBA head coaching vacancies arose, but Carlesimo watched less qualified coaches get jobs he sought. When jobs began to open again after the 2006-07 season, Popovich spoke as clearly as he could about his friend and trusted colleague: Those who ran NBA teams would have to be fools not to hire Carlesimo.
Sonics GM Sam Presti, the Spurs' former assistant GM, heeded Popovich's advice.
Now Carlesimo is grateful for the opportunity Presti gave him and appreciative for the experience he had with the Spurs.
"Even I could figure out how special a situation it was," Carlesimo said of his time with the Spurs. "When you do this as long as I've done it, it's not hard to figure out and appreciate what a unique situation that is, across the board, from ownership, management, fan support and working with a group of players as talented as that and working in an environment with Pop and the other coaches.
"It's so special to be in a situation where, when you begin the year, you realistically can say: Our goal is to improve all year and in June be playing for a championship. That's a realistic goal in S.A., and there aren't a lot of places it is realistic."
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Spurs to put aside fondness for Carlesimo
Web Posted: 11/25/2007 01:06 AM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
When media members filtered into the locker room after the Spurs' victory over the Lakers on Nov. 13, they discovered an empty room. Not one player was going through the postgame dress-and-groom ritual that precedes postgame interviews.
Reporters wondered what could be keeping the players.
A roar from the team's private area gave a hint: The players had been watching the final moments of the Seattle-Atlanta game. Kevin Durant had just nailed a game-winning 3-pointer to give the SuperSonics their first victory of the season.
"We were all yelling and screaming," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
The reason for such glee: P.J. Carlesimo's first victory as Seattle's head coach after nine-straight losses.
Such was the relationship between Carlesimo, now in his third incarnation as an NBA head coach, and his former colleagues.
The Spurs will take little delight if they manage to keep the Sonics winless at home when the two teams meet tonight.
Carlesimo's biggest challenge is keeping a team that has young players with great potential from losing faith as the losses mount. He frets about the pressure put on former Texas star Kevin Durant, the second pick in the 2007 draft.
"Kevin has a great deal of resiliency," Carlesimo said, "and he's special. He's going to figure things out, but it's been difficult."
Carlesimo knows a thing or two about resiliency. He was out of the NBA for two years after the Golden State Warriors fired him as head coach in 2000 in the aftermath of an incident in which star player Latrell Sprewell attacked Carlesimo after a practice session.
Popovich added Carlesimo to his Spurs coaching staff in 2002 and Carlesimo immediately became a popular figure inside the organization.
"There's always kind of a yin to a yang when it comes to a coaching staff," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "I don't want to call P.J. a yang, because that doesn't sound complimentary, but P.J. was a great balancing act for the coaching staff. But we could see that chemistry between Pop and Coach Carlesimo."
Spurs players believed Carlesimo would make a good head coach for another NBA team, but wondered if he ever would get another opportunity.
Popovich was Carlesimo's No. 1 booster when NBA head coaching vacancies arose, but Carlesimo watched less qualified coaches get jobs he sought. When jobs began to open again after the 2006-07 season, Popovich spoke as clearly as he could about his friend and trusted colleague: Those who ran NBA teams would have to be fools not to hire Carlesimo.
Sonics GM Sam Presti, the Spurs' former assistant GM, heeded Popovich's advice.
Now Carlesimo is grateful for the opportunity Presti gave him and appreciative for the experience he had with the Spurs.
"Even I could figure out how special a situation it was," Carlesimo said of his time with the Spurs. "When you do this as long as I've done it, it's not hard to figure out and appreciate what a unique situation that is, across the board, from ownership, management, fan support and working with a group of players as talented as that and working in an environment with Pop and the other coaches.
"It's so special to be in a situation where, when you begin the year, you realistically can say: Our goal is to improve all year and in June be playing for a championship. That's a realistic goal in S.A., and there aren't a lot of places it is realistic."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]