duncan228
12-06-2007, 02:32 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120607.06C.BKNspurs.notebook.2f920b5.html
Spurs notebook: Duncan could play Friday
Mike Monroe
Express-News
Before the Spurs tipped off against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at the AT&T Center, Tim Duncan walked down the long hallway that leads from the players' parking lot to the Spurs' locker room without even a trace of a limp.
"You seem to be walking quite nicely," someone said to Duncan.
"Very nicely, thank you," Duncan replied.
While Duncan's ambulatory skills weren't quite normal enough to allow him to suit up against the Mavericks, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said there was a 50-50 chance he would play Friday against the Utah Jazz.
Considering that Duncan appeared to have suffered a serious injury when his right leg curled underneath him in a fall in the second quarter Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, the upbeat injury report was surprising.
Results of an MRI conducted Monday corroborated the initial diagnosis of the team's medical staff that there was no ligament damage in the knee. His right ankle, however, was sprained, which is what caused him to miss Wednesday's game.
Duncan will continue to get treatment on the ankle and likely will be a game-time decision Friday.
Timely block: Francisco Elson got his first start of the season in Duncan's absence, and while he struggled offensively, he made one of the biggest defensive plays of the game.
With his team trailing the Spurs 97-95, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson drew up a play for Jason Terry during a 20-second timeout with 7.5 seconds remaining. Terry had scored 10-straight points, so Johnson wanted the ball in his hands for a drive to the basket.
Johnson got what he wanted, too, but Elson left his man in the post and blocked Terry's high-lofted shot out of bounds with two seconds left.
"I knew he wasn't going to pass it," said Elson, who was in for the play only because Fabricio Oberto had fouled out on Dallas' previous possession, when Terry drove and scored over him. "I just wanted to get as high as I could and make it a tough shot for him. Usually, I try to keep the ball in play, but I knew the clock was coming down, so I just wanted to smack that one out of bounds."
Terry defends foul: In the first half, Terry sent Tony Parker sprawling with a hard open-court foul. In the second, Terry picked up a technical after dragging Manu Ginobili down by the arm after fouling him.
After the game, Terry accused Ginobili of playing up the moment to get the call.
"That's just a situation where they had already called the foul," Terry said. "I didn't want him to get the (3-point play). I grabbed him and wrapped his arm up, he flails, but hey, there's going to be hard fouls every night."
Spurs notebook: Duncan could play Friday
Mike Monroe
Express-News
Before the Spurs tipped off against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at the AT&T Center, Tim Duncan walked down the long hallway that leads from the players' parking lot to the Spurs' locker room without even a trace of a limp.
"You seem to be walking quite nicely," someone said to Duncan.
"Very nicely, thank you," Duncan replied.
While Duncan's ambulatory skills weren't quite normal enough to allow him to suit up against the Mavericks, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said there was a 50-50 chance he would play Friday against the Utah Jazz.
Considering that Duncan appeared to have suffered a serious injury when his right leg curled underneath him in a fall in the second quarter Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, the upbeat injury report was surprising.
Results of an MRI conducted Monday corroborated the initial diagnosis of the team's medical staff that there was no ligament damage in the knee. His right ankle, however, was sprained, which is what caused him to miss Wednesday's game.
Duncan will continue to get treatment on the ankle and likely will be a game-time decision Friday.
Timely block: Francisco Elson got his first start of the season in Duncan's absence, and while he struggled offensively, he made one of the biggest defensive plays of the game.
With his team trailing the Spurs 97-95, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson drew up a play for Jason Terry during a 20-second timeout with 7.5 seconds remaining. Terry had scored 10-straight points, so Johnson wanted the ball in his hands for a drive to the basket.
Johnson got what he wanted, too, but Elson left his man in the post and blocked Terry's high-lofted shot out of bounds with two seconds left.
"I knew he wasn't going to pass it," said Elson, who was in for the play only because Fabricio Oberto had fouled out on Dallas' previous possession, when Terry drove and scored over him. "I just wanted to get as high as I could and make it a tough shot for him. Usually, I try to keep the ball in play, but I knew the clock was coming down, so I just wanted to smack that one out of bounds."
Terry defends foul: In the first half, Terry sent Tony Parker sprawling with a hard open-court foul. In the second, Terry picked up a technical after dragging Manu Ginobili down by the arm after fouling him.
After the game, Terry accused Ginobili of playing up the moment to get the call.
"That's just a situation where they had already called the foul," Terry said. "I didn't want him to get the (3-point play). I grabbed him and wrapped his arm up, he flails, but hey, there's going to be hard fouls every night."