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12-07-2007, 05:27 AM
NBA: Popovich will give Duncan more rest against Jazz
Web Posted: 12/06/2007 10:51 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
Tim Duncan took a pass from an assistant coach, jab stepped once, jab stepped twice, fired a jump shot off the glass and watched the ball ricochet through the net.
Then, he did it again. And again.
The Spurs had formally completed practice for at least 20 minutes Thursday and yet Duncan remained hard at work and soaked with sweat, testing the right ankle that had kept him out of his team's victory over Dallas the night before.
Jab step. Shoot. Repeat.
If Duncan really is doubtful for tonight's game against Utah, as coach Gregg Popovich says, he certainly didn't look the part.
"He's still a little sore and swollen," Popovich said. "But he is getting better."
Even though Duncan returned to practice Thursday, Popovich would prefer to keep him out of harm's way for one more game. Under the current timetable, the Spurs expect to get their All-Star forward back Tuesday at Golden State, nine days after he sprained his ankle against Portland.
In the meantime, they will steel themselves to face the Jazz — their foil in last season's Western Conference finals — without him.
"Timmy is our franchise, our best player," point guard Tony Parker said. "It's nice to know we can step up without him."
Injured ankle and all, Duncan — who did not address the gathered media Thursday — still had a more active day at practice than a couple of his high-profile sidekicks.
After a 97-95 victory over Dallas on Wednesday that at times took on the tenor of a wrestling match, Manu Ginobili and Parker — the Spurs' top two scorers — went through the lightest of light workouts in preparation for the Jazz.
Ginobili scored a season-high 37 points against Dallas in his first start since Jan. 26, but paid for it dearly. He entered the game nursing a left hand contusion, and left it a 6-foot-6 ball of bruises — the clear result of the Mavs' strategy to knock him down whenever he ventured into the lane.
Ginobili got a day off Thursday for his trouble. He divided his practice time between the training pool and massage table.
Parker, who has battled a nagging ankle problem for the past few days, emerged from the Dallas game similarly battered — most notably after being toppled by Jason Terry on a clear-path foul. He, too, was allowed to stay off his feet Thursday.
Though black and blue, Parker and Ginobili are likely to again start side-by-side against Utah.
The Spurs seemed to take the Mavericks-administered physical pounding in stride.
"You never want to look at these situations and say, 'I wish this wasn't happening,'" forward Bruce Bowen said. "You want to be prepared to go through a physical battle, and that's something we had last night."
If nothing else, the tussle with Dallas might have tenderized the Spurs in time for second-straight slugfest, this one against a Jazz team Popovich lovingly calls "the best executing team in show business."
Utah is second in a line of six consecutive Spurs opponents that qualified for the postseason a year ago.
Popovich has been enamored with Jerry Sloan's pick-and-roll offense since Karl Malone and John Stockton were in short shorts. In Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, the 2.0 version of the Jazz duo, Utah features one of the best point-guard, power-forward combos in the game.
Fresh off a 12-round TKO of the Mavericks, Popovich can't help but wonder where the Spurs will find the energy to grapple with Utah.
"If a team does not lace it up to play these guys," he said, "you're going to get creamed."
For the second game in a row, the Spurs will probably have to do their lacing up without the services of their centerpiece player.
Duncan's jab steps and bank shots are likely to remain relegated to the practice floor. For now.
source:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120707.01E.SpursJazzAdv.en.28dcb92.html
Web Posted: 12/06/2007 10:51 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
Tim Duncan took a pass from an assistant coach, jab stepped once, jab stepped twice, fired a jump shot off the glass and watched the ball ricochet through the net.
Then, he did it again. And again.
The Spurs had formally completed practice for at least 20 minutes Thursday and yet Duncan remained hard at work and soaked with sweat, testing the right ankle that had kept him out of his team's victory over Dallas the night before.
Jab step. Shoot. Repeat.
If Duncan really is doubtful for tonight's game against Utah, as coach Gregg Popovich says, he certainly didn't look the part.
"He's still a little sore and swollen," Popovich said. "But he is getting better."
Even though Duncan returned to practice Thursday, Popovich would prefer to keep him out of harm's way for one more game. Under the current timetable, the Spurs expect to get their All-Star forward back Tuesday at Golden State, nine days after he sprained his ankle against Portland.
In the meantime, they will steel themselves to face the Jazz — their foil in last season's Western Conference finals — without him.
"Timmy is our franchise, our best player," point guard Tony Parker said. "It's nice to know we can step up without him."
Injured ankle and all, Duncan — who did not address the gathered media Thursday — still had a more active day at practice than a couple of his high-profile sidekicks.
After a 97-95 victory over Dallas on Wednesday that at times took on the tenor of a wrestling match, Manu Ginobili and Parker — the Spurs' top two scorers — went through the lightest of light workouts in preparation for the Jazz.
Ginobili scored a season-high 37 points against Dallas in his first start since Jan. 26, but paid for it dearly. He entered the game nursing a left hand contusion, and left it a 6-foot-6 ball of bruises — the clear result of the Mavs' strategy to knock him down whenever he ventured into the lane.
Ginobili got a day off Thursday for his trouble. He divided his practice time between the training pool and massage table.
Parker, who has battled a nagging ankle problem for the past few days, emerged from the Dallas game similarly battered — most notably after being toppled by Jason Terry on a clear-path foul. He, too, was allowed to stay off his feet Thursday.
Though black and blue, Parker and Ginobili are likely to again start side-by-side against Utah.
The Spurs seemed to take the Mavericks-administered physical pounding in stride.
"You never want to look at these situations and say, 'I wish this wasn't happening,'" forward Bruce Bowen said. "You want to be prepared to go through a physical battle, and that's something we had last night."
If nothing else, the tussle with Dallas might have tenderized the Spurs in time for second-straight slugfest, this one against a Jazz team Popovich lovingly calls "the best executing team in show business."
Utah is second in a line of six consecutive Spurs opponents that qualified for the postseason a year ago.
Popovich has been enamored with Jerry Sloan's pick-and-roll offense since Karl Malone and John Stockton were in short shorts. In Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, the 2.0 version of the Jazz duo, Utah features one of the best point-guard, power-forward combos in the game.
Fresh off a 12-round TKO of the Mavericks, Popovich can't help but wonder where the Spurs will find the energy to grapple with Utah.
"If a team does not lace it up to play these guys," he said, "you're going to get creamed."
For the second game in a row, the Spurs will probably have to do their lacing up without the services of their centerpiece player.
Duncan's jab steps and bank shots are likely to remain relegated to the practice floor. For now.
source:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120707.01E.SpursJazzAdv.en.28dcb92.html