Bruno
12-13-2007, 05:13 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121307_SpursAdv.en.e260dea.html
Web Posted: 12/12/2007 11:21 PM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — While most of his Spurs teammates worked on their individual shooting skills some 90 minutes before Tuesday's road game against the Golden State Warriors, Matt Bonner sat by himself in front of a video monitor watching the scouting tape of the Warriors' game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bonner had found out Tuesday morning that Tim Duncan was going to sit out his third-straight game, which put him in the starting lineup. He wanted to be ready for the Warriors' defensive schemes.
Finally, he hopped up and exited the locker room into a cavernous concrete back hallway under the stands.
Bonner looked right, then left, finally asking an usher, “Which way to the court?”
Turned out Bonner was the only Spur who knew which way was up in Oakland. Though he turned in career highs in points (25) and rebounds (17), his teammates were so sloppy with the basketball they negated most of his positive input. By halftime, the Spurs had 12 turnovers, exceeding their league-low average of 11.6 per game. They finished with a season-high 21, and coach Gregg Popovich called such carelessness the primary cause for the team's fourth loss of the season.
The path from the visitors' locker room to the court at the Staples Center, where the Spurs will play the Lakers tonight, is a straight shot, so Bonner won't have to ask anyone for directions.
When he gets there, it likely will be to make his third start of the season, as Duncan remains doubtful to suit up because of lingering problems caused by a right ankle sprain suffered Dec. 2.
Popovich went out of his way to praise Bonner after Tuesday's loss in Oakland, Calif. Unless Duncan recovers enough to insist Popovich allow him to play, Bonner seems certain to start against the Lakers.
“Matty is just getting better and better with the minutes that we give him,” Popovich said. “He's really a rugged kid, and he shoots the ball well. He really competes every minute he is on the court. I thought he was very possibly our best player (on Tuesday).”
Nevertheless, Popovich wants Duncan back as soon as the two-time MVP power forward is able to return.
“He makes me a better coach” Popovich said. “The plays seem to work better when he's out there.”
Not even Duncan, though, has grabbed as many rebounds in a game this season than the 17 Bonner posted Tuesday.
Bonner found nothing to celebrate in having a career night in a game the Spurs lost.
“Yeah, for sure (it's frustrating),” he said. “The good thing is we got down pretty bad in the second quarter and we didn't give up. We battled back and got (the deficit) down into single digits and had a chance to make a run at the end. But they came up with some big shots and put it out of reach.”
Duncan could see the frustration on Bonner's face after Tuesday's game. He did his best to console him.
“There's not much you could say to him about that,” Duncan said. “All I said to him after the game was, ‘Great job on the boards.' No matter what else he did, he did a great job on the boards. He attacked the boards and made a difference. That's the kind of stuff that helps us against teams like the Warriors, and that's going to help us in games to come.
“He was a real bright point on a bad night.”
Web Posted: 12/12/2007 11:21 PM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — While most of his Spurs teammates worked on their individual shooting skills some 90 minutes before Tuesday's road game against the Golden State Warriors, Matt Bonner sat by himself in front of a video monitor watching the scouting tape of the Warriors' game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bonner had found out Tuesday morning that Tim Duncan was going to sit out his third-straight game, which put him in the starting lineup. He wanted to be ready for the Warriors' defensive schemes.
Finally, he hopped up and exited the locker room into a cavernous concrete back hallway under the stands.
Bonner looked right, then left, finally asking an usher, “Which way to the court?”
Turned out Bonner was the only Spur who knew which way was up in Oakland. Though he turned in career highs in points (25) and rebounds (17), his teammates were so sloppy with the basketball they negated most of his positive input. By halftime, the Spurs had 12 turnovers, exceeding their league-low average of 11.6 per game. They finished with a season-high 21, and coach Gregg Popovich called such carelessness the primary cause for the team's fourth loss of the season.
The path from the visitors' locker room to the court at the Staples Center, where the Spurs will play the Lakers tonight, is a straight shot, so Bonner won't have to ask anyone for directions.
When he gets there, it likely will be to make his third start of the season, as Duncan remains doubtful to suit up because of lingering problems caused by a right ankle sprain suffered Dec. 2.
Popovich went out of his way to praise Bonner after Tuesday's loss in Oakland, Calif. Unless Duncan recovers enough to insist Popovich allow him to play, Bonner seems certain to start against the Lakers.
“Matty is just getting better and better with the minutes that we give him,” Popovich said. “He's really a rugged kid, and he shoots the ball well. He really competes every minute he is on the court. I thought he was very possibly our best player (on Tuesday).”
Nevertheless, Popovich wants Duncan back as soon as the two-time MVP power forward is able to return.
“He makes me a better coach” Popovich said. “The plays seem to work better when he's out there.”
Not even Duncan, though, has grabbed as many rebounds in a game this season than the 17 Bonner posted Tuesday.
Bonner found nothing to celebrate in having a career night in a game the Spurs lost.
“Yeah, for sure (it's frustrating),” he said. “The good thing is we got down pretty bad in the second quarter and we didn't give up. We battled back and got (the deficit) down into single digits and had a chance to make a run at the end. But they came up with some big shots and put it out of reach.”
Duncan could see the frustration on Bonner's face after Tuesday's game. He did his best to console him.
“There's not much you could say to him about that,” Duncan said. “All I said to him after the game was, ‘Great job on the boards.' No matter what else he did, he did a great job on the boards. He attacked the boards and made a difference. That's the kind of stuff that helps us against teams like the Warriors, and that's going to help us in games to come.
“He was a real bright point on a bad night.”