THE SIXTH MAN
12-14-2007, 04:14 AM
Pro basketball: Duncan might return Saturday, Parker won't
Web Posted: 12/14/2007 12:33 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — The telltale about Tony Parker's ankle injury was working on his jumper with Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland on Thursday morning at Santa Monica High School.
Darius Washington, called up from the Austin Toros of the National Basketball Development League, arrived here in time for the Spurs' morning shootaround. His presence was a clear indication Parker's injury may keep him out of action for a game or two, and maybe longer.
Parker sat out Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, missing his first game of the season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Parker is unlikely to suit up against Denver on Saturday in San Antonio. After that, his status will be game by game.
Parker suffered a left ankle injury in the Spurs' Nov. 30 game at Minnesota. An MRI exam showed no bone damage and he had played the three subsequent games. But his performance had suffered and Popovich chose to shut him down for a while.
“The MRI showed negative,” Popovich said. “But it's real sore. It became obvious in the Golden State game. Two days of rest didn't do any good. I just had to make the call and have him sit. He buys it. He understands we had to do it.”
Parker has struggled with his explosiveness since injuring the ankle. Popovich wants to make certain the injury is fully healed before he suits up again.
“I think it might be longer,” Popovich said. “He's obviously labored for a while now. I know some games he's played well, but he can't put them back to back. His foot is sore afterwards.”
“I almost sat him for the Golden Sate game, but he thought the two days (off) would help him, and it didn't. He doesn't have his lift. He doesn't have his explosiveness. He can't get by people. He can't plant on that5 foot the way he wants to, so we're going to make sure that little bone he aggravated, according to the MRI, is not a problem before we put him back out there.
“It's too early to take chances with guys. Unfortunately, I'm probably sitting him one game too late.”
Washington played the first 15 games of the Spurs season before he was assigned to Austin. He had played well in four games with the Toros, averaging a D-League best 28.2 points in 38.5 minutes per game.
Right now Darius is a scorer,” Popovich said. “He knows how to score. He's competitive and a tough kid and he knows how to score. He's got a lot to learn in a lot of other ways, but with Tony out I think it's good to have a little more insurance.
“If there is an opportunity we'll let him play and we'll see if he's adjusting and learning the things we want him to learn.”
Duncan probable: Popovich said Duncan would suit up Saturday against the Nuggets at the AT&T Center if he responds well after a workout today and again Saturday morning.
“With his workout (Thursday night), if he feels good again (today), and same thing after (Saturday's) workout, I would think he would be probably suit up. But if he doesn't react well to those workouts, we will probably sit him another game. But he is pretty close (to coming back).”
All-Star tally: Duncan, moved back to forward for online balloting but still listed among centers on the printed ballots, is third in fan voting according to the league's first official release of vote totals.
Duncan has 423,608 votes. He trials Denver's Carmelo Anthony (482,127) and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (443,117).
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili ranked fourth among guards, behind Lakers Kobe Bryant, Houston's Tracy McGrady and Denver's Allen Iverson.
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link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121407_SpursNotes.en.13a0b897.html)
Web Posted: 12/14/2007 12:33 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — The telltale about Tony Parker's ankle injury was working on his jumper with Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland on Thursday morning at Santa Monica High School.
Darius Washington, called up from the Austin Toros of the National Basketball Development League, arrived here in time for the Spurs' morning shootaround. His presence was a clear indication Parker's injury may keep him out of action for a game or two, and maybe longer.
Parker sat out Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, missing his first game of the season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Parker is unlikely to suit up against Denver on Saturday in San Antonio. After that, his status will be game by game.
Parker suffered a left ankle injury in the Spurs' Nov. 30 game at Minnesota. An MRI exam showed no bone damage and he had played the three subsequent games. But his performance had suffered and Popovich chose to shut him down for a while.
“The MRI showed negative,” Popovich said. “But it's real sore. It became obvious in the Golden State game. Two days of rest didn't do any good. I just had to make the call and have him sit. He buys it. He understands we had to do it.”
Parker has struggled with his explosiveness since injuring the ankle. Popovich wants to make certain the injury is fully healed before he suits up again.
“I think it might be longer,” Popovich said. “He's obviously labored for a while now. I know some games he's played well, but he can't put them back to back. His foot is sore afterwards.”
“I almost sat him for the Golden Sate game, but he thought the two days (off) would help him, and it didn't. He doesn't have his lift. He doesn't have his explosiveness. He can't get by people. He can't plant on that5 foot the way he wants to, so we're going to make sure that little bone he aggravated, according to the MRI, is not a problem before we put him back out there.
“It's too early to take chances with guys. Unfortunately, I'm probably sitting him one game too late.”
Washington played the first 15 games of the Spurs season before he was assigned to Austin. He had played well in four games with the Toros, averaging a D-League best 28.2 points in 38.5 minutes per game.
Right now Darius is a scorer,” Popovich said. “He knows how to score. He's competitive and a tough kid and he knows how to score. He's got a lot to learn in a lot of other ways, but with Tony out I think it's good to have a little more insurance.
“If there is an opportunity we'll let him play and we'll see if he's adjusting and learning the things we want him to learn.”
Duncan probable: Popovich said Duncan would suit up Saturday against the Nuggets at the AT&T Center if he responds well after a workout today and again Saturday morning.
“With his workout (Thursday night), if he feels good again (today), and same thing after (Saturday's) workout, I would think he would be probably suit up. But if he doesn't react well to those workouts, we will probably sit him another game. But he is pretty close (to coming back).”
All-Star tally: Duncan, moved back to forward for online balloting but still listed among centers on the printed ballots, is third in fan voting according to the league's first official release of vote totals.
Duncan has 423,608 votes. He trials Denver's Carmelo Anthony (482,127) and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (443,117).
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili ranked fourth among guards, behind Lakers Kobe Bryant, Houston's Tracy McGrady and Denver's Allen Iverson.
[email protected]
link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121407_SpursNotes.en.13a0b897.html)