duncan228
01-15-2008, 12:23 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011408.spurs-mailbag-WEB.en.20efcd2a.html
Spurs Mailbag: Right on pace
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
Don't say we didn't warn you, Spurs fans.
We said it way back in early December, when San Antonio's favorite professional basketball franchise was 17-3, off to the best start in club history.
Don't make too much of the fast start. There's still way too much basketball to be played.
Now, after a recent slump that has seen the Spurs fall out of the lead in the Southwest Division and Western Conference, we'll say it again.
Don't make too much of this, either.
Yes, the Spurs are 24-11 — a mark that, if the postseason started today, would leave them as the fifth seed in West.
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what the Spurs' record was at this point last season?
If you said 24-11, you're right. You win a cookie.
Yes, the Spurs won 24 of their first 35 last season, too. Things worked out pretty well for them, as that late June parade down the River Walk will attest.
Our advice now? Just sit back, relax and wait for the Spurs' annual Rodeo Road Trip recovery.
Until then, let's open up the weekly Mailbag …
During the Spurs-Pistons game the other night, Marv Albert said the San Antonio fans were booing the Spurs. I find that hard to believe. In other cities, yes, but not S.A. They are some of the best fans around. What do you think was going on?
— Veronica, Seattle
Ol' Marv was probably overstating things a tad. When the Pistons scored the basket that put them ahead by 20 in the second quarter, there was definitely some audible grumbling around the AT&T Center. But we wouldn't call it full-scale booing.
To put it in Seattle terms, it wasn't exactly the kind of vitriol Clay Bennett gets when he deigns to show his face around Key Arena these days. Spurs fans were disgruntled at the team's play, and rightfully so, but they will get over it.
I've noted of late that the Spurs have signed players then waived a short time later. Are these players completely gone from the organization or have they been assigned to the Austin Toros or what has exactly happened to them?
—C.C., Pleasanton
All four players in question – Darius Washington, Marcus Williams, Keith Langford and DerMarr Johnson – were waived by the Spurs, meaning they are free to be sign with any other NBA club.
Their Developmental League rights, however, remain with Austin. So if any of the above wanted to return to the NBA's D-League, they'd have to play as Toros. However, they can play in any other American minor league, or overseas, if they so choose.
Three of the above players, Johnson, Williams and Langford, have already rejoined the Toros. Washington signed to play in Greece.
About Manu and Tony not fairing better on the All-Star votes--what's up with that? I thought Tony was the rage in all of France and that Manu was the second coming of Maradona in Argentina. Don't they have the Internet in these countries?
-- A.G., San Antonio
Yes, they do have the Internet in those countries. But they only use it to play online poker.
What are the plans to play the young players with the best three Duncan, Parker, Ginobili? I believe this is what the spurs need, speed around the best three not playing an aging Horry and Finley on the starting team.
—Joe Miller, California
Who are these "young players" of which you speak?
There is certainly a rational fix to the current funk the Spurs are in. A starting lineup of Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Matt Bonner and Jeremy Richardson probably isn't it.
This time around last year Pop called the Spurs "the franchise's worst defensive squad in six to eight years". When can we expect his call this year? Their .457 opponent field goal percentage is 20th in NBA.
—Daniel, Budapest
The Spurs were ranked worse than that back in November, when Popovich called his team's field-goal percentage defense, "God awful." So 45.7 percent is one step above that, we suppose.
I like the Spurs and everything but they are not shooting as well as they did last year. I think y'all should have a day when all you do is shoot, to work on form and everything.
—Clay, Pecos
Good suggestion. We'll pass that along to Pop. Also, maybe the Spurs should hire a full-time shooting coach. Someone check and see if Chip Engelland is available.
Spurs Mailbag: Right on pace
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
Don't say we didn't warn you, Spurs fans.
We said it way back in early December, when San Antonio's favorite professional basketball franchise was 17-3, off to the best start in club history.
Don't make too much of the fast start. There's still way too much basketball to be played.
Now, after a recent slump that has seen the Spurs fall out of the lead in the Southwest Division and Western Conference, we'll say it again.
Don't make too much of this, either.
Yes, the Spurs are 24-11 — a mark that, if the postseason started today, would leave them as the fifth seed in West.
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what the Spurs' record was at this point last season?
If you said 24-11, you're right. You win a cookie.
Yes, the Spurs won 24 of their first 35 last season, too. Things worked out pretty well for them, as that late June parade down the River Walk will attest.
Our advice now? Just sit back, relax and wait for the Spurs' annual Rodeo Road Trip recovery.
Until then, let's open up the weekly Mailbag …
During the Spurs-Pistons game the other night, Marv Albert said the San Antonio fans were booing the Spurs. I find that hard to believe. In other cities, yes, but not S.A. They are some of the best fans around. What do you think was going on?
— Veronica, Seattle
Ol' Marv was probably overstating things a tad. When the Pistons scored the basket that put them ahead by 20 in the second quarter, there was definitely some audible grumbling around the AT&T Center. But we wouldn't call it full-scale booing.
To put it in Seattle terms, it wasn't exactly the kind of vitriol Clay Bennett gets when he deigns to show his face around Key Arena these days. Spurs fans were disgruntled at the team's play, and rightfully so, but they will get over it.
I've noted of late that the Spurs have signed players then waived a short time later. Are these players completely gone from the organization or have they been assigned to the Austin Toros or what has exactly happened to them?
—C.C., Pleasanton
All four players in question – Darius Washington, Marcus Williams, Keith Langford and DerMarr Johnson – were waived by the Spurs, meaning they are free to be sign with any other NBA club.
Their Developmental League rights, however, remain with Austin. So if any of the above wanted to return to the NBA's D-League, they'd have to play as Toros. However, they can play in any other American minor league, or overseas, if they so choose.
Three of the above players, Johnson, Williams and Langford, have already rejoined the Toros. Washington signed to play in Greece.
About Manu and Tony not fairing better on the All-Star votes--what's up with that? I thought Tony was the rage in all of France and that Manu was the second coming of Maradona in Argentina. Don't they have the Internet in these countries?
-- A.G., San Antonio
Yes, they do have the Internet in those countries. But they only use it to play online poker.
What are the plans to play the young players with the best three Duncan, Parker, Ginobili? I believe this is what the spurs need, speed around the best three not playing an aging Horry and Finley on the starting team.
—Joe Miller, California
Who are these "young players" of which you speak?
There is certainly a rational fix to the current funk the Spurs are in. A starting lineup of Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Matt Bonner and Jeremy Richardson probably isn't it.
This time around last year Pop called the Spurs "the franchise's worst defensive squad in six to eight years". When can we expect his call this year? Their .457 opponent field goal percentage is 20th in NBA.
—Daniel, Budapest
The Spurs were ranked worse than that back in November, when Popovich called his team's field-goal percentage defense, "God awful." So 45.7 percent is one step above that, we suppose.
I like the Spurs and everything but they are not shooting as well as they did last year. I think y'all should have a day when all you do is shoot, to work on form and everything.
—Clay, Pecos
Good suggestion. We'll pass that along to Pop. Also, maybe the Spurs should hire a full-time shooting coach. Someone check and see if Chip Engelland is available.