THE SIXTH MAN
02-05-2008, 02:39 AM
Pro basketball: Spurs rejuvenated after four-day break
Web Posted: 02/05/2008 12:08 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
The four-day break between games 3 and 4 of the Spurs' nine-game rodeo road trip proved a perfect balm for bruised bodies.
The victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the journey soothed the team's spirit.
"It was huge for me," Tim Duncan said after a brisk Monday practice session that preceded the team's flight to Indianapolis for tonight's game against the Pacers. "First we lose a tough one in Seattle, then go to Phoenix and a lot of guys play a lot of big minutes and win a really tough game.
"We were all kind of drained from the ups and downs, physically and emotionally. It was great to get away from the game for a while. I feel a lot better than I did a couple of days ago. We're ready to go to finish it up the right way."
Duncan said the Spurs understand the importance of the six remaining games on the trip that precede the annual four-day All-Star Weekend.
"We didn't start the road trip the way we wanted to," he said, "but it's about finishing it the right way going into the break.
"Otherwise, we're going to put ourselves into a bit of a precarious position with the losses we have."
Super Bowling: The Spurs spent Sunday like the rest of North America: Watching the New York Giants shock the New England Patriots by winning the Super Bowl. Spurs guard Michael Finley, though, was not shocked at all.
He'd had a vision that the Giants would win and had shared it with media members at Sunday's practice.
"It was (Giants wide receiver) Plaxico (Burress), and he was crying," Finley said Monday. "And after the game, I was looking for something that was familiar, and it was Plaxico's interview with Pam Oliver, and he was crying. That was it."
Finley also admitted to having a vision he didn't like while looking in the mirror.
There were flecks of gray in the beard he is growing, part of the team's annual "don't-shave-until-the-trip-ends" challenge.
"It's a lot itchy, actually," he said. "I had to trim it, and that's unfair. That's cheating, but if you're not cheating, you're not trying. But I have to keep trimming it, because I'm trimming out the gray parts."
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link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA.02052008.spurs_notebook.EN.37652ae.html)
Web Posted: 02/05/2008 12:08 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
The four-day break between games 3 and 4 of the Spurs' nine-game rodeo road trip proved a perfect balm for bruised bodies.
The victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the journey soothed the team's spirit.
"It was huge for me," Tim Duncan said after a brisk Monday practice session that preceded the team's flight to Indianapolis for tonight's game against the Pacers. "First we lose a tough one in Seattle, then go to Phoenix and a lot of guys play a lot of big minutes and win a really tough game.
"We were all kind of drained from the ups and downs, physically and emotionally. It was great to get away from the game for a while. I feel a lot better than I did a couple of days ago. We're ready to go to finish it up the right way."
Duncan said the Spurs understand the importance of the six remaining games on the trip that precede the annual four-day All-Star Weekend.
"We didn't start the road trip the way we wanted to," he said, "but it's about finishing it the right way going into the break.
"Otherwise, we're going to put ourselves into a bit of a precarious position with the losses we have."
Super Bowling: The Spurs spent Sunday like the rest of North America: Watching the New York Giants shock the New England Patriots by winning the Super Bowl. Spurs guard Michael Finley, though, was not shocked at all.
He'd had a vision that the Giants would win and had shared it with media members at Sunday's practice.
"It was (Giants wide receiver) Plaxico (Burress), and he was crying," Finley said Monday. "And after the game, I was looking for something that was familiar, and it was Plaxico's interview with Pam Oliver, and he was crying. That was it."
Finley also admitted to having a vision he didn't like while looking in the mirror.
There were flecks of gray in the beard he is growing, part of the team's annual "don't-shave-until-the-trip-ends" challenge.
"It's a lot itchy, actually," he said. "I had to trim it, and that's unfair. That's cheating, but if you're not cheating, you're not trying. But I have to keep trimming it, because I'm trimming out the gray parts."
[email protected]
link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA.02052008.spurs_notebook.EN.37652ae.html)