Spurs Brazil
02-05-2008, 04:38 PM
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/02/jeff_mcdonald_p_6.html
Jeff McDonald: Preparing for Stoudamire's debut
INDIANAPOLIS -- Veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire kicks off the Spurs portion of his journeyman's career tonight in Indiana.
What should we expect from him? Well, it's hard to say.
He's had about 48 hours to learn the Spurs' system, which we're guessing is hardly enough time to pick it up in its entirety. In fact, coach Gregg Popovich says, the remaining 37 games of the regular season probably won't be enough.
"He's not going to learn everything in half a season," Popovich said. "But he's sharp and he's focused and he'll learn enough that he'll be able to help us."
How much remains to be seen. It is probably too much to ask Stoudamire to be able to run the team as well as Jacque Vaughn, the only other true point guard on the Spurs' active roster now that Tony Parker has been shelved.
So how can Stoudamire help? By knocking down shots.
The Spurs are the lowest-scoring team in the league over their past 10 games, in part because their shooters aren't shooting well. Stoudamire, a 40.7-percent shooter in his career, is hardly Jimmy Chitwood when it comes to hitting perimeter jumpers.
But he ought to be good enough to stretch defenses and help keep opponents honest.
"He's a scorer," Michael Finley said. "He's a guy who has put a lot of points up in this league. He's done his due in this league."
Here's a prediction: Stoudamire will never again put up 54 points in a game, as he did just three years ago against New Orleans. But he ought to at least be able to adequately fill the 7.3 points per game the Spurs are missing with Brent Barry on the injured list.
Jeff McDonald: Preparing for Stoudamire's debut
INDIANAPOLIS -- Veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire kicks off the Spurs portion of his journeyman's career tonight in Indiana.
What should we expect from him? Well, it's hard to say.
He's had about 48 hours to learn the Spurs' system, which we're guessing is hardly enough time to pick it up in its entirety. In fact, coach Gregg Popovich says, the remaining 37 games of the regular season probably won't be enough.
"He's not going to learn everything in half a season," Popovich said. "But he's sharp and he's focused and he'll learn enough that he'll be able to help us."
How much remains to be seen. It is probably too much to ask Stoudamire to be able to run the team as well as Jacque Vaughn, the only other true point guard on the Spurs' active roster now that Tony Parker has been shelved.
So how can Stoudamire help? By knocking down shots.
The Spurs are the lowest-scoring team in the league over their past 10 games, in part because their shooters aren't shooting well. Stoudamire, a 40.7-percent shooter in his career, is hardly Jimmy Chitwood when it comes to hitting perimeter jumpers.
But he ought to be good enough to stretch defenses and help keep opponents honest.
"He's a scorer," Michael Finley said. "He's a guy who has put a lot of points up in this league. He's done his due in this league."
Here's a prediction: Stoudamire will never again put up 54 points in a game, as he did just three years ago against New Orleans. But he ought to at least be able to adequately fill the 7.3 points per game the Spurs are missing with Brent Barry on the injured list.