Kori Ellis
01-07-2005, 12:00 PM
San Antonio spurs quiet interest as best in NBA
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~2639530,00.html
No San Antonio Spurs player has a national television commercial. Only two national NBA writers have been to San Antonio since the season began. Tim Duncan is the only Spur who ranks in the top 25 in NBA jersey sales.
While the Spurs are arguably the NBA's best team, they are also the most overlooked. But they aren't complaining.
"That's what we like," Duncan said. "It helps us. It keeps us humble. It keeps us working hard."
The Spurs, who host the Nuggets on Saturday, enter the game with a 27-7 record after beating the Pacers 111-98 Thursday, and an NBA-best 16-1 home record. And San Antonio hammered Phoenix - the team with the best record at 28-4 - 115-94 on Dec. 28.
So why are the Spurs attracting so little attention?
A big reason is Duncan, a two-time league MVP who quietly personifies the team's professional image. He doesn't play with flash and doesn't say anything outrageous. He's also the only Spur averaging more than 15 points a game at 21.8, and the only San Antonio player who has a shot of being voted in as an all-star starter.
"It seems like they don't have a lot of stars, but they always find a way to win," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "They play good team defense. They have an elite player with Duncan that makes everybody better."
Said Nuggets guard Andre Miller: "They are the best team in the league. They've been together for a long time. They play well off each other, know each other and know their roles. And they know what it takes to win.
"They are just a hard-working team, guys that don't care about their faces being on a magazine, commercials, contracts and things like that. That's how everybody should play."
The strength of the Spurs' unselfish play and tough team defense can be seen through statistics. San Antonio leads the NBA in assist differential (plus-7.45), points differential (plus-11.78), defensive field-goal percentage (41.2) and blocks per game (6.48).
They also are used to winning. San Antonio has made few changes since winning the 2003 title. They were favorites to repeat last year but were stunned by the Los Angeles Lakers in a second-round playoff series despite leading the series 2-0. Duncan, guard Tony Parker, swingman Manu Ginobili and forwards Malik Rose and Bruce Bowen are still around from the 2003 team, and have since been joined by center Rasho Nesterovic, guards Brent Barry, Beno Udrih and Devin Brown and forward Robert Horry.
"We're in a position to maintain consistency," Spurs senior vice president R.C. Buford said.
Said Duncan: "I think we have a very good team to start with but we still have an incredible amount to grow. And I think that's the best part of it."
Footnotes
While Camby expects to play Saturday, the status of guard Greg Buckner is up in the air. Camby has missed the past two games with a back strain. "It's feeling better, a whole lot better," Camby said Thursday. Buckner has missed the past three games because of a right groin strain. "It was more serious than I thought it was. ... I've got to take my time and be patient," Buckner said. ...
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he'd like to make a decision soon on whether interim coach Michael Cooper will lead the team the rest of the season. "I'd like to get it done quickly. I don't want it to drag out for a month or so." When asked if he preferred a timetable, Cooper said: "I haven't even brought it up." If Cooper is the head coach for the rest of the season, he said that after talking with Vandeweghe it may be best to wait until around the all-star break to hire another assistant. ...
Former Nuggets forwards Mark Pope and Arthur Johnson are expected to clear waivers today. Vandeweghe said he might re-sign Pope to a 10-day contract. ... Vandeweghe said former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is a 10-day contract signee possibility.
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~2639530,00.html
No San Antonio Spurs player has a national television commercial. Only two national NBA writers have been to San Antonio since the season began. Tim Duncan is the only Spur who ranks in the top 25 in NBA jersey sales.
While the Spurs are arguably the NBA's best team, they are also the most overlooked. But they aren't complaining.
"That's what we like," Duncan said. "It helps us. It keeps us humble. It keeps us working hard."
The Spurs, who host the Nuggets on Saturday, enter the game with a 27-7 record after beating the Pacers 111-98 Thursday, and an NBA-best 16-1 home record. And San Antonio hammered Phoenix - the team with the best record at 28-4 - 115-94 on Dec. 28.
So why are the Spurs attracting so little attention?
A big reason is Duncan, a two-time league MVP who quietly personifies the team's professional image. He doesn't play with flash and doesn't say anything outrageous. He's also the only Spur averaging more than 15 points a game at 21.8, and the only San Antonio player who has a shot of being voted in as an all-star starter.
"It seems like they don't have a lot of stars, but they always find a way to win," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "They play good team defense. They have an elite player with Duncan that makes everybody better."
Said Nuggets guard Andre Miller: "They are the best team in the league. They've been together for a long time. They play well off each other, know each other and know their roles. And they know what it takes to win.
"They are just a hard-working team, guys that don't care about their faces being on a magazine, commercials, contracts and things like that. That's how everybody should play."
The strength of the Spurs' unselfish play and tough team defense can be seen through statistics. San Antonio leads the NBA in assist differential (plus-7.45), points differential (plus-11.78), defensive field-goal percentage (41.2) and blocks per game (6.48).
They also are used to winning. San Antonio has made few changes since winning the 2003 title. They were favorites to repeat last year but were stunned by the Los Angeles Lakers in a second-round playoff series despite leading the series 2-0. Duncan, guard Tony Parker, swingman Manu Ginobili and forwards Malik Rose and Bruce Bowen are still around from the 2003 team, and have since been joined by center Rasho Nesterovic, guards Brent Barry, Beno Udrih and Devin Brown and forward Robert Horry.
"We're in a position to maintain consistency," Spurs senior vice president R.C. Buford said.
Said Duncan: "I think we have a very good team to start with but we still have an incredible amount to grow. And I think that's the best part of it."
Footnotes
While Camby expects to play Saturday, the status of guard Greg Buckner is up in the air. Camby has missed the past two games with a back strain. "It's feeling better, a whole lot better," Camby said Thursday. Buckner has missed the past three games because of a right groin strain. "It was more serious than I thought it was. ... I've got to take my time and be patient," Buckner said. ...
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he'd like to make a decision soon on whether interim coach Michael Cooper will lead the team the rest of the season. "I'd like to get it done quickly. I don't want it to drag out for a month or so." When asked if he preferred a timetable, Cooper said: "I haven't even brought it up." If Cooper is the head coach for the rest of the season, he said that after talking with Vandeweghe it may be best to wait until around the all-star break to hire another assistant. ...
Former Nuggets forwards Mark Pope and Arthur Johnson are expected to clear waivers today. Vandeweghe said he might re-sign Pope to a 10-day contract. ... Vandeweghe said former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is a 10-day contract signee possibility.