duncan228
03-11-2008, 12:34 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031008.spursmailbag.en.WEB.40310296.html
Spurs Mailbag: One hellacious month
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
Gregg Popovich says this year’s Spurs team isn’t playing as well as last year’s team at this point in the season. He’s probably right.
Popovich also says the March schedule, which includes 18 games, six back-to-backs and dates against many of the league’s top teams, is “hellacious.”
He’s right on that count, too.
Add two and two together, and it equals a make-or-break month for the Spurs as they attempt to polish up their game and shore up their standing in the Western Conference race.
They recently rattled off 11 victories in a row, which allowed them to keep pace with the Los Angeles Lakers atop the Western Conference. Now, the Spurs are in the midst of a two-game losing streak that threatens to undo much of that good work.
The Spurs host Denver – the team that ended their winning streak last week -- Monday night, followed by a trip to New Orleans, Detroit and Philadelphia. No gimmes there.
When they return home next Monday, it is for the mother of non-gimmes – a game against the league-leading Boston Celtics. Before the month is over, the Spurs also draw games at Orlando and Dallas, and at home against the red-hot Houston Rockets.
Popovich’s most pressing job during the month might be just keeping his team fresh for every game.
“You have to stay ready for every game, but you also want to keep your energy and your health,” Popovich said. “Playing a lot of games does wear you down a little bit, so we’ve got to do a good job of adjusting practices and shootarounds and somehow save us some energy. It’s a tightrope, really, through the month of March.”
One wrong move, and the Spurs could fall off that tightrope. The upside, however, is palpable. If the Spurs somehow survive this hellacious month, they ought to be well tested for the playoff road ahead.
Now, on to your questions …
How far along is Brent Barry on his rehab? Will he be ready to play as soon as he signs?
-- Roy Herron, San Antonio
Barry has ostensibly been rehabbing on his own since his Feb. 20 trade to Seattle and subsequent waiving. Physically, he should be fine after he is able to re-sign with the Spurs on March 21. Being physically healthy and being in game shape, however, are two different things. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Barry is able to earn, especially with Ime Udoka playing so well in his absence.
Why does Pop worry so much? I saw a couple of rotations in the Denver and Suns losses that worked out fine. I saw no indications that those teams can beat the Spurs in seven games.
-- M.C., San Antonio
The sardine-packed nature of the Western Conference has everybody on edge these days. Heading into Monday night’s slate of games, 4 ½ games separated the first-place Lakers from eighth-place Warriors. Denver was in ninth place, and out of the playoffs, despite being 12 games over .500.
The margin for error is slight, which means teams have to be as close as perfect as possible to survive the season-ending gauntlet. So why does Pop worry so much? He’s a coach, that’s his job.
Who do you think the Spurs main competitor will be in the playoffs? Is it the Lakers, or maybe even the Rockets?
-- Omar, Pakistan
We’re going to guess both of the above, and then some. Although, rumor has it the Rockets are going to have trouble contending now that Yao is down for the count. Houston should start losing any day now. Right? Right? Any day now …
How do you see Matt Bonner's role next year, with Ian Mahinmi and Tiago Splitter coming in? Do you see him as a replacement to Robert Horry as a big shooting man?
-- Roland, Philippines
Assuming Mahinmi graduates from Austin next season, Splitter signs and Kurt Thomas re-signs (all of which are plausible assumptions), Bonner’s minutes would seem to be on the wane. He’s having enough trouble getting on the floor during the stretch run this season. With two more big men possibly on the way, it would be difficult to envision Bonner’s role increasing next season.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the trading block before the end of next season, but that’s a ways off.
What does the LOS stand for on the Spurs uniforms?
-- Bill, San Antonio
For those of us who don’t habla espanol, “los” is Spanish for “the.” The Spurs wore those jerseys against Indiana as part of the NBA’s “Latin Nights” celebration, then again against the Suns (we guess) for good luck.
When are we going to have a "le Spurs" for Tony or when are we going to celebrate the "Germany Heritage" which is also in San Antonio?
-- Judith Schlenker, Westhoff
Too bad the Spurs dealt away their other foreign players. Would have been fun to have a Slovenian night. Or a Dutch night, on which women are forced to pay for their dates.
Do any of the Spurs practice meditation?
-- Adam, Miami
Yes. Phil Jackson comes over once a week to lead a class.
Spurs Mailbag: One hellacious month
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
Gregg Popovich says this year’s Spurs team isn’t playing as well as last year’s team at this point in the season. He’s probably right.
Popovich also says the March schedule, which includes 18 games, six back-to-backs and dates against many of the league’s top teams, is “hellacious.”
He’s right on that count, too.
Add two and two together, and it equals a make-or-break month for the Spurs as they attempt to polish up their game and shore up their standing in the Western Conference race.
They recently rattled off 11 victories in a row, which allowed them to keep pace with the Los Angeles Lakers atop the Western Conference. Now, the Spurs are in the midst of a two-game losing streak that threatens to undo much of that good work.
The Spurs host Denver – the team that ended their winning streak last week -- Monday night, followed by a trip to New Orleans, Detroit and Philadelphia. No gimmes there.
When they return home next Monday, it is for the mother of non-gimmes – a game against the league-leading Boston Celtics. Before the month is over, the Spurs also draw games at Orlando and Dallas, and at home against the red-hot Houston Rockets.
Popovich’s most pressing job during the month might be just keeping his team fresh for every game.
“You have to stay ready for every game, but you also want to keep your energy and your health,” Popovich said. “Playing a lot of games does wear you down a little bit, so we’ve got to do a good job of adjusting practices and shootarounds and somehow save us some energy. It’s a tightrope, really, through the month of March.”
One wrong move, and the Spurs could fall off that tightrope. The upside, however, is palpable. If the Spurs somehow survive this hellacious month, they ought to be well tested for the playoff road ahead.
Now, on to your questions …
How far along is Brent Barry on his rehab? Will he be ready to play as soon as he signs?
-- Roy Herron, San Antonio
Barry has ostensibly been rehabbing on his own since his Feb. 20 trade to Seattle and subsequent waiving. Physically, he should be fine after he is able to re-sign with the Spurs on March 21. Being physically healthy and being in game shape, however, are two different things. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Barry is able to earn, especially with Ime Udoka playing so well in his absence.
Why does Pop worry so much? I saw a couple of rotations in the Denver and Suns losses that worked out fine. I saw no indications that those teams can beat the Spurs in seven games.
-- M.C., San Antonio
The sardine-packed nature of the Western Conference has everybody on edge these days. Heading into Monday night’s slate of games, 4 ½ games separated the first-place Lakers from eighth-place Warriors. Denver was in ninth place, and out of the playoffs, despite being 12 games over .500.
The margin for error is slight, which means teams have to be as close as perfect as possible to survive the season-ending gauntlet. So why does Pop worry so much? He’s a coach, that’s his job.
Who do you think the Spurs main competitor will be in the playoffs? Is it the Lakers, or maybe even the Rockets?
-- Omar, Pakistan
We’re going to guess both of the above, and then some. Although, rumor has it the Rockets are going to have trouble contending now that Yao is down for the count. Houston should start losing any day now. Right? Right? Any day now …
How do you see Matt Bonner's role next year, with Ian Mahinmi and Tiago Splitter coming in? Do you see him as a replacement to Robert Horry as a big shooting man?
-- Roland, Philippines
Assuming Mahinmi graduates from Austin next season, Splitter signs and Kurt Thomas re-signs (all of which are plausible assumptions), Bonner’s minutes would seem to be on the wane. He’s having enough trouble getting on the floor during the stretch run this season. With two more big men possibly on the way, it would be difficult to envision Bonner’s role increasing next season.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the trading block before the end of next season, but that’s a ways off.
What does the LOS stand for on the Spurs uniforms?
-- Bill, San Antonio
For those of us who don’t habla espanol, “los” is Spanish for “the.” The Spurs wore those jerseys against Indiana as part of the NBA’s “Latin Nights” celebration, then again against the Suns (we guess) for good luck.
When are we going to have a "le Spurs" for Tony or when are we going to celebrate the "Germany Heritage" which is also in San Antonio?
-- Judith Schlenker, Westhoff
Too bad the Spurs dealt away their other foreign players. Would have been fun to have a Slovenian night. Or a Dutch night, on which women are forced to pay for their dates.
Do any of the Spurs practice meditation?
-- Adam, Miami
Yes. Phil Jackson comes over once a week to lead a class.