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03-14-2008, 12:31 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA.03142008.bkn_Spurs_notebook.EN.38a7ab7.html
Pro basketball: March adds havoc to Spurs' mix
Web Posted: 03/13/2008 11:13 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Robert Horry has provided more than his share of playoff moments for the Spurs, part of a career-long legacy of clutch shooting that has earned him the nickname "Big Shot Rob."
But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich admits he doesn't know if Horry, the grizzled 16-year veteran, has another spate of stretch-run heroics left in him.
Typically about this time each season, Horry begins to find his legs. Bothered alternately by a sore hamstring and a sore knee, however, Horry has played just 54 minutes in eight games this month.
The 17 minutes, 35 seconds he logged in Wednesday's loss to New Orleans were Horry's most since Feb. 25.
"I'm not really sure where he's at physically," Popovich said. "He's definitely not in great shape, because he just hasn't played that much. Unless he's been stealing into the night at two in the morning to get on the treadmill, he hasn't been getting much work."
A sadistic schedule hasn't helped Horry with his annual rite of spring, either. The Spurs have already played three back-to-backs this month, and will play three more before March is over. They close the week with consecutive games at Detroit and Philadelphia, tonight and Saturday.
The Spurs will play 18 games this month, a franchise record. That workload has thrown a monkey wrench into Popovich's plans for ironing out a rotation.
He has had to play more players than he'd like, just to keep everyone fresh.
"You'd much rather have this schedule in February, so you'd have March and April to get things set," Popovich said. "But it is what it is, and we'll have to deal with it. At least maybe we could try and get our starting lineup set, and figure it out from there."
The cruelest month: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he can feel the weight of March already — in his aching legs, his sore back and his bruised hip.
"I'm feeling it in my body," Ginobili said.
Ginobili's answer for this March madness? Just hold out until April.
"We've got to do as good as we can, and wait until March is over," he said.
Feeling blue, too: The Spurs, fresh off a 100-75 loss at New Orleans that was their worst of the season, won't be the only team to enter the Palace at Auburn Hills with a bad taste in its mouth.
The Pistons dropped an 83-82 decision to Philadelphia on Wednesday that coach Flip Saunders said wasn't even that close.
"We were terrible," Saunders said. "The score isn't reflective of the way we played — we shouldn't have only lost this game by one point."
Injured Udoka leaves trip: Reserve forward Ime Udoka returned to San Antonio on Thursday morning to be treated for an injured right ankle.
Udoka has been diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome, a compression of the nerves in his ankle. He received anti-inflammatory shots designed to treat the inflammation in the ankle.
Udoka will not play in the remaining two games of the Spurs' road trip, though he is expected to be available when the team returns home to face Boston on Monday.
Pro basketball: March adds havoc to Spurs' mix
Web Posted: 03/13/2008 11:13 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Robert Horry has provided more than his share of playoff moments for the Spurs, part of a career-long legacy of clutch shooting that has earned him the nickname "Big Shot Rob."
But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich admits he doesn't know if Horry, the grizzled 16-year veteran, has another spate of stretch-run heroics left in him.
Typically about this time each season, Horry begins to find his legs. Bothered alternately by a sore hamstring and a sore knee, however, Horry has played just 54 minutes in eight games this month.
The 17 minutes, 35 seconds he logged in Wednesday's loss to New Orleans were Horry's most since Feb. 25.
"I'm not really sure where he's at physically," Popovich said. "He's definitely not in great shape, because he just hasn't played that much. Unless he's been stealing into the night at two in the morning to get on the treadmill, he hasn't been getting much work."
A sadistic schedule hasn't helped Horry with his annual rite of spring, either. The Spurs have already played three back-to-backs this month, and will play three more before March is over. They close the week with consecutive games at Detroit and Philadelphia, tonight and Saturday.
The Spurs will play 18 games this month, a franchise record. That workload has thrown a monkey wrench into Popovich's plans for ironing out a rotation.
He has had to play more players than he'd like, just to keep everyone fresh.
"You'd much rather have this schedule in February, so you'd have March and April to get things set," Popovich said. "But it is what it is, and we'll have to deal with it. At least maybe we could try and get our starting lineup set, and figure it out from there."
The cruelest month: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he can feel the weight of March already — in his aching legs, his sore back and his bruised hip.
"I'm feeling it in my body," Ginobili said.
Ginobili's answer for this March madness? Just hold out until April.
"We've got to do as good as we can, and wait until March is over," he said.
Feeling blue, too: The Spurs, fresh off a 100-75 loss at New Orleans that was their worst of the season, won't be the only team to enter the Palace at Auburn Hills with a bad taste in its mouth.
The Pistons dropped an 83-82 decision to Philadelphia on Wednesday that coach Flip Saunders said wasn't even that close.
"We were terrible," Saunders said. "The score isn't reflective of the way we played — we shouldn't have only lost this game by one point."
Injured Udoka leaves trip: Reserve forward Ime Udoka returned to San Antonio on Thursday morning to be treated for an injured right ankle.
Udoka has been diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome, a compression of the nerves in his ankle. He received anti-inflammatory shots designed to treat the inflammation in the ankle.
Udoka will not play in the remaining two games of the Spurs' road trip, though he is expected to be available when the team returns home to face Boston on Monday.