duncan228
04-02-2008, 01:41 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040208_SpursNotes.en.21e65b74.html
Spurs notebook: Oberto downplays fracas
Staff reports
Spurs center Fabricio Oberto was surprised when Golden State's Baron Davis shoved him Tuesday.
The incident happened when the two untangled after a scrap for a loose ball late in the third quarter of the Spurs' 116-92 victory at the AT&T Center.
Davis' action earned him a technical foul, and Manu Ginobili's free throw contributed to a 19-0 run that turned the game into a rout for the Spurs.
Oberto made no attempt to retaliate, which likely kept the situation from escalating. Warriors forward Matt Barnes had sprinted to the scene and stood over Oberto as Davis separated himself from the Spurs center.
Tim Duncan, meanwhile, leaped up from his seat on the bench when hostilities appeared imminent. Before Duncan could take a step toward the incident, trainer Will Sevening stepped in front of him and reminded him he could be suspended for going onto the court.
Oberto said Davis was more frightened than angry.
“I think when I fall,” he said, “I think maybe I hit his knee. He thought maybe it was hurt, and he got really scared. That's what he told me.
“I really didn't realize I landed on him like that. It's kind of hard to control when you have a big body. Things just happen in the game.”
Historic day:
On his first day with the Spurs, Bobby Jones made dubious NBA history.
Jones, who signed a 10-day contract with the Spurs a few hours before tipoff, became the first player to play for five different NBA teams in the same season when he took the court with 6:50 remaining. He didn't take a shot, but had one assist.
Jones, a 6-foot-7 forward chosen by Minnesota in the second round of the 2006 draft, started the season with the Denver Nuggets, who waived him Jan. 7. He signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on Jan. 10 and a second 10-day deal on Jan. 21. He then went to the Sioux Falls Sky Force of the NBDL.
He was back in the NBA on Feb. 26 when he signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets. He went back to Sioux Falls before signing another 10-day deal with the Miami Heat, then went back to Sioux Falls.
The Spurs called on Monday.
“Nothing surprises me,” Jones said, “not after this season. It's just me being me, expecting the unexpected.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Jones' acquisition will give the Spurs a chance to evaluate adding him to their summer league roster.
Jones relishes this chance.
“If anything, I'd like for this to be my last stop,” he said. “They do it right here. It's a veteran lineup, and I can learn a lot just being around these guys.”
–Mike Monroe
Charter update:
An NBA spokesman said the league is close to finalizing a deal with a charter company to fly the Spurs to road games should they remain in the playoffs in June.
Champion Air, which transports the Spurs and 12 other NBA teams, announced Monday it will go out of business May 31.
“We're not prepared to announce anything yet,” the NBA's Brian McIntyre said. “We've been looking at other options for a while.”
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Northwest has secured a contract to fly NBA teams. The newspaper reported in Tuesday's editions that Northwest said in a January memo to pilots that seven Airbus A319s would be specifically configured for NBA flying.
McIntyre would not comment on the report.
Spurs notebook: Oberto downplays fracas
Staff reports
Spurs center Fabricio Oberto was surprised when Golden State's Baron Davis shoved him Tuesday.
The incident happened when the two untangled after a scrap for a loose ball late in the third quarter of the Spurs' 116-92 victory at the AT&T Center.
Davis' action earned him a technical foul, and Manu Ginobili's free throw contributed to a 19-0 run that turned the game into a rout for the Spurs.
Oberto made no attempt to retaliate, which likely kept the situation from escalating. Warriors forward Matt Barnes had sprinted to the scene and stood over Oberto as Davis separated himself from the Spurs center.
Tim Duncan, meanwhile, leaped up from his seat on the bench when hostilities appeared imminent. Before Duncan could take a step toward the incident, trainer Will Sevening stepped in front of him and reminded him he could be suspended for going onto the court.
Oberto said Davis was more frightened than angry.
“I think when I fall,” he said, “I think maybe I hit his knee. He thought maybe it was hurt, and he got really scared. That's what he told me.
“I really didn't realize I landed on him like that. It's kind of hard to control when you have a big body. Things just happen in the game.”
Historic day:
On his first day with the Spurs, Bobby Jones made dubious NBA history.
Jones, who signed a 10-day contract with the Spurs a few hours before tipoff, became the first player to play for five different NBA teams in the same season when he took the court with 6:50 remaining. He didn't take a shot, but had one assist.
Jones, a 6-foot-7 forward chosen by Minnesota in the second round of the 2006 draft, started the season with the Denver Nuggets, who waived him Jan. 7. He signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on Jan. 10 and a second 10-day deal on Jan. 21. He then went to the Sioux Falls Sky Force of the NBDL.
He was back in the NBA on Feb. 26 when he signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets. He went back to Sioux Falls before signing another 10-day deal with the Miami Heat, then went back to Sioux Falls.
The Spurs called on Monday.
“Nothing surprises me,” Jones said, “not after this season. It's just me being me, expecting the unexpected.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Jones' acquisition will give the Spurs a chance to evaluate adding him to their summer league roster.
Jones relishes this chance.
“If anything, I'd like for this to be my last stop,” he said. “They do it right here. It's a veteran lineup, and I can learn a lot just being around these guys.”
–Mike Monroe
Charter update:
An NBA spokesman said the league is close to finalizing a deal with a charter company to fly the Spurs to road games should they remain in the playoffs in June.
Champion Air, which transports the Spurs and 12 other NBA teams, announced Monday it will go out of business May 31.
“We're not prepared to announce anything yet,” the NBA's Brian McIntyre said. “We've been looking at other options for a while.”
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Northwest has secured a contract to fly NBA teams. The newspaper reported in Tuesday's editions that Northwest said in a January memo to pilots that seven Airbus A319s would be specifically configured for NBA flying.
McIntyre would not comment on the report.