duncan228
04-24-2008, 11:36 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042508.SpursNotebook.en.17ddac4.html
Spurs Notebook: Hill will sit if he's not 100 percent
Mike Monroe
Express-News staff writer
PHOENIX — Unless Suns forward Grant Hill is 100 percent certain he is 100 percent healthy by tipoff time for Game 3 of the Spurs-Suns Western Conference playoff series at US Airways Center, he will be kept on the sidelines by Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.
Hill averaged 13.1 points this season, his first in Phoenix, but suffered a groin strain in the final week of the season. He started against the Spurs in Games 1 and 2, but the injury clearly has limited his effectiveness. He has played only 48 of 106 possible minutes and has scored only five points. He did not play at all in the second half of Game 2.
"If he's on the floor, he needs to be at full speed, so he can run (the floor)," D'Antoni said. "We'll take care of that. If he's not at full speed, he won't play."
The Suns sent Hill for a Thursday morning MRI exam to determine the extent of his injury. The veteran of 14 seasons understands, more than most, the danger involved when players try to push through pain because they don't want to miss a playoff game. Hill played on a sprained ankle in the 2000 playoffs and worsened a foot injury. He was able to play only 47 games the next three seasons.
"Sometimes, as a basketball player, we're like thoroughbred horses," Hill said. "All we want to do is run. That's gotten me in trouble before, and I've got to be smart about it.
"We still feel like we're in this series and we've got a lot of basketball ahead of us. We'll see where it's at, come tomorrow night."
Barbosa cleared: After reviewing tape of Game 2, the Spurs were concerned about a play in which Phoenix guard Leandro Barbosa appeared to throw a punch at Manu Ginobili.
The incident occurred with 1:47 left in the third quarter, when Ginobili became entangled with Barbosa and Shaquille O'Neal while grappling for a rebound.
During the skirmish, Ginobili and Barbosa fell to the ground. Television replays seem to show that while the pair was prone, Barbosa directed a punch at Ginobili's head.
An NBA spokesman said Thursday that the league's basketball operations office had reviewed the play and determined that Barbosa's actions did not warrant disciplinary measures.
Parker, Ginobili rest: Nursing what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called "just bumps and bruises," Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker did not practice with the team Thursday.
Both are expected to be available for Game 3.
Foul-out king: O'Neal isn't the only big man in this series feeling besieged by the referees.
"I'm averaging six fouls in two games," Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said.
Thomas, indeed, has fouled out of both games of the series. Given his role of low-post enforcer, he said fouls come with the territory.
"I've got to come in and be physical, make them earn their field goals," Thomas said. "My job is to use at least five of my fouls."
Spurs Notebook: Hill will sit if he's not 100 percent
Mike Monroe
Express-News staff writer
PHOENIX — Unless Suns forward Grant Hill is 100 percent certain he is 100 percent healthy by tipoff time for Game 3 of the Spurs-Suns Western Conference playoff series at US Airways Center, he will be kept on the sidelines by Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.
Hill averaged 13.1 points this season, his first in Phoenix, but suffered a groin strain in the final week of the season. He started against the Spurs in Games 1 and 2, but the injury clearly has limited his effectiveness. He has played only 48 of 106 possible minutes and has scored only five points. He did not play at all in the second half of Game 2.
"If he's on the floor, he needs to be at full speed, so he can run (the floor)," D'Antoni said. "We'll take care of that. If he's not at full speed, he won't play."
The Suns sent Hill for a Thursday morning MRI exam to determine the extent of his injury. The veteran of 14 seasons understands, more than most, the danger involved when players try to push through pain because they don't want to miss a playoff game. Hill played on a sprained ankle in the 2000 playoffs and worsened a foot injury. He was able to play only 47 games the next three seasons.
"Sometimes, as a basketball player, we're like thoroughbred horses," Hill said. "All we want to do is run. That's gotten me in trouble before, and I've got to be smart about it.
"We still feel like we're in this series and we've got a lot of basketball ahead of us. We'll see where it's at, come tomorrow night."
Barbosa cleared: After reviewing tape of Game 2, the Spurs were concerned about a play in which Phoenix guard Leandro Barbosa appeared to throw a punch at Manu Ginobili.
The incident occurred with 1:47 left in the third quarter, when Ginobili became entangled with Barbosa and Shaquille O'Neal while grappling for a rebound.
During the skirmish, Ginobili and Barbosa fell to the ground. Television replays seem to show that while the pair was prone, Barbosa directed a punch at Ginobili's head.
An NBA spokesman said Thursday that the league's basketball operations office had reviewed the play and determined that Barbosa's actions did not warrant disciplinary measures.
Parker, Ginobili rest: Nursing what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called "just bumps and bruises," Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker did not practice with the team Thursday.
Both are expected to be available for Game 3.
Foul-out king: O'Neal isn't the only big man in this series feeling besieged by the referees.
"I'm averaging six fouls in two games," Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said.
Thomas, indeed, has fouled out of both games of the series. Given his role of low-post enforcer, he said fouls come with the territory.
"I've got to come in and be physical, make them earn their field goals," Thomas said. "My job is to use at least five of my fouls."