Kori Ellis
01-21-2005, 01:07 AM
Starring appeal in premier matchup
Web Posted: 01/21/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012105.1C.BKNspurs.suns.adv.2a810d33.html
PHOENIX — Manu Ginobili can see it already. No-look passes. Off-the-backboard dunks. Pull-up 30-footers.
And presiding over it all, smiling, is ... Gregg Popovich?
The same Spurs coach who blisters Ginobili for every too-quick 3-pointer? Whose mantra is "we win with defense"?
"He might want to yell," Ginobili said. "But he won't. Not at the All-Star Game."
When the Spurs and Phoenix Suns meet tonight at America West Arena, there will be no shortage of potential All-Stars on the floor.
With fan balloting ending Sunday, Tim Duncan is all but certain to be voted one of the Western Conference's starting forwards. Suns point guard Steve Nash, expected to return tonight after missing the previous three games, and center Amaré Stoudemire are near locks to make the team as reserves. Tony Parker, Ginobili and Phoenix forward Shawn Marion can use the ESPN telecast to bolster their credentials.
A couple of other All-Star candidates also will be on hand, though neither will be in uniform: Popovich and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.
The coaching staff of the team with the highest winning percentage in each conference through Feb. 6 will work the Feb. 20 All-Star Game in Denver. The Spurs enter tonight an NBA-best 32-9, a half-game ahead of the Suns.
"What I want is to have the best record when they have that cutoff date," D'Antoni said. "Coaching (in the All-Star Game) goes with it.
"I'm sure Pop's been there enough times maybe it doesn't mean as much to him anymore, but it's still an honor. It means your team is best halfway through, and that's pretty heady stuff."
In truth, Popovich never has coached in an All-Star Game. And if he can make that same claim at the end of his career, he'll be all the more happy.
Popovich said he has "several plans already set in motion" for the weekend of Feb. 18-20.
"None of which," he added, "include the All-Star Game.
"It's a period of time I look forward to every year," Popovich said, "to both relax and retool some 'O's and 'X's and get ready for the second half."
Popovich, who traditionally heads to the West Coast for the All-Star break, would prefer to skip the game but is not going to boycott if selected.
"If it happens, it happens," he said. "I guess it means you have a good record."
For the Spurs, that's rare this time of year. In recent seasons they have waited until March to make their climb up the standings.
As recently as 10 days ago, Popovich's plans still seemed safe. Phoenix had a 3˝-game lead over the Spurs and was coming off an impressive victory over Miami.
The Suns lost the following night in Utah. Two days later, Nash injured his thigh early in a loss at Indiana. Phoenix dropped its next two games.
As Nash prepared to return this week, backup point guard Leandro Barbosa stepped on his foot in practice Tuesday. Nash twisted his back. Barbosa sprained his left ankle and had to go on the injured list.
Nash sat out Wednesday's loss to Memphis, the Suns' fifth straight, but D'Antoni thinks there's a good chance his point guard will play tonight. "Now, if he's back that doesn't mean we're going to beat San Antonio," D'Antoni said. "He played last time we played them, and it didn't make any difference."
The Spurs routed Phoenix 115-94 on Dec. 28 at the SBC Center, holding Nash scoreless the final three quarters. Because the teams play each other only three times this season, the Spurs can claim the head-to-head tiebreaker with a victory tonight.
Beating the Suns again also would push Popovich closer to Denver. Even if he doesn't want to go, at least a couple of his assistants are pushing for it. And for good reason: Each member of the winning coaching staff in the All-Star Game gets $20,000; the losing staff gets $10,000 each.
"Every time I make a joke about who cares," Popovich said, "they're all over me."
D'Antoni has one solution to Popovich's possible dilemma.
"Tell him," D'Antoni said, "to blow tonight's game."
Web Posted: 01/21/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012105.1C.BKNspurs.suns.adv.2a810d33.html
PHOENIX — Manu Ginobili can see it already. No-look passes. Off-the-backboard dunks. Pull-up 30-footers.
And presiding over it all, smiling, is ... Gregg Popovich?
The same Spurs coach who blisters Ginobili for every too-quick 3-pointer? Whose mantra is "we win with defense"?
"He might want to yell," Ginobili said. "But he won't. Not at the All-Star Game."
When the Spurs and Phoenix Suns meet tonight at America West Arena, there will be no shortage of potential All-Stars on the floor.
With fan balloting ending Sunday, Tim Duncan is all but certain to be voted one of the Western Conference's starting forwards. Suns point guard Steve Nash, expected to return tonight after missing the previous three games, and center Amaré Stoudemire are near locks to make the team as reserves. Tony Parker, Ginobili and Phoenix forward Shawn Marion can use the ESPN telecast to bolster their credentials.
A couple of other All-Star candidates also will be on hand, though neither will be in uniform: Popovich and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.
The coaching staff of the team with the highest winning percentage in each conference through Feb. 6 will work the Feb. 20 All-Star Game in Denver. The Spurs enter tonight an NBA-best 32-9, a half-game ahead of the Suns.
"What I want is to have the best record when they have that cutoff date," D'Antoni said. "Coaching (in the All-Star Game) goes with it.
"I'm sure Pop's been there enough times maybe it doesn't mean as much to him anymore, but it's still an honor. It means your team is best halfway through, and that's pretty heady stuff."
In truth, Popovich never has coached in an All-Star Game. And if he can make that same claim at the end of his career, he'll be all the more happy.
Popovich said he has "several plans already set in motion" for the weekend of Feb. 18-20.
"None of which," he added, "include the All-Star Game.
"It's a period of time I look forward to every year," Popovich said, "to both relax and retool some 'O's and 'X's and get ready for the second half."
Popovich, who traditionally heads to the West Coast for the All-Star break, would prefer to skip the game but is not going to boycott if selected.
"If it happens, it happens," he said. "I guess it means you have a good record."
For the Spurs, that's rare this time of year. In recent seasons they have waited until March to make their climb up the standings.
As recently as 10 days ago, Popovich's plans still seemed safe. Phoenix had a 3˝-game lead over the Spurs and was coming off an impressive victory over Miami.
The Suns lost the following night in Utah. Two days later, Nash injured his thigh early in a loss at Indiana. Phoenix dropped its next two games.
As Nash prepared to return this week, backup point guard Leandro Barbosa stepped on his foot in practice Tuesday. Nash twisted his back. Barbosa sprained his left ankle and had to go on the injured list.
Nash sat out Wednesday's loss to Memphis, the Suns' fifth straight, but D'Antoni thinks there's a good chance his point guard will play tonight. "Now, if he's back that doesn't mean we're going to beat San Antonio," D'Antoni said. "He played last time we played them, and it didn't make any difference."
The Spurs routed Phoenix 115-94 on Dec. 28 at the SBC Center, holding Nash scoreless the final three quarters. Because the teams play each other only three times this season, the Spurs can claim the head-to-head tiebreaker with a victory tonight.
Beating the Suns again also would push Popovich closer to Denver. Even if he doesn't want to go, at least a couple of his assistants are pushing for it. And for good reason: Each member of the winning coaching staff in the All-Star Game gets $20,000; the losing staff gets $10,000 each.
"Every time I make a joke about who cares," Popovich said, "they're all over me."
D'Antoni has one solution to Popovich's possible dilemma.
"Tell him," D'Antoni said, "to blow tonight's game."