duncan228
05-17-2008, 10:27 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051808.11C.BKNspurs.notebook.33710bc.html
Spurs notebook: Oberto, Ginobili will continue to get starting nod in Game 7
By Mike Monroe
Express-News
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has changed his starting lineup twice during his team's Western Conference semifinal series against the New Orleans Hornets, but he says he will stick Monday night with the unit that prevailed in Game 6 on Thursday.
“I don't really anticipate any change,” Popovich said after the Spurs practiced Saturday morning at their team center on the Northwest Side.
That means Fabricio Oberto will be in the starting lineup for a second-straight game, and Manu Ginobili will start his fifth-straight game at shooting guard.
Popovich also hinted that Ime Udoka had earned another quick call off the bench.
“He's a tough-minded young man,” Popovich said. “He really has a nice all-around game. You don't always notice, because he's not all that athletic. But he rebounds, he makes good passes, he plays the game pretty well, and he's shooting it pretty well right now.
“For all those reasons, we're giving him a few more minutes than previously.”
Bon anniversaire: One of the Spurs' biggest advantages against the Hornets is the collective maturity of the league's oldest roster.
Point guard Tony Parker will go into Monday's Game 7 at New Orleans Arena with 110 games worth of playoff experience, but his teammates were reminded Saturday that he remains the youngest member of the Spurs' core when they helped him celebrate his 26th birthday.
Rookie Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' 21-year-old French forward, was asked to sing “Happy Birthday” to his countryman, Parker. In French, of course.
Yes, the tune is the same.
Forgotten history: The Spurs haven't played a Game 7 on the road since 1990, when their season ended with one of the most bizarre plays in team history: Point guard Rod Strickland's no-look pass to nobody.
The game was tied, 103-103, in overtime and the Spurs in possession with about 30 seconds left when Strickland fired his ill-advised pass. The nearest Spurs player was Sean Elliott, but he had no chance to catch the pass. Instead, Portland's Jerome Kersey ran down the errant pass and threw the ball ahead to Clyde Drexler.
Strickland then compounded his bone-headed play by committing a clear-path foul on Drexler. That gave the Blazers free throws and the ball. The result: a 108-105 Portland victory that gave them a spot in the Western Conference finals.
Observing from the bench that day: Spurs assistant coaches Popovich and R.C. Buford, seated next to head coach Larry Brown.
Popovich has tried to erase that game from his memory.
“Was I at Pomona-Pitzer then?” he said.
Reminded that he was on the Spurs' bench, Popovich rolled his eyes.
“Just when I'd almost forgotten about that,” he said. “I'll call Sean (Elliott) to make sure he remembers it, too.”
Spurs notebook: Oberto, Ginobili will continue to get starting nod in Game 7
By Mike Monroe
Express-News
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has changed his starting lineup twice during his team's Western Conference semifinal series against the New Orleans Hornets, but he says he will stick Monday night with the unit that prevailed in Game 6 on Thursday.
“I don't really anticipate any change,” Popovich said after the Spurs practiced Saturday morning at their team center on the Northwest Side.
That means Fabricio Oberto will be in the starting lineup for a second-straight game, and Manu Ginobili will start his fifth-straight game at shooting guard.
Popovich also hinted that Ime Udoka had earned another quick call off the bench.
“He's a tough-minded young man,” Popovich said. “He really has a nice all-around game. You don't always notice, because he's not all that athletic. But he rebounds, he makes good passes, he plays the game pretty well, and he's shooting it pretty well right now.
“For all those reasons, we're giving him a few more minutes than previously.”
Bon anniversaire: One of the Spurs' biggest advantages against the Hornets is the collective maturity of the league's oldest roster.
Point guard Tony Parker will go into Monday's Game 7 at New Orleans Arena with 110 games worth of playoff experience, but his teammates were reminded Saturday that he remains the youngest member of the Spurs' core when they helped him celebrate his 26th birthday.
Rookie Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' 21-year-old French forward, was asked to sing “Happy Birthday” to his countryman, Parker. In French, of course.
Yes, the tune is the same.
Forgotten history: The Spurs haven't played a Game 7 on the road since 1990, when their season ended with one of the most bizarre plays in team history: Point guard Rod Strickland's no-look pass to nobody.
The game was tied, 103-103, in overtime and the Spurs in possession with about 30 seconds left when Strickland fired his ill-advised pass. The nearest Spurs player was Sean Elliott, but he had no chance to catch the pass. Instead, Portland's Jerome Kersey ran down the errant pass and threw the ball ahead to Clyde Drexler.
Strickland then compounded his bone-headed play by committing a clear-path foul on Drexler. That gave the Blazers free throws and the ball. The result: a 108-105 Portland victory that gave them a spot in the Western Conference finals.
Observing from the bench that day: Spurs assistant coaches Popovich and R.C. Buford, seated next to head coach Larry Brown.
Popovich has tried to erase that game from his memory.
“Was I at Pomona-Pitzer then?” he said.
Reminded that he was on the Spurs' bench, Popovich rolled his eyes.
“Just when I'd almost forgotten about that,” he said. “I'll call Sean (Elliott) to make sure he remembers it, too.”