NBA champion Spurs to begin title defense on island paradise

NBA champion Spurs to begin title defense on island paradise
T.A. BADGER
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - The U.S. Virgin Islands mean sun, surf and laid-back Caribbean attitudes, but don't count on the San Antonio Spurs spending much time sipping umbrella drinks at a beachside cabana.

The NBA champion Spurs left town Monday to begin their title defense with a nine-day training camp at the University of St. Thomas, not far from where their star player, Tim Duncan, grew up.

Duncan said he's ready for his dual role as on-court centerpiece and off-court tour guide.

"It's going to be stressful, but it's going to be fun," he said. Duncan is from the nearby island of St. Croix.

Training camp opens Tuesday and will wrap up Oct. 13, when the team flies to Charleston, S.C., for a preseason game the following night against Philadelphia. (I guess he forgot about the game in Miami on the 10th)

On St. Thomas, newcomer free agents Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel will begin to get used to their roles on a stable and successful squad where they have little to no chance to crack the starting lineup.

"I know that my role will be off the bench and I have no problem with that," said Finley, the former Dallas swingman who passed up much bigger money elsewhere to sign with San Antonio. "They've been successful without me, so I'm just going to try to contribute in any way, shape or form that I can."

San Antonio also signed Fabricio Oberto, a 6-foot-10 forward who has played for years with Manu Ginobili on the Argentina national team that last year won the Olympic gold medal in Athens.

Ginobili said Oberto, a 30-year-old star in the Spanish league, is not only coming into a city where many people speak his language, but also onto a team where the ball-sharing philosophy is reminiscent of the playing style in Europe.

"It's hard to find a better situation than this," Ginobili said. "He's a smart guy, a smart player. ... Hopefully he's going to feel good and start contributing from the beginning."

Finley, 32, became one of the NBA's most coveted free agents when the Mavericks waived him in August under the league's new one-time amnesty clause. The 10-year veteran, who has averaged 19 points and 37 percent accuracy on 3-pointers in his career, is still owed nearly $52 million in salary from the Mavs.

He said joining the Spurs will provide his best chance so far to finally win a league title.

"For this team to want to repeat and me to want to get my first (championship), I think will be a great combination," said Finley, who is coming off his best season as a 3-point shooter (40.7 percent) but one of his worst years overall at 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Repeating is also on the minds of returning players, and they see Finley and Van Exel helping in that cause.

"I want to repeat really, really bad and I know a lot of the other guys want to repeat," said Robert Horry, who will be going for his seventh title. "And I know especially Nick and Mike coming in, they want a ring, so that's going to give us extra fuel."

San Antonio is favored by many to win a third championship in four years, but Duncan waves off all the talk.

"It doesn't matter to us if we're the favorite or not, we play the same way," Duncan said. "More than anything it's about chemistry. It's about people understanding what you do and accepting their roles. More talent doesn't always mean a better team."

Not that Duncan doesn't think the Spurs are better than last year, at least on paper.

"We reloaded pretty good," he said. "We like our team, we like our chances ... We're not thinking we're the best out here. We're thinking we have to work to be the best out here."

spurs reloaded EVEN DUNCAN SAYS SO

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Originally Posted by ducks

spurs reloaded EVEN DUNCAN SAYS SO

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:lol Don't mess with Texas!

Islands mon! nice. :)

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Originally Posted by ducks

spurs reloaded EVEN DUNCAN SAYS SO

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:lol

bring It On!!

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.co...rts?id=8911183

It doesn't allow you to copy/paste the article so here's the link.

Thanks for the link!


Vacation time over for Spurs
Duncan, world champions arriving on St. Thomas for a week of hard work
By SEAN McCOY
Monday, October 3rd 2005




ST. THOMAS - The defending NBA champions arrive on St. Thomas today bringing the Virgin Island's own Tim Duncan and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs to town for a one-week training camp that team officials hope will rocket the team to top form before their first pre-season game on Oct. 10.

While the trip will reward Duncan for his immense contributions to the program and give the squad one day at the beach, this trip will be anything but a vacation.

"This is a work trip, an opportunity for us to set the tone for the season first and foremost," said Spurs general manager RC Buford. "We've got a lot that we need to accomplish with the added opportunity to give back to the people of the Virgin Islands."

Many Virgin Islanders are accustomed to grand fanfare and celebration during the annual NCAA Division 1 basketball tournament Paradise Jam, but the visit by the Spurs will be much more low key.

Representatives from the Tourism Department, the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association and the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce said they are delighted to have the Spurs in town, but the groups have not planned any special events that would detract from the team's grueling practice schedule.

For the Spurs, holding training camp away from their home facility in San Antonio is an extraordinary measure. While they have had the chance to play games in Paris and Milan, the three-time NBA champions have never held training camp in a far-flung locale.

"This is definitely something the Spurs have never done," said Tom James, director of media services for the Spurs. "This is our first time training in an exotic location. It is exciting for all of us."

While on St. Thomas, the Spurs plan to hold six practice sessions at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. They will also play an open scrimmage and take a boat trip on their one day off.

Buford said that they will work their new players - Fabricio Oberto, Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley - into their system at the camp.

"The opportunity to get together with Finley, Van Exel and Oberto is important," Buford said. "These are all experienced players with great basketball IQs. I'm confident that they will be fast learners."

Also joining the team will be five free agents who are trying to land one of the two remaining spots on the roster.

Buford explained that Duncan's contribution to the team was a factor in bringing the training camp to the USVI.

"The connection with Tim and the Virgin Islands, the respect we have for what he's done for the program and the opportunity to bring him back to the islands, his family and friends is a unique opportunity," Buford said.

Buford also said that other factors, including a quality facility and staff at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center and hard work by the people of the Virgin Islands Police Department made it possible for them to plan the trip.

While islanders will have limited chances to see the Spurs at their one public scrimmage on Friday, the territory could benefit greatly from their visit because it will be the central focus of many national sports stories in the coming weeks.

NBA Associated Press writer Chris Sheraton will not only cover the action at camp but also will likely do local color pieces while here, James said.

Other members of the media who will cover the event will be ESPN writer Mark Stein, a writer from the Argentinian national newspaper for a feature on Manu Ginobili, NBA Entertainment, a crew from BET, the Express News from San Antonio and the local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates.

"It's sort of a small army," James said.

Business and tourism leaders say the trip will be good for the island.

"It would have to be a very, very positive impact, having the Spurs here," said St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce president Ted Bast.

"The Department of Tourism is delighted to have them here and to have them select the Virgin Islands as a preferred destination," said assistant Tourism commissioner Monique Sibilly-Hodge. "We are very confident that the team's presence here will drum up deserved attention for the destination."

UVI will also be in the limelight just weeks before Paradise Jam brings more national media to the small campus.

"It's great for the community to have the Spurs come down, and it's great for UVI," Sauer said. "It's good when people from around the country know how good the facilities are at the Sports and Fitness Center."

Buford said that the team, while busy, will make an appearance during the week and play before thousands of Virgin Islanders in their scrimmage.

"We look forward to the opportunity to bring Tim and our team to there," Buford said. "I hope they give us the opportunity to accomplish a lot, get good work done, and still be able to learn about their culture and join them in their community."

- Staff writer Tanya Mannes contributed to this article. Contact Sean McCoy at 774-8772 ext. 365 or e-mail [email protected].

Did anyone watch KSAT just now? They showed the guys getting in and then they showed Don Nelson going in with them. Pop said he was just a dinner buddy and bodyguard :lol

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They showed the guys getting in and then they showed Don Nelson going in with them. Pop said he was just a dinner buddy and bodyguard

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That's so weird that he went with them.

Isn't he still employed by Cuban?

Yea but I think he just wanted an excuse to get out of the house from the wifey...

Pretty good, I bet Timmy is very happy to be there. Reloaded we are.

Dammit Kori, cant you pull some strings and convince them to start the season early??? :D

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

NBA champion Spurs to begin title defense on island paradise
T.A. BADGER
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - The U.S. Virgin Islands mean sun, surf and laid-back Caribbean attitudes, but don't count on the San Antonio Spurs spending much time sipping umbrella drinks at a beachside cabana.

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...why can't I stop myself thinking Tony is surfing or water skiing right now http://www.smileys.ws/sm/action/00000045.gif than practicing basketball? :rolleyes

great! :lol

I'm sure NVE meant that he and Finley want to win more than 1. :king

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...an-spurs_x.htm

One in a row not enough for Duncan and Spurs

By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY

SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan earned a trip home to the Virgin Islands. That's where the defending champion and reloaded San Antonio Spurs open training camp today, in St. Thomas, not far from where Duncan grew up in St. Croix.

It's a fitting thank you from an organization that has won three NBA titles since he arrived here nine years ago. "We want to get him back in his neighborhood," coach Gregg Popovich said.

Duncan couldn't wait to get on the team plane Monday. "It should be a blast. To have the entire team there, (the people) are psyched."

He makes a triumphant return home armed with three rings, two MVP trophies, seven All-Star appearances and eight All-NBA and All-Defensive team nods. He's also healthy after spraining his right ankle three times last season and even trimmer and fitter after watching his food intake.

Asked about his offseason diet, he quipped, "The diet was really bad before. It's just bad now."

The only thing missing from his gilded résumé: Back-to-back titles. He's 0-for-2 after the Spurs failed to repeat in 2000 and 2004.

The 6-11 forward has a chance to change that. With the addition of NBA veterans Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel and the signing of European League veteran Fabricio Oberto, the Spurs are arguably the deepest team in the league. On paper, they're the team to beat.

"Paper doesn't mean anything to us," Duncan said. "It's about going out there and playing together. It's about chemistry and people accepting roles. More talent doesn't always mean you're a better team."

Finley and Van Exel joined the Spurs prepared, both said Monday, to sacrifice minutes for a ring. Finley will spell both Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen, and Van Exel will back up Ginobili and Tony Parker. Oberto, 6-10, will relieve Duncan and Nazr Mohammed.

Finding minutes for everybody won't be a problem, Popovich said. "Our goal is to win a championship, and all of us will sacrifice something to get that done."

It's the Spurs Way, dictated on the bench by Popovich and in the locker room by Duncan. He has won each of his three rings with vastly different supporting casts.

"He accepts people," Popovich said. "He makes them feel comfortable. He helps make the pieces fit around him."

Duncan knows firsthand, twice, how difficult repeating is.

"That following year, you're such a target," he said. "You have to stay healthy. Your team has to jell, and you have to be a better team."

Van Exel isn't worried that this Spurs team will fall into the fat-cat syndrome. "Pop wants to repeat for the first time," he said. "Tim probably wants to get more rings (four) than Shaq (O'Neal), and Robert (Horry) probably wants to get more rings (seven) than Mike (Jordan) and Scottie (Pippen). There's a lot to keep these guys hungry. And me and Finn (Finley) want one."

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Duncan couldn't wait to get on the team plane Monday. "It should be a blast. To have the entire team there, (the people) are psyched."

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:D

i read somewhere(Hoopsworld Mag?) when Tim was still a child he begun to show some talent in swimming and was extra big than that there were actually some of them who made fun at him, some were even "cruel" to him. I bet they get some opposite thoughts now that he's come home an NBA winner...

He should take the team scuba diving...

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Originally Posted by Vashner

He should take the team scuba diving...

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NOOO!! They might run into like the LA clippers or the Atlanta Hawks in the ocean and CHOKE!!!


get it???? GET IT???? :elephant

I think Timmy is a diver... don't hear much about it though.

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Originally Posted by Vashner

He should take the team scuba diving...

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I think most NBA contracts prohibit these type of activities. It is too risky.

There's nothing risky about scuba diving if you have half a brain.

hmm...I can see the headline nest week already..."Hurricane Spurs hits Miami!"...:lol

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Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan

There's nothing risky about scuba diving if you have half a brain.

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I agree my felow diver. However, there are always risks even if you are responsible. It is perfectly understandable that if you pay your players several millions dollars, they are a big investment you would like to protect at all costs. Furthermore, I think several NBA players do not have half a brain http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/imag...es/smispin.gif

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Originally Posted by Rick Von Braun

I think most NBA contracts prohibit these type of activities. It is too risky.

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:lol dude, going to a club in NYC is more risky to NBA players than scuba diving

Man chill it's just a fantasy.. but if they wanted to they would do it.

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Originally Posted by CosmicCowboy

hmm...I can see the headline nest week already..."Hurricane Spurs hits Miami!"...:lol

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Cat5 for SURE!