Spurs notebook: Duncan puts on show for home crowd with 22 points

Spurs notebook: Duncan puts on show for home crowd with 22 points
Web Posted: 10/08/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....222ffa3c.html

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — After bringing the NBA home to the Caribbean, Tim Duncan made sure not to leave his biggest fans disappointed.

Duncan scored 22 points, including a pair of thunderous dunks, to lead his Silver team to an 85-84 victory in the Spurs' scrimmage Friday night.

More than 3,000 fans crammed into the University of Virgin Islands' Sports and Fitness Center for the game, which was televised live on the local PBS affiliate.

Duncan helped pay for two boats — one of which arrived late because it wouldn't start — to bring about 800 fans from his native St. Croix. Some tickets sold for more than $100.

"I thought the fans had a lot of fun," Duncan said. "That's what we wanted. That was the most important thing."

The Spurs treated the scrimmage as an actual game, using officials from Puerto Rico and playing four 12-minute quarters.

The Spurs appeared to stack the Silver roster in Duncan's favor, starting Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel and Rasho Nesterovic with Beno Udrih, Sean Marks, Melvin Sanders and Jawad Williams coming off the bench.

Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Nazr Mohammed and Brent Barry started for the Black team with Fabricio Oberto, Kyle Bailey, Sharrod Ford and Stephen Graham in reserve.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich watched the game from press row, letting his assistants coach the two teams. Eva Longoria made an appearance, sitting next to Ginobili's wife, Many, in the first row of seats. The Silver team hung on for the victory when Graham couldn't get a shot off in the final seconds.

"I was a little surprised we almost won," Parker said.

Most of the Spurs' big men played well, including Oberto, who made a couple of nifty passes. Nesterovic made seven of his 11 shots, grabbed close to a dozen rebounds and blocked Barry behind the 3-point line in the final minute.

Duncan brought the crowd to its feet when he dunked a lob pass from Ginobili. Late in the final quarter, he curled into the lane and dunked over Ford for his final points.

Taking a break: With the weather having changed for the better, Popovich will let the team enjoy the island today. The Spurs will practice Sunday morning before flying to Miami for their first exhibition game.

:tu, I'm happy for the V.I. fans.

Rasho is Back.

Hopefully.

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The Spurs appeared to stack the Silver roster in Duncan's favor, starting Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel and Rasho Nesterovic with Beno Udrih, Sean Marks, Melvin Sanders and Jawad Williams coming off the bench.

Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Nazr Mohammed and Brent Barry started for the Black team with Fabricio Oberto, Kyle Bailey, Sharrod Ford and Stephen Graham in reserve.

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this is so unfair. Tim & Manu shld have parted ways.:lol


[/QUOTE]
Nesterovic made seven of his 11 shots, grabbed close to a dozen rebounds and blocked Barry behind the 3-point line in the final minute. [/QUOTE]
is he mad he didn't win in the Euro or just realized his ass might be glued on the bench long time unless he does something useful? :D go Rasho!
Nice block there on once king of the dunk! :lol

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Originally Posted by timvp

Rasho is Back.

Hopefully.

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When was he here?

I still have no love for rasho. Sorry rasho-fans.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_14492.shtml

Oh, Oh, Oberto!

By Emmett Shaw
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Oct 8, 2005, 00:36

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands – The San Antonio Spurs may have struck yet again. I know it’s absurdly early, but on the night of the Spurs’ first pre-season scrimmage – in what local politicians called the biggest sporting event in Virgin Islands history – Fabricio Oberto not only looked at home playing at an NBA pace, he was one of the very best players on the court. Oberto came off the bench for a Black team that nearly upset the higher-powered Silver squad led by superstars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

Oberto was signed away from the Spanish League by the Spurs early in the free agency window last mid-July. It’s very early, but Spurs execs think they might have hit big with Fabricio. Three times Oberto brought the Black team from behind and into the lead in a game finally won by the Silver 85-84. Estimates are that Oberto produced a plus / minus figure of at least 10 points last night. Listed at 6-10, Oberto demonstrated a gifted feel for the game. Yes, his decisions are good. But a lot of players on this team make good decisions.

Oberto appears different. Different in a Duncan - Ginobili - Horry kind of way. He has a knack for always making something happen. He doesn’t just give up the ball to you, he gives it up and races the ball to you to set a stationary screen. It’s not unlike a Mark Madsen level of activity, except smarter and more under control than Mad Dog and with an ability to finish plays with baskets or the savvy extra pass.

A team official said after the game it’s difficult to gauge how European ballplayers will translate to the NBA and vice-versa, not just from a pace-of-decision-making standpoint, but the two circuits are a stylistically very different game. If it’s tough to gauge for the Spurs, it must confound the rest of the league, because San Antonio found NBA stars Ginobili and Tony Parker over there.

To start the night, the anthems of the U.S. and the V.I. were played, and many in the sellout crowd of perhaps a thousand sang along with the island refrains. It was a night for them to be proud, and the fans brought the house down when Tim was introduced. Neither team made inroads into the lead until Oberto came on for Robert Horry and within a minute tried to bounce a quick pass blind between his own legs to Brent Barry. The play was foiled, but the message was sent: “Spurs fans, my name is Fabio.”

By the half Oberto had keyed the Black to a 44-35 lead despite some great plays by Duncan, who finished his night with about three dunks and numerous assists, some of them tossed 50-feet up the court ala Magic Johnson. And Ginobili was not goofing around either, usually guarded by Brent Barry. Bruce Bowen was shutting out Michael Finley for the Black in the first half. The Silver’s Nick Van Exel and counterpart Tony Parker were a wash (NVE is one snappy passer with his big left hand – he can whip the rock left or right with it, and without telegraphing a thing).

In the second half, Black coach Mike Budenholzer tried to put a major coaching touch on the game by assigning Bowen to guard Ginobili, which was a battle neither could truly win. But they laughed openly about it, and when Manu went one-on-one and tossed to Tim for a lob dunk to cut the deficit to 46-40, Ginobili was taunting Bruce all up in his face like a street baller. Then Bowen fell down, looking to draw the tech from the Puerto Rican League refs. No dice. The Silver soon took the lead 53-51 on a Duncan bank over Nazr Mohammed from Finley. The Silver’s lead would never top two possession though . Tony Parker began breaking down Beno Udrih to push the Black into several three point leads, the last at 70-67.

In this comeback, again Oberto was all over the place on both ends. Fabio doesn’t jump very high, but he reads situations very well and produces deflections, even blindly as Spurs fans of old have seen Steve Kerr sometimes do. Almost every play by the Black was run through Oberto. Finley and Udrih buried the two most vital shots for the Silver, a pair of 3s that left the Silver ahead 83-80. On one possession with a minute to play Oberto and Barry played catch for six or seven snap passes, then Barry found teammate Kyle Bailey for the last points of the night for either team.

The rest of the way featured Beno firing a no-look across the court to the wide open Johnny Ludden writing for the SA paper in the front row. Rasho Nesterovic then stuffed Barry on a 3-try up top, followed by a Nesterovic Scud off the edge of the glass with 5.1 seconds. To close the night, Budenholzer gathered the Black for one last play, Stephen Graham splitting off Fabio for handoff, but Graham ran straight into Oberto and a winning shot was never even released.

A bad last minute offensively, but the first 47 minutes were praised by Gregg Popovich after the game. The coach loved the ball movement, spacing, and unselfishness by both squads. As soon as the game ended, a giant Carribean party began to break out that overspread the island. A couple hundred residents of St. Croix were on hand in the stands as well and they got a special hello from MC Tim Duncan, thanking everyone for hosting the Spurs for the entire training camp.

So that means our bench wait our 2ns team can beat any teams starting 5 in the league hahahahaha :D:D:D this is goin tobe in the bag for us.

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I still have no love for rasho. Sorry rasho-fans.

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and Rasho fans should care why??

Cause your an uneducated imp who regurgitates shit that he hears on NBA Fastbreak??

Be gone.


Nice to see Rasho have a good scrimmage.

Hopefully that translates into regular season.

Seems like MOhammed and Oberto have lit a tad of a fire.

Nice write up by Emmett Shaw.

The perfect scenario for the Spurs is that Oberto wins the starting center spot. That'd make Nazr much more re-signable.

:tu

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The perfect scenario for the Spurs is that Oberto wins the starting center spot. That'd make Nazr much more re-signable.

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Like Devin Brown getting hurt made him much more resignable?

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Originally Posted by T Park

Like Devin Brown getting hurt made him much more resignable?

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I think your equation is missing Finley.

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It was a night for them to be proud, and the fans brought the house down when Tim was introduced. Neither team made inroads into the lead until Oberto came on for Robert Horry and within a minute tried to bounce a quick pass blind between his own legs to Brent Barry. The play was foiled, but the message was sent: “Spurs fans, my name is Fabio.”

By the half Oberto had keyed the Black to a 44-35 lead despite some great plays by Duncan, who finished his night with about three dunks and numerous assists, some of them tossed 50-feet up the court ala Magic Johnson. And Ginobili was not goofing around either, usually guarded by Brent Barry. Bruce Bowen was shutting out Michael Finley for the Black in the first half. The Silver’s Nick Van Exel and counterpart Tony Parker were a wash (NVE is one snappy passer with his big left hand – he can whip the rock left or right with it, and without telegraphing a thing).

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how i wish i was in V.I :D

Finley can't still get away with Bruce, he:D he:D

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Bruce Bowen was shutting out Michael Finley for the Black in the first half.

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I wonder how that went over. :drunk

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But they laughed openly about it, and when Manu went one-on-one and tossed to Tim for a lob dunk to cut the deficit to 46-40, Ginobili was taunting Bruce all up in his face like a street baller. Then Bowen fell down, looking to draw the tech from the Puerto Rican League refs. No dice.

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funniest quote from the Oberto Article, Manu talking smack to Bowen and Bowen trying to flop off of Ginobili :lol

Let's see. Tim had 22 points and Rasho shot 7-11 with a dozen rebounds (both on the SAME team). Wonder who was supposed to be stopping them defensively? Could it have been Nazr? I am willing to bet Rasho's shot attempts were up because his team played NVE and Beno at point guard, instead of Tony.

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Originally Posted by timvp

The perfect scenario for the Spurs is that Oberto wins the starting center spot. That'd make Nazr much more re-signable.

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or expendable.

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Originally Posted by ploto

Let's see. Tim had 22 points and Rasho shot 7-11 with a dozen rebounds (both on the SAME team). Wonder who was supposed to be stopping them defensively? Could it have been Nazr? I am willing to bet Rasho's shot attempts were up because his team played NVE and Beno at point guard, instead of Tony.

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Beno was on Rasho's team.

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Originally Posted by physik

funniest quote from the Oberto Article, Manu talking smack to Bowen and Bowen trying to flop off of Ginobili :lol

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you beat me to it! :tu

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funniest quote from the Oberto Article, Manu talking smack to Bowen and Bowen trying to flop off of Ginobili

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:lmao

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Nesterovic made seven of his 11 shots, grabbed close to a dozen rebounds and blocked Barry behind the 3-point line in the final minute.

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That's my man! :makeout :elephant

Shaw's detail is appreciated and adds much to the mind's eye.

Of the 5 extra players added for training, I wonder who contributed the best? In looking at some of the video from the various S.A. sports crews, Sanders looks to be really putting out the effort, with good quickness and footspeed. You can't tell much from short clips, though.

Wow. On paper, that black team looked like washout compared to Silver. I'm glad they hung on!

"I was a little surprised we almost won," Parker said."

:lol

Thanks for the articles.

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Originally Posted by Article

The play was foiled, but the message was sent: “Spurs fans, my name is Fabio.”

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WTF?

It's Fabricio or Fabri .

I wanted us to sign Oberto as Drob's replacement 2 years ago in the Kidd offseason...the guy can play. I think a lot of analysts get too caught up on stats and dunks sometimes, I mean they are important, but it depends on what your team needs and what you are actually able to get. HOF C's are scarce, and the Spurs don't need much...If you look beyond the flashy things, Oberto has a pretty nice game...and he's tough, that's what I have noticed about him.

But the 2 things I like most about him...why I wanted us to sign him 2 years ago after seeing him play...he plays smart, and the A, #1, alpha to the omega, etc thing I like most about him...he plays with energy...there are like 3 bigmen in the NBA that do both of those things, that play with energy and do it smartly...

Take our two C's for instance...

Well I get tired of seeing Rasho get ripped on...but the truth is, either he doesn't play hard, or he has no talent...because he turned in many subpar efforts...I don't think he lacks talent...in fact I know he doesn't...he's got a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but he just doesn't have the fire.

And Nazr puts in effort most of the time...but he just does some bonehead things. Call it clumsy hands or whatever...but he's just not all there all the time. Both Rasho and Nazr have more talent than Oberto IMO, both are bigger men as well...but neither of them have as much in the area of the big intangibles: effort+IQ, that Oberto has...


If you see a big guy that has both of those qualities, you sign him, no questions asked....especially if you are the Spurs.

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Originally Posted by smeagol

Thanks for the articles.


WTF?

It's Fabricio or Fabri .

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Making he was thinking of somebody else....


http://www.cikava.com/gallery/albums...ness/Fabio.gif

1st article was great on it;s own.. but then iread the 2nd article and was grinning ear to ear!! :tu :D
I am sooooooo excited to see these guys in action this year!! I can;t wait till Monday night!! :elephant
Noone can knock Manu down from the 300ft pedastal I've put him on.. but Fabri comes close.

looks like my signature is truer then we could ever hope for!

good god.

the spurs may have more competitive intra-squad scrimmages than they do games this year.

:lol Great photo work, Slomo.

Isn't Fabio what one/some of the Spurs started calling him when he first came to SA?

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Originally Posted by timvp

Rasho is Back.

Hopefully.

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OH MY GAWD. We're gonna have a "Who should play Center?" controversy from day one.

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Originally Posted by wildbill2u

OH MY GAWD. We're gonna have a "Who should play Center?" controversy from day one.

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Not necessarily. :lol
I'd be glad to settle that question once and for all right now! =)

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Originally Posted by timvp

Rasho is Back.

Hopefully.

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Just like the backstreet boys. :lol

Not much different from the others but it's another recap of the game. It mentions that the newcomers seem to be picking up Pop's defensive system. As for the 5 trying to make the team, Ford - Bailey - Graham all had strong performances.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.co...rts?id=9119331

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As for the 5 trying to make the team, Ford - Bailey - Graham all had strong performances.

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That was an interesting point in the article, especially considering that Jawad Williams and Melvin Sanders are probably the favorites to land a job on the team.

I'm intrigued by Ford. We certainly have no real need for him right now, but he could actually be a player in a couple of years. Kinda Josh Powell-like, but slightly more NBA ready rebounding and blocking-wise.

It's really cool to get a recap of the game but I wonder if it would be asking too much to scare up a boxscore if stats were recorded at all....

Anyone?

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Duncan helped pay for two boats — one of which arrived late because it wouldn't start — to bring about 800 fans from his native St. Croix. Some tickets sold for more than $100.

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I thought the NBA didn't allow them to sell tickets to the scrimmage. Is he talking about scalpers? Just curious.

Slomo, that was a disturbing image!!

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Most of the Spurs' big men played well, including Oberto, who made a couple of nifty passes. Nesterovic made seven of his 11 shots, grabbed close to a dozen rebounds and blocked Barry behind the 3-point line in the final minute.

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Angel...our Man is working it!!!!!
To everyone hoping for a trade......If Rasho keeps up the moves....kiss the trade talk goodbye!
:elephant :elephant :elephant

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Originally Posted by ObiwanGinobili

1st article was great on it;s own.. but then iread the 2nd article and was grinning ear to ear!! :tu :D
I am sooooooo excited to see these guys in action this year!! I can;t wait till Monday night!! :elephant
Noone can knock Manu down from the 300ft pedastal I've put him on.. but Fabri comes close.

looks like my signature is truer then we could ever hope for!

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You need to take me off your sig :lol but me as well, I can't wait until Monday when the Spurs-Heat play :)

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Originally Posted by RashoFan

Angel...our Man is working it!!!!!
To everyone hoping for a trade......If Rasho keeps up the moves....kiss the trade talk goodbye!
:elephant :elephant :elephant

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I wonder if I'll see you here when he's traded...
:lol :rolleyes

JK.

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Originally Posted by Sense

I wonder if I'll see you here when he's traded...
:lol :rolleyes

JK.

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I would be crying....but I will still be here.Bottom line.... I AM A SPURS FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by RashoFan

Angel...our Man is working it!!!!!
To everyone hoping for a trade......If Rasho keeps up the moves....kiss the trade talk goodbye!
:elephant :elephant :elephant

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Rasho's the man! :elephant

I don't know how good I'll be about sharing him anymore, Sis.
Could I interest you in a younger model? :lol

Man I can't wait to see the reaction when Rasho wins back his starting spot.

Rasho to start! Rasho to start! And we trade Nazr's expiring contract for a young wingman and picks!

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