Jeff McDonald: o from Dallas

[Spurs Brazil]

Jeff McDonald: o from Dallas
Gregg Popovich has made it very plain that we won't be watching much of Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili or any of the other Spurs regulars during tonight's preseason opener against the Dallas Mavericks. And we won't be seeing any Tony Parker at all.

With that much out of the way, here's what your intrepid beat writer will be watching when the Spurs JV takes the floor:

1. How does Ime Udoka fit? Udoka left behind a starting gig in Portland to fight and claw for playing time in San Antonio. Right now, he's competing for minutes on an overcrowded wing. A strong preseason could go a ways toward winning him minutes. Udoka is a lock-down defender and an underrated 3-point threat. He can certainly help the Spurs ... if he can get on the floor.

2. Can the young point guards play? The chances of Darius Washington or Anthony Lever-Pedroza making the team rank somewhere below Michael Vick being asked to host the Westminster Dog Show. Still, Washington and Lever-Pedroza will be offered a golden opportunity tonight to try and impress someone. Tony Parker, Jacque Vaughn and Beno Udrih are all expected to sit this one out. Someone has to play point guard. If Washington or Lever-Pedroza perform well, they might at least attract a nibble from another club.

3. Who was that masked man? Francisco Elson -- protective facemask and all -- has looked more comfortable in this training camp than at any other point in his San Antonio tenure. At one workout last week, he was even seen coaching up some of the Spurs' youngsters. If he can find his way around on defense this year -- the way he couldn't last season -- the athletic Elson could contribute valuable minutes at center. Especially whenever the Spurs find themselves in a game that is decidedly up-tempo.

4. How bored is Will Sevening? The Spurs' roster is littered with veteran players who have been there and done that on the way to multiple NBA championships. Most of them need just a light workout in these preseason games. What the Spurs don't need is for some of those older players to leave this meaningless game bruised, sprained or otherwise battered. Keeping trainer Will Sevening glued to the bench and rightly bored is paramount.
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...cdonald_h.html

[T Park]

3. Who was that masked man? Francisco Elson -- protective facemask and all -- has looked more comfortable in this training camp than at any other point in his San Antonio tenure. At one workout last week, he was even seen coaching up some of the Spurs' youngsters. If he can find his way around on defense this year -- the way he couldn't last season -- the athletic Elson could contribute valuable minutes at center. Especially whenever the Spurs find themselves in a game that is decidedly up-tempo.

interesting....

[mardigan]

Man, Im really pulling for Elson to have a turnaround year. I really like the guy, and he has skills. Hopefully he can pull it all together this year

[SenorSpur]

Man, Im really pulling for Elson to have a turnaround year. I really like the guy, and he has skills. Hopefully he can pull it all together this year

Me too. Expect to see a marked improvement in his defensive rotations this year. And I still think he can and should be able to be an adequate defender against a guy like Dirk.