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If McDonald is trying to gain the Spurs' confidence by saying nothing of substance he's doing an outstanding job.
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...onald_g_1.html
Jeff McDonald: Go for Fore!
Last year, the Spurs' drive to another NBA championship was punctuated with the battlecry, "Go for Four!" On Wednesday, that cry sounded more like, "Go for fore!"
A day after dropping their preseason opener at Dallas, the Spurs took the day off to participate in a charity golf scramble at the Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club near Sea World.
And by "participate," we mean they mostly just drove the carts. For the most part, basketball players are fairly self-conscious on the golf course (let's see you find a 7-wood fit for a 7-footer).
Among the most adamant about staying the heck away from the tee box was Manu Ginobili.
"I'm not good at golf at all," he said. "I tried it only once, and never again."
Ginobili's aversion to the sport is at least mildly ironic. Next to him, the most popular sportsman in Argentina these days is Angel Cabrera -- a golfer. Cabrera was the unlikely winner at this year's U.S. Open at Oakmont.
His countryman's thrilling victory was apparently not enough to get Ginobili out on the course.
"I bet he's as bad at basketball as I am at golf," Ginobili joked.
If McDonald is trying to gain the Spurs' confidence by saying nothing of substance he's doing an outstanding job.
He's apparently picked up on the CIA tactics.
This article is really about next years draft picks.
whats he supposed to write about on a day off in the preseason?
The progression of Anthony Lever Pedroza?
McDonald has been funny so far.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...15b0ff913.html
Spurs notebook:
All hands on deck, few on links
Web Posted: 10/10/2007 10:40 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs responded to Tuesday's 88-67 preseason-opening loss at Dallas in the most relaxing fashion imaginable. They took the day off and hit the golf course.
Of course, it was all for a good cause.
The Spurs spent their Wednesday at the Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club, participating in a charity scramble to benefit the Spurs foundation.
All Spurs players were present. Only a handful actually dared to pick up a club.
Among the most adamant about staying off the course was Manu Ginobili.
“I'm not good at golf at all,” the Argentine guard said. “I tried it only once, and never again.”
Ginobili's aversion to the sport is at least mildly ironic. Next to him, the most popular sportsman in Argentina these days is Angel Cabrera, the surprise winner of this year's U.S. Open at Oakmont.
His countryman's thrilling victory at a major, however, was apparently not enough to get Ginobili out on the course.
“I bet he's as bad at basketball as I am at golf,” Ginobili joked.
Much to Ginobili's relief, the Spurs will be off the golf course and back on the basketball court today.
They have two more days of practice before their second preseason game, Saturday against the Greek professional team Panathinaikos at the AT&T Center.
Don't bet the house: There are four free agents in Spurs camp, each hoping to make the team's final 15-man roster. Basic arithmetic says the odds of the Spurs finding room for any of them are not good.
The Spurs brought back 12 members from last year's NBA championship team, plus added free agent Ime Udoka and signed draft picks Ian Mahinmi and Marcus Williams.
That greatly reduces the chances of a Darius Washington, Anthony Lever-Pedroza, Kris Lang or Keith Langford making the team — to somewhere between slim and none.
“Everybody that's trying out for the team can count, one to 15,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We have 15 guys under contract. What are the chances? The chances aren't great.”
So Marcus Williams is a lock to make the team.“Everybody that's trying out for the team can count, one to 15,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We have 15 guys under contract. What are the chances? The chances aren't great.”
I guess that a big part or the totality of the first year of his contract is guaranteed.
I don't get how you deduced what you did from that quote. In fact, if you read the Nwaelele article posted elsewhere, it sounded like he was more highly coveted than Williams.So Marcus Williams is a lock to make the team.
I guess that a big part or the totality of the first year of his contract is guaranteed.
There's definitely a chance a player can beat out Williams or that Udrih could be traded/waived. The chance isn't very great ... but if one of the invitees really showed a lot, the Spurs have some wiggle room.
That said, the guys they got to come to training camp pretty much suck. I think Nwaelele could have beaten out Williams, but the remaining guys don't really have a shot.
Plus Williams improved upon his summer league play with his 0-for-6 outing with three turnovers. Those are actually quite good stats for Williams.
Pop put Williams with the 14 players with a guaranteed contract after as you said a "0-for-6 outing with three turnovers". I don't see another explanation that he has too some guaranteed money.
Under contract != Guaranteed contract
For all we know, Williams could have just signed the tender offer and have no money guaranteed. Even under that scenario, the Spurs would be hesitant in letting him go since he was such a high draft pick.
Training camp invites are too under contract.
Pop didn't put Williams in the same category than training camp invites and I just don't think it's only because he was the 33rd pick.
Pretend for a second that Williams signed the tender offer. How would you like Pop to answer the question regarding whether the training camp invitees have a shot to make the team?
“Everybody that's trying out for the team can count, one to 14,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “And then hopefully everyone can count, 14 to 15 because we also have a guy who accepted a tender offer after we told him to go to Europe and he refused. Even though we didn't want him to sign the tender, we had to offer it to him or else we'd lose all rights to him. Even though he was horrible in summer league, since we invested a relatively high draft pick on him, we'll probably end up keeping him anyways. So in essence, we have 15 guys under contract. What are the chances? The chances aren't great.”
Is that the type of answer you wanted from Pop?
go for 5!
this needs to be the spurs motto instead of the cheesy "go spurs go"
go for 5 needs to be engraved in the player's heads
Pretend for a second that Williams signed the tender offer. How would you like Pop to answer the question regarding whether the training camp invitees have a shot to make the team?
“Everybody that's trying out for the team can count, one to 14,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “And then hopefully everyone can count, 14 to 15 because we also have a guy who accepted a tender offer after we told him to go to Europe and he refused. Even though we didn't want him to sign the tender, we had to offer it to him or else we'd lose all rights to him. Even though he was horrible in summer league, since we invested a relatively high draft pick on him, we'll probably end up keeping him anyways. So in essence, we have 15 guys under contract. What are the chances? The chances aren't great.”
Is that the type of answer you wanted from Pop?
Pop would have said "We are quite deep. The chances aren't great!"
Pop said that Williams is in the 15 players roster after one bad preseason game and while there is still 6 preseason games. I just don't see him saying that if Williams contract was non guaranteed.
Update:
Apology Accepted.Williams, a 6-foot-7 swingman, faces a future even more uncertain. Unlike Mahinmi, Williams' contract is not guaranteed — and neither is his roster spot.
rocket science.
So, you was likely right and I was likely wrong. I said "likely" because it's still possible that a part of his contract is guaranteed.
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