Monroe: Spurs' Udoka, Vaughn Put In Extra Time

[duncan228]

Spurs' Udoka, Vaughn put in extra time
By Mike Monroe

With a plane to catch and four games to play over six days, the Spurs had a relatively light practice session Monday.

For Ime Udoka and Jacque Vaughn, however, practice was just the start of their work day.

The two Spurs reserves, well aware their playing time has been curtailed of late, spent a full hour hustling through shooting drills and one-on-one exercises under the direction of assistant coach Chad Forcier.

By the time their post-practice workout had ended, both players believed they had sharpened their games and re-conditioned their legs.

“Just trying to stay in shape and get some work in,” Udoka said. “Jacque and Kurt (Thomas) and I aren't playing as much right now.”

Udoka also declared himself completely recovered from a brief bout with the flu that required him to stay in San Antonio when the Spurs went to Denver to play the Nuggets last Thursday.

“I feel good now,” he said. “I was a little winded (Saturday) night, but I had another day of rest, so I feel good. I'm ready to go now.”

The cold and flu bug has been making its way around the Spurs' locker room, but Udoka denies being its incubator.

“I didn't even see the guys before they left (for Denver),” he said. “I think it was the weather.”

Indeed, guard Tony Parker said he blamed his recent cold symptoms on the record cold temperatures the Spurs encountered in Denver. The temperature dropped below zero the night the Spurs beat the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

Parker acknowledged he hadn't dressed warmly enough for sub-zero temperatures in Colorado.

“It was a blizzard in Denver,” Parker said, “and we had left the sun behind in San Antonio. Actually, now it's kind of cold in San Antonio, too, but in Denver, well, we hadn't seen snow for quite awhile.”

Go Gators: Spurs forward Matt Bonner, whose college career at Florida preceded the Gators' back-to-back NCAA championships, has been surprised to discover so many San Antonians will be rooting for Florida in the BCS Championship football game.

“One thing I learned at Florida, playing in the SEC (Southeastern Conference), is that SEC schools root for other SEC schools,” Bonner said. “There's a lot of conference unity. But I guess when it comes to Texas and Oklahoma, Texans really don't like Oklahoma.”

Aside from the BCS le game, Bonner hasn't found many Florida fans in San Antonio.

“There's not a lot of (general) support in San Antonio for the Gators,” he said. “I know we have a San Antonio Gator Club. I think it's pretty big, but outside of that small, select segment of the San Antonio population, people are usually giving me a hard time.”

[m33p0]

The temperature dropped below zero the night the Spurs beat the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

probably caused by the Nuggets' field goal shooting percentage.

[angelbelow]

hope it helps udoka play better. not sure if vaughn can get any better at this point but leading by example and putting in extra time is always good.

[SequSpur]

whatever...

[PuttPutt]

good for them. it will help keep them sharp.....

[mrspurs]

Not sure about the flu, but there has been a stomach virus going around thats a killer. Anyone seem to find that virus around them? Its a heck of a virus. Nothing stays in. And just about everyone I know is getting it.

[hater]

udoka could be a nice weapon off the bench if he gets his straight. I know he can drain an open jumper. But he ALWAYS gets stuffed when doin a simple layup. he needs to practice layups on Duncan or some . He needs to at least get a couple of foul calls a game to be helpful. we need someone to get a foul or 2 in our team.

Vaughn is Vaughn he will neither get better or worse no matter how much practice he gets

[Ocotillo]

Can't Vaughn abruptly retire and become an assistant coach? Holt could have a handshake deal that would continue to pay out the rest of his contract.

[Baseline]

Extra shooting for Vaughn?

All I can say is...I feel sorry for those rims.