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If only Hairston can see the floor since they think so highly of him..
Spurs miss Udoka reunion
Jeff McDonald -
PORTLAND, Ore. — There was a time when Friday night was set to be a day of reunion between the Spurs and one former teammate.
After learning that he had fallen from the Spurs' plans this summer after two seasons with the team, swingman Ime Udoka signed a make-good training camp deal with his hometown Trail Blazers in September. He wasn't in the Rose Garden for Friday's game, however.
Waived by the Blazers at the end of camp, Udoka signed with Sacramento earlier this week. The deal is for the veteran minimum and won't be guaranteed unless he is still on the Kings' roster Jan. 10.
In Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's view, Udoka, a five-year NBA veteran, is a poster boy for the NBA's ongoing economic crisis.
Most teams are in cost-cutting mode, with nearly half declining to keep a maximum 15-player roster this season.
With less money and less roster spots to go around, steady professionals like Udoka are having trouble finding work.
“That's definitely an example of teams' shrinking rosters and that kind of thing,” Popovich said. “I'm sure he's not the only one.
“He was a quality player and individual for us. He worked hard and was a pro.”
When Portland waived him in October, Udoka told The (Portland) Oregonian he thought the days of scrounging for an NBA job were over.
“I've been through a lot in my career,” he told the newspaper. “After all I've been through, I thought these times were behind me.”
Hairston homecoming: One Spurs player did get to enjoy a homecoming of sorts on Friday. Second-year swingman Malik Hairston played his college ball about 90 miles away, at Oregon State in Corvallis.
For the fifth time this season, Hairston was inactive. The fact that he was in the building at all, however, spoke volumes about what the Spurs think of him.
They hadn't planned on keeping a full roster out of camp until Hairston impressed them.
“He really competed at the defensive end of the floor, and made us believe down the road we have a pretty good player on our hands,” Popovich said. “We weren't going to carry 15, but he made us do it.”
P.J. returns: Former Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo filled in for Sean Elliott on the local KENS broadcast of the game, handling commentary duties alongside Andrew Monaco. Carlesimo enjoyed a warm pregame reception from Popovich and point guard Tony Parker.
For the record, his young daughter came to the game wearing a Parker jersey, and not a Kevin Durant Oklahoma City jersey.
If only Hairston can see the floor since they think so highly of him..
Parker will be in a suit for the next game I'm sure; Finley should join him and Hairston/Mahinmi should get some playing time. It won't happen, but it should.
No longer am I for Hairston replacing Bogans. I'd rather see Finley being replaced now.
I'd just like to see how Bogans and Hairston can shoot the 3..if they can do it at a decent enough rate, I'd prefer them both to Finley and Mason(with Mase playing a Kerr role)..won't happen, but we can hope..
Down the road, huh...“He really competed at the defensive end of the floor, and made us believe down the road we have a pretty good player on our hands,” Popovich said. “We weren't going to carry 15, but he made us do it.”
So someone who was already showing the capability of being in your top 8-10 players and brings a game and skill set that fills a need is going to help you down the road..
Is there a reason he can't help you in a lesser role now and grow into a greater role later?
This Portland game was the first time I can recall since Finley has been on the team that the Spurs went small ball and Finley wasn't a part of the rotation. What I'm saying is, it's possible Pop is open to more experimentation then we think. Not as much as we would like, but I think he realizes he needs to find a combination of players that works.
I like both you guys ideas. Bogans played pretty darn good on defense last night and Hairston outplayed him in the preseason so I'd like to give Hairston a shot out there. I think they should both play.
Last edited by Ice009; 11-07-2009 at 05:08 AM.
Agree, Finley and Mason kill our D
In all fairness, Mason isn't nearly as big a liability as Finley is. Mason is actually moving quickly enough to make me believe he can be decent if he starts to get his confidence on the defensive end.
Fin is a total joke defensively.
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