during the great game in boston, you left with a bump
I must have made a strange move that started to hurt a lot. A pain that got worse. When I lay down it hurt and when I got up in the morning too. Now for example at the game time it doesnt hurt so much. But no, Im not ready to play. So I rest tonight but I think I'll be ready for wednesday
Just when you were looking full strength
Yes, I feel good in every way. Real good. This that just happened occurs in a 82 game season and nothing comes of it, its normal.
You are in perfect form, the best all year. When did you get your rhythm and why?
No particular reason. I had 3-4 good games in a row. Then I started playing much better. Then parker got hurt and i started making more decisions and handling the ball more. One thing led to another and here we are.
I know you dont like excuses but this team has suffered.
It happens to everywhere. look at Portland. Next to them we are super healthy. Its a rough level of play everywhere and injuries are part of this game. The secret is to continue winning when players go down.
Pacing yourself, ¿not your style?
I want to play but it depends on the needs of the team. When parker is back i wont have to make as many decisions and handle the ball as much and so I can take more care. On top of that, there are 10 games left for the PO and we havent clinched. Its impossible to pace yourself when we need every win badly.
It looks like you are SPAMming (remember, not literal translation!)
We always aspire to. we usually grow the last 30 games. this year its been the last 20. too close for my taste but better late than never. If we are a compact team when tony gets back I believe we can surprise people.
You've been here a lot of years and this has been the worst. and concerns for the PO
On the contrary, these PO will have less risk than others. the games are farther apart, no b2b which are so rough, and you have more time to prepare the game, study your rival, and I think we have a large tactical advantage over most teams. I just want to see the best of the spurs in the PO.
Finley leaving, was that weird for the players
It was weird because we lost a great companion. he's been with us 4.5 years. and in the middle of the season it hurts more. I appreciate him a lot. but we're all players and we know when you are not taken into account and arent active in the team this can happen. He's 37 and he wants to play. We understood perfectly. He's still a friend and I've talked to him several times since. no hard feelings at all. unfortunately its part of the game
Whats with duncan?
Tim isnt in a great moment these last weeks but his season has been good. And pop has been managing him a lot for the PO. There we need him healthy. We have a blind faith in him. Everyone has a bad moment. Or not even, an unbrilliant moment which we've come to expect from him. i have no doubt he will be the difference maker when we need him to.
your contract ends. do you want to stay
Look, here i've always felt good and continue to. but when you are FA you need to listen to every offer, put them on the table and decide. obviously i like it here, but i dont know what july will bring. so when the time comes ill sit with my wife and see what to do or who wants me more.
You dont discard europe?
No. never. I'd rather stay here but if i dont like anything or the offers are not what i expect, I wouldnt hesitate to go to Madrid or Barcelona… a good team, where its worth it. I doubt this is the year but we'll see.
what about the WC
Not so sure because it depends on this other stuff. you know in the last few years with whats happened physically, its just not the same anymore. and now that Im in rhythm I want to stay healthy for a while. I got my kids coming too. I dont know, its a lot of things. Nor do I hide that the desire to play another WC is there. Because I really enjoy playing with Scola, Oberto, Nocioni, Prigioni, Delfino and the guys and really it would sadden me to not play.
because argentina is still alive?
Yes. I think we still have the material to be at the top. Obviously quality and quan y wise the US and Spain are a step ahead. But in the WC you only have to win one game. not best of 7. one game. So if you are on, you can take a WC. anything is possible