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No coaching?
It was easier to play than watch from the sidelines
SAN ANTONIO.- It's been a month since I announced I would stop playing. I've been retired for 30 days, although my last game was over 5 months ago, by far the longest I've been away from the orange ball since I was born. Never happened to me before. Just like I mentioned in my previous article, when I came back from vacations I grabbed the ball a couple of times, bounced it, smelled it, but it just wasn't the same. It might sound ungrateful to an object that gave me so much, but, so far, I don't miss it at all. I'll even double down, I'm more convinced now than a month ago that I made the right decision.
I didn't have enough time yet to get bored or miss things. The first week after retiring I kept a family routine taking care of my kids and school, and in the weeks after I also kept pretty busy with other things. Sincerely, the announcement was a bit of a chaos for a few days, then we made a quick honeymoon kind of trip with my wife. The kind we couldn't do for a long time. The week after some friends came to visit and immediately after, Pop and his assistants invited me to join them into what they call "coache's retreat", a 5 day trip where they get together for 7 or 8 hours a day, and debate how the season is going to be, how the team is going to train, discuss the players, system, etc. I had a great time and I learned a lot. Like I've been saying for a while now, I have no intentions in the immediate future to become a coach, but I do think you don't get an opportunity to learn so much and see basketball from a different angle every day, so I accepted the invitation with gusto and it was a great decision. I have big appreciation for the boss, and his assistants, all of which ave been friends for a long time.
A few days ago was Media Day, and it's the first one I missed since I've been in San Antonio. It was 16 times in a row that I participated in that activity, but there's no nostalgia about it. I have a great relationship with almost all the journalists that cover or covered the team all these years, and Media Day was never one of my favorite days of the season. A lot of similar questions, a lot of photos, announcements, and at that point all the players want to do is start training. Put on your shorts, start practicing with the new teammates and start removing the rust from so many months of inactivity.
And, in that context, it's good to point out that the season officially started yesterday. A lot of the players were in the city already the past few days (or weeks, in some cases) which allowed me to meet some of the new guys, since I went to the facility to do some weight lifting or just simply watch training. This week I'm going to be there training, and to help from the sidelines with the assistants. There's a lot of new guys that really want to adapt soon to the system, and with Tim (Duncan) we're here available trying to lend a hand in whatever we can. The idea is to help the players, Pop and the assistants so change is not so terrible and the team can speed up the transition.
There's been two days of Training Camp already and I feel that it was easier to play then watch from the sidelines. Being there 3 or 4 hours watching training without doing anything else definitely doesn't feel that great to me. It's just the the life of an athlete is either intensity or total rest. Now the activity is different. We kept looking at each other with Tim after 3 hours and we felt like starting to stretch or do something, because we were getting bored. The coaching career is definitely much more boring, and it's not a priority for me.
With only two days of work, there's not a lot of conclusions to draw. Everybody is moving and trying to fit it to the team's new configuration. The offense has to adapt to another focal player like DeMar DeRozan. We're going to be better offensively than last year. There's also some work started to try to diminish some potential defensive deficiencies, mostly because we lost some talented personnel in that aspect of the game. The team is adapting to the systems. Yet to be seen, for example, how Murray (Dejounte) works with DeRozan or DeRozan works with Aldrige (LaMarcus). We've seen some high intensity practice sessions and you can tell Forbes (Bryn), White (Derrick) and also Murray are doing really well. The veterans are picking up the slack slowly, but they know how to dose their energies at this time of the season.
After this week, I'll have more free time and slowly I'll start planning with Many our trip to Argentina. We're very excited to be able to spend our first family summer in the southern hemisphere after 20 years! We're looking forward to having a good time with our friends there. I'll finally have time without having to worry about training for a new season, a world championship or Olympics. Nico, Dante and Lucas are also happy. The youngest one, Luca, doesn't even remember Argentina and our house in Bahia Blanca, but the twins can't wait to travel and see their cousins and friends.
https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2175922-...costado-cancha
No coaching?
Hmmm “you can tell Forbes White and Murray are doing well”.... I am glad to read this but hmm... Makes me think of others not mentioned like Davis (not doing well?) and Forbes probably being in the rotation as a real possibility. Glad to see White is doing well tho, since not much has been leaked about him.
Edit: I’ve seen in many interviews already Manu expressing no interest in coaching. This just adds to that collection.
Last edited by SAGirl; 09-27-2018 at 08:05 AM.
Thanks for the translation
The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues
That's terrific news because Mills has been killing me.Thanks for the translation
The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues
I have a great relationship with almost all the journalists that cover or covered the team all these years, and Media Day was never one of my favorite days of the season. A lot of similar questions,
In other words, he can't stand Jabari.
Positive development, if true. He's still a defensive liability though, which makes him hard to play, unless he's gained on that end as well.Thanks for the translation
The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues
He simply got lost too much last year. I'm hopeful though.
And, besides that - Davis has been doing well in pro basketball for years as opposed to the three young guards.
Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.
I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).
Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.
that's relative.
Dex might have to change his avatar after all.Thanks for the translation
The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues
In all seriousness tho, the question is whether he can do that in games but it looks like he will get opportunities.
Prepare yourself for the token Mills minutes mate.
Dex might have to change his avatar after all.
In all seriousness tho, the question is whether he can do that in games but it looks like he will get opportunities.
I know!
Forbes "killing it" won't affect Mills' minutes one bit. White would be the one relegated instead.
There you go Mugen. Your starting SGThanks for the translation
The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues
Forbes actually making a mini-leap could make Mills expendable, allowing the Spurs to use his salary in a trade. While the years left on his salary are a bit worrying, his actual salary isn't bad for his production. Adding in Toronto's pick (or the Spurs' own) could allow the Spurs to get back a very useful player.
The guard rotation is in the equilibrium. Remove Derozan from the guards. He has to play SF. If its the Pippen point forward role, so be it, but he is starting at the 3 and playing the 3.
Murray, Mills, White, Walker are your points.
Mills, Beli, Forbes, White, Walker are your off guards.
Essentially Beli and Forbes would strictly play the 2. Both don't have the penetration of a point of the defense abilities to defend the 1's.
I hope that means shooting lights-out from 3 and perhaps being a net neutral on defense.The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues
I expect he looks like Steph Curry in practices.
Pop has joked around with it, and Chip raved about Forbes shot in the past, saying he's the shooter with the best pure form he's coached. Anyways, I think Pop is hoping Forbes develops into a special kind of shooter. The kind that is so dangerous you have to stick to them and not lose an inch. Some hoped he'd turn into a JJRe type player. I think Pop and Co still have hopes he develops. It remains to be seen if practice highlights translate, but I bet Pop will try.
Forbes has worked out a ton this summer and looks bigger. He's been showing off his dunks on social media, too. I think we will be seeing a much more athletic player than last year. This will only help his game.
Mills will get traded....
Yeah, I'd be careful about prioritizing only form. Jeff Van Gundy said at least once that Steve Novak was the best shooter on the planet, but that only got him a bit role in the NBA: he was overmatched in basically ever other aspect of the game.
I know it will never happen, but can Mills get traded already?
And can White/Lonnie turn Belinelli into 2003 Steve Smith?
Doubtful. They just lost 2 big time locker room voices/presences, I don't see them moving the longest tenured guy, and someone the team really respects.
He should have a bounce back year, he won't be relied upon in the same manner he was last year, a lot of times he was still learning being a ball handler/play maker more.
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