Spurs Notebook: Popovich gives Spurs day off to rest after win
By Mike Monroe
That the Spurs took Friday off after getting a dramatic victory over the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day hardly was a surprise, but it had nothing to do with coach Gregg Popovich's being in a holiday mood.
The NBA's schedule makers loaded up the Spurs with seven games in an 11-day stretch that ends with tonight's game.
Rest, not celebration, was behind Friday's hiatus from the gym.
“The schedule for us has been loaded,” Popovich said. “Six in nine days, three in five nights; we've got one in January that's like five in six nights, the way it works out; five in 61/2 nights, because the next game is a noon game.
“So the guys are definitely a little bit tired, but that doesn't matter. Nobody cares. At the end of the season you don't get handicap points for how much you were tired, or what your schedule was like. We don't talk about it with the team. Everybody has periods in their schedule where they think they're getting screwed. You've just got to let that go.”
And, if you're a veteran team like the Spurs, you let off days pass without practicing.
After their game at 7:30 tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Spurs won't play again until a Tuesday night game against the Bucks at the AT&T Center, the first time in almost two weeks they have had at least two consecutive days without a game.
Hairston assigned: Swing man Malik Hairston got to spend Christmas in Phoenix with the Spurs, who signed him to a free-agent contract Dec. 22, but Friday he was assigned to the team's NBA D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros.
Before being signed by the Spurs, Hairston had played in 11 games with the Toros, averaging 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
By signing Hairston, whose rights the Spurs acquired in a draft night swap of second-round picks with the Suns, they don't have to worry about another NBA team offering him a free-agent contract.
Wed 14 vs LA Lakers 8:00pm“The schedule for us has been loaded,” Popovich said. “Six in nine days, three in five nights; we've got one in January that's like five in six nights, the way it works out; five in 61/2 nights, because the next game is a noon game.
Fri 16 @ Philadelphia 6:00pm
Sat 17 @ Chicago 7:30pm
Mon 19 @ Charlotte 1:00pm
Tue 20 vs Indiana 7:30pm
Too many games, B2B's are an abomination for players and fans, not enough talent for 30 teams, NBA needs a major re-do. It's a money-grubbing meat-grinder delivering mostly crappy sausage.
Last edited by boutons_; 12-27-2008 at 09:23 AM.
i think that there is enough talent in the NBA for 30 teams but 82 games in the RS is just insane.
"there is enough talent"
Most teams don't have 2 players who could ever hope to make the All-Star Game, never mind the 3 it takes to be in the top 4 of either conference.
And that's not even talking about coaches and GMs it takes to build an organization and get the talent to compete.
You bring up a valid point. The talent level is "watered down", across the board. Franchises like the Grizzlies, Raptors, Wolves & Bobcats further illustrate that point. These teams haven't been compe ive nor will they be anytime soon. While the primary factors at work for these franchises have more to do with bad personnel decisions, unstable management and ownership, the weak and underdeveloped talent levels are also a contributing factor.
don't understand your arguments. you have 24 players selected for the ASG. whatever the level of the NBA, it will still be difficult to have two all star in each team (2*30 = 60) .and to say that few teams have 3 all stars is about the same false arguments: it doesn't mean the others team aren't deserving to compete in the NBA.
the ASG is only for the 24 best players, who are always very very talented players, and don't say anything about the level of the others.
i think you should look at the french league to really know what a league with no enough talent really is
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