Ludden: Spurs' reserves have had to adapt to different roles

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs' reserves have had to adapt to different roles because of injuries to key players
Web Posted: 04/16/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...1e00ab2a2.html


Sometime tonight, either late in the first quarter or midway through the second, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will likely look down his bench and summon Glenn Robinson.

Robinson will shed his warm-ups, walk to the scorer's table and check into his seventh consecutive game as a reserve.

In his previous nine seasons combined, Robinson came off the bench in only seven of the 679 games he played. Except for the occasional limited-minutes assignment following an injury, he had been a full-time starter since five games into his rookie season in Milwaukee.

This season, Robinson isn't alone among the Spurs in making the switch to reserve status. Brent Barry and Nazr Mohammed also have had to learn to adjust to a change in duties.

"It's tough for any starter to make that transition," Robinson said. "Not because they don't want to come off the bench, but because you're used to a routine. I'm a supers ious type of person. If I play well, I'll eat the same thing for 82 games."

Few among the Spurs' reserves have been able to settle into a routine. Injuries to Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Devin Brown and Rasho Nesterovic have prevented Popovich from forming a consistent rotation. In the past week, Mohammed went from receiving only garbage-time minutes to starting to backing up Duncan.

"The one thing I like about the situation here is the role kind of never changes," Mohammed said. "You may play more, you may play less, but you have to play the system.

"That makes it a lot easier knowing all you have to do out there is rebound and defend."

Mohammed became New York's starting center after Atlanta traded him midway through last season. After the Spurs acquired him, he went to the bench. He showed flashes of potential but struggled while trying to learn a new system.

When Nesterovic sprained his left ankle against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, it created an opportunity for Mohammed. He has averaged 10.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in the three games since, the first two of which he started.

"It's been a tale of two seasons for me," Mohammed said. "It definitely was a change for me. When you're starting, you get the chance to have a couple more mistakes and warm up. When you come off the bench, you have to be ready to go."

Mohammed was ready Wednesday in Utah. He came off the bench midway through the third quarter and grabbed eight rebounds over the next 16-plus minutes. He rebounded a free throw with 7.5 seconds left and dunked to tie the game.

Of Mohammed's 39 rebounds in the three games, 22 have come on offense, only five of which have been the result of his own missed shots.

Said Popovich: "Maybe throwing him into the fire helped."

Barry, who hasn't been a full-time reserve since his second season, also has benefited from an increase in minutes the past three weeks. In the 12 games since Brown went on the injured list, he has averaged 12.3 points while making 42.3 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Only one of those games came with Duncan on the floor to create open shots.

"Players are better players when they're with Tim Duncan because he makes the game easier for them," Popovich said. "But what (Duncan's absence did) is maybe help build the confidence of some players and put them in situations they haven't been in before. So after Tim comes back maybe they'll feel more comfortable."

Mohammed, Barry and Robinson could all see their minutes change in the playoffs depending on the health of Brown and Nesterovic.

Brown, who hasn't played since March 21 because of a herniated disk in his lower back, continues to improve, but he won't be cleared for contact until he regains more strength in his right leg. The disk injury aggravated a nerve, which weakened his leg.

Nesterovic's sprained left ankle isn't as serious as the first time he sprained it on Jan. 21, but he still is moving gingerly.

In the meantime, Robinson will try to take advantage of the opportunity to play. Though he's shot only 33.3 percent, he's averaged 7.5 points in 15.2 minutes with the Spurs. He also has picked up the team's system more quickly than expected.

"If I don't know something," he said, "I just stay out of the guys' way."

In addition to improving his conditioning, Robinson's goal for the next three games is the same as that of most reserves: Consistently provide energy.

"I'm older now; I'm smarter," he said. "I know my role."

Duncan OK: Duncan participated in most of Friday's practice. He hasn't had any unexpected trouble with his right ankle after playing Wednesday for the first time in more than three weeks.

[Mark in Austin]

Of Mohammed's 39 rebounds in the three games, 22 have come on offense, only five of which have been the result of his own missed shots.

Damn! I knew he was rebounding well, but I didn't realize it was this well.

"It's tough for any starter to make that transition," Robinson said. "Not because they don't want to come off the bench, but because you're used to a routine. I'm a supers ious type of person. If I play well, I'll eat the same thing for 82 games."

He also has picked up the team's system more quickly than expected.

"If I don't know something," he said, "I just stay out of the guys' way."

In addition to improving his conditioning, Robinson's goal for the next three games is the same as that of most reserves: Consistently provide energy.

"I'm older now; I'm smarter," he said. "I know my role."

I like what I'm hearing from Robinson. I'll admit, I had my doubts about him, thinking it was Ron Mercer all over again. But so far, so good. What an incredible find if this works out.

[ChumpDumper]

Damn! I knew he was rebounding well, but I didn't realize it was this well.

As a Spur, Nazr is rebounding at a rate of 16.82 per 48 minutes, which would put him slightly ahead of Tim Duncan if he were to keep that up for a year. He's also blocking at a rate of 3.19 per 48, which would put him just ahead of Rasho. There's no telling if he could maintain these rates, but the thought of having four guys in the top 30 for blocks/48 is pretty exciting.

[ducks]

which makes no sence why nazr said he was not a shotblocker

[ChumpDumper]

The Spurs' defensive system has helped boost his block numbers, for sure.

[Karl Mundt]

There's no telling if he could maintain these rates, but the thought of having four guys in the top 30 for blocks/48 is pretty exciting.

Am i missing something here? Who is the fourth guy?

[ChumpDumper]

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

And people trashed me for saying Nazr would contribute this year...

[timvp]

And people trashed me for saying Nazr would contribute this year...

You said he was going to average 10 and 10. That's a lot more than "contribute".

[T Park]

Not me...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It's funny LJ, he's getting the playing time now and is producing north of 10 and 10.

If he would have been getting the PT all along, he'd have it easy.

[T Park]

No question.


I said all along, a guy cant play well, or do well, when only given 8 10 minutes a game.


Massenburg getting more minutes for a while was a joke.

[Kori Ellis]

It's funny LJ, he's getting the playing time now and is producing north of 10 and 10.

If he would have been getting the PT all along, he'd have it easy.

Not for certain.

Sure without Duncan and Rasho on the floor, he's putting up those numbers. It's yet to be seen what he can do with a healthy Rasho and Tim.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Kori,

I still say playing next Tim, Nazr's numbers will actually go UP. You can't bag on him from when he first got here and was only getting 8-12 minutes a game.

Give him 20 minutes a night, he's getting you a double double.

[Rummpd]

I have been saying he would be great since the trade, again one does not go from 12 and 8 to nothing - as soon as he learns system, watch out.