Spurs Notebook: Boeheim lends hand in practice
Web Posted: 10/10/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...k.8ab4fbb.html
Express-News Staff Writer
MIAMI — Don Nelson wasn't the only coach to visit the Spurs at their St. Thomas training camp in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim directed much of the Spurs' practice Sunday afternoon to teach the team some of the principals of his 2-3 zone defense.
Boeheim, a good friend of Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, has long been known for employing one of college basketball's best zones.
"It's always great to get somebody else in who's been so successful with it," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's good enough to come down here as his season is about to begin, and we're really thankful he did that."
The Spurs sometimes use a zone after timeouts and at the start of quarters when the opposing team is more apt to run a set play. They also used it successfully in the 2003 NBA Finals to lure the New Jersey Nets into settling for jump shots.
"It was good to have our guys be so attentive," Popovich said. "There are some things we gained from it that will help us without a doubt. It will make us a little more varied in our defense."
Caribbean return? The Spurs left the islands Sunday after finishing training camp. The locals hope they'll return.
U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Charles Turnbull said the Spurs' decision to train in St. Thomas, along with Tim Duncan's fame, has generated "millions" of dollars in free publicity for the territory.
"I can't see it being an every-year kind of thing," Popovich said. "But I wouldn't doubt we would come back again at some point."
The Spurs likely won't be back next year. The team hopes to finalize a deal to hold next season's training camp in Moscow.
The NBA plans to have four teams train in different parts of Europe next fall and play in a tournament.
The Spurs didn't plan to have camp in St. Thomas until they received an invitation in the mail this summer from Peter Sauer, athletic director for the University of the Virgin Islands. Sauer also has talked with the Charlotte Bobcats about holding training camp on the island.
The team enjoyed its weeklong stay, despite some logistical difficulty: The hotel was on the opposite side of the island from the gym, requiring a police escort to get the team to and from practice.
"It was a nice experiment and a good reward for last season," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "It was a great chance to get away. Peter and everyone here were great hosts."
Fish out of water: Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Rasho Nesterovic, Sean Marks, Beno Udrih and Kyle Bailey spent part of Saturday scuba diving or snorkeling. Other players used their day off to play golf.
The Spurs held a team dinner Saturday night in St. John.
What the ? Still... Moscow would be interesting!The Spurs likely won't be back next year. The team hopes to finalize a deal to hold next season's training camp in Moscow.
So, then, there's not a no-scuba-diving clause in their contracts?Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Rasho Nesterovic, Sean Marks, Beno Udrih and Kyle Bailey spent part of Saturday scuba diving or snorkeling.
Fish out of water: Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Rasho Nesterovic, Sean Marks, Beno Udrih and Kyle Bailey spent part of Saturday scuba diving or snorkeling. Other players used their day off to play golf.
The Spurs held a team dinner Saturday night in St. John.
How fun for them! = )
Here is a question for our resident scuba divers. Are you supposed to be able to fly a day after scuba diving? I seem to recall there is some kind of rule regarding being able to fly so quickly after a dive.
It depends on the depth and the time spent under water. A good rule of thumb is not to fly at least 12 hours after your last dive.
As long as they stay well within the tables (no deep repe ive dives) they would be fine.
As fun as the scuba stuff is, I'm fascinated by having Boeheim teach zone principles to the Spurs. The Spurs have often struggled defensively when they've played zone (the 2003 Finals are a notable exception) and Boeheim's teams play about the best 2-3 zone in basketball.
If it took, that teaching could be very, very helpful at times this season.
Once again, PJ Carlesimo draws upon his deep connection with college basketball. I am convinced that many of the changes and adjustments the Spurs have made the last 3 years, have come with PJ's influence. Pop credited PJ with the zone idea in the NJ series in '03.
Going to a zone and challenging a team to hit from the outside is a great weapon to have in the arsenal. Teams with length and mobility have an extra advantage in a 2-3 matchup zone. It won't be a staple for the Spurs but it's a nice change of pace to create stops in momentum.
Last edited by Solid D; 10-10-2005 at 01:37 PM.
Good point. I still can't believe someone hasn't picked up PJ after all these years and success as an integral part of the Spurs program. It's great for us, but when you look at some of the losers trying to coach in this league, it just doesn't make sense.
Couldn't agree more.
PJ Carlesimo said on the radio pre-game that the Spurs had Rick Majerus in last year at Training Camp to talk with the team some about the Triangle and 2 scheme.
Somewhere Tpark is sharpening the razor blades.Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim directed much of the Spurs' practice Sunday afternoon to teach the team some of the principals of his 2-3 zone defense.
It's actually recommended you bump it out to 24 hours just to be safe. Though, if it was their first time diving (which is what it sounds like) my bet is they were fairly shallow (less than 30 ft.). I'm sure they probably went in the morning on Saturday. With a Sunday afternoon practice they're fine.Here is a question for our resident scuba divers. Are you supposed to be able to fly a day after scuba diving? I seem to recall there is some kind of rule regarding being able to fly so quickly after a dive.
???Somewhere Tpark is sharpening the razor blades
Why.
Cause Bo Heem coached for half a day?
Oh yeah....
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