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I don't think I've ever seen or heard of Tony taking a technical before.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...r.359093d.html
Spurs shrug off blowout with starting five in tune
Web Posted: 10/20/2006 12:07 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Oh, the joys of preseason basketball. With a little less than two weeks before the start of the season, the Spurs know this much about themselves: If they intend to win another championship, they'll probably need Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
With the Spurs' starters playing only the first quarter, Chicago rolled to a 99-67 victory Thursday night at the AT&T Center. The only people fleeced worse were those among the 16,224 fans in attendance who paid to watch.
Coach Gregg Popovich gave the team's new additions and the players trying to make the roster most of the minutes in the second half. They helped generate 67 points, the second-fewest the Spurs have ever scored in a preseason game.
Aside from struggling to contain Chicago guard Ben Gordon, who scored 11 of his 19 points in the first quarter, the Spurs' starters looked like they have for much of the preseason. In 12 minutes of work, Tim Duncan scored 11 points (making 5 of 6 shots), grabbed four rebounds and rejected Bulls rookie Tyrus Thomas at the rim.
"The first five is fine," Popovich said. "They know what we want to do, and they're getting in shape.
"The first seven or eight guys know exactly what's going on, but we want to find out about eight, nine, 10 and 11 and how that's going to work for us over an 82-game schedule."
Melvin Sanders didn't play because Popovich wanted to take a longer look at the other five players with non-guaranteed contracts. He made his first three cuts after the game, waiving center Jared Reiner and swingmen Rich Melzer and Olu Famutimi.
The Spurs now have 17 players on their roster. They have to cut at least two more before the start of the season.
"We got a good look at some of the guys we might want to keep, or not keep," Popovich said, "so hopefully we got a little bit smarter."
Fabricio Oberto started at center for the fourth consecutive game and had five points, one rebound and a nifty pass to Parker for a reverse layup in eight minutes. Francisco Elson had nine rebounds in 24 minutes, which were nine rebounds more than he had in Saturday's game against Orlando.
While recognizing that Elson is still learning the system, Popovich likes the potential of the team's new 7-foot center.
"He's shown me some things I didn't think he had," Popovich said. "I think he can play one-on-one basketball. I think I can isolate him in certain situations with the right people. I'm not sure if he even believes that yet.
"He's got some really quick feet. He's got a great first step. I think a big, big dose of confidence and understanding the role might make him a much better player than people have seen in the past."
Elson, who had four turnovers Thursday, has yet to show much of his offensive skills. He hopes to use the final three exhibition games to get more acclimated to his new teammates.
"Pop has given me a lot of freedom to do some stuff," Elson said. "But right now I'm just trying to get comfortable playing and doing what I've got to do to make myself feel comfortable on the team.
"I can do that stuff in practice, but I have to carry it over into the game."
Injury update: Beno Udrih (sore right hamstring) and Eric Williams (bruised right Achilles' tendon) didn't play.
Popovich said Williams hopes to play Saturday against Miami. He said Udrih, who has been out the entire preseason, could be cleared for contact early next week.
"He has to pass a fitness test first before he can play," Popovich said.
Notebook: Parker's free-throw shooting has improved enough that he took a technical foul shot in the first quarter even though Ginobili was on the floor. Parker made the free throw, making him 15 for 15 in the preseason. ... The only time the Spurs scored fewer points in a preseason game was when they lost 83-64 to Houston on Oct. 25, 2003.
I don't think I've ever seen or heard of Tony taking a technical before.
"He's got some really quick feet. He's got a great first step. I think a big, big dose of confidence and understanding the role might make him a much better player than people have seen in the past."
Parker's goal is to be a 80% FT shooter this year. If he reaches his goal, he will be the best FT shooter in the starting lineup. Maybe he will become Spurs technical FT shooter when Finley isn't on the floor.
Melzer being in the first wave of cuts is pretty surprising. As I said after summer league, I didn't think he was an NBA athlete. That said, I was hoping that the Spurs had found their Long Three. Guess not.
Out of Melvin Sanders, Jamar Smith and Charles Lee, I'm really hoping for Lee now. He looks like a guy who can play both guard spots and plays with a good pace. He's never going to be a great player but with the lack of point guards on this team and two-guards around the league getting smaller, he'd be a nice addition.
Smith would be decent but I just don't think he has the offensive game to last in the league. Unless he's tearing up practice, I just don't understand how he's lasted this far. He could be the Long Three defensively and he can rebound pretty well, but this guy makes Linton Johnson III look like LeBron James offensively.
As far as Sanders goes, he's just isn't an NBA player. He's been around the Spurs' system for a while now and I just don't see it. At best he could be a Bruce Bowen type player minus like five inches.
Are you freakin' serious Pop? Isolate him? Have you watched him play anytime over the last five years?"He's shown me some things I didn't think he had," Popovich said. "I think he can play one-on-one basketball. I think I can isolate him in certain situations with the right people.
I don't think his mom believes it.I'm not sure if he even believes that yet.
He's pretty quick but I don't think the world has witnessed him taking a first step toward anything."He's got some really quick feet. He's got a great first step.
You might want to add in a few more "bigs" in there. Big doses of confidence, talent and basketball skills may do the trick.I think a big, big dose of confidence and understanding the role might make him a much better player than people have seen in the past."
I really hope you are right Pop but I have a feeling that in two years if I bump this thread, thate will go down as the funniest quote in Spurs history.
1. Duncan
2. Parker
3. Ginobili
4. Bowen
5. Oberto
6. Finley
7. Horry
8. Barry
9. Elson
10. Udrih
11. Bonner
12. Butler
13. E. Williams
14. Vaughn
The trade winds, they may be a stirrin' up, again.
Most of Parker's problem at the line in the past has been lack of concentration. He just doesn't stay focused at the line during the regular season. He shoots them like he doesn't really care.
That's why when it comes to the playoffs and late in games, he's usually much better. If he concentrates at the line this year, there's no reason he should shoot 82-85%.
Even if I think that Elson will be a solid role player, I'm quite surprised with what Pop said. Maybe he thinks that he can be quite good against slow centers like Rasho or maybe Pop has drunk too much wine.
If Pop plans on teachng-up Elson on his isolation idea, Elson will need to improve his jumper.
Ran through my mind.
Perhaps he was saying it sarcastically. Kinda like the time he said "other than Shaq, I don't know any other center I'd rather have than Rasho." Two weeks later, Spurs trade for Nazr
I just hope our whole team works on free throws because they need it including Manu because he sucked last year.
That was just uncalled for, Solid D.
I guess that Spurs main offense now will be 5-down.
I changed your quote, Solid D.
Manu dropped from 80% to 78% in the regular season but he shot 84% in the playoffs last season. Not really too bad. 52-60 (.866) versus Dallas in the playoffs, including 12-13 in Game 6 and 9-9 in Game 7.
Same ole same ole, the good teams couldn't care less about their preseason records and try to work who they want to keep on their bench for the season, while teams that aren't as good try to win as many as possible to up their confidence...
The thing I noticed about Smith last season in Austin is that he took direction well and filled whatever role Dennis Johnson assigned him. That might have carried over to the Spurs.Smith would be decent but I just don't think he has the offensive game to last in the league. Unless he's tearing up practice, I just don't understand how he's lasted this far. He could be the Long Three defensively and he can rebound pretty well, but this guy makes Linton Johnson III look like LeBron James offensively.
I don't know why anyone would think there is a death of point guards on this team. I count four if everyone is healthy. If I'm thinking a Udonis Haslem type is the kind of player that will help against Dirk, Jamar is as close as we have right now.
And don't look now, but LJ3 is averaging 12 and 7 in the preseason.
The thing I noticed about Smith last season is that there wasn't one Toros fan who was like hey, we have a guy over here who can help the Spurs.
Uh yeah but let's see ... there is one good point guard, a point guard who is probably injuring himself as a type this, a point guard who is at most a third string point guard and a shooting guard who used to play point guard four years ago. Perhaps I should have said quality point guards.
Good thing we figured this out after losing to the Mavs
Yeah, no kidding. I was saying earlier how Thorn stole the Spurs' Long Three.
It was me, although I was talking about Derrick Zimmerman.The thing I noticed about Smith last season is that there wasn't one Toros fan who was like hey, we have a guy over here who can help the Spurs.Yeah, you should have. This team simply won't carry that many point guards. If you want to keep Lee, pray for a trade.Uh yeah but let's see ... there is one good point guard, a point guard who is probably injuring himself as a type this, a point guard who is at most a third string point guard and a shooting guard who used to play point guard four years ago. Perhaps I should have said quality point guards.But the answer then was Rasho and Nazr, wasn't it?Good thing we figured this out after losing to the MavsI have much more faith in Jamar's offensive potential than I ever did Linton's. If that means Smith is a Cliff Robinson replacement, so be it.Yeah, no kidding. I was saying earlier how Thorn stole the Spurs' Long Three.
Jamar Smith must have really been tearing it up then . . .
Oh and you wanted Zimmerman even though the Spurs had four point guards on the roster.
Why not? The 15th spot on the roster won't play much anyways. Why not have an emergency point guard rather than a guy like Smith who would be lucky to play a dozen minutes in the season?
I don't think I could be confused for a fan of that duo.
Smith can run and jump. That's about as advanced as he is right now.
And if he's the second-coming of Cliff Robinson, how come he wasn't mentioned once on the forum before the Spurs added him to the summer league roster despite playing just up the road?
He didn't play alot until Fizer got called up.Jamar Smith must have really been tearing it up then . . .I gave up on Beno early. I was hoping for a trade.Oh and you wanted Zimmerman even though the Spurs had four point guards on the roster.So Lee would play more? The stated need of this team is a long small forward. Between Lee and Smith, who come closer to fitting that role?Why not? The 15th spot on the roster won't play much anyways. Why not have an emergency point guard rather than a guy like Smith who would be lucky to play a dozen minutes in the season?Somehow that was enough for the Spurs to keep him over Melzer.Smith can run and jump. That's about as advanced as he is right now.I said I thought he needed at least one more year in the D-League, but he could might be the kind of guy who could benefit from a season learning the system here on the IR. If you pimped Lee before summer league, props to you -- otherwise I simply think the point guard situation is a little better covered on this team than the long small forward situation. If you have a better solution for it going forward from here, I'm all ears.And if he's the second-coming of Cliff Robinson, how come he wasn't mentioned once on the forum before the Spurs added him to the summer league roster despite playing just up the road?
The article said Beno has to pass a fitness test before he can be cleared for contact in practice.
What all does that involve? What does he have to be able to do?
I am assuming that they are talking about just a physical test that they will give him to make sure that he is really healed and will be able to do things that he needs to do in a game (run, pivot, stop quick, etc.)
I thought for a second that they were talking about the league-mandated conditioning test that's part of the physical all players have to take at the beginning of each season. I wasn't sure that he had taken it yet because he's been banged up.
That makes sense. Thanks.
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