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All we kept noticing during the game was how well Jackie was playing. I hope that's a great sign of things to come.
Elson plays well with Spurs' starters
Web Posted: 10/22/2006 12:22 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs gave Francisco Elson his first start Saturday night — a nice gesture had they also not given him Shaquille O'Neal.
O'Neal had 24 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes, but Elson and the rest of the Spurs' big men survived long enough to help beat Miami 103-93 in a preseason game in front of 18,009 fans at the AT&T Center.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich started Elson in place of Fabricio Oberto hoping the combination of playing next to Tim Duncan and against O'Neal would allow him "to just try to play a role." Elson's numbers were modest (four points, four rebounds and four fouls in 16 minutes), but Popovich said he still liked what he saw from the team's new 7-foot center.
"I thought he did a great job," Popovich said. "He ran the floor and played pretty good position. Hopefully, it made him feel a little bit comfortable being out there with that group."
Popovich and Heat coach Pat Riley both played some semblance of their regular rotation for most of the first three quarters. In addition to starting Elson, Popovich also put Michael Finley with the first team and brought Manu Ginobili off the bench "just to experiment."
While Finley scored 15 points, Ginobili struggled with his shot for the second consecutive game and also picked up five fouls in his 22 minutes. Tony Parker scored a team-high 17 points and Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry combined for 27 more.
Because Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Bowen each played at least 23 minutes, Popovich is giving them tonight off. None of the four accompanied the team on its flight to Houston after the game.
"It was probably good to go out and win a basketball game, but more importantly we had a lot of guys do things the way we've practiced," Popovich said. "I thought we took a step in the right direction today as far as preparing for the regular season."
The Spurs didn't have too much trouble with the NBA's defending champions in the first half, opening a 21-point lead in the second quarter. Riley told his players before the game he wanted a good effort then criticized them after they failed to deliver.
"That team was a basket, a foul and a defensive stop from being in the Finals again," Riley said of the Spurs. "They will embarrass you if you let them."
Popovich hasn't said yet who will start next to Duncan for the Nov. 2 season opener against Dallas. But he was pleased Saturday with his committee of big men.
Oberto, who started the first four exhibitions, had four points, six rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes. Jackie Butler had his best performance of the preseason with 11 points, five rebounds and five fouls in 21 minutes. He ran the floor well enough to get a three-point play on a break and showed off his soft touch with a turn-and-face bank shot over O'Neal.
"I thought Jackie really did well tonight as far as understanding what we're trying to do as far as the effort and the second effort on the board," Popovich said. "Fab was solid. I was really happy with the way those two guys played."
Elson appreciated the chance to start — even if it came against O'Neal.
"Playing with those guys you're playing more freely because they open up a lot of things," Elson said. "When I first got here it was tough to relax because the plays are going so fast and you don't know exactly where you want to be at.
"Just give me some time and I'll be ready. I'll be rolling like they be rolling. For real."
Mourning explains: If the Spurs' free-agent search went a little differently, Miami's backup center could have been starting for them Saturday.
Before signing Elson and Butler to offer sheets, the Spurs tried to land Alonzo Mourning. They offered Mourning much of their $5 million midlevel exception in the form of a two-year contract and, for about 24 hours, thought they had a chance to sign him.
"I entertained it because in negotiations you want to hear everything," Mourning said. "You don't want to ignore it. I would have ended up here if it was up to my agent. But ultimately it came down to what was in my heart and how I felt about (Heat owner) Micky Arison, Pat Riley, the organization and the fans.
"That's what it came down to: My loyalty to them and how they supported me over the year, Pat giving me an opportunity to come back and be a part of this."
All we kept noticing during the game was how well Jackie was playing. I hope that's a great sign of things to come.
murder to TIMVP's ears."I thought he did a great job," Popovich said. "He ran the floor and played pretty good position. Hopefully, it made him feel a little bit comfortable being out there with that group."
Yeah because CIA Pop always tells the truth.
Dayum, Frankie talkin sheeit.Just give me some time and I'll be ready. I'll be rolling like they be rolling. For real."
So Beno isn't the 4th point guard right now?Yeah because CIA Pop always tells the truth.
Probably not. If Beno ever gets healthy, he'll be backing up Tony by the second week of the season.
Elson was okay today. Much better than against the Magic. He had one good dunk on the break. He's going to get in foul trouble if he plays a lot of minutes because he's so light that he can't really do much but foul. He's one of the lighter 7-footers in the league. I think he can turn into a decent bench player. I think Oberto will be the starter on opening night, but who knows.
I think that if Oberto was on the bench in regular season, then Manu would be on the bench too. They seem to stick together
Last edited by Kori Ellis; 10-22-2006 at 01:43 AM.
Sidenote: Where exactly was Mourning's loyalty to the Nets when they waited those two years for him to recover from his kidney transplant? Oh yea, there was none, because they were going through a transition period and weren't winning.
Now we know a little more about the Spurs first offseason attempts to address center. In less than a week we find out the both Ben Wallace and Mourning were approached by the Spurs.
Interesting.
"..I mean, I already stiffed Miami once before..."
Of course they were. Why do people act surprised? The Spurs contacted every free agent big man that a team would have interest in and even contacted some teams about trading for one. It's not like Elson was Plan B.
Franito Olbetler
19 ponits 15 rebounds
Rasho or Nazr would get lambasted for putting up those numbers as the starter.Elson's numbers were modest (four points, four rebounds and four fouls in 16 minutes)
Before signing Elson and Butler to offer sheets, the Spurs tried to land Alonzo Mourning. They offered Mourning much of their $5 million midlevel exception in the form of a two-year contract and, for about 24 hours, thought they had a chance to sign him.
damm but the spurs were cheap and did not offer anything to mourning
Shaqonzo Mourneal
30 points 16 rebounds in 15 less minutes
nazr also ending up in detroit
Pop is often full of .
Didn't he say that Rasho was the best defender on the team sometime last season?
Haven't seen any games to date. Does Butler look like he can do anything on defense?
I'm sure I remember hearing about the Spurs going after Big Ben and Zo this past summer. Nothing surprising.
Every body went after Wallace, even Olimpija Ljubljana went after big Ben this offseason.
Unfortunately he refused the generous offer of a hot dog and a coke after each game.
Also when KiDD wanted to come here he wanted morning. and the spurs basicly said no without medical review?.
But now the spurs wanted him.
It's really pretty simple. Spurs fans were expecting the Spurs to sign someone who can defend like Rasho and rebound like Nazr- instead they got someone who defends like Nazr and rebounds like Rasho.
Spurfans are stupid if they were expecting an All-Star for $3 million. You don't need to be Rasho's publicist to see that.
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