Houston's Yao provides test for Spurs' big men
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...r.3572dac.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
HOUSTON — As the Spurs begin their final full week of preparation before the start of the season, coach Gregg Popovich remains undecided on how to fill the only hole in the team's starting lineup.
After discussing the situation with his staff Sunday morning, Popovich said he's still debating which approach will best suit the team.
"Should we just experiment?" Popovich said. "Or should we just pick a guy, somebody we feel might be best for the club in the long run, throw him into the fire like Tony Parker when he was 19, and help him grow?
"Or should we go the more steady route, and as the season goes on see if we want to change it?"
Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson, the two leading candidates for the role, both started Sunday night's 93-72 loss to Houston while Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen and Parker remained in San Antonio to rest. After facing Shaquille O'Neal on Saturday, the Spurs' big men were tested against another All-Star center in the Rockets' 7-foot-6 Yao Ming.
Yao totaled 24 points and 10 rebounds, but Oberto and Elson were both effective for short stretches. Elson, who had seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds in 21 minutes, helped draw three fouls on Yao in the first quarter. Oberto continued to show confidence in his midrange shot, scoring six points in 18 minutes.
Facing O'Neal and Yao on back-to-back nights gave the Spurs' centers a "reality check," Robert Horry said.
"Those two are the biggest guys in the league," Horry said. "If they can get their shots off against those two guys, when they play other centers it should be a little bit easier."
Jackie Butler couldn't duplicate his impressive performance from the previous night, finishing with no points, four rebounds, four fouls and four turnovers in 16 minutes. Yao threw down a vicious dunk on Butler's head and also spun by him for another basket.
Horry said he wouldn't be surprised to see Popovich change the fifth starter from game to game depending on matchups.
"Until one of those guys steps up and establishes themselves in that role, you'll probably see (Michael Finley) there, me there, Fabricio there, Francisco there," Horry said. "We're probably going to have more lineup changes this season than ever."
Van Gundy can only hope: After hearing the Spurs didn't bring their four regular starters, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy had one request.
"I just hope Pop does the same thing Nov. 14," Van Gundy said of the Spurs' first regular-season visit to Houston. "We'll be good then."
Van Gundy said he didn't have any problem with the Spurs resting their regulars.
"Every coach has to do it his own way in preseason," he said. Popovich "is doing what he thinks is best playing back-to-back.
"They play so well together they can just skip the preseason."
Popovich likes the Spurs' preseason schedule this season because it has afforded the team four stretches of at least four days without exhibition games. After their final preseason game Friday against Dallas, the Spurs will have another five days off before opening the season Nov. 2 against the Mavericks.
The Spurs have seven exhibition games this season, two fewer than last year. After six, Popovich said, it "starts to get real old."
"Coaches like practice," Popovich said. "We wish we had 30 days of practice. Jeff and I would probably come back and forth and scrimmage each other with our teams and say we're going to press today or we're going to zone today, we're going to double-team all the pick and rolls.
"And probably get a lot done. But that's not realistic in the world with the way everything works."
Udrih dresses for game: Beno Udrih was in uniform for the first time this preseason. He said he could have played, but the coaches want him to practice first.
Sidelined since the start of training camp because of a sore right hamstring, Udrih cleared the team's fitness test and is expected to participate in his first contact workout Tuesday.
Eric Williams played for the first time since the team's preseason opener. He made only one of six shots and had two points, three assists and two rebounds in 27 minutes.
Williams, who had been sidelined with a bruised right Achilles' tendon, also clearly needs to get in better shape.
"We played him to get him some minutes and see how he recovers from that," Popovich said. "We've got a good week in practice, so that will give him a much better idea of where he's at.
Sounds like he's talking about Butler.... Maybe he knows that he's the best choice, just doesn't know if he is ready"Or should we just pick a guy, somebody we feel might be best for the club in the long run, throw him into the fire like Tony Parker when he was 19, and help him grow?
"Should we just experiment?" Popovich said. "Or should we just pick a guy, somebody we feel might be best for the club in the long run, throw him into the fire like Tony Parker when he was 19, and help him grow?
"Or should we go the more steady route, and as the season goes on see if we want to change it?"
It will be interesting to see what happens. I don't thing Pop will do what he's hinting to do in the first quote -- play Butler -- that would be too risky. I also don't think he'll have a rotating center spot. I think he's going to pick someone and ride him til someone else improves. Who knows though. It's very interesting.Horry said he wouldn't be surprised to see Popovich change the fifth starter from game to game depending on matchups.
"Until one of those guys steps up and establishes themselves in that role, you'll probably see (Michael Finley) there, me there, Fabricio there, Francisco there," Horry said. "We're probably going to have more lineup changes this season than ever."
Come on Pop ... start Jackie Butler"Should we just experiment?" Popovich said. "Or should we just pick a guy, somebody we feel might be best for the club in the long run, throw him into the fire like Tony Parker when he was 19, and help him grow?
"Or should we go the more steady route, and as the season goes on see if we want to change it?"
He's the best option for now and the future. If you start him now, he'll be ready to produce in the playoffs. Sure you can go with Oberto or Elson and get a placeholder for the time being ... or you can start the best option.
It's on you now, Pop.
Can anyone tell me who #1 is?
Jersey number?
Jamar Smith.
Pop is so matchups oriented, I would be surprised to see him have only one, set guy in the post next to Timmy....that is, with the options he has to work with this year.
The Spurs seem to have better ball movement with Fabio in there. He's not a guy you can jump center with but jump balls only happen once or twice per game. Oberto may end up earning the most minutes if he continues to knock down the elbow jumper. The threat of that shot changes everything.
If Butler wants to get major minutes, he'll need to show better discipline on defense, tidy up his game a bit (moving screens and shuffling), rebound better and SCORE. I'd love to see how Jackie performs against Dallas and Phoenix. I think he can put some hurt on them but that remains to be seen.
Elson is the least productive with his minutes of the three Centers. That will need to change if Francisco is to become Pop's default choice alongside Duncan. Oberto is most likely the "default" choice right now.
Last edited by Solid D; 10-23-2006 at 08:04 AM.
Did you watch the game? Butler played like garbage. I love his potential and what he represents, but for now it's gonna be between Elson and Oberto. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by Elson's play last night. I went to the game and he's not bad, of course he's not the defensive presence we're looking for either. Oberto played well too and he actually hit a couple mid-range jumpshots which surprised me. I look to see Elson starting at the beginning of the season like a lot of the posters here seem to think. Butler will get some minutes as the season progresses and depending on how he does I think Pop will adjust that accordingly. Jackie just seemed to be forcing too many things on offense and then was getting beat consistently on D.
Pop has his own inclinations but he always listens to and considers the input of the entire coaching staff. It was some of them who were so sure that moving Nazr into the starting line-up in February would be necessary as he would be needed in the playoffs against the teams the Spurs expected to play- see how that turned out.
Pop loves Oberto and he has wanted to give him the chance, but does he want another season of trying someone new at the All-Star break and going into the playoffs without any of them in a good rhythm. I do agree, though, that the Manu from the bench experiment is to look at the idea of Oberto off the bench with Manu.
I also think there is some pressure- so to speak- to justify the signing of Elson and give him minutes. Plus, the whole point was smaller, quicker line-ups and that is what Elson is for.
Butler has the most potential, but is he really best paired with Duncan- or when Duncan comes out of the game?
What I expect: Musical chairs, and I hate the musical chairs. Pick someone and give him the opportunity to perform without pulling hm every time he makes a mistake because you have a cast of others sitting on the bench.
I noticed no one mentioned this-- Michael Finley is the first name Rob mentioned. Small ball here we come! Does the v-bookie include a bet for Finley at center on opening night?"You'll probably see (Michael Finley) there, me there, Fabricio there, Francisco there," Horry said. "We're probably going to have more lineup changes this season than ever."
He worked a lot with Chip last year because the Spurs want a big man who can hit a mid-range jump shot in there with Duncan.
Or without Duncan. Pick and Rolls are fine but with the Big as an outside threat, the Pick and Pop changes the way the defense is played.
Pop should just put Butler in the startling line-up. As long as bigger starting centers are out there, why should Pop sacrifice size for speed. It's like the playoffs all over again. Small ball don't mean jack!
Butler should play period! Don't get me wrong, Oberto can contribute but I still doubt he'll make an effect against the Shaqs, Yaos, and Dampiers. Butler, at least, can bang against the bigger centers with no problem.
He look pretty good from what I saw. He seems to fit the mold of the long 3.. Any chance the guy makes the roster? Is he younger than 35?
True- I always wanted to see more Pick and Pop with Rasho- which was part of the reason I supported playing him without Duncan.
I still like Oberto as the choice- I predicted it the day Rasho got traded.
Running the pick n roll usually is a good offense when Duncan and Parker are playing it. Not with Rasho nor Oberto. Both were too slow to run the offense (and defend it too)!
What is that supposed to mean?
Not that it matters now- but Rasho was the best big the Spurs had last season at guarding the pick and roll- slow and all.
Best big? Yeah that's why he was good enough to be traded.
"Ability, realize right now that you will never be this good."What is that supposed to mean?
Ability and good are used loosely.
That is why I like this pic. It sends the y but feel good message of it. Hey when you're the champ, it feels great.
I bet anyone didn't know Ultimo Dragon (wrestler) had ten championship belts (let alone who is Ultimo Dragon).
Good. Time for Beno to show what he can do.Udrih dresses for game: Beno Udrih was in uniform for the first time this preseason. He said he could have played, but the coaches want him to practice first.
Sidelined since the start of training camp because of a sore right hamstring, Udrih cleared the team's fitness test and is expected to participate in his first contact workout Tuesday.
If you heard or saw the game, you'd know he had a problem.Butler, at least, can bang against the bigger centers with no problem.
can he eat
can he
i know he canand take the honeys on a ride with his
he can show pop how to peel a
i think he loves
sometimes i think he just hangs around to
oh i know he'll just
he cansuck
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sorry just bored as heck!! Is it November yet.....
I think he's already established that at this point.
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