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I'm going to finish reading it, but did I just read that an NBA player said he never had to work on his shot before?
Oh, my, god......
Ok, I'm going to finish the article now.
Spurs Mailbag: Beno still misfiring
Web Posted: 01/08/2007 11:53 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....205d8ef4.html
Beno Udrih was labeled the Spurs’ “fourth point guard” during training camp, then elevated to backup by the start of the season. Coach Gregg Popovich demoted him to No. 3 two weeks ago then gave him his job back.
On Sunday, Udrih even made his first start of the season.
Through it all, however, one thing hasn’t changed: His shot. It still isn’t going in.
Udrih is shooting a career-worst 35.6 percent, nearly a 10 percent drop from last season, while making only 19 of his 65 3-point attempts.
“It’s about confidence,” Udrih said. “I just have to stop thinking about it and knock those open shots down.”
With exception of battling foul trouble, Udrih performed fairly well Sunday while filling in for Tony Parker in Memphis. He had seven points and six assists in 23 minutes while making the only 3-pointer he took.
Considering how skittish Udrih looked against Dallas two nights earlier, getting the chance to start and play extended minutes might have been the best medicine for him. At the end of Friday’s first half against the Mavericks, he passed up an open 3, then forced another on the next possession that was blocked. When Michael Finley batted the rebound back to him, he missed another shot.
Udrih doesn’t think he’s ever been in a slump this prolonged.
“I remember when I was playing in Europe, I was around a 50-60 percent shooter,” Udrih said. “But it’s harder here. You come from the bench, you’re cold, you get two, three shots. You don’t feel it yet.
“Sometimes you try to be aggressive and that will to be aggressive makes you make a mistake or a bad shot.”
Udrih said he’s never had to work on his shot before. It’s always come natural to him. He’s now putting in some extra time with assistant coach Brett Brown.
While Udrih certainly isn’t the only player who’s struggled this season – Finley and Robert Horry are also trying to regain their form – the Spurs would benefit greatly if he can find his stroke. To avoid overworking Parker, the Spurs need to be able to get consistent minutes from the backup point guard position.
“My confidence went down a little bit,” Udrih said. “But I just need to pick it up and keep working.”
Now, on to your letters…
Is it possible that we might see the Spurs make a trade for someone who can help against the Mavs?
–Homero Quintanilla, San Juan
Yes, it is possible.
I don’t see any team when the Spurs are on their game able to hang with them. Why don’t they rest Duncan more during the regular season, so he’ll be stronger for the playoffs. –Andre, Rialto, Calif.
Allow me to introduce you to the Dallas Mavericks.
As for your suggestion the Spurs should rest Tim more during the regular season? That might preclude them from the making the playoffs.
I love Bowen, but I also think it might be time to put Michael Finley in Bowen’s starting position. We already know the Spurs’ real problem is scoring. Too many teams are getting fast-break points off our misses.
Mike is wasting away on the bench. With Bowen out there starting, we will always have a problem getting off to a good start, in important games. And, the Spurs will keep trying to dig themselves out of unnecessary holes.
When can we start blaming Pop’s decision making?
–Rocky, Austin
I think you just started.
One note: I don’t agree the Spurs’ “real problem” is scoring. They’re averaging just under 100 points and rank third in the league in field-goal percentage (.477) and first in 3-point percentage (.407). I know those numbers are inflated by some of their blowout victories over lesser opponents, but I think their inconsistent defense is the bigger issue.
Pop, what are you thinking? Have you really considered what you are thinking about by sending Brent Barry and Beno Udrih away? I plead with you to reconsider this option.
You are talking about disrupting the chemistry of your team. If anyone, send your one player named Williams to the Clippers. He has not played that much because of injury, so maybe he'd be a good swap and you wouldn't lose that much for what you're thinking about getting. Maggette is not a good defender anyway so I think Williams will be just as good a swap. –Albert Rios, Edinberg
Unfortunately for you Albert, I don’t think the Clippers consider Williams “just as good a swap.” And they even know his first name.
Why are the Spurs so reluctant to trade Barry for Maggette? I understand Barry has done well this year but Maggette is a difference maker. What is your take on this proposed trade?
–Pete, San Antonio
Trust me, they aren’t nearly as reluctant as they were prior to losing to Dallas. I think that loss confirmed to everyone how much the team would benefit from having an athletic three man who can play the four when the Mavericks and Phoenix Suns go small.
What some Spurs officials don’t want to do, however, is give up Beno along with Brent in the same deal. That would leave them without two of their best ball-handlers and they don’t like the idea of having to lean on Bruce, Fin or even Maggette to bring up the ball. Beno, for all his faults, can play next to Tony, if needed.
That said, I don’t even know if the Clippers would do a deal for Brent and Beno. The Clippers are talking to a handful of other teams – and while they clearly want to move Maggette – it might behoove them to be patient.
After seeing the Spurs labor last week, I’m in agreement that something is missing from the roster. And I think Maggette could fill that void. But I’d also go into the trade knowing it’s a risk.
Unlike you, I hesitate to immediately label Maggette a difference maker. He certainly hasn’t been a difference maker for the Clippers. He played in only 32 games last season, which, coincidentally, was the only time the Clippers made the playoffs in his six years with the team.
Maggette’s defense (or lack of it) and at ude wouldn’t worry me as much as his health. He’s missed the past two games because of a sore left foot. The same foot that sidelined him for much of last season. And the same foot that caused Indiana to call off its plan to trade Artest for him.
The picture of Tim Duncan on Page 1 of Saturday's Sports section was probably taken during a timeout because the leader of the Spurs and the league’s MVP would never sit on the court while time was still ticking.
Surely he'd be hustling for a win. . .like his teammate, Manu Ginobili!
–Ann Ault
If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were in the coaches’ meeting after Friday’s game.
Fabricio Oberto provided a strong spark and lift for the Spurs in the first half against Dallas. In fact, he was their leading scorer through two quarters. Why wasn’t he used more in the second half?
–Charlie W., San Antonio
In the first half the Spurs were successful because Fabricio Oberto was there to pick all the “garbage.” Why didn't he get more minutes in the critical second half? –Whitey, San Antonio
I was wondering the same thing myself. Fab had to come out of the game for a stretch in the third quarter because he had a cut that needed to be patched up, but doesn’t completely explain why he totaled just 6 minutes, 41 seconds in the second half.
Here’s what I was told (and, remember, I’m just the messenger): With Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop on the bench because of foul trouble, the Mavericks went small for about 11 minutes of the second half, including much of the fourth quarter. That would have forced the Spurs to put one of their bigs on Dirk and the other on Devean George or Josh Howard, so Pop matched down.
This once again reopens the big-versus-small debate, and my head hurts too much to discuss it for the 347th time. But I’ll say this much: I don’t think the Spurs are going to beat Dallas (and probably even Phoenix) by going small with their current perimeter corps.
In my book, that leaves two options: Either make a trade or stay big until Francisco Elson or Fab prove they don’t deserve to be on the floor.
At the tail end of the Lebron-Wade-Carmelo draft, with San Antonio on the clock, I watched the Spurs draft a Brazilian speedster with the 28th overall pick and promptly dump him for future considerations. The next pick went to Dallas, who scooped up the reigning ACC player of the year, an athletic small forward that seemed like a perfect fit for the Spurs.
Watching Josh Howard’s breakout performance this season makes me shudder to imagine the Mavericks swingman in Spurs’ silver and black. Under the defensive tutelage of Bruce Bowen, Howard may have been even more effective with San Antonio than he is for Dallas. Call me an optimist, but it seems conceivable that Leandro Barbosa may have found a minute or two in the Spurs’ rotation as well.
Passing on Howard and trading Barbosa to Phoenix in 2003 has to rank as one of the worst picks the Spurs never made. I know that the Spurs were angling for the extra cap room to lure Jason Kidd at the time, but that was a tough draft to come up empty in.
All second guessing aside, will San Antonio end up getting anything for the first-round pick that they traded away to the Phoenix Suns in 2003?
–Patrick, Lagos, Nigeria
Yes, his name was Nazr Mohammed.
Don’t you feel better now?
A couple of months ago, I emailed you to point out that Beno Udrih should be yanked (and now should be traded ... if anyone wants him) because his jump shot stinks – as in 0 for 6 against the Mavs.
I don't care about his textbook shooting form or about how many threes he hits in practice. All that matters is game time. And at game time, he fails miserably, time after time after time.
I hope (before trade deadline) the Spurs management will see and accept what has been clear to me and other Spurs fans for a long time.
Beno is not good for SA. Get rid of him.
–Robert, Austin
I need to tell Pop it’s OK for him to use his real name when he writes.
When are you going to get Duncan some help?
–Maudean Robinson, Dallas
I’m trying, but he doesn’t appear to like the idea of seeing Monroe or I in a black, sleeveless jersey.
I'm going to finish reading it, but did I just read that an NBA player said he never had to work on his shot before?
Oh, my, god......
Ok, I'm going to finish the article now.
Apparently, Beno's a good ball-handler, too!
@ Ludden!
Thats the best mailbag as of yet. Especially the big about Pop email on Beno. Its good to hear that the Spurs' coaches are also as pissed as I get when they see Tim sit on the court pouting or when he es and Dallas scores. I can't stand that and that really needs to stop. He can't be focused entirely on the game when he's so focused on the calls.
I'm very perplexed with Beno though. How can an NBA player not work on his shot constantly? Kerr ALWAYS worked on his shot. That is a flat out admission from his own mouth that he doesn't work nearly as much as he should on his game. Thats just flat out horrible.
spurs really did a bad move by passing J.Howard and traded barbosa...
Well Pop (and Duncan) wanted JH - RC didn't.
As for Barbosa, they picked Barbosa for Phoenix, they never had any intention of picking him for themselves. That's just who Phoenix wanted.
I don't know if Beno meant that he's never had to make adjustments to his shooting stroke? That might make sense and be better than saying he's never worked on his shot.
Passing on Barbosa and Howard makes me vomit.
Even more reason to not trade our first round draft pick....
That could very well be it and that certainly makes more sense, but considering we are talking about Beno I'm not sure I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Especially this far into the season and the work on the shot is just beginning?
The sooner we get away from Beno, the better. Effort put into him is wasted - at least as far as this team goes. I have little to no hope for him any more. I believe he'll have flashes every now and then based solely on talent, but I don't think he's ever going to do what it takes to make it consistent. He just doesn't sound driven enough.
that. A sure thing is better than what amounts to a reserached and calculated gamble.
why RC didn't want JH?
Wanted to go after Jason Kidd and Jermaine O'Neal.
Had RC played it right though, he could have had Jermaine O'Neal.
How? Jermaine O'Neal wanted to remain loyal and stay in Indy.
Yeah, although didn't Jermaine only stay because he promised Isiah wasn't going to get fired as head coach in Indy? I remember reading a quote from as soon as Isiah got fired from the pacers that "If I knew this was going to happen I'd have signed with San Antonio"
Same here, we need to give up on him already. We should trade him while he's still got his youth going for him.
We can't wait anymore on him.
nve syndrome, you beno
What efforts? What is your lazy ass talking about?
MY lazy ass? I'm sorry did you confuse me with Beno?
Beno and NBA player shouldn't be on the same sentence.
Sorry, Beno might be a good guy, but he is no NBA player.
Beno is back.
I hope Pop reads this. Pop: stop ing matching down to the Mavs immediately. At least leave the bigs on the floor until they prove they don't deserve to be on the floor!!!!
why can't Pop make Dallas match up to us and not viceversa????
yes he is way way backBeno is back.
Because our "other" bigs don't do anything on the offensive end and are easily contained by their quicker forwards.
On the flip-side, Howard and George present matchup problems with their quickness and three-point shooting ability. Basically, if the Spurs play down to them we don't get burned as badly by their wing players. Unfortunately, the Spurs sacrafice rebounding and interior defense...which nowitzki takes advantage of again and again and again...
That is why there is a call by fans and FO alike to get a rebounding, long, strong SF to limit the rebounding advantage gained by the other team when the Spurs go small.
yeah but on the other side, using a big lineup could create matchup problem for them if our bigs play how they're supposed to play. It goes both ways. Pop should just give our bigs a chance.
Remember we had Rasho, Nazr last year, this year is different, our bigs should get their chance. Pop shouldn't base it on last year.
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