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We need to keep track of the number of times "hope" is used in the E-N.
Spurs hope rodeo trip is again magical
Web Posted: 01/27/2007 10:01 PM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.17c0d3e.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — Carrying the usual itinerary, but still unsure where their travels will lead, the Spurs arrived here Saturday afternoon hoping only that somewhere on their expedition to eight cities in 14 days they can find themselves.
"January hasn't been very good for us, so going on a long road trip is either going to pull us together," Manu Ginobili said, "or apart."
In each of the previous four seasons, the Spurs have used their annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo trip to toughen themselves for the playoff push. They have always returned home from the cross-country trek in better condition than they left, going a combined 25-6 during the four trips, two of which helped cut paths to championships.
The Spurs had more than ample reason to look forward to leaving town this season. They've already lost eight games at home and have frequently surrendered sizeable leads in the games they have won.
The Spurs also have struggled against tougher compe ion and this season's trip may be the toughest yet.
They open this afternoon against the Los Angeles Lakers (who have already beaten them twice), then have back-to-back games in Utah (where they've also lost) and Phoenix (which, it appears, could be gunning for its 165th consecutive victory).
After a five-day break at home, which should give the team some time to rest and practice, the Spurs head east for games against Washington, Orlando, Miami, New Jersey and Detroit. The Wizards and Detroit have the Eastern Conference's two best records. Shaquille O'Neal also just returned to the Heat and might be back to his usual workload by the time the Spurs arrive.
"We've got all playoff teams basically," Robert Horry said. "And that's good for us. It's a tough test for us, and hopefully we'll pass the test."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was initially apprehensive when he first learned the team would have to clear out of the AT&T Center for three weeks each season to make room for the rodeo. But he soon began to view the trip as a chance for the team to bond and eliminate some of the distractions that come with playing at home.
"I think the guys have always just showed a really good understanding of what an opportunity that could be if we focus and we really do a good job on the road," Popovich said. "It would give us a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence and really harden us for what's ahead.
"I think they've always welcomed that opportunity and looked at it in those terms."
Leaving town also might lighten the atmosphere around the Spurs, or least reduce the what's-wrong-with-you questions they've been fielding for most of the past month.
With the team unable to generate any sustained momentum, some players began to press. After leading the NBA in 3-point accuracy much of the season, the Spurs have shot a combined 28.3 percent behind the arc in their past seven games.
"In the back of our minds we know we can play better," Brent Barry said. "The past couple of weeks we just haven't played relaxed. We're trying to make things happen, and when you do that, usually nothing good happens."
While the Spurs have fallen five games back of Dallas in the Southwest Division, Horry thinks the team would be best served by not fretting about the Mavericks.
"Right now a lot of people keep harping on Phoenix, Dallas and their records," Horry said. "We don't even need to look at that. We just need to play basketball and worry about getting ourselves ready for the second half of the season."
And there might be no time better than the present. The Spurs have traditionally taken what Ginobili calls their "biggest step forward" when forced to the road by the rodeo, sharpening their focus along the way.
"Our guys look at it as an opportunity for us to pull together in hostile environments night after night after night, when you can build your toughness," Popovich said. "So, hopefully, that will happen for us again, because we certainly need that, don't we?"
White called up: The Spurs recalled James White from the Developmental League on Saturday. In 15 games with the Austin Toros, White averaged 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.67 steals in 34.4 minutes.
Hard to say which sucks worse this year, the team or Pop. Call it a draw.
Damn, the Rodeo trip is killer this season!!
Lakers, Jazz, and Suns in 4 days.
Heat, Wiz, Nets, Pistons in the East.
Its a conspiracy.Damn, the Rodeo trip is killer this season!!
Lakers, Jazz, and Suns in 4 days.
Heat, Wiz, Nets, Pistons in the East.
This rodeo trip will tell us what the Spurs are really made of.
165th consecutive wins for the Suns?
That has to be a record
Last edited by smeagol; 01-28-2007 at 02:21 PM.
The RRT only meant something the first season or 2. Since then it's been a myth- with the team actually having a better record before it than they did on it.They have always returned home from the cross-country trek in better condition than they left...
2006: before 34-10 (.773); 6-2 (.750)
2005: before 36-10 (.783); 5-2 (.714)
I think it has more to do with their development on the trip, rather than their record.
Yeah- but last year they played no different after than before. If anything, they were more inconsistent after. The last year they really came out of the RRT and just steamrolled over teams was 2004.
yeh we are a playoff team no doubt about it, but more likely a 2nd round exit, so lets enjoy it while we can.....
God damn, does Ploto ever have anything positive to say about the Spurs?
The fact is that the RRT comes at a time of the year where the team needs to start to get it going. It provides an opportunity - and an opportunity that has been historically used and proved beneficial - for the team to come together and attain a higher level of chemistry and overall higher level of play.
While it can be argued that they didn't do that last year, that doesn't change that it has been an opportunity they have usually taken advantadge of. Myth my ass.
"Hope"?
.
"Myth my ass."
Magical myths like SPAM and RRT are always more fun and comforting than facts.
ALL playoff damn teams play better in the 2nd half than in the first and their fans don't have SPAM and RRT myths to amuse themselves with.
The only RRT that really, dramatically turned the Spurs around was the 03 RRT. These sucky Spurs need such a turnaround.
The trip has always been about building chemistry, and about Horry and some of the other vets starting to come out of hibernation.
My guess is the last two years weren't as crystallizing as years past because they were stuck with Rasho Nesterosoft on the roster.
I actually expect Horry to come out big tonight against the Lakers. It's time for him to actually start working.
Other than grabbing boards, Horry has looked so uninterested in the game during the minutes he's been given so far this season. Yet, I saw him yelling (though rightfully) at Elson quite a few times for getting the wrong rotations, not defending, etc.
That's probably true.
Spurs road record in 2006 before the Rodeo Trip: 13-7 (.650)
Spurs road record in 2005 before the Rodeo Trip: 13-9 (.591)
Don't confuse the Euro with facts 'Sug, it's obvious if only we still had Rasho and played him 40 minutes a night this team would be undefeated.
Spurs road record in 2006 before the Rodeo Trip: 13-7 (.650)
Spurs road record in 2005 before the Rodeo Trip: 13-9 (.591)
We call that a burn.
Does Ploto date rascal?
Man what a love child those two would produce . . .
You realize Rasho played for the Spurs for three years-- playing more minutes on the 2004 RRT which did ignite the rest of the season than on the other 2 which didn't.
Yeah, that highly successful 2004 season.
Can we just have 2 seperate sites, one for the pessimists, the other for those of us who believe this is a great team playing poor ball at the moment. I'm tired of hearing, this player sucks, that player needs to be traded. You know what if you continually feel this way on a daily basis, LOOK, GO ROOT FOR ANOTHER TEAM. Your negitive at ude isn't wanted, nor beneficial to development of this orginization.
I have a better idea. Find a site where you can dictate who does and doesn't post. Maybe start your own.
If you can find one person who's at ude has any effect at all, positive or negative, on the development of the Spurs, that would be impressive.
No, wait, I take that back. Lots of people here buy tickets or even season tickets, and go to the games, so I would say that they have maximized their potential positive contributions to the organization, and if they then choose to be critical of what they have spent money on, they have that en lement.
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