Johnny Ludden: Reserves put Spurs on a roll

[Bruno]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.3631857.html


Web Posted: 03/14/2007 11:47 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News


MILWAUKEE — After watching Beno Udrih drill a pair of pressure-packed 3-pointers in Portland last week, the last of which pushed the Spurs past the Trail Blazers, Gregg Popovich had reason to question whether he had truly seen what he thought he had seen.

Was that the same Beno Udrih who had struggled with his shot and confidence for most of the season, so much so that he had been reduced to little more than a bench ornament? Or had an imposter stolen his No. 14 jersey?

"It's like we got a new player," Popovich said.

The same could be said about more than a few members of the team's revived reserve unit. The Spurs will take a 13-game winning streak into tonight's road meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks, and they need look no farther than the end of their bench to explain why.

The Spurs' reserves have averaged 46.4 points during the streak, a considerable jump from the 33.0 they averaged over the season's first 51 games.

"Guys are stepping up and really valuing their time on the floor, and we're getting production from that," Tim Duncan said. "I think that's been a great step forward for our bench."

Manu Ginobili has accounted for a good portion of that production, averaging 18.9 points during the winning streak, but the bench's contributions also have extended well past the Spurs' starter-turned-sixth man. Mired in a shooting slump for much of the season, Michael Finley — like Udrih and Robert Horry — seems to have finally settled into a rhythm.

"Well, I mean it's March," said Finley, who is averaging 11.8 points during the past eight games. "It's about time."

While depth figured to be one of the Spurs' strengths at the start of the season, the struggles of Finley, Udrih and Horry — along with injuries to Francisco Elson and Matt Bonner — soon made it difficult for Popovich to depend on his bench on a night-to-night basis. For most of the season's first three months, Brent Barry was the team's consistent reserve.

Hoping to add some punch to the reserve unit, Popovich moved Ginobili to the bench when the Spurs began their annual rodeo trip on Jan. 28 in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Though Ginobili played well in his new-old role, the move didn't immediately produce the desired results in the win-loss column. With the Spurs still unable to generate enough support for Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker, the team lost four of its first five games.

That prompted Popovich to make another move: He replaced Fabricio Oberto in the starting lineup with Elson. Bonner's return from a month-long absence also lengthened the Spurs' bench, allowing Popovich to rest Horry on the second night of back-to-backs, or, as he did during Tuesday's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, even in the second half of some games.

"Pop's got a lot of options out there, and I think that's another great thing to have," Duncan said. "If somebody's not playing well one night, you go one more down the bench and that guy's ready to step up."

In addition to Finley's improvement, the Spurs also have benefited from the stability Jacque Vaughn has provided as the backup point guard. After Popovich benched Parker early in Tuesday's second half, Vaughn made a pair of jump shots, fed Finley inside for a layup, then found Finley open for a 3-pointer. In a little more than two minutes, he generated nine points.

Udrih also helped preserve the Spurs' winning streak last week when a hip injury forced Parker to miss two games and limited his minutes in another. During the three-game stretch, Udrih averaged 11.3 points while making 6 of 8 3-pointers.

Popovich typically replaces Parker with Vaughn with about four minutes left in the first quarter. Ginobili usually takes over for Barry about six minutes into the game.

"He's not starting," Finley said, "but he's just taking a six-minute break, so to speak."

Though Finley also has recently begun making an appearance late in the first quarter, he said much of Popovich's rotation is determined by the flow of the game. Is Elson in foul trouble? Is there someone that Bowen needs to guard?

"It keeps you ready," Finley said, "because you never know when your number is going to be called."

Of late, the Spurs' reserves have more often than not answered that call.

"You play that many games and you're not going to have your starters play well every night," Duncan said. "We need that boost."

Notebook: Oberto is questionable to play tonight after sustaining separate contusions to his left quadriceps. Oberto is one of four Spurs to have played in every game this season.

[Bruno]

Spurs big 3 has never been that strong : Manu and Parker are playing while Duncan is back.

Spurs supporting cast, on the other hand, is still a work in progress.
Spurs should be fine at PG/SG/SF : Vaughn has been very solid, Barry and now Finley are playing well. Bruce just need to get back his shooting touch.
The situation is a little more preocupating at PF/C : Elson has shown some good things but has been inconsistent, Horry has been inconsistent and quite bad lately (he averages 1.7 ppg in march ) and Oberto is Oberto. Bonner seems to be back at his pre-injury level, maybe it's time to give him Horry's minutes. Oberto's injury can maybe be a good oportunity for Ely who can relly help Spurs if he is back at his last year level.

[Spurs Brazil]

Notebook: Oberto is questionable to play tonight after sustaining separate contusions to his left quadriceps. Oberto is one of four Spurs to have played in every game this season.

Any update?