Spurs notebook: Little comfort with 3-3 stretch

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Spurs notebook: Little comfort with 3-3 stretch

Web Posted: 12/18/2007 11:23 PM CST

Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With Monday's 100-95 loss to Phoenix, the Spurs completed perhaps their most rugged stretch of the season to date — a six-pack of games against teams that made the Western Conference playoffs last season.
Given that they played none of those games with both Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in the lineup, perhaps the Spurs should be satisfied to have gone 3-3 over that gauntlet.


Duncan and Parker spent overlapping stints on the injured list, each of them battling a sprained ankle.

Duncan missed four games before returning for a victory over Denver last Saturday. Parker is expected to miss his fourth game tonight at Memphis.

Even though they were perpetually playing without an All-Star, the Spurs aren't happy just to have treaded water for the past six games.

"You always want to be perfect," forward Robert Horry said. "Even though we did some good things at home without Tim, you still want to be perfect. It's a perfect time for us to keep in the hunt for best record in the league, but those losses were setbacks. You learn from them and move on."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich echoed that theme.

"The greatest point is we can get better," he said. "That's our job: To get as good as we can get by playoff time. So every game is an education in a lot of different ways."

Elson out, too: In addition to Parker, the Spurs will also be without backup center Francisco Elson tonight against the Grizzlies.

He will miss a second consecutive game while mending a sprained right ankle.

Fast-paced practice: If nothing else, Monday's loss to Phoenix provided a nice teaching session for tonight's game.

First-year Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni cut his coaching teeth under the Suns' Mike D'Antoni and employs a similar fast-paced, small-ball offensive philosophy to his former boss.

"Memphis is trying to play just like those guys, so they actually prepared us for (tonight)," Horry said. "Even though they don't have the same talent, they've got some similar talents."

Iavaroni's penchant for employing smaller lineups should be placated tonight with the absence of center Pau Gasol, who is out with a toe injury.

To fill that hole, Iavaroni will likely move Darko Milicic to Gasol's spot and play the 6-foot-9 Rudy Gay at power forward.

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[Bruno]

With Monday's 100-95 loss to Phoenix, the Spurs completed perhaps their most rugged stretch of the season to date — a six-pack of games against teams that made the Western Conference playoffs last season.
Given that they played none of those games with both Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in the lineup, perhaps the Spurs should be satisfied to have gone 3-3 over that gauntlet.

Given all injuries, I find that 3-3 is a good result.

Now, Spurs have an easy schedule for the reminder of the month.
5 games in 13 days with only one of the road (tonight against Memphis) and only one against a team (Raptors) above .500.