San Antonio Spurs

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Spurs go young in preseason loss
Jeff McDonald - Express-News

HOUSTON — Gregg Popovich emerged from the visitors' locker room at the Toyota Center on Thursday night, and immediately two nearby security guards became star-struck.

“Hey,” one of them said, motioning to the white-bearded Spurs coach, “it's Donald Sutherland.”

Popovich laughed.

The Spurs dropped their preseason opener against Houston, 85-78, and got a pretty sobering look at the damage Ron Artest might wreak in a red and white Houston uniform, but Popovich couldn't have cared less about the outcome had he really been his movie-acting doppelganger.

With a “who's who” of veteran Spurs either seated behind his bench in street clothes or watching from the comfort of their home sofas, Popovich was eager to see how his younger players might respond to their first real taste of NBA action.

“It's a fun time of year to see those young guys play, to see how they go up against the big boys, so to speak, and watch how they react,” Popovich said. “That's the fun of it. If we win, nobody cares, and if we lose nobody cares.”

Popovich gave veteran starters Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley the night off, while Manu Ginobili, Kurt Thomas, Salim Stoudamire and Ian Mahinmi remained in San Antonio to nurse varying degrees of injury.

The Spurs would be hard-pressed to win a game with even half of the above out.

“That's kind of a hit to our personnel right there,” Matt Bonner noted.

Playing in the first game of a preseason-opening back-to-back — the Spurs face New Orleans at home tonight — the Spurs turned large portions of the game over to a collection of players who had not set foot on an NBA floor until Thursday. Most of them won't be on the team in a month.

There were bright spots — Darryl Watkins swatting Artest and Aaron Brooks on the same possession.

And there were not-so-bright spots — Anthony Tolliver, the shooting star of summer league, going 3-of-11.

Malik Hairston, who the Spurs acquired on a draft-day trade with Phoenix, fell on the plus side of the ledger, leading the team with 10 points.

Artest, the Rockets' marquee offseason addition, scored 18, including 10 in a row during a second quarter that Houston won 28-12. He probably will start to scare the Spurs once the games begin to count.

For the Spurs' part, most eyes were on rookie point guard George Hill, the team's first-round pick out of IUPUI.

If the Spurs worried the 22-year-old might be overwhelmed by his first game against NBA competition, those fears were alleviated even before tipoff. Then, Hill strutted out to the court for warm-ups, and immediately raised his fist to salute Artest on the other end of the court.

Artest, who knows Hill from his days with the Indiana Pacers, saluted back.

“As a player, you always think you belong,” Hill said.

Once he got in the game, midway through the third quarter, Hill set about to prove it.

He had his ups and downs — throwing in a 20-footer and a teardrop, but later blowing an open layup and committing a critical charge. In keeping with what he has shown in training camp, Hill was masterful on the defensive end, swiping five steals in 17 minutes.

“You have to learn how to crawl before you walk, and tonight I learned to crawl,” said Hill, who also had six points and three assists. “As we keep going, I'll learn how to walk.”

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Donald Sutherland


Pop


Wakekekekeke!

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Rookie impressive, but Spurs fall again


Jeff McDonald - Express-News Five months ago, George Hill was sitting on his sofa in Indianapolis watching Chris Paul, New Orleans' Wizard of Ahs, carve up the Spurs in the NBA playoffs.

Like the rest of the basketball-watching public, Hill was impressed.

“He's one of the greatest point guards in the league today,” Hill said. “He's quick; he's crafty with it. You have to respect his game.”

On Friday night at the AT&T Center, far removed from the comfortable distance of his living room, Hill found himself nose-to-chest with an All-Star point guard he'd previously known only from television.

What happened next was an encouraging sign for the Spurs. Their rookie point guard held his own.

Hill, the team's top choice in this year's draft, finished with 10 points in 24 minutes of the Spurs' 89-84 defeat. He made a pair of 3-pointers, doled out three assists, had a block and a steal and did a capable job of defending Paul.

More importantly, when pitted against the best the NBA has to offer and his position, Hill — a 6-foot-2 guard from a little-known college called IUPUI — looked as if he belonged.

“George has a good, quiet confidence about himself,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He's got a good demeanor on the court.”

Mike James had 18 points off the bench to lead the Hornets. Tyson Chandler had 14, six of them on dunks coming off assists from Paul, who had nine points and seven assists.

At times, with the alley-oops flying and the rims rattling, it seemed like May all over again.

Tim Duncan made his first preseason appearance, scoring 12 points in 18 minutes for the Spurs, and Tony Parker logged his second consecutive solid outing with 10 points in 16 minutes.

The storyline for the Spurs, however, was the 22-year-old vying for time as Parker's backup.

Before the game, Popovich unveiled his plan to throw Hill into the fire early. The coach was just curious to see how his rookie would react.

“He can watch Chris go by him,” Popovich said then, “and try to figure out what he can do about it.”

Thrust into the fray in the first quarter, Hill wasted little time showing he belongs in the middle of this budding Western Conference rivalry.

Fourteen seconds into his shift, Hill found himself between Paul and the basket, the shot-clock winding down. Using his long arms wisely, Hill forced Paul into an awkward 7-footer that missed.

Within the next three minutes, Hill would pester Paul into another miss, draw a foul on a hard drive to the hoop and bury an open 3-pointer.

Later, Hill flashed his tenacity, scrapping ably with New Orleans forward David West after being caught in a switch.

“I think Coach Pop is starting to figure out I like taking a challenge,” Hill said. “I'm not going to back down from anyone. Chris Paul's a great player, and I'm a rookie. But at the same time, it's just basketball.”

Officially, Hill had made his NBA preseason debut a night earlier in Houston. Friday was just the day he became an NBA player.

Hill's veteran teammates had little sympathy for the rookie's tough assignment.

“That's the NBA,” Michael Finley said. “His days of playing in college are over. He's a professional now.”

Hill wouldn't have it any other way. He'd much rather meet Paul on the court than watch him from his sofa.

“You can't live in the fan world,” Hill said. “It's a business now. It's my job.”

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s..._Hornets_.html

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Jeff McDonald: The upside of injury

Nobody in Spurs camp is celebrating the nagging injuries to big men Ian Mahinmi and Kurt Thomas. Darryl Watkins and Charles Gaines, however, are fattening their wallets because of them.

For as long as Mahinmi and/or Thomas remain shelved, Watkins and Gaines are all but guaranteed to keep drawing a paycheck from the Spurs.

Gaines is a rookie forward out of Southern Mississippi. Watkins is a second-year center from Syracuse who played in nine games with Sacramento last season.

Neither stands a donut's chance in Shaq's kitchen of actually making the roster. On Sunday, Gregg Popovich kept forgetting Watkins' name, continually calling him "Dawkins." Not a good sign, if you're Dawkins/Watkins.

But the Spurs, with only three healthy bona fide big men in uniform, will need the warm bodies of Watkins and Gaines to get through exhibition season. So they stand little chance of being waived just yet.

Popovich certainly isn't going to wear out Tim Duncan during exhibition season, and he'd like to keep Fabricio Oberto's minutes down as well. Matt Bonner has a nice motor, but he can't play 48 minutes a game.

That is good news for Watkins and Gaines.

It means the Spurs will either go small for large stretches of the remaining preseason games. Or they'll give Gaines and Watkins plenty of minutes.

Either way, that twosome is likely to stick around awhile. Watkins and Gaines might not be celebrating the Spurs' frontcourt injuries, but their accountants probably are.

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After Denver: Allen Iverson ’The Answer’ For Detroit And San Antonio?
Oly Sandor
Hoopsvibe.com

There is no chance Allen Iverson stays in Denver. If the Nuggets struggle, he gets traded for prospects/cap relief. If the Nuggets are competitive, he still could get traded because his contract expires in July. If the Nuggets keep him for the year, he leaves as an unrestricted free agent come summer.

One thing is certain: ownership won’t extend Iverson. The club is losing money and George’s Karl’s offensive experiment has failed, which means a rebuilding project is approaching. Expensive veterans, even talented ones, won’t work long-term.

The superstar understands the situation. The winds of change are about to blow in Colorado. His bags are likely packed; the realtor’s ‘For Sale sign is ready.

Any mid-season trade is temporary. Iverson, as an unrestricted free agent in July of 2009, can pick between suitors. Will he sign with a mediocre team for big money and first-option status? Or will he sign with a contender for less money and less shots?

Hopefully, Iverson chooses the latter. The tiny guard should offer to be the top reserve on an established squad. The critics, the ones who claimed he wouldn’t sacrifice or play within a team concept, would be silenced.

Detroit and San Antonio would be perfect for a slightly toned down version of ‘The Answer’. Both should look at signing him next summer.

The Pistons have gambled on temperamental stars before. In February 2004, they took a risk acquiring Rasheed Wallace and a few months later were rewarded with an NBA Title. ‘Sheed’ was the missing ingredient and the post’s behaviour has improved in Detroit.

Joe Dumars must consider the All-Star scorer. This summer, the Pistons’ head suit talked publicly about changing his club and Iverson would provide a Wallace-like jolt. The problem is Rodney Stuckey. A superstar sixth-man would hinder the prospect’s development. Stuckey, like all budding youngsters, needs minutes.

Go big or go home. That’s the Texas way. The Spurs should follow the state mantra and upgrade their core with the Georgetown alum. Iverson would make a great second-unit game-changer; his presence would push Manu Ginobili into the starting five.

San Antonio needs the tweak. The west has gotten better. Houston traded for Ron Artest, New Orleans signed James Posey, and the Los Angeles Lakers are expecting the Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol combo to deliver. The black-and-silver could counter these moves by going fast in the backcourt with Iverson and Tony Parker (talk about a deadly combo off the dribble).

Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, and the Spurs would mesh with Iverson. The franchise’s four championships demand respect, while A.I. has been a model citizen with the Nuggets. Finally, ‘Pop’ is close with Iverson’s former coach Larry Brown, so he would do his research before making any commitment.

Like it or not, Iverson’s run in Denver is winding down. What happens next impacts his legacy. Hopefully, he joins a contender and we can again watch him in June.

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Well, I think I'll take a raincheck on AI.

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For those who want to watch a preseason game of the Spurs and Pistons RIGHT NOW (like, as of writing), check out this link: http://www.justin.tv/sporrtcenter

Have fun! Spurs scrubs vs Pistons scrubs! And Hill looks freakin' good out there!

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Spurs win! The scrubs look promising (Hairston, Farmer, Hill, Watkins)!

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Good news!

Mike Monroe: Relatively good news about Hill's thumb

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ordinarily, you would not be happy about a medical report that calls a thumb injury a bad sprain, but the Spurs were moderately relieved on Wednesday to discover that rookie point guard George Hill does not have a torn ligament, nor a broken bone, in the left thumb he injured in Tuesday's pre-season game in Grand Rapids, Mich.

"It's a bad sprain but, no ligament damage or bone damage," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reported after a morning practice session at Gund Arena here ." He’ll probably miss a couple games. That’s better than a cast and out for six weeks."

Hill injured the thumb late in the first half of the Spurs' 86-64 victory over the Pistons at Van Andel Arena, in Grand Rapids, their first victory in three pre-season games. The Spurs' first-round draft pick had scored eight points and handed out four assists in 16 minutes, 48 seconds of first-half play.

Popovich said Tony Parker, who did not suit up for Tuesday's game because of minor soreness in his left Achilles tendon, will start tonight's game at Gund Arena against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Veteran Jacque Vaughn will back him up, with spot help from both Roger Mason, Jr., and Ime Udoka.

Salim Stoudamire, who has yet to go through a full practice because of a right groin strain, said he feels sound enough to consider asking Popovich to give him a few minutes in tonight's game, as well.

"I'll see how I feel in the morning," he said, "but I'm thinking about asking Coach Popovich to give me a little time."

[jcatruman]

murag daku kau chance sa spurs to go all the way to the finals. and win it. most teams are rehabilitating and changes of coaches would take another season to make the sysem works. besides its 2009. its ODD NUMBER remember 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007. for all HATERS OF SPURS. IF YOU CANT BE US JOIN US. DONT LIKE A BORING TEAM AS THEY(LOSERS) SAY. go for lakers. u will be entertained by kobe's crocodile type of basketball. BEAT LA BEAT LA

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Duncan back in the swing of things
By Mike Monroe

CLEVELAND — The discussion in the Spurs' locker room at Gund Arena before their preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night focused on football.

As Bruce Bowen, the Spurs' No. 1 Dallas Cowboys fan, weighed in on his favorite NFL team's recent trade for wide receiver Roy Williams, he stumbled trying to remember the names of two of the Cowboys receivers, referring to them only by their numbers, 84 and 19.

“You mean Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin,” said Tim Duncan, whose pro football allegiance is to the Chicago Bears. “Geez, Bruce, you've got to know your team better.”

The Spurs know this: No. 21 is still the most important number on their roster.

In his first extended stint of the preseason, Duncan put up the sort of numbers that have characterized his perennial All-Star and two-time MVP career. In 26 minutes he scored 16 points, on six of 10 shooting, and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the Spurs to a 91-70 victory.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had decided it was time for Duncan to begin getting into a regular-season rhythm. He had played only 36 minutes through the first three games, sitting one out altogether as Popovich evaluated younger, less-proven players trying to make the team.

Duncan was happy to show his coach his rhythm was back.

“It's about that time to start gearing it up a little bit,” Duncan said. “I know he's going to spread it out a little more and have people play different times, different games, different amounts. He wants to get Kurt (Thomas) back into the game a little bit and start getting him moving, and start getting the guys who are going to play together on the floor together a little bit. It's the time to start doing that.”

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, a former Spurs assistant under Popovich, had his starting center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, on the court most of the time Duncan played, providing a good test for both players.

“I'd rather play against him than any of their young guys,” Duncan said.

What Popovich saw from Duncan was precisely what he wanted to see: The inside presence that makes him one of the game's best post players, but also a willingness to look for his shots on the perimeter.

“He's looking for his offense and shooting the ball,” Popovich said. “We don't want him to be down on the block all the time. Get out on the court and make some shots. It's easier.”

In the final three games of the preseason, Popovich methodically will extend the playing time of all his veteran players, including Duncan.

“I wanted to get Tim into the third quarter tonight,” he said. “Next week we'll get him into the fourth quarter.”

Entering his 12th season, Duncan has learned to use the preseason for just what it is intended.

“Obviously, I've been through enough preseasons,” he said. “I want to get to the point when it starts counting. At the same time, you want to feel good going into the season, and luckily enough, 82 games gives you enough time to get yourself right. But you want to go into the season feeling like you've been in a game and you know what your body feels like.”

Duncan was joined in the starting lineup by veteran forward-center Kurt Thomas, playing for the first time this preseason after struggling with a strained left hamstring.

“It felt real good to be out there, running up and down with my teammates,” Thomas said. “I'm just trying to shake the rust off and get back in my own rhythm.”

Yeeeeesss...