duncan228
04-10-2009, 02:21 PM
Duncan will play, and other notes from shootaround (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/)
By Jeff McDonald
* Tim Duncan is expected to play against the Jazz tonight, after Gregg Popovich pulled him from Wednesday's loss to Portland. Duncan is wrestling with a pair of sore knees and is considered day-to-day, everyday.
* Popovich said he will be happy to see his buddy, Jerry Sloan, for the first time since the Jazz coach's election into the Hall of Fame. "That probably should have happened a long time ago," Popovich said. "You knew it was going to happen at some time. What a great career, what a great example of persistence."
* The key to getting by the Jazz? Same as it's been since Karl Malone and John Stockton (another newly minted HOFer) were in too-short shorts: Defend the pick and roll. These days, however, it's Carlos Boozer/Paul Millsap picking for Deron Williams. Williams is the head of the snake here. "You have to contain D-Will, try to stay in front of him," Tony Parker said. "He's going to try and create for the whole team."
* Ian Mahinmi made an appearance at shootaround this morning -- surprising, since he was assigned to Austin last week. Popovich characterized Mahinmi's visit as personal, and not professional. "Ian's visiting with us today, saying hello to everyone, and we're saying hello to Ian," Popovich said. "It's not a situation where he's coming back with the team to play. He's still recovering." Mahinmi had surgery on his right ankle in January, but the Toros are hopeful he might be able to contribute during the D-League playoffs.
* In non-shootaround news, the Toros' Quin Snyder has been named the Developmental League's Coach of the Year. He's certainly deserving, having kept the Toros among the D-League's elite with the Spurs constantly pirating players from his roster.
By Jeff McDonald
* Tim Duncan is expected to play against the Jazz tonight, after Gregg Popovich pulled him from Wednesday's loss to Portland. Duncan is wrestling with a pair of sore knees and is considered day-to-day, everyday.
* Popovich said he will be happy to see his buddy, Jerry Sloan, for the first time since the Jazz coach's election into the Hall of Fame. "That probably should have happened a long time ago," Popovich said. "You knew it was going to happen at some time. What a great career, what a great example of persistence."
* The key to getting by the Jazz? Same as it's been since Karl Malone and John Stockton (another newly minted HOFer) were in too-short shorts: Defend the pick and roll. These days, however, it's Carlos Boozer/Paul Millsap picking for Deron Williams. Williams is the head of the snake here. "You have to contain D-Will, try to stay in front of him," Tony Parker said. "He's going to try and create for the whole team."
* Ian Mahinmi made an appearance at shootaround this morning -- surprising, since he was assigned to Austin last week. Popovich characterized Mahinmi's visit as personal, and not professional. "Ian's visiting with us today, saying hello to everyone, and we're saying hello to Ian," Popovich said. "It's not a situation where he's coming back with the team to play. He's still recovering." Mahinmi had surgery on his right ankle in January, but the Toros are hopeful he might be able to contribute during the D-League playoffs.
* In non-shootaround news, the Toros' Quin Snyder has been named the Developmental League's Coach of the Year. He's certainly deserving, having kept the Toros among the D-League's elite with the Spurs constantly pirating players from his roster.