From a deep slumber, the sleeping giant is finally awake! After a poor take off from the starting gates, the San Antonio Spurs are currently on a roll, winning seven of their last ten games and riding high on a 3-game winning streak to go 2 games above .500 at 8 wins-6 loss card. Their latest victims were the road-weary Chicago Bulls, as rookie George Hill scored 19 points and pulled down 11 caroms to lead the Alamo outfit to a 98-88 win last Wednesday night (yesterday, Manila time).
The game marked the home debut of Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who is coming off a long stint in the injury list. Ginobili actually played his first game this season in the Spur's road win over Memphis last Monday. The game also saw the emotional return of Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro in the city of San Antonio. Del Negro, who is in his first year as Bulls coach, spent the best years of his NBA playing career with the Spurs.
Hill had an outstanding game against the Windy City outfit and San Antonio mentor Gregg Popovich likes what he saw in the 6-2 guard out of IUPUI. "I think fans see that he scored 15 points or something like that, I don't even remember. He got 11 rebounds. He got some steals, and he made some defensive plays that will go unnoticed, but he help teams win. He plays an all-around game and does a great job for us", Popovich said in the post-game interview.
With TD21's consistent performances game after game, Ginobili's comeback, new weapons in Roger Mason and Hill and the imminent return of ace quarterback Tony Parker, the Spurs had once again become a tough nut to crack and that certainly is not a welcome news for the rest of the league.
*****
Among the four American Basketball Association (ABA) clubs which were absorbed by the NBA during the 1976-77 season, only the Denver Nuggets had not seen action in an NBA final series. The San Antonio Spurs had already collected four NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. The New Jersey Nets had two runner-up finishes in 2002 (against the LA Lakers) and 2003 (against the Spurs), respectively. While the Indiana Pacers fell short to the Lakers in the 2000 NBA finals. Despite missing the finals boat so far, the Nuggets had made several play-off appearances in the past. Many outstanding players also saw action for the Mile High City squad in the past like Dan Issel, Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe, Lafayette (Fat) Lever, T.R. Dunn, Bill Hanzlik, Danny Schayes, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Jackson, LaPhonso Ellis, Antonio McDyess, Wayne Cooper and Michael Adams and in recent years the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby and Chancey Billups.
With the team's present core under coach George Karl, it looks like they will gatecrash again in the 2009 play-offs but seeing action in the NBA finals is another story. It will remain as it is, an elusive dream.
*****
"The Answer" is at it again! Allen Iverson missed the team practice of the Detroit Pistons on the morning of Thanksgiving day and will not start or may not see action at all in Friday's (Saturday, Manila time) homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks. He also face a hefty fine for missing the said practice. This man really had not grown up after many years in the league. AI should better come to his senses right now or else find himself again in another blockbuster trade. I can almost see a wide grin in the faces of George Karl, Mo Cheeks and Larry Brown.
The game marked the home debut of Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who is coming off a long stint in the injury list. Ginobili actually played his first game this season in the Spur's road win over Memphis last Monday. The game also saw the emotional return of Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro in the city of San Antonio. Del Negro, who is in his first year as Bulls coach, spent the best years of his NBA playing career with the Spurs.
Hill had an outstanding game against the Windy City outfit and San Antonio mentor Gregg Popovich likes what he saw in the 6-2 guard out of IUPUI. "I think fans see that he scored 15 points or something like that, I don't even remember. He got 11 rebounds. He got some steals, and he made some defensive plays that will go unnoticed, but he help teams win. He plays an all-around game and does a great job for us", Popovich said in the post-game interview.
With TD21's consistent performances game after game, Ginobili's comeback, new weapons in Roger Mason and Hill and the imminent return of ace quarterback Tony Parker, the Spurs had once again become a tough nut to crack and that certainly is not a welcome news for the rest of the league.
*****
Among the four American Basketball Association (ABA) clubs which were absorbed by the NBA during the 1976-77 season, only the Denver Nuggets had not seen action in an NBA final series. The San Antonio Spurs had already collected four NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. The New Jersey Nets had two runner-up finishes in 2002 (against the LA Lakers) and 2003 (against the Spurs), respectively. While the Indiana Pacers fell short to the Lakers in the 2000 NBA finals. Despite missing the finals boat so far, the Nuggets had made several play-off appearances in the past. Many outstanding players also saw action for the Mile High City squad in the past like Dan Issel, Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe, Lafayette (Fat) Lever, T.R. Dunn, Bill Hanzlik, Danny Schayes, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Jackson, LaPhonso Ellis, Antonio McDyess, Wayne Cooper and Michael Adams and in recent years the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby and Chancey Billups.
With the team's present core under coach George Karl, it looks like they will gatecrash again in the 2009 play-offs but seeing action in the NBA finals is another story. It will remain as it is, an elusive dream.
*****
"The Answer" is at it again! Allen Iverson missed the team practice of the Detroit Pistons on the morning of Thanksgiving day and will not start or may not see action at all in Friday's (Saturday, Manila time) homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks. He also face a hefty fine for missing the said practice. This man really had not grown up after many years in the league. AI should better come to his senses right now or else find himself again in another blockbuster trade. I can almost see a wide grin in the faces of George Karl, Mo Cheeks and Larry Brown.
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ReplyDeletewell maybe "the answer" is trying out for the losing Lions' QB! he ain't tired yet of running and hopping around the league "after all these years".
ReplyDelete