Express News: Dwight as David: Twins in blame

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/buck_harvey/Dwight_as_David_Twins_in_blame.html

By Buck Harvey

Dwight Howard has David Robinson's biceps and shoulders. He also has his name.

On the birth certificate, he's Dwight David Howard.

Dwight is also known to talk about his faith. Dwight's father was a state trooper, and David's a military lifer. Dwight, too, has an Olympic gold medal and a defensive player of the year award.

Then there's their odd attraction to underwater animation. Dwight loves “Finding Nemo,” and David once said his favorite movie was “The Little Mermaid.”

But Dwight is never closer to David than he is right now, coming off a one-basket game, with the world wondering if his lack of chest thumping hints at his lack of resolve.

As it was with David, it doesn't.

These men are different, too. While both were No. 1 overall draft picks, Dwight entered the league as a teenager, having never played a minute of college basketball. David debuted as a 24-year-old, older than Dwight is now.

Dwight is also shorter than David, and he doesn't yet have the shooting stroke that David had. David's educational background separates them as well.

Still, as soon as Dwight stepped into the NBA, the comparisons were made. “To me,” Doc Rivers said of Dwight the rookie, “he walks like David, talks like David.”

He also runs and jumps the way David did. Dwight has the same outrageous package of height and quickness, with a shot-blocker's instincts. Dwight, too, runs the floor and controls the space he is in.

They also share the same flaws. Dwight is not known for his footwork and post-up moves; he's not Tim Duncan.

Against Cavaliers defenders who were either too stiff, too small or both, Dwight could score 40 points in the finale. Against a tandem of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, two 7-footers ready to foul when beaten, he finished without even one dunk.

That doesn't mean he can't respond tonight. But Orlando will need to be smarter, getting Dwight the ball as he flashes or before the Lakers set up their defense.

Still, that's not what people see. They see Dwight smiling too much, as if he doesn't care, and Sports Illustrated framed the perception this spring. Is Dwight nasty enough to win a title?

One anecdote came from the All-Star Weekend. Then, Dwight willingly stood as a prop as Nate Robinson jumped over him to win the dunk contest. Kobe Bryant, among others, said he never would have done the same.

Dwight smiled again and shrugged. Isn't this event mostly about fun?

So when Dwight scored one basket in 35 minutes Thursday, everything was repeated. Critics said he wandered aimlessly (while somehow getting 15 rebounds), and this exchange came from a national columnist:

“One basketball Hall of Famer in attendance said Howard played with absolutely no ‘grrrrrrrrrr!' whatsoever, and he's right.”

David heard the same. His image was that he would have preferred to play piano or build a computer.

The truth: If anything, David was too wound up. When Hakeem Olajuwon beat him in 1995, it wasn't because he lacked passion.

Dwight cried as a rookie when he lost. But now he hides that, singing songs at the free-throw line because that helps him concentrate.

In this era of camera close-ups, it's damning. While Kobe growls, Dwight doesn't exhibit the proper histrionics. He's expected to curse or preen, because, for many, that's the measure of toughness.

Dwight doesn't seem to mind hearing that he lacks “grrrrrrrrrr.” He keeps smiling, maybe because he already knows what really matters.

His twin, after all, is heading to the Hall of Fame this fall.

Express News: Ginobili predicts complete recovery

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Ginobili_predicts_complete_recovery.html

By Jeff McDonald

Manu Ginobili boarded a flight to Argentina late Sunday afternoon, headed home for the first time in nearly a year.

This time, he planned to stay awhile, using his vacation to relax with friends and family and do all the things that a wandering son and brother does when he finally gets a chance to return home.

“I’ve got almost everything packed up and ready to go,” Ginobili said from his San Antonio home a few hours before leaving for the airport. “There was a lot to pack.”

Ginobili could be bringing everything but the kitchen sink back with him to Buenos Aires. It still wouldn’t match the baggage he carried the last time he made the trip home.

Last summer, the Spurs guard boarded a similar flight to his homeland to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing, bearing the weight of an entire nation’s expectations on his shoulders. He left behind an employer that had urged him to reconsider his loyalty to country and a Spurs fan base just praying he’d survive the summer in one piece.

Ginobili, the star of Argentina’s Olympic team, came back from Beijing in a boot after reinjuring the left ankle that had given him trouble during the 2008 playoffs. That twist of both ankle and fate led to a series of injuries that wiped out most of Ginobili’s 2008-09 season.

In his first interview since April 5, the day before a stress fracture in his right distal fibula put a premature end to the most tumultuous season of his career, Ginobili said Sunday that he expects to be fully recovered by the opening of training camp in October.

“For the past month or so, I haven’t felt any pain, even to the touch,” Ginobili said. “I don’t have any doubt I’ll be 100 percent before training camp starts.”

Much is riding on Ginobili’s latest recovery effort. Nothing the Spurs accomplish this offseason, either via the draft or free agency, will mean much if Ginobili cannot approach the form that made him the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2007-08.

Injury-plagued from start to finish, Ginobili missed all but 44 games last season, including all of the Spurs’ first-round playoff ouster against Dallas. He averaged 15.5 points, his fewest since 2005-06, while his shooting percentage dipped to 45.5 percent, his lowest since 2003-04.

As Ginobili heads home this summer, again recovering from an ankle injury but this time without an Olympic quest to hijack the healing process, he does so under no marching order other than to get well.

His long-term future in San Antonio could depend on it.

Ginobili, who will turn 32 next month, is entering the final year of a contract scheduled to pay him close to $16.1 million next season.

The Spurs had begun preliminary talks about a contract extension last summer before Ginobili left for China. Those negotiations were shelved when Ginobili re-injured his left ankle at the Olympics, and they have yet to resume.

“They want to see that I am healthy,” Ginobili said.

Ginobili is hopeful he can reach a deal that would allow him to finish his career in San Antonio.

“I have said a thousand times, I would love to stay here,” Ginobili said. “You know how the NBA is, though. There are not a lot of players who get to start and finish in the same place. I love San Antonio. If I have to take another road, you do what you have to do. But it would not be my first option, for sure.”

For the Spurs, who have played with their star guard injured for much of the past 14 months, the preferred option is to have Ginobili healthy.

The news so far this offseason has been encouraging.

An MRI taken Thursday showed the bone in his right leg completely healed. Ginobili expects to return to running and jumping next month, and he should be able to begin basketball work not long after that.

“All the things I have not been allowed to do, I should be allowed to do soon,” he said.

This summer, Ginobili hopes to reinvigorate his career in the same manner it went south last summer.

By boarding a plane to Argentina.

*********************

87 number of regular-season and playoff games the Spurs played during the 2008-09 campaign

44 games Ginobili played during the 2008-09 season, the fewest of his seven-year career

90 average number of regular-season and playoff games per season Ginobili played during his first six seasons

*********************

A painful 14 months

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has spent much of the past 14 months either injured or rehabilitating from injury. Here is a glance at Ginobili’s recent treks to the training room:

April 2008: Ginobili experiences soreness in his left ankle during the Spurs’ first-round playoff series against Phoenix, but he continues to play through the discomfort.

May 2008: The pain in Ginobili’s ankle gets progressively worse. By the Western Conference finals against the Lakers, he is a shell of himself.

Aug. 22, 2008: Playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics, Ginobili re-aggravates the ankle injury. Diagnosed with a ligament impingement, he undergoes arthroscopic surgery two weeks later.

Nov. 24, 2008: Ginobili makes his season debut at Memphis, having missed the first 12 games recovering from surgery.

Feb. 16, 2009: Experiencing soreness in his right ankle that did not subside during the All-Star break, Ginobili does not make the final leg of the Spurs’ rodeo road trip. Doctors diagnose him with a stress reaction in his right distal fibula, which will sideline him for 19 more games.

March 25, 2009: Cleared by the team’s medical staff to return to action, Ginobili plays 14 minutes in a victory at Atlanta.

April 5, 2009: Ginobili again feels discomfort in the right ankle during a loss to Cleveland. He returns to San Antonio to be examined by the team’s medical staff.

April 6, 2009: Doctors determine Ginobili’s stress reaction has become a more ominous stress fracture, and they pronounce him out for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

Express News: Ever against Spurs, Kobe doin' work

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Ever_against_Spurs_Kobe_doin_work.html

By Buck Harvey - Buck Harvey

Spike Lee aimed 30 cameras at Kobe Bryant a year ago. In the background, playing the straight man in the film, were the Spurs.

Never has casting been more appropriate.

As the last NBA Finals of this decade begin tonight, the Spurs are in the background again. Kobe has a chance to cement the Lakers as the team of this decade and, if he does, the reason should be clear to anyone who remembers 2000.

Then Kobe looked the way he will look tonight.

The Lakers will win this championship. They have flaws, as the Rockets and Nuggets revealed, but they match up well with the Magic.

The Lakers have long defenders to stretch out on the Orlando 3-point shooters, and they have two 7-footers to stretch toward Dwight Howard. Lamar Odom will be a perfect counter for Rashard Lewis, Phil Jackson has experience on Stan Van Gundy and the Finals format will help the Lakers as it helps every team with the home-court advantage.

Then there's Kobe. Having played more NBA seasons, games and minutes than Tim Duncan, Kobe will still be able to take Mickael Pietrus where he wants to take him, then elevate over him.

Kobe was a physical marvel as a teenager, and not much has changed. Whereas each of the Spurs of this decade has risen and fallen, exchanging places on the graph of their primes, Bryant's knees and ankles have held a straight line.

His bio explains why. He skipped college, after all.

Still, he's only two years younger than Duncan, with more NBA wear. Wait a few years to see if LeBron James is able to do the same. Will his 250-pound body give in to gravity?

Kobe's body still defies gravity, but it won't hold up forever. He has put in a lot of miles for someone who will be 31 in August, and a warning of that came against Denver. Then Kobe did something no one can remember. He admitted he was fatigued.

Wednesday, in Los Angeles, he went the other way. Then he told the press, “I can play at a high level for another six years at least,” and he has reasons for wanting to. His sight is on Michael Jordan and his six rings.

But No. 4 would have significance, too, especially for his franchise. Both the Lakers and Spurs have three titles in this decade, and no other Western Conference team has even one.

Maybe that's why Lee chose a late-season Spurs-Lakers game in 2008 for “Kobe Doin' Work.” Lee had gotten the idea from a film about the French soccer star, Zinedine Zidane.

So the 30 cameras were set up, and at times Kobe acted as if he knew where each one was. At times he came across as he often does with the media — as if even he's not sure what is real and what is phony.

At times he was smart, with a deep understanding of the game. And at times he was funny. Kobe said waiting for Duncan to shoot a free throw “is like being at the longest stoplight in the world.”

The Lakers routed the Spurs that day, with Kobe sitting the entire fourth quarter. Fittingly, Manu Ginobili didn't play because of an injury.

The film limped, too, with critics panning “Kobe Doin' Work” as borin'. For once, no one blamed the Spurs.

Kobe recovered. He beat the Spurs in the Western Conference finals last season, and a year later he's back in the same place with a chance to win his fourth title this decade.

He's still jumping, still limber, still performing as if this were 2000. Only his straight man seems to get older.

ESPN: NBA's 65 in 65: Bruce Bowen

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26848

Welcome to The Show! On Saturday, we continue our 65 in 65. That's 65 NBA chats in 65 days. We will hold an NBA chat each day through the end of the NBA Finals. We'll bring you players, analysts, writers, anyone who can help you fill your NBA fix. Saturday's guest is San Antonio Spurs forward Bruce Bowen.

Known as one of the best defenders in the NBA, Bowen has been elected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times (2003-08) and the second team three times (2000-03). He was also a key contributor to three of the Spurs championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Before joining the Spurs in 2001, Bruce made his way around the league playing for the Miami Heat (1996-97, 1999-00), Boston Celtics (1997-99) and the Philadelphia 76ers (1999-00).


Bruce Bowen: Hey, everybody. Bruce is in the chat building.


Terrance,MI: Hey bruce, has the window closed on the San Antonio Spurs? Or do they have another championship left in them?

Bruce Bowen: Of course we have another championship left in us. Part of it is everybody has to be healthy. If you're not healthy, it's a lot more difficult. That's why you play the game, so to say no that would be a disservice to everyone with the Spurs.


Jared (Edmonton, AB): Hi Bruce, if you were defending Kobe in Game 2 after the success he and the Lakers had in Game 1, what modifications would you make individually to keep Kobe more in check?

Bruce Bowen: I'd still work just as hard when he makes shots. Guys tend to let up because he makes shots. You have to weather the storm and try to deny him the ball. I think he got a lot of non-contested catches, and when you give someone of his ability those avenues he's going to take advantage of that every time.


Steven (NJ): How much longer do you plan to play in the NBA?

Bruce Bowen: As long as they'll have me.


derek, orlando, fl: Bruce, Have you ever thought about coaching in your future? You could become a great defensive mentor to young wing defenders.

Bruce Bowen: You know, my talent was playing the game. I'd like to be able to spend time with my family instead of being gone so much. Coaching requires a lot of time away from your family. I don't see it in my future. It takes a lot of time and effort, and a type of commitment that I'm just not willing to make right now.


Rye (Vancouver, BC): Bruce, huge fan of yours and the Spurs. Do you expect to return next season, if so how many changes do you expect? If not will you play elsewhere?

Bruce Bowen: I hope to be here. I expect to be here. I'm sure there will be changes, but I don't think there will be a truck load of changes. I think we still have key figures that you can still build around, so you don't need to dismantle the team. But I'm not trying to be a player and GM, so I just try to do the best I can. That's how I approach things.


Shayne - NY [via mobile]: Bruce... Who was the toughest player you've ever had to guard? Thanks!

Bruce Bowen: Michael Jordan. He really had an infectious personality with his teammates. He gave guys courage when they wouldn't have had it. Kind of like Kobe and his will right now.


Fahim (LA): Hey Mr. Bowen, who is tough to guard kobe or lebron?

Bruce Bowen: I see Kobe more than LeBron, but Kobe's resume has championships. And until LeBron wins championships, there's not much you can say to put them on the same level. Even though LeBron won MVP, there's still a gap between them. Kobe is getting a bit older and LeBron is feeling his way out. Kobe has been able to do a lot more with matchups, whereas LeBron is a facilitator in the offense. LeBron looks to get his teammates involved. And Kobe is looking to set up his shot while trying to find the passing lanes.


Bill (San Antonio): Some people view you as a dirty player, do you agree?

Bruce Bowen: That's so funny to me. I don't consider myself a dirty player. Everyone has an opinion. If you ask anyone in San Antonio or Miami and nine out of 10 times, they'll say no. But if you ask people in other cities, they'll say yes because of the success we had against their teams.


miguel (ny): Bruce, if you want one player from the NBA to be in your team who would it be.

Bruce Bowen: That's tough, because you don' get to know people unless you spend six weeks with them. That being said, it's hard for me to say who I'd like to play with.


miguel (ny): Bruce who do you think is going to win the finals?

Bruce Bowen: I don't have a pick. But the way L.A. came out, you can see that experience played a pivotal role.


Ariel (Los Angeles, Ca): Do you think ultimately the Magic have enough firepower for the lakers?

Bruce Bowen: Oh, yeah. They're a good team. They have quite the talent. It's just a matter of getting past what happened in Game 1.


Chris, Orlando FL: Bruce. What advice would you give Lee or Pietrus on defending Kobe? I thought in Game 1 they gave him too much respect and too much space. What are your thoughts?

Bruce Bowen: Kobe is a very good basketball player, so they didn't *give* him much of anything. But they have to continue to compete. Maybe deny him a bit more. Maybe don't let him get easy post-ups. Get him off the spot. Make him aware of you. Don't just let him get where he wants to be and go from there.


fahim (LA): Hi, why is it that you shoot better % of your 3s then your foul shots?

Bruce Bowen: That happened before, but that's not the case now. I don't shoot a high percentage of free throws. So if I got there with more frequency then I would be better. When I get into a rhythm I'm a lot better. There's no real excuses I can make. But other than my first year, it hasn't been as bad.


Amit Aggarwal (NJ): What do you do to keep yourself in such good shape while getting old?...in NBA years at least.

Bruce Bowen: It's important in the offseason to keep a solid regiment. Anything with the basketball is good. Not just shooting, but doing things at game speed. Exercising at game speed helps a great speed. I understand it's important that you don't want the coach to see that you're tired. I never wanted that to happen with me. I want them to see that when they give me an opportunity, I'll be ready and in great shape.


Kevin (San Antonio, TX): They say 70% of the earth is covered by water, and the rest is covered by Bruce Bowen. Is there anybody you can't guard?

Bruce Bowen: I think my competitiveness would say there isn't. I'm sure Tim, Shaq, Dwight Howard -- they would get their numbers against me. But as a competitor, I would say no. But I respect opponents, so it's not arrogance. It's all about how I prepare and the mutual respect we have.

Bruce Bowen: I appreciate the time, everyone. Chat folks, I am out of room! Take care.

48 Minutes of Hell: Offseason Breakdown - Small Forward

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2009/06/01/offseason-breakdown-small-forward/

The one spot on the Spurs roster that deserves a stick of dynamite is small forward. The frontcourt needs work, but the type of work that merely adds to a solid core. You understand this. You’ve left a hundred comments amen-ing the sentiment. The reconstruction of the Spurs’ wing is not an easy project. Essentially, the Spurs need to replace Bruce Bowen’s defense, add another ball handler, find someone who can score off the dribble and has three point range.

At this point, you should be laughing. Doesn’t every team want a player like that? And of course it would really help if said player were Hedo Turkoglu long. But while it’s not an easy project, it’s not an impossible one either.


It’s easy to see that combination of skills and toss your arms to the sky in a hopeless exhale. When players like that come along, teams lock them up with big contracts. The sort of contracts the Spurs can’t afford apart from landing a cap crushing salary dump. But don’t despair.

It’s not inconceivable that the Spurs simply hit reset on their small forward situation. They can do this by trading Bruce Bowen’s semi-expiring deal (or waiving it) and letting Ime Udoka walk. That would leave only Mike Finley as a SF reserve, assuming he opts in for the final season of his contract.

As I’ve thought about the Spurs wing situation, I’ve become increasingly hopeful. Why? Well, the Spurs do not have to arrive at their final destination overnight, they just have to start moving in that direction. If they can find one player this offseason who improves their wing rotation, then they’ve gone a long way. He doesn’t have to be a perfect composite of all the things listed above, but he needs to bring a couple of those characteristics. Adding depth behind such a player would then become a high priority, but the Spurs can show patience in that process. This is the first reason not to worry.

The second reason is that the Spurs should have plenty of options this offseason—the summer is setting up nicely for San Antonio. I would be amazed if the Spurs went into next fall without having made at least one significant move toward small forward recovery. And I suspect they’ll have taken two large steps on that front, one through trade or free agency and the other through the draft. Let me explain.

The Spurs are walking into an offseason that presents a perfect storm of possibility. Think about it. The price on free agents is coming down due to a hard economy and the ever present class of 2010 looming large in the background. Teams won’t want to spend. And some of those same teams will want to rid themselves of overpaid but otherwise useful players. This combination puts the Spurs in a good spot–they’ll have opportunities to improve through the trade market or in free agency, if they want.

I’m not going to pretend to know which direction the Spurs will choose, whether they’ll make a bold move or cleverly refine the edges. Personally, I like some of the oft-discussed bold move scenarios, and others not so much. The same is true of more subtle refinements. I’m stating the obvious, but it depends on who we are talking about and how much they cost.

But I came away from the Combine with a sense of optimism about the offseason ahead. The Spurs should be able to pull a decent Austin-bound prospect out of this draft. If they move into the first round, as recent rumors suggest, they could land a player who gets a shot at meaningful minutes next season.

So, I’m not going to include a list of players in this post. I’ll let you do that in the comments, and for good reason. Rather than publish the laundry list–one that ranges from Vince Carter to Tyler Smith, and stops at all points in between–I’ll let you talk it through. How do you think the Spurs should fix their small forward situation? Your conversation will demonstrate my point: they have plenty of opportunities to improve themselves at wing. There is reason for optimism.

Express News: Person of interest: Ben Woodside

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/06/person-of-inter.html

By Jeff McDonald

In a sense, May was an uncharacteristically slow month for the Spurs. For the first time in a long time, there were no playoff games for them to play, having suffered their first first-round ouster since 2000 when Dallas beat them in five games.

In another sense, May was as busy as ever for the Spurs, with a steady stream of prospects darkening the doors of their practice facility for pre-draft tryouts.

The NBA draft is June 25. Between now and then, we here at Courtside will take a look -- in no particular order -- at some of the players the Spurs have auditioned and could be targeting with one of their three second-round picks.

We start today with Ben Woodside, a point guard from North Dakota State.

At 5-foot-11, scouts rightly wonder if Woodside has the physical tools to make in the NBA. He is also a tad on the old side for an NBA prospect, slated to turn 24 not long after draft day.

Still, Woodside produced in college. Boy, did he produce. A scoring point, Woodside carried career averages of 18.2 points and 5.1 assists per game, all while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. He was considered to be one of the quickest college guards in the nation last season.

The guy can flat score. He dropped 60 in a game against Stephen F. Austin last season, impressive no matter the level. Woodside also produced against the big boys, pumping in 37 against Kansas in the NCAA tournament. Those numbers are difficult to ignore.

Scouts will also wonder about the competition Woodside faced on a nightly basis at North Dakota State, but it should be noted that the Spurs found a legitimate NBA player in the Summit League -- IUPUI's George Hill -- in last year's draft.

Backup point guard was a sore spot for the Spurs last season. Though they would prefer to have a traditional, past-first point behind Tony Parker, Woodside has played his way onto their radar.

It remains to be seen where he goes from there. The point-guard crop is fairly deep this year, stocked with players with more size and more length and who might be more NBA-ready.

Olé: Oberto Interview

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2009/05/30/basquet/01929312.html

-¿How do you evaluate your 4th NBA season?

-It was the roughest. Even though I began the season playing, then came the first arrythmia, in march, and it cut my playing rythm, the confidence of being healthy... At that moment I had a role on the team but then it became more difficult because I went out, others came in and the team got used to playing with other players, it becomes hard to crack the rotation. I only came in when my style was more appropriate for the opponent.

-Matt Bonner played well and that left you out, right?

-Yes, that might be it, but I dont have problems with the coaches decisions, and I never will.

-¿Is the new trend of small ball and shooting bigs hurting your chances?

-Thats not something that concerns me. I've played PF and C, sometimes with Tim (Duncan) and others coming in for him. Its an alternative to make the attack more dynamic or to space the floor for a dominant big, but I still think there is room for all of us, there are a lot of games, different rivals...

-You had two arrythmias, ¿were you scared?

-Not scared because the coaching staff of the Spurs, who are very careful and professional, told me not to worry. Its impossible for them to send you in if there is a risk. Besides I always felt fine. Except for a dizzy spell that made them give me shocks to reset my heart beat...

-¿What are the shocks like?

-They knock you out and do it. I didnt get scared because they are good doctors and its not that strange, but the first time.... you know Hakeem Olajuwon had to do it 3 times a season.

-¿What were the results of the last tests?

-The last few days I was with 2 cardiólogists specialized in athletes and I still have another session. The results are that, in the future, I dont have to worry. I still have another meeting with those specialists, probably wednesday, to be at ease that I am safe on the court. It remains to be seen if there is a cure, if I have to medicate or rest a while. but Im already thinking of next season

-You have another year on your contract, but only partly guaranteed.

-Exactly. And the spurs have till the 30th of June to let me know if I stay

-¿What do you want to do?

-I really like this city and franchise. I understand my role and I know that I can help more than this year to win more championships.

-¿What contact have you had, did they anticipate anything?

-Not yet. Everything is quiet and maybe in the next 10 days we'll know something

-¿Would it bother you to be traded or cut?

-No. I know the rules of the game. San Antonio is a team looking to improve, But I feel they have always respected and valued me, playing or not.

-You played a lot and well in the last champion season (06/07) and barely at all in the last. ¿Does it affect your confidence, your belief of belonging in the NBA?
-Not my confidence. When I was able to play I didnt do it bad. Its just that, when you play 30 mins, you have the time to develop your game. When you play 5 or 10m, the results are mixed... But my experience helps me, I still trust in my ability.

-¿Do you think of returning to europe?
-Id rather stay, I like the NBA, the experience, its the highest level... But I'd never close the door to europe. I havent asked my agent about offers, but soon I will call, see whats on the table and decide my future

Express News: The Casspi question

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/05/the-casspi-ques.html#more

By Jeff McDonald

The NBA draft is still nearly a month away. For everybody except the Lakers, Cavaliers, Magic and maybe the Nuggets, it's not too early to start looking ahead to June 25.

For the Spurs, much of the early speculation — emphasis on the word early — has surrounded a 20-year-old Israeli named Omri Casspi.

Casspi, a 6-foot-8 small forward, isn't exactly a household name in the Alamo City. Draft wonks, and certainly those in the Spurs front office, know exactly who he is. Casspi has been playing in the Euroleague since he was 17, most recently with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He has been on the Spurs radar for about as long.

He is a decent 3-point shooter (shooting nearly 40 percent for Maccabi Tel Aviv last season), in the mold of Utah's Matt Harpring. One of the Spurs' goals this offseason is to begin to get younger on the wing, and Casspi — still not old enough to drink legally in the United States — certainly fills the bill there.

Unlike other European prospects the Spurs have taken in recent drafts (see Splitter, Tiago), Casspi reportedly is bedazzled with the prospect of playing in the NBA, and would likely take a financial hit to make that dream come true.

So, what's to keep Casspi from taking a call from the Spurs on draft day? There are two intertwined factors.

No. 1 — There are rumors that Casspi will withdraw from the draft if he's not guaranteed to be a first round pick. At the pre-draft combine in Chicago earlier this week, he didn't exactly deny that rumor. At this point, Casspi is projected as a late first-round, early second-round selection.

No. 2 — The Spurs have no first-round pick this season, having dealt theirs (No. 25 overall) to Seattle/Oklahoma City in February 2008 as part of the Kurt Thomas deal. The Spurs do have three second-round picks (Nos. 37, 51 and 53).

Don't be surprised to see the Spurs try to trade into the bottom of the first round, if they think they have a shot at Casspi. That is one storyline worth watching on draft day.

Casspi, meanwhile, hasn't scheduled a private workout with the Spurs, and it remains uncertain that he would. He probably doesn't have to. The Spurs have been scouting Casspi for so long, they know all there is to know about him.

However, there is a long and growing list of prospects who have worked out or are believed to have worked out for the Spurs. Among them:

PG — Nic Wise of Arizona, Ben Woodside of North Dakota State, Kyle McAlarney of Notre Dame, Jeremy Pargo of Gonzaga, Donald Sloan of Texas A&M, Curtis Jerrells of Baylor and Nick Calathes of Florida.

SG — Dionte Christmas of Temple, Dwyane Collins of Miami, Alex Ruoff of West Virginia, Greivis Vasquez of Maryland, Va., Jermaine Taylor from Central Florida and Courtney Fells from North Carolina State.

SF/PF: Tyler Smith of Tennesee, Robert Dozier of Memphis and Leo Lyons from Missouri.

Cleveland Insider: Calling on Pop

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1243624743243260.xml&coll=2

Cavs coach Mike Brown said he's been talking to close friend and mentor Gregg Popovich over the past several days in working on game plans. The San Antonio Spurs coach and Brown talk often during the season, but this is the first time the Spurs haven't been alive in the playoffs and the Cavs have, enabling Brown to seek more advice.

"Pop's always been a great sounding board for me," Brown said.

As for people calling Brown, that's quite different. Brown said over the past few days he's had plenty of people come up to him or call him with ideas of how to help with the Cavs' issues with the Magic -- especially on defense and in guarding the 3-point shot.

"I've had a lot of suggestions on how to stop the 3 from my son to my best friend to you name it," Brown said.

Ginóbili's future with Argentina uncertain (Notícia: Futuro incerto de Ginóbili na selecção argentina)

http://basket-spot.blogspot.com/2009/05/news-ginobilis-future-with-argentina.html

Argentinian superstar Manu Ginóbili expressed doubts about his participation with the national next year at the World Championship in Turkey. If Argentina is to qualify through the Americas Championship this year (which will not have the participation of the guard), the 31-year-old is still unsure about joining, as his body is already reflecting the many years of competition both at club and national team level. In the Beijing Olympics last year, Ginóbili got injured in the game semi-final game against the United States and no longer returned for the bronze medal match.

According to the player, a decision, on which the San Antonio Spurs have no special say, is to be taken just next year, when the tournament approaches.

(A superestrela argentina Manu Ginóbili expressou dúvidas relativamente à sua participação no Campeonato do Mundo da Turquia, a disputar no próximo ano. Caso a Argentina se qualifique através do Campeonato das Américas deste ano (que não contará com a presença do base), o jogador de 31 anos ainda não sabe se se juntará à selecção, uma vez que fisicamente já existem sinais dos vários anos de competição ao nível de clubes e da selecção. Nos Jogos Olímpicos de Pequim do ano passado, Ginóbili lesionou-se na meia-final frente aos Estados Unidos, e já não regressou para disputar o jogo de atribuição da medalha de bronze.

De acordo com o jogador, uma decisão, à qual os San Antonio Spurs serão alheios, será tomada apenas no ano que vem, pouco antes do início do torneio.)