Tony Parker out Indefinitely, Stoudamire to sign soon?

[MavsFanFinley]

Popovich to sit Spurs star Tony Parker indefinitely to rest bone spur heel

By GREGG BELL, AP Sports Writer
January 29, 2008

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Spurs' Big Three is down a man yet again.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has decided to sit Tony Parker indefinitely, against the point guard's wishes, because of a bone spur in the star's left heel.

"He was told he was going to get better, but he's gotten worse," Popovich said. "I don't know how long it's going to be, but he's going to sit.

"He doesn't like it, but this is the way it's going to be."

Popovich made his decision about an hour before Tuesday night's game at Seattle, surprising Parker, who has been playing through pain for six weeks, and Jacques Vaughn. Popovich informed Vaughn that he was starting for the fifth time this season, just as the 11th-year veteran was coming back into the locker room.

Vaughn stood in the doorway of the locker room with a stunned look on his face and finally said, "Uh ... OK."

Popovich said Parker's long-term health is more important than the Spurs' need to reverse their recent, middling ways while on a a nine-game road trip to both coasts -- San Antonio's annual trek while the city's rodeo and stock show takes over its home arena. The defending NBA champions entered Tuesday just 11-12 since starting 17-3.

Their frustration after a second consecutive defeat Monday night at Utah led All-Star Tim Duncan to say his team sorely needed to win Tuesday against the woeful SuperSonics, who were buried under a team-record 14-game losing streak.

Parker, who is averaging 19.2 points and 6.1 assists per game this season, missed four games from Dec. 13-19 for what the Spurs said were sprained left ankles. But it's the nagging bone spur that was causing the ankle pain, and now his coach has decided only rest will ultimately cure Parker and put the champs into preferred, optimal condition entering the playoffs in April.

San Antonio entered Tuesday 1-3 without Parker starting. The Spurs were 7-6 from Dec. 5 through Jan. 4, when Parker and fellow stars Duncan and Manu Ginobili appeared together for just 2 minutes of one game because of injuries.

"You have to have health to win it," Popovich said of the NBA title, which he has won four times in 11 seasons leading San Antonio. "If you don't have all your horses come playoff time, you'll be planning your vacation (early)."

Vaughn normally would be backed up at point guard now by Brent Barry, but Barry is expected to miss at least three more weeks with a sprained right calf. Sharpshooter Ginobili will likely get the backup point guard duties, as he did some in the preseason, while Parker is out.

Ginobili played his first game Monday without the protective device he'd been wearing this month over his sprained left index finger.

"I think Manu's pretty healthy right now," Popovich said.


http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...onroe_sto.html

Mike Monroe: Stoudamire a Spur soon?

It can't happen until early Wednesday evening, when Damon Stoudamire clears waivers, but it now appears likely the Spurs will sign the 5-foot-10 point guard who on Monday finalized terms of a buyout of his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Stoudamire had expressed interest in signing with both the Spurs and the Boston Celtics, but seems to have settled on San Antonio as his destination of choice.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who doubles as the team's vice-president of basketball operations, can't speak about Stoudamire until he clears waivers tomorrow night. He did, however, express a high degree of interest before Monday night's game against the Utah Jazz in whether or not Stoudamire had officially gotten out of his deal in Memphis.

The Spurs, in need of additional scoring, also are acutely aware of the frailty of their point guard situation because of the injury that has bothered Tony Parker for nearly two months. Parker's explosiveness has been limited because of a bone spur in his left heel.

Stoudamire averaged 7.3 points in 29 games with the Grizzlies this season, but shot only 39.7 percent, and 38.7 percent from 3-point range. He has been in the league since 1995 and has a career scoring average of 13.8.

[rabbitproof]

Man, are the heavens showing cracks?

I don't know if this qualifies as bold or foolish but I am pretty confident they are not repeating.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

I don't know if this qualifies as bold or foolish but I am pretty confident they are not repeating.

They never do (consecutively...)

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Spurs losing to the Sonics is quite delightful for a regular season game.