Author: katadmin

Duncan mentors young Hornets during recent visit

For a group of young, hungry players, there probably couldn’t be a better mentor than a future Hall of Famer like Tim Duncan. So when Hurricane Isaac forced the New Orleans Hornets to relocate their volunteer workouts to San Antonio for a couple of days, they jumped at the opportunity to work with one of the NBA’s grand masters. (Or, as the Wu-Tang Clan might call Timmy, a battle-scarred shogun.)

recounted their experience yesterday, in which nine players — including top draft picks Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers — went through a battery of informal workouts and drills at San Antonio’s practice facility. Even Ryan Anderson, a grizzled vet compared to his teenage teammates, said it was a thrill to work with Duncan.

“Obviously, Tim was around, and there’s not a better guy to learn from,’’ said Anderson, a 6-foot-10 forward whom the Hornets acquired in a sign-and-trade deal from the Orlando Magic in July. “He is such a great leader and just talking with him was a positive experience in San Antonio.’’

Davis, who asked for restaurant guidance on Twitter during his visit, couldn’t be reached for comment in the story. But one can only imagine what the top pick in the draft soaked up from Duncan, even in just a few days. Should make for an interesting sidebar when the two teams meet in New Orleans on Oct. 31 for the season opener.

Spurs sweep sets up match against either Lakers or Thunder (and we’re betting the Thunder)

“I don’t see nobody beating them,” Utah Jazz PF Al Jefferson

The San Antonio Spurs spent the weekend taking care of family business feasting on the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs for their second sweep while setting an NBA record as only the 12th team in NBA History to sweep the first two rounds as well as making the Top 10 List of NBA teams with the longest winning streak. But don’t tell Head Coach Gregg Popovich about a streak…he has no idea.

“It doesn’t exist for us,” coach Gregg Popovich said of the team’s 18th win. “We don’t talk about it. I’ve never heard anyone mention it except (in the media). It is not even a thought in our minds. Each game is a separate entity.”

The Spurs used their combination of basketball knowledge, execution and will to overcome a young Clippers squad. One thing for sure is that this Los Angeles team came to play unlike the other remaining Squad, the Lakers. The LA Clippers have played exciting basketball all year; the Lakers are hanging on by a Kobe thread and are one game away from Summer vacation.

“We had a good season,” Paul said. “I think it’s a good sign for our team, but there are no moral victories. It’s not like, ‘Oh, we made it to the playoffs and it’s all good and well.’ We feel like we should still be playing. We’re going to keep working. We’ve got some work to do. We obviously have got to get better.”

Whether the Spurs face the Los Angeles Lakers or the Oklahoma City Thunder, one thing is for sure, this Spurs club is just as good (or better) then their other championship squads and are for sure a much deeper team than those squads

“This year reminds me of when I was here the last time (2003),” said late arrival Stephen Jackson, who came in under the trade deadline. “It is a great team and great guys to be around. Nobody is worried about their personal game and everybody wants to just win. So it is still the same around here.”

The Spurs fly back home today and should arrive to a nice crowd to greet them at the San Antonio International Airport, get back home and watch the Lakers and Thunder beat each other up for the right to face them.

“I don’t see nobody beating them,” Utah Jazz PF Al Jefferson

Spurs to unveil alternate unis today

Paul Lukas, the master of all things uniform-related in professional sports, earlier today that the Spurs will unveil a new set of alternate uniforms to be worn in their home opener against Oklahoma City on Nov. 1.

As the good folks at Project Spurs, who whipped up the , pointed out, the Spurs have had some experience with alternate uniforms in the past. Both the good, such as their Dallas Chaparrals throwbacks, and the bad that were those horrible silver togs that made the Spurs look like walking old-school TV dinners.

At least their black-and-silver color scheme gives them a great starting point. My personal hope is something 70s oriented, with matching polyester leisure suits for Pop and the coaching staff.