Tag: Eddy Curry

Crucial questions at Spurs camp

E-N beat writer Jeff McDonald breaks down five storylines to track as the Spurs open training camp today:

1. Tony Parker’s encore

Individually speaking, it’s difficult to imagine point guard Tony Parker turning in a better season than the one he posted in 2011-12. He averaged 18.3 points, a career-best 7.7 assists, made his second All-NBA team and finished fifth in league MVP voting.

If the Spurs are to remain among the league’s elite, Parker will need to duplicate his career year.

2. Leonard’s maturation

The Spurs made no major additions this offseason, betting internal improvement would be enough to keep them among the ranks of title contenders. Hopes are highest for Kawhi Leonard, a revelation as a rookie last season, even in a compressed season.

The 21-year-old small forward’s confidence grew leaps and bounds during an offseason spent with the U.S. Select team and spearheading the Spurs’ summer league squad in Las Vegas.

“We expect more from him this year,” team captain Tim Duncan said. “We’ll see what load he’s ready to carry.”

3. Blair’s comportment

The Spurs’ sometimes starting center went public during the summer with his frustrations in falling out of Gregg Popovich’s playoff rotation two seasons in a row. At one point, DeJuan Blair said he expected to be traded.

Still on the roster at the start of camp, Blair’s attitude will go a long way toward how his contract year plays out. Blair showed up at camp in top shape and saying all the right things, so that’s a start.

4. Backup point guards battle

The Spurs never settled on a backup for Parker once T.J. Ford went down with a career-ending injury last season. The scrum there will be the most intriguing camp battle.

Patrick Mills might be considered the front-runner after running the show for Australia in the Olympics, but Gary Neal, Cory Joseph and rookie Nando De Colo also will get shots.

5. Race for the 15th roster spot

For all intents, the Spurs open camp with 14 of the maximum 15 roster spots filled. That leaves one slot open for six non-roster invitees to arm-wrestle over.

Four of those job-seekers — Eddy Curry, Josh Powell, Derrick Brown and Sherron Collins — have NBA experience.

Given the Spurs’ never-ending search for size, Curry — a 7-footer with a well-documented history of weight issues — is perhaps the most interesting candidate.

Jackson: De Colo ‘another Manu Ginobili’

By Mike Monroe

In just 14 minutes and 36 seconds of his first preseason game with the Spurs, rookie guard Nando De Colo established himself as a fan favorite Saturday with some of the slickest passing seen at the ATT Center since Manu Ginobili’s rookie season 10 years ago.

He also impressed some teammates.

According to Stephen Jackson, De Colo is reminiscent of another fan favorite.

“Nando,” Jackson said, “is another Manu Ginobili.”

Officially, De Colo had only three assists in the Spurs’ 106-77 victory over Italian team Montepaschi Siena, but he was denied at least three more because his teammates weren’t prepared for some of his best passes.

“We must just need to practice together and to know each other,” De Colo said. “All the team knows what they must do. I am the only new one on the team so I must do my job with respect for the team and we will see.”

The highlight of De Colo’s NBA preseason debut was a no-look wraparound to forward Derrick Brown for a fourth-quarter dunk. He made only one of three shots, but also had three steals in little more than a quarter’s worth of court time.

“It was the first time, preseason game, and it was great,” De Colo said. “Everybody played. I’m very happy to be here and working to do something this season.”

Splitter sits: Center Tiago Splitter missed the preseason opener with an injury. The 27-year-old from Brazil has been battling back spasms for the last three days.

The third-year big man missed much of his rookie training camp in 2009-10 with a calf injury.

“Tiago’s getting better, but he’s going to miss the beginning of training camp again, unfortunately,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “It’s been a habit for him. (Head athletic trainer) Will (Sevening) thinks he’ll practice on Monday.”

Splitter’s absence was an opportunity for backup big men Josh Powell — a 6-foot-9 veteran of 315 games over six NBA seasons with the Mavericks, Pacers, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers and Hawks — and 10-year veteran Eddy Curry.

Powell scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in 17 minutes. Curry also had seven points, with two rebounds, in the final 9:18 of the game.

Still Spurs property: If Montepaschi big man Viktor Sanikidze’s name sounds vaguely familiar to Spurs fans, it’s because the team acquired his NBA rights in a draft-day trade in 2004. Chosen by Atlanta in the second round (42nd overall), the Spurs still own the rights the 26-year-old from the Republic of Georgia.

Sanikidze, a 6-7 forward, scored five points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

mikemonroe@express-news.net
Twitter: @Monroe_SA