Spurs Notebook: 'Little General' surveys camp

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

Web Posted: 10/02/2008 12:00 CDT
Mike Monroe - Express-News

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich enjoys the company of great basketball minds, so it is never a surprise when other head coaches, past or present, visit the Spurs practice facility.

Wednesday's visitor to Spurs training camp, though, was special.

Avery Johnson, the former Spurs star and 2005-06 NBA Coach of the Year who was deposed as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks after the 2007-08 season ended, was on-hand at the team's practice facility, and Popovich hinted he will be around for a while longer.

“It's great having Avery here,” Popovich said, “because he's special to all of us in San Antonio, especially the Spurs family, and it's good fun. I get a chance to talk basketball with him and talk family and just laugh and have a good time. But my feelings having him here are kind of mixed, because I wish he were still coaching.

“He's doing a good thing. He's taking a break, spending a lot of time with family. He's staying involved by seeing different programs here and there, but we get the benefit of having him around right now. It's wonderful, in a lot of ways, having him here in training camp.”

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban this week told theDallas Morning-News that several Mavericks players told him after the season that if he did not fire Johnson, they wanted to be traded.

Popovich did not address that issue Wednesday, but said Johnson had grown as a coach during his time in Dallas.

“All these jobs in the NBA are volatile for a variety of reasons,” he said. “What Avery has expressed to me is that he had a great opportunity there and he enjoyed being able to do what he did. You get a job in the NBA and it's really a special thing. He learned a lot, enjoyed it, made some special friends. Now he moves on.”

The Spurs, Popovich said, will benefit from Johnson's presence.

“He's got a great feel for the game, both on a fundamental basis, and as far as what it takes to win in the NBA,” he said. “We'll take advantage of that, and he'll add something to our program, without a doubt.”

New camper: With forwards Kurt Thomas and Ian Mahinmi unavailable for scrimmage sessions because of their injuries, the Spurs made a roster move, cutting a guard and adding a forward-center.

Point guard Brian Morrison, signed Tuesday morning, was waived Wednesday. Charles Gaines, a 6-9 veteran of four seasons of European ball, was signed Wednesday.

Gaines last played in the Turkish professional league. He has had stops in Spain, France, Italy and the Continental Basketball Association.

Support group: Instead of having a second practice session Wednesday, Popovich was to take the entire training-camp roster to Game 1 of the Silver-Stars-Detroit Shock WNBA Finals game at the AT&T Center.

Tickets available: The Spurs on Saturday will begin selling single-game tickets for homes games at the AT&T Center through Jan. 31. Single-game tickets range in price from $10 to $150. Some tickets are available in the lower bowl.

Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations; charge by phone (210-225-TEAM); online, at either ticketmaster.com or spurs.com; and at the AT&T Center southeast box office, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or on weekend days from 10 a.m.

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Finley a lean, mean shooting machine

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

Web Posted: 10/02/2008 12:00 CDT
Bryan Chu - Express-News

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a resounding message for his players at the end of last season.

Look into the mirror.

Michael Finley did just that.

“I didn't like what I was seeing,” Finley said.

Entering his 14th NBA season, Finley lost weight and improved his conditioning by reconfiguring his offseason regimen — perfect timing with the news of Manu Ginobili being out until December after having left ankle surgery.

Finley, 35, started working out just two days after the Spurs bowed out of the Western Conference finals. He went back home to Chicago and straight to Tim Grover, a sports enhancement specialist at Attack Athletics who has worked with the likes of Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade. Along with pickup games, Finley went through muscle-activation training, massages and therapy to recharge his body. Grover noticed a dip in Finley's lateral movement, so they concentrated on the flexibility in his hip area to improve his mobility.

Physical fitness aside, Finley changed his diet completely. More salads, lean meat, fruits and vegetables. No fried food, desserts, sugary items and Tex-Mex, and limited red meat. Now, he eats 4-5 smaller meals per day.

Finley was 235 pounds at the end of last season and has now dropped to 220, the lightest he's been since his days in Dallas.

“I feel lighter, I feel better,” he said. “I just want to be prepared physically and mentally. Mentally, knowing that the opportunity of playing more minutes will be there, and I just want to be prepared at that task. Physically, I wanted to be in the best shape that I could be.”

The proof is in the pack, as in six-pack. Finley looks svelte and strong. Not bad for the 10th-oldest player on an NBA roster.

“Unbelievable,” said Grover of Finley's work ethic. “He is one of the strongest and most dedicated clients I've had.

“Right now his body compares to a 30-year-old. Barring any serious injury, he can easily give the team 30 minutes if needed.”

Though the younger perimeter players such as Ime Udoka and Roger Mason likely will see an increase in minutes with Ginobili out, it's also likely that Finley will fill a similar role to a year ago.

Last season, Finley started 61 of 82 games. He averaged 10.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.9 minutes. He was especially effective from deep, sinking 37 percent of his 3-pointer attempts, making 132, the second most in his career.

With Robert Horry not returning and Brent Barry signing with Houston, Popovich called signing Finley “very important.”

“Losing Michael would've really been a depreciation in corporate knowledge if you will,” said Popovich, who hasn't tabbed a starting lineup outside of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. “His leadership on top of that is paramount to our success. He's a really respected player in the locker room also.

“His role will be the same. We want him to shoot the basketball and knock it down.”

Finley signed a two-year deal worth $5 million, with the second year at his option.

Nowadays, Spurs and old seemingly are linked. Finley, a two-time All-Star and 16.7-point career scorer, is one of those on the ancient end, but that doesn't seem to bother him.

“I don't compare myself to others,” he said. “I know how long I've been in the league when I look into the locker room and I see young guys coming into the locker room at 22. That's a reality check in itself.

“(But) coming into this season, with Manu going down, I'm trying to be more consistent. I have an opportunity to play a little bit, and hopefully I can take advantage of it.”

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