Though the playoff schedule has tightened to playing every other day, San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan said Sunday he is not worried about his sore right ankle getting less recovery time.
“I think I’ll be fine,” Duncan said. “I’ll use (the off day) to recover and be ready.”
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said he doesn’t expect Duncan’s ankle to be completely healed at any point during the playoffs. Popovich, however, did say he has seen daily improvement in Duncan’s condition.
Duncan is most concerned with missed shots. He is shooting 41 percent from the field and 53 percent from the free-throw line during this series. He is averaging 17.7 points and 10.3 rebounds, but would like to be more efficient.
“I just have to play through the entire thing,” Duncan said. “(Popovich) is in my ear about continuing to shoot shots, and as long as I’m not taking bad shots I’m going to continue to take my shots.”
In eye of the beholder
Popovich has news for anyone who persists in calling San Antonio’s play ugly or boring.
“I wouldn’t agree with the comment,” Popovich said. “If sharing the basketball and playing good (defense) and moving on offense are not aesthetic, then we are guilty.”
Popovich said his team does not take the speed out of the game.
“We run on offense just like everybody else does and look for easy buckets,” he said. “If we don’t have a break, we shoot a good shot. To me, that’s good basketball.”
Footnotes
Popovich said Rasho Nesterovic came out of 17 minutes of play on a bad left ankle just fine. “That’s good for us,” Popovich said. “It gives us a little bit more depth.” … Guard Manu Ginobili (ankle, groin) said he felt OK as well. … Duncan’s interview session with the media was interrupted when a Robert Horry shot bounced over the backboard and knocked a steel rod off the basket support, almost hitting Duncan. “I was sitting under a ladder (earlier), and I knew I never should have been sitting there,” Duncan joked.
