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Plan B is A-OK with Popovich

By Glenn Rogers
San Antonio Express-News

07/26/2003

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is becoming an old hand at introducing new players, even starters, into his contending teams.

So far, he's done just fine.

A couple of seasons ago the first-time starters were Tony Parker, Steve Smith and Bruce Bowen.

Last year, Stephen Jackson began his starting stint at shooting guard next to Parker, and the team won a title.

This time around Rasho Nesterovic begins his tenure as the starting center behind power forward Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili begins his starting role status at Jackson's slot.

Popovich made his run at bringing Jackson back into the fold, but Jackson most likely will wear a new uniform next season.

"It would be very difficult to bring Jack back into the mix now," Popovich said. "We had conversations (with Jackson). I told him we wanted him back and he said he wanted to be back. But apparently he got some different advice somewhere else.

"But we made it very clear to him and his agent (Dan Fegan) that we would go in another direction if we couldn't get some negotiations started.

"We couldn't let this go to September or October and be held hostage then if there were no other opportunities out there. Overpaying a player never works."

The Spurs also lost the services of Speedy Claxton, and they plan on bringing in more backup for Parker.

"We won't be able to get a guy like Speedy. We won't be able to make a trade like we did to get him," Popovich said. "I had a long talk with him before he took the Golden State offer but he wants to be a starter, he wants to lead a team.

"I can understand that completely."

Claxton had said he would talk to Popovich before accepting the three-year, $10 million offer from the Warriors.

The Spurs now have nine guaranteed contracts on their desk — Duncan, Nesterovic, Bowen, Ginobili, Parker, Malik Rose, Ron Mercer, Hedo Turkoglu and Robert Horry. They also expect to bring back Steve Kerr and Kevin Willis.

"It was great to be able to bring in a guy like Horry," Popovich said. "Like Danny Ferry, Mario Elie and Steve Kerr, he's a veteran who lives for the playoffs.

"(General manager R.C. Buford) did a great job filling in the pieces that we needed to continue to compete at a championship level," Popovich said. "We were fortunate that some things fell our way.

"We won't know how it all works out until we learn how the new guys will fit into our system."

Popovich figures to have a few new headaches.

"Hedo is as wild as Manu — those two guys will drive me to drink," he said.

But the coach loves Turkoglu's skills and athleticism; that perimeter talent locked in a body now grown to about 6-feet-10. "He can play the one, two and three spots," Popovich said, referring to the point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions.

Popovich said he figures Horry will be out to prove that last year was just an off year for him shooting wise. Horry is a career 43.4 percent shooter who hit only 38.7 last season, 31 percent in the postseason.

"You know, that shot he made against us (in the final seconds of Game 5) went down and back out," Popovich said. "But he's still the same person that makes those great shots."

Popovich reminds that Mercer was the No. 6 pick by Boston in the 1997 draft and was a member of Kentucky's 1996 NCAA championship team.

"He has a chance now to work with some great guys and he can be a very valuable addition if he can adjust to our systems," Popovich said. "He can be a great offensive player."

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