Phoenix Suns Practice Notes: Yippie! Practice Notes!!!

Bringing a laptop to a lecture hall with wifi. College is somewhat liberating.

The Suns could have to fight to keep him whenever he becomes a free agent. I wonder whether he’s another player who would tie up the Suns’ payroll with a huge contract demand. I just have no idea.

all that much into it … he just happened to be in town and get in some work w/ his old buddies. JRich and Dudley aren’t here yet either

You know who to call

With one of the most successful coaches of today, Gregg Popovich, we discussed in the preparatory camp that trains Fenerbahce Neven Spahija

Gregg Popovich is one of the biggest names of today’s trainers. The man who once was challenged in San Antonio, for whom in one poll 1999th year, when he won the first NBA title with the Spurs, there were only seven percent of respondents remained at the helm of San Antonio for the past 14 years. During this period, winning four NBA titles: 1999th, 2003rd, 2005th and 2007. year.

His ties with the European basketball has deep roots and go back to the military days when he was a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Europe. It is a constant visitor to the representative of all major events, even when it was in one of the trainers role. One of his closer ties with Europe (except the origin) is also cooperating with Neven Spahija.

- Neven I know for ten years. Many summers we spent together, talking about basketball. He came and helped us to lead San Antonio in the summer league. Frankly, from him I learned some things that I used in attacking actions Spurs, and he loves to talk about defense, so the basketball, but also off the field, get along well.

• How long are we to wait for a European coach in the NBA?

- I really do not know. There are many European coaches who could work in the NBA. There is no magic, some secrets are only known to us. This is nonsense. Take for example, Nevena. I think he is one of najpodcjenjenijih coaches in the world. It was an extremely successful wherever radio. People in Fenerbahce can be happy that they have him, and eventually will find out why. I have been with many coaches in various European clubs, watching what they do and learn from them. Reuben Magnani, a former coach of Manu Ginobili, with Brazil against the Americans doing some things that I can not wait to see the capture and steal from him. You know, we all do – watch and learn from each other.

• You brought many ‘foreigners’ in San Antonio. Can you say that you are among the first to start work because you are a soldier stayed in Europe and see the quality of these players?

- I’ve never coached anyone in Europe, but I played for some military and other U.S. team. And I have seen many quality players are in Europe, in Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. I remember the 1988th, in his first year in the NBA, I watched live the Yugoslav national team with Paspalj, Divac, Radja, Petrovic, Kukoc, and others. I was amazed. The Soviet team played Volkov, Marčulionis, Sabonis. I felt like a boy lost in the candy store. With me in this contest was only one coach in the NBA. Only Don Nelson. The Americans then thought that in Europe there are no interesting players that are not used to train, they do not know the language, there will not be adjusted. I had the opportunity to find players who no one knew. Today it is no longer a secret gold mine because they all realize that everywhere in the world there are great players.

• Do you have military training helped coach his career?

- Maybe in terms of discipline. The NBA knows it happens that the players do not want to just listen to the coach who eventually give way. My players know that I am not such that I am stubborn and I will not relent. They know that I will always require them to play solid defense and we’ll work hard. If you will not, there are others who will.

Is this the reason why you could not find common language with Dennis Rodman?

- When I arrived the second time in San Antonio and became the general manager, he was already on the team. Then I could not do anything. It took me a year to remove him. Although I think he is great player, he did not quite fit. Sometimes you can not make decisions solely on the basis of one’s talent, but you must have a vision of what kind of team you want to agree.

• Once you stated that you were third-rate coach, you do not have David Robinson and Tim Duncan on the team. Can we conclude from this that great players make great coaches and vice versa?

- No one has won anything with bad players. However, coaches sometimes to forget, and you assign various merits. When you win something, I always say: ’We blew. We had good players, a good opportunity and we were doing a job. However, it is necessary to have good players. Without them nothing can be won.

• What is your opinion about the new Miami team?

- It will be interesting to watch, but there is no guarantee that they will win the title. Must still train, be fit, profunkcionirati as a team. Time will tell how good it is.

• You helped George Karl in the American team at the World Championships in 2002. in Indianapolis. Why is the team finished in sixth place, and had NBA players?

- The team was bad. Lacked desire. At that time in the U.S. World Cup a few who wanted to know the players and this does not matter. You are in Argentina and Yugoslavia had a fantastic team and none of them could win if the match went without desire. However, it was a good thing for American basketball. The players have realized that America is not the whole world. They understood that the players can be found everywhere, as there are trainers. It was good for the whole world, because everywhere has increased interest in basketball.

• What happened to the Olympic team 2004th, where you were back Larry Brown, who won only bronze?

- The string of unfortunate circumstances. Players who were supposed to play, like Bryant and Kidd did not come. I remember that we have with them a year ago, the American qualifying games against Argentina was 18 at halftime. Half the team did not come to Athens, and James, Wade and Anthony were good, but too young.

• What is the relationship between NBA teams by player departures in a representative programs?

- No coach or GM does not want players to see the hard drive after ten months in the NBA. But what would I do if I was a man to ban Ginobili from playing for Argentina if he greatly desires.

• Your opinion about this American team?

- It is a very character team that shows a lot of desire. One reason is that once again some older players did not come. However, those who are here, they want to prove that they are not found, or maybe not so necessary. Coaches are doing a great job, playing great defense, and with each match will be all the better.

I do not know the truth about my origins
• How do you know about its origins?

- I would tell you more about it, but from my family always hear conflicting stories. I know that my father was originally a Montenegrin, a Croat mother. Mother’s maiden name was Tonković. After that, things get complicated because the parents are divorced and we all end up on different sides. Too long a story. And in these later years even agree parts. Maybe one day they can unlock the truth.

There was no place for Ginobilija and Giricek
• That same year, when you choose to draft Ginobilija, you have and Gordan Giricek, even before Manu. What is ruled to have brought Ginobili, not Giricek?

- After draft both stayed to play in Europe and Manu has developed into a great player. Both have become available at the same time. But Manu has already emerged as one of the best players in Europe, so the choice was obvious. It was difficult because of Gordan. A great guy, great worker. But for both, there was no place in the team.

• Have you ever wanted to know for whom another Croatian player?

- He was the only one. Of course, everyone knows Kukoc, but he was already busy. He is one of the best players of all time. Incredibly talented, with great ability. Wonderful player.

I hope you enjoyed it…

but he’s got that torn Achilles

Ilyasova started 31 games. Mbah a Moute and Delfino started a bunch too. Sounds like a serious rotation of the lineup, with no true PF all the time…

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/stats?team=mil

I’m an American and cheer for USA whenever they win. If they play Brazil, Argentina and some European teams than I’ll root for the underdog. I was pulling for Brazil to win in the game the other day, but I don’t care that they lost because USA won. I admire the Argentinian team especially, because they play with a lot of intensity and some of their players played for my favorite NBA teams. I am also rooting for them in International basketball overall. I’ll even cheer for them if they go against USA because it’s more fun for me to cheer for the underdog. However, if they lose to USA I don’t care.The thing about USA is that when they win, its not that fun because it’s expected, they should win. When they lose it just means that they didn’t put their best players on the court.

Between Brazil and Argentina, I don’t know its tough. I like both teams. I think the Brazilians have some players other than Barbs and Splitter who I think could play in the NBA if they were more athletic. Manu and Noc are some of my favorite players in the NBA. If they were playing for Argentina I’d root for them against Brazil. Because they aren’t I’d go for Brazil.

International basketball is strange to me. I find a team other than USA that I admire and root for them. For example, I rooted for Russia in the Euro Tourney in 07 and was excited when they beat Spain in the Finals.