Duncan's status will be game-time decision
Associated Press
PHOENIX -- The San Antonio Spurs headed for Phoenix unsure
about when Tim Duncan will return to the lineup.
| |  | |
| Duncan |
"Today, Tim is not ready to go on the floor," Spurs coach
Gregg Popovich said after his team worked out before flying to
Arizona. "Saturday is a different deal. Tuesday is a different
deal."
With the best-of-five series tied 1-1, the Spurs will have to
win at least once at America West Arena to avoid elimination. Game
3 is Saturday and Game 4 is Tuesday.
Duncan shot baskets, did aerobic work up and down the court,
participated in warmup drills and "played a little bit of token
defense," Popovich said. He said Duncan's participation Saturday
will be a game-time decision.
Duncan missed the last four games of the regular season and both
playoff games with torn cartilage in his left knee. Popovich said
there was no swelling in the knee from the work Duncan did on
Wednesday and expressed optimism that the big forward would play at
some point during the playoffs.
In Phoenix, Rodney Rogers and Randy Livingston sat out
Thursday's practice, Rogers with back spasms and Livingston with a
slight ankle sprain. Both said they would be able to play Saturday.
Suns coach Scott Skiles was concerned about Rogers, a leading
candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man award.
"He lacked all mobility," Skiles said. "When Rodney Rogers doesn't practice, there's a problem. The guy's missed two all year.
He's really stiff and sore."
But Rogers, whose offense would be sorely missed by a team
already having trouble scoring, downplayed the problem.
"I ain't going to let this stop me," Rogers said. "It'll be
all right."
The Suns' Jason Kidd, recovering from a broken ankle, is running
lightly but insists he won't be back until the second round, if the
team makes it that far.
With the Suns hurting, Skiles has eased his criticism of the
long period between games.
"I think all the coaches would rather play the games, and the
players too," he said, "but then guys are really grateful for the
time to let guys heal. We're really banged up."
If Duncan can't play, the Spurs will be down to 10 players
Saturday after losing reserve forward Jerome Kersey for the
playoffs with a dislocated left foot.
"We're going to miss him terribly because he's been Mr. Tough
for us," Popovich said. "He's been our enforcer and he's changed
a lot of games. It really lifts the emotion of the team when he
goes into games."
But the Suns' Penny Hardaway said the Spurs also could benefit
offensively by using Jaren Jackson more off the bench in place of
Kersey.
"That takes away an active guy on the boards but it brings in a
shooter," Hardaway said. "They were struggling scoring, and he
can help them in that area."
The Suns have struggled mightily on offense, too. Their 72
points in Game 1 and 70 in Game 2 were the lowest-scoring playoff
games in the franchise's history.
The Suns believe their offense will heat up at home. But after a
strong defensive showing in Game 1 and the second half of Game 2,
the players believe their defense will keep things close no matter
how much trouble they have scoring against David Robinson & Co.
"Hopefully, we will play a better offensive game," Cliff
Robinson said, "but at the same time, if we continue to play the
kind of defense that we're playing, we're always going to have a
chance to win the game." |
