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Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Web Posted: 12/11/2006 02:32 PM CST
Will the Spurs make a grab for Allen Iverson? We could have a superstar backing up Tony, and Manu could come off the bench with another Tony Parker. Might be worth it but I don't know what we could give up to please the 76ers.
– Ryan Pavin, San Jose, Calif.
You're right about this much: The Spurs don't have many trade assets – unless they're willing to part with one of their Big Three, which they aren't. Not that it matters. The Spurs don't have interest in Iverson. And I seriously doubt they – or any other team – would acquire one of the NBA's greatest scorers to make him a sixth man.
Sean Elliott and Bruce Bowen appear to be good friends. I've seen Bruce put towels on Sean during games and Sean laughs and says something smart about Bruce. What other pranks do they play on each other and how long have they been friends?
– Ramiro Gamez, San Antonio
Their "pranks" are pretty much limited to what you've seen: Bruce tossing a towel over Sean while he's live on TV. Sean travels with the team in his broadcast role, so that's how they got to know each other.
After Bruce retires, I wouldn't be surprised to see him occasionally work with Sean on a broadcast. But I doubt the Spurs would have enough money to pay both to be full-time analysts.
To me it seems that this year more balls are being touched while still on the rim than before. Can a ball be on rim and not in the cylinder and be legal to touch? Is this what's happening?
– Howard Shurb, San Antonio
No. What's happening is the league is using a synthetic ball that, um, sucks. It dies on the rim easier – as evidenced by the jump shot Michael Finley recently hoisted that nearly stuck to the back of the rim support before rolling and dropping through.
The goaltending rules are the same.
Dear Mr. Ludden, can you explain the difference between Tim Duncan's free-throw shooting home and away? He's been shooting .739 away and .551 at home.
– Daniel Oszetzky, Budapest, Hungary
The discrepancy between his FT percentage at home (.542) and the road (.705) has shrunk a little in recent days. But the coaches have noticed the same thing you did.
One explanation: When Tim goes to the foul line at the AT&T Center, you can feel all 19,000 fans tense up. The entire arena goes silent, which can be a little unnerving. Maybe Tim senses that no one has faith in him.
As a result, the coaches have tried to keep Tim loose so he doesn't look so stiff at the line.
The Spurs had hoped that if Tim's stroke was good enough to shoot 70-plus percent on the road, it was also good enough to do the same at home. But I just watched him short-arm a pair of foul shots at Staples Center late in Sunday's loss to the Lakers. So I'm going to stick with my original theory: He's just not a good free-throw shooter.
As long as he keeps firing line drives, it's not going to matter what city he's shooting in.
Of our Big Three of Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan, who is the "most indispensable" from your perspective? There appears to be no right or wrong answer but I'm just interested in your take.
– Vince D'Adamo, Napa, Calif.
Tony has the greatest upside given his age and the year-to-year improvement he's shown. Manu still makes the biggest plays in the clutch. But I'm going with Tim.
Tim looks healthy again – and fresh. He's been aggressive in the post and he still doesn't get enough credit for anchoring one of the NBA's best defenses.
Tim may be 30 and on the backside of his career. But in my book, he's still one of the league's five best players.
