Jump to Comments

One of the things I’ve loved about this season is the work Spurs.com and the Express News beat writers have done keeping us close to the team. Spurs.com introduced practice and shootaround video, which was always must-watch viewing. And they’ve done a bang up job this postseason. The E-N writers have kept a pulse on the team, providing the backstage color that gives the team personality. I’ve especially appreciated some of the work of Jeff McDonald. I still chuckle when thinking about his recap of December’s Spurs rout of the Warriors, but not because of any Xs and Os stuff. It was a nice little window into the relationship of Gregg Popovich and Don Nelson. It made me smile.

McDonald has done that again this afternoon by providing us a glimpse into the warmth between old friends. P.J. Carlesimo is in San Antonio with the TNT crew for tonight’s game. I love reading stuff like this:

Carlesimo, the former Spurs assistant, has been working as an analyst for TNT’s NBA coverage since being fired as Oklahoma City’s head coach earlier this season. That was the hat he was wearing when he showed up at the Spurs practice facility for this morning’s shootaround.

The Spurs greeted Carlesimo with hugs and handshakes all around. Befitting Carlesimo’s at times R-rated persona, at least one Spurs player greeted him with an expletive. Too bad the Spurs weren’t the road team — Carlesimo might have shouted his trademark “First bus!” for old time’s sake.

Bruce Bowen pressed pause on free throw practice to come say hello to Carlesimo. He declined to reveal the details of their exchange.

“I can’t share the things he said, because some of it would be bleeped out,” Bowen said. “I think the majority of it would.”

C.S. Lewis once said that you’re not really well-acquainted with your favorite author unless you can name all of his shortcomings. Or something like that. So try this variant. You’re not really acquainted with your favorite team until you see them as fully human.

Today’s Spurs shootaround: one foul-mouthed estranged friend and a bunch of smelly old men in gym socks.

Related posts:

1. Buck Harvey Marks the Time
2. A Nightmare Scenario
3. Offseason Breakdown: Glut of Guards
4. Smart Basketball as Smart Basketball
5. Bruce Bowen as Role Model