Basketball: Spurs’ Udrih, Vaughn unlikely to be healthy for opener
Web Posted: 10/24/2007 10:55 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Spurs got one point guard back when Tony Parker returned to action a week ago. The prognosis is still cloudy for Parker’s two most prominent backups.
Jacque Vaughn (strained calf) and Beno Udrih (fractured finger) each missed his fifth preseason game Tuesday at Miami.
Both were injured early in training camp and have not practiced since.
For Udrih, the layoff has been most painful.
Last year, Udrih missed most of camp with a balky hamstring. Hoping to make amends, he arrived in San Antonio two weeks early this year, with plans to take extra time to prepare his body for the rigors of two-a-days.
Three days into practice, he broke the index finger on his shooting hand while reaching in for a steal.
“I think somebody has something against me,” Udrih said with a sad laugh. “I’m cursed.”
Udrih still has a cast on his left hand. It isn’t scheduled to come off until a week from today — by then the Spurs already will have played two regular-season games.
Vaughn is also in danger of missing Tuesday’s opener against Portland and possibly more.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he is hopeful Vaughn could return at some point next week, but the Spurs are hesitant to rush him.
“This is something where, if he hurts it again, he might be out a month,” Popovich said. “It’s early enough that we get to make sure he’s healed.”
Spurs waive pair: The Spurs waived Keith Langford and Kris Lang on Wednesday, trimming their roster to 16. They will have to make one more cut before the league’s Oct. 29 roster deadline.
The final spot is likely to come down to a pair of rookies — second-round pick Marcus Williams or free agent Darius Washington.
Age vs. experience: As he has in practically every NBA city for the past few years — and as he probably will again tonight in Orlando — Popovich fielded questions from the media in Miami about what it’s like to coach the oldest team in the league.
By now, he’s gotten pretty adroit with his answers.
"It’s like if you’re an older team, and you win, you’re an experienced, well-oiled, veteran machine, Popovich said. “And if you lose, then you’re just old.”
“It’s gotten kind of comical,” he added.