马刺1996-97赛季实录（560+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-08, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队试图重整旗鼓迎战勇士队

马刺队在上一场对阵温哥华灰熊队的比赛中惨败，他们在脸上沾满了败绩，现在他们没有太多时间去擦拭。他们将在今晚 7 点开始在加州圣何塞对阵金州勇士队的客场三连战。

金州勇士队本赛季在圣何塞比赛，因为奥克兰体育场正在重建。

一些马刺队球迷可能会认为他们的球队需要翻新，因为他们在上周五晚上主场以 89-105 输给了实力糟糕的灰熊队，灰熊队是 NBA 中战绩最差的球队。

“这对我们所有人来说都很难，”马刺队前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)说。“每个人都意识到这是不可接受的。”

勇士队(6-13)通常不会是太可怕的对手。但对于马刺队(3-14)来说，这可不是一个普通年份，他们已经输掉了过去 14 场比赛中的 12 场。

在这连败中，包括两场输给了灰熊队，灰熊队在上周五晚上在阿拉莫穹顶以 13-2 的比分在最后四分钟内击败了两届卫冕中西部赛区冠军。

这是灰熊队(在周六 96-85 输给小牛队后战绩为 3-17)在成立两年内的最大胜利。这也是马刺队本赛季最大的失利。

受伤的马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)今晚将不会出战。但他可能在这趟客场之旅中，最早可能在周二对阵菲尼克斯的比赛中，复出打他本赛季的第一场比赛。

在他缺席的情况下，马刺队还没有能够让所有球员都集中精力完成自己的任务，并努力拼搏。

“我们必须做好准备，每晚都全力以赴，”埃利奥特说。“我们需要所有人，每个人。如果两三个人没有做好准备，我们就会崩溃。”

罗宾逊在周六早上在圣安东尼奥大学的训练中再次刻苦训练。这是本周他以全速训练的第四天。

这位七届全明星球员将在周一前往加州英格伍德接受背部复查。罗宾逊可能会得到复出许可，但球员们也认为这可能还需要两周时间。

“医生非常谨慎，”埃利奥特说。“他们可能会告诉他再等两周。你永远不知道。如果你是一名医生，在这种情况下，如果你让他复出，然后他又受伤了，又休息了一个月，会是什么样子？”

对于马刺队来说，这是一个令人清醒的警示，因为没有罗宾逊，他们甚至无法击败联盟中最弱的球队。

马刺队对上赛季未能进入季后赛的球队的战绩是 1-8。

“我看到的是，这支球队的自信心下降了，”前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person)说，他自从 10 月 29 日接受背部手术后就没有打过比赛。“他们没有能够在他们的特许经营球员在场的情况下开始赛季，并且缺少我、威尔·珀迪(Will Perdue)和查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)等一些球员。

“当你缺少这样的人力时，你可以稳住船，或者像我们一样。现在的军校学员的船不稳。大卫是一个军校学员，对吧？但这是一个漫长的赛季，还有时间来纠正方向。”

再次，未来几天将会是危险的。金州勇士队本赛季曾在穹顶以 10 分战胜马刺队，时间是 11 月 17 日。如果罗宾逊没有得到许可，他们可能会在周二对阵实力较弱的菲尼克斯队时遇到困难。

球队将在周四前往洛杉矶对阵快船队。即使是快船队，也在 11 月 20 日在穹顶以 12 分战胜了马刺队。

点击查看原文：Spurs try to pick up pieces vs. Warriors

Spurs try to pick up pieces vs. Warriors

The Spurs don’t have long to wipe the pie off their faces after taking a coconut cream to the face against the Vancouver Grizzlies. They start a three-game road trip at 7 tonight in San Jose, Calif., against the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State is playing in San Jose this season while the Oakland Coliseum is being rebuilt.

Some Spurs fans may think their team is in need of remodeling after it lost 105-89 Friday night at home to the woeful Grizzlies, who own the worst record in the NBA.

This is hard for all of us,'' Spurs forward Sean Elliott said. Everyone realizes that this is unacceptable.‘’

The Warriors (6-13) wouldn’t ordinarily be too scary of an opponent. But it’s hardly an ordinary year for the Spurs (3-14), who have lost 12 of their last 14 games.

Included in the streak are a pair of losses to the Grizzlies, who stunned the two-time, defending Midwest Division champions with a 13- 2 run in the final four minutes Friday night at the Alamodome.

It was the widest margin of victory in two years of existence for the Grizzlies (3-17 after Saturday’s 96-85 loss to the Mavericks). It also was the biggest margin of defeat for the Spurs this season.

Injured Spurs center David Robinson will not play tonight. But he may return to play his first game of the year at some point on this road trip, possibly as early as Tuesday against Phoenix.

In his absence, the Spurs haven’t been able to convince the entire group of players that they all need to concentrate on their assignments and play hard.

We have to come ready to play every night,'' Elliott said. We need everybody. Every, single person. If two or three people aren’t prepared, we just crumble.‘’

Robinson worked out hard again at Saturday morning’s practice at the University of the Incarnate Word. It was the fourth day this week that he worked at full speed.

The seven-time All-Star will travel to Inglewood, Calif., on Monday to have his back re-examined. Robinson could get clearance to play, but players also believe that it could be another two weeks.

Doctors are pretty conservative,'' Elliott said. They might tell him two more weeks. You never know. If you were a doctor, that position, what would it look like if you let him come back and he gets hurt again and is out another month?‘’

That’s a sobering thought for the Spurs, who haven’t been able to beat even the weakest teams in the league without him.

The Spurs have a 1-8 record against teams that failed to make the playoffs last season.

What I see is, it's a team that's self-esteem is down,'' said forward Chuck Person, who hasn't played after back surgery on Oct 29. They weren’t able to start the season with their franchise player and without some others like myself, Will Perdue and Charles Smith.

``When you are missing manpower like that, you can either steady the boat or you do like we’ve done. The midshipman’s ship is not steady right now. David is a midshipman, right? But it’s a long season. There’s still time to right the ship.‘’

Once again, the waters will be perilous in the coming days. Golden State beat the Spurs once this year by 10 at the dome on Nov. 17. If Robinson isn’t cleared, it could be tough going against lowly Phoenix on Tuesday.

The team moves on to play the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday. Even the Clippers beat the Spurs by 12 at the dome on Nov. 20.

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-09, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer
马刺挣扎仍在，净负26分

加利福尼亚州圣何塞 - 即使是备受期待的戴维·罗宾逊回归的耀眼光芒也无法穿透笼罩在马刺队星期日晚上比赛周围的阴霾。也不应该如此。

圣安东尼奥再次惨败，这次惨败给实力远不如勇士队的勇士队，在圣何塞球场上以114-88落败。马刺队现在战绩为3胜15负1平，与去年的乐透球队交手战绩为1胜9负。

这场原本可能是势均力敌的比赛，却以令人震惊的速度结束了。教练鲍勃·希尔将其归结为第二节中段的20秒暂停。马刺队当时打得很好，以38-36领先。

拉特雷尔·斯普雷维尔上个月在阿拉莫穹顶球场勇士队获胜后曾奚落过马刺队的替补席，他暂停后回来命中三分。马刺在下一次进攻中重新获得一分领先，但在随后邦博·科尔斯的跳投后，他们再也没有领先过。

希尔说：“（勇士队教练里克·阿德尔曼）一定是按对了按钮。”

而马刺队这边则没有按到任何正确的按钮。

自希尔抵达圣安东尼奥以来，他们遭遇了26分的失利，这是自1994年3月14日在丹佛以116-88负于掘金队以来最大的失利。

直到暂停之前，马刺队一直在进行结构化的半场进攻。他们剖析了勇士队的防守，通过反复将球传给威尔·珀迪和格雷格·安德森，进行了七次扣篮和八次上篮。

珀迪在上半场拿下14分，他的六次尝试都命中。他在下半场得到了一分，在最后一节的垃圾时间里坐在场下。

勇士队就像被尸臭吸引的秃鹫一样，在第三节结束吞没了马刺队。

他们继续着他们的跳投雨，并增加了一些辛辣的味道，奔跑的扣篮。

他们在该节以31-15的比分领先马刺队，以86-63的比分进入最后一节，从而消除了对比赛结果的任何疑问。

马刺队的表现是，17次投篮命中4次，5次失误，13-8被抢下进攻篮板。他们放弃了上半场的重点，错失了一系列的上篮。

勇士队在整场比赛中还破坏了马刺队的挡拆战术，在掩护后夹击并压迫球处理者。

马刺队被插得这么深，以至于双方在最后一节的大部分时间里都将先发球员留在替补席上。

罗宾逊可能会在周二晚上在菲尼克斯对阵马刺队的比赛中复出。球员们对此肯定很高兴，但他们对罗宾逊回归后的状态非常不满。

多米尼克·威尔金斯说：“我们让他们（勇士队）在这里做了和我们在主场让他们做的事情一样。我们打的不是篮球。

“每个人都必须审视自己的比赛，无论是什么，都要做好。每个人都必须发挥自己的作用。这样的失败会引发很多你不想要的东西，负面情绪，你通常不想拥有的东西。”

罗宾逊会帮忙吗？威尔金斯说：“如果我们继续这样打，即使大卫回来也没什么区别。”

艾弗里·约翰逊表示同意。马刺队的控球后卫在27分钟的比赛中得到1分和5次助攻。他的突破路线被封堵，当他试图绕过掩护传球时，他被推到了三分线外。

约翰逊说：“大卫不是解决办法。去年，当文尼（德尔内格罗）、肖恩（艾略特）或查克（珀森）接管时，这支球队有了很多个夜晚。大卫一直悬在我们头上，我们必须摆脱这个问题。”

希尔指出了罗宾逊、查尔斯·史密斯和查克·珀森的缺阵。但史密斯的复出看起来非常可疑。珀森伤停一年，被威尔金斯取代，到目前为止，威尔金斯是马刺队最稳定的得分手。

艾略特说：“我们必须自己去做。在球场的两端我们都遇到了很多麻烦。我们什么都做不成。

“有一天还可以，第二天好像我们都不认识对方。今晚我们踢得像一支YMCA球队。在球场的两端，我们都有很多自私的行为。”

艾略特哀叹球队过去两个常规赛赛季一直具备的犀利而具有挑战性的轮转换防消失。—

马刺笔记

- 罗宾逊更新：马刺队中锋戴维·罗宾逊今天前往洛杉矶，在柯兰-乔比诊所接受罗伯特·沃特金斯博士的重新评估。

马刺队执行副总裁格雷格·波波维奇周日表示：“他将在周一中午接受检查。这将需要两到三个小时。我们计划在晚上6点左右（太平洋时间）抵达菲尼克斯。”

预计罗宾逊将被允许对阵太阳队的周二晚上或快船队的周四晚上的比赛。

波波维奇说：“我们抵达菲尼克斯后会与教练们会合，与训练师（约翰·安德森）交谈，并与大卫一起讨论。然后，我们将决定他何时上场。”

星期日晚上对阵勇士队比赛之前，罗宾逊与替补中锋蒂姆·肯普顿对抗了大约45分钟。

波波维奇说：“他还在进步。他很接近比赛状态。大卫的反馈非常重要。在过去几周里，他在对抗性训练后，酸痛和僵硬一直在减轻。”

波波维奇说，罗宾逊两周前就想复出。

波波维奇说：“所以他迫不及待了。对他来说，所有的训练和演练让他发疯，他想要上场。但我们想确保他绝对准备好了。我认为大卫现在很感激我们又让他坚持了几个星期。”

- 史密斯问题：查尔斯·史密斯在对阵勇士队的比赛前参加了投篮训练，但表示他何时回归球队还没有时间表。

史密斯说：“直到我在真正的实战中，才知道（膝盖的反应）。但这位前锋无法断言自己何时能够刻苦训练或参加比赛。

有报道称，马刺队将考虑为史密斯寻求医疗豁免，从而能够将他的大约 370 万美元薪水的 1/2 用于自由球员。

史密斯说：“这一切都超出了我的掌控。”- 格伦·罗杰斯

点击查看原文：Spurs still struggling, fall by 26

Spurs still struggling, fall by 26

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Even the bright light of the anticipated return of David Robinson couldn’t penetrate the gloom surrounding the Spurs’ play Sunday night. Nor should it.

San Antonio was dumped again, badly, this time by the far-from- golden Warriors 114-88 at the San Jose Arena. The Spurs now stand 3- 15 - 1-9 against last year’s lottery teams.

The end came shockingly quick in what appeared might be a close game. Coach Bob Hill traced it back to a 20-second timeout almost midway through the second quarter. The Spurs had been playing well and led 38-36.

Latrell Sprewell, who badgered the Spurs bench at the end of the Warriors’ victory last month at the Alamodome, came out of the pause and hit a three-pointer. The Spurs regained a one-point lead on their next possession, but then never led again after a Bimbo Coles jumper.

``(Golden State coach Rick Adelman) must have pressed the right buttons,‘’ Hill said.

No right buttons were pushed on the Spurs’ side.

The 26-point loss was the worst since Hill arrived in San Antonio and was the worst overall since a 116-88 pasting by the Nuggets on March 14, 1994, in Denver.

The Spurs had played a structured halfcourt attack until that timeout. They dissected the Warrior defense, posting seven slams and eight layups by repeatedly slicing the ball into Will Perdue and Greg Anderson.

Perdue had 14 points in the half, connecting on all six of his tries. He had one point in the second half, sitting down during garbage time in the final period.

The Warriors, like vultures attracted by the strong aroma of carrion, finished gobbling up the Spurs in the third period.

They continued their rain of jumpers and added more than a dash of spicy, running slam-dunks.

They squeezed out any doubt about the game’s outcome by outscoring the Spurs 31-15 in the quarter for an 86-63 lead going into the final quarter.

The Spurs’ fight consisted of hitting four of their 17 shots from the field, turning the ball over five times and being outrebounded 13-8. They reversed their first-half focus by missing a fistful of layups.

The Warriors also stuffed the Spurs’ pick-and-roll plays throughout the game, doubling and smothering the ball handlers off the screens.

So deep was the stake thrust into the Spurs that both teams kept their starters on the bench throughout the bulk of the final quarter.

Robinson might return to action for the Spurs’ game Tuesday night at Phoenix. The players, while surely happy about that, are seriously unhappy about the condition Robinson will wander into.

We let them (Warriors) do the same thing here that we let them do at home,'' said Dominique Wilkins. It wasn’t basketball we were playing out there.

``Each player has to look at his own game, whatever it is, and play it. Each has to play his part. Losing like this brings out a lot of things you don’t want brought out, negative emotions, stuff you normally don’t want to have.‘’

Will Robinson help? ``If we keep playing like this, it will make no difference if David returns,‘’ Wilkins said.

Avery Johnson agreed. The Spurs’ point guard had one point and five assists in 27 minutes of action. His driving lanes were blocked, and he was pushed way beyond the arc when he tried to whistle around the screens.

David is not the solution,'' Johnson said. This team had a lot of nights last year when Vinny (Del Negro), Sean (Elliott) or Chuck (Person) took over. David has been the issue hanging over our heads, and we have to rid ourselves of this.‘’

Hill pointed to the absence of Robinson, Charles Smith and Chuck Person. But Smith’s return looks extremely doubtful. Person is out for the year and has been replaced by Wilkins, thus far the most consistent Spurs scorer.

We have to do it ourselves,'' Elliott said. We’re having a lot of trouble at both ends of the floor. We can’t get anything done.

``One night it’s there OK, the next night it’s like we don’t know each other. Tonight we played like a YMCA team. We had a lot of selfish play at both ends of the floor.‘’

Elliott bemoaned the absence of the sharp, challenging rotating defense that has characterized the team through the past two regular seasons. - - -

Spurs Notes

- Robinson update: Spurs center David Robinson travels to Los Angeles today to be re-evaluated by Dr. Robert Watkins at the Kerlan- Jobe Clinic.

He'll be examined early Monday afternoon,'' Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich said Sunday. It’ll take two to three hours. We’re scheduled to arrive in Phoenix about 6 p.m. (Pacific time).‘’

Expectations are that Robinson will be cleared to play against the Suns on Tuesday night or the Clippers on Thursday night.

We'll huddle with the coaches after we arrive in Phoenix, talk to the trainer (John Andersen) and go over things with David,'' Popovich said. Then we’ll decide when he will play.‘’

Robinson was working out hard, banging against backup center Tim Kempton, for about 45 minutes before the Warriors game Sunday night.

He continues to progress,'' Popovich said. He’s very close to being game ready. David’s input will be very important. For the last couple of weeks, his soreness and stiffness has been diminishing after contact work.‘’

Popovich said Robinson wanted to return to action two weeks ago.

So he's chomping at the bit,'' Popovich said. He’s going crazy with all the exercises and drills and wants to play. But we want to make sure he is absolutely ready. I think David now is appreciative of the fact that we held him out for another couple of weeks.‘’

- Smith question: Charles Smith participated in the shootaround before the Warriors game, but said there still is no time frame on his return to the team.

``There’s just no way of knowing (how the knee will react) until I get out there in real practice situations,‘’ Smith said.

But the forward couldn’t say when he would be able to practice hard or suit up for games.

There have been reports that the Spurs would consider seeking a medical exception for Smith and thus be able to use half of his approximate $3.7 million salary for a free agent.

``All that is out of my hands,‘’ Smith said. - Glenn Rogers

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-10, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队将公开新“球队主干” - 太阳队将成为首支与罗宾逊重返的球队较量的队伍

菲尼克斯 - 马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊将在今晚进行他的赛季首秀，但问题是，他能从一开始就扭转该球队的局势吗？圣安东尼奥在连续败给温哥华灰熊队和金州勇士队后深受打击，后者是一场大败，前者则接近大败。

现在马刺队前往美国西部球场，参加晚上 8 点与菲尼克斯太阳队的比赛，后者在取得三场胜利后正在崛起（在两场胜利中，他们上半场领先 20 分）。

马刺队执行副总裁格雷格·波波维奇说，罗宾逊周一获得医疗许可可以参加比赛，并将与太阳队对阵大约 20 分钟。他将从伤病名单中激活，另一名球员将被列入其中。

“我已经准备好比赛了；我想贡献我的力量，”在加州英格尔伍德的 Kerlan-Jobe 诊所接受检查后，罗宾逊抵达菲尼克斯时说。

“我们肯定不指望大卫达到他比赛的最佳状态，”马刺队控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊说。“现在，我们一直试图从我们拥有的这支球队（没有罗宾逊）中发挥出最好的水平。

“我们希望在他全力回归时，一切都已准备就绪。即使大卫在这里，他也无法上场打满 48 分钟。我们必须确定他什么时候上替补席。然后他不能休息太久，所以我们必须按计划让他重新上场。

“大卫的伤势非常棘手。这不像从脚踝扭伤中恢复过来。”

约翰逊说，马刺队周一没有过多地谈论他们过去的失利。

“我们只是投篮，试图收紧一些东西，”他说。

马刺队教练鲍勃·希尔说，该队的精神状态在赛季初阶段受到了打击。

“我们一直人手不足，这让人有些厌倦；它会让你疲惫不堪，”希尔说。“我们尽可能地避免谈论大卫，远离那个话题。

“队员们看到他在练习，以为他会（上一次）回来，但后来他并没有回来，而且可能又让大家失望了。我们这次想避免这种情况。”

但希尔仍然表示，无论罗宾逊在场与否，球队都必须开始表现得更好。

“球员们获得了巨额报酬，只需上场参赛，他们必须开始尽自己最大的能力做到这一点，”他说。

新的太阳队教练丹尼·安吉在球队以 0-8 开局后取代了科顿·菲茨西蒙斯，已经取得了四场胜利，并且该球队在过去六场比赛中的四场比赛中平均得分超过 100 分。

菲尼克斯也重新审视了防守，并将最近七个对手中的三个对手的得分压制在 90 分以下。对于场均得分 88 分的马刺队来说，这可不是什么好消息。

圣安东尼奥后卫文尼·德尔内格罗说，球队一直无法进入任何节奏。

“出错的事情似乎从一场比赛到另一场都在变化，”德尔内格罗说。“从不跑步，到不协助防守或进攻，再到基本执行，最后到投篮不中。

“我们所有人都必须明白自己的角色，并回到过去帮助我们在众多比赛中获胜的默契中去。显然大卫会帮忙。我们的所有既定战术都是围绕他来执行的。光是在一场比赛中拥有他就是一种提升。见鬼，光是站在那里就会对另一支球队产生影响。”

约翰逊表示，马刺队面临的下一个问题将是查尔斯·史密斯的处境。这位前锋因右膝滑膜炎严重，缺席了最近 14 场比赛。

“这是另一个悬在我们头上的问题，”约翰逊说。“这在某种程度上一直没有说出口，但我们必须尽快就此情况做出决定。”

点击查看原文：Spurs set to unveil new `franchise' - Suns will be first to tangle with Robinson-charged team

Spurs set to unveil new `franchise’ - Suns will be first to tangle with Robinson-charged team

PHOENIX - Spurs center David Robinson will see his first action of the season tonight, but the question is, will he be able to turn the team around right from the start? San Antonio is reeling after consecutive losses to the Vancouver Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, the latter a rout, the former a near-rout.

Now the Spurs go to America West Arena for an 8 p.m. game against the Phoenix Suns, who are on the rise with three straight victories (they had 20-point first-half leads in two of the wins).

Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich said Robinson was granted medical clearance to play Monday and will see about 20 minutes against the Suns. He will be activated from the injury list today and another player will be placed on it.

``I’m ready to play; I want to contribute,‘’ Robinson said when he arrived in Phoenix after his examination at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Inglewood, Calif.

We're not expecting David to be at the top of his game, that's for sure,'' Spurs guard Avery Johnson said. Right now, we’ve been trying to get the best out of this team that we have (without Robinson).

``We’d like to have everything in place for when he’s back at full strength. Even when David is here, he’s not going to be able to play 48 minutes. We’re going to have to determine when he has to go to the bench. And then he’s not going to be able to sit that long, so we’ll have to bring him back in on schedules.

``David’s injury is very delicate. It’s not like coming back from an ankle sprain.‘’

Johnson said the Spurs didn’t dwell Monday on their past losses.

``We just shot around and tried to tighten some things up,‘’ he said.

Spurs coach Bob Hill said the team’s mental state has taken a battering through the first stages of the season.

We've been playing short-handed and that gets a little old; it wears you down,'' Hill said. We’ve tried to stop talking about David as much as we can, get away from that subject.

``The guys saw him practicing and figured he’d be back (the last time), but then he didn’t come back and there probably was another letdown. We wanted to avoid that possibility this time.‘’

But Hill still said the team must begin to play better, with or without Robinson on the floor.

``The players are paid a lot of money to just go out there and play, and they have to start doing that to the best of their abilities,‘’ he said.

New Suns coach Danny Ainge, having replaced Cotton Fitzsimmons after an 0-8 start, has picked up four wins and has the team averaging more than 100 points in four of its last six games.

Phoenix also has taken a new look at defense and has held three of its last seven foes under 90 points. Not great news for the Spurs, who are averaging 88 points a game.

San Antonio guard Vinny Del Negro said the team has been unable to get into any type of rhythm.

The things that go wrong seem to change from game to game,'' Del Negro said. It goes from not running, to not helping out on defense or offense, basic execution, to just not hitting shots.

``We all have to understand our roles and get back to the chemistry that has helped us win so many games in the past. David obviously will help. All of our set plays are run through him. Just having him in a game will be a lift. Heck, just standing there would have an effect on the other team.‘’

Johnson indicated that the next question facing the Spurs will be the situation of Charles Smith. The forward has missed the last 14 games with a severe case of synovitis of the right knee.

That's another thing that has been hanging over us,'' Johnson said. It kind of has remained unspoken, but we have to make a decision on that situation pretty soon.‘’

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-10, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

罗宾逊回归 - 医生批准球星中锋今晚为马刺队解围

菲尼克斯 - 马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)今晚将重返赛场，迎战菲尼克斯太阳队，这将为这支在连续几个赛季夺冠后陷入困境的篮球队注入期待已久的活力。加州英格伍德的科兰-乔布诊所的医生周一批准了这位身高7英尺的罗宾逊重返赛场。

他自10月以来一直因背部下部拉伤而缺席比赛，这次伤病导致他错过了马刺队本赛季的前18场比赛。

在他缺席期间，马刺队仅在18场比赛中赢了3场，而他们过去两年连续成为NBA中西部赛区冠军。

相比之下，罗宾逊在他整个七个赛季的职业生涯中，除了10月，只缺席了17场比赛。在那段时间里，球队每年都取得了胜率，并晋级了联盟季后赛。

“每个人都知道我想上场，我想贡献力量，”罗宾逊周一在从科兰-乔布诊所抵达菲尼克斯后说道。“医生对他们看到的情况很满意。

“过去一周左右，我已经能够完成艰苦的训练。我知道我不会处于真正的比赛状态，我无法打满48分钟，但我感觉我能贡献一些稳定的时间。”

马刺队执行副总裁格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)陪同罗宾逊前往加州，然后前往菲尼克斯。

“他已经获得医疗许可可以比赛，我们已经决定让他上场，”波波维奇说。

“大卫现在感觉他的背部比过去几年都要强壮，因为他一直在进行力量训练。

“现在，大卫可以比赛，而且他受伤的风险并不比其他任何NBA球员高。我们对此一直非常谨慎。

“大卫几周前就想比赛，我们本可以让他上场，但我们想等等。在我得到医疗许可之前，我不会让他上场，然后我们才能继续进行。”

现在，罗宾逊将开始逐步恢复到全职比赛状态。

“我认为今晚（的比赛时间）大约是20分钟，”波波维奇说。“他会分阶段回到比赛中。”

相比之下，这位七届NBA全明星上赛季平均每场比赛出战36.8分钟，而比赛时间为48分钟。

波波维奇说，他们访问科兰-乔布诊所大约花了30分钟。

“上次我们在那里，检查时间超过了两个小时，”波波维奇说。“大卫进步很大。”

波波维奇说，罗宾逊将继续进行他过去几周一直在进行的锻炼计划。

马刺队主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)一再警告说，罗宾逊的回归不能被认为是立竿见影的灵丹妙药。

“我们不能认为一切都会在一夜之间改变，或者第二天、第三天或第四天改变，”希尔周一说道，甚至在他听说医生的建议之前。

“大卫还没有打过常规赛。他已经从10月11日开始缺席了两个月。要找回比赛感觉和节奏需要时间。

“我们必须非常小心他的背部。我们必须控制他在场上的时间，当出现任何疲劳迹象时就把他换下。

“他肯定会首发出场，但我们还不知道他到底能打多少分钟。”

点击查看原文：Mr. Robinson returns - Doctors clear star center to come to Spurs' rescue tonight

Mr. Robinson returns - Doctors clear star center to come to Spurs’ rescue tonight

PHOENIX - Spurs center David Robinson will be back in action tonight against the Phoenix Suns, giving a long-awaited boost to a basketball team that has faltered on the court after several winning seasons. Doctors at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Inglewood, Calif., on Monday cleared the 7-foot Robinson to return to action.

He has been sidelined with a lower-back strain since October, and the injury caused him to miss the Spurs’ first 18 games this season.

During his absence, the Spurs, who were the NBA Midwest Division champions each of the past two years, won only three of those 18 games.

By contrast, Robinson had missed only 17 games in his entire seven-season career before October. Each year in that time, the team posted a winning record and made it to the league playoffs.

Everybody knows I want to get in there, I want to contribute,'' Robinson said Monday after arriving in Phoenix from the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic. The doctors liked what they saw.

``I’ve been able to get through the hard practices the past week or so. I know I won’t be in real game shape. I won’t be able to go 48 minutes, but I feel I can give some solid minutes.‘’

Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich accompanied Robinson to California and then to Phoenix.

``He has been medically cleared to play and the decision has been made to let him play,‘’ Popovich said.

``David feels now that his back is stronger than it has been in years because of all the strength exercises he has been undergoing.

``Right now, David can play and is in no more danger of hurting himself than any other NBA player. We’ve been very conservative with this.

``David wanted to play a couple of weeks ago and we could have thrown him in there, but we wanted to wait. I wasn’t about to let him play until we got medical clearance and we could proceed from there.‘’

Now begins the program of working Robinson into full-time playing status.

I would say that the magic number is about 20 minutes (of playing time tonight),'' Popovich said. He will get back into it in stages.‘’

By contrast, the seven-time NBA All-Star played an average of 36.8 minutes per game last season, out of a 48-minute game clock.

Popovich said the visit to the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic lasted about 30 minutes.

The last time we were there the examinations took more than two hours,'' Popovich said. David has improved tremendously.‘’

Popovich said Robinson would continue on the exercise program he has been on for the past several weeks.

Spurs coach Bob Hill has warned repeatedly that the addition of Robinson can’t be expected to be an instant cure-all.

``We can’t think that everything is going to change the first night, or the second, third or fourth,‘’ Hill said Monday, before he even heard about the doctors’ recommendations.

``David hasn’t played a regular-season game. He has been out since Oct. 11, two months. It’s going to require time to get his timing, his rhythm down.

``We’ll have to be very careful with his back. We’ll have to manage his time on the floor, take him out when any fatigue begins to show.

``He’ll definitely start, but we don’t know yet exactly how many minutes he’ll be able to play.‘’

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-10, By Buck Harvey

如何拯救一支马车队：放松就好

今晚，骑兵将进入太阳谷，准备拯救这支马车队免遭屠杀。牛仔弗恩 (Vern) 尤其绝望；他那 35% 的命中率已经让他把六颗子弹都打进了靴子里。所以，通常情况下，人们会欢欣鼓舞，尤其是在篝火上方的巨型显示屏 (JumboTRON) 为他们演奏伴奏的情况下。但现在，没有人确定骑兵是否是在浪费时间。

马车队本身也感到困惑，所以你知道媒体也会感到困惑。例如，上周，《今日美国报》将马刺队排在联盟第 27 位，并表示：“海军上将 (Admiral) 的回归可能不足以扭转局势。”

在西部传奇故事的中间，唯一比另一个海军上将 (Admiral) 的比喻更糟糕的是，国家报纸的意见。如果马刺队放松下来，他们应该能纠正一切。再加上一个健康的戴维·罗宾逊 (David Robinson) - 还有什么理由让马刺队无法达到上赛季的辉煌水平？

然而，缺点是上赛季的辉煌水平。是的，马刺队再次朝着首轮淘汰赛前进。

现在仅仅是 12 月份，但季后赛预测已经很清晰了。西部前五名是马刺队难以追赶的。之后，即使是无法击败温哥华的马刺队，在失利栏里也只落后第六名三个胜场。

假设罗宾逊 (Robinson) 带领的马刺队足够强大，能够超越小牛队 - 难道奥利弗·米勒 (Oliver Miller) 在《疯狂教授》中表现得不精彩吗？ - 那么，以下是今天 4 月份的赛程：马刺队将在 1997 年季后赛中以与上赛季结束时相同的阵容开始比赛。在盐湖城。

但这对一支在家输给灰熊队 16 分的球队来说，似乎还很遥远。而且，这不会立即改变。罗宾逊 (Robinson) 还需要几周时间才能感到舒适，他的队友需要更长时间才能想起如何运球。

罗宾逊 (Robinson) 今晚很可能会谨慎行事。马刺队也很可能会对他谨慎行事。对鲍勃·希尔 (Bob Hill) 的警告：你并没有因为战绩 3 胜 15 负而被解雇，但如果你过早地依赖这位球员，你可能会在下半场被解雇。

太阳队应该用一些骨干策略来应对。明智的做法是，在罗宾逊 (Robinson) 上场的时间内，对他进行直接防守；他不会强迫任何事情，对吗？然后让马刺队的其他球员击败他们。

这就是为什么马刺队今晚很有可能输给另一支糟糕的球队，也是为什么马刺队会更加沮丧。正如《今日美国报》所说，马刺队遇到的问题难道不比没有罗宾逊 (Robinson) 更糟糕吗？

马刺队当然这么认为。“如果我们继续这样打，”多米尼克·威尔金斯 (Dominique Wilkins) 在周日以 26 分输给金州勇士队后说道，“戴维 (David) 回归也没有什么区别。”

没有什么区别？失败会让人变得最糟糕，在这里也是如此。在这一点上，他就是愚蠢的威尔金斯 (Dumb-inique)。

马刺队不想承认，但罗宾逊 (Robinson) 影响着他们所做的一切 - 从他们在进攻端的表现，到他们在防守端营造的基调。马刺队史无前例地输球，不是因为他们没有轮转。他们只是不太好，这让他们感到沮丧。

他们确实与上赛季不同。但用维恩·麦克斯韦尔 (Vernon Maxwell) / 威尔金斯 (Wilkins) 取代多克·里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) / 查克·珀森 (Chuck Person) 并没有改变这个球队，从分区冠军变成了一支彩票球队。从里弗斯 (Rivers) 和珀森 (Person) 身边拿走罗宾逊 (Robinson)，他们也会感受到布莱恩特·里夫斯 (Bryant Reeves) 的无情力量。

这支马车队已经连续 18 场比赛遭到攻击，现在还没有看到这一点。所以，这是骑兵必须做的另一件事。从今晚开始，罗宾逊 (Robinson) 将在几分钟内提醒他们，他们曾经是什么样子。

点击查看原文：How to save a wagon train: Just relax

How to save a wagon train: Just relax

The cavalry rides into the Valley of the Sun tonight, ready to save the wagon train from certain massacre. Cowboy Vern is especially desperate; his 35-percent shooting has emptied his six-gun into his boots. So jubilation would normally follow, especially if JumboTRON hung above the campfire to provide accompaniment. But, now, no one is sure whether the cavalry is wasting its time.

The wagon train itself wonders, so you know the media do. Last week, for example, USA Today ranked the Spurs as 27th-best in the league and said, ``Admiral’s return might not be enough to right this ship.‘’

The only thing worse than another Admiral-ship analogy in the middle of a Western saga is the national newspaper’s opinion. If the Spurs relax, they should right everything. Add a healthy David Robinson - and is there any reason the Spurs shouldn’t reach the grand level of last season?

The downside of that, however, is last season’s grand level. Yes, the Spurs are heading again for first-round elimination.

It’s only December, but the playoff projections are clear now. There’s a top five in the West that the Spurs will be pressed to catch. After that, even the can’t-beat-Vancouver Spurs are only three games in the loss column out of the sixth place.

Assuming the Robinson Spurs are good enough to overtake the Mavericks - and wasn’t Oliver Miller brilliant in ``The Nutty Professor’'? - here’s today’s April bracket: The Spurs would begin the 1997 playoffs as they ended last season. In Salt Lake City.

But that seems a long way off for a team that lost to the Grizzlies by 16 at home. And it’s not going to turn around immediately. Robinson needs another few weeks to feel comfortable, and his teammates need longer to remember how to dribble.

Robinson most likely will be cautious tonight. And the Spurs most likely will be cautious with him. Warning to Bob Hill: You didn’t get fired for going 3-15, but you might get fired at halftime if you lean on this guy too early.

The Suns should react to this with some backbone strategy. The smart move would be to play Robinson straight up for the minutes he’s in; he wouldn’t force anything, would he? Then make the rest of the Spurs beat them.

That’s why the Spurs might very well lose to another bad team tonight, and why the Spurs will feel even worse about themselves. As USA Today said, don’t the Spurs have more problems than not having Robinson?

The Spurs certainly think so. If we keep playing like this,'' Dominique Wilkins said after Sunday's 26-point loss to Golden State, it will make no difference if David returns.‘’

No difference? Losing brings out the worst in people, and it has here. He’s Dumb-inique on this one.

The Spurs don’t want to admit it, but Robinson affects everything they do - from the looks they get on offense, to the tone set on defense. The Spurs lost as never before not because they didn’t rotate. They just aren’t very good, and it wore on them.

They differ from last season, all right. But subbing Vernon Maxwell/Wilkins for Doc Rivers/Chuck Person has not changed this group from division winners to a lottery team. Take away Robinson from Rivers and Person, and they, too, would have felt the unyielding power of Bryant Reeves.

The wagon train, under attack for an endless 18 games, doesn’t see that right now. So that’s something else the cavalry has to do. Beginning tonight for a few minutes, Robinson has to remind them what they were.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Kevin O’Keeffe Express-News Columnist

Hill 被解雇让马刺队大吃一惊——队员们拒绝对此事负任何责任

菲尼克斯——周二上午，当球员们坐在球队大巴上，等候出发训练时，马刺队总经理格雷格·波波维奇上了车，传达了一个令人惊讶的消息。波波维奇宣布他已解雇主教练鲍勃·希尔。

这一消息让球员们震惊得鸦雀无声——至少持续了一小会儿。打破沉默的是多米尼克·威尔金斯，他大喊，“你在开玩笑！”

维尼·德尔内格罗转过身告诉威尔金斯，这可不是在开玩笑。

对于这一变动，马刺队的球员们异口同声地表示震惊，他们认为这是在球队本赛季遭遇伤病的情况下做出的决定。

“这公平吗？”威尔·珀杜重复着这个问题，“我认为这无关紧要。这就是 NBA。媒体一直在大肆报道鲍勃的未来，你感觉可能发生这样的事。”

上个月的几场比赛，珀杜对第四节的出场时间感到不满意。

这位 7 英尺的中锋和希尔坐下来共进午餐，讨论了此事。

“但我们并没有冲突，”珀杜说，“就我而言，这不是什么大问题。我(拇指受伤)下场了，想上场，有所作为。”

“但我和鲍勃从来没有任何矛盾。就拿那顿午餐来说。自从我来到这里(通过与芝加哥的交易换来丹尼斯·罗德曼)之后，他一直对我保持开放的心态，我对此表示感激。”

希尔在担任主教练的两年多时间里，率领马刺队取得了 124 场胜利。当球队开局遭遇 3 胜 15 负后，他被解雇了。

1994 年聘请希尔之前，波波维奇曾试图吸引唐·尼尔森，然而未能成功。周二晚上对阵太阳队时，波波维奇担任了代理主教练。

“说实话，我一开始以为这是个恶作剧，”威尔金斯谈到波波维奇解雇希尔的声明时说，“我只是觉得这件事发生的太突然。在过去的两年里，（希尔）在这里做得很好。今年他很沮丧——我们所有人都沮丧。”

全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊此前一直因伤缺阵，对阵菲尼克斯时首次首发；查克·佩森因背部受伤休战。本赛季，希尔也失去了查尔斯·史密斯和珀杜，他们在不同的时间受伤。

“鲍勃对我一直很好，”威尔金斯说。

10 月 11 日以来首次参赛的罗宾逊表示，他不同意解雇希尔的做法。

“但这并不是我说了算，”罗宾逊说，自 1989-90 赛季以来，他现在效力的已经是第七个主教练了，“我和鲍勃从来没有遇到过问题。我喜欢他热爱胜利。他一丝不苟。他做得很棒。”

但即使是罗宾逊也承认，马刺队 3 胜 15 负的开局对某个人不利。

“而教练是人们首先关注的人，”罗宾逊说，“我们3胜15负是鲍勃的错吗？我们能做的就是打好球。”

在周日以 114-88 大比分输给金州勇士队后，球员们召开了全体会议，得出的结论是球队的表现优于战绩。

尽管如此，没有一个球员对希尔口出恶言。

“这支球队没有一个人比我和鲍勃更亲近了，”后卫艾弗里·约翰逊说，“我们有过很多谈话。最近几周，他多次表示外界会猜测他的未来。但我没有想到他会料到这件事。”

约翰逊说他与希尔没有问题，本赛季希尔在几场比赛的第四节让约翰逊替补。

“我们一直看法一致，”约翰逊说，他承认自去年季后赛输给犹他后，他对希尔的未来感到不安，而管理层在整个夏季都没有延长希尔的合同。

周日，约翰逊、德尔内格罗和弗农·马克思韦尔在加州圣何塞与希尔共进午餐，并讨论了后场轮换，因为希尔决定将表现不佳的科里·亚历山大排除在外。

德尔内格罗与约翰逊一样，在希尔的带领下，连续两个赛季都迎来了职业生涯的巅峰期。他对波波维奇在周二早上告诉教练希尔“失去球队”的说法感到愤怒。

“失去球队？这是一个很重的词，”德尔内格罗说，“我们过去的战绩一直很好，所以现在的失败对我们所有人来说都很难接受。但是失去球队？我认为没有。” - - -

兵力匮乏

在 19 场比赛中，马刺队本赛季有七名球员因伤缺阵。

球员 场次 伤病

查克·佩森 19 背部

大卫·罗宾逊 18 背部

查尔斯·史密斯 15 膝盖

威尔·珀杜 8 拇指

维尼·德尔内格罗 2 膝盖/脚踝

肖恩·埃利奥特 1 股四头肌

蒙蒂·威廉姆斯 1 脚

点击查看原文：Hill's firing a shock to Spurs' system - Players refuse to pin any blame

Hill’s firing a shock to Spurs’ system - Players refuse to pin any blame

PHOENIX - As the players sat on the team bus Tuesday morning, waiting to leave for practice, Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich boarded and issued a rather alarming message. Popovich announced he had fired Coach Bob Hill.

The news was met by stunned silence from the players - at least for a moment. It was broken by Dominique Wilkins, who shouted, ``You’re kidding!‘’

Vinny Del Negro turned to Wilkins and told him it was no joke.

To a man, the Spurs’ players said they were shocked by the move, considering the injuries the team had suffered this year.

Is it fair?'' said Will Perdue, repeating a question. I don’t think that matters. This is the NBA. There had been so much talk in the media about Bob’s future that you could sense something like this being possible.‘’

Perdue had been less-than-pleased with the little playing time he was getting during the fourth quarters of several games late last month.

The 7-foot center and Hill sat down to lunch to discuss the matter.

But we didn't have a problem,'' Perdue said. It wasn’t a real negative as far as I was concerned. I had been out (with a thumb injury) and wanted to play, to make an impact.

``But Bob and I never had any trouble. Take that lunch, for instance. I always appreciated him being open-minded about me since I got here (in the trade with Chicago for Dennis Rodman).‘’

Hill, who guided the Spurs to 124 victories in two-plus seasons as head coach, was dismissed after the team struggled to a 3-15 start.

Popovich, who hired Hill only after failing to lure Don Nelson in 1994, assumed the head-coaching reins Tuesday night against the Suns.

Honestly, I really thought it was a gag,'' Wilkins said of Popovich's statement that Hill was gone. I just think it’s so unfortunate that something like this has to happen. (Hill) sure had done a great job here the last two years. He was frustrated this year - as we all are.‘’

The Spurs had been without injured All-Star center David Robinson, who started for the first time against Phoenix, and Chuck Person, who is out with a back injury. Hill also lost Charles Smith and Perdue to injuries at various times this season.

``Bob was always cool with me,‘’ Wilkins said.

Robinson, who played for the first time since Oct. 11, said he didn’t agree with Hill’s ouster.

But it's not my decision to make,'' said Robinson, now is playing for his seventh coach since 1989-90. Bob and I never had any problems. I liked his love of winning. He was meticulous. He did a great job.‘’

But even Robinson conceded the Spurs’ 3-15 start was going to cost someone.

And the coach is the first person people look at,'' Robinson said. Is it Bob’s fault that we’re 3-15? It’s our job to play.‘’

During a players-only meeting following a one-sided, 114-88 loss to Golden State on Sunday, the opinion formulated was that the team was better than its record.

Still, none of the players had an ill word for Hill.

There is no one on this team who was closer to Bob than I was,'' said guard Avery Johnson. We talked a great deal. He said several times in recent weeks that there would be speculation about his future. But I didn’t get the idea that he saw this coming.‘’

Johnson said he had no problems with Hill, who had benched him in the fourth quarter of a couple of games this season.

``We were always on the same page,‘’ said Johnson, who admitted feeling an uneasiness about Hill’s future dating back to last year’s playoff series loss to Utah and management’s refusal to extend Hill’s contract over the summer.

Johnson, Del Negro and Vernon Maxwell had lunch with Hill on Sunday in San Jose, Calif., and talked about backcourt rotations given Hill’s decision to remove Cory Alexander because of spotty play.

Del Negro, who like Johnson enjoyed back-to-back career years under Hill the past two seasons, bristled at the idea that Hill had ``lost the team,‘’ as Popovich told the coach Tuesday morning.

Lost the team? That's a hard word,'' Del Negro said. We’ve been so successful that this lack of success has been hard for all of us. But lost the team? I don’t think so.‘’ - - -

Depleted arsenal

Through 19 games, the Spurs have had seven players miss games this season due to injury.

Player Games Injury

Chuck Person 19 Back

David Robinson 18 Back

Charles Smith 15 Knee

Will Perdue 8 Thumb

Vinny Del Negro 2 Knee/ankle

Sean Elliott 1 Quadricep

Monty Williams 1 Foot

By Kevin O’Keeffe Express-News Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

新鲜血液，却还是老样子——即使是波波维奇和罗宾逊也无法复兴马刺队

凤凰城——马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊回归。新教练格雷格·波波维奇站在场边。那下一步是什么？

菲尼克斯太阳队在周三晚上以轻蔑的态度迎接新来者，并在西部美利坚球馆以93-76击败马刺队，使其连续三场失利。

韦斯利·佩森投中三分球，帮助太阳队在比赛还剩2:38时以90-76领先，盖棺定论。

太阳队在快节奏的比赛中表现得快速而松散，在第四节初就摆脱了圣安东尼奥，在11-4的比分过后，将马刺队（3-16）逼入81-69的困境。

马刺队似乎确实打得更起劲。比赛进行时，他们的士气并未低落，这与最近的情况相反。但进攻仍然因关键的失误和射失而断断续续。

“我们最大的问题就是有点粗心大意，”波波维奇说，他周二上午解雇了鲍勃·希尔，并接任主教练一职。“25次失误无助于解决问题。”

波波维奇表现出一种随心所欲的换人模式，单在第一节就派出九名马刺球员上场。当多米尼克·威尔金斯在8:22时替换肖恩·艾利奥特出场时，第一批球员开始上场。

波波维奇觉得快速换人没什么异常。

他说：“它就是它。”

波波维奇的主要任务之一是控制罗宾逊的上场时间。

马刺队这位全明星中锋因下背部拉伤错过了前18场比赛，在仅上场19分钟的情况下以9分完赛。罗宾逊在比赛期间定期前往更衣室按摩，以防止他的背部冷却。

“我认为大卫做得很好，”波波维奇说。“出入场时很难保持流畅。我们看看他今天的感觉如何，看看疼痛和灵活性如何。”

罗宾逊在球场上移动得很好，但在第一节开始后的前三分钟左右在场上后开始呼吸有点急促。

罗宾逊在比赛开始一分钟时就用双手扣篮，拿到了本赛季的第一分。他在第一节8:53时命中了第一记跳投，时值17英尺。

“我在第一节感觉很好，”罗宾逊说。“我想下次我会尽早多上些时间。那似乎是进入某种节奏的时刻。”

罗宾逊提醒大家，球队并没有在比赛中寄希望于瞬间扭转命运。

他说：“不可能瞬间扭转。”“我们的篮球打得很糟糕，你不能在一夜之间改变这种情况。我们失去了团队合作的概念，我们必须找回来。我认为今晚的情况有所好转，但这需要一些时间。”

艾弗里·约翰逊因左腿挫伤正在休养，他打了34分钟，在7投3中的情况下拿到了6分。约翰逊仍然难以通过底线，发现它们被会聚的防守球员堵住了。

现在，约翰逊说改善防守是马刺队的主要目标。

约翰逊说：“我认为我从没听到波波口中说出进攻这个词。”“他强调的是防守和侵略性。”

约翰逊承认球队在找到自己的比赛风格之前还有很长的路要走。

他说：“一些人不知道在球场上该想什么或做什么。”“波波提了一些新的东西。我们已经不同步了，现在我们更加不同步了。我们的时间表是年底回到正轨。”

肖恩·艾利奥特无法找到任何爆发力，最终得到12分。维尼·德尔·内格罗命中6次跳投中的3次，但没有以任何程度的一致性找到空位。

当被问及波波维奇的换人模式时，德尔·内格罗笑了。

德尔·内格罗说：“也许我们将为一些球员争取更多时间，但你必须让一群球员留在球场上才能保持节奏。”“事情会好起来的。我们现在只需要一些时间来适应这些改变。”

波波维奇同意，他需要几场比赛才能适应在边线上漫步。

他说：“我觉得自己像从樟脑丸里拿出来的。”“我知道我今晚让球队受到了一些伤害。我还没有做出足够快的决定。”

太阳队现在已经连续赢了四场球，表现不俗。佩森以29分领衔全队，丹尼·曼宁替补出场得到12分。

---

马刺队笔记

- 肯普顿被裁掉：为了给大卫·罗宾逊在阵容中腾出位置，马刺队裁掉了中锋蒂姆·肯普顿。肯普顿参加了10场比赛，场均得到0.4分，上场时间为5.9分钟。

- 史密斯体检：据报道，前锋查尔斯·史密斯正在阿拉巴马州接受医生的膝盖检查。史密斯与球队一起抵达凤凰城，但随后又离开了，周二上午没有参加球队训练。

消息来源透露，马刺队希望他们可以为史密斯获得医疗豁免，或者让这位前锋退役。这两个选择可以让球队获得大约180万美元的例外情况，以提供给自由球员。

史密斯的右膝患有严重的滑膜炎，医生形容为“骨碰骨”。他已经缺席了最近的13场比赛。

- 准备上场：罗宾逊表示，当他进行比赛时，他不会担心自己的背部。

他说：“不，我一点也不感到不安。”“坐在替补席上，我确实对比赛有了一番全新的认识。现在我只想上场打球。”

这位中锋说：“我对战绩有点失望，但我从未失去对这些球员的信心。”——格伦·罗杰斯

点击查看原文：New blood, but same old result - Even Popovich, Robinson unable to revive Spurs

New blood, but same old result - Even Popovich, Robinson unable to revive Spurs

PHOENIX - Spurs center David Robinson is back. New coach Gregg Popovich is on the sidelines. So what’s the next move?

The Phoenix Suns greeted the new arrivals with little awe Tuesday night and handed the Spurs their third straight loss, 93-76, at America West Arena.

Wesley Person stamped the proceedings with a three-pointer that put the Suns ahead 90-76 with 2:38 remaining.

Phoenix, playing fast and loose in its high-tempo game, broke away from San Antonio early in the fourth quarter, putting the Spurs (3- 16) in an 81-69 hole after an 11-4 run.

The Spurs did seem to play with more zest. Their heads weren’t dipping as the game wore on, as has been the case in the recent past. But the offense continues to sputter with crucial turnovers and missed shots.

The biggest problem we had was being pretty careless,'' said Popovich, who fired Bob Hill on Tuesday morning and took over as head coach. It doesn’t help the cause to have 25 turnovers.‘’

Popovich displayed a free-wheeling substitution pattern, putting nine Spurs on the floor in the first period alone. The first batch started to come in when Dominique Wilkins replaced Sean Elliott at the 8:22 mark.

Popovich found nothing unusual about the quick substitutions.

``It is what it is,‘’ he said.

One of Popovich’s main chores was governing Robinson’s minutes.

The Spurs’ All-Star center, who missed the first 18 games with a lower back strain, finished with nine points in just 19 minutes. Robinson travelled periodically to the locker room during the game for massages in an effort to keep his back from cooling down.

I thought David did well,'' Popovich said. It’s tough to get a flow going when you come in and out. We’ll see how he feels (today), see how the pain and flexibility is.‘’

Robinson moved up and down the floor pretty well, but started breathing a little heavy after being on the court for about the first three minutes of the first period.

Robinson scored his first points of the season on a two-handed dunk one minute into the game. He hit his first jump shot, a 17- footer, at the 8:53 mark of the first period.

I felt pretty good in the first quarter,'' Robinson said. I think next time I’ll try to get more minutes early. That seemed to be the time to get into some kind of rhythm.‘’

Robinson reminded that the team did not go into the game hoping for an instant turnaround in its fortunes.

It can't be instantaneous,'' he said. We were playing bad basketball and you can’t change that overnight. We lost the idea of team concept and we have to get it back. I thought it was better tonight, but it’s going to take some time.‘’

Avery Johnson, nursing a contusion on his left leg, played 34 minutes and had six points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. Johnson continues to have difficulty getting through the lanes, finding them plugged by converging defenders.

For now, Johnson said improved defense is the Spurs’ main goal.

I don't think I heard the word offense come out of Pop's mouth,'' Johnson said. He is stressing defense and aggression.‘’

Johnson acknowledged the team still has a ways to go to find its game.

Some guys don't know what to think or do out there,'' he said. Pop put in a few new things. We were already out of sync, we’re more out of sync now. Our time frame to get it back is the first of the year.‘’

Sean Elliott couldn’t find any explosiveness to his game and finished with 12 points. Vinny Del Negro hit 3 of 6 jumpers, but was not finding open spaces with any degree of consistency.

Del Negro smiled when asked about Popovich’s substitution pattern.

Maybe we'll be getting more time for some guys, but you've got to keep a core of players on the floor to get the rhythm going,'' Del Negro said. Things are going to be OK. We just need some time now to get used to the changes.‘’

Popovich agreed it would take a few game for him to get used to strolling the sidelines.

I felt like I was taken out of mothballs,'' he said. I know I hurt the team some tonight. I didn’t make enough quick decisions.‘’

The Suns, winners now of four straight, played well. Person led the team with 29 points and Danny Manning came off the bench for 12. - - -

Spurs Notes

- Kempton waived: In order to make room for David Robinson on the roster, the Spurs waived center Tim Kempton. Kempton played in 10 games, averaging 0.4 points and 5.9 minutes.

- Smith exam: Reports are forward Charles Smith is having his knee examined by a doctor in Alabama. Smith arrived in Phoenix with the team but departed again and was not at the team’s shootaround Tuesday morning.

Sources indicate that the Spurs hope that they can either get a medical exception for Smith or that the forward will retire. Either option would permit the team to get an exception of about $1.8 million to offer to a free agent.

Smith is nursing a severe case of synovitis of the right knee, a case that has been described as ``bone on bone.‘’ He has missed the last 13 games.

- Ready to play: Robinson said he he will not be concerned about his back when he is in game action.

No, I don't feel any apprehension,'' he said. I did get a whole new appreciation for the game, sitting on the bench. Now I’m just excited about playing.

``I’m a little disappointed with the record, but I never lost any confidence in the guys,‘’ the center said. - Glenn Rogers

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Kevin O’Keeffe

希尔的解雇是马刺的又一悲剧

菲尼克斯 - 上一次马刺主教练鲍勃·希尔 (Bob Hill) 与球队副总裁格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 讨论希尔的工作时，波波维奇告诉希尔他正在为他准备一份为期两年的合同延期。希尔说：“他告诉我的经纪人也是同样的话。”

然而，周二早上，波波维奇改变了主意。

“我们刚结束了一个工作人员会议，”希尔开始回忆他那天开始的方式。

“我们上楼去了他的房间。他说：‘结束了。’”

“我说：‘什么意思？你是解雇我吗？’”

希尔报告说，波波维奇接着说希尔已经“失去了球队”，这就是波波维奇接管的原因。

在周二下午我们在天港机场见面时，希尔在重述这个故事时依然感到愤怒。

“我只是看着他说：‘我没有失去球队。我本来就没有球队可以失去。’”希尔说。

希尔随后批评波波维奇去年夏天拒绝延长他的合同，却又不同意他与其他球队谈话。

希尔没有等待波波维奇的回应。

他已经拿起了外套，走出了门。

整个会议只持续了20秒。

一段在马刺上赛季季后赛被犹他淘汰后变味的关系，就这样以悲惨的方式结束了。

从那时起，波波维奇就开始在媒体上发表对他的教练不利的消息。他成了他于1994年带到圣安东尼奥的人的敌人。

“但是关于失去球队的那些东西，”希尔的声音略微提高，“那是烟幕弹。完全不真实。”

波波维奇的计划从输给犹他之后就非常明确，而希尔并非没有球员的帮助就能完成这项工作。

而且，波波维奇在这个举动发生的前一天，大卫·罗宾逊 (David Robinson) 从10月11日背部受伤后首次重返赛场，这也进一步引起了人们的怀疑。

“这只是一个巧合，”波波维奇面无表情地说。

这和地球绕着地轴自转一样巧合。

简单来说，波波维奇在上赛季曾考虑解雇希尔，如果马刺在季后赛首轮输给菲尼克斯，他很可能真的会这么做。他知道，在球队战绩为3胜15负之前，他必须抛弃希尔，否则球队没有机会改善战绩。

马刺在1992-93赛季对杰瑞·塔坎安 (Jerry Tarkanian) 做了同样的事情，在球队战绩为9胜11负之前，就将他解雇了，甚至连他都无法避免输球。

希尔将在6月份之前获得工资，他在约翰·卢卡斯 (John Lucas) 担任主教练之后，给球队带来了组织和纪律。

希尔让这支球队重拾自信，他反复向球员们指出常规赛的成功——62胜和59胜——应该被珍惜。

“我不认为他（波波维奇）知道我们之间的关系有多亲密，”希尔谈到他与球员的关系时说。

“本赛季对我们所有人来说都很沮丧，”希尔承认。“但这支球队已经被伤病摧毁了。”

希尔一直在为罗宾逊的回归做准备。他用两种不同的方式训练球队。他说他不会改变这一点。

希尔这样做是为了球队的利益。这就是为什么波波维奇说换帅是为了“球队的利益”这句话听起来很空洞。

但是，要明白，鲍勃·希尔在夏天就被解雇了。

当波波维奇和管理层的其他成员拒绝延长希尔的合同，尽管他在前两个赛季担任主教练期间表现出色，希尔就被解雇了。

尽管希尔对波波维奇的忠诚没有得到回报，但希尔始终没有抱怨，他总是扮演着公司的角色。

正如我几周前写的那样，希尔会成为替罪羊。

我只是惊讶这件事发生在赛季初期。

波波维奇实际上把自己置于失败的境地。

但是，考虑到他的情绪波动和他倾向于让情绪控制他的行为，我不确定他能应付这种情况。

在艰难的一天，希尔表现得非常出色。他说他能够看到儿子卡梅隆 (Cameron) 和克里斯 (Chris) 打篮球，而且能回家过圣诞节。

希尔还谈到希望球队获胜。

“因为我爱这些球员，”他说。

当我们走到机场的登机口时，一位绅士走到希尔身边说：“加油，教练。”

他做到了。

点击查看原文：Hill's firing is yet another sad episode for Spurs

Hill’s firing is yet another sad episode for Spurs

PHOENIX - The last time Spurs coach Bob Hill and team vice president Gregg Popovich discussed Hill’s job, Popovich informed Hill that he was working on a two-year contract extension for him. ``He told my agent the same thing,‘’ Hill said.

Tuesday morning, though, Popovich had a change of heart.

``We had just finished a staff meeting,‘’ Hill began, recalling the way his day started.

``We went upstairs to his room. He (Popovich) said to me, `It’s over.’

``I said, `What do you mean it’s over? Are you firing me?’ ‘’

Hill reported that Popovich then said that Hill had ``lost the team’’ and that was why Popovich was taking over.

That angered Hill even in the re-telling of the story during our visit at Sky Harbor Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

``I just looked at him (Popovich) and said, `I didn’t lose the team. I didn’t have a team to lose,’ ‘’ Hill said.

Hill then criticized Popovich for refusing to extend his contract last summer, yet not allowing him to talk with other teams.

Hill didn’t wait for a reply.

He already had grabbed his coat and was out the door.

The meeting lasted all of 20 seconds.

A sad end to a relationship that had soured after the Spurs’ playoff ouster by Utah last spring.

It was then Popovich began planting items critical of his coach in the media. He became an enemy of the man he brought to San Antonio in 1994.

But that stuff about losing the team,'' Hill said, his voice rising just slightly, that is a smokescreen. That simply is untrue.‘’

Popovich’s agenda has been clear since the loss to Utah, which Hill didn’t accomplish without help from his players.

And that Popovich made this move the day David Robinson returned to the floor after being sidelined with a bad back since Oct. 11 is further cause for cynicism.

``It’s just a coincidence,‘’ Popovich said, with a straight face no less.

It’s about as much a coincidence as the earth spinning on its axis.

Simply, Popovich, who pondered firing Hill last season and likely would have if the Spurs had lost the playoff opener to Phoenix, knew he had to dump Hill with the team 3-15 before it had the chance to improve.

The Spurs did the same to Jerry Tarkanian in 1992-93, firing him at 9-11 before a run of games even he couldn’t lose.

Hill, who will be paid until June, brought organization and discipline to the team after John Lucas’s stint as head coach.

Hill gave this team a rise in self-esteem, repeatedly pointing out to the players that the regular-season success - 62 and 59 victories -should be cherished.

``I don’t think he (Popovich) knew how close we had become,‘’ Hill said of his relationship with the players.

This season has been a frustration for all of us,'' Hill admitted. But this team has been decimated by injury.‘’

Hill had been preparing the team for Robinson’s return. He practiced two different ways. He said he wouldn’t have changed that.

Hill was doing it that way for the good of the team. That’s why there was something hollow in Popovich saying that the coaching switch was being made ``for the good of the group.‘’

Understand, though, Bob Hill was fired last summer.

When Popovich and the rest of management refused to extend Hill’s contract despite the incredible job he had done in the first two years as head coach, Hill was gone.

While Hill’s loyalty to Popovich was unrewarded, not a discouraging word was heard from Hill, ever the company man.

As I wrote weeks ago, Hill would be the scapegoat.

I’m just surprised it happened so early in the season.

Popovich actually has placed himself in a position of failing.

But, given his mood swings and his tendency to allow his emotions to overcome him, I’m not sure he can handle this.

On a trying day, Hill was pure class. He talked of being able to see sons, Cameron and Chris, play basketball and being home for Christmas.

Hill also talked of wanting the team to win.

``Because I love those players,‘’ he said.

As we walked to the gate at the airport, a gentleman walked up to Hill and said, ``Go get ‘em, Coach.’’

He did.

By Kevin O’Keeffe, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

波波维奇解雇希尔，接手马刺帅位 - 意外之举

菲尼克斯 - 在一支苦苦挣扎的球队中，马刺执行副总裁格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 周二早些时候解雇了主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)，随后任命自己为希尔的继任者。这发生在球队明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 伤愈复出，结束了因背伤缺席赛季前18场比赛的状况的同一天。

带着新的教练和新的首发中锋，马刺队在周二晚些时候以 93-76 输给了菲尼克斯太阳队。

本赛季马刺队的战绩跌至 3胜 16负。他们最近 11 场比赛输掉了 10 场，在 NBA 中排名倒数第二。

马刺球员肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott) 最好地概括了当天早些时候所有活动的反应。

“反应？一个大写的 W-O-W。这是很多球员的反应，”埃利奥特说。

波波维奇说，他意识到此举的时间可能会引来一些质疑。

周一，球队在听到罗宾逊将回归阵容的消息后，情绪高涨。但周二早上，球队被告知教练换帅的消息时，感到震惊。

“为什么现在？”波波维奇在周二早上美国西部球馆的新闻发布会上重复了这个问题。“当你决定做一件像这样困难的事情，并且认为这是正确的事情时，最好马上去做。我完全意识到时机可能看起来很糟糕。大卫回归只是一个巧合。

“我认为现在改变方向是必要的。这个决定不是草率做出的。它经过了深思熟虑，得到了很多人的建议，也付出了很多心血。”

这是波波维奇第一次担任 NBA 主教练。他将在周四晚上对阵洛杉矶快船的比赛中带着 0 胜 1 负的战绩上场。

希尔在他担任马刺主教练的前两个赛季中，常规赛战绩为 121 胜 43 负。

但上赛季季后赛开始走下坡路。马刺队在西部半决赛中输给了犹他爵士队，当时他们被认为更有可能获胜。随后，波波维奇在休赛期拒绝给希尔续约。

然后，本赛季，罗宾逊在首场季前赛中加重了背伤。查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 因背伤缺席了整个训练营，很可能缺席整个赛季。查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith) 由于膝盖问题缺席了本赛季的大部分比赛。

总共，7 名球员缺席了比赛，这是球队历史上最糟糕的开局。

马刺队上周末跌至低谷。他们在周五第二次输给了温哥华灰熊队，然后在周日晚上被金州勇士队痛击。

“我们已经认识到一段时间了，这支球队并没有像他们应该的那样有竞争力，”球队总裁杰克·迪勒(Jack Diller) 说。“我们已经跌落到了一个不可接受的地步。”

希尔的结局来得突然。

有报道称，希尔在过去几周中多次提到可能会发生类似的事情，但那些在周一下午在菲尼克斯与他共度时光的人说，希尔并没有预料到这种打击。

“我毫无头绪。这对我来说是一个巨大的冲击，”希尔说。“今年对每个人来说都很沮丧。球队因伤病而元气大伤。我也不知道在今年发生了这么多事情的情况下，如何才能避免（输球）。

“让我告诉你，我爱这支球队。我爱这些球员。我在此取得了很大成功。看看我的战绩。我没什么好羞愧的。”

马刺队董事会主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt) 说，在第二次输给温哥华灰熊队之后，就开始考虑换帅。

他说，周日输给金州勇士队是“压倒骆驼的最后一根稻草”。

“即使大卫不回来，我们也会做出这个决定，”霍尔特说。

霍尔特说，他和球队总裁杰克·迪勒以及波波维奇在周一晚上进行了大约两小时的电话会议。

“然后我们在睡了一晚上后，在周二早上做出了决定，”霍尔特说。

波波维奇说，他在周二早上与希尔进行了简短的会面，向他告知了这个消息。随后，波波维奇登上球队大巴，前往球馆进行早上的热身训练，并宣布球队有了新的教练。

波波维奇告诉 CNN 电视台，球队没有像应该的那样响应希尔，但这位前教练对此表示异议。

“这绝对是荒谬的，”希尔说。“我们伤病太多。我们每天晚上都因为伤病而人手不足。他们正在尽力而为。”

在马刺队旗舰电台 WOAI 的电话节目中，球迷们在周二晚上普遍批评了这个举动。大多数人表示，他们认为应该给希尔更多时间与一支健康的球队一起工作。

“我感谢你们的支持，胜过你们的想象，”希尔说。

当被问及他是否认为球队正在远离希尔时，埃利奥特说：“我还没有机会消化这个。但现在，所有球员都为鲍勃感到难过。”

罗宾逊在周二晚上对阵太阳队的比赛中，上场 20 分钟，得到 9 分和 9 个篮板。他在比赛中多次下场，到更衣室接受背部治疗。

“我同意这个决定吗？”当被问及教练换帅时，罗宾逊问道。“不。但当事情不顺利时，教练是最先被关注的人。我不认为鲍勃输掉了球队。我认为球员们一直在非常努力地工作。”

马刺队中锋对教练换帅并不陌生。在波波维奇之前，他已经在 6 位不同教练的带领下打球 - 拉里·布朗(Larry Brown)，鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)，杰里·塔卡尼安(Jerry Tarkanian)，雷克斯·休斯(Rex Hughes)（执教了一场比赛），约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas) 和希尔。

整个联盟的反应各不相同。

“在戴维回来那天做这件事，似乎毫无道理，”奥兰多魔术队主教练布莱恩·希尔(Brian Hill) 说。“至少让鲍勃有机会尝试与最好的球员一起打球。他在过去两年里做出了 NBA 最好的工作之一。他不可能一夜之间就变笨。”

前马刺队教练拉里·布朗，他是波波维奇和希尔的朋友，说他相信波波维奇一定为这个决定苦苦挣扎。

“如果人们认为波波维奇在做这件事时没有任何痛苦，他们就不了解他，”布朗说。

大多数观察人士认为，希尔会坚持到赛季结束，他的未来将取决于球队在本赛季季后赛中的表现。现在，当季后赛到来时，波波维奇将承受着巨大的压力。

波波维奇说，他将执教球队直到本赛季结束。

“明年？我甚至没有想过明年，我对此不感兴趣，”波波维奇说。“我只是在考虑每天如何让这支球队达到应该达到的水平。”

波波维奇说，马刺队的助理教练汉克·伊根(Hank Egan)，保罗·普雷西(Paul Pressey) 和迈克·布登霍尔泽(Mike Budenholzer) 将留队，希尔的合同将在本赛季剩余时间内有效。

希尔在马刺队的前两个赛季的战绩令人印象深刻。

在 1994-95 赛季，马刺队以 62 胜的成绩领跑联盟，并晋级西部决赛。

上赛季，马刺队再次获得中西部赛区冠军，战绩为 59 胜 23 负。他们还创造了 17 场连胜的球队纪录。

“我们制定了获胜的理念和基础，我认为我们在过去两年里取得了非凡的成绩，”希尔说。“大卫获得了 MVP 和最佳防守球员奖，肖恩入选了全明星阵容。维尼(维尼·德尔尼格罗) 和艾弗里(艾弗里·约翰逊) 都取得了职业生涯的最佳成绩。”

波波维奇在布朗执教马刺队期间担任助理教练，然后在布朗被解雇后，在鲍勃·巴斯手下执教了 1991-92 赛季的剩余时间。

---

• 撰稿人夏洛特-安妮·卢卡斯(Charlotte-Anne Lucas)，凯文·奥基夫(Kevin O’Keeffe) 和杰里·布里格斯(Jerry Briggs) 为本文做出了贡献。

希尔的教练成绩

赛季 球队 常规赛 胜 负 季后赛 胜 负

1986-87 纽约 20 46 - -

1990-91 印第安纳 32 25 2 3

1991-92 印第安纳 40 42 0 3

1992-93 印第安纳 41 41 1 3

1994-95 圣安东尼奥 62 20 9 6

1995-96 圣安东尼奥 59 23 5 5

1996-97 圣安东尼奥 3 15 - -

总计 257 212 17 20

摄影：道格·塞雷斯(Doug Sehres)

新任教练格雷格·波波维奇和大卫·罗宾逊在菲尼克斯比赛开始前，正在进行交流。马刺队输掉了这场比赛。

点击查看原文：Pop fires Hill, takes Spurs helm - Surprise move comes as Admiral rejoins team

Pop fires Hill, takes Spurs helm - Surprise move comes as Admiral rejoins team

PHOENIX - In a move that surprised a struggling basketball team, Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich fired Coach Bob Hill early Tuesday, then named himself as Hill’s replacement. This, on the same day the team’s star center, David Robinson, returned to the basketball court after missing the first 18 games of the season with a back injury.

And with a new coach on the bench and a new starting center in the lineup, the Spurs went out and dropped a 93-76 decision to the Phoenix Suns late Tuesday.

The Spurs fall to 3-16 this season. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have the second-worst record in the NBA.

The reaction to all the activity early in the day might have been summed up best by Spurs player Sean Elliott.

``The reaction? A capital W-O-W. That was the reaction by a lot of the guys,‘’ Elliott said.

Popovich said he realized the timing of this move may raise a few eyebrows.

Monday, the team was upbeat after news spread that Robinson would return to the lineup. But Tuesday morning, the team was left stunned when told there had been a coaching change.

Why now?'' asked Popovich, repeating a question during a news conference at America West Arena Tuesday morning. When you decide on something as difficult as this and feel that it is the right thing to do, it is best to do it right away. I fully realize that the timing might look bad. The fact that David is coming back is a coincidence.

``At this point I thought a change in direction was necessary. The decision wasn’t made in a knee-jerk way. It was made with a lot of thought and a lot of counsel and a lot of heartache.‘’

This is Popovich’s first stint as an NBA head coach. He’ll take an 0-1 record into Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Hill posted a 121-43 regular-season record his first two seasons as the Spurs’ head coach.

But things began to unravel last season in the playoffs. The Spurs lost to Utah in the Western Conference semifinals, a series they were favored to win. That was followed by Popovich refusing to give Hill a contract extension during the off-season.

Then, this season, Robinson aggravated a back injury during the first exhibition game. Chuck Person missed all of training camp with a back injury and is likely out for the season. Charles Smith has been sidelined most of the season with a knee problem.

In all, seven players have missed games during the worst start in franchise history.

The Spurs hit a low point last weekend. They lost for the second time this season to the Vancouver Grizzlies on Friday, then got pounded by the Golden State Warriors Sunday night.

We have perceived over some period of time now that the team has not been playing anywhere near as competitively as it should,'' team President Jack Diller said. We had dropped to a point where it was unacceptable.‘’

The end came suddenly for Hill.

Reports were that Hill had mentioned a few times in the past few weeks that something like this could happen, but those who spent time with him in Phoenix Monday night said Hill wasn’t expecting the hit.

I had no idea. It came as a shock to me,'' Hill said. This year has been frustrating for everybody. The team has been decimated by injuries. I don’t know how things (losses) could have been avoided given all that’s happened this year.

``Let me tell you, I love this team. I love these players. I did great here. Look at my record. I have nothing to be ashamed of.‘’

Spurs board chairman Peter Holt said that thinking about the change began after the second loss to Vancouver.

He said Sunday’s loss to Golden State was ``the icing.‘’

``We would have made this decision even if David were not returning,‘’ Holt said.

Holt said he, team President Jack Diller and Popovich held a three-way phone conversation Monday night for about two hours.

``Then we slept on it and made the decision Tuesday morning,‘’ Holt said.

Popovich said he broke the news to Hill during a brief meeting Tuesday morning. Popovich then boarded the team bus, which was headed for the arena for the morning shootaround, and announced that the team had a new coach.

Popovich told CNN television that the team wasn’t responding to Hill the way it should have, an assertion that the former coach disputes.

That's absolutely ridiculous,'' Hill said. We had so many injuries. We were undermanned every night because of the injuries. They were doing the best they could.‘’

Fans calling WOAI radio, the Spurs’ flagship station, generally ripped the move Tuesday night. Most said they felt Hill should have been given more time to work with a healthy team.

``I appreciate that support more than you will know,‘’ Hill said.

Asked if he thought the team was getting away from Hill, Elliott said: ``I really haven’t had a chance to digest that yet. But right now, all the guys are feeling for Bob.‘’

Robinson had nine points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes Tuesday night against the Suns. He left the floor several times during the game to receive treatment on his back in the locker room.

Do I agree with the decision?'' Robinson asked, when asked about the coaching change. No. But coaches are the first persons to be looked at when things go bad. I didn’t think Bob was losing the team. I thought the guys were working pretty hard.‘’

The Spurs’ center is no stranger to coaching changes. He has been under the guidance of six different coaches before Popovich - Larry Brown, Bob Bass, Jerry Tarkanian, Rex Hughes (one game), John Lucas and Hill.

Reaction throughout the league was varied.

It just seems senseless to do this on the day David came back,'' Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill said. At least let Bob have the opportunity of trying to make it work with the best player. He’s done one of the best jobs in the NBA over the past two years. He didn’t become stupid overnight.‘’

Former Spurs coach Larry Brown, who is friends with both Popovich and Hill, said he believes Popovich must have agonized about the decision.

``If people think Pop is doing this without any pain, they don’t know him,‘’ Brown said.

Most observers felt that Hill would last the season and his future would be determined by the team’s performance in this year’s postseason. Now, Popovich will be under the gun when the playoffs arrive.

Popovich said he would coach the team for the rest of the season.

Next year? I'm not even thinking about next year, it doesn't interest me,'' Popovich said. I’m just thinking day-to-day on how to get this team where it needs to be.‘’

Popovich said Spurs assistant coaches Hank Egan, Paul Pressey and Mike Budenholzer would remain with the team and that Hill’s contract would be honored for the rest of the season.

Hill’s record in his first two seasons with the Spurs was impressive.

During the 1994-95 campaign, the Spurs led the league in victories with 62 and went to the Western Conference Finals.

Last year, the Spurs again won the Midwest Division, this time with 59 victories. They also set a franchise record with 17 straight victories.

We came up with a philosophy and foundation for winning, and I thought we did a phenomenal job the first two years here,'' Hill said. David won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Sean was an All-Star. Vinny (Del Negro) and Avery (Johnson) had career years.‘’

Popovich served as assistant coach under Brown during the latter’s tenure with the Spurs and then under Bob Bass for the remainder of the 1991-92 season after Brown was fired.

- Staff Writers Charlotte-Anne Lucas, Kevin O’Keeffe and Jerry Briggs contributed to this report. - - -

Hill’s coaching mark

Season Team Reg Season W L Playoffs W L

1986-87 New York 20 46 - -

1990-91 Indiana 32 25 2 3

1991-92 Indiana 40 42 0 3

1992-93 Indiana 41 41 1 3

1994-95 San Antonio 62 20 9 6

1995-96 San Antonio 59 23 5 5

1996-97 San Antonio 3 15 - -

Totals 257 212 17 20

PHOTO BY DOUG SEHRES

New Coach Gregg Popovich and David Robinson confer just before the start of the game in Phoenix, which the Spurs lost.

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Express-News Assistant Business Writer

董事会主席称对灰熊的第二次失利触发了教练变更

鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)教练并不知道，当圣安东尼奥马刺队在本周五第二次输给了本赛季NBA最差的球队时，他的工作保障也随着球队一起下降了。当马刺队在周日输给了金州勇士队时，希尔即将成为历史。

“我们在温哥华比赛后就开始谈论（教练变更），并一直谈论到周末，”马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)在周二下午的一次采访中说。“我知道有传言流传；但实际上，周末才是我们开始谈论这件事的时候。”

霍尔特说，他整个周末都在与球队总经理格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)以及球队的总裁兼首席执行官杰克·迪勒(Jack Diller)讨论是否保留希尔。

一些观察家认为，希尔的命运在上个春天就已注定，当时波波维奇私下里愤怒地将球队的糟糕季后赛表现归咎于希尔。

但霍尔特于去年七月成为马刺队的老板和主席，他说球队周五以105-89输给温哥华，这是本赛季对挣扎的灰熊队的第二次失利，这对他来说是一个转折点。

“温哥华的比赛，我称之为……催化剂，”他说。

“然后是周日的金州比赛，我的意思是，你可能想称之为锦上添花，”霍尔特谈到球队114-88的失利时说。“我们一般都会谈论这件事；然后在周日的金州比赛结束后，我们开始认真讨论这件事。”

对于霍尔特来说，“这件事”最终将成为他自去年夏天决定入股球队以来第一个登上头条的决定。

“这不仅是新闻，而且还成为了全国性的新闻，”他说。“这使得它更难。”

周一的好消息是，明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)已经获得了医生的许可，可以复出并参加比赛。

但霍尔特和迪勒说，这并没有影响他们对希尔去留的决定。

“我知道没有人会相信这一点，我也理解，”霍尔特说，“但这确实有点巧合。如果他们昨天告诉我们，大卫还需要两周才能回来，我们仍然会做出这个决定。并且现在就会做出。”

周一晚上，马刺队的三个最高管理人员将做出希尔离任的决定。

霍尔特和迪勒在圣安东尼奥，以及波波维奇在菲尼克斯酒店房间里的深夜电话会议持续了两个小时。

“这是一个有争议的举动。我猜想现在很多球迷会感到失望，会不高兴，会想知道我们为什么要这样做，”霍尔特说。“我想我们也预料到了这一点。鲍勃·希尔一直是一个受欢迎的人物，在过去两年里赢得了很多比赛，比我想象的球队历史上任何时候都要多，所以这是一个艰难的决定。这是一个艰难的决定。”

霍尔特说，他们决定等到周二。

“我说……让我们再睡一个晚上，我的意思是，这是一个艰难的决定。而且我在这行是一个新手，所以我想睡一觉，”霍尔特说。

霍尔特与他的妻子朱丽安娜(Julianna)共同拥有球队最大的单一股权，他说他也与她商量了让希尔离任的事情。

“她认为这是一个好举动，从刺激球队，让他们专注于一场一场比赛赢球的角度来看，”他说。

周二早上，没有人改变主意。

迪勒说，这个决定是最终的。

霍尔特说，球队不能等到周末，因为球员和教练届时将回到圣安东尼奥的家。

点击查看原文：Board chief says second loss to Grizzlies triggered the coaching change

Board chief says second loss to Grizzlies triggered the coaching change

Coach Bob Hill didn’t know it, but when the San Antonio Spurs lost to the worst team in the NBA for the second time this season Friday, his job security went down with the team. And when the Spurs fell Sunday to the Golden State Warriors, Hill was about to become history.

We started talking about it (a coaching change) after the Vancouver game, and through the weekend,'' Spurs chairman Peter Holt said in an interview Tuesday afternoon. I know rumors were going around; but actually, this weekend is when it started.‘’

Holt said he spent most of the weekend in talks with team General Manager Gregg Popovich and the franchise’s president and chief executive, Jack Diller, about whether to keep Hill.

Some observers believed the end was in sight for Hill last spring, when Popovich privately and angrily blamed the team’s poor playoff performance on Hill.

But Holt, who became a Spurs owner and chairman in July, said the 105-89 loss to Vancouver on Friday - the second loss this season to the struggling Grizzlies - was the turning point for him.

``The Vancouver game, I’d call . . . a catalyst,‘’ he said.

And then Golden State game on Sunday, I mean, you might want to call that the icing,'' Holt said of the 114-88 defeat. We generally talked about it; and then after the Golden State game on Sunday, we seriously started talking about it.‘’

For Holt, the ``it’’ would turn out to be his first headline- making decision since deciding to buy into the franchise last summer.

It's not only news, but it becomes national,'' he said. That makes it harder.‘’

The good news Monday was that star center David Robinson had been cleared by his doctors to come back and play ball.

But Holt and Diller said that didn’t factor into the decision on what to do with Hill.

I know nobody will believe this, and I understand that,'' Holt said, but it really was somewhat of a coincidence. If they had told us yesterday that David couldn’t come back for another two weeks, we still would have made this decision. And made it now.‘’

Monday night, the three top executives of the Spurs would come to a decision that Hill would go.

The late-evening conference call between Holt and Diller in San Antonio, and Popovich in a Phoenix hotel room, lasted two hours.

It's a controversial move. I would guess right now that a lot of the fans would be disappointed, would be unhappy, would wonder why we did it,'' Holt said. And I think we expected that, certainly. Bob Hill has been a popular figure, won lots of games in the last two years, more than I think ever in franchise history, so it was a tough decision. It is a tough decision.‘’

Holt said they decided to wait until Tuesday.

``I said . . . let’s sleep on it one more night, I mean, this is a difficult decision. And I’m a new guy in this business, so I wanted to sleep on it,‘’ Holt said.

Holt, who owns the largest single share of the team with his wife, Julianna, said he also conferred with her about letting Hill go.

``She thinks it’s a good move, from the point of view of stimulating the team and getting them focused on winning one game at a time,‘’ he said.

Morning came Tuesday, and no one had had a change of heart.

The decision was final, Diller said.

Holt said the team couldn’t afford to wait until the weekend, when the players and coach would be back home in San Antonio.

By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Express-News Assistant Business Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

关于联盟的褒贬不一的评价 - 这一举动大胆，但时机备受质疑

格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 采取了大胆的措施，并在周二解雇了教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)，并宣布自己担任马刺队的主教练。此举并未让联盟各地的官员感到震惊。众所周知，波波维奇和希尔之间自上赛季结束后就一直存在矛盾，当时马刺队在第二轮输给了犹他爵士队，早早地结束了季后赛之旅。

此外，在本赛季的一系列令人眼花缭乱的伤病中，球队战绩糟糕，排名联盟倒数第二。奥兰多魔术队主教练布莱恩·希尔(Brian Hill) 对此感到意外，他在三年前曾聘请鲍勃·希尔担任助理教练。

布莱恩·希尔在从俄勒冈州波特兰打来的电话中接受采访时，批评了马刺队管理层在全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 缺席了前 18 场比赛后伤愈复出的那天做出这一决定的时机。

“在戴维回来那天这样做似乎毫无道理，”布莱恩·希尔说。“至少让鲍勃有机会尝试着用最好的球员打好比赛。他在过去两年中为 NBA 做出了最好的工作之一。他不会一夜之间变得愚蠢。”

布莱恩·希尔表示，他为自己的前助手感到难过。

“我为鲍勃感到难过和失望，”布莱恩·希尔说，“说实话，我感到很惊讶。我知道他们经历了艰难的时期，戴维和查克 (帕森) 以及其他一些球员都缺席了比赛。但在我看来，他们打得很努力。他们打得很努力，而且他们充满竞争力。”

关于波波维奇将执教球队多久，以及他可能会考虑谁来接替自己的位置，已经开始出现猜测。

“我真的不知道，”布莱恩·希尔说。“你会听到各种说法。他 (波波维奇) 与内利 (唐·尼尔森，一位前资深教练) 和 (现任印第安纳步行者队主教练) 拉里·布朗 (Larry Brown) 走得很近。他们会开始浮出水面 (作为候选人)。但我完全不知道他们会怎么做。”

特纳广播公司 NBA 解说员、前马刺队后卫道克·里弗斯(Doc Rivers) 推测，鲍勃·希尔的命运可能始于去年西部半决赛球队被犹他爵士队爆冷淘汰。

“我讨厌看到有人失去工作，”里弗斯说。“我不知道我是否感到震惊，尤其是考虑到本赛季球队的表现以及去年他们突然结束赛季的方式。”

马刺队在去年 5 月的西部半决赛中被爵士队击溃。今年秋天，由于球队遭遇了一系列伤病，情况开始变得一团糟。总共有 7 名球员缺席了比赛，这是球队历史上最糟糕的开局。

里弗斯表示，此举的时机 - 波波维奇在罗宾逊上场前就解雇了希尔 - 将受到质疑，尤其是在这位教练在两年多的时间里取得了 124 勝 58 負的战绩的情况下。

“我离球队的距离不如以前近，我不知道他们的动机是什么，”圣安东尼奥居民里弗斯说。“也许随着所有人的回归 (回归)，你可能想用一种全新的开始来重新启动。但我认为时机将会引起争论。”

里弗斯在接受来自明尼阿波利斯的电话采访时承认，波波维奇不仅因解雇教练而将自己的声誉置于危险之中，而且也因接任教练职位而将自己的声誉置于危险之中。

“那些像这样冒险的人，要么心很大，要么就是疯了，”里弗斯说。“你知道，我从不贬低那些敢于冒险的人。这有点像迈克尔·乔丹。迈克尔知道人们会因为打棒球而看不起他。我希望波波维奇能打得比迈克尔好。”

步行者队主教练布朗在接受来自盐湖城的电话采访时表示，他认为波波维奇为这个决定苦恼了很久。

“我知道对他来说这不容易，”布朗说，他在 1988 年接手马刺队时将波波维奇带进了 NBA。“如果人们认为波波维奇是在没有任何痛苦的情况下做这件事的，那他们就不了解他。”

布朗表示，他心情复杂。他说，他想看到马刺队在波波维奇的带领下重振旗鼓。但他也不想看到发生在希尔身上的事，希尔是他曾经在堪萨斯大学的助手之一。

“我喜欢他们俩，”布朗说。“我讨厌看到任何教练被解雇。我知道波波维奇很聪明，而且是个好人。他会做他认为正确的事。我也为鲍勃感到难过。他曾在 (堪萨斯大学) 与我共事，我现在为他感到难过。”

人们会质疑波波维奇作为教练的经验。自 1980 年代在加州克莱蒙特的波莫纳-皮茨学院执教 NCAA 第三级球队 8 个赛季以来，他从未担任过任何级别的主教练。

“波波维奇真的关心这支球队，”布朗说。“我知道这一点。他是一个正直的人。他会尽力做正确的事。在 1992 年，我被马刺队解雇后，不得不在赛季中换了球队。但我换到了另一支球队 (洛杉矶快船队)。波波维奇对马刺队阵容中的所有球员都非常熟悉。我知道他很有能力。”

点击查看原文：Mixed reviews around league - Move seen as bold, but timing is questioned

Mixed reviews around league - Move seen as bold, but timing is questioned

Gregg Popovich took a bold step and opened himself to second- guessing Tuesday when he fired coach Bob Hill and named himself coach of the Spurs. Officials from around the NBA weren’t shocked by the move. It was well known that there had been tension between Popovich and Hill since the end of last season, when the Spurs bowed out of the playoffs sooner than expected in a second-round loss to Utah.

Also, the team had been floundering with the second-worst record in the league this season in the midst of a dizzying string of injuries. Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill, who had Bob Hill on his staff as an assistant three years ago, seemed more surprised than anyone contacted by the San Antonio Express-News.

Brian Hill, in a telephone interview from Portland, Ore., criticized Spurs management for making the move on the day that All- Star center David Robinson returned from the injured list after missing the first 18 games.

It just seemed senseless to do this on the day David came back,'' Brian Hill said. At least let Bob have the opportunity of trying to make it work with the best player. He’s done one of the best jobs in the NBA over the past two years. He didn’t become stupid overnight.‘’

Brian Hill said he felt sorry for his former assistant.

I'm saddened and disappointed for Bob,'' Brian Hill said, and quite surprised, to be honest. I know they were going through hard times with David and Chuck (Person) and some others being out. But it seemed like the times I saw them, they played hard. They played hard and they competed.‘’

Speculation already has begun as to how long Popovich will want to coach the team, and who he might be considering as his own replacement.

I really don't know,'' Brian Hill said. You’ll hear everything. He (Popovich) is close to Nellie (Don Nelson, a former veteran coach) and (current Indiana coach) Larry Brown. They’ll start surfacing (as candidates). But I have absolutely no idea what they’ll do on that.‘’

Doc Rivers, a Turner Broadcasting NBA commentator and a former Spurs guard, speculated that Bob Hill’s demise may have started with the team’s upset loss to Utah in last year’s Western Conference semifinals.

I hate to see anyone lose his job,'' Rivers said. I don’t know if I was shocked, especially with the way things were going this season and they way things ended abruptly last year.‘’

The Spurs were blown out by the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals last May. This fall, things began to fall apart when a series of injuries hit the team. In all, seven players have missed games during the worst start in franchise history.

Rivers said the timing of the move - Popovich firing Hill before Robinson played a game -will be questioned, especially since the coach had produced a 124-58 record in little more than two seasons.

Not being as close to it as I was, I don't know what the motive was,'' said Rivers, a San Antonio resident. Maybe with everyone (coming) back, you might want to jump start it with kind of a fresh start. But I think the timing of it will be debated.‘’

Rivers, speaking in a telephone interview from Minneapolis, acknowledged that Popovich has put his reputation on the line not only by firing the coach, but also by taking the job.

Guys that take gambles like that, either they have a huge heart or they're crazy,'' Rivers said. You know, I never down a guy who takes a chance. It’s sort of like Michael Jordan. Michael knew people would be down on him for playing baseball. I hope Pop can hit better than Michael.‘’

Pacers coach Brown said in a phone interview from Salt Lake City that he thinks Popovich agonized about the decision.

I know it's not easy for him,'' said Brown, who brought Popovich into the NBA when he took over the Spurs in 1988. If people think Pop is doing this without any pain, they don’t know him.‘’

Brown said he had mixed emotions. He said he wants to see the Spurs bounce back under Popovich. But he also hates to see what happened to Hill, one of his former assistants at the University of Kansas.

I like 'em both,'' Brown said. I hate to see any coach let go. I know Pop is a bright guy and a good guy. He’ll do what he thinks is right. I also feel for Bob. He worked with me (at Kansas) and I feel for him right now.‘’

Questions will be raised about Popovich’s experience as a coach. He hasn’t been a head coach at any level since he guided NCAA Division III Pomona-Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., for eight seasons in the 1980s.

Pop really cares about the franchise,'' Brown said. I know that. He’s a standup kind of guy. He’ll try to do what is right. I had to go to a new team (in 1992) in the middle of a season after I was let go with the Spurs. But I went to a new team (the Los Angeles Clippers). Pop is familiar with all those guys (on the Spurs roster). I know he’s as capable as they come.‘’

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Johnny Ludden Express-News Staff Writer

激怒球迷：解雇教练招致批评 - 多数球迷表达反对

马刺队老板皮特·霍尔特（Peter Holt）表示，他不认为太多球迷会对球队周二解雇教练鲍勃·希尔（Bob Hill）的决定感到高兴。事实证明他是对的。马刺队的办公室周二接到了大量电话——一位代表估计在第一个小时就接到了200个电话——甚至不得不加开一条电话线。从与季票持有者的采访来看，大多数人打电话并不是为了祝贺这个决定。

“在（马刺队中锋大卫）罗宾逊（David Robinson）即将回归的情况下解雇鲍勃·希尔绝对是错误的，”拥有“Superior Fence Co.”公司并拥有六年季票的鲍比·阿雷东多（Bobby Arredondo）说。“如果他们认为球队输球是因为鲍勃·希尔，那他们绝对错了。我对此非常失望。”

“当你观看比赛时，你就会看到真正发生的事情。他们没有中锋，对手一直在他们身上得分。威尔·珀迪（Will Perdue）在罗宾逊疲惫时可以顶替他，但试图让珀迪和（大前锋卡尔）埃雷拉（Carl Herrera）打完整场比赛是不行的。”

许多球迷，像阿雷东多一样，对希尔在罗宾逊回归阵容的同一天被解雇感到震惊。

“当他的顶级球员缺阵时，你怎么能责怪（希尔）呢？”拥有“Herff-Jones Scholastic Sales”公司并拥有七年季票的奥斯卡·弗洛雷斯（Oscar Flores）说。“如果球队输球，有多少是教练的责任？……这就像解雇一家大公司的清洁工。”

“我认为这就是许多球迷远离球队的理由。他们总是更换球员和教练。没有稳定性。他们没有时间让球迷喜欢他们。”

长期季票持有者哈维尔·奥利瓦（Javier Oliva）认为希尔是马刺队的合适人选。

“(希尔)是一位有证明的赢家，”奥利瓦说。“我认为他为球队带来了稳定性，他一直是一位绅士。我认为在球队经历了（约翰）卢卡斯（John Lucas）和（杰里）塔卡尼安（Jerry Tarkanian）的事件后，他是一个非常稳定的力量。他是球队需要的稳定力量。”

然而，奥利瓦的父亲，达马索·奥利瓦医生（Dr. Damaso Oliva），支持解雇希尔。

“我认为鲍勃·希尔认为自己很帅，并且对篮球了如指掌，”达马索说。“但他并不帅，而且对篮球一无所知。”

“我认为这是纪律问题。我没有看到他们作为一个整体在比赛。我没有看到任何战术的布置。这就像街头比赛：球员们拿到球就投篮。”

“这对圣安东尼奥来说是好事。我们需要一些新鲜血液。我们需要一位不同的教练，一位更具侵略性的教练。……（马刺队总经理格雷格）波波维奇（Gregg Popovich）是一位非常聪明的人，对篮球非常了解。我很高兴看到他成为主教练。”

达马索·奥利瓦是少数赞扬波波维奇的人之一。

“我认为他一直都在计划（执教马刺队），”拥有过去几年季票的克里斯·曼图斯（Chris Mantooth）说。“（罗宾逊的回归）只会让他看起来更好。”

“我真的很震惊。我无法想象解雇一位过去两个赛季场均60多分，并且失去了三位明星球员的教练。……你能想象没有（特洛伊）艾克曼（Troy Aikman）、（埃米特）史密斯（Emmitt Smith）和（迈克尔）欧文（Michael Irvin）的牛仔队吗？”

奥斯汀球迷迈克尔·佩雷斯（Michael Perez）不喜欢希尔或波波维奇。

“我的问题是，我一直认为希尔和波波维奇是一对。一个双头怪物，”佩雷斯通过电子邮件写道。“他们看起来形影不离。就像波波维奇聘请希尔是因为他知道他可以控制一些教练工作，就像（牛仔队老板）杰里·琼斯（Jerry Jones）聘请（巴里）斯威策（Barry Switzer）一样。波波维奇和希尔都有一种极端的完美主义态度，这种态度太过分了。”

“我从不明白鲍勃·希尔使用的轮换阵容。我绝对不明白为什么让卡尔（埃雷拉）打那么多时间。他对于小前锋来说太慢，对于大前锋来说太弱和胆小。我认为他上场是因为波波维奇和希尔不想因为交易了（丹尼斯）罗德曼（Dennis Rodman）然后签下了卡尔来打首发大前锋而显得自己很差劲。”

佩雷斯说，他不会停止做马刺队的球迷。

“无论管理层犯了多少错误，我永远不会放弃我的马刺队，”佩雷斯写道。“我对我们的新老板皮特·霍尔特很有信心。我祝他一切顺利。”

然而，阿雷东多正在考虑在这个赛季结束后不续签他的季票。

“今年我只去过一场比赛，”他说。“我无法把票送给别人。当你甚至找不到人送票时，这真的很悲哀。球员们正在尽力，但你知道他们永远不会赢。”

——员工作家劳尔·多明格斯（Raul Dominguez）和汤姆·奥斯本（Tom Orsborn）为这篇报道做出了贡献。——

球迷的态度

• “如果他们认为球队输球是因为鲍勃·希尔，那他们绝对错了。”——鲍比·阿雷东多

• “如果球队输球，有多少是教练的责任？……这就像解雇一家大公司的清洁工。”——奥斯卡·弗洛雷斯

• “这对圣安东尼奥来说是好事。我们需要一些新鲜血液。我们需要一位不同的教练，一位更具侵略性的教练。……（马刺队总经理格雷格）波波维奇是一位非常聪明的人，对篮球非常了解。”——达马索·奥利瓦医生

• “我真的很震惊。我无法想象解雇一位过去两个赛季场均60多分，并且失去了三位明星球员的教练。”——克里斯·曼图斯

点击查看原文：Enflaming the fans: Firing draws criticism - Many of team's supporters express opposition

Enflaming the fans: Firing draws criticism - Many of team’s supporters express opposition

Spurs owner Peter Holt said he didn’t think too many fans would be pleased with the team’s decision to fire Coach Bob Hill Tuesday. And he was right. The Spurs’ offices were flooded with so many phone calls Tuesday - one representative took an estimated 200 in the first hour - that an extra phone line had to be set up. Judging from interviews with season-ticket holders, most people weren’t calling to congratulate the decision.

For them to let go of Bob Hill when (Spurs center David) Robinson is going to come in is definitely wrong,'' said Bobby Arredondo, owner of Superior Fence Co. and a six-year season-ticket holder. If they thought they were losing games because of Bob Hill, they are definitely wrong. I’m pretty upset about it.

``When you see a game, you see what is really happening. They didn’t have a center, they had guys walking all over them. Will Perdue is good to fill in when Robinson is tired, but to try to play a whole game with Perdue and (power forward Carl) Herrera isn’t going to work.‘’

Many fans, like Arredondo, were shocked that Hill was let go the same day that Robinson returned to the lineup.

How can you blame (Hill) when his top player is gone?'' said Oscar Flores, owner of Herff-Jones Scholastic Sales and a seven-year season-ticket holder. If the team is losing, how much of it is the coach’s fault? . . . It’s like firing the janitor of a big corporation.

``I think that’s the reason why a lot of fans have been staying away. They are always changing players and coaches. There is no stability. They don’t have time to endear themselves to the fans.‘’

Long-time season-ticket holder Javier Oliva thought Hill was the right fit for the Spurs.

(Hill's) a proven winner,'' Oliva said. I think he brought stability to the team and he’s been a tremendous gentleman. I think he was a very stabilizing influence on this franchise when it needed a stabilizing force. He was perfect after all the team went through with (John) Lucas and (Jerry) Tarkanian.‘’

However, Oliva’s father, Dr. Damaso Oliva, supported the firing.

I believe Bob Hill thinks he is very pretty and knows everything about basketball,'' Damaso said. But he’s not pretty and he doesn’t know a lot about basketball.

``I think it’s a problem of discipline. I don’t see them as playing as a unit. I don’t see any plays being called. It’s kind of like a street game: The players just get the ball and shoot.

``It’s good for San Antonio. We need some new blood. We need a different coach, a more aggressive type of coach. . . . (Spurs general manager Gregg) Popovich is a very intelligent man who knows a lot about basketball. I will be delighted to see him be head coach.‘’

Damaso Oliva was one of the few to praise Popovich.

I think he probably had (coaching the Spurs) on his agenda all along,'' said Chris Mantooth, who has had season tickets for the past couple of years. (Robinson’s return) is just going to make him look better.

``I’m really shocked. I can’t imagine firing a coach who has averaged 60-something wins the past two seasons and has lost three of his star players. …Could you imagine the Cowboys without (Troy) Aikman, (Emmitt) Smith and (Michael) Irvin?‘’

Austin fan Michael Perez doesn’t care for either Hill or Popovich.

The problem I have is that I always saw Hill and Pop as a tandem. A two-headed monster,'' Perez wrote via e-mail. They appeared to be joined at the hip. It was like Pop hired Hill because he knew he could keep some control over the coaching, kind of like (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones bringing in (Barry) Switzer. Pop and Bob had an extreme perfectionist attitude that went too far.

``I never understood the rotations that Bob Hill had been using. I see absolutely no reason to play Carl (Herrera). He plays way too many minutes. He is too slow for a small forward and too weak and timid for a power forward. I think he plays because Pop and Bob do not want to look bad for trading (Dennis) Rodman and then signing Carl to start at power forward.‘’

Perez said he won’t stop being a Spurs fan.

I will never give up on my Spurs no matter how much management screws up,'' Perez wrote. I do have a lot of faith in our new owner, Peter Holt. I wish him the best.‘’

Arredondo, however, is considering not renewing his tickets after this season.

This year I've only been to one game,'' he said. I haven’t been able to give the tickets away. It’s pretty sad when you can’t even find people to give them to. The players are trying their best, but you know they are never going to win.‘’

- Staff writers Raul Dominguez and Tom Orsborn contributed to this story. - - -

How fans stand

-``If they thought they were losing games because of Bob Hill, they are definitely wrong.‘’ - Bobby Arredondo

-``If the team is losing, how much of it is the coach’s fault? . . . It’s like firing the janitor of a big corporation.‘’ - Oscar Flores

-``It’s good for San Antonio. We need some new blood. We need a different coach, a more aggressive type of coach. . . . (Spurs general manager Gregg) Popovich is a very intelligent man who knows a lot about basketball.‘’ - Dr. Damaso Oliva

-``I’m really shocked. I can’t imagine firing a coach who has averaged 60-something wins the past two seasons and has lost three of his star players.‘’ - Chris Mantooth

By Johnny Ludden Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

罐头教练：“我在这里表现出色”

圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)在球队以3胜15负的糟糕战绩开局后被解雇，他表示会继续关注球队并支持球队。周二晚上，他回到圣安东尼奥时发誓，他将出席球队周六晚上主场对阵达拉斯小牛队的比赛。

“我会去观看对小牛队的比赛，”情绪激动的希尔在圣安东尼奥国际机场接受采访时说道。“让我告诉你，我爱这支球队，我爱这些球员，我在这里表现出色。看看我的战绩，我没有什么可羞愧的。”

希尔在1994年被马刺队聘用，他离开时的胜率为.681，在球队历史上仅次于1992年以代理教练身份执教一场比赛并取得全胜的雷克斯·休斯(Rex Hughes)。

希尔的球队取得了124胜58负的战绩，包括1995年进入西部决赛和去年5月进入西部半决赛。

“我会怀念很多东西，”他说，“对我和我家人来说，这将是难忘的两年。”

本赛季前一个月，包括全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)在内的7名球员因伤缺席比赛。希尔说，这是球队挣扎的原因。

马刺队管理层对此持不同看法。

尽管球队有伤病，但他们认为球队本应该取得更好的战绩。马刺队总经理格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在与其他球队高管协商后，周二早上在菲尼克斯解雇了希尔。

波波维奇表示，球员们对希尔没有反应，希尔强烈反驳了这一说法。

“(波波维奇)说我失去了球队，”希尔说。“这完全是胡说八道。我们伤病太多，因为伤病我们每晚都人手不足。他们尽了最大的努力。”

周二晚上，给马刺队旗舰广播电台WOAI-AM打电话的球迷们普遍对这一举动感到愤怒。大多数球迷表示，他们认为希尔应该得到更多时间来带领一支健康的球队。

“我感谢你们的支持，比你们想象的还要多，”希尔说。

周五晚上，马刺队在主场输给了拥有联盟最差战绩的温哥华队16分。在希尔作为马刺队主教练的最后一场比赛中，球队周日客场以26分惨败给实力较弱的金州勇士队。

“我们在金州队撞墙了，”他说。“我们在某种程度上认输了。但是，至于我失去了球队？大多数总经理都会这么说。这很容易说。”

希尔在周一早上在球队酒店的一次简短会谈中，对波波维奇的感受感到震惊。

“在此之前，我最后一次听说（我的情况）是他们正在努力为我续约，”希尔说。“两周前，波波维奇提到他将尝试为我们（教练组）争取一份续约。”

希尔表示，在他被解雇的那天，罗宾逊因背部伤势缺席了整个赛季，并将在当天复出，这对他并没有特别大的伤害。

“没有，”他说。“那没有让我心碎。这只是生意的一部分。如果他们要做出改变，那么在对他们来说最有利的时候做出改变是有意义的。”

希尔在周一晚上的广播节目中表示，他对球队在罗宾逊回归后能够提升充满谨慎的乐观。他说，马刺队需要一个健康的罗宾逊，也许还需要一个新的强力前锋，才能打出一波强势的季后赛之旅。

“正如我（周一）晚上所说，如果大卫回来一切安好，那么我们会变得很强大，”他说。“我还觉得我们需要做些什么来加强大前锋的位置。”

希尔说，马刺队显然仍在努力签下自由球员布莱恩·威廉姆斯(Brian Williams)。

“我可以说出来，现在可以了吧？”他笑着说。“威廉姆斯是你可能要追求的球员之一。”

希尔表示，为了签下威廉姆斯，球队可能需要为伤病缠身的查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)申请医疗特例。史密斯因慢性膝盖疼痛已经缺席了最近的15场比赛。

“我和布莱恩以及（他的经纪人）弗雷德·斯劳特(Fred Slaughter)关系非常密切，”希尔说。“现在，我不知道会发生什么。” —

胜任的教练

以下是以马刺队历史上胜率排名前十的教练列表：

教练 年份 胜负 胜率

鲍勃·希尔 '94-'96 124-58 .681

约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas) '92-'94 94-49 .657

斯坦·奥尔贝克(Stan Albeck) '80-'83 153-93 .622

鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass) * 144-108 .569

道格·莫伊(Doug Moe) '76-'80 177-135 .567

克里夫·哈根(Cliff Hagan) '67-'70 109-90 .548

拉里·布朗(Larry Brown) '88-'92 153-131 .537

汤姆·尼萨尔克(Tom Nissalke) * 104-91 .533

马克斯·威廉姆斯(Max Williams) '69-'70 28-32 .467

C·菲茨西蒙斯(C. Fitzsimmons) '84-'86 76-88 .463

* - 巴斯曾在’74-'76、'80、'84、'92执教；尼萨尔克曾在’71-'72、'73-'74执教。

点击查看原文：Canned coach: `I did great here'

Canned coach: `I did great here’

Spurs coach Bob Hill, fired in the wake of a 3-15 start, said he would continue to watch the team and support it. He vowed upon his return to San Antonio on Tuesday night that he will attend the team’s next home game Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

I'll be at the Dallas game,'' an emotional Hill said during interviews at San Antonio International Airport. Let me tell you, I love this team. I love these players. I did great here. Look at my record. I have nothing to be ashamed of.‘’

Hill, hired by the Spurs in 1994, leaves with a winning percentage of .681 - the best in franchise history outside of Rex Hughes, who was undefeated in one game as interim coach in 1992.

Hill’s teams finished 124-58, including playoff runs to the 1995 Western Conference finals and the conference semifinals last May.

I'll miss a lot of things,'' he said. It’s been a fantastic two years for me and my family.‘’

Seven players, including All-Star center David Robinson, missed games in the first month this season with injuries. Hill said that was the reason for the team’s struggles.

Spurs management viewed things differently.

There was a sense the team should have had a better record, despite the injuries. Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich, after consultation with other team executives, dismissed Hill on Tuesday morning in Phoenix.

Popovich said players were not responding to Hill, who vehemently disputed that assertion.

(Popovich's) comment was that I had lost the team,'' Hill said. That’s absolutely ridiculous. We had so many injuries. We were undermanned every night because of the injuries. They were doing the best they could.‘’

Fans calling WOAI-AM, the Spurs’ flagship radio station, generally ripped the move Tuesday night. Most said they felt Hill should have been given more time to work with a healthy team.

``I appreciate that support more than you will know,‘’ Hill said.

The Spurs lost by 16 points at home to Vancouver, the team with the worst record in the NBA, on Friday night. In Hill’s last game as Spurs coach, the team was thrashed by 26 Sunday on the road against the lowly Golden State Warriors.

We hit the wall in Golden State,'' he said. We gave in a little bit in that respect. But as far as me losing the team? Most general managers would say something like that. It’s an easy thing to say.‘’

Hill was shocked to learn of Popovich’s feelings in a brief meeting at the team hotel Monday morning.

Before that, the last I heard (about my situation) was that they were working on an extension,'' Hill said. Two weeks ago, Pop mentioned that he was going to try to get it for us (the coaching staff).‘’

Hill said it didn’t hurt him particularly to learn that he was fired on the day that Robinson, out with a lower back strain all season, would be returning to action.

No,'' he said. That didn’t kill me. It’s just part of the business. If they’re going to make a change, then it makes sense to make it when it looks best for them.‘’

Hill expressed cautious optimism Monday night on his radio show that the team could improve with Robinson’s return. He said the Spurs need a healthy Robinson and perhaps a new power forward to make a strong playoff run.

As I said (Monday) night, if David came back all right, then we were going to be good,'' he said. I also felt that we needed to do something to shore up the big forward spot.‘’

Hill said the Spurs apparently are still working toward signing unrestricted free agent Brian Williams.

I can go ahead and say that, now, right?'' he said, smiling. Williams is one guy you could go after.‘’

In order to sign Williams, Hill said the team might have to get a medical exception for injured forward Charles Smith. Smith has missed the last 15 games with chronic knee pain.

I was real close to Brian and (his agent) Fred (Slaughter),'' Hill said. Now, I don’t know what’s going to happen on that.‘’ - - -

Winning coaches

A list of the top 10 coaches, based on winning percentage, in Spurs franchise history:

Coach Years W-L Pct.

Bob Hill '94-96 124-58 .681

John Lucas '92-94 94-49 .657

Stan Albeck '80-83 153-93 .622

Bob Bass * 144-108 .569

Doug Moe '76-80 177-135 .567

Cliff Hagan '67-70 109-90 .548

Larry Brown '88-92 153-131 .537

Tom Nissalke * 104-91 .533

Max Williams '69-70 28-32 .467

C. Fitzsimmons '84-86 76-88 .463

* - Bass had stints in '74-76, '80, '84, '92; Nissalke in '71-72, '73-74.

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Marty Sabota Express-News Staff Writer

马刺球迷质疑解雇教练的决定

本赛季马刺队表现挣扎，就像被困在陷阱里的土狼一样，但解雇教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)并不是球队只取得了三场胜利的解决之道。这是周二球队总经理格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)宣布希尔下课后，篮球迷们普遍的反应。波波维奇自己接手了主教练职位。

“我认为他们搞错了方向，” 冬景园林公司老板约翰·温特(John Winter)说道，他建议波波维奇应该离开。

“我从未见过如此糟糕的交易，如此糟糕的决定。他们却解雇了希尔？”温特说道。

但与波波维奇有11年交情的市议员罗伯特·马尔布特(Robert Marbut)称此举“勇敢”。

“很多人会躲避和逃跑，”他说。“对波波来说，找另一位教练更容易，如果他们在今年剩余的比赛中表现不好，就可以怪罪于他们。”

相反，波波维奇自己承担起球队重担，并承担全部责任，马尔布特说道。

但许多人批评这一举动是波波维奇纯粹的自我主义。马尔布特称这些评论“胡说八道”。

“波波是最没有私心的人之一，”他说。“他希望球队取得成功，如果他必须做一名洗碗工才能赢球，他会毫不犹豫地去做。”

伤病缠身的马刺队输掉了比赢球多五倍的比赛，而中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和其他球星经常坐在场边观战。

伤病问题反复出现。

球迷们推测，即使是明星球员，如果没有一个强大的阵容支持，也无法闪耀光芒。

“哦，我的天哪！哇！”马刺球迷玛丽亚·贝纳维德斯(Maria Benavidez)感叹道。她在康弗斯(Converse)的男孩城(Boysville)收容所做秘书。“我认为他做得很好。我认为他们应该让他继续执教，直到大卫·罗宾逊从伤病中恢复过来。我认为现在解雇他为时过早。”

虽然大多数人使用了“震惊”和“惊呆”等词语，但前马刺队老板B.J. “雷德”·麦克科姆斯(B.J. “Red” McCombs)并不属于这一类。

“我一个星期前就知道了，”麦克科姆斯说道。“这只是生活的一部分。这些事情会发生。这不是管理层喜欢做的事情。但无论好坏，这都是职业体育界的生意。”

麦克科姆斯称赞了希尔的执教能力，但表示这一换帅将会为这支病恹恹的球队注入一剂强心针。

“波波维奇是一位非常优秀的教练，他会做得很好。他了解所有的球员和体系，”他说，并预测马刺队将在接下来的10场比赛中赢得7场。

那些与球队关系不紧密的人从未料到此事。

圣安东尼奥广场(Plaza San Antonio)的礼宾员克里斯托弗·卡德纳斯(Christopher Cardenas)在听到这个消息后几乎说不出话来。

“我仍然感到震惊，”卡德纳斯在朋友告诉他这个爆炸性消息一个小时后说道。

虽然感到沮丧，但卡德纳斯表示他不会抵制比赛。“我太喜欢马刺队了，”他说。

酒店的代客罗伯特·冈萨雷斯(Robert Gonzalez)显然没有关注周二的新闻。所以当卡德纳斯下午问他是否听到了马刺队的最新消息时，他惊恐地问道：“他们被出售了吗？”

了解了真相后，这位酒店员工不置可否。

“他们需要改变，”冈萨雷斯说道，他除了工作时以外，都会戴着他的马刺队帽子。

“也许这将有助于他们留在这里，”他说，指的是球队可能搬迁的担忧。

卡伦/弗罗斯特银行(Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc.)的高级董事长汤姆·弗罗斯特(Tom Frost)从美国篮球协会(ABA)的第一天起就一直拥有相同的马刺队球票。

“据说我支付了贷款，才把他们带到圣安东尼奥，”弗罗斯特说道。

尽管如此，他还是更喜欢引用他的搬运工兼“大师”查尔斯·李(Charles Lee)的话。李的儿子乔治·格尔文·李(George Gervin Lee)是以他的教父、前马刺队传奇球星乔治·“冰人”·格尔文(George “Iceman” Gervin)的名字命名的。

“他说(前金州勇士队教练)唐·尼尔森(Don Nelson)将会成为下一任教练，”弗罗斯特说道。

长期球迷斯蒂芬妮·沃德(Stephanie Ward)是河滨购物中心(Rivercenter mall)的“运动眼睛”(Sporting Eyes)太阳镜店的经理，一些马刺队球员会在那里购物，她非常沮丧。

她不仅因为认为希尔是一位好教练而感到惋惜，而且“他看起来很好看”。

《圣安东尼奥快报》(Express-News)在线留言板充满了支持希尔的评论和批评解雇他的消息。

来自圣安东尼奥的帕特里克(Patrick)留言道：

“时机真好，波波。你可能不想让海军上将今晚赢球，破坏你用鲍勃·希尔作为替罪羊的借口。清醒过来，闻闻药酒味吧，伙计。希尔教练在今年的伤病让球队陷入低谷之前，率领圣安东尼奥取得了多年来最好的战绩之一。”

但一条没有署名的网络留言批评了罗宾逊：

“鲍勃·希尔是我们拥有的最好的教练。整件事中最大的替罪羊是大卫·罗宾逊。他本不应该参加他的第三届奥运会。大多数人能参加一届奥运会就很幸运了，但他参加了三届？还冒着受伤的风险，这可能会让他的球队瘫痪？在我看来，他的伤病导致其他球员试图提高自己的比赛水平，这可能导致其他球员受伤。鲍勃·希尔不应受到这种待遇。”

• 本报道由《圣安东尼奥快报》的撰稿人妮可·福伊(Nicole Foy)和詹妮弗·罗德里格斯(Jennifer Rodriguez)共同完成。

点击查看原文：S.A. fans question wisdom of ouster

S.A. fans question wisdom of ouster

The Spurs may be struggling like a coyote caught in a trap this season, but cutting loose Coach Bob Hill isn’t the answer to a team winning only three games. That was the general reaction of basketball fans to Hill’s firing Tuesday by team General Manager Gregg Popovich, who took the job himself.

``I think they got it backward,‘’ said businessman John Winter, owner of Winter Landscaping, suggesting Popovich should be out in the cold.

``I’ve never seen such poor trades, such poor decisions. And they get rid of Hill?‘’ Winter said.

But Councilman Robert Marbut, who has been close friends with Popovich about 11 years, called the move ``gutsy.‘’

A lot of people would duck and run,'' he said. It’d be easier for Pop to bring another coach in; and then if they don’t do good the rest of the year, blame it on them.‘’

Instead, Popovich is taking on the burden of the team himself and assuming total responsibility, Marbut said.

But many have criticized the action as pure selfishness on Popovich’s part. Marbut called such comments ``hogwash.‘’

Pop is one of the most egoless people there are,'' he said. He wants the club to succeed; and if he had to be a busboy to win, he would do just that.‘’

The injury-plagued Spurs have lost five times as many games as they have won while center David Robinson and other stars often watched from the sidelines.

The injury angle surfaced over and over again.

And, fans surmised, even a star can’t shine without a supporting cast.

Oh, my God! Wow!'' was the heartfelt reaction of Spurs fan Maria Benavidez, a secretary for the Boysville shelter in Converse. I thought he had been doing great. I think they should have kept him on until David Robinson came back from his injury. I think it was too soon.‘’

While most used words such as shocked and stunned, former Spurs owner B.J. ``Red’’ McCombs was not among them.

I knew about it a week ago,'' McCombs said. It’s just a fact of life. These things will happen. It’s not something management likes to do. But good or bad, it’s business in professional sports.‘’

McCombs lauded Hill’s coaching abilities, but said the switch would provide the ailing team a much-needed shot in the arm.

``Popovich is a very good coach, and he will do well. He knows all the players and the system,‘’ he said, predicting the Spurs would win seven of their next 10 games.

Those less connected never saw it coming.

Christopher Cardenas, a concierge at Plaza San Antonio, was left nearly speechless by the news.

``I’m still shocked,‘’ Cardenas said an hour after a friend dropped the bombshell.

Although upset, Cardenas said he didn’t plan to boycott the games. ``I’m too much of a fan,‘’ he said.

Robert Gonzalez, a valet at the hotel, apparently wasn’t tuned in to the grapevine Tuesday. So when Cardenas asked that afternoon if he’d heard the latest Spurs dirt, he asked, aghast: ``Were they sold?‘’

Given the scoop, the hotel employee was nonplussed.

``They needed the change,‘’ said Gonzalez, who wears his Spurs hat in public except when working.

``Maybe this will help keep them here,‘’ he said, referring to fears the team might relocate.

Tom Frost, senior chairman of Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., has had the same Spurs tickets since the first day of the American Basketball Association.

``It’s been said I paid the loan to bring them here,‘’ Frost said.

Even so, he preferred to quote his porter and guru'' Charles Lee, whose son George Gervin Lee is named for his godparent, former Spurs legend George Iceman’’ Gervin.

``He said (former Golden State Warriors coach) Don Nelson will be the next coach,‘’ Frost said.

Longtime fan Stephanie Ward, manager of Sporting Eyes sunglass store in Rivercenter mall, where some Spurs players shop, was distraught.

She mourned the loss not only because she considered Hill a good coach, but ``he’s easy to look at.‘’

The Express-News Online message page was filled with pro-Hill comments and messages critical of his ouster.

Patrick from San Antonio messaged:

``Nice timing, Pop. Guess you didn’t want the Admiral to win one tonight and ruin your excuse for using Bob Hill as a scapegoat. Wake up and smell the liniment guy. Coach Hill led San Antonio to one of the best records in years before this year’s injuries took the team down.‘’

But one unsigned cyber message chided Robinson:

``Bob Hill is the first class act we’ve had as coach. The biggest goat in the whole thing has been David Robinson. He had no business playing in his third Olympics. Most are fortunate to play in one, but three? And risk injury that could debilitate his team? It appears to me that his injury caused others to try to raise their level of play too high, perhaps causing injuries to keep (sic) players. Bob Hill does not deserve this kind of treatment.‘’

- Staff Writers Nicole Foy and Jennifer Rodriguez contributed to this report.

By Marty Sabota Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-11, By Buck Harvey

可怕的性格？如何不炒掉教练

格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)是我认识的最蠢的聪明人。如果他想炒掉鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)，他可以在下个月做到，而且不会显得像个小型食肉动物。波波维奇对丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)也有更聪明的选择。但波波维奇对罗德曼做的事情和星期二对希尔做的事情一样。戴着眼罩的波波维奇就像个鼬鼠一样。

波波维奇盯着他的事实，决定无论如何都要做正确的事。值得敬佩吗？在一个以门票收入为王，形象至关重要的世界里，这很愚蠢。

所以波波维奇不仅冒着犯错的风险，从星期二开始，他在圣安东尼奥的职业生涯正式进入倒计时。

这就是这个故事的转折。那个受苦的受害者可能过得更好。毕竟，希尔将在本赛季剩下的时间里获得报酬。而且当明年夏天通常的六支NBA球队来找教练时，难道不会有人对一个在两年内赢了121场比赛的人感兴趣吗？

本赛季发生的事情不会损害希尔的市场价值，这就是为什么希尔实际上不是替罪羊。每个人都看得出来。红·奥尔巴赫(Red Auerbach)不可能在凯迪拉克绊倒他的雪茄时获胜。所以，在希尔将马刺队带到他们前所未有的高度后，波波维奇用他的残忍震惊了所有人。他像对待塔克(Tark)一样对待希尔。

但波波维奇不是鼬鼠。他也不蠢。他不是因为希尔战绩3胜15负才炒掉他的。波波维奇和他的教练组在希尔在圣安东尼奥执教的第一个月就发现了缺陷。然后，很明显步行者队告诉他们的话是正确的。希尔对球员不强势；他痴迷于进攻。

波波维奇在1995年季后赛对阵火箭队的比赛中变得更加苛刻。但波波维奇认为他可以忍受希尔，直到上个赛季对阵爵士队的系列赛。

波波维奇比常规赛更重视季后赛的强硬程度。他得到了相反的结果。当波波维奇怒火中烧，私下说他当场解雇希尔的可能性为50%时，希尔不明白为什么。难道不是该给一个值得奖励的合同延期吗？

波波维奇退缩了。毕竟，他宣扬的是连续性。也许如果波波维奇和希尔一起度过夏天，事情会有所改变。

波波维奇倒不如要求希尔穿Dockers和Keds。希尔永远都是一样，一个喜欢自己动手、注重细节的技术人员。波波维奇在过去的两年里聘请了希尔的所有助手，部分原因是希尔没有提供任何候选人。

还有一个原因可能导致希尔不愿认真听波波维奇的训话：家庭关系。他们的妻子是朋友，波波维奇的女儿和希尔的一个儿子关系很好。波波维奇不会炒掉自己的朋友，对吗？

所以当助理教练汉克·伊根(Hank Egan)在本赛季开始时负责防守时，希尔需要大约四天的训练营来重新引导所有人的注意力。波波维奇当时比以往任何时候都更加确信，结局即将到来。

然后，罗宾逊的背部受伤了，一切都变得扭曲了。但波波维奇看到了失败的背后。他看到了混乱。消息人士称，如果马刺队上周没有击败费城，希尔可能就在那时被解雇。

接下来是令人尴尬的夜晚，分别输给了温哥华和金州。波波维奇决定他必须做点什么。

对罗德曼来说，他面临着类似的选择。罗德曼还有最后一年的合同，但他没有表示他会来参加训练营。波波维奇本可以用此为自己谋利。他可以那个休赛期什么都不做。当罗德曼要么失踪，要么不配合时，波波维奇就可以举手投降，宣布他必须进行交易。

相反，波波维奇选择了一个能提升球队的人——威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)。但这样做，波波维奇把罗德曼交易到了最有可能让他出丑的地方。

波波维奇现在也可以等待。休斯顿很快就要出现在赛程中，还有西雅图、波特兰和犹他。当球迷们像马刺队一样被打败时，会有一个乏味的夜晚。此外，如果希尔做得不好，那很快就会显露出来。

但波波维奇认为等待对希尔和马刺队都不公平。于是，他炒掉了本赛季还没有和罗宾逊一起打过一分钟的教练。

这一举动引起了人们的关注。但它能卖出票吗？也许对那些想嘘的人来说。即使是那些不太喜欢希尔的人现在也感到愤怒。但当波波维奇被问及反应时，他说：“我不能担心。”

他应该担心。波波维奇自他执教强大的波莫纳-皮策学院(Pomona-Pitzer)以来第一次接手一支球队。他得到了一位康复后的超级巨星，一位跛脚的肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)和一个阵容，他们不确定自己是否真的比森林狼队更好。

与希尔不同，波波维奇会直面问题。也许这很有效，因为他作为少数几个像助理教练一样在更衣室工作的总经理，培养了良好的关系。但当波波维奇减少上场时间——并大喊大叫时，这一切都被抹去了吗？

只有时间才能证明希尔是否“失去了球队”，用波波维奇阵营的话来说。或者希尔是否已经从这支球队中榨取了尽可能多的价值，而这支球队在联盟中几乎没人认为是争冠球队。

波波维奇确信他知道答案。但那是他的可怕性格。一旦确信，其他一切都不重要。一个保证：鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)在这里生存了二十年，他永远不会把自己的脖子伸到这么远的地方。

如果这种性格还有另一面——关于决心和勇气——今天很少有人能看到。波波维奇应该更聪明，不是关于希尔，而是关于他自己的职业生涯。如果他输了，波波维奇就完蛋了。

点击查看原文：Terrible trait? How not to fire a coach

Terrible trait? How not to fire a coach

Gregg Popovich is the dumbest-smart man I know. If he wanted to fire Bob Hill, he could have done it next month without looking like a small, carnivorous mammal. Popovich had more clever options with Dennis Rodman, too. But Popovich did with Rodman what he did Tuesday with Hill. With blinders on, Pop goes the weasel.

Popovich stares at his facts and decides he has to do what is right no matter the heat. Admirable? In a ticket-buying world where image matters, it’s dumb.

So Popovich didn’t merely risk being wrong. As of Tuesday, his own career in San Antonio is officially ticking.

That’s the twist of this story. The put-upon victim might be better off. After all, Hill will be paid for the rest of this season. And when the usual half-dozen NBA teams come looking for a coach next summer, won’t someone be interested in a guy who won 121 games over two years?

What happened this season won’t damage Hill’s market value, which is why Hill really isn’t a scapegoat. Everyone sees through that. Red Auerbach couldn’t have won with Cadillac tripping over his cigar. So after Hill took the Spurs as far as they’ve ever been, Popovich shocked with his cruelty. He treated Hill like Tark.

But Popovich is no weasel. He’s not dumb, either. He didn’t fire Hill because he was 3-15. Popovich and his staff saw flaws one month into Hill’s career in San Antonio. Then, it was clear that what the Pacers had told them was true. Hill is non-confrontational with players; he’s obsessed with offense.

Popovich became more of a critic during the 1995 playoffs against the Rockets. But Popovich thought he could live with Hill -until last season’s series in Utah.

Popovich cared more about playoff toughness than regular-season show. He got the opposite. And when Popovich fumed, saying privately there was a 50-50 chance he would fire Hill on the spot, Hill didn’t understand why. Wasn’t it time for a rewarding contract extension?

Popovich pulled back. He preached continuity, after all. Maybe if Popovich spent the summer with Hill, things would change.

Popovich might as well have asked Hill to wear Dockers and Keds. Hill will always be the same, a detail-oriented technician who likes to do the work himself. Popovich hired all of Hill’s assistants over these past two years, partly because Hill offered no candidates.

And here’s a reason Hill might have been reluctant to take Popovich’s lectures seriously: family ties. Their wives are friends, and Popovich’s daughter hangs with one of Hill’s sons. Popovich wouldn’t fire a buddy, would he?

So when an assistant, Hank Egan, started this season in charge of defense, Hill needed about four days of camp to redirect all attention. Popovich was convinced then, more than ever, the end was coming.

Then Robinson’s back went out, skewing everything. But Popovich saw past the losses. He saw the confusion. Sources say that, had the Spurs not beaten Philadelphia last week, Hill might have been fired then.

What followed were embarrassing nights against Vancouver and Golden State. And Popovich decided he had to do something.

With Rodman, he faced similar choices. Rodman had another year left on his contract, yet gave no indication he would come to camp. Popovich could have used that to his advantage. He could have done nothing that off-season. And when Rodman either went AWOL or didn’t cooperate, Popovich could have thrown up his hands and announced he had to make a trade.

Instead, Popovich opted for someone who bettered the team -Will Perdue. But in doing so, Popovich traded Rodman to the one place where Rodman had the best chance of showing him up.

Popovich could have waited now, too. Houston comes soon on the schedule, as does Seattle, Portland and Utah. There will be a lackluster night when the fans are as beaten as the Spurs. Besides, if Hill is doing such a so-so job, then it would reveal itself soon enough.

But Popovich felt waiting would be unfair to Hill, unfair to the Spurs. And so he fired a coach who never had one minute with Robinson this season.

The move got people talking, all right. But will it sell tickets? Maybe to those who want to boo. Even those who didn’t especially warm to Hill seem infuriated now. But when Popovich is asked about the reaction, he says ``I can’t worry about it.‘’

He should. Popovich took over a team for the first time since he ruled mighty Pomona-Pitzer. He got a rehabed superstar, a limping Sean Elliott and a roster unsure if it’s really better than the Timberwolves.

Unlike Hill, Popovich will confront. And maybe it works, since he developed good relationships as the rare GM who worked the locker room as if he was an assistant coach. But when Popovich takes away minutes -and yells - is all that erased?

Only in time will it be clear if Hill ``lost the team,‘’ to quote the Popovich camp. Or if Hill squeezed about as much as he could out of a team that few in the league ever ranked as a contender.

Popovich is convinced he knows the answer. But that’s his terrible trait. Once convinced, nothing else matters. A guarantee: Bob Bass, who survived here for two decades, would never put his neck this far over the baseline.

And if the trait has another side - about resolve and courage - too few see that today. Popovich should have been smarter not about Hill, but about his own career. If he loses now, Pop goes.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-12, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Express-News Assistant Business Writer

马刺球迷依然收看比赛

尽管球迷们对马刺解雇主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)感到愤怒，但到目前为止，这一举动并没有对球队的盈利造成负面影响。打进电台批评解雇的电话蜂拥而至，但周二晚上马刺与太阳在菲尼克斯的比赛的当地电视收视率却大幅上升。

一些球迷威胁不再续订季票，但马刺官员表示，周六主场对阵达拉斯小牛的单场票销售似乎正常。

如果有人退订，很少有人选择直接传达这个信息。马刺在阿拉莫穹顶的办公室周三接到的电话相对较少，高管们说。

马刺主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)周二预测，球迷们“会失望，会不高兴（而且）会想知道为什么”球队解雇了希尔，并任命总经理格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)担任他的主教练。

当周三被问及他对球迷的强烈反应是否感到惊讶时，霍尔特说，这“表明球迷对球队的兴趣依然存在”。

“我只希望每个人都能理解，我想要他们想要的东西，”他说。“那就是一支能赢得比赛的球队。”

马刺官员正敦促公众着眼于长期目标。

毫无疑问，周二有更多的人在电视上观看马刺比赛，比本赛季任何时候都多，根据球队和KSAT-TV电视台的说法，该电视台播出了比赛。

在圣安东尼奥地区所有使用的电视中，有19%的观众收看了马刺比赛。该电视台表示，这一收视率与美国广播公司黄金时段的节目相当。

这比周日对阵金州勇士队的比赛的收视率高出三倍以上，该场比赛由KRRT-TV电视台播出。当时，6%的观众收看了比赛，这一收视率与周日早上的教堂广播相当。

在感恩节前的那个星期二，马刺在达拉斯与小牛队比赛，KSAT在当地的转播获得了11%的收视率，与白天的肥皂剧相当。

在周二太阳比赛之前，一些广告商——他们在赛季开始前为球队或电视台支付了广告时间——可能会有理由抱怨他们的广告并没有像他们希望的那样被那么多观众看到。

但马刺副总裁莱奥·戈麦斯(Leo Gomez)说，他没有得到“任何迹象”表明广告商感到生气。

相比之下，周二太阳比赛的数据是广播公司所说的广告商最喜欢的。

如果波波维奇的新双重角色是持久的，那么对马刺挣扎的盈利来说也是一件好事。

希尔的薪水，球队没有公开，据报道约为每年625,000美元。

尽管马刺必须继续支付他到六月，但没有更换他的计划可以节省未来的资金。

霍尔特在周二下午接受采访时承认，在当今的市场，球队很难找到一个外部替代者来代替他们支付希尔的薪水。

“哦，当然，”霍尔特说，“那可能不会发生。”

希尔的薪水据信在NBA的中下游。联盟中最顶尖的是迈阿密的教练帕特·莱利(Pat Riley)，据报道他的年薪为300万美元。

点击查看原文：Spurs fans still tune in

Spurs fans still tune in

Fans may be furious that the Spurs sacked Coach Bob Hill, but so far, the move hasn’t been bad for the team’s bottom line. Callers bombarded talk-radio shows criticising the firing, yet local television viewership was up sharply for Tuesday night’s game in Phoenix between the Spurs and the Suns.

Some fans have threatened not to renew season tickets, but individual ticket sales for Saturday’s home game against the Dallas Mavericks appear to be normal, Spurs officials said.

If people were defecting, few chose to deliver the message directly. Incoming phone lines at the Spurs offices in the Alamodome were relatively quiet Wednesday, executives said.

Spurs chairman Peter Holt had predicted Tuesday that fans ``would be disappointed, would be unhappy (and) would wonder why’’ the team fired Hill and named General Manager Gregg Popovich head coach in his place.

Asked Wednesday if he was surprised at the level of heat from fans, Holt said it ``does show that the interest is out there’’ in the team.

I just hope everyone understands that I want what they want,'' he said. And that is a team that wins.‘’

Spurs officials are pushing the public to look at the long term.

Certainly people were interested enough that more of them watched the Spurs on television Tuesday than they have been this season, according to the team and KSAT-TV, which broadcast the game.

Of all the televisions in use in the San Antonio area, 19 percent were tuned in to the Spurs game. That viewership ranks up with ABC’s prime time programming, the station said.

That’s more than three times as high as the ratings for Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, broadcast on KRRT-TV. Then, 6 percent were tuned into the game, a viewership that ranks somewhere down with Sunday morning church broadcasts.

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, when the Spurs played the Mavericks in Dallas, the local broadcast on KSAT got an 11 percent share, comparable to one of the daytime soap operas.

Before the Suns game Tuesday, some advertisers - who paid the team or the television station for commercial time before the season - might have had cause to complain that their ads hadn’t been seen by as many viewers as they hoped.

But Spurs vice president Leo Gomez said he had gotten ``no such indication’’ that advertisers were miffed.

The numbers from the Suns game Tuesday, by comparison, are the kind broadcasters say advertisers love.

If Popovich’s new dual role is lasting, then it could be good for the Spurs’ struggling bottom line, as well.

Hill’s salary, which the team does not disclose, reportedly is about $625,000 a year.

Although the Spurs must continue paying him through June, the plan not to replace him could save money down the road.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Holt acknowledged that in today’s market, the team would be hard-pressed to find an outside replacement for what they paid Hill.

Oh yeah, sure,'' Holt said, that probably isn’t going to happen.‘’

Hill’s salary is believed to be at the mid- to low-range in the NBA. At the top of the league is Miami’s coach, Pat Riley, who reportedly is paid $3 million per year.

By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Express-News Assistant Business Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-12, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

马刺期待今晚的激烈对决 两支球队都带着自信走进阿拉莫穹顶

在糟糕的开局后，马刺队找回了一些昔日的风采，他们带着自信走进今晚在阿拉莫穹顶与大西洋赛区领头羊迈阿密热火队的比赛。老将前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)说：“我们的防守将致力于在48分钟内全力以赴。我们现在很有信心。”

马刺队 (6-17) 已经取得了三连胜，包括背靠背战胜休斯顿和菲尼克斯，他们在下半场都领先了20多分。

要取得四连胜并不容易，因为他们要面对的是迈阿密。热火队 (19-7)在中锋阿隆佐·莫宁(Alonzo Mourning)和控球后卫蒂姆·哈达威(Tim Hardaway)的带领下，已经成为东部联盟最好的球队之一。

迈阿密的客场战绩是13胜2负，与芝加哥公牛并列联盟最佳。

“这将是一场战争，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)预测道。“我知道蒂姆·哈达威会一直盯住我。他会一直盯住（马刺队控球后卫）艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)。他会跟我们替补席说，告诉我换谁上场。他在这方面是最好的。他是一个威慑力。”

波波维奇、约翰逊和哈达威有着一段共同的历史。几年前，他们三人都在金州勇士队的训练营，波波维奇当时是助理教练。

马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)说，对阵莫宁足以激发他的竞争欲望。

“我喜欢挑战，”罗宾逊说。“他是一个打我位置的大家伙。他会来到我的主场。我必须守护好这里。”

马刺队的复兴始于13天前罗宾逊和波波维奇加入这支陷入困境的球队。

罗宾逊因背伤缺席了前18场比赛。波波维奇，球队的总经理，解雇了当时的教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)，并在罗宾逊复出那天接任。

自那天动荡的一天以来，在球迷对解雇希尔的声讨声中，马刺队输掉了两场，然后赢了接下来的三场。

“并非所有人都同意，”公开表达反对意见的罗宾逊说。“但每个人都觉得格雷格试图做一些积极的事情。我们在这里支持他。如果你赢了，一切都会变得顺利。”

在过去的三场比赛中，马刺队证明了他们或许不属于中西部赛区的底部。他们以一分之差击败了达拉斯小牛队，以14分之差击败了火箭队，以13分之差击败了太阳队。

他们在三分球命中率、第三节的努力和专注度方面都有了显著的提高。

马刺队在第一个月的比赛中是联盟三分球命中率最低的球队，但在最近的连胜中，他们三分球命中率达到了40%（55投22中）。

马刺队外线射手机会增多的主要原因可以归因于罗宾逊在场上的存在。但马刺队前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)说，这也与更好的球的移动有关。

“如果你不知道球是否会传到外线，那就更难了，”埃利奥特说。“我们有很多优秀的射手。如果我们传球，我们就能投进我们应得的球。”

此外，在这波连胜期间，马刺队在每场比赛的第三节都赢得了胜利，以93-62的总比分领先对手。他们在第三节对太阳队发起猛攻，以33-18领先对手。在第四节，马刺队最多领先了22分。

• 马刺队新闻：波波维奇周日表示，他预计罗宾逊能够在今晚的比赛中上场。罗宾逊在周六晚上太阳队的比赛第二节扭伤了背部。他继续打了剩余的第二节和下半场，但后来在更衣室里有些不舒服。 - 马刺队需要在12月的最后四场比赛中再赢一场，才能避免成为马刺队历史上唯一一支在1月份之前未能获得7场胜利的球队。

1988-89赛季，马刺队在新年以7胜20负的战绩进入新年。在1986-87赛季，马刺队在12月结束时以8胜22负的战绩。这将是马刺队在21个NBA赛季中仅有的第三次在1月1日之前战绩低于五成。

点击查看原文：Spurs expect Heated battle Tonight's foes carry confidence into Alamodome

Spurs expect Heated battle Tonight’s foes carry confidence into Alamodome

After a horrendous start, the Spurs have regained some of their old swagger leading into tonight’s 7:30 game at the Alamodome against the Atlantic Division-leading Miami Heat. Our defense is committed to play for 48 minutes,'' veteran forward Dominique Wilkins said. We feel confident right now.‘’

The Spurs (6-17) have won three straight, including back-to-back victories over Houston and Phoenix in which they have led by more than 20 points in each second half.

Winning a fourth game in a row won’t be easy against Miami. Led by center Alonzo Mourning and point guard Tim Hardaway, the Heat (19-7) have established themselves as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Miami’s 13-2 record on the road is tied with the Chicago Bulls for best in the NBA.

It will be a war,'' predicted Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. I know Tim Hardaway is going to be all over me. He’ll be all over (Spurs point guard) Avery (Johnson). He’ll be talking to our bench, telling me who to substitute for. He’s the best at that. He’s an intimidator.‘’

Popovich, Johnson and Hardaway have a history. All three were in the Golden State Warriors’ camp a few years ago, Popovich as an assistant coach.

Spurs center David Robinson said playing against Mourning is enough to get his competitive juices flowing.

I just love the challenge,'' said Robinson. He’s a big fella playing my position. He’ll be coming into my arena. I’ve got to protect the grounds.‘’

The Spurs’ resurgence began when Robinson and Popovich entered the team’s muddled picture 13 days ago.

Robinson missed the first 18 games with a back injury. Popovich, the team’s general manager, fired then-coach Bob Hill and took over on the day Robinson returned.

Since that tumultuous day, when fans decried the firing of Hill, the Spurs lost two, then won the next three.

Not everyone agreed with it,'' said Robinson, who publicly disagreed. But everyone feels Gregg has tried to do something positive. We’re here to support him. If you win, everything is smoothed over.‘’

During the last three games, the Spurs have shown that perhaps they don’t belong near the bottom of the Midwest Division. They have beaten the Dallas Mavericks by one, the Rockets by 14 and the Suns by 13.

Major improvements have come in three-point shooting and in third- period effort and concentration.

The Spurs, who ranked as the worst three-point shooting team in the league for the first month, have hit 40 percent from long distance (22 of 55) during the winning streak.

Much of the reason for the wide-open Spurs shooters on the perimeter can be traced to Robinson’s presence on the court. But Spurs forward Sean Elliott said it also has to do with better ball movement.

If you don't know whether the ball is going to be swung (passed on the perimeter), it's harder,'' said Elliott, who hit 5 of 8 threes and scored a season-high 29 points against Phoenix. We have good shooters. If we move it, we’re going to make our share.‘’

Also during the streak, the Spurs have won the third quarter each game, outscoring the opposition by 93-62. They took charge against the Suns in the third period, blowing out the visitors 33-18. In the fourth quarter, the Spurs led by as many as 22.

-Spurs notes: Popovich said Sunday he expected Robinson would be able to play tonight. Robinson twisted his back in the second quarter of the Phoenix game Saturday night. He went on to play the rest of the quarter and the second half, but was in some discomfort in the dressing room later. -The Spurs need one more win in their final four games of December to avoid a dubious distinction as the only team in the franchise’s NBA history to take fewer than seven victories into January.

In 1988-89, the Spurs entered the new year 7-20. In 1986-87, the Spurs were 8-22 at the close of December. This will be only the third time in 21 NBA seasons that the team will be below .500 on Jan. 1.

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-12, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺开始适应波波维奇时代

洛杉矶 - 今天是第二天。马刺队的主办公室可能还在为周二发生的事件而震惊：主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)被解雇。

公众舆论调查显示，希尔的得票率很高，球迷们对格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)取代他感到愤怒。马刺队在阿拉莫穹顶的办公室不得不加装一条单独的电话线来处理蜂拥而至的电话。

但NBA的生活还在继续，球队 - 尽管一些球员可能仍在质疑解雇 - 在周三进行了一次刻苦的训练，为今晚9点30分对阵快船队的比赛做准备。

“我认为很多时候，在教练换帅之后，很多人都会想要有一个好的开始，得到新教练的青睐，”后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)说。“我们今天确实进行了一次不错的训练。

“教练们正在研究一些具体的细节，试图简化一些问题。在防守方面，我们需要开始拉开距离，延长对手的进攻。在进攻方面，我们练习了空间。我们希望能够在不看的情况下传球，知道队友会跑到哪里去。

“希望这能有所收获，尤其是在季后赛中，”约翰逊说，他总是提醒大家，所有常规赛的比赛都只是为季后赛做准备。

波波维奇说他预计会遇到负面反应。

“我知道做出这个决定时，它不会被大众接受，”他在抵达球队酒店后说。“我知道从外界看来，这个决定与大卫(罗宾逊)复出有关，看起来很合乎逻辑。

“但我在篮球方面做出决定。这是一个非常严肃的决定，必须做出。”

波波维奇在周二晚上未能结束球队输球的势头，他的球队只得到76分，输给了菲尼克斯太阳队。

“我已经说过，扭转局面不会立刻发生，”他说。

波波维奇确实说，在比赛开始前他很紧张。

“我有点紧张。我已经好几年没站在球场上了，”他说。“但当球一抛起来，你就会进入竞争状态，你的注意力就只放在球上了。”

他说他想将球队的防守推向极限，让球队更容易地从被迫的转换中得分。他希望球队能够看到得分机会。

“球员们在今天的训练中表现出色，”他说。“我很感谢他们的努力和比赛水平。我们在场上两端都进行了很多练习。”

罗宾逊即将迎来本赛季的第二场比赛，他完成了整个训练。

“大卫的反应很好，”波波维奇说。“比赛结束后他有点僵硬，但这是预料之中的。他今天完成了整个训练，然后在训练结束后又跑了几圈。

“他的体能会随着时间的推移而提高。我们仍然希望他每场比赛能够上场20到22分钟。”

球队比预期多花了时间旅行。由于洛杉矶的天气，飞机在菲尼克斯延误了两个小时。

“是的，球队的士气 - 队员们的和波波维奇的 - 今天都很好，”后卫科里·亚历山大(Cory Alexander)说，他指的是球队抵达洛杉矶后在公共汽车上的欢快气氛。“这算是对长时间在飞机上的一种反应。

“我们进行了一次扎实的训练，享受了不同的训练项目。”

然而，对于这支3胜16负的球队来说，胜利必须尽快到来。与快船队的比赛来得正是时候 - 快船队最近11场比赛输了10场。

“我们现在士气很高，”前锋多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)说。“但我们的重点必须放在赢球上。

“大卫正在进步。他看起来有点生疏，但这是在长时间休战后的正常现象。他需要一段时间才能找回节奏。”

照片由道格·塞尔斯拍摄

新教练格雷格·波波维奇与马刺队的第一次合练并不顺利，他们在周二以93-76输给了菲尼克斯太阳队。

点击查看原文：Spurs start adjusting to Pop era

Spurs start adjusting to Pop era

LOS ANGELES - Day 2. The Spurs’ home office may be reeling under the impact of the blow delivered Tuesday: the firing of Coach Bob Hill.

Public-opinion polls are coming up strongly in Hill’s favor, angry that Gregg Popovich replaced him on the sidelines. A separate telephone line had to be installed in the Spurs’ office at the Alamodome to handle the flood of calls.

But the life of the NBA goes on, and the team - some of the players may still be questioning the firing - toiled through a gritty practice Wednesday in preparation for tonight’s 9:30 game against the Clippers.

I think a lot of times, after a transition in coaches, a lot of people want to get off to a good start, get on the good side of the new coach,'' guard Avery Johnson said. We did have a good practice today.

``The coaches are working on some specific things, trying to simplify matters. On defense, we need to start stretching things out, extending the other team’s offenses. On offense, we worked on spacing. We want to be able to throw passes without looking, know where people are going to be.

``Hopefully, it will pay off, particularly, of course, in the playoffs,‘’ said Johnson, who never fails to remind that all regular- season games are just preparation for the postseason.

Popovich said he expected the onslaught of negative reaction.

I knew when the decision was made that it would not be well received,'' he said after arriving at the team hotel. I know how it looks from outside, the logic of it based on David (Robinson) coming back.

``But I determine things in a basketball sense. It was a very serious decision and it had to be made.‘’

Popovich failed to end the losing ways Tuesday night as his team scored just 76 points against the Phoenix Suns.

``I’ve already said that a turnaround won’t come instantly,‘’ he said.

Popovich did say he was nervous prior to the game.

There were some butterflies. It's been a couple of years since I've been on the court,'' he said. But once the ball goes up, you get into the competitive mode and your focus is just on the ball.‘’

He said he wants to push the team’s defense to the point where the easier baskets will come off forced transitions. He wants the team to see the scoring opportunities as they appear.

The players were great at today's practice,'' he said. I appreciated the effort, the level of play. We went over a lot of areas on both ends of the floor.‘’

Robinson, preparing to go into action for only the second game this season, went the full distance.

David responded well,'' Popovich said. He had some stiffness right after the game but we expected that. He went through the whole practice today and then sprinted up and down the court after the workout.

``His conditioning will improve as we go along. We’re still looking at 20, 22 minutes a game for a while.‘’

The team endured a longer day of travel than expected. The plane was delayed two hours in Phoenix because of Los Angeles weather.

Yeah, the attitude - the players' and Pop's - was pretty good today,'' guard Cory Alexander said, referring to the high spirits on the bus after the arrival in Los Angeles. It was kind of a reaction after all that time on the plane.

``We had a solid practice, enjoyed the different drills that we had.‘’

First, however, the wins must start coming soon for this 3-16 team. The shot at the Clippers comes at an opportune time - L.A. has lost 10 of their last 11.

We're pretty upbeat right now,'' forward Dominique Wilkins said. But our focus has to be on just winning.

``David is coming along. He looked a little rusty, but that’s to be expected after that long layoff. It will take a little time for him to get his rhythm.‘’

PHOTO BY DOUG SEHRES

New coach Gregg Popovich’s first huddle with the Spurs was a rough one, a 93-76 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-12, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

奈尔(Nellie) 的回归传闻被淡化，而非否认

唐·尼尔森(Don Nelson) 正在阳光明媚的夏威夷毛伊岛享受生活，他在周三淡化了有关他最终将被聘为马刺队主教练的传闻。马刺队官员也对这些报道不屑一顾。

但当被问及有关奈尔森可能接替格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 担任主教练的传闻时，没有人会完全否定这种猜测。

尤其是“奈尔(Nellie)”，这位在 19 个赛季的 NBA 主教练生涯中赢得了 851 场比赛的教练。他的教练履历中唯一缺少的是冠军，他承认这将是他作为波士顿凯尔特人球员赢得的五枚总冠军戒指的一个不错的补充。

“我处于退休状态，”尼尔森在电话采访中说。“目前，我可以诚实地说，我对执教没有兴趣。情况可能会改变。但我非常高兴住在毛伊岛，享受生活。”

56 岁的尼尔森说，他不知道什么会促使他接受另一份执教工作。

“我作为球员赢得了五枚戒指，”他说。“这不是说我不满足。当然，我希望作为教练赢得冠军。但如果它没有发生，那就是这样了。”

这是关于尼尔森将执教马刺队的第二轮传闻。第一轮发生在两年前，当时波波维奇在 1994 年 5 月被聘为总经理，开始寻找教练来取代约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas)。当时，尼尔森在金州勇士队的合同中有一项条款，阻止他离开。

波波维奇于 1994 年从金州勇士队加盟马刺队，在那里他曾在尼尔森手下担任助理教练两个赛季。两人关系密切，一直保持着联系，最近在几周前，波波维奇在毛伊岛观看大学锦标赛时，两人在岛上见面。

“我们只是聊了聊往事，”尼尔森说。

两年前，波波维奇最终聘请鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill) 担任教练。希尔率领球队获得了两个分区冠军，然后在赛季开始后 3 胜 15 负的情况下被解雇。马刺队表示，他们预计波波维奇将完成本赛季的比赛。

但之后，他可以选择聘用自己的继任者。

尽管在过去两个赛季中被解雇两次——第一次是在金州勇士队，第二次是在去年 3 月被纽约尼克斯队解雇——但尼尔森对于马刺队来说可能是一个热门人选，这与拉里·布朗(Larry Brown) 在 1988 年被聘用时产生的兴趣非常相似。

“那，”波波维奇谈到关于尼尔森的持续传闻时说，“是一个古老的传闻。我不知道这个赛季结束时会发生什么。如果我不执教这支球队，它可能是大约 30 个人中的任何一个人。据我所知，奈尔(Nellie) 对住在海滩上，打高尔夫球，抽那些粗大的雪茄非常满意。”

点击查看原文：`Nellie' talk downplayed, not denied

`Nellie’ talk downplayed, not denied

Don Nelson, enjoying life on the sun-splashed Hawaiian island of Maui, downplayed rumors Wednesday that he eventually would be hired as head coach of the Spurs. Spurs officials also shrugged off the reports.

But when asked about the talk that Nelson could succeed Gregg Popovich as head coach, nobody would dismiss the speculation altogether.

Least of all ``Nellie,‘’ the man who has won 851 games in 19 seasons as an NBA head coach. The only thing missing from his coaching resume is a title, which he admitted would be a nice addition to the five championship rings he won as a player with the Boston Celtics.

I am in retirement,'' Nelson said in a telephone interview. At this time, I can honestly say that I don’t have any interest in coaching. It could change. But I am very happy to be living in Maui and enjoying life.‘’

Nelson, 56, said he doesn’t know what would spur him to accept another coaching job.

I have five rings as a player,'' he said. It’s not that I’m unfulfilled. Sure, I would like to win a championship as a coach. But if it doesn’t happen, that’s the way it goes.‘’

This is the second round of Nelson-to-the-Spurs rumors. The first came two years ago when Popovich, hired as general manager in May of 1994, started his search for a coach to replace John Lucas. At the time, a clause in Nelson’s Golden State contract prevented his departure.

Popovich came to the Spurs in 1994 from Golden State, where he had worked under Nelson as an assistant coach for two seasons. The two are close and have continued to talk, most recently in Maui a few weeks ago when Popovich was on the island scouting players at a college tournament.

``We just talked mainly about old times,‘’ Nelson said.

Two years ago, Popovich eventually hired Bob Hill as coach. Hill took the team to a pair of division titles before he was dismissed Tuesday in the wake of a 3-15 start. The Spurs have said they expect Popovich to finish the season on the bench.

But after that, he could choose to hire his own replacement.

Despite being fired twice within the last two seasons - first at Golden State and again at New York by the Knicks last March -Nelson could be a hot item for the Spurs, much the same way that former coach Larry Brown created interest when he was hired in 1988.

That,'' Popovich said of the continuing talk about Nelson, is an old rumor. I have no idea what’s going to happen at the end of this season. If I’m not coaching this team, it could be any one of about 30 people. As far as I know, Nellie is perfectly content living on the beach, golfing and smoking those fat cigars.‘’

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-12-12, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer

辞退后的第二天：希尔抨击前老板

格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)如果认为更换教练是马刺队提升他们在NBA地位的唯一方法，那他就是在“自欺欺人”，球队前主教练周三表示。鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)在周二被解雇并由波波维奇接任，他表示球队需要注入新的活力。

“波波维奇现在所做的是在自欺欺人，”希尔说。“球队需要帮助——现在就需要。这是一支糟糕的球队。别指望用现在的阵容赢得冠军。他们需要另一个有实力的球员。如果他们能得到一个，他们就能朝着正确的方向前进。就目前情况而言，他们不可能赢得冠军。”

波波维奇，同时也是马刺队的篮球运营执行副总裁兼总经理，在球队今晚客场对阵洛杉矶快船的比赛前夕，对希尔的言论置之不理。

“关于他说自欺欺人和球队不够强大，我要告诉你，球队在过去两个赛季的每一个环节都是与鲍勃·希尔协商后组建的，”波波维奇说。“任何球队都希望增加球员。但有时某些情况不允许。”

马刺队在经历了一系列赛季初的伤病后，目前战绩为3胜16负，今晚的比赛将是波波维奇执教的第一场比赛，此前他们在周二以93-76输给了菲尼克斯太阳队。

在被解雇后的第二天，希尔为自己的表现进行了辩护，并表示球迷不应该相信球队解雇他的理由，他称之为“烟幕弹”，用来掩盖更深层的问题。

波波维奇拒绝说明解雇希尔的具体原因，但众所周知，自去年5月第二轮季后赛输给犹他爵士以来，他对球队不断下降的意志力、防守稳定性和进攻执行力感到担忧。

“它已经达到了一个临界点，很明显，改变方向不会发生，”波波维奇说。

解雇后的第二天，还有其他一些事情发生：

• 前老牌教练唐·尼尔森(Don Nelson)淡化了外界对他最终会成为马刺队主教练的猜测，但他并没有完全排除这种可能性。

• 管理风格的细微变化即将出现，球队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)表示，他和马刺队总裁杰克·迪勒(Jack Diller)将根据“胜负”来评估波波维奇的工作表现。

此前，当总经理和教练职位分别由两个人担任时，波波维奇拥有聘用和解雇教练的最终权力和责任。

• 霍尔特和迪勒都表示，他们预计球迷会对希尔的解雇提出抗议，但他们都坚定地支持这一决定，因为即使有7名球员受伤，球队仍然没有达到预期水平。

在一次长篇采访中，希尔表示，他认为除非马刺队能得到另一位有影响力的球员，否则他们不太可能赢得NBA总冠军。

“你认为他们能赢得什么？”希尔反问。“世界冠军？你必须对自己的实力有清醒的认识。”

希尔表示，全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)、查克·珀森(Chuck Person)和查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)的伤病以及过去几年球队的整体实力下降，导致球队排名垫底。

回顾自己的任期，他说马刺队在1994-95赛季拥有最好的夺冠机会，但最终在西部决赛中被休斯顿火箭队淘汰。

“两年前，我们拥有了一切，”希尔说。“我们拥有了所有拼图。我们拥有了关键时刻的进攻和防守。发生的事情是，丹尼斯(罗德曼)非常厌恶在圣安东尼奥的生活。他总是说，‘大卫在关键时刻很害怕’，‘大卫会崩溃’。”

希尔说罗宾逊并没有在对阵火箭队的比赛中崩溃，也没有在去年春天西部半决赛输给爵士队的比赛中崩溃。

“大卫和其他所有大个子一样，”希尔说。“他正在学习的过程中。看看火箭队在1994年赢得冠军之前的情况。他们准备在几年前交易掉(阿基姆)奥拉朱旺。帕特里克(尤因)从未赢得过冠军。卡尔·马龙也没有，查尔斯(巴克利)也没有。看看结果吧，人们就因此解雇教练。”

希尔将矛头指向罗德曼，认为他可能是导致球队走下坡路的罪魁祸首。

“我不知道他是否输掉了那个系列赛，但他以成为一个干扰因素而感到自豪，”希尔说。他在1994-95赛季取得了62胜20负的联盟最佳战绩，并在马刺队的执教生涯中取得了124胜58负的战绩。

希尔对其他关于他执教风格的批评感到愤怒，特别是那些说他与球员之间缺乏对抗，以及他过分痴迷于进攻的批评。

“联盟中谁是那种喜欢对抗并取得成功的教练？”他问道。“没有。没有一个，因为你不能那样做。你可以偶尔对他们发火。但如果你经常那样做，你就等于自掘坟墓。你需要做的是，也是我努力做到的是，埋葬你的自尊。”

希尔说，在他与罗德曼的唯一一个赛季中，他曾经尝试过对抗。但没有奏效，这位纹身遍体、擅长篮板球的球员又恢复了他对抗的方式。

“有一天，我不得不跳到丹尼斯的面前，把他赶出训练，”希尔说。“但是关于对抗，那不是我的风格。也不是查克·戴利(Chuck Daly)的风格。也不是迈克·弗拉泰洛(Mike Fratello)的风格。也不是菲尔·杰克逊(Phil Jackson)的风格。别再说什么我缺乏对抗性(不足)了。这都是烟幕弹。”

美联社

点击查看原文：The day after: Hill unloads on past boss

The day after: Hill unloads on past boss

Gregg Popovich is ``living a lie’’ if he thinks a coaching change is what the Spurs need to improve their standing in the NBA, the team’s former coach said Wednesday. Bob Hill, fired and replaced by Popovich on Tuesday, said the team needs an infusion of talent.

What (Popovich) is doing now is like living a lie,'' Hill said. The team needs help - right now. It’s a bad team. Forget trying to win a title (with the current roster). They need another quality player. If they get one, then they move in the right direction. As it is now, they can’t win a title.‘’

Popovich, also the Spurs’ executive vice president for basketball operations/general manager, shrugged off Hill’s comments on the eve of the team’s road game tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.

In regard to what he said about living a lie and that this team isn't good enough, let me tell you that the team was put together every step of the way (over the past two seasons) in consultation with Bob Hill,'' Popovich said. Any team would like to add players. But sometimes certain circumstances won’t allow it.‘’

The Spurs, struggling through a series of early-season injuries, are floundering at 3-16 overall going into tonight. Popovich coached his first game, a 93-76 loss to the Phoenix Suns, on Tuesday.

A day after the firing, Hill defended his own performance and said fans shouldn’t buy into the team’s reasoning for letting him go, which he termed a ``smoke screen’’ to mask deeper problems.

Popovich declined to specify the reasons for the ouster, but it is widely known that he had been concerned about declining standards of mental toughness, defensive consistency and offensive execution since last May’s second-round playoff loss to Utah.

``It had reached a point where it was evident that a change of direction wasn’t going to take place,‘’ Popovich said.

Other developments on the day after the firing included:

-Former veteran coach Don Nelson downplayed speculation that he eventually would be hired as Spurs coach, but he would not rule it out.

- A subtle change in management style loomed, as team chairman Peter Holt said he and Spurs president Jack Diller would evaluate Popovich’s job performance based on ``wins and losses.‘’

Previously, when the job of general manager and coach were split between two people, Popovich held the ultimate power and responsibility of hiring and firing the coach.

-Both Holt and Diller said they expected the outcry of protest from fans over Hill’s firing, but both stood firmly by the decision because the team was not performing up to standards even in the face of injuries to seven players.

In a lengthy interview, Hill said he thought it would be highly unlikely that the Spurs could win an NBA championship unless they could get another impact player.

Do I think they could win what?'' Hill asked rhetorically. A world championship? You have to be real about what you have.‘’

Hill said injuries to All-Star center David Robinson, Chuck Person and Charles Smith, and a general decline in talent level over the past few years, have left the team near the bottom of the standings.

Reflecting on his tenure, he said the Spurs had their best chance to win the title in 1994-95, which ended with elimination by the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference finals.

Two years ago, we had it all going for us,'' Hill said. We had the pieces. We had crunch-time offense and defense. What happened was, Dennis (Rodman) was so adamant about hating it in San Antonio. He would always say, David is scared in crunch time,' and that David will choke.’ ‘’

Hill said Robinson didn’t choke against the Rockets nor against the Jazz in last spring’s Western Conference semifinal loss.

David is just like all big guys,'' Hill said. He’s going through the process of learning. Look at the Rockets before they won the championship (in 1994). They were ready to trade (Hakeem) a few years before that. Patrick (Ewing) has never won a title. Karl Malone hasn’t and neither has Charles (Barkley). And look what happens. You fire coaches over it.‘’

Hill pointed the finger at Rodman as one who may have caused the team’s downfall.

``I don’t know if he lost that series, but he took pride in being a distraction,‘’ said Hill, who went 62-20 for the best record in the NBA in 1994-95, and finished his Spurs career at 124-58.

Hill bristled at other criticisms of his coaching style, particularly that he was non-confrontational with his players and that he was obsessed with offense.

Who in this league has been confrontational and been successful?'' he asked. Nobody. Nobody has, because you can’t be. You can go off on them once in a while. But if you do that very often, you’re just burying yourself. What you have to do, and what I tried to do, is bury your ego.‘’

Hill said he tried confrontation once during his one season with Rodman. But it didn’t work, and the multi-tattoed, rebounding force lapsed back into his adversarial ways.

There was a day I had to jump into Dennis's face and kick him out of practice,'' Hill said. But the thing about being confrontational, that’s not me. It’s not Chuck Daly. It’s not Mike Fratello. Phil Jackson. Don’t fall into that talk that I wasn’t confrontational (enough). It’s all a smoke screen.‘’

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bob Hill said he didn’t believe he needed to be confrontational with players to be a success.

By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News