• LATimes.com says new Los Angeles Lakers coach and former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Brown could try to recreate the Spurs’ duo of David Robinson and Tim Duncan:
He will try to create an inside game for Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol that imitates the one used by Tim Duncan and David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, where Brown served as an assistant coach during their 2003 championship team, but will the precocious big guys listen?
“As long as the group is willing, which it sounds like it is, we’ll get it done,” Brown said.
• Bizjournals.com notes that despite the fact the Spurs are not in the 2011 NBA Finals, San Antonians are not turning away from watching the Mavericks and Heat battle it out:
San Antonio’s love-hate relationship with Dallas may have helped spike television ratings for Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals.
The Alamo City had the highest TV rating for Game 1 outside of North Texas and South Florida.
“San Antonio ranked fourth among the metered markets with a 15.9 DMA (designated market area) rating,” says ESPN spokesman Nate Smeltz.
• Spurs 2010 NBA draftee Ryan Richards headlines the initial Great Britain U20 squad while Spurs strength and conditioning coach Jason Sumerlin will be joining the squad to lend a hand:
The squad is led by the formidable duo of 7’0″ Spurs draft pick Ryan Richards (1991 born) and 1993 born Caja Laboral point guard Devon Van Oostrum.
The teams will be joined in Colchester at the weekend by NBA strength and conditioning coach, Jason Sumerlin from the San Antonio Spurs. (hoopsfix.com)
• Express News’ Tim Griffin discusses Shaquille O’Neal’s lack of popularity in San Antonio.
• Star-Telegram.com lists former Spurs player George Gervin as one of the greatest NBA players to never win an NBA title.
• Spurs Brasil talks about the recent retirement of Shaq.
• Former player for the Spurs 2010 Summer League squad Michael Cuffee is now playing in Qatar:
Cuffee, a 6-4 swingman from Middle Tennessee State, played in Denmark, Finland, Italy and Turkey before landing in Qatar. He suited up for the San Antonio Spurs in two NBA summer leagues but never made it to the regular season.
Against Lebanon, Cuffee tried too hard to make an impact and wound up playing out of control, shooting only 1-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-6 from the line in 25 minutes. If Al Rayyan is to go far in the playoffs, coach Brian Rowsom must generate more productivity from Cuffee. (philstar.com)