San Antonio Spurs 2005 Preseason Presser

[Eazy P]

Good Morning everyone and thank you for joining us today for our preseason press conference. You could've been anywhere else today but you guys are here. First off the Spurs family and the city of San Antonio would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the city of New Orleans during this hard time and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We are here to help in anyway we can. We have already donated 1 million dollars to help with the recovery process. Saints are using our Alamodome to play some of their regular season games this year and if they need to play more game here we can make that happen. We ask everyone here to keep New Orleans in your thoughts and prayers and donate to help their residents get back on their feet.

Now to our team.

This past season our team made it to their 4 consecutive Western Conference Finals but couldn't get past the Houston Rockets and losing that series in 5 games. The guys were disappointed because they wanted to get back to finals this past season. I still think last season was a great one but our goals this year are the same and that's trying to get back to the finals and complete our task in bringing a Championship to San Antonio. We know it will be a tough road. We still have our core together and with our young guys making improvements we have a chance. They players vowed to work hard and give their all everyday to get to where we need to be. They are aware of how tough the Midwest division is going to be this upcoming year with every team improving their roster and going all out to win it all. It will be a tough road but anything is possible and that was proved by the underdog 76ers team last season. Again I like to thank you guys for joining us today........

Any Questions

[IamQuailman]

Is there any truth to rumors linking Tom Benson to the relocation of the New Orleans Saints franchise to San Antonio? There are reports that this "hospitality" is also just more of "luring a franchise in limbo away during a time of turbulence".

Anyway, I digress........ Josh Smith has taken some huge leaps this off-season. Do you see him as a projected starter now?

[Xist2Inspire]

Random Reporter: Now that franchise cornerstone Ray Allen is 30, is the pressure to win now growing?

[Eazy P]

Is there any truth to rumors linking Tom Benson to the relocation of the New Orleans Saints franchise to San Antonio? There are reports that this "hospitality" is also just more of "luring a franchise in limbo away during a time of turbulence".

Anyway, I digress........ Josh Smith has taken some huge leaps this off-season. Do you see him as a projected starter now?

As far as those rumors you are hearing about us taking advantage of a city why they are down and gain from it aren't true. If it was Dallas, Bunkie, or Lake Charles we would help. That's what us Americans do. We help each other in their time of need. That city love their team and should return there after they get everything back there up and running.

Josh Smith he has surprised me I thought it would take 3 or 4 years for his improvement since he came into the league out of high school but he's making a smooth transition. As of right now we aren't sure if he will start yet but he we see significant playing time. That's for sure. Don't forget he did start 82 games for us last season as a rookie.

[Eazy P]

Random Reporter: Now that franchise cornerstone Ray Allen is 30, is the pressure to win now growing?

Good Question

There is always pressure to win. When I took the San Antonio job a while back the pressure was there. We are in the business of winning. If we don't have the mindset of winning no matter who is out there on the floor then I am in the wrong business. A wise man once said "You Play to Win the Game" and that what we are here to do no matter if it Ray Allen or Ray Charles out there on the court.

[RPF]

Looking back on things, is Glenn Robinson the greatest Spur in SLOe?

[WigNosy]

Do you feel like you have the horses to make a run at the Midwest crown again this year?

[Eazy P]

Looking back on things, is Glenn Robinson the greatest Spur in SLOe?

IDK cause there are some great players like Shareef,Danny,Price, Drazen and Spray. Robinson played his whole career up to this point as Spur and put up some great numbers and carried this team at times. Now that I think about it Glenn has to be at this point in time. He was the 1st and only Spur to be Purp/Purp. Plus he could play any position from PG,SG,SF and PF. Him being versatile is one of the reasons this team made it far these past 4 years. He was a matchup problem for certain teams. Not only on the court but off the court he is great. He is always giving back to the community and loves the city of San Antonio.

[logpmess]

What type of outlook do you have for the young guy, Luke Ridnour?

[Eazy P]

Do you feel like you have the horses to make a run at the Midwest crown again this year?

I think we do but this is a tough division. I feel like this team can do anything if they work hard and have attention to detail. I would love to get a division crown but our ultimate goal is to be crowned Champs. Hopefully that includes a division title and a top seed but if not we will be ok with making a post season run if that's the way things pan out for us.

[Eazy P]

What type of outlook do you have for the young guy, Luke Ridnour?

Luke is our number 2 PG. I think he's a serviceable PG. Nick has been helping Luke with his game and we think it will translate on the court. He did a good job for us last season and we are hoping he does better this year in his roll.

[NOLa.]

You've made it to the WCF 4 times in a row and made a Finals appearance. Has all this that you built culminate into one goal, all or nothing "This is the year the Spurs win the championship"?

Sent via Morse code

[JNR]

GWR: Caron Butler has a very rough past growing up in the mean streets of Racine. Do you think that has given him a toughness that can help lead your team? How do you plan to use him in your lineup?

[Eazy P]

You've made it to the WCF 4 times in a row and made a Finals appearance. Has all this that you built culminate into one goal, all or nothing "This is the year the Spurs win the championship"?

Sent via Morse code

Our goal is to win it all. I am not going to make any predictions that this will be the year we win it all but our goal is to win it all.

[Eazy P]

GWR: Caron Butler has a very rough past growing up in the mean streets of Racine. Do you think that has given him a toughness that can help lead your team? How do you plan to use him in your lineup?

I think his rough past has helped him a lot. Helped him become a humble, strong and appreciative person. He knows that only a few people get a opportunity to do what he's doing for a living and succeed at it. His work ethic is great and we love it. I think that Caron and Josh can both lead this team into the future. As for our plans for him he may be in our starting lineup or our super 6 we haven't determine what role he will play but it will be a significant roll.

[ballsohard]

Rando Reporter: Lots of people were claiming you were scared to faceoff against GM Balls O'Hard in the finals, which is why you lost in the conference finals. What is your response?

[Eazy P]

Rando Reporter: Lots of people were claiming you were scared to faceoff against GM Balls O'Hard in the finals, which is why you lost in the conference finals. What is your response?

[TrayWithAnA]

The guy that doesn't even have credentials: Are you still the favorite in your division or will Houston's recent win move them into that spot?

[Eazy P]

The guy that doesn't even have credentials: Are you still the favorite in your division or will Houston's recent win move them into that spot?

[Eazy P]

The guy that doesn't even have credentials: Are you still the favorite in your division or will Houston's recent win move them into that spot?

We don't see ourselves as favorites in the Midwest but we hope we can win a the crown this year. I still think the Favorites are the Mavs. They won it last year and are basically bringing back that same team with that guy name Antawn.