Spurs coach Gregg Popovich impressed with progress of ‘fun group’ – San Antonio Express-News
With one week of training camp behind them, the Spurs will enjoy a day off Sunday knowing coach Gregg Popovich is pleased with their progress.
“The group is really doing a good job, catching onto things quickly,” Popovich said after practice Saturday. “They are in great shape, communication is great, they are enjoying playing with each other. It’s a fun group to be around, for sure. I am very impressed with what they are doing.”
The Spurs’ young core — a group Popovich calls the “bright-eyed and bushy tails” — has set the tone with their competitiveness.
“They respect each other; they get along with each other,” Popovich said of a nucleus headed by Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Keldon Johnson. “But they go after each other all at the same time, so it makes for a great environment. And it’s energizing for all of us, so it’s a lot of fun.”
Popovich said a leadership-by-committee approach has served the team well.
“There are four or five guys out there who have really stepped up in that way,” he said. “First of all, communication-wise. Secondly, expectation-wise. Understanding that they have to be responsible to each other, that they owe each other. They talk about that. You hear guys saying, ‘Come on, we have to be better than that. We have to get that right.’
“Just a real focus and a real purposeful approach to the game. It’s been impressive.”
After the departure of veterans DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills in the offseason, the Spurs are playing with less structure and at a faster pace.
“We are all playing a lot more loose, a lot more fast,” forward/center Drew Eubanks said. “We will mix in some plays as the season goes along. But right now we have such a fast team that moves off the ball well and shares the ball well, so that’s the biggest thing. We don’t have a lot of plays because everybody cuts hard, and so it’s easy to make those passes. …
“Honestly, this is the best training camp I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here.”
The Spurs will open preseason play Monday at home against Utah. The probable starters are Dejounte Murray, Doug McDermott, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl.
Collins likely out
until late December
Asked if there is a timetable for injured forward/center Zach Collins to get on the court, Popovich said, “Last I heard was after Christmas. But I’m not sure after that what that means.”
In June, Collins underwent his third ankle surgery in 10 months.
The Spurs signed Collins, 23, to a three-year, $22 million contract in August.
Forward is signed
for G League purposes
The Spurs have signed forward Aric Holman to an Exhibit 10 contract for the purpose of having his G League rights available for the Austin Spurs, a league source said.
The 6-foot-9 Holman, 24, went undrafted in 2019. A Kentucky native and former Mississippi State standout, his pro experience includes playing in Europe, the G League and short stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas and Boston. He has yet to play in a regular-season NBA game.
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Twitter: @tom_orsborn