Back in the competition after a week away.

Tony, you returned but you lost in Portland, 96-93...
It's a big disappointment because we played really well. We led by 10 points in the last quarter. But we turned too many balls over and that was it. Portland played better than us at the end. It was a big opportunity and we didn't catch it.

The team now stands 6^th of the Western Conference.
Just look at the standings and you'll understand how important the last 30 games are going to be.  New Orleans is now 11^th and can still play the playoffs. We played several home games since the beginning of the season. As we lost 10, we now have to win road games. That's why losing in Portland is a big disappointment especially when we were so close.  This kind of games can weigh at the end of the regular season.

After a week away because of an ankle injury, you played 30 minutes in the Blazers game (18 points, 6 assists). How did you feel?
I felt good in the 1^st half but in the second one, my ankle was sore. I played 10 minutes.  But I think Gregg Popovich didn't intend to make me play 30 minutes. That also why I was on the bench at the end.

You're playing the Clippers tomorrow, the team lost its coach last night...
I read Mike Dunleavy had quit. You never know how the team will react. But we shouldn't pay attention. What's going on at the Clippers' is not our business.  We have to make it up after Portalnd's loss. We have a week ahead of us before the All Star break. So we have to play hard and win our games even though we're playing the Lakers and Denver on the road.

You've just had dinner with Nicolas Batum. How is he doing ?
Nicolas told me he was recovering pretty well from his shoulder injury. He can play. Anyway, it's a hard time for all French players. Joakim Noah has a sore foot and won't play for 10 days. When we had dinner last week, he told me his foot was sore already. It's a wise decision to stop until the All Star Game.

You could have done the same...
Yes it's true, it would have been wiser to stop for 2 weeks at least. No doubt. But the team is more important to me than my injuries. The Spurs are living a tough period and I have to be there to help.

we won the playoffs we are going to the championship on wed. the score was 19-12. we beat them by 7.

FERRARI 10U TEAM MOVES UP TWO AGE CLASSES AND CHALLENGES RCDC 12U TEAM IN A SUNDAY AFTERNOON SHOWDOWN AT THE BAYLOR YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE OVER THE WEEKEND. ALTHOUGH THE FERRARI TEAM WAS WAY UNDERSIZED VERSUS THE TALLER RCDC TEAM. FERRARI CAME TO COMPETE AND GAVE IT ALL THEY HAD. WITH FERRARI DOWN BY TWO WITH ABOUT FIFTEEN SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME. FERRARI WAS ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE BASKET AND TIE THE GAME AT TWENTY THREE. BUT RCDC WOULD NOT BE DENIED. THEY WERE ABLE TO DRIBBLE THE LENGTH OF THE COURT AND AS THE BUZZER SOUNDED WAS ABLE TO COME OUT VICTORIOUS (25-23). GREAT GAME BY BOTH TEAMS.
 
                                                                 "FERRARI4LIFE"

      Both teams ripped the hearts out of thier opponents this Sunday and brought the championship trophey to thier hometowns. The Braves faced a familiar foe in the Maroa Forsyth Trojans in the final round of the Farrell Flatt tournament, held in Sangamon Valley this weekend. It pitted both undefeated teams in play for the tournament championship. 
     The Braves jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and never let up. The Braves used thier "Zone Dog" defense to take away the Trojan's top threat through out the game, holding him to just 6 points. The Trojan's never had an answer for it being held to just 21 points in the game.
     Offensively the Braves were not stellar, but were darn good enough. They faced a relentless press, and took advanatage of transition to stay ahead. The Braves were cool, calm, and collected as they beat the press, and big, bad, and brave as they boxed out the Trojans for every rebound. 
     In the end it was the Braves hoisting up the Lombardi, err a Farrell Flat Championship trophey at mid court. Final score Mt Zion Braves 28, Maroa Forsyth Trojans 21.

Go Braves!