Robinson Sets Sights on Game 3

He puts on his uniform, takes the court, grabs a ball and takes aim at the basket.

There are no television cameras trained on him, no referees to watch him, only a handful of fans to cheer or boo.

The opening tipoff is still an hour away.

No matter. For David Robinson, this is his most treasured time on the floor of Staples Center because it is his only time. When the rest of the San Antonio Spurs take the court against the Lakers, he will be uncomfortably seated in street clothes on the bench, wishing he was playing.

No way. Not yet.

Tuesday, for the second consecutive game, Robinson tested his sprained lower back and the ankle affected by the injured nerve.

And then he made the long trip back to the locker room, fielding question after question about when he’d be able to take his place on the court after the tipoff.

“Hopefully, sooner rather than later,” was all he would say.

San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich is hoping it will be Friday for Game 3 of this second-round playoff series at the Alamodome.

“We stay hopeful he will play in this series,” Popovich said. “That’s the only way to be. It doesn’t do much good to think any other way.”

Popovich says the key is for Robinson to reach the point where doctors can say with certainty the 7-foot-1 center can play “without doing anymore real damage to himself.”

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Although he has proven to be yet another headache in this series for Popovich, who really didn’t need the additional aggravation, the San Antonio coach is pleased about the success of forward Samaki Walker in Los Angeles. Walker spent the previous two seasons in San Antonio.

“I’m really proud of him, really happy for him,” Popovich said. “He has proven everybody wrong who said he wasn’t a hard worker. This season, he is bearing the fruits of what he has done over the last few years in terms of gaining respect.”

Was Popovich surprised when he heard that the quiet, soft-speaking Walker had gotten into a fight with teammate Kobe Bryant on the team bus during the season?

“This is L.A.,” said Popovich with a smile. “I just figured you [media] guys made it up.”

Steve Springer

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Even before their Game 2 victory, Tim Duncan and his teammates remained confident about their chances.

“I didn’t think they were invincible last year, and they proved it to me,” guard Terry Porter said. “This year, who knows how the story is going to end?”

Associated Press