|
SAN ANTONIO -- It's not exactly hockey country down here, but when the playing court is almost as slippery as ice, concerns are going to be raised and they were.
The Raptors morning shootaround was limited to spot shooting and a walk-through when players complained about the court at the AT&T Center being slick and too unpredictable. "Whatever we could walk through both offensively and defensively we did," head coach Jay Triano said summing up the workout. "We couldn't risk anybody moving."
The hope was that things would be better come game time. They were not.
The pre-game warm-up was a mass of bodies on the court with players trying to get their shots in around a slew of arena staff workers who were walking the court with towels and mops.
Jose Calderon said it felt like there were oily spots everywhere.
Marco Belinelli was having a little fun with the situation as he showed off with a few break dance spins on his back.
Triano wasn't enjoying it at all. A postponement of the game would undoubtedly be a huge opportunity missed for the Raptors.
Both Tony Parker and Tim Duncan were unable to answer the call last night because of injuries. The opportunity to play a team without it's top two performers doesn't come along every day in the NBA.
"We're here and we're willing to play and willing to stay as late as we have to," Triano said. "We have nowhere to go."
Final say went to the NBA officials crew working last night's game who deemed the court playable.
