20-Second Timeout February 2011 Archive

Follow the team all season long with the 20-Second Timeout blog by Bill Schoening, The Radio Voice of the Spurs for the past 10 years. Bill has over 30 years of play-by-play experience including broadcasting Major League Baseball, the NFL and the NBA. *Timeout Archive: October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11

Dice Happy To Be Off Road
by Bill Schoening | February 21, 2011

Now in his 15th season the NBA, Spurs forward Antonio McDyess has pretty much seen it all, except for a 17 day, 8900 mile road trip. The veteran from Alabama was flashing his signature smile when he told me, "I was looking at our schedule when it first came out and I see February and I couldn't believe my eyes. This is by far the longest road trip I have been on." The Spurs did enjoy a 36 hour stop home after the west coast swing, just enough time to unpack...and pack.

McDyess has taken it all in stride, "I've held up pretty well. Pop has taken care of us, but usually during the all star break I take a little vacation. This year I am just looking forward to sleeping in my own bed." McDyess has been a steady contributor off the bench and has become a mentor and senior adviser to the young players on the team, especially George Hill and DeJuan Blair.

Tony Setting The Tone
by Bill Schoening | February 10, 2011

There are many folks around the NBA who feel Spurs point guard Tony Parker deserves to be on the Western Conference team in the annual All-Star game later this month. When you look at what Parker has done this season, it's hard to argue.

Parker has steadily quarterbacked the team with the league's best record, knowing when he needs to score and when he needs to set up his teammates and play the role of distributor. He has enjoyed his best season as a playmaker, dishing out a career high seven assists per game. He is also hitting 53% from the field, his second best shooting season, and his 78% clip from the free throw line matches a career best mark.

While it's true he doesn't always put up gaudy numbers, he plays alongside Manu Ginobili, another guard who is capable of piling up assists and making life difficult for the opposition. Now in his tenth season as the Spurs starting point guard, Parker has a firm understanding of the offense and how to make it click.

Earlier this week in Detroit, his teammates were missing some open looks so Parker used his quickness to zip past Piston defenders for layups and for his patented "teardrop", where he floats the ball over opposing big men. Those baskets by Parker loosened up the defense and gave the Spurs more options on subsequent possessions.

Now a decade into his NBA career, Tony Parker is playing solid, smart, efficient , winning basketball. That's an All Star in my book.

Time to Write a Road Song
by Bill Schoening | February 3, 2011

I must admit that I have a special place in my heart for the "road songs" on my iPod. When you travel for preseason and regular season games, plus the playoffs, it's easy to relate.

The annual rodeo road trip is underway so I try to load up with good traveling tunes. For me, there's nothing like music to pass the time between games, shootarounds, and prep work. I like to write songs in my spare time so I have brought my guitar along on this nine-city, 17-day, two-leg trip. By the time we hit Chicago, I will have written a road song. It may not be a hit like Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again" (I liked that tune the first 85 times I heard it) but I will come up with something that will document what it's like to be on the move.

So here's a list of some of my favorite songs about not staying put, in no particular order...

The Road Goes On Forever - Robert Earl Keen
King Of The Road - Roger Miller
The Road So Long - Greg Trooper
See You Around - Bruce Robison
Jack Kerouac - Kenn Kweder
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
Car Outside - Jimmy LaFave
Rambler's Blues - Micky and the Motorcars
Temporary Road - John Gorka
I'm A Mover - Paul Rodgers
Eight Days on the Road - Foghat
The Road - Jackson Browne

We will see you again on February 23rd, when the Spurs host the Thunder. Then perhaps we can sit down and write a "home" song! There aren't too many of those in my iPod.