The interview is longer then this, but here are parts related to this current season. Was done in French then translated. If you want the original, go to SpursTalk. I bolded some strategy points.
TP, everything is going well for you right now...
Yes. We play, the team is in great shape. Our only worry is Manu being hurt, and absence during the next 2 to 3 weeks. Other than that, everybody is in good health, we are going in the right direction.
You had a complicated start of the season. Now you are competing well with the best teams. You guys are 2dn in the WC. This is the ability of SA to get better as the season goes , specially after the AllStar break...
Yes, absolutely. During the 1st part of the season we try to improve, better understand Pop's system and then in the 2nd part of the season we speed up. And in the last stretch we generally manage to win quite a few games. Right now we are 2dn pretty comfortably. But because of our rough start of the season we will have a hard time catching up on the Lakers, but if we can consolidate the 2dn place everything can happen in the playoffs.
Before the Allstar break some wins agains Boston stayed in mind. With insight, how do you judge this result?
This victory in Boston was very important for our confidence, to know where we were with respect to the big teams. It's true that we had a nice stretch on the road (Phoenix, Utha Boston). We are part of the big teams. Above all when Gino is hot, we can play anybody....
At the start of the season, predictions did not have you amongst the favorites to win it all. You are some kind of outsiders...
(does not let him finish) You know it does not bother us. This has always been the case for us. We play in a small Market in SA and people tend to forget about us. We won The title several times like that. We stay behind and during the playoffs we catch up on everybody.
Can you talk about the new spurs, more specifically Matt Bonner and Roger Mason?
Our offense is much better than last year, but we are less strong on the defensive end. We were up until now among the 5 best defensive teams. This year by introducing Matt Bonner and Mason in the starting 5 we are more focus on the offense because we wanted to improve it. Having great shooters make us better than last year. The goal is to find a balance between offense and defense. This is what the staff is aiming at because the lakers is a beast. LA beat us easily last year and we knew that the offense needed improvement to beat them this year.
It also bring youth in this aging team...
IT was necessary. We had to change players (surrounding?) like Bowen and Oberto. With my injury and Manu's , it sped up the process. For now on these young players have gained confidence. this is a positive thing for us because we will be ready come playoffs. Now the older guys are still there, for more specific assignments.
Tony, your status is changing this year, with more responsabilities on the offense. Do you feel Pop count a lot on you?
This year it came naturaly.with Tim who is starting to age, Pop call more plays for me, so that I am more aggressive. With time Tim will transfer leadership to me and scoring too. Now we push the ball more, even if we all know the priority is Tim in the interior. But if we can have easy buckets this put less pressure on the offense.
Statistically you are having your best season in the NBA. What is your weakness? What do you need to improve?
I need to be more consistent and need to keep improving my outside shot. I need to be better at the 3pt shooting. This is my next step. I need to be a leader for my team. I need to diversify my game. I too am getting older and I am not as fast (laugh).
You said during the allstar game that you were part of the family. Is your experience in the league has an impact on your game and your adversaries?
This makes thing easier because now I don't stress as much on the king of game I play because I know perfectly my role. I don't rush things anymore, I know what I have to do. And even when I have a bad game I don't swell on it . this helps me in my everyday life to be consistent. Now we play at the NBA level so each matchup is complicated. But I don't have a nemesis like at the beginning of my career. But is is obvious that playing against Chris Paul or Steve Nash or Deron Williams is a little special bacause there are the best PGs in the NBA.
It seems the gap between EC and WC is getting smaller. Do you feel that way?
Yes the EC has improved a lot. Now, in the west it is more difficult because there are a lot of good teams. There are 9 good teams in the West. But in the East the top 3 -4 are very good too.
