T. Tirieux | Didn't work. To recycle bin

[Oskar]

Really interested in a my player story. Keep this one going, "Just do it!", lol. Keep it up and running actively, 'cause I can't wait for other updates.

[hova-]

Read through it after a day of dissappointment and boycott I hope you can make it in this league. Dunno why you always take this Thierry Tirieux and not an Argentinian guy to team up with Ginobili (I guess you're not only living there but also have been born in Argentina?)

Anyway GL !

[kibaxx7]

Thierry's Blog: First pick-up game...
SanAntonioSpurs.com | October 2nd, 2009

“France guard Thierry Tirieux has received a formal invitation to join the Spurs at training camp, which began yesterday.” Ah, it was an incredible feeling to read that at the Spurs webpage. “He's a young, improving player and we are happy to give him a chance to make our regular-season roster. We've brought in another solid individual, and good person, and I think Thierry has the potential to stick in this league,” manager Buford said. “He knows how to play and plays the right way. He'll definitely push guys in camp. He's busted his tail getting better, and now he has a chance to be part of our organization. I've seen him a lot, and have seen him really improve his game. The biggest thing to me is, he makes players around him better, and we're always looking for that.”

We continued with the workouts today. The first pick-up game was as spirited as ever. I was playing in the black team along Melvin Ely, Matt Bonner, Richard Jefferson and Roger Mason, against the white team, with George Hill, Michael Finley, Rick Lewis (another training camp invitation), Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff. IMO, the one player who is showing the most improvement, is George. Something has seemed to click with him in the past couple of weeks I played with or against him, and he's as aggressive on the floor as I've seen him. It also appears the work he's put in on his outside shot is paying off, as he was stroking the mid-range jumper. Coach Popovich only makes pick-up games of 20 minutes, switching the lineups between games. I think I had an acceptable game... Coach Pop's notes said A+. I also took some pics from the game video: me guarding George, two lay-ups over him, a no-look assist to Bonner, my 3-pointer, and an alley-oop pass to Jefferson. Check the full boxscores below.

[kibaxx7]

Really interested in a my player story. Keep this one going, "Just do it!", lol. Keep it up and running actively, 'cause I can't wait for other updates.

Thanks man... I'm trying to keep it simple in this one. There's the second update!

Read through it after a day of dissappointment and boycott I hope you can make it in this league. Dunno why you always take this Thierry Tirieux and not an Argentinian guy to team up with Ginobili (I guess you're not only living there but also have been born in Argentina?)

Anyway GL !

Yeah, born and raised in Argentina. I think this fanatism for T. Henry has made me like France in every aspect

[3PK]

Looks great, I'll be following this one. Just one problem, I couldn't access the pictures.
Oh an by the way you should've done one with an Argentine, although I don't live there, all my family lives in Argentina (Buenos Aires) and I love the culture. Anyway best of luck

[kibaxx7]

Looks great, I'll be following this one. Just one problem, I couldn't access the pictures.
Oh an by the way you should've done one with an Argentine, although I don't live there, all my family lives in Argentina (Buenos Aires) and I love the culture. Anyway best of luck

Thanks man, I fixed the links to the pictures, try now.

I was going to make an Argentine player but with Ginobili, Scola, Delfino, Nocioni, Oberto... I thought it was good already.

[Lamrock]

I had to average 40 points and 13 assists to beat training camp. I think you'll have a hard time making the NBA with those numbers.

[hova-]

Lamrock's right. I hope you can step up because it would be cool to have you on a contender.

[Martti.]

First game with 10 assists, nice! Don't know much about the 'My Player' mode, but hope you can impress enough to earn minutes.

[kibaxx7]

Thierry's Blog: Pick-up games continue
SanAntonioSpurs.com | October 4th, 2009

As all the players in the squad continue to prepare on the court, for training camp, I was in the Spurs' weight room, chomping at the bit to get back on the floor. I'm battling back from a little injury in my left knee I suffered in the second pick-up game While coach Popovich and his assistant coaches team watched the great scrimmages going on, Manu saw me through a large window, where I position myself many times to be able to workout, and watch my new teammates play. A couple of times I'd walk out to the court and take a seat, and maybe watch a scrimmage, but then I would go right back into the sweat shop to continue. The team's doctors said I could be back by tomorrow.

I'm definitely ahead of schedule. I'm feeling great, and it's killing me not to be able to out on the floor running with my teammates, but, I know what I have to do. Not being able to participate in the action on the floor has had it's positive aspects; I've been able to concentrate on working the rest of the body, particularly the lower part. This rehab sessions with trainer Will Sevening and the workouts with strength coach Mike Brungardt have been extremely valuable. They looked at this as an opportunity to really work on my lower body and his core. I've been running now, also rehabbing in the pool a lot. I'm not worried at all about my upper body, that will come later; there are so many games, once the season begins, that the trainers don't have much of a chance to really do leg work with the players.

To be honest, I'm so coachable, I do anything they ask of me. I've been focused on turning this into a positive, and I think I've done that. I buy in to everything the trainers try and get me to do. “He's made great progress and can't wait to get back on the floor,” Brungardt said. Of course I can't wait... Check the boxscores of the 2nd pick-up game below.

[kibaxx7]

I had to average 40 points and 13 assists to beat training camp. I think you'll have a hard time making the NBA with those numbers.

For a pass-first point guard? It's ok...

Lamrock's right. I hope you can step up because it would be cool to have you on a contender.

I will, don't worry

First game with 10 assists, nice! Don't know much about the 'My Player' mode, but hope you can impress enough to earn minutes.

Right now I think it's pretty good for a rookie point guard, unknown in the USA

[The X]

You won't last long shooting 3 of 9 from the field. Let's hope you can hit more of those shots

[Valor]

Good luck making it into the NBA, but i agree with Lamrock, i had to average otherworldly numbers to make it....

[kibaxx7]

Thierry's Blog: Training Camp roster changes
SanAntonioSpurs.com | October 6th, 2009

It's all about timing in professional sports, and unfortunately for me, I suffered this injury in my left knee in the 2nd pick-up game. But luckily for me (and the team ) I'm back at full shape, and I played the 3rd pick-up game. The Spurs announced yesterday a 15th player will be invited to camp, and there will most likely be an invitation handed out on Friday, and that's veteran Chucky Atkins. There are only 11 players on the roster with guaranteed contracts, so obviously, the invites carry with them the opportunity to make the opening day roster; those 11 are Keith Bogans, Matt Bonner, Tim Duncan, Michael Finley, Manu Ginobili, George Hill, Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason Jr., Antonio McDyess, Tony Parker and Theo Ratliff. I'm pretty sure that DeJuan Blair and Ian Mahinmi will both get signed, they've been off the hook, so that leaves two spots for six players: Malik Hairston, Melvin Ely, Brian Gadson, Darren Mack, Atkins (this last four, all training camp invitations) and me. Jack McClinton and Nando de Colo went to D-League. Rick Lewis, who I played against in the 1st pick-up game, was waived yesterday, as he went 0-of-6 from the field and the worst statline of the contest. The practice facility was relatively quiet yesterday, as coach Popovich advised us to take a couple of days off and rest up in preparation for the last days of the camp. Hard workouts and pick-up games have been a daily occurance at the facility. Several players, like Manu, George, DeJuan, Ian, and me included, still snuck in light workouts, even as Pop was chasing us out. DeJuan has been very impressive during the past several days, is heading into what will be a very important year for him, well, for the most of us. I've been closer to him, he's really a good guy, making a lot of jokes.

Each season during training camp, Pop demands that his players pass a conditioning test, that involves timed, full-court sprints. It is not easy, and many players fail it several times before earning a passing grade (I failed it the first time...) As I was sitting in the courtside, Manu passed it with flying colors at the first attempt. The Spurs also held their annual Media Day on Monday at the AT&T Center, one day before opening training camp. I had a few interviews along with Tony for a French basketball show It involved a lot of standing around, walking from station to station, posing for silly pictures, taking part in many different video shoots, and yes, answering the same questions over and over, but I couldn't be happier. All NBA teams go through a day similar to that. Then we had a team dinner, following Media Day, and Pop told us he'd set the tone for camp when he spoke to the team following the meal... he wasn't lying. Pop's plan is to go with daily doubles (two practices a day), but he told us his schedule during camp is always flexible and tentative, and the only day he assured us there would two practices is on Wednesday (tomorrow)... He's also planning just one, triple workout on Thursday. He did mention that he would reserve the right to make changes on the fly. Pop also said he is also changing the way team captains are selected this season. He chose them last season, but said he plans on letting his team vote on who the captains should be this year. “As always, I do hold veto power in that vote,” he laughed. In other words, he'll be the one counting the votes.

[kibaxx7]

You won't last long shooting 3 of 9 from the field. Let's hope you can hit more of those shots

Yeah, I know, but for a pass-first point guard, I think it's acceptable

Good luck making it into the NBA, but i agree with Lamrock, i had to average otherworldly numbers to make it....

Thanks for dropping by bro, but I think I can do it. But only Hairston would make trouble; Lewis, Gadson, Mack, were all 2k-made and it's more than probable that they will be cut.

[Lamrock]

Lol you have to face Chucky Atkins here too? He always pops up in training camp. He was slated to be the backup in mine, and after two straight games in which I outscored him 40-5, he got cut before third and fourth stringers Mike James and (lol) Javaris Crittenton.

You need to start asserting yourself, because as it is, you are barely outplaying your matchup. The key to the mode as a PG is simply drive to the hoop every possession, as it results in an easy bucket or assist. Might not be realistic, but its actually funner than you'd might think.

[Fresh8]

It's gonna be interesting to see how your player does. Wait for me to start my My Player story. Me and you man will be like competition.

[dare]

Thierry VS Sit, that would be very interesting

[kibaxx7]

Thierry's Blog: Pressure free throws & time trials
SanAntonioSpurs.com | October 8th, 2009

Another day of training camp for the Spurs. It actually ended at night and Brian Gadson was cut from the team. The second practice session ended at around 7:50pm; I was gonna leave by 8:10 but there were still another seven players getting extra work on the court and we played a 4-on-4 scrimmage. Both sessions were intense, and went very well, but the morning session was the more physical practice, IMO. Just to get you straight on NBA rules, you can only have one practice a day that involves game-type speed, and full contact. That doesn't mean the second can't be just as difficult, but it has to involve lighter work and less banging. It's normally during this second practice that we work more on offensive sets, out of bounds plays, and things that are more executed at walk-through type speed. The morning practice ended with what Pop likes to call “pressure free throws”. Sometimes he calls players out to step to the line, and sometimes he takes volunteers. Today, it was up to the players to take it upon themselves to walk to the foul line: two free-throw makes means no running, one miss means one full-court down-and-back, and two misses means two down-and-backs. I walked to the line and obviously, made both of my free throws, like the point guard I am, and got a nice hand from my teammates.

We were put through a lot of different conditioning drills during the morning session, too. We worked on foot work, defensive positioning, and ran full-court, timed, three-man fast breaks, and we were also put through many different five-on-five exercises. At the night session, many of us started practice wearing running shoes, and not basketball shoes: it was the first night of time trials. This is something Pop has always done in other years, and it is brutal. It is a test you must pass... the team all runs at the same time, and has to go end line to end line 10 times. That makes one set. We run four sets, and get only one minute of rest between them. Each individual is timed and in the end, the total times are given. The guards have to average :60 seconds per down-and-back. The forwards have to average :63 seconds, and big guys have to average :65 seconds. Often times, Pop gives us our split times midway through the trial, to know whether we have to pick it up, or continue pacing ourselves. I'm not sure, but I can tell you that Manu and Tony had the fastest total time... both run like deers. This time trial portion of training camp is an intense, exhausting experience even to watch for the assistant coaches, I could say. I collapsed upon finishing the final set and stayed down for several minutes trying to get my wind back, I couldn't even stand up. With Manu making this hilarious jokes, it was even worst.

During the test the gym is very loud with coaches, trainers, and other team personnel shouting encouragement. Pop ran along with several totally-drained players shouting like a drill sargent. After it was over, he slapped fives, and ran up and down the line congratulating us. The test only does it test endurance, and physically drain us players, it's one of those moments when you see the team totally come together. We are all going through the same thing at the same time. We were all hugging and helping each other up following the test. It was certainly my lasting image of this day. People who think training camps aren't tough, have never witnessed this. “The players who didn't pass today will do it all again tomorrow”, Pop said, so I'm happy I could make it through After the time trials, Pop also took our times in a small dribble course and then we practiced, with another pick-up game; I focused in the shooting part this time, which is not my forte, but I was perfect from the floor and led the game in scoring; I shared team with Manu and DeJuan. Pop started putting in several offensive plays, and walked the team through some material that I had never seen. Many plays were new, because the veterans were learning along with us, the new guys (I remember seeing the old plays on TV).

[kibaxx7]

Lol you have to face Chucky Atkins here too? He always pops up in training camp. He was slated to be the backup in mine, and after two straight games in which I outscored him 40-5, he got cut before third and fourth stringers Mike James and (lol) Javaris Crittenton.

You need to start asserting yourself, because as it is, you are barely outplaying your matchup. The key to the mode as a PG is simply drive to the hoop every possession, as it results in an easy bucket or assist. Might not be realistic, but its actually funner than you'd might think.

This 4th pick-up game I played huge

It's gonna be interesting to see how your player does. Wait for me to start my My Player story. Me and you man will be like competition.

As Lamrock said, it was funnier this time, driving to the basket almost in every play. You will make Tyson, right?

Thierry VS Sit, that would be very interesting

Can't wait

Just curious, is anyone reading the blog? Or you are just looking at my statline?

[anthony22]

lol perfect 8-8,nice game by you

[Fresh8]

Nice pickup game. The training camp sounds tough but maybe its cause u got Pop the drill Sergeant =]

[hova-]

Good performance in the pickup game. I definitely have to get out and run a bit, you totally reminded me of that. Especially the set run, we do that in soccer, too.

[Martti.]

I read the blog.

Great game this time. Perfect from the field and getting 7 assists.

[kibaxx7]

Thierry's Blog: Muscles a sore, lungs still aching
SanAntonioSpurs.com | October 10th, 2009

This last day of training camp started early on Saturday for the Spurs at the team's practice facility in Texas. Several of the coaches were saying, the last two days were the best two practices they had been around in a long time. Today, the returns were just as positive. Like in my last blog update, the coaching staff turned up the intensity knob on the full-court drills. One of the main points of emphasis in the first practice appeared to be footwork and screening. It was a 4-hour workout (I was exhausted, but it was worth it) with drills focusing on setting solid screens. We worked in the half-court set, setting picks, and delivering crisp, timely passes. The team also hired referees for the morning practice, and they called some five-on-five, live-action scrimmage situations. We got up and down the floor, and it was a high-energy workout. This camp has been fantastic, and everyone is in such good physical condition. With so many guys arriving weeks in advance, it really gave us a jump start on learning the offense and playing together. One of the standouts during the full-court play, was Manu. As I watched from the sideline (I wasn't in a team coach Pop setted), he continued to impress with his knowledge of the offense, his passing, and his ability to knock down the outside shot from just about any range. As expected, he played several positions on the floor (point, SG and SF), but when the ball is in his hands, good things happen. He never seems to force anything, and he simply makes his teammates better. I spent some time with Manu after the morning workout, and we talked a couple of minutes. It has been a challenge for him because he's learning the offense from three different positions; he's got to know exactly what the point guard does, what the off-guard does, and where the small forward is supposed to be. It's not easy.

One of the other players who stood out in the morning workout was center Matt Bonner. I'm also starting to talk to him. He's a good guy too. He said he didn't feel he had a good season last year, but he expects that to be much higher this season. He reminded Pop that he wasn't shooting 100% healthy last year, and wasn't able to explode and get his own shot very often. That has clearly changed here in training camp. He's surprised the coaches with his quickness, and his ability to hit the long-range shot. I knew he could bury the mid-range jumper, but with the ability to now push off completely healthy, he's been hitting the three-pointer with ease. Another guy who has shown his shooting ability, particularly in the scrimmage situations, has been my fellow point guard George Hill; he looked very sharp, and that's been despite nursing a sprained thumb that has required a heavy tape job in one of the first workouts. Richard Jefferson also started to look very good so far in camp. He will surely be the starting small forward on opening night. His shooting is improved and his timing is much better. Richard has always been able to get on the highlights with freakish finishes at the rim, but today he had the defensive play of the camp so far, coming over off the weak side on defense and rejecting an Antonio McDyess hook shot. His head was nearly at the rim as the ball slammed off the wall of the building. The block drew oohs and ahhs from everyone watching. Jefferson has been seeing some time at the power forward spot as well and Pop will surely use him at that spot as season progresses.

The night session was full of more conditioning, and lower-impact drills and exercises. Pop continued to add to the offense, and we were challenged to execute it perfectly. We finished the last half of the evening practice with mostly shooting drills, and only went for about 90 minutes. Today was the last pick-up game and I must admit it was my worst. I had troubles with my shot selection and I even had only 3 assists, and we lost the game ... I personally finished with a 4-1 record in pick-up games. Tomorrow, we will just go with one practice, probably a little longer, in the morning. Pop then admitted he's been very happy with the camp; he is always guarded and conservative when it comes to expectations, but you can clearly see that he's been pleasantly surprised with training camp so far. Malik Hairston was cut from the squad and I got to live another day: tomorrow we will have the last day of training camp and two more players will be cut, between Melvin Ely, Darren Mack, Chucky Atkins and me; also the final 15 players roster will be announced. Cross your fingers.