Clemson's Ford gets shot with NBA champions

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) On long afternoon walks Olympic assistants Oliver Purnell and Gregg Popovich took during the U.S. team&#39;s training camp in 2003 and 2004, Clemson&#39;s coach slipped in a plug or two to the San Antonio Spurs&#39; leader about the Tigers&#39; top player, Sharrod Ford.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re together for practically two months each summer, walking every day, talking about basketball,&#39;&#39; Purnell recalled, ``so it&#39;s hard to not mention Sharrod during those four months.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Popovich paid attention. The defending NBA champions signed the 6-foot-9 Ford, Clemson&#39;s leading scorer and rebounder last year, as a free agent. So far, Ford has gotten a chance to show his talent and live out his NBA dream.<br> <br> He played against Miami&#39;s Shaquille O&#39;Neal and Philadelphia&#39;s Allen Iverson. Ford posed for pictures with friends and fans after Wednesday night&#39;s game with the 76ers in Columbia.<br> <br> ``It is kind of crazy,&#39;&#39; Ford said. ``Sometimes I&#39;m still kind of star-struck. We were playing Miami, I was, &#39;Wow, I&#39;m playing against Shaq.&#39;&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Still, Ford has held his own in the view of his current and former coaches and his new teammate and NBA superstar Tim Duncan.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s a heck of a talented guy,&#39;&#39; Duncan says. ``He&#39;s got so many skills. He&#39;s long and lanky. He contests every shot. He&#39;s played great throughout camp. He&#39;s got a future.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Ford has averaged 20 minutes in San Antonio&#39;s three preseason losses with 9 points and nearly 5 rebounds a game.<br> <br> Popovich says Ford has more than lived up to what he heard from Purnell. ``He&#39;s shown us he does have NBA talent,&#39;&#39; Popovich said.<br> <br> Ford had 13 points in 25 minutes Thursday night against Washington, making four of five shots, grabbing six rebounds and blocking two shots.<br> <br> His worst outing was the one in Columbia. Ford made only one basket in seven tries and missed a shot that got some South Carolina fans going with the familiar ``Air-Ball&#39;&#39; chant.<br> <br> Popovich likes Ford&#39;s speed getting down court and his knack for defense. His lean build and tenacity at grabbing rebounds are also assets, the Spurs coach said.<br> <br> No matter how Ford plays, it&#39;s nearly impossible to stick with the talent-rich Spurs, already packed with front-line standouts such as Duncan, Robert Horry, Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic.<br> <br> Still, after talking more recently with Popovich and others, Purnell said likes Ford&#39;s chances ``because of the skills set he brings to the table.<br> <br> ``This is not an easy team to make, but he&#39;s played well. ... He&#39;s got a real good shot,&#39;&#39; the Clemson coach said.<br> <br> During a second-quarter timeout Wednesday, Duncan rushed off the bench to stop Ford and discuss positioning. Duncan and Horry have done that throughout the preseason, Ford said.<br> <br> Ford knows his task is a big one, so he plans to keep working as hard as possible at every practice in every game. ``You want to go out there and leave all your effort on the floor,&#39;&#39; he said. ``You don&#39;t want to make any mistakes.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> That can be daunting for any young player, Popovich said. An NBA team&#39;s system will be quicker and more complex than the college game, and Ford is trying to learn San Antonio&#39;s as fast as he can.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s trying to do what&#39;s asked of him and display his wares,&#39;&#39; Popovich said.<br> <br> Ford has found virtually everything in the pro game is harder than college, he says players are faster, forwards are taller and anybody can hit open shots from almost anywhere. The hardest thing for him in the pros has been the defensive intensity required at all times. ``But I think I&#39;m doing pretty well,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> But whenever Ford has questions, ``I go to Tim or Robert,&#39;&#39; he says. ``Those guys have been real helpful.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> That advice is sure to aid Ford no matter what happens with the Spurs.<br> <br> ``As he gains confidence and understanding of the NBA game, he&#39;s going to find a place in the league,&#39;&#39; Popovich said. ``It may be with us, it may be with somebody else I don&#39;t know yet, but he&#39;ll find a place.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)