Popovic: Beard-Free, Ready for Season

Pop shaved off his glorious beard, and changed up the routine in Spurs camp a bit prior to the regular season getting underway: “Spurs coach Gregg Popovich threw a couple of changes at his club Monday, starting practice at 4p.m. and showing up clean-shaven after sporting a full beard for more than a year. It was the first afternoon practice any of the Spurs could recall, but Popovich shrugged off any significance, other than changing the routine a bit as the regular-season opener approaches. ‘Probably for most of the guys, it is different, but I like it,’ said Manu Ginobili, who explained that most practice sessions during his seven pro seasons in Argentina and Europe were held in the afternoon. ‘Actually, I think I’m more awake, so I get a better workout.”’