Spurs Brazil
11-08-2008, 08:25 AM
Effort from starters leaves Popovich less than thrilled
By Mike Monroe - Express-News After Spurs forward Ime Udoka scored on a breakaway dunk with 2:41 remaining in Friday's game against the Miami Heat at the AT&T Center, first-year Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called a 20-second time out to regroup a team that had seen a 24-point lead shrink to nine, at 89-80.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gathered his players around him to set up their defense for the next possession. What he didn't do was put All-Star Tim Duncan, who had played less than a minute of the final period, back on the court in hopes of making a final push.
He had tried that once, he said, to no good effect, and it was one of the reasons he spared no words in criticizing the effort of Friday's starting unit.
“I put Tim, Bruce (Bowen) and Ime (Udoka) in when we cut it the first time in the second half,” Popovich said. “We had about two or three turnovers in a row, and that's when it went back up to 18 or 19, and that's when I took Timmy out and let him sit.”
His starters, he said, had shown none of the competitiveness that has characterized Popovich's Spurs since he became head coach. The lineup Popovich used most of the second half included Roger Mason Jr., rookies George Hill and Anthony Tolliver and second-year man Desmon Farmer. Duncan, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas split time in the post.
“I enjoyed the hell out of the group we had most of the second half,” Popovich said. “They were fun to watch because they were physical, they competed and they got after it. They took nothing for granted, and that was nice to see. Hopefully, our starters observed that. If they couldn't see it, then they're hiding.”
Tolliver's debut: After a difficult couple of weeks that followed the death of his mother, Donna Lewis, Tolliver made his NBA debut Friday. Though disappointed in the outcome of the game, he was excited to have finally played in his first game in the league.
The rookie from Creighton nailed two 3-point shots, scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and had three assists in 22 minutes.
“When Pop called my name, I was just determined that he wouldn't regret his decision,” he said. “When I get out there I know I've got to bring energy. That's what I tried to do, to the best of my ability.”
The worldwide leader: In the era of NBA globalization, there is an important addendum to Spurs point guard Tony Parker's 55-point game against the Timberwolves on Wednesday night: It is the highest single-game output by an international player in league history.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, born in Germany, had the previous high, 53, in a game against Houston on Dec. 2, 2004. Nowitzki scored 51 against Golden State on March 23, 2006.
Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon, born in Nigeria, is the only other international player to crack the 50-point barrier with 52, in an overtime game against Denver on April 19, 1990.
Worth noting: The Spurs matched a club record Friday by attempting 35 3-point shots. Their 14 long-range attempts in the third quarter established a record for 3-point attempts in a single quarter.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Effort_from_starters_leaves_Popovich_less_than_thr illed.html
By Mike Monroe - Express-News After Spurs forward Ime Udoka scored on a breakaway dunk with 2:41 remaining in Friday's game against the Miami Heat at the AT&T Center, first-year Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called a 20-second time out to regroup a team that had seen a 24-point lead shrink to nine, at 89-80.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gathered his players around him to set up their defense for the next possession. What he didn't do was put All-Star Tim Duncan, who had played less than a minute of the final period, back on the court in hopes of making a final push.
He had tried that once, he said, to no good effect, and it was one of the reasons he spared no words in criticizing the effort of Friday's starting unit.
“I put Tim, Bruce (Bowen) and Ime (Udoka) in when we cut it the first time in the second half,” Popovich said. “We had about two or three turnovers in a row, and that's when it went back up to 18 or 19, and that's when I took Timmy out and let him sit.”
His starters, he said, had shown none of the competitiveness that has characterized Popovich's Spurs since he became head coach. The lineup Popovich used most of the second half included Roger Mason Jr., rookies George Hill and Anthony Tolliver and second-year man Desmon Farmer. Duncan, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas split time in the post.
“I enjoyed the hell out of the group we had most of the second half,” Popovich said. “They were fun to watch because they were physical, they competed and they got after it. They took nothing for granted, and that was nice to see. Hopefully, our starters observed that. If they couldn't see it, then they're hiding.”
Tolliver's debut: After a difficult couple of weeks that followed the death of his mother, Donna Lewis, Tolliver made his NBA debut Friday. Though disappointed in the outcome of the game, he was excited to have finally played in his first game in the league.
The rookie from Creighton nailed two 3-point shots, scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and had three assists in 22 minutes.
“When Pop called my name, I was just determined that he wouldn't regret his decision,” he said. “When I get out there I know I've got to bring energy. That's what I tried to do, to the best of my ability.”
The worldwide leader: In the era of NBA globalization, there is an important addendum to Spurs point guard Tony Parker's 55-point game against the Timberwolves on Wednesday night: It is the highest single-game output by an international player in league history.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, born in Germany, had the previous high, 53, in a game against Houston on Dec. 2, 2004. Nowitzki scored 51 against Golden State on March 23, 2006.
Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon, born in Nigeria, is the only other international player to crack the 50-point barrier with 52, in an overtime game against Denver on April 19, 1990.
Worth noting: The Spurs matched a club record Friday by attempting 35 3-point shots. Their 14 long-range attempts in the third quarter established a record for 3-point attempts in a single quarter.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Effort_from_starters_leaves_Popovich_less_than_thr illed.html