Kori Ellis
05-09-2005, 12:36 AM
Shooter Robinson catching on to defense
Web Posted: 05/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050905.4C.BKNspurs.robinson.256fe4f59.html
There was a time, early in Glenn Robinson's NBA career, when an opposing coach setting up a last-second play that would win or lose a game against Robinson's Milwaukee Bucks, instructed his players simply to get the ball to whatever player Robinson was defending and get out of the way.
Robinson and defense have been a basketball oxymoron since his pro career began with the Bucks in 1994.
But in Game 1 of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinals series against the Seattle SuperSonics, Robinson was one of the players Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cycled in to defend the Sonics' No. 2 scoring threat, 6-foot-10 All-Star forward Rashard Lewis.
They're not going to believe this in Milwaukee or Atlanta, and certainly not in Philadelphia. Robinson did some solid defensive work as the Spurs took a 1-0 lead with a 103-81 victory.
Defense, it seems, is contagious.
Robinson took a charge by Lewis with 8:42 left in the first half, on his very first shift on the court.
He blocked a shot by Seattle's Antonio Daniels a few minutes later, and he even kept the ball in play, to a teammate.
He took another charge, this one from Damian Wilkens, in the fourth period.
If you squinted, you might have thought Robinson was Bruce Bowen.
What has gotten into a player whose offensive ascendancy covered up for gross defensive deficiencies in the past?
"We had him hypnotized about two weeks ago," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said
Even Robinson, known to one and all as the Big Dog, had to laugh at that sideways compliment.
"Well, then, let's keep it going," he said. "Let's ride this all the way out to the championship."
Popovich understands Robinson still has a long way to go to be the kind of defender on which the Spurs have relied during his tenure on the bench. But he appreciates the fact the veteran, still one of the game's outstanding shooters, has worked hard to buy into the Spurs' defensive system.
"Glenn's really trying to buy into the defense and understand the system and what we're trying to do defensively," Popovich said. "Whether it's the team defense or the individual responsibility, I think he's responded real well in the short time that he's been here."
The system relies on funneling shooters to the Spurs' big men, and it is perfect for Robinson.
"I've got help," Robinson said. "I've got Timmy (Duncan) back there, and if my man beats me he's always covering for me. I'm just trying to get better, get my legs back and learn the system. I think it's been working out fine."
That Robinson continues to rediscover the perfect shooting stroke that brought him into this season with a career scoring average of 20.7 portends an even greater role for him during the Spurs' playoff run, especially with Devin Brown still unable to get his legs back after suffering a back injury late in the regular season.
"I've never played with a great big man like Timmy before," Robinson said, "and that's what's great. That's why I've worked on my shot even more. I'm used to shooting with a hand in my face. When I first got here I got a couple of wide-open looks, and they didn't fall because I was so shocked. I'm just not used to getting wide-open looks. But I get them now."
Web Posted: 05/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050905.4C.BKNspurs.robinson.256fe4f59.html
There was a time, early in Glenn Robinson's NBA career, when an opposing coach setting up a last-second play that would win or lose a game against Robinson's Milwaukee Bucks, instructed his players simply to get the ball to whatever player Robinson was defending and get out of the way.
Robinson and defense have been a basketball oxymoron since his pro career began with the Bucks in 1994.
But in Game 1 of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinals series against the Seattle SuperSonics, Robinson was one of the players Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cycled in to defend the Sonics' No. 2 scoring threat, 6-foot-10 All-Star forward Rashard Lewis.
They're not going to believe this in Milwaukee or Atlanta, and certainly not in Philadelphia. Robinson did some solid defensive work as the Spurs took a 1-0 lead with a 103-81 victory.
Defense, it seems, is contagious.
Robinson took a charge by Lewis with 8:42 left in the first half, on his very first shift on the court.
He blocked a shot by Seattle's Antonio Daniels a few minutes later, and he even kept the ball in play, to a teammate.
He took another charge, this one from Damian Wilkens, in the fourth period.
If you squinted, you might have thought Robinson was Bruce Bowen.
What has gotten into a player whose offensive ascendancy covered up for gross defensive deficiencies in the past?
"We had him hypnotized about two weeks ago," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said
Even Robinson, known to one and all as the Big Dog, had to laugh at that sideways compliment.
"Well, then, let's keep it going," he said. "Let's ride this all the way out to the championship."
Popovich understands Robinson still has a long way to go to be the kind of defender on which the Spurs have relied during his tenure on the bench. But he appreciates the fact the veteran, still one of the game's outstanding shooters, has worked hard to buy into the Spurs' defensive system.
"Glenn's really trying to buy into the defense and understand the system and what we're trying to do defensively," Popovich said. "Whether it's the team defense or the individual responsibility, I think he's responded real well in the short time that he's been here."
The system relies on funneling shooters to the Spurs' big men, and it is perfect for Robinson.
"I've got help," Robinson said. "I've got Timmy (Duncan) back there, and if my man beats me he's always covering for me. I'm just trying to get better, get my legs back and learn the system. I think it's been working out fine."
That Robinson continues to rediscover the perfect shooting stroke that brought him into this season with a career scoring average of 20.7 portends an even greater role for him during the Spurs' playoff run, especially with Devin Brown still unable to get his legs back after suffering a back injury late in the regular season.
"I've never played with a great big man like Timmy before," Robinson said, "and that's what's great. That's why I've worked on my shot even more. I'm used to shooting with a hand in my face. When I first got here I got a couple of wide-open looks, and they didn't fall because I was so shocked. I'm just not used to getting wide-open looks. But I get them now."