duncan228
10-09-2010, 11:39 PM
Spurs' Popovich praises Riley's haul before downing Heat (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-san-antonio-spurs-s100910,0,6512302.story)
By Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Gregg Popovich had no time for the skeptics after the Miami Heat completed their July signings of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
But he did have time for Pat Riley.
So while so many other NBA coaches and executives were questioning Riley's haul, the San Antonio Spurs coach called the Heat president to offer congratulations.
"I thought what he did was amazing," Popovich said before his team defeated the shorthanded Heat 90-73 Saturday in an exhibition at AT&T Center. "What a coup. Period. Nobody else figured that out."
Popovich said he was surprised there weren't more well-wishers, with Riley citing Popovich and Stern among the few within the league to call.
"Whatever the rules are, those are the rules," Popovich said. "Nobody broke any rules. I don't understand any problem.
"If you don't like it, change the rules."
With the Heat treating Saturday's game as an unnecessary evil -- the Heat sat out Wade, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Eddie House and Carlos Arroyo, while playing James and Bosh for limited minutes -- the night provided ample opportunity for Popovich to expand on his minority outside opinion of the Heat's offseason haul.
Popovich said he had a hard time with so many associated with the league coming down on James, Wade and Bosh for choosing to play as an ensemble.
"We live in a world where there are so many opinions, it's enough to make you puke," he said.
"People have to bitch and moan about something. That's just the world we live in."
Popovich said there should be no issue with players' choices.
"Every coach wants selfless players who put the group ahead of the individual," he said. "That's obvious for all of us.
"The bottom line is you're allowed what you want to do in this country. And those guys did, according to the rules, what they wanted to do. I don't see any room for fault there."
Having coached four NBA championship teams, in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, Popovich said he sees the potential for something special in Miami.
"It's got a heck of a chance of working, because, obviously, they have enough of a talent level to get it done," he said. "And Coach Riley did a hell of a job of putting the pieces together.
"A lot of people tried to dismiss, 'Well, they can't do that. They're going to have too many holes.' Well, you look at that roster, and you tell me where the holes are?"
There were, however, holes Saturday. In addition to Wade working his way back from a strained left hamstring and House from offseason shoulder surgery, Haslem sat with a sore shoulder, Miller with a bruised hip, Chalmers with ankle pain and Arroyo with a balky groin.
In falling to 1-2 in the preseason, the Heat played James and Bosh only in the first quarter. Going all 12 minutes in the period, James finished with 12 points, three assists and three rebounds, shooting 6 of 6 from the line. Bosh had his first uneven performance, closing with two points on 1-of-6 shooting, with one rebound.
With so many regulars not available, coach Erik Spoelstra gave veterans Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire their first minutes of the preseason. He also gave an extended look to point guard Patrick Beverley, who crashed the boards, capably guided the offense, but struggled with his offense.
By Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Gregg Popovich had no time for the skeptics after the Miami Heat completed their July signings of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
But he did have time for Pat Riley.
So while so many other NBA coaches and executives were questioning Riley's haul, the San Antonio Spurs coach called the Heat president to offer congratulations.
"I thought what he did was amazing," Popovich said before his team defeated the shorthanded Heat 90-73 Saturday in an exhibition at AT&T Center. "What a coup. Period. Nobody else figured that out."
Popovich said he was surprised there weren't more well-wishers, with Riley citing Popovich and Stern among the few within the league to call.
"Whatever the rules are, those are the rules," Popovich said. "Nobody broke any rules. I don't understand any problem.
"If you don't like it, change the rules."
With the Heat treating Saturday's game as an unnecessary evil -- the Heat sat out Wade, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Eddie House and Carlos Arroyo, while playing James and Bosh for limited minutes -- the night provided ample opportunity for Popovich to expand on his minority outside opinion of the Heat's offseason haul.
Popovich said he had a hard time with so many associated with the league coming down on James, Wade and Bosh for choosing to play as an ensemble.
"We live in a world where there are so many opinions, it's enough to make you puke," he said.
"People have to bitch and moan about something. That's just the world we live in."
Popovich said there should be no issue with players' choices.
"Every coach wants selfless players who put the group ahead of the individual," he said. "That's obvious for all of us.
"The bottom line is you're allowed what you want to do in this country. And those guys did, according to the rules, what they wanted to do. I don't see any room for fault there."
Having coached four NBA championship teams, in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, Popovich said he sees the potential for something special in Miami.
"It's got a heck of a chance of working, because, obviously, they have enough of a talent level to get it done," he said. "And Coach Riley did a hell of a job of putting the pieces together.
"A lot of people tried to dismiss, 'Well, they can't do that. They're going to have too many holes.' Well, you look at that roster, and you tell me where the holes are?"
There were, however, holes Saturday. In addition to Wade working his way back from a strained left hamstring and House from offseason shoulder surgery, Haslem sat with a sore shoulder, Miller with a bruised hip, Chalmers with ankle pain and Arroyo with a balky groin.
In falling to 1-2 in the preseason, the Heat played James and Bosh only in the first quarter. Going all 12 minutes in the period, James finished with 12 points, three assists and three rebounds, shooting 6 of 6 from the line. Bosh had his first uneven performance, closing with two points on 1-of-6 shooting, with one rebound.
With so many regulars not available, coach Erik Spoelstra gave veterans Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire their first minutes of the preseason. He also gave an extended look to point guard Patrick Beverley, who crashed the boards, capably guided the offense, but struggled with his offense.