Kori Ellis
06-22-2005, 02:31 AM
Spurs' 3-point play concerns Popovich
Web Posted: 06/22/2005 01:04 AM CDT
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062205.3S.BKNspurs.3pointers.32853297.html
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't spend much time after Game 6 of the NBA Finals talking about the fact that the Pistons' eight 3-point baskets matched their output from the previous five games.
"They are not known to be a 3-point shooting team, so some nights that's going to happen," Popovich said.
He did, however, have a few things to say about the fact his team put up a whopping 28 attempts from 3-point range. It was the most 3-pointers the Spurs have attempted this postseason, eclipsing the 25 they tried against Phoenix on May 30. The Suns won that contest, 111-106.
"That's too many (3-point attempts)," Popovich said after the 95-86 loss to the defending NBA champions. "That's definitely too many."
Especially, he added, when many of them were hurried, a big reason why the Spurs missed 20.
"It was a matter of trying to win quickly, skipping steps," Popovich said. "They have got to be open threes, not hurried threes or hoping that they are going to fall.
"So our threes were more of a problem really than the made threes they had."
With guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combining for seven field goals inside the paint in the first half, the Spurs had the kind of offensive attack going that served them so well in their victories in the first two games.
But those drives dried up in the second half as the Pistons clogged the middle, forcing the duo to take more outside shots.
Parker and Ginoboli, who combined to score 36 points, each managed only two field goals in the second half.
"They collapsed better and their big guys came in a little quicker," said Parker, who finished with 15 points. "We just have to make adjustments and have confidence in our outside shooting."
Popovich saw it differently, saying the Spurs' offensive woes in the second half had more to do with his team's lack of patience.
"More than anything," he said, "I think we were just too quick with everything that we did, not waiting for the game to come to us as individuals and then playing with it.
"When you try to force things, there probably are not any lanes to penetrate. You have to let that happen and when they are there, they are there."
Ginobili, who missed 6 of 8 3-point attempts and finished with 21 points, said the Pistons' rebounding effort also played a part in the Spurs' inability to run. The Pistons finished with 10 fast-break points. The Spurs managed only six.
"About the fast break, it's not easy," Ginobili said. "They are a very good team. They go to the offensive board very hard. So, you know, everybody is trying to get the rebound and by the time we get the ball, it's not that easy to get to the other side as fast."
Web Posted: 06/22/2005 01:04 AM CDT
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062205.3S.BKNspurs.3pointers.32853297.html
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't spend much time after Game 6 of the NBA Finals talking about the fact that the Pistons' eight 3-point baskets matched their output from the previous five games.
"They are not known to be a 3-point shooting team, so some nights that's going to happen," Popovich said.
He did, however, have a few things to say about the fact his team put up a whopping 28 attempts from 3-point range. It was the most 3-pointers the Spurs have attempted this postseason, eclipsing the 25 they tried against Phoenix on May 30. The Suns won that contest, 111-106.
"That's too many (3-point attempts)," Popovich said after the 95-86 loss to the defending NBA champions. "That's definitely too many."
Especially, he added, when many of them were hurried, a big reason why the Spurs missed 20.
"It was a matter of trying to win quickly, skipping steps," Popovich said. "They have got to be open threes, not hurried threes or hoping that they are going to fall.
"So our threes were more of a problem really than the made threes they had."
With guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combining for seven field goals inside the paint in the first half, the Spurs had the kind of offensive attack going that served them so well in their victories in the first two games.
But those drives dried up in the second half as the Pistons clogged the middle, forcing the duo to take more outside shots.
Parker and Ginoboli, who combined to score 36 points, each managed only two field goals in the second half.
"They collapsed better and their big guys came in a little quicker," said Parker, who finished with 15 points. "We just have to make adjustments and have confidence in our outside shooting."
Popovich saw it differently, saying the Spurs' offensive woes in the second half had more to do with his team's lack of patience.
"More than anything," he said, "I think we were just too quick with everything that we did, not waiting for the game to come to us as individuals and then playing with it.
"When you try to force things, there probably are not any lanes to penetrate. You have to let that happen and when they are there, they are there."
Ginobili, who missed 6 of 8 3-point attempts and finished with 21 points, said the Pistons' rebounding effort also played a part in the Spurs' inability to run. The Pistons finished with 10 fast-break points. The Spurs managed only six.
"About the fast break, it's not easy," Ginobili said. "They are a very good team. They go to the offensive board very hard. So, you know, everybody is trying to get the rebound and by the time we get the ball, it's not that easy to get to the other side as fast."