timvp
09-02-2005, 12:17 AM
Adding Finley to full Spurs roster means playing time will be limited
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA090205.1D.BKNspurs.finley.17daafb5.html
The experience Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gained as an assistant coach for Team USA in the 2002 FIBA World Championships and the 2004 Olympics should serve him well when the Spurs begin defense of their NBA championship.
Just as the Team USA coaching staffs had to find ways to appease star players relegated to relatively limited roles — sometimes with limited success — Popovich understands he must approach the Spurs' 2005-06 season from a different angle than in seasons past.
Suddenly, Popovich's bench is crowded with players who have played significant roles for other teams in the recent past. Some will have to share similar roles.
Both Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel, who signed on with the Spurs on Tuesday, have gotten significant time at shooting guard, though neither is primarily a shooting guard. Brent Barry, last summer's key free-agent signee, also logs most of his time at shooting guard.
It is up to Popovich to determine who plays, and when, always aware of potential chemistry problems.
"We are going to have to do things a little differently than we have in the past," Popovich said. "By that, I mean we usually figure things out from a point of less talent, compared to some other teams. Now we are going to have to figure it out from a greater talent level, with a bench that is quite deep and experienced."
Finley is expected to be introduced at a news conference the Spurs have scheduled for 3 p.m. today. His contract has yet to be formalized and signed, and he will have to pass a physical before he signs it.
Finley's deal is believed to be for multiple seasons, to begin at $2.625 million for 2005-06.
The Spurs also are expected to announce they have reached an agreement with veteran big man Sean Marks, who spent most of last season on the injured list after suffering a back injury during training camp. Marks, who recently turned 30, is a 7-foot center-forward from New Zealand who played 23 games for the Spurs last season. He was not on the team's playoff roster.
Marks' deal is believed to be for the veterans' minimum, in his case just under $1 million. It will bring to 13 the number of Spurs under contract, putting them at the NBA-mandated minimum. They retain the right to match any offer sheet restricted free agent Devin Brown — yet another shooting guard — might receive from another team.
Popovich has no worries that Marks, one of the most popular Spurs among his teammates, might pout about his role this season. But he is aware that players like Finley, who averaged 36.8 minutes in 64 games with the Dallas Mavericks last season, sometimes have problems accepting lesser roles.
He stressed to Finley, a former All-Star who has been a starter most of his 10-year career, that if he chose the Spurs he would come off the bench. That Finley still wanted to be in San Antonio sent Popovich the message he wanted to hear.
"One of the reasons we feel very fortunate getting him," Popovich said, "is because he's obviously a professional of the highest order and a serious basketball player who cares more about team success than individual success."
Nevertheless, Popovich understands pro athletes have egos and highly competitive natures.
"In my opinion," Popovich said, "at this early time, even before preseason, I think our success will be very much tied to how people accept roles and minutes and keep their eye on what we want to accomplish as a group, rather than what individuals might want.
"All the individuals we've gotten on the team are character kinds of people, so I think we've got a good chance to get that done. Our success this season will be predicated more on that than on some magic play or some brilliant defensive scheme."
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA090205.1D.BKNspurs.finley.17daafb5.html
The experience Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gained as an assistant coach for Team USA in the 2002 FIBA World Championships and the 2004 Olympics should serve him well when the Spurs begin defense of their NBA championship.
Just as the Team USA coaching staffs had to find ways to appease star players relegated to relatively limited roles — sometimes with limited success — Popovich understands he must approach the Spurs' 2005-06 season from a different angle than in seasons past.
Suddenly, Popovich's bench is crowded with players who have played significant roles for other teams in the recent past. Some will have to share similar roles.
Both Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel, who signed on with the Spurs on Tuesday, have gotten significant time at shooting guard, though neither is primarily a shooting guard. Brent Barry, last summer's key free-agent signee, also logs most of his time at shooting guard.
It is up to Popovich to determine who plays, and when, always aware of potential chemistry problems.
"We are going to have to do things a little differently than we have in the past," Popovich said. "By that, I mean we usually figure things out from a point of less talent, compared to some other teams. Now we are going to have to figure it out from a greater talent level, with a bench that is quite deep and experienced."
Finley is expected to be introduced at a news conference the Spurs have scheduled for 3 p.m. today. His contract has yet to be formalized and signed, and he will have to pass a physical before he signs it.
Finley's deal is believed to be for multiple seasons, to begin at $2.625 million for 2005-06.
The Spurs also are expected to announce they have reached an agreement with veteran big man Sean Marks, who spent most of last season on the injured list after suffering a back injury during training camp. Marks, who recently turned 30, is a 7-foot center-forward from New Zealand who played 23 games for the Spurs last season. He was not on the team's playoff roster.
Marks' deal is believed to be for the veterans' minimum, in his case just under $1 million. It will bring to 13 the number of Spurs under contract, putting them at the NBA-mandated minimum. They retain the right to match any offer sheet restricted free agent Devin Brown — yet another shooting guard — might receive from another team.
Popovich has no worries that Marks, one of the most popular Spurs among his teammates, might pout about his role this season. But he is aware that players like Finley, who averaged 36.8 minutes in 64 games with the Dallas Mavericks last season, sometimes have problems accepting lesser roles.
He stressed to Finley, a former All-Star who has been a starter most of his 10-year career, that if he chose the Spurs he would come off the bench. That Finley still wanted to be in San Antonio sent Popovich the message he wanted to hear.
"One of the reasons we feel very fortunate getting him," Popovich said, "is because he's obviously a professional of the highest order and a serious basketball player who cares more about team success than individual success."
Nevertheless, Popovich understands pro athletes have egos and highly competitive natures.
"In my opinion," Popovich said, "at this early time, even before preseason, I think our success will be very much tied to how people accept roles and minutes and keep their eye on what we want to accomplish as a group, rather than what individuals might want.
"All the individuals we've gotten on the team are character kinds of people, so I think we've got a good chance to get that done. Our success this season will be predicated more on that than on some magic play or some brilliant defensive scheme."