loveforthegame
12-17-2005, 01:36 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121705.1C.BKNspurs.kings.adv.21e37283.html
Spurs' Finley starting to get into groove
Web Posted: 12/17/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The game was tight, but Michael Finley was just getting loose.
Finley had already made a baseline jumper to momentarily slow Minnesota's comeback. With the Timberwolves having once again closed within four, the ball swung to him in the left corner.
Feet set, hands at the ready, Finley received the pass and — without a moment of hesitation — released a 3-pointer that arced perfectly before dropping through the net. It was the last shot the Spurs would make Thursday night, and it proved to be the difference in their 90-88 victory.
Finley had delivered similar heroics two nights earlier, hitting a mid-range jumper followed by a 3-pointer to distance the Spurs from the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime. He scored 21 points in each game, starting both in place of Manu Ginobili.
As he straightened his tie in the Spurs' near-empty locker room late Thursday, Finley said he felt good. But, he also admitted, he should feel good.
Hadn't he merely done the same thing he did for nine seasons in Dallas?
"Now I have to get to the point," Finley said, "where coming off the bench is as comfortable for me as starting."
With Ginobili still sidelined by a right foot sprain, Finley probably won't return to his reserve role for at least another two games.
Finley, so far, has made good use of his expanded playing time. In the four games he's started, he's averaged 15.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 34.0 minutes while shooting 46.8 percent. He's also made 22 of 47 3-pointers.
As a reserve, Finley has shot 37.3 percent while averaging 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 25.2 minutes.
Finley started the last 605 games he played with Dallas. He spent much of that time as one of the featured pieces of the Mavericks' offense, never going long without the ball in his hands.
"He's used to taking advantage of mismatches in the post and ... getting touches every third time down the court," Brent Barry said. "That just isn't the case now. It takes time, especially for a player like Mike, and even Nick (Van Exel), to get adjusted to it."
Barry knows. He started for most of his five years in Seattle before joining the Spurs last season.
Although never as prolific a scorer as Finley, Barry also has had to learn how to contribute in fewer minutes. For much of the past two weeks, he's performed consistently when given the opportunity.
"In my case, it was just that I felt there was a lot of pressure to make everything perfect last year," Barry said. "This year, I'm a lot more relaxed.
"I don't know if Fin's going through the same sort of thing. I think he's a different type of player. But having the opportunity to get these minutes and get the experience he's getting, early in the season, is going to help him."
Like Barry, Finley also had never played with a dominant big man before joining the Spurs. He calls it "a big contrast from what I played in in Dallas."
As a result, Finley is learning how to take advantage of the double-teams Tim Duncan attracts. Not wanting to force shots, he's sometimes turned down open looks.
After Finley made back-to-back shots in Tuesday's overtime period, coach Gregg Popovich chided him for passing to Duncan on the next possession.
"At the end of the game, when I make that drive, I usually look to shoot," Finley said. "But it's different when you see Tim Duncan standing there."
While Finley was part of the Mavericks' Big Three, Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker assume much of the Spurs' scoring responsibilities.
"You go through a process where you start thinking about deferring some of the things you ordinarily would do in order to keep those guys happy," Barry said. "After a while, you figure out those guys don't really need it, and if you make a play for yourself, it's OK."
Finley also has worked to predicate his game on defense and rebounding, evidenced by the 10 boards he took against the Clippers.
"When you come into a championship team, you don't want to step on anybody's toes," said Robert Horry, who didn't begin to feel comfortable until near the end of his first season with the Spurs. "You just do what you can to help and not overstep your bounds.
"Now, it looks like he's saying, 'They just want me to have fun and shoot the basketball the way I did in Dallas.' He's getting into a groove."
Spurs' Finley starting to get into groove
Web Posted: 12/17/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The game was tight, but Michael Finley was just getting loose.
Finley had already made a baseline jumper to momentarily slow Minnesota's comeback. With the Timberwolves having once again closed within four, the ball swung to him in the left corner.
Feet set, hands at the ready, Finley received the pass and — without a moment of hesitation — released a 3-pointer that arced perfectly before dropping through the net. It was the last shot the Spurs would make Thursday night, and it proved to be the difference in their 90-88 victory.
Finley had delivered similar heroics two nights earlier, hitting a mid-range jumper followed by a 3-pointer to distance the Spurs from the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime. He scored 21 points in each game, starting both in place of Manu Ginobili.
As he straightened his tie in the Spurs' near-empty locker room late Thursday, Finley said he felt good. But, he also admitted, he should feel good.
Hadn't he merely done the same thing he did for nine seasons in Dallas?
"Now I have to get to the point," Finley said, "where coming off the bench is as comfortable for me as starting."
With Ginobili still sidelined by a right foot sprain, Finley probably won't return to his reserve role for at least another two games.
Finley, so far, has made good use of his expanded playing time. In the four games he's started, he's averaged 15.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 34.0 minutes while shooting 46.8 percent. He's also made 22 of 47 3-pointers.
As a reserve, Finley has shot 37.3 percent while averaging 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 25.2 minutes.
Finley started the last 605 games he played with Dallas. He spent much of that time as one of the featured pieces of the Mavericks' offense, never going long without the ball in his hands.
"He's used to taking advantage of mismatches in the post and ... getting touches every third time down the court," Brent Barry said. "That just isn't the case now. It takes time, especially for a player like Mike, and even Nick (Van Exel), to get adjusted to it."
Barry knows. He started for most of his five years in Seattle before joining the Spurs last season.
Although never as prolific a scorer as Finley, Barry also has had to learn how to contribute in fewer minutes. For much of the past two weeks, he's performed consistently when given the opportunity.
"In my case, it was just that I felt there was a lot of pressure to make everything perfect last year," Barry said. "This year, I'm a lot more relaxed.
"I don't know if Fin's going through the same sort of thing. I think he's a different type of player. But having the opportunity to get these minutes and get the experience he's getting, early in the season, is going to help him."
Like Barry, Finley also had never played with a dominant big man before joining the Spurs. He calls it "a big contrast from what I played in in Dallas."
As a result, Finley is learning how to take advantage of the double-teams Tim Duncan attracts. Not wanting to force shots, he's sometimes turned down open looks.
After Finley made back-to-back shots in Tuesday's overtime period, coach Gregg Popovich chided him for passing to Duncan on the next possession.
"At the end of the game, when I make that drive, I usually look to shoot," Finley said. "But it's different when you see Tim Duncan standing there."
While Finley was part of the Mavericks' Big Three, Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker assume much of the Spurs' scoring responsibilities.
"You go through a process where you start thinking about deferring some of the things you ordinarily would do in order to keep those guys happy," Barry said. "After a while, you figure out those guys don't really need it, and if you make a play for yourself, it's OK."
Finley also has worked to predicate his game on defense and rebounding, evidenced by the 10 boards he took against the Clippers.
"When you come into a championship team, you don't want to step on anybody's toes," said Robert Horry, who didn't begin to feel comfortable until near the end of his first season with the Spurs. "You just do what you can to help and not overstep your bounds.
"Now, it looks like he's saying, 'They just want me to have fun and shoot the basketball the way I did in Dallas.' He's getting into a groove."