Monroe: Spurs' mental aspect worries Popovich

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs' mental aspect worries Popovich

Web Posted: 04/25/2006 12:08 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042506.4D.BKNspurs.sider.4f01123.html

Somewhere, with 199 playoff games behind him, Robert Horry is certain he recalls a Game1 blowout victory followed by a Game2 loss that resulted from a letdown born of complacency.

"Nowadays, the memory of all those playoff games is a little cloudy," Horry said. "If you gave me time to think about them, I could come up with specific games, because I know I've been involved in a couple like that."

It's the letdown factor that the Spurs, 34-point victors against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, are girding to avoid as they prepare for tonight's Game2.

The Spurs' domination of Game1 already had the coaches' attention on complacency. The NBA's suspension of the Kings' Ron Artest for tonight was reason to re-emphasize the warnings.

"I'm more concerned about the mental part of the deal," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "How we focus, how we respect the opponent, what kind of energy we have. If all those things are there, I'll feel good about our chances, but if we let up at all, or show any satisfaction with the first game, it will bite us in the rear end."

Spurs players hardly were in a satisfied mood after Saturday's victory, not after watching Popovich rail at center Nazr Mohammed about the 3-point shot Mohammed made with 25.9 seconds remaining, a shot that pushed the Spurs' lead from 31 points to 34.

"Yeah, that's like dumping gasoline on a fire," Horry said. "Guys in this league have a lot of pride. They're (Kings) going to come out with a lot more determination.

"It's amazing. When you say 'a little more determination,' people don't realize that you have determination, and some things just fuel you even more. It's unexplainable. They're going to be more aggressive and attack. We know that."

The Spurs made 68.4 percent of their 38 shots in the first half Saturday, breaking a 10-year-old franchise record for accuracy. They understand it was that historic sharpshooting that accounted for the lopsided outcome. And they are smart enough to know duplication is next to impossible.

"Of course, (the Kings) aren't going to play like (Saturday), and probably we're not going to make so many shots," guard Manu Ginobili said. "It's going to be a whole different ballgame, and we're going to have to be ready for it."

No team in this season's playoffs has more postseason experience than the Spurs, with a roster that began the playoffs with 759 playoff games behind it.

"We've got a lot of veteran guys, guys with eight-plus years, who understand the playoffs are about each individual game," Horry said. "We blew those guys out, but you can't dwell on it. We've got to put that behind us, because you have to come out even more focused than Game1 and just keep playing hard."

[Vingianx]

and their bench is going to pull them out

[T Park]

Horry another "hater"

I guess....

Sounds like Mohammed isn't the most liked guy on the team.


That pretty much sealed that he aint coming back next year.

[Melmart1]

I was worried about a letdown, too- until the Artest suspension. The same suspension that is making so many wet their pants in fear is actually what I think will motivate the Spurs to stay on their toes. Spurs win tomorrow, handily.

[FromWayDowntown]

Horry another "hater"

I guess....

Sounds like Mohammed isn't the most liked guy on the team.


That pretty much sealed that he aint coming back next year.

I think in other circumstances, the Mohammed thing would have been a blip on the radar screen -- it's not cool, but it's not generally something to make much of. But Pop needs something to yell about and Nazr gave him that. Pop needs something to help to ground his team and that shot may have accomplished that. It's the thing that Pop can point to as evidence that the Kings are going to be a much more determined and aggressive team.

I don't know that the shot has anything to do with next year. I'd think the bad passes and other bad decisions that Nazr has shown himself capable of recently might have more to do with that decision-making process.

[ploto]

I have been more fascinated with the fact that Bruce, Michael and now Rob- have all publicly stated that he should not have done what he did. It really does surpirse me with a team that attempts to keep so much "within."

I wonder, though, if it would have been handled differently if Nazr had said something to that effect. After Bruce kicked Allen, he came out immediately and said he should not have. When Horry "bit" the ear, he did the same himself ASAP- as the Impact Player of the Game that night he apologized. I still think that all Nazr had to do was say he got caught up in the moment and truly meant no disrespect and was sorry for appearing to. But he only made explanations and excuses without any perceived understanding that it was not such a good move.

[greyforest]

Sounds like Mohammed isn't the most liked guy on the team.


That pretty much sealed that he aint coming back next year.

shit i hope not, nazr has some extreme talent. he is also one of the few (couple) good FT shooters on our team.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I think in other circumstances, the Mohammed thing would have been a blip on the radar screen -- it's not cool, but it's not generally something to make much of. But Pop needs something to yell about and Nazr gave him that. Pop needs something to help to ground his team and that shot may have accomplished that. It's the thing that Pop can point to as evidence that the Kings are going to be a much more determined and aggressive team.



I agree.


You know it's a good night when the worst thing you can be critical of is your starting center hitting a three in garbage time.

[Dre_7]

Horry another "hater"

I guess....

Sounds like Mohammed isn't the most liked guy on the team.


That pretty much sealed that he aint coming back next year.

You obviously did not get what I was saying when I was talking about haters. It had nothing to do with wheather Nazr should have taken that three. It was about Nazr haters (ie Ploto) bashing Nazr for that three point shot. When we all know that if it were Rasho he would not have said what he said. Nazr had a great game, so he couldnt bash him for that, so he had to find something else.

[IX_Equilibrium]

People need to quit whining about Nazr shooting a 3. Big fucking deal.


You'd think the guy beat his wife or got caught with cocaine.

[ploto]

You obviously did not get what I was saying when I was talking about haters. It had nothing to do with wheather Nazr should have taken that three. It was about Nazr haters (ie Ploto) bashing Nazr for that three point shot. When we all know that if it were Rasho he would not have said what he said. Nazr had a great game, so he couldnt bash him for that, so he had to find something else.
Again- it's not MY opinion. Ask Bruce, Michael, and Rob. They are the ones saying it. Ask Pop he was the one who had the fit. Don't shoot the messenger. Apparently it is still something that matters to the Spurs because THEY are still answering questions about it. If it was nothing, Rob would have said so when asked- but he didn't.

No one could bash Nazr about it if he wasn't clueless enough to do it.

And for the record if Rasho did something like that I would be infinitely MORE upset because he IS a player who plays with his head, comes from a culture where that would not be tolerated, and quite frankly I expect better of him. Unfortunately, Nazr's poor choice is less shocking than Rasho doing that.

[Vashner]

Hire Tony Robbins again... worked in 99 :)

Edit: Wait that was 95 lol

PDF] Anthony Robbins’ Biography
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
For more than a quarter of a century, Anthony Robbins has served as an advisor to
... Cup finalist, Los Angeles Kings; NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs; ...
www.tonyrobbins.com/PDFs/AnthonyRobbinsBiography.pdf

[yeahone]

if iy was a young team then i would expect a let down but with the level of experience we got on this team we gonna be fine for tonights game

[SequSpur]

Spurs in Four. WGAF Pop. Coach your team and STFU. Spurs > Kings.

Simple simon. Not Rocket Science. Nazr's 3 has no impact on anything. Quit being a puss and the company man and go out there and kick some ass.

Leave the pussiness to George Karl or someone else.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Manu has got to go off tonight, and I believe he will. The Spurs have to take advantage of Artest's suspension and Ginobili taking over would be the best way to do that because who knows, maybe Artest not being there to fire up shots (I believe he took 21 last game) will actually help their offense.

[mikejones99]

Nazr should tell all the haters to fuck off. Pop is just saying the right stuff for the press and the fools. This is what happens when people have too much time between games.