Kori Ellis
05-15-2006, 12:28 AM
Buck Harvey: In defense of Popovich: adjustments
Web Posted: 05/15/2006 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051506.1D.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.d40d0ab.html
DALLAS — This isn't a second guess. This guess came when Tim Duncan fouled out and the Spurs stayed small. Then, it appeared the Spurs needed someone to rebound if the Mavericks were to miss or, even more unlikely, weren't fouled.
This was a first guess.
Gregg Popovich chose to go in another direction, opting instead for Robert Horry to be his designated big man. Then Jerry Stackhouse missed — and Dirk Nowitzki rebounded.
But that's about it, outside of the curious benching of Tony Parker at the end of Saturday. Popovich made moves that went against his instincts — that went directly against the very defensive concepts that Avery Johnson stole — because he had to. He pulled odd levers, went with tiny lineups and subbed one Argentine before the other for the first time.
And given another bounce or one less whistle? Popovich would be celebrated for that today.
As it is, his celebrations come elsewhere. Popovich walked off the floor after practice Sunday talking about something else entirely in an animated, playful tone.
"Page 91," he said loudly. "I'm a star."
Those who subscribe to a magazine called "Wine Spectator" will see Popovich featured there. On Page 91. "This is bigger than Sports Illustrated," Popovich kidded.
He's a wine enthusiast, and Popovich likely appreciates his hobby more than ever today. After all, the world of wine only involves the soils, sub soils and substrata, and how the earth meshes with climate, and how the grapes themselves react to cool and warm air, and what type of production techniques are applied by the enologist.
Basketball clearly is more confusing than that.
It is for the Spurs in this series. They've slotted a center-like player next to Duncan through most of this era, and they've prided themselves on defending the rim first.
Devin Harris, in the old days, would have stopped short when he saw the long left arm of David Robinson.
Now the Spurs look more like the Suns in a pickup game. After the Mavericks outrebounded the Spurs again, this is a fair question: How could Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic earn a combined $12million this season and just one minute Saturday?
They are being paid as if on retainer. If a traditional team had been a playoff opponent — Clippers, Grizzlies, etc. — they would have split a lot of minutes. Against Dallas, with Nowitzki skewing all schemes, Popovich and his staff have had to find another way.
This isn't like last season, when the Spurs went small to run with Phoenix. The Mavericks often stick with their 7-footers. This is uncomfortable and painful for the coaching staff; they grimace, too, when Harris gets to the basket.
They debate what to do all the time, and they said they likely would again Sunday night. Then, Popovich was to sit down to dinner with his assistants, and, by the time the first cork was sniffed for proper fragrance, they would weigh in again.
Another first guess: They will stay with what they did Saturday.
After all, only Nowitzki's ankle can change this matchup problem for the Spurs. Mohammed and Nesterovic can't defend him, and Duncan could for 20 minutes — before fouling out.
That's why the Spurs' lineup at the end Saturday actually made sense. With Nowitzki the only Dallas big man on the floor, who else could have replaced Duncan when he fouled out? Horry was the best option.
Mohammed or Nesterovic might have rebounded the miss, but neither can take advantage of Dallas. Neither is flexible enough, and Mohammed's one minute signaled that. A turnover and foul are no way to earn more time.
Horry and the Game3 surprise, Fabricio Oberto, fit better. And fitting best of all, getting most of the time now, is the pairing of Duncan with four smaller Spurs.
That's especially clear on the other end of the floor. Then, without a center clogging the lane, Duncan works against 7-footers who have no chance against him. When the other Spurs space and cut to the basket, as they did Saturday, then AJ's defense is rendered as useless as Popovich's.
The Spurs came within a play of winning this way. And had they?
No one would have second-guessed Popovich, nor first-guessed him.
Web Posted: 05/15/2006 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051506.1D.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.d40d0ab.html
DALLAS — This isn't a second guess. This guess came when Tim Duncan fouled out and the Spurs stayed small. Then, it appeared the Spurs needed someone to rebound if the Mavericks were to miss or, even more unlikely, weren't fouled.
This was a first guess.
Gregg Popovich chose to go in another direction, opting instead for Robert Horry to be his designated big man. Then Jerry Stackhouse missed — and Dirk Nowitzki rebounded.
But that's about it, outside of the curious benching of Tony Parker at the end of Saturday. Popovich made moves that went against his instincts — that went directly against the very defensive concepts that Avery Johnson stole — because he had to. He pulled odd levers, went with tiny lineups and subbed one Argentine before the other for the first time.
And given another bounce or one less whistle? Popovich would be celebrated for that today.
As it is, his celebrations come elsewhere. Popovich walked off the floor after practice Sunday talking about something else entirely in an animated, playful tone.
"Page 91," he said loudly. "I'm a star."
Those who subscribe to a magazine called "Wine Spectator" will see Popovich featured there. On Page 91. "This is bigger than Sports Illustrated," Popovich kidded.
He's a wine enthusiast, and Popovich likely appreciates his hobby more than ever today. After all, the world of wine only involves the soils, sub soils and substrata, and how the earth meshes with climate, and how the grapes themselves react to cool and warm air, and what type of production techniques are applied by the enologist.
Basketball clearly is more confusing than that.
It is for the Spurs in this series. They've slotted a center-like player next to Duncan through most of this era, and they've prided themselves on defending the rim first.
Devin Harris, in the old days, would have stopped short when he saw the long left arm of David Robinson.
Now the Spurs look more like the Suns in a pickup game. After the Mavericks outrebounded the Spurs again, this is a fair question: How could Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic earn a combined $12million this season and just one minute Saturday?
They are being paid as if on retainer. If a traditional team had been a playoff opponent — Clippers, Grizzlies, etc. — they would have split a lot of minutes. Against Dallas, with Nowitzki skewing all schemes, Popovich and his staff have had to find another way.
This isn't like last season, when the Spurs went small to run with Phoenix. The Mavericks often stick with their 7-footers. This is uncomfortable and painful for the coaching staff; they grimace, too, when Harris gets to the basket.
They debate what to do all the time, and they said they likely would again Sunday night. Then, Popovich was to sit down to dinner with his assistants, and, by the time the first cork was sniffed for proper fragrance, they would weigh in again.
Another first guess: They will stay with what they did Saturday.
After all, only Nowitzki's ankle can change this matchup problem for the Spurs. Mohammed and Nesterovic can't defend him, and Duncan could for 20 minutes — before fouling out.
That's why the Spurs' lineup at the end Saturday actually made sense. With Nowitzki the only Dallas big man on the floor, who else could have replaced Duncan when he fouled out? Horry was the best option.
Mohammed or Nesterovic might have rebounded the miss, but neither can take advantage of Dallas. Neither is flexible enough, and Mohammed's one minute signaled that. A turnover and foul are no way to earn more time.
Horry and the Game3 surprise, Fabricio Oberto, fit better. And fitting best of all, getting most of the time now, is the pairing of Duncan with four smaller Spurs.
That's especially clear on the other end of the floor. Then, without a center clogging the lane, Duncan works against 7-footers who have no chance against him. When the other Spurs space and cut to the basket, as they did Saturday, then AJ's defense is rendered as useless as Popovich's.
The Spurs came within a play of winning this way. And had they?
No one would have second-guessed Popovich, nor first-guessed him.