Kori Ellis
05-20-2006, 04:06 AM
Harvey: Better as an enemy - Finley leaves Dallas
Web Posted: 05/20/2006 02:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052006.1C.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.37a7249.html
DALLAS Manu Ginobili looked around for someone to stand next to him, and he didn't have to look far to see who that might be.
His name was on homemade signs in American Airlines Center.
Michael Finley.
The one Dallas hates because, well, Mark Cuban says they should. The one Dallas hates because, well, he took a punch to the groin from a beloved Maverick.
Finley answered just as everyone always wanted him to when he played in Dallas. With clutch shots. He became Ginobili's partner, most notably with a huge 3-pointer in the heat of another elimination game, and afterward, he summed up the night with an all-star understatement.
It was a strange situation, he said.
Finley doesn't understand what happened to his standing in Dallas, and he talked about that after scoring 16 points Friday night. I thought I did a lot for this organization, he said, but I guess that doesn't matter.
Finley was not unlike the David Robinson of Dallas in manner and style. He was like Robinson in this way, too: As it was with Robinson before Tim Duncan arrived, Finley was never quite good enough to get the Mavericks far enough in the playoffs.
Some Dallas fans were deeply fond of Finley, and another group wanted more. When Finley got a max contract, they also wanted him to live up to that.
But none of that really explains what happened this month. Then, he was booed the way Phil Jackson is in San Antonio. I've heard I was a traitor, he said firmly, and I'm not a traitor.
When the league ruled that Jason Terry had punched him when Finley was the one who had taken the cheap shot he somehow was to blame for that, too. Finley says it was so bad, that his family stayed away from the game.
Meanwhile, Terry was treated as a martyr. Devin Harris wore an armband with Jet written on it. A mid-court promotion gave away a Terry jersey, and one fan bought 150 Terry jerseys for everyone sitting on the front row. Even the P.A. announcer wore one.
His celebrity will change now if Dallas goes on to blow a 3-1 series lead. After all, what happened suggests his suspension cost the Mavericks Game 6.
Without Terry to threaten on one side of the floor, Harris looked like a young player again, going 3 of 14. Without Terry, the Mavericks were slower and held to 86 points.
That said, the Spurs were lucky to be close in the first half. Duncan foolishly put himself in foul trouble again (should he bump Dirk Nowitzki 20 feet from the basket?), and only Ginobili played well. Keith Van Horn would have ranked as the second-best Spur.
Tony Parker? Had the Spurs not turned this around, he would have headed into another summer with doubt. He went 2 for 10 with three turnovers in the first half.
Ginobili continued to carry the Spurs, however, putting together a 30-10 game as if on will alone. Duncan recovered from foul trouble to put together a strong second half, but the one who gave the Spurs their edge was Finley.
I'm thrilled for Michael, Gregg Popovich said with a message that could have been meant for Dallas. He's such a class act, one of our leaders. He came here in a tough situation for him and played hard without malice or showmanship. And he competes with class.
Finley acted the part afterward. He said this wasn't a personal vendetta, and he said Terry is a good guy.
Then Finley added the twist of this story. He had been cheered here earlier in the season when he returned to Dallas for the first time, and he said the moment had been emotional and trying. He didn't play well.
I know now I'm the enemy, he said, and that makes me play harder.
That was especially clear with less than three minutes to go. With the score tied, Finley went up, with Nowitzki contesting, and threw in the 3 three that separated these teams.
The final chance for the Mavericks was the reverse of that. Then, Finley crowded Nowitzki at the 3-point line, forcing an airball.
With that, Finley ran off the floor, leaving Dallas for the final time this season, as satisfied as he will be this season.
Unless he wins the title.
Web Posted: 05/20/2006 02:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052006.1C.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.37a7249.html
DALLAS Manu Ginobili looked around for someone to stand next to him, and he didn't have to look far to see who that might be.
His name was on homemade signs in American Airlines Center.
Michael Finley.
The one Dallas hates because, well, Mark Cuban says they should. The one Dallas hates because, well, he took a punch to the groin from a beloved Maverick.
Finley answered just as everyone always wanted him to when he played in Dallas. With clutch shots. He became Ginobili's partner, most notably with a huge 3-pointer in the heat of another elimination game, and afterward, he summed up the night with an all-star understatement.
It was a strange situation, he said.
Finley doesn't understand what happened to his standing in Dallas, and he talked about that after scoring 16 points Friday night. I thought I did a lot for this organization, he said, but I guess that doesn't matter.
Finley was not unlike the David Robinson of Dallas in manner and style. He was like Robinson in this way, too: As it was with Robinson before Tim Duncan arrived, Finley was never quite good enough to get the Mavericks far enough in the playoffs.
Some Dallas fans were deeply fond of Finley, and another group wanted more. When Finley got a max contract, they also wanted him to live up to that.
But none of that really explains what happened this month. Then, he was booed the way Phil Jackson is in San Antonio. I've heard I was a traitor, he said firmly, and I'm not a traitor.
When the league ruled that Jason Terry had punched him when Finley was the one who had taken the cheap shot he somehow was to blame for that, too. Finley says it was so bad, that his family stayed away from the game.
Meanwhile, Terry was treated as a martyr. Devin Harris wore an armband with Jet written on it. A mid-court promotion gave away a Terry jersey, and one fan bought 150 Terry jerseys for everyone sitting on the front row. Even the P.A. announcer wore one.
His celebrity will change now if Dallas goes on to blow a 3-1 series lead. After all, what happened suggests his suspension cost the Mavericks Game 6.
Without Terry to threaten on one side of the floor, Harris looked like a young player again, going 3 of 14. Without Terry, the Mavericks were slower and held to 86 points.
That said, the Spurs were lucky to be close in the first half. Duncan foolishly put himself in foul trouble again (should he bump Dirk Nowitzki 20 feet from the basket?), and only Ginobili played well. Keith Van Horn would have ranked as the second-best Spur.
Tony Parker? Had the Spurs not turned this around, he would have headed into another summer with doubt. He went 2 for 10 with three turnovers in the first half.
Ginobili continued to carry the Spurs, however, putting together a 30-10 game as if on will alone. Duncan recovered from foul trouble to put together a strong second half, but the one who gave the Spurs their edge was Finley.
I'm thrilled for Michael, Gregg Popovich said with a message that could have been meant for Dallas. He's such a class act, one of our leaders. He came here in a tough situation for him and played hard without malice or showmanship. And he competes with class.
Finley acted the part afterward. He said this wasn't a personal vendetta, and he said Terry is a good guy.
Then Finley added the twist of this story. He had been cheered here earlier in the season when he returned to Dallas for the first time, and he said the moment had been emotional and trying. He didn't play well.
I know now I'm the enemy, he said, and that makes me play harder.
That was especially clear with less than three minutes to go. With the score tied, Finley went up, with Nowitzki contesting, and threw in the 3 three that separated these teams.
The final chance for the Mavericks was the reverse of that. Then, Finley crowded Nowitzki at the 3-point line, forcing an airball.
With that, Finley ran off the floor, leaving Dallas for the final time this season, as satisfied as he will be this season.
Unless he wins the title.