Spurs Brazil
11-16-2007, 02:00 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA111607.01D.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.2f71a2c.html
Buck Harvey: Back from a choke: Mavericks return as Spurs' biggest issue
Web Posted: 11/16/2007 12:38 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
DALLAS — Stephen Jackson said he talked to a few Spurs last summer, and Jackson said they thanked him for his help. Jackson's Golden State, after all, had eliminated the Mavericks.
"They know they have problems with Dallas," Jackson told reporters recently.
The Spurs know. They know the Mavericks can put size on Tim Duncan and speed on Tony Parker. They know, as it was both in 2006 and Thursday, the Mavericks also can shoot a little.
They know, too, the franchise with the best chance to stop a repeat isn't Houston or Phoenix or Boston.
It's the only one that has beaten them in the playoffs over the last three years.
A November night doesn't mean much in the NBA. If anything, the emotion in this 13-point Mavericks' win says a lot about the confusion in Dallas. The Mavericks, with built-up anger of the past two springs, reacted with the kind of energy the Spurs save for April.
This wasn't Avery Johnson's plan. He has said he wants to steal something else from Gregg Popovich, and that is Popovich's timing.
AJ was there in San Antonio when Popovich took over for Bob Hill, and AJ heard Popovich's announcement then. The Spurs, Popovich said, wouldn't be consumed with piling up wins anymore. They would use the regular season to get ready for the playoffs.
So instead of pushing the Mavericks as he did the last two seasons, AJ planned to relax. Those who know him wonder if this is possible. AJ is as driven as a coach as he was as a player, and his pride can get in the way. He hates to lose at any time.
Popovich, in contrast, holds down the minutes of his players as if, as he said Thursday, it is "money in the bank for playoff time."
He said he's kidded Duncan about that. "I told him I have wrecked his lifetime stats immensely."
His assistants say Popovich doesn't mind midseason losses because they tend to get everyone's attention. Popovich would rather stick with a base plan in the regular season and tweak it with every loss, and last year's Spurs were doing this deep into winter.
So did anyone think these Spurs were a finished product as they started 7-1? Those on the staff said before Thursday night's loss that the record was deceiving. Aside from a win in New Orleans, they haven't been close to what they will need to be.
Then came Thursday, when they weren't close to being competitive. Only at the end of the third quarter, when the Spurs forced the Mavericks into a 24-second violation, did the Spurs look like themselves.
At least Popovich got his wish. They will listen to him now.
As for AJ and his pledge to pull his foot off the pedal: Three Mavericks played about 37 minutes, and Dirk Nowitzki, even in a blowout, was on the floor until about 40 seconds were left.
At least the Mavericks had an excuse. They had some issues to work out. Their collapse in the 2006 Finals was nearly as historic as last year's failure against Jackson's Warriors.
Jackson said Manu Ginobili was among the Spurs who thanked him last summer, and Ginobili denies saying exactly that. "I just told him I enjoyed watching the series," Ginobili said.
Popovich repeated that. Asked Thursday night if he gave a sigh of relief after the Mavericks lost, Popovich said, "I don't remember thinking that way."
Popovich was busy at the time. The Denver first-round series was sticky and, besides, the Spurs were in no place to worry about the third round. They had Phoenix next.
Still, nearly everyone in San Antonio and Phoenix saw Golden State's upset for what it was — an opening. A 67-win team was gone.
Popovich still calls the Mavericks "arguably the best team in the league," but they are more than that to San Antonio. They are built to match up with the Spurs.
They play defense, and they have size. And whereas Golden State had athletes who could take advantage of what Nowitzki can't do, the Spurs don't.
Thursday reaffirmed that, as well as something else.
If they haven't already, they should thank Jackson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]
Buck Harvey: Back from a choke: Mavericks return as Spurs' biggest issue
Web Posted: 11/16/2007 12:38 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
DALLAS — Stephen Jackson said he talked to a few Spurs last summer, and Jackson said they thanked him for his help. Jackson's Golden State, after all, had eliminated the Mavericks.
"They know they have problems with Dallas," Jackson told reporters recently.
The Spurs know. They know the Mavericks can put size on Tim Duncan and speed on Tony Parker. They know, as it was both in 2006 and Thursday, the Mavericks also can shoot a little.
They know, too, the franchise with the best chance to stop a repeat isn't Houston or Phoenix or Boston.
It's the only one that has beaten them in the playoffs over the last three years.
A November night doesn't mean much in the NBA. If anything, the emotion in this 13-point Mavericks' win says a lot about the confusion in Dallas. The Mavericks, with built-up anger of the past two springs, reacted with the kind of energy the Spurs save for April.
This wasn't Avery Johnson's plan. He has said he wants to steal something else from Gregg Popovich, and that is Popovich's timing.
AJ was there in San Antonio when Popovich took over for Bob Hill, and AJ heard Popovich's announcement then. The Spurs, Popovich said, wouldn't be consumed with piling up wins anymore. They would use the regular season to get ready for the playoffs.
So instead of pushing the Mavericks as he did the last two seasons, AJ planned to relax. Those who know him wonder if this is possible. AJ is as driven as a coach as he was as a player, and his pride can get in the way. He hates to lose at any time.
Popovich, in contrast, holds down the minutes of his players as if, as he said Thursday, it is "money in the bank for playoff time."
He said he's kidded Duncan about that. "I told him I have wrecked his lifetime stats immensely."
His assistants say Popovich doesn't mind midseason losses because they tend to get everyone's attention. Popovich would rather stick with a base plan in the regular season and tweak it with every loss, and last year's Spurs were doing this deep into winter.
So did anyone think these Spurs were a finished product as they started 7-1? Those on the staff said before Thursday night's loss that the record was deceiving. Aside from a win in New Orleans, they haven't been close to what they will need to be.
Then came Thursday, when they weren't close to being competitive. Only at the end of the third quarter, when the Spurs forced the Mavericks into a 24-second violation, did the Spurs look like themselves.
At least Popovich got his wish. They will listen to him now.
As for AJ and his pledge to pull his foot off the pedal: Three Mavericks played about 37 minutes, and Dirk Nowitzki, even in a blowout, was on the floor until about 40 seconds were left.
At least the Mavericks had an excuse. They had some issues to work out. Their collapse in the 2006 Finals was nearly as historic as last year's failure against Jackson's Warriors.
Jackson said Manu Ginobili was among the Spurs who thanked him last summer, and Ginobili denies saying exactly that. "I just told him I enjoyed watching the series," Ginobili said.
Popovich repeated that. Asked Thursday night if he gave a sigh of relief after the Mavericks lost, Popovich said, "I don't remember thinking that way."
Popovich was busy at the time. The Denver first-round series was sticky and, besides, the Spurs were in no place to worry about the third round. They had Phoenix next.
Still, nearly everyone in San Antonio and Phoenix saw Golden State's upset for what it was — an opening. A 67-win team was gone.
Popovich still calls the Mavericks "arguably the best team in the league," but they are more than that to San Antonio. They are built to match up with the Spurs.
They play defense, and they have size. And whereas Golden State had athletes who could take advantage of what Nowitzki can't do, the Spurs don't.
Thursday reaffirmed that, as well as something else.
If they haven't already, they should thank Jackson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]