ducks
05-05-2008, 02:57 PM
Popovich disappointed in lack of hustle
05/04/2008
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
NEW ORLEANS — It was one play, one lapse in a second half full of them for the Spurs. But to coach Gregg Popovich, it summed up everything that went wrong with his team in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal Saturday.
New Orleans' David West put up a rare miss on a jumper. The rebound fell into a thicket of Spurs ... and somehow into the hands of the Hornets' Morris Peterson.
Peterson dribbled out to the corner, launched a 3-pointer and made a four-point margin seven.
Incensed, Popovich immediately turned to his video coordinators seated behind the bench, instructing them to take note.
Spurs players would be seeing that particular play again.
On Sunday morning, they did.
“That happened to be in the film session,” Popovich said afterward, with a sly smile. “I don't know how that got in there.”
Popovich's point was an obvious one. If the Spurs are to even the series tonight at New Orleans Arena against a Hornets team rapidly gaining confidence, it is going to take a better effort than they gave in Game 1.
“I thought they played harder than we did, and I thought they played smarter than we did,” Popovich said, recapping New Orleans' 101-82 victory in Game 1.
The Spurs, to be sure, had problems unrelated to hustle, and Popovich can live with those.
They shot 40.8 percent from the field, squandered an 11-point lead in the first half and seemed out of rhythm on offense much of the night.
The series opened amid hype surrounding the matchup of two of the best point guards in the NBA, the Spurs' Tony Parker and New Orleans' Chris Paul.
Instead, Game 1 became a tale of two power forwards.
West, making good on his first All-Star season, scorched the Spurs for 30 points, a career playoff high. It was his third game this season of at least 29 against the Spurs.
The Spurs' Tim Duncan, West's All-Star adversary, countered by matching a career playoff low. Flummoxed by the constant barrage of double-teams, Duncan managed just five points on 1-of-9 shooting.
It marked only the third time in 144 postseason games that Duncan failed to score in double figures. Indicative of another Spurs Game 1 struggle, he also only found his way into three rebounds.
“Things just didn't go my way,” Duncan said. “They did a great job. I played badly, so credit to them.”
The Spurs aren't worried about Duncan's ability to bounce back in Game 2. He has a long and proven history of following up sub-par games with spectacular ones.
“That's the last thing I'm worried about,” point guard Tony Parker said. “He's going to come back very strong next game.”
Haunted by the Peterson play, Popovich remains more concerned about the Spurs' hustle and attention to detail heading forward.
The Hornets scored 25 points off 13 Spurs turnovers in Game 1. Buoyed by a 16-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, New Orleans also managed 21 second-chance points.
“That's got nothing to do with double-teaming Tim Duncan,” Popovich said. “That's just a sloppy basketball game and you deserve to lose.”
For the Hornets, the night began with an inspirational ploy from their coach.
Byron Scott broke out the three NBA championship rings he won with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980s.
“It sort of gives you goose bumps,” Paul said. “We understand right now we're on that same journey and we feel like we can get there.”:lol
Roused by a glimpse of Scott's jewelry, the Hornets played with a fire the Spurs could not match for four quarters.
Immediately after Game 1, Popovich's knee-jerk reaction was that no significant strategic changes would be needed for Game 2.
Sunday's film session confirmed it. All the Spurs need, as their coach says, is an extra infusion of heart.
“We're not going to invent the light bulb here,” Popovich said. “We definitely want to play for 48 minutes instead of 24.”
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.3888d34.html
05/04/2008
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
NEW ORLEANS — It was one play, one lapse in a second half full of them for the Spurs. But to coach Gregg Popovich, it summed up everything that went wrong with his team in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal Saturday.
New Orleans' David West put up a rare miss on a jumper. The rebound fell into a thicket of Spurs ... and somehow into the hands of the Hornets' Morris Peterson.
Peterson dribbled out to the corner, launched a 3-pointer and made a four-point margin seven.
Incensed, Popovich immediately turned to his video coordinators seated behind the bench, instructing them to take note.
Spurs players would be seeing that particular play again.
On Sunday morning, they did.
“That happened to be in the film session,” Popovich said afterward, with a sly smile. “I don't know how that got in there.”
Popovich's point was an obvious one. If the Spurs are to even the series tonight at New Orleans Arena against a Hornets team rapidly gaining confidence, it is going to take a better effort than they gave in Game 1.
“I thought they played harder than we did, and I thought they played smarter than we did,” Popovich said, recapping New Orleans' 101-82 victory in Game 1.
The Spurs, to be sure, had problems unrelated to hustle, and Popovich can live with those.
They shot 40.8 percent from the field, squandered an 11-point lead in the first half and seemed out of rhythm on offense much of the night.
The series opened amid hype surrounding the matchup of two of the best point guards in the NBA, the Spurs' Tony Parker and New Orleans' Chris Paul.
Instead, Game 1 became a tale of two power forwards.
West, making good on his first All-Star season, scorched the Spurs for 30 points, a career playoff high. It was his third game this season of at least 29 against the Spurs.
The Spurs' Tim Duncan, West's All-Star adversary, countered by matching a career playoff low. Flummoxed by the constant barrage of double-teams, Duncan managed just five points on 1-of-9 shooting.
It marked only the third time in 144 postseason games that Duncan failed to score in double figures. Indicative of another Spurs Game 1 struggle, he also only found his way into three rebounds.
“Things just didn't go my way,” Duncan said. “They did a great job. I played badly, so credit to them.”
The Spurs aren't worried about Duncan's ability to bounce back in Game 2. He has a long and proven history of following up sub-par games with spectacular ones.
“That's the last thing I'm worried about,” point guard Tony Parker said. “He's going to come back very strong next game.”
Haunted by the Peterson play, Popovich remains more concerned about the Spurs' hustle and attention to detail heading forward.
The Hornets scored 25 points off 13 Spurs turnovers in Game 1. Buoyed by a 16-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, New Orleans also managed 21 second-chance points.
“That's got nothing to do with double-teaming Tim Duncan,” Popovich said. “That's just a sloppy basketball game and you deserve to lose.”
For the Hornets, the night began with an inspirational ploy from their coach.
Byron Scott broke out the three NBA championship rings he won with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980s.
“It sort of gives you goose bumps,” Paul said. “We understand right now we're on that same journey and we feel like we can get there.”:lol
Roused by a glimpse of Scott's jewelry, the Hornets played with a fire the Spurs could not match for four quarters.
Immediately after Game 1, Popovich's knee-jerk reaction was that no significant strategic changes would be needed for Game 2.
Sunday's film session confirmed it. All the Spurs need, as their coach says, is an extra infusion of heart.
“We're not going to invent the light bulb here,” Popovich said. “We definitely want to play for 48 minutes instead of 24.”
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.3888d34.html