Spurs Brazil
05-30-2008, 07:19 PM
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Spurs-Lakers notebook: Barry, Popovich joke about non-call
Web Posted: 05/30/2008 01:07 AM CDT
By Mike Monroe
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — That loss by the Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals?
Brent Barry advises Spurs fans to head back to AT&T for an overtime period.
“I've got Doc Brown out front with the DeLorean,” Barry said before Game 5 at Staples Center, recalling the “Back to the Future” film series about a scientist who turns a DeLorean automobile into a time machine. “We're going to fire up the flux capacitors, go back in time and shoot a couple of free throws.”
With the Spurs trailing 93-91 with 2.1 seconds remaining in Tuesday's Game 4 at the AT&T Center, Lakers guard Derek Fisher jumped and came down on Barry as he tried to dribble into position for a 3-point shot that could have won the game for the Spurs.
Referees Joey Crawford, Joe Forte and Mark Wunderlich made no call on the play. An official NBA statement Wednesday said a replay review of the play indicated a foul should have been called.
Asked about the league's admission that the referees appeared to have erred, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich responded with sarcasm.
“Oh, thank you,” he said. “That's a great help. I'll send some flowers to the NBA. That's great.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson's response to the league's official statement was equally biting.
“Should, woulda, coulda,” Jackson said. “It's a little surprising. The league usually doesn't get involved in that. Of course, I have been at the end of a lot of different types of things like that that have happened, so I was kind of surprised. But we can't give it back, and we'll take the win and move on.”
Flip-flop: Responding to an announcement made by the NBA at its annual pre-draft camp that it will begin imposing fines next season for players who “flop,” Barry poked fun at teammate Manu Ginobili, often accused of enhancing the effects of contact.
“There goes half of Manu's salary,” Barry said.
Spurs players, including Barry, wondered how the league will determine “flops” that merit fines.
Details of how the crackdown will be implemented haven't been determined, but likely will include video reviews.
“What's the protocol for that?” Barry said. “Are they going to hire (film critic) James Lipton?”
Popovich called the attempt to minimize flopping a good thing.
“Flopping is just probably another part of a reflection of our society,” he said. “You know, the fiber weakening and not being as strong as it has been.
“Maybe that's the same as reality shows on TV, and maybe the same genre. Weak spirit, weak fiber.”
Splitter staying? According to a report in a Brazilian publication, Tiago Splitter, the power forward-center the Spurs drafted in the 2007 draft, has agreed to a two-year contract extension with Tau Ceramica, the Spanish League team for which he has played the past four seasons.
The report indicated Splitter will make about eight times more than the NBA rookie scale maximum the Spurs are allowed to pay him next season, $809,300.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said he would not comment about Splitter based on an unofficial report.
Spurs sleep in: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his decision to cancel the team's shootaround Thursday morning wasn't anything he hasn't done before.
“We did that very often during the year,” said Popovich, who estimated he cancelled 20 shootarounds during the regular season.
Spurs-Lakers notebook: Barry, Popovich joke about non-call
Web Posted: 05/30/2008 01:07 AM CDT
By Mike Monroe
Express-News
LOS ANGELES — That loss by the Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals?
Brent Barry advises Spurs fans to head back to AT&T for an overtime period.
“I've got Doc Brown out front with the DeLorean,” Barry said before Game 5 at Staples Center, recalling the “Back to the Future” film series about a scientist who turns a DeLorean automobile into a time machine. “We're going to fire up the flux capacitors, go back in time and shoot a couple of free throws.”
With the Spurs trailing 93-91 with 2.1 seconds remaining in Tuesday's Game 4 at the AT&T Center, Lakers guard Derek Fisher jumped and came down on Barry as he tried to dribble into position for a 3-point shot that could have won the game for the Spurs.
Referees Joey Crawford, Joe Forte and Mark Wunderlich made no call on the play. An official NBA statement Wednesday said a replay review of the play indicated a foul should have been called.
Asked about the league's admission that the referees appeared to have erred, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich responded with sarcasm.
“Oh, thank you,” he said. “That's a great help. I'll send some flowers to the NBA. That's great.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson's response to the league's official statement was equally biting.
“Should, woulda, coulda,” Jackson said. “It's a little surprising. The league usually doesn't get involved in that. Of course, I have been at the end of a lot of different types of things like that that have happened, so I was kind of surprised. But we can't give it back, and we'll take the win and move on.”
Flip-flop: Responding to an announcement made by the NBA at its annual pre-draft camp that it will begin imposing fines next season for players who “flop,” Barry poked fun at teammate Manu Ginobili, often accused of enhancing the effects of contact.
“There goes half of Manu's salary,” Barry said.
Spurs players, including Barry, wondered how the league will determine “flops” that merit fines.
Details of how the crackdown will be implemented haven't been determined, but likely will include video reviews.
“What's the protocol for that?” Barry said. “Are they going to hire (film critic) James Lipton?”
Popovich called the attempt to minimize flopping a good thing.
“Flopping is just probably another part of a reflection of our society,” he said. “You know, the fiber weakening and not being as strong as it has been.
“Maybe that's the same as reality shows on TV, and maybe the same genre. Weak spirit, weak fiber.”
Splitter staying? According to a report in a Brazilian publication, Tiago Splitter, the power forward-center the Spurs drafted in the 2007 draft, has agreed to a two-year contract extension with Tau Ceramica, the Spanish League team for which he has played the past four seasons.
The report indicated Splitter will make about eight times more than the NBA rookie scale maximum the Spurs are allowed to pay him next season, $809,300.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said he would not comment about Splitter based on an unofficial report.
Spurs sleep in: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his decision to cancel the team's shootaround Thursday morning wasn't anything he hasn't done before.
“We did that very often during the year,” said Popovich, who estimated he cancelled 20 shootarounds during the regular season.