Harvey: Manu too good, and Spurs get too smart

[duncan228]

Manu too good, and Spurs get too smart
Buck Harvey

CLEVELAND — No NBA coach designs smarter inbounds plays than Gregg Popovich, and he came out of a timeout Monday with another one.

Everyone said so.

But maybe even Popovich wondered as he headed to another bus, after another loss, if he had leaned too much on strategy and on the percentages.

Maybe even Popovich wondered if he should have simply sat back and enjoyed the magic of Manu Ginobili.

Mike Brown said he's seen variations of the play before, but he said he'd never seen one quite like this. There were nine seconds left, and the Spurs needed three points, and Ginobili's only previous mistake had been wearing a shoe one size too big.

His toe had touched the 3-point line.

Brown had seen this Ginobili before. Three years ago, Ginobili closed out the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals with 27 points, and two years ago, Ginobili dropped 48 in Cleveland.

“Manu Ginobili,” Brown said then, “is a bad boy.”

Yet here was Ginobili again, his left hand making up for the absence of Tony Parker's right — and the play was designed for himnot to shoot?

The pass went to Ginobili inside the 3-point line. Brown acted out what happened next, turning his head dramatically from the chair in his office.

He was imitating his players. They all looked Ginobili's way, not sure what to do next, because they had been told to focus on him no matter what.

That left Roger Mason Jr. circling the perimeter, using a Tim Duncan pick, getting a Ginobili pass and an open look.

“That's why it was so smart,” Brown said.

Brown is biased. He admires his former boss, and he looks for every opportunity to credit him.

He did Monday when he chose not to play LeBron James because of some nagging injuries. It likely doesn't require genius to want to rest your star, but Brown wanted everyone to know he remembered Popovich doing that with Duncan.

Still, Brown wasn't the only one who thought the play was smart. The Cavs players, too, said they had been fooled, and Daniel Gibson, the former Longhorn, also liked how the play went to Mason.

“I know, when I'm missing,” Gibson said, “I want that last chance to make up for everything.”

Popovich's strategy likely focused on that, too. During a timeout, Popovich gave Mason a pep talk. “The percentages are with you,” he said.

By believing in Mason, Popovich was also doing something else. The player expected to pick up Parker's minutes needs to have confidence.

So Mason got his chance, even though he'd missed all seven of his previous 3-point attempts. He said he thought the shot looked good.

Duncan believed, too. “I'd give him that shot every day of the week,” he said.

Every day, maybe, except for this one. Ginobili was being a bad boy again while his teammates, outside of George Hill, were simply bad.

A telling moment came late in the fourth. Then, Ginobili dug out a steal and got the ball ahead to Hill, who fed an open Richard Jefferson. And Jefferson shuffled his feet.

Others were similar. That's why Duncan, who committed two late turnovers, thought the Spurs had “wasted” an opportunity.

No Parker? Cleveland was without James and Shaquille O'Neal. And when Antawn Jamison left for the locker room in the third quarter with a sore knee, the Cavaliers were without their starting frontcourt.

Mostly, though, the Spurs wasted a classic Ginobili show. He seemingly made up for everything, with a sense he wouldn't let the Spurs lose. Given that, shouldn't Ginobili have been the one aiming at the basket on that play?

“Not when you get a look like the one they got,” Brown said.

Yes, that made sense. And with time expiring, with the Cavaliers now ahead by five, Ginobili tossed up a running, one-armed 27-footer.

He made it, naturally.

[Blackjack]

It was 46, Buck, and I really don't have much of a problem with Manu not taking what would have been a highly contested three-point shot, off an inbounds pass and put in the position he would've inevitably been forced into (given the time and half-court cir stance).

Had he been able to get a look off someone else's play-making for a spot-up or been able to get one off the dribble in transition, or where he didn't have a set defense ... Then, yeah, absolutely I want him taking that shot. But, imo, the play Pop drew up and the look it got was the best they could do under the cir stance; I've got no problem with it (RJ blowing a layup, George pulling the string on a corner three, and the team getting way too 3 happy in the fourth were much bigger points of contention).

Manu remains a bad boy, though ... and that was nice to see . . .

[Dro210]

The play was obviously designed that way because of how much attention Manu was drawing from the Cavs... it was a perfectly designed play, George was wide open too.... shot just didn't go down.

[TD 21]

It was 46, Buck, and I really don't have much of a problem with Manu not taking what would have been a highly contested three-point shot, off an inbounds pass and put in the position he would've inevitably been forced into (given the time and half-court cir stance).

Had he been able to get a look off someone else's play-making for a spot-up or been able to get one off the dribble in transition, or where he didn't have a set defense ... Then, yeah, absolutely I want him taking that shot. But, imo, the play Pop drew up and the look it got was the best they could do under the cir stance; I've got no problem with it (RJ blowing a layup, George pulling the string on a corner three, and the team getting way too 3 happy in the fourth were much bigger points of contention).

Manu remains a bad boy, though ... and that was nice to see . . .

Agreed. Not only was the play fine, could you imagine how big that shot would have been for Mason's confidence and for the team? It easily could have been the springboard they need to withstand this stretch without Parker. Ultimately, that's who it's going to come down to. Ginobili's back, but he can't throw in 38 a game and log 37 minutes a game playing the way he plays and Hill is just going to continue to get better, but a third guard is needed and the only one the Spurs have left (Hairston is a wing and Bogans, while a guard, doesn't possess guard like ball skills) is Mason. If they're to get through this stretch, they'll need him to, if not duplicate, then at least resemble the player he was throughout much of last season.

Typical Harvey, though. He's clearly a huge Ginobili fan (and not much of a Duncan fan). I still enjoy his articles, though, not only because I prefer his writing style to that of Monroe and McDonald, but because he also has more inside information than either.

[sabar]

Agreed. Not only was the play fine, could you imagine how big that shot would have been for Mason's confidence and for the team? It easily could have been the springboard they need to withstand this stretch without Parker. Ultimately, that's who it's going to come down to. Ginobili's back, but he can't throw in 38 a game and log 37 minutes a game playing the way he plays and Hill is just going to continue to get better, but a third guard is needed and the only one the Spurs have left (Hairston is a wing and Bogans, while a guard, doesn't possess guard like ball skills) is Mason. If they're to get through this stretch, they'll need him to, if not duplicate, then at least resemble the player he was throughout much of last season.

Typical Harvey, though. He's clearly a huge Ginobili fan (and not much of a Duncan fan). I still enjoy his articles, though, not only because I prefer his writing style to that of Monroe and McDonald, but because he also has more inside information than either.

+1 on all points.

If that shot goes down it has a good shot of turning everything around in terms of confidence, plus in building momentum as the games get tougher.

[jimo2305]

so sign a veteran pg who can handle the ball

[Blackjack]

Agreed. Not only was the play fine, could you imagine how big that shot would have been for Mason's confidence and for the team? It easily could have been the springboard they need to withstand this stretch without Parker. Ultimately, that's who it's going to come down to. Ginobili's back, but he can't throw in 38 a game and log 37 minutes a game playing the way he plays and Hill is just going to continue to get better, but a third guard is needed and the only one the Spurs have left (Hairston is a wing and Bogans, while a guard, doesn't possess guard like ball skills) is Mason. If they're to get through this stretch, they'll need him to, if not duplicate, then at least resemble the player he was throughout much of last season.

Yeah, it was the perfect time to have a breakthrough moment with a guy like Mason (someone who's been on the outs and frustrated over playing time), but, not unlike most things this year, it just happened to go awry. The logic was sound, though, and the play even better ... so I can't see much justification for anyone to be up in arms over the decision.

The Spurs absolutely need Mason if they're to do anything with the remainder of this schedule, all you can do is put him in the best position possible to succeed; something Pop's failed to do, on more than one count, in recent years . . .

[siraulo23]

Yeah Manuuuuuuuuuuuu!
I actually enjoyed the manu show, except the lost

[Obstructed_View]

Here's hoping that Mason doesn't sit for the next several games as punishment for tonight.

[WalterBenitez]

The play designed worked, the ball goes to who was supposed to go, but the ball didn't go in, period.

[Manu-of-steel]

Here's hoping that Mason doesn't sit for the next several games as punishment for tonight.

Pop can't afford to sit rmj. I hope RMJ wakes up and hit his shots, it's a shame he is being given trust. He must show Pop, and his future employers (he's a free agent next season) what he's got. If he finds his shooting stroke, it's a win-win for him and the spurs.

[boutons_deux]

"RMJ wakes up and hit his shots"

He has proven that hit can't hit wide open jumpers at serviceable %age. Nor can anybody else after the Big4.

Spurs can't score, can't defend, can't rebound, can't compete.

[polandprzem]

You know what? I felt sorry for Pop.
It looked like he ackowledged that every [with few exeptions] player is letting him down and there is no hope for any improvenment at the moment

[DAF86]

I liked the designed play but I didn't like this:

During a timeout, Popovich gave Mason a pep talk. “The percentages are with you,” he said.

If this is true, the only thing Pop acomplished was putting more pressure on Mason.

[ElNono]

Pressure? He gets paid to make shots... 0-8 is unacceptable, especially when he brings absolutely nothing else to the table...

[DAF86]

Pressure? He gets paid to make shots... 0-8 is unacceptable, especially when he brings absolutely nothing else to the table...

So the fact that he gets paid to do that takes the pressure off him, gotcha

I'm sure you never feel pressure in your work.

[TJastal]

Popovich I don't feel sorry at all for him. I'm glad Roger gave him zilch and made him look like the complete ass that he is.

Poppa should have used his "centerpiece" if he wants a critical shot made, all the popsuckers swear he's just as good as Roger at shooting

[ElNono]

So the fact that he gets paid to do that takes the pressure off him, gotcha

I'm sure you never feel pressure in your work.

If I don't deliver I lose my my job... that's how this world works...

[Spurs Brazil]

Pressure? He gets paid to make shots... 0-8 is unacceptable, especially when he brings absolutely nothing else to the table...

/thread

[TJastal]

If I don't deliver I lose my my job... that's how this world works...

Poppa should be first in line to get the axe then.

[gospursgojas]

Mason has to hit that shot.

Everyone did their job that play.... pop drew up a great play, duncan set the screen perfectly, and manu delivered the pass exactly where it needed to be.

You can't cry about PT and then when you get your chance, go 0-8 and miss big shots.

Its all about having the balls to step up. Which pop doubts mason has. Just look at last years playoffs.

[ElNono]

Mason has to hit that shot.

Everyone did their job that play.... pop drew up a great play, duncan set the screen perfectly, and manu delivered the pass exactly where it needed to be.

You can't cry about PT and then when you get your chance, go 0-8 and miss big shots.

Its all about having the balls to step up. Which pop doubts mason has. Just look at last years playoffs.

Well, it's not just that specific shot. If he hits any of the ones before it, then we're automatically in a better situation also. But if you're having a bad shooting night, then try to grab a board or play a little more aggressive defense. You know, RJ suck too for a different reason, but at least he went out there and grabbed 9 boards.

[TJastal]

Mason has to hit that shot.

Everyone did their job that play.... pop drew up a great play, duncan set the screen perfectly, and manu delivered the pass exactly where it needed to be.

You can't cry about PT and then when you get your chance, go 0-8 and miss big shots.

Its all about having the balls to step up. Which pop doubts mason has. Just look at last years playoffs.

And what about all those regular season games that Mason won last year? Bonner sucked hard in the playoffs too but that never stopped him from getting rewarded. he was given the starting job this year and proceeded to pinch a big loaf. What did Mason get? A demotion in favor of Keith Bogans, whom Poppovich thinks is the centerpiece of the team despite playing awful basketball for most of the year.

I doubt this has to do w/ lack of balls, it's a case of Mason simply doesn't care anymore, he's probably seething at Popovich screwing up his role and minutes on the team and his heart is not there anymore.

[gospursgojas]

Well, it's not just that specific shot. If he hits any of the ones before it, then we're automatically in a better situation also. But if you're having a bad shooting night, then try to grab a board or play a little more aggressive defense. You know, RJ suck too for a different reason, but at least he went out there and grabbed 9 boards.

Yep. That's why I put the 0-8 part. If mason misses that shot after going even 3 for 8 then then its not so bad. But then again if mase goes 3-8 spurs aren't in that position

[gospursgojas]

And what about all those regular season games that Mason won last year? Bonner sucked hard in the playoffs too but that never stopped him from getting rewarded. he was given the starting job this year and proceeded to pinch a big loaf. What did Mason get? A demotion in favor of Keith Bogans, whom Poppovich thinks is the centerpiece of the team despite playing awful basketball for most of the year.

I doubt this has to do w/ lack of balls, it's a case of Mason simply doesn't care anymore, he's probably seething at Popovich screwing up his role and minutes on the team and his heart is not there anymore.

Everygame from now on is like a playoff game.

And being pissed and sulking is some high schools . I had mase pegged as more or a professional than that