Reply With Quote
at least hes on a contender.
Michael Finley’s ex-coach Pops off
By Mark Murphy
Boston Herald
Michael Finley, per usual, was out shooting early before last night’s game.
Tim Duncan, per usual, was going through the same routine down the other end of the floor.
It was inevitable that the two former San Antonio Spurs teammates - with Finley now a Celtic - would eventually gravitate toward midcourt and embrace. Finley would eventually go through this ritual with most of his former teammates on the floor and in the Garden hallway.
The only thing that seems odd to them now is Finley on another team.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich still sounds slightly stung by the fact that, after falling out of the rotation this season, Finley would ask for a release.
“I was surprised when he asked that,” Popovich said prior to his team’s 94-73 win against the Celtics. “I didn’t think it would be something that Michael Finley would ask to do. But one has to be realistic and put oneself in those shoes. If you’re toward the end of your career and someone is not going to play you and you still want to play more basketball, what’s wrong with asking to play elsewhere, and trying to play as long as you possibly can? If that’s what you want to do, well, that’s what he did. I don’t blame him a lick.”
And so the string has continued for Finley, now as a reserve who has quickly made himself invaluable with the Celtics.
“I just made a decision to play other people,” said Popovich. “We honored Michael’s request to seek another team. We decided to do it, and do it the right way by the cut-off date, so he could go with another team that he could play with in the playoffs.”
And that’s where the sentimentality ends.
“I’m coaching against the Celtics,” Popovich said, “not Michael”
*********************
Pregame.
at least hes on a contender.
I know how you feel Pop, love hurts..
CIA stuff in effect.
Boston gave us two big breaks:
1. Signing the fat and out of shape Rasheed Wallace who the Spurs and a lot of teams were looking at.
2. Getting Finley out so he doesn't affect the locker room and so other guys get more minutes.
Be happy for Fin guys, he's on a "contender."
...and now, please cue the music to "Love Hurts".
Seriously, I don't think Pop needed to justify why Finley fell out of the rotation or why he chose to play other players ahead of him. He didn't do it Bowen last year, whose situation, contributions and longevity with the franchise certainly warranted it more than this Finley's.
What do you mean? I hadn't read about Finley being a downer, although I saw reference to something similar in another rant here on ST. What was Finely up to?
LOL "contender"
He was asked why and he answered. What so hard to understand about this?
Same quotes in the first post, plus this.
The Secret of Gregg Popovich’s Empathy
SportingNews
Michael Finley quite hilariously left the Spurs last month to play for a team with a much better chance at a championship: the Celtics. How’s that working out for you, Mike?
*****
Popovich has a reputation as someone who holds his players to very high standards, which in many cases is construed as a propensity to be mean. In reality, though, Pop has a startling ability to empathize with his players that’s rarely seen in NBA coaches. That helps him communicate with them by putting things in terms they can understand and agree with.
The Spurs supposedly try to fit their players into predetermined roles. That’s overblown, but it has a kernel of truth to it. In a league where players often cry foul at the slighest bit of a limited role, the Spurs have made it work. Popovich’s approach to the Finley situation helps explain what’s made them so successful. He doesn’t just view players as occupying a role within that system, but a personality as well.
Ain't THAT the truth. Wallace is giving the Celts NOTHING right now. He is pathetically out of shape and overweight. It's unbelievable. People in the NBA always said that if Wallace had the desire and drive, he could have been one of the best ever to play the game. Instead, he's what he is now.
Pop went to hug his ex after the game
Whenever I hear/see Finley's name and Pop's the song "Careless Whisper" always pops into my head. I'm gald Finis giving the Celts a good 0 point night. Attaboy!
Earlier this season, losing out on Rasheed and getting Dice seemed like a bad break. It goes a little further the other way with every passing game.
Meh, Dice is shooting 38.2% from the field in March. I'd still rather have him than Sheed, but Dice isn't exactly tearing it up.
i wish fin was a few years younger while we had him
I wish Fin was a few years younger and the Lakers had him
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
