Finley cites one difference between Spurs & Celtics

[sa_butta]

a lot more of just letting the players go out and play

Which you have not done very much of in Boston...

[dbestpro]

Imagine the whine that would be produced if Boston played their thug defense against Dallas and got away with it. Don't get me wrong. The way Boston is playing D is the way we should have played. Nothing worse than an old finesse team.

[wildbill2u]

The teaching aspect is one of the things that has distinguished the Spurs from other teams and coaching staff.

So many of the players today don't finish at whatever school they attended and don't have a solid background in basketball skills other than what they possess because of raw physical ability. They excel in 'street' or playgound basketball because that's where they learned their trade.

On the other hand, there are nuances to every sport and the skills necessary to play intelligently. The Spurs take the playground player and enhance his skills through coaching on the nuances and sometimes on the fundamentals that weren't learned by the player if he came into the pro ranks too fast or had such great physical talent that his playground skills carried him through.

I'd bet that is the reason a guy like Bowen went through a bunch of teams and leagues without ever maximizing his potential until he came to the Spurs and got some coaching. His raw skills weren't enough to win him a permanent spot on someone's roster until he got some coaching that developed his potential skills into a valuable piece of a team.

The Spurs like coachable and smart players. They get rid of those who won't be coached, especially if they are marginal to start with.

[boutons_deux]

I've read before that River's coaching is just "let them grind it out" rather than Pop's 19th-century-set-piece battle plan.

[Cane]

I've read before that River's coaching is just "let them grind it out" rather than Pop's 19th-century-set-piece battle plan.

So you must be a huge fan of Mike Brown too since he seems to have no plan whatsoever on the court?

[mogrovejo]

The teaching aspect is one of the things that has distinguished the Spurs from other teams and coaching staff.

So many of the players today don't finish at whatever school they attended and don't have a solid background in basketball skills other than what they possess because of raw physical ability. They excel in 'street' or playgound basketball because that's where they learned their trade.

On the other hand, there are nuances to every sport and the skills necessary to play intelligently. The Spurs take the playground player and enhance his skills through coaching on the nuances and sometimes on the fundamentals that weren't learned by the player if he came into the pro ranks too fast or had such great physical talent that his playground skills carried him through.

I'd bet that is the reason a guy like Bowen went through a bunch of teams and leagues without ever maximizing his potential until he came to the Spurs and got some coaching. His raw skills weren't enough to win him a permanent spot on someone's roster until he got some coaching that developed his potential skills into a valuable piece of a team.

The Spurs like coachable and smart players. They get rid of those who won't be coached, especially if they are marginal to start with.

LOL

Bowen made an All-D team before joining the Spurs. If anything, the Heat deserve the credit.

The reason why the Spurs have been successful is Duncan, not the coaching staff. It may be a good coaching staff, but there's not a lot of a difference to the rest of the league, especially when it comes to develop players.

[mogrovejo]

I have no idea why anyone considers the Celtics relevant anymore. The entire team core aside from Rondo has slipped tremendously this season, with Garnett's decline the most obvious. You combine that with an awful bench and bad rebounding and they're a lesser clone of the 2008-09 Spurs. They'd never make it out of the first round if they played in the West.

Hi hater.

[ffadicted]

I'll lol if Findog wins a ring tbh

[Mel_13]

I'll lol if Findog wins a ring tbh

Given the alternative, I hope to see Fin get his second ring.

[Blackjack]

Given the alternative, I hope to see Fin get his second ring.

Pretty much.

And on another note ... the NBA sucks right now. I'd favor contraction if my team wasn't from San Antonio and eventually susceptible to it when Tim's gone.

[Fabbs]

Given the alternative, I hope to see Fin get his second ring.

Absolutely.

And Doc isn't as incompetent as Pop.
Finley is now seeing merely well timed spot minutes, not stealing minutes from far more deserving players.

Park_Cane So you must be a huge fan of Mike Brown too since he seems to have no plan whatsoever on the court?

Seeing as how Brown worships Pop and patterns his coaching style after him, it's a fit.

[lefty]

[team-work]

I think Doc Rivers deserves credit for knowing how much his players can actually bring on court. No hard feeling towards Finley if his teammates win him his second wing.

[scanry]

LOL

Bowen made an All-D team before joining the Spurs. If anything, the Heat deserve the credit.

The reason why the Spurs have been successful is Duncan, not the coaching staff. It may be a good coaching staff, but there's not a lot of a difference to the rest of the league, especially when it comes to develop players.

Pretty much, Duncan is the reason why the Spurs have all their championships. Duncan wasn't raw unlike other superstars we have in this league. He was putting in 21-25ppg/10-15rpg right off the bat.

[my2sons]

happens all the time during compe ive sports.

double standard none the less and should be fined for allowing it to come out in the media...

[Harry Callahan]

I find it humorous that people are saying how Doc Rivers is a superior coach to Popovich because he doe this or that better.

You can't just roll the balls out there and play the game and the players win it on their own.

If you win the whole thing 4 times with markedly different rosters 3 of those times you are much better as a coaching staff than others. Sorry.

BTW, I have nother against Doc Rivers as a coach. I would not be upset if (after a 2-3 year TV Break that he may want to take now) he took over the Spurs coaching job. He will likely still have just one le in a couple of weeks. Danny Ainge provided him a great opportunity to win it all with a very veteran team with three likely Hall of Famers at one time playing at a pretty high level. Popovich has alway had to do more filling in on the bench during Duncan's time here. David Robinson was a declining player by the time Duncan arrived and had only one or two great statistical seasons after 1997.

I don't buy that the mere presence of Duncan (one Great HOF Player) makes it possible for anyone to come in as a coach and win it all. If that was the case, how come Wilt Chamberlain (the greatest player ever according to some people) only won 2 or 3 championships in his long career?

BTW, Tom Thibideau (bad spelling) has been considered a huge part of the Celtics success aside from Rivers. He takes over the Hornets next year.

[mytespurs]

I find it humorous that people are saying how Doc Rivers is a superior coach to Popovich because he doe this or that better.

You can't just roll the balls out there and play the game and the players win it on their own.

If you win the whole thing 4 times with markedly different rosters 3 of those times you are much better as a coaching staff than others. Sorry.

BTW, I have nother against Doc Rivers as a coach. I would not be upset if (after a 2-3 year TV Break that he may want to take now) he took over the Spurs coaching job. He will likely still have just one le in a couple of weeks. Danny Ainge provided him a great opportunity to win it all with a very veteran team with three likely Hall of Famers at one time playing at a pretty high level. Popovich has alway had to do more filling in on the bench during Duncan's time here. David Robinson was a declining player by the time Duncan arrived and had only one or two great statistical seasons after 1997.

I don't buy that the mere presence of Duncan (one Great HOF Player) makes it possible for anyone to come in as a coach and win it all. If that was the case, how come Wilt Chamberlain (the greatest player ever according to some people) only won 2 or 3 championships in his long career?

BTW, Tom Thibideau (bad spelling) has been considered a huge part of the Celtics success aside from Rivers. He takes over the Hornets next year.

I always hate the "comparison" game be it coaches, players, teams because it's always putting down or downgrading one individual(s) or teams achievements at the expense of the other. Pop and Doc are both great coaches period.

[dbestpro]

Finley's defense helps to propel LA to a big half time lead against Boston. lol

[BillMc]

Finley's defense helps to propel LA to a big half time lead against Boston. lol

So true! I was thinkin' the same thing.

This must be Fin's last year in the league.

[baseline bum]

So true! I was thinkin' the same thing.

This must be Fin's last year in the league.

Don't be so sure. The Spurs will have to give the MLE to someone if Splitter stays in Europe.

[Sobe_Kucks]

Doc pulled him out after a TO but there was a definite point swing after Fin let his man blow by him. Looked aaaaaawfully familiar. Doc did pull the plug earlier than Pop would have. Doc hasn't made him a starter for spacing purposes either... Yes they have Allen... I actually thought a big enabler for the turnarond late in the season was the loss of Fin. The guards that can actually produce got more minutes (Gino, Hill, Hairston). Parker going down forced tenissue as well. But we didn't have to see what Doc saw for about 4 min. Finley let his man blow by him for layup and not hit a shot. We saw waaay too much of that in SA for the past few years.

[Biernutz]

I would bet this is Fins last go around. He gets his release from Boston,signs a one day contract with Dallas. Retires a Mav. No Ring as A Maverick though. Sorry Marc. LOL LOL

[galvatron3000]

Don't be so sure. The Spurs will have to give the MLE to someone if Splitter stays in Europe.