Chu: Finley a lean, mean shooting machine

[Spurs Brazil]

Along with pickup games, Finley went through muscle-activation training, massages and therapy to recharge his body. Grover noticed a dip in Finley's lateral movement, so they concentrated on the flexibility in his hip area to improve his mobility.

This is good news
Finley knew where his biggest weakness was and he worked to improve it.

Bryan Chu

I don't know who is this guy but I hope McDonald is gone

[024]

With Barry and Horry gone, losing Finley would have been a huge blow. I don't think he deserves to be a starter at this point in his career, but as a bench player with limited minutes he's solid. Plus, he's a great player to have on the bench to call in crunchtime situations in the playoffs.

i agree, as long as finley provides stability to the bench and provides much needed clutch in the playoffs, he will be an asset. he definitely should not be a starter but should reform his role to be a solid backup.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Having lost that amount of weight will really improve his game. I bet he shoot much better this year. I wouldnt be surprised to seem him getting 25 mpg at sf and sg.

Reminds me of when Nick Anderson form Orlando took off 7 lbs and had an all star year.

I had no idea Fin was that heavy.

Well according to something I read not too long ago for every one pound you lose you can take up to four pounds of pressure off your leg joints. For a guy who pretty much lives and dies as a jump shooter in this system I think you're absolutely right about him improving his percentage. A shooter with tired legs isn't of much use to anyone.

Any improvement with his defense would be welcome but I made my peace with the fact that he was never going to set the world on fire as a defender the moment he signed with the Spurs.

[temujin]

He already had the money no matter what

Maybe he put money in Lehman Bros.

[Obstructed_View]

Sounds like Finley might have been reading Spurstalk and wants to give everyone who hates him the basketball version of the middle finger.

If he shows up in shape, works on both ends of the floor and isn't a complete liability, he'll remove the reason people hate him.

[michaelwcho]

ok. didn't exactly want to question the overall work ethic, maybe more if he worked smart, which is also a sign of professionalism.
(btw. having already crossed all the mentioned age lines, I know very well what the body does when getting older.).
I guess I talk for all ballers when I say that shooting for 2 hours is usually more fun than 2 hours of pure fitness training.
however, it's also about the nurture question. there I'm always surprised to hear at what a sub optimal level so many NBA players use to eat (I'm not just talking about Shaq), compared to many other athletes. if you are a pro athlete and want to get the best out of your body, you shouldn't start to at 25 or 30 to watch what you eat. this should be part of your live from day 1. yes, a 23 years old athlete usually doesn't suffer from it that much, but he won't be better either.

I wonder what diet Bruce uses and if it wasn't him to advice Finley how to get in best shape for a 35+.

Bruce's diet is horrible, according to his interview in Men's Fitness last year. He met the reporter and the first question was about diet, just as a plate of nachos arrived--supposedly they just laughed and moved on to the next question.

My theory is a racial-socio-economic one. Because the NBA culture seems to be heavily tied into Afro-American, it would make sense that there would be a lot of fried food and junk food. Unfortunately, in America our lower-income brackets also have terrible diets.

Presumably, the players would be even better and soar even higher if the diet issue ever changed.

[michaelwcho]

It's not from media day though Getty Images has 2 of Finley up on there site.

This is the pic attached to the article. I can't get over how slimmed down he looks. Props to him for putting this much work in at his age. Whether it pans out or not we'll have to wait and see.

There's only one problem. If he really lost the weight, who's our PF now?

[peacemaker885]

There's only one problem. If he really lost the weight, who's our PF now?

Finley plays 2 guard and SF. Maybe PF during micro ball, but I don't think this is often.

[T Park]

If he shows up in shape, works on both ends of the floor and isn't a complete liability, he'll remove the reason people hate him.

what was everyones excuse in 06 and 07????

[bdictjames]

Good for Finley. I hope this transcends to 8-10 PPG at a good shooting rate off the bench.

[T Park]

Good for Finley. I hope this transcends to 8-10 PPG at a good shooting rate off the bench.

He averaged 10 last year in a "bad" year.

[tp2021]

Turn up your sarcasm detector, peacemaker.

[Sissiborgo]

Without a doubt...

[peacemaker885]

Turn up your sarcasm detector, peacemaker.

Oops..a bit rusty here..

[angelbelow]

i like what i read.

[timvp]

Pretty drastic.

[T Park]

looks like the muscle mass went down in his arms as well.

[Fabbs]

wasn't Finley always called the super pro, but this season for the first time in his career he starts to work to get his body in perfect shape?
wait there is something wrong about this.
it's great when he does it, but I don't see why the whole forum starts to rave and praise his work ethic, when in fact he carried 10 or more extra pounds last season.
athletes in almost any other sport will only deliver at best, when they are in the best shape possible. put 10 extra pounds on Michael Phelps and he won't win a single gold medal.

so ok, Finley learned that his mobility dropped to the level of a Hyppo last season and he decided to work harder. so obviously there was much room for improvement.
the Spurs waited till the end of August till they re signed him. I can very well see that they waited that long to see if Finley works on his body and I can very well see them ask him to do so, or they won't be interested. no matter what they call things now.

Exactly.
Don't expect an answer here on ST.
Oh wait, here is one:

He listened to what Pop said, worked his ass off and earned a spot on this team. Seems praise-worthy to me. If you ask Fin why he didn't do this years ago, he'll probably tell you that's an excellent question.

So Pop did not tell him that in his previous 3 years as Spur? And the 20 million dollar a year *consumerate professional* needed to be told this in order to work out offseason?
Spare us!

[T Park]

So Fabbs,

are you saying that Finley is not a professional and is lazy?


Hmm. Link to back that up? He is always the last to leave practice at the gym.

[Solid D]

If Bob Hill had been Fin's coach, Bob would have told Fin to look in the mirror 3 years ago and Fin would have scored more points.

[T Park]

If Bob Hill had been Fin's coach, Bob would have told Fin to look in the mirror 3 years ago and Fin would have scored more points.

Theres gotta be story behind this.

[Fabbs]

So Fabbs,

are you saying that Finley is not a professional and is lazy?


Hmm. Link to back that up? He is always the last to leave practice at the gym.

Are you avoiding answering the question T-Park? An answer that obviously does not put your glorified Finley in rose colored glasses light?

As was brought out many posts ago, why is it just this year that he comes in such great shape? The one answer was because "the great and powerful Popped told him to."

Why did he not do the same offseason workout the last 3 years, come into camp in great shape?

I'm waiting for an answer T-Park.

[polandprzem]

looks like the muscle mass went down in his arms as well.

expert

[timtonymanu]

wow... Finley looks younger and more fit. im happy he realized he needed to work on himself.

[polandprzem]

ok. didn't exactly want to question the overall work ethic, maybe more if he worked smart, which is also a sign of professionalism.
(btw. having already crossed all the mentioned age lines, I know very well what the body does when getting older.).
I guess I talk for all ballers when I say that shooting for 2 hours is usually more fun than 2 hours of pure fitness training.
however, it's also about the nurture question. there I'm always surprised to hear at what a sub optimal level so many NBA players use to eat (I'm not just talking about Shaq), compared to many other athletes. if you are a pro athlete and want to get the best out of your body, you shouldn't start to at 25 or 30 to watch what you eat. this should be part of your live from day 1. yes, a 23 years old athlete usually doesn't suffer from it that much, but he won't be better either.

Yah it's laughable to me how they handling the diet issue.
I know many examples of people who have their diet made to perfection and still are unable to have such physic as many NBA players. NBA players have rough tough scheudle filled with games so they are not able to go to gym every day. Still they have bigger muscles then those amateurs who train only for muscles and they do not have bball practice and exhausing games, travellings etc.
Your body needs from 48 to 72 hours (depends) on the recovery. When and how load the batteries?


I know that guy from kentucky along with Mr McDonald uses great persuasion but they are not helping your body "reacharge".