Hindsight: Was Finley The Right Move?

[SenorSpur]

I only bag on him because he sucks. He hasn't done since the 2002-2003 season. His playoff numbers are terrible overall.

Wonderful question!

As much as it pains me to agree with a Mavs fan, he's right.

Quite frankly, Finley has been sucking for a couple of years now. These were my worst fears being realized. I ed about Finley's unreliability in this space over the summer. I was afraid the Spurs would get infauated with both his price and supposed shooting ability. At the same time, allowing younger more athletic players (Evans, Jones) to get away.

The one thing Finley was brought here to do was shoot - and he can't do that. Therefore, he's useless. Some may say he's going through what Barry went through last year. Well, I say shooting 40% on a team (Mavs) that didn't have a commanding post presence is precisely the reason we should him to have performed at least to that level here. Mainly because of the presence of Duncan, he's getting great looks. He doesn't play defense, can't handle the rock and turns the ball over. He's not a clutch player.

I would have rather the Spurs signed Evans. At least he can bring an energy, and a defensive presence even when he's not scoring. Ever hotice how rare it is for the Spurs to come up with steals while guarding the perimeter? At lease, Evans was almost as cheap as Finley.

Spurs made a big mistake.

[Gerryatrics]

Was Barry worth winning a Championship? Are you serious? You pick one game where he shoots poorly to start another blame all the Spurs problems on Brent Barry thread, something I seem to recall you doing once or twice last season too, not much of a benefit of a doubt.

Brent Barry is shooting nearly 42% from the field, 36% from three. If that's sucking balls I hate to think what the other players are doing to you. Bones is shooting better than Finley, FG% and 3PT%. Same with NVE, and Beno. He's shooting better than Horry FG%, and just behind him in 3PT%. He's shooting better than Ginobili and Parker from three.

His other numbers are much lower than I'd like, but he doesn't get the minutes, and he doesn't get anywhere near the touches he did in Seattle, not even close. If you don't like what he's doing, tell Pop to give him the ball and see what he can do. I don't recall much whining when he got the start when Manu was out, and when he was handling the ball and running the offense.

[T Park]

and he doesn't get anywhere near the touches he did in Seattle, not even close.

If he grew a pair and shot the ball more, instead of passing the ball like a hot potato, then I would believe you.

when he got the start when Manu was out, and when he was handling the ball and running the offense.

What games were you watching!?!?

You pick one game where he shoots poorly

Oh we could pick more than that.

he was there for the PHO series last year

Game 1?


Other than that what?

He had how many points in game 7? 5?

WHEWWWW

Boy, 7 million for a guy that can go 21 minutes, and not even record a single MARK on a game.

Impressive.

[Peter]

When you look past the rep that players have because of their name or what they did in 1997, Devin Brown was a much better fit for the Spurs than Finley or Barry.

[ZStomp]

Was letting Devin Brown go a good Move?

MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA OR DR TO PF ST TO BL PTS
12:00 1 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 2

[Peter]

...and he still managed to have a better game than Finley.

Devin's game fit well in SA. Out of the 3 (Brown, Finley, Barry), Brown always looked the most comfortable when playing Spurs basketball. His D was much better than the other 2 and for the most part his offensive game was too in SA. He was also a guy who reliably provided the spark off the bench that Pop's always talking about missing this year.

Finley and Barry just do not look comfortable when they are on the court. Too bad Devin couldn't have been kept around. It's not like his price was that high.

[aaronstampler]

I'm not gonna say I'm majorly concerned, because I'm not one of those greedy fans who demands that my team win the whole thing every year. Two out of four would be nothing to sneeze at.

But it does bother me that our offense looks so much more sluggish this year and last year. It says we're 2nd in the league shooting the ball, but I guess we're just not getting enough fast break points, second chance points, and FTs. It seems like we run the shot clock down to the end almost every possession. Now for a team like Utah to do that, it makes sense, but not us.

Seriously though, right now Tony looks like the only guy on the team who's as quick as he was last year. Manu's got the constant ankle problems, (he hasn't been anywhere close to as explosive or aggressive as he was last year) Tim has his bad arch, and Finley, Barry, and Van Exel all are playing and looking their age. We're just not getting enough easy points, not running, not making enough of those WOW plays, and for once, we're playing as boring as people on the outside percieve us to be.

We'd have to improve significantly to be able to give the Pistons a series, and I fear that if even Stoudamire comes back healthy, the Suns would really give us a run for the money this time around.

[aaronstampler]

As an addendum to that, I think a part of the problem is that neither Findog or NVE play much defense or force any turnovers, so it's impossible to get the fast break going when the second unit is in. The only chances we have to run is when Tony and Manu are in there, and even then it's extremely rare.

[mavsfan1000]

The suns have no chance against the spurs. The spurs have their number. It is the mavs that the spurs have to worry about.

[SequSpur]

The suns have no chance against the spurs. The spurs have their number. It is the mavs that the spurs have to worry about.

[Que Gee]

Boy, 7 million for a guy that can go 21 minutes, and not even record a single MARK on a game.

Impressive.

Where do you keep getting $7m? He doesn't make anywhere near that.

[cheguevara]

Everyone knows damn well, if given the choice today 95 out of 100 GMs would still pick Finley.

[rwb]

Finley has come up big before and he will again...especially in playoff time. I think the Spurs were lucky to get him. I liked Devin, too, but I'd rather have experience in the end.

[polandprzem]

I like these two first guys Mo and Jones. But I wouldn't change Finley for them but easily I'd trade vanx.
Finley os not that bad at defense and he can hit some jumpers as well. He is not afraid to hit big shots and thats important. he doesn't rush plys too much. We will see. We've got rodeo , and we've got PO. Spurs are begining to play better and better.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

We won the championship last year without Devin. Due to his back he was a nonfactor. I think the Spurs concerns about his health influenced their decision not to stick with him.

Finley still has game. He's had a ton of open looks that he's missed, but I still think he's going to find that groove before the season is over. I don't consider him over-the-hill.





I remember a lot of folks bashing on Horry saying he was washed up in his first season as a Spur, too. After the Laker series of '.04 a lot of people thought big Rob was a bust. He turned out alright.


Second guessing the signing of Finley at this point is a bit premature, IMHO.

[alamo50]

Adding an All-Star like Finley should never be denied.

[leemajors]

finley has won some games for us by himself. it's not often you get a player that can do that.

[Rynospursfan]

If your a big fan of animal abuse, Woods would have been your man.

I think it is safe to say that Finley would be the starting 2 guard and scoring at least 15 points a game in Utah.

Finley was the right choice.

[TwoHandJam]

The biggest thing I fear about Finley is his "clutch factor" - or lack thereof. I just don't think he is a clutch player and the best role players are clutch players like Horry.

Although Barry is likely an inferior player to Finley during the regular season, he has proved to me that he can hit clutch shots in the playoffs. He even ran the point for a stretch in what was likely the biggest pressure game in Spurs history.

Finley is being asked to become a true role player for the first time in his career. The question is, can he hit clutch shots in the playoffs with the very limited attempts he'll likely get?

I don't know the answer but we'll soon find out.

[JamStone]

Mike Finley would be an allstar in the Eastern Conference....

I think the Spurs made the right decision to pursue and sign Michael Finley, especially since it didn't take much financially to acquire him. He is a former all-star, he is a smart veteran, and he has experience being a go-to guy on offense. His jumpshot is a great asset, even if he hasn't shot as well as previous years.

However, I do disagree with the contention that Finley would be an all-star in the Eastern Conference. I sense a little sarcasm, but Finley wouldn't even be mentioned as a possible all-star in the Eastern Conference this year. The only two teams he considered in the Eastern Conference were Miami and Detroit. And, on both teams, he would have been the third or fourth option AT BEST. In Detroit, he would not have started either. And, it's questionable whether he would have started on the Heat.

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Michael Redd, Rip Hamilton would all be more likely candidates to be all-stars this year. And, Richard Jefferson, Antawn Jamison, and even Al Harrington would probably be better bets over Michael Finley gettingan all-star invitation.

[wildbill2u]

Good post, timvp...and good question. The answer lies in the days following the Spurs' final playoff game.

Finley is still in the top 5 in productivity for Spurs players. Gino, Tim, Tony, Robert and Fin are the top 5 offensively. You can't beat Finley's price.

Another compelling question would be: was Nick Van Exel a good signing? So far, he looks like a worse move than Fin-dog.

That's the only compelling question but the around here has been that we needed proven outside shooters to stretch the opposing team's defense. So far NVE hasn't shown me as much as Finley on either end of the court.

But let's let them have a full season to make firm judgements.

[Obstructed_View]

It is the mavs that the mavs have to worry about.

Fixed it for ya.

[JHoLove]

oh that was a good one. very witty. Can't wait for the playoffs.