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Pop 08!
Buck Harvey: No baloney — Popovich's new edge
Web Posted: 05/12/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...265f1a20a.html
SEATTLE — There's still time for Gregg Popovich to complain about officiating as George Karl did in the previous series.
There's still time for Popovich to slip as if on ice, as Avery Johnson did in Phoenix.
And there's still time for Popovich to lose, too, as he did at this point in the second round last year.
But right now? As the Spurs go for their seventh-straight playoff win?
Surging precisely after Popovich changed his starting lineup? With Brent Barry and Glenn Robinson actually playing defense?
It's time to say this: Popovich gives the Spurs something they've never had before.
The coach-of-the-year voting doesn't reflect that, but that's not an injustice. Mike D'Antoni deserved the award after the way he changed Phoenix, and Indiana's Rick Carlisle and Seattle's Nate McMillan deserved their high vote totals, too.
Besides, Popovich won the award two years ago. He's gotten his due.
But other coaches have grabbed his share of the spotlight during the playoffs, beginning with Karl. With Furious George hyped up and talking, did anyone notice Popovich was even in the first round?
Jeff Van Gundy took that a step further with his conspiracy invention, costing himself both money and his reputation. And when AJ fell on the sidelines in the first game of that series — following with an audible curse at an official — he came up with a rare coaching film clip.
Popovich laughed about AJ, then tried to help his former point guard. "We've all done it."
Popovich has had his sideline rants, but he's never exactly done that.
Nor has Popovich come close to being as controversial and as deceptive as Van Gundy.
Popovich doesn't say much about the refs, either, when most coaches think that's part of the job description. So why not Popovich? Why shouldn't he tweak the dialogue after Bruce Bowen heard whistles Tuesday night?
"Waste of time," Popovich said. "It doesn't change anything, and I don't want players to use that as an excuse."
Popovich is not above working the refs during a game, and sometimes he works them hard. He will throw out his opinion, too, and he did Tuesday when someone asked him about Bowen being rough.
"He weighs like 120 pounds," Popovich said smiling. "I find it pretty amusing."
But from there Popovich sticks to his theme — that the essence of the game is performance.
For example, someone asked him if he gave his team a speech after the loss in the opener to Denver, and Popovich shrugged. "I gave one because you feel like you have to do it. But the players know. They've been around long enough."
And when asked about moving Manu Ginobili to the bench, Popovich said, "The media likes to talk about who makes adjustments, and it's total (baloney)."
For those who write for newspapers, the term "baloney" comes in handy when relaying Popovich's quotes. Much of what Popovich sees is "baloney."
But a few things are real, too. Ginobili changed dynamics playing as a sub again, and Brent Barry and Glenn Robinson changed their souls. Who ever saw them as defenders?
Popovich did, albeit with one demand: He won't compromise the defense. No one plays if they don't play his way, and he leads with his discipline, too.
If he doesn't give in to excuses — if he keeps this about the game instead of the baloney — won't the players follow?
Popovich has always been this way, though he appears more secure as the years go along. What really changed are those around him.
Once he faced off against Don Nelson and Phil Jackson, coaches who were tested and smart and enlarged by their reputations. Now Popovich has more experience than the combined résumés of McMillan, D'Antoni and Johnson, the other three Western Conference coaches remaining in the playoffs.
Or, to put it this way: The Spurs have a coach who has won championships, and the other three coaches in the West have never been this far in the playoffs.
Isn't that an edge the franchise hasn't had before?
Doesn't it mean something?
There's still time to see.
Pop 08!
Exactly.
No need to sit there whining about foul calls. It's a waste of time for coaches, players and fans.
Man up and win.
What is this, first a Harvey article without a question mark, now one without a colon OR a question mark??
Yes, all of that is true. Pop can get anyone to play defense. I think he is one of the best coaches and i'm glad he is the Spurs coach.
Baloney.
I've gotta disagree with that. It worked for Phil last year, and we've seen it pan out in the playoffs this year as far as getting calls goes for among others: Avery, Van Gundy, 'Melo, and Ray Allen.It's a waste of time for coaches, players
Correction. You most certainly need to whine and work the refs. Pop just prefers to do it during the game and not in the press.
Recognize.
(Oh, and drop the "man up" crap. It doesn't suit you.)
@ Sequ
An ocasional complain about a certain call is fine with me.
Making it a recurring thing makes you look like a sissy.
Look at Karl, Allen and the stupid Denver fans, for Christ's sake.
I've said it a million times, crying about the refs is weak and claiming the refs are the reason you lose games is even weaker.
Pop got class.. and cat style!
nice!
Didn't work for JVG or 'Melo. They're sitting at home. Ray allen got a few calls, still lost, and will be sitting at home soon. Avery's outcome remains to be seen....and we've seen it pan out in the playoffs this year as far as getting calls goes for among others: Avery, Van Gundy, 'Melo, and Ray Allen.
Being an NBA player or coach, and ing in the press about officiating is equivalent to running up the white flag.
The only time Pop made some noise about the refs, was with that 0.4 sec call in last year's playoffs....
He knew the clock started late.... and it cost him a crucial-deciding game... (the series IMO)...
But his plea was to the league and not the media.
"It doesn't change the game."
I have to politely disagree.
When Carl criticized MANU publicly, Manu got more calls against him. When Allen whined about Bowen...we all saw what happened.
Ya, we still won those games, but, the whining DID affect the game...in the favor of the whiners. We are just good enough to overcome the team, and the new officiating dictated by the whining.
I have never seen a more blatant case of whining affecting a game in 30 yrs of watching the NBA, than I did against Bowen in the last game. It worked, and if it had been close, it could have affected the outcome.
Mebbe Pop is saving his case to the officials for a game that he might need it. Which would make sense. We should win these games even with some officiating going against us. But, it might not be so in the next couple of rounds.
So, Pop...take note. You play the game with the rules given. If whining in the media works within those rules, I hope your not afraid to use it...if needed.
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