Finley, Spurs share common demeanor

[loveforthegame]

Finley, Spurs share common demeanor

Web Posted: 09/03/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer

To those who question two-time All-Star Michael Finley's decision to sign on with the Spurs, head coach Gregg Popovich offered a refresher course on very recent Spurs' playoff history.

"If you think about it and look back at the Detroit series," Popovich said of NBA Finals 2005, which the Spurs won in seven games with a shortened playing rotation, "we played seven people, period. You have to be pretty fortunate to just play seven people in a series like that, so we can use more people, without a doubt."

Finley, of course, is more than just another NBA body. The 10-year veteran has a career scoring average of 19.0 points, and he has been a starter for nine-straight seasons. But he insisted he is ready to play whatever role Popovich asks of him this season because he hungers for a championship.

Finley has the kind of low-key approach to the game that Popovich prefers among his players. His personality may be closer to that of two-time MVP power forward Tim Duncan's than any of his other new teammates, and Popovich said Finley may even be less talkative than Duncan, which hardly seems possible.

"We would probably never put him and Timmy in the same room," Popovich said, "because they never would find out when practice is."

Finley likes the quiet approach his new team takes.

"This team, in some regards, was not talked about last year until they ultimately got to the Finals and won it," Finley said. "I like that. Just go on about your way. That's the way my personality is. It will fit right in. I'm not going to dye my hair and try to get extra attention. That's just not me. I'm just going to come in and play basketball."

Finley engaged in a celebrated shoving match with Spurs' defensive standout Bruce Bowen during the 2003-04 season. He said he is looking forward to learning some of Bowen's techniques.

"Both legal and illegal," Finley said.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Then we can have ray allen and vince carter whining about Bowen and Finley

[mrpach]

Then we can have ray allen and vince carter whining about Bowen and Finley

lol

[mrcoon29]

Then we can have ray allen and vince carter whining about Bowen and Finley

.