Harvey: Better as an enemy - Finley leaves Dallas
Web Posted: 05/20/2006 02:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.37a7249.html
DALLAS Manu Ginobili looked around for someone to stand next to him, and he didn't have to look far to see who that might be.
His name was on homemade signs in American Airlines Center.
Michael Finley.
The one Dallas hates because, well, Mark Cuban says they should. The one Dallas hates because, well, he took a punch to the groin from a beloved Maverick.
Finley answered just as everyone always wanted him to when he played in Dallas. With clutch shots. He became Ginobili's partner, most notably with a huge 3-pointer in the heat of another elimination game, and afterward, he summed up the night with an all-star understatement.
It was a strange situation, he said.
Finley doesn't understand what happened to his standing in Dallas, and he talked about that after scoring 16 points Friday night. I thought I did a lot for this organization, he said, but I guess that doesn't matter.
Finley was not unlike the David Robinson of Dallas in manner and style. He was like Robinson in this way, too: As it was with Robinson before Tim Duncan arrived, Finley was never quite good enough to get the Mavericks far enough in the playoffs.
Some Dallas fans were deeply fond of Finley, and another group wanted more. When Finley got a max contract, they also wanted him to live up to that.
But none of that really explains what happened this month. Then, he was booed the way Phil Jackson is in San Antonio. I've heard I was a traitor, he said firmly, and I'm not a traitor.
When the league ruled that Jason Terry had punched him when Finley was the one who had taken the cheap shot he somehow was to blame for that, too. Finley says it was so bad, that his family stayed away from the game.
Meanwhile, Terry was treated as a martyr. Devin Harris wore an armband with Jet written on it. A mid-court promotion gave away a Terry jersey, and one fan bought 150 Terry jerseys for everyone sitting on the front row. Even the P.A. announcer wore one.
His celebrity will change now if Dallas goes on to blow a 3-1 series lead. After all, what happened suggests his suspension cost the Mavericks Game 6.
Without Terry to threaten on one side of the floor, Harris looked like a young player again, going 3 of 14. Without Terry, the Mavericks were slower and held to 86 points.
That said, the Spurs were lucky to be close in the first half. Duncan foolishly put himself in foul trouble again (should he bump Dirk Nowitzki 20 feet from the basket?), and only Ginobili played well. Keith Van Horn would have ranked as the second-best Spur.
Tony Parker? Had the Spurs not turned this around, he would have headed into another summer with doubt. He went 2 for 10 with three turnovers in the first half.
Ginobili continued to carry the Spurs, however, putting together a 30-10 game as if on will alone. Duncan recovered from foul trouble to put together a strong second half, but the one who gave the Spurs their edge was Finley.
I'm thrilled for Michael, Gregg Popovich said with a message that could have been meant for Dallas. He's such a class act, one of our leaders. He came here in a tough situation for him and played hard without malice or showmanship. And he competes with class.
Finley acted the part afterward. He said this wasn't a personal vendetta, and he said Terry is a good guy.
Then Finley added the twist of this story. He had been cheered here earlier in the season when he returned to Dallas for the first time, and he said the moment had been emotional and trying. He didn't play well.
I know now I'm the enemy, he said, and that makes me play harder.
That was especially clear with less than three minutes to go. With the score tied, Finley went up, with Nowitzki contesting, and threw in the 3 three that separated these teams.
The final chance for the Mavericks was the reverse of that. Then, Finley crowded Nowitzki at the 3-point line, forcing an airball.
With that, Finley ran off the floor, leaving Dallas for the final time this season, as satisfied as he will be this season.
Unless he wins the le.
After reading this article, I almost feel bad for Mavs fans, cus it's not their fault that Cuban is a tool. ALMOST. Cuban doesn't deserve someone with as much heart as Finley. Look at the last couple of games and tell me the man couldn't have helped the Mavs in this series!
Yet one more reason to get behind Finley.
If he helps bounce Dallas out of the playoffs, it'll be sweet payback for him towards the Maverick organization.
You know he wants to shine in this game 7 so badly, and not only stick the blade in, but twist it, and yank it up from the belly to the neck, essentially giving the Dallas "fans" razzing him a BIG "F you!" in the best way possible: without saying a word, and letting his game speak volumes!
Finley Rocks!
I have to say, I have nothing but love for this man. I like his humility, his heart, his commitment. Finley is the man!!
I dare any Mavs fan to mention the word class ever again!
Mavs fans booing Finley is one of the most disgusting things I've ever witnessed.
No argument there.
The only leg that that they even remotely have to stand on is that he went to their arch enemy 250+ miles south.
Even still, screw those Mavs "fans".
One question:
Where are the Spurs fans that where busting Michael's chops earlier in the season.
Props to TPark for sticking with Finley from day one.
" Before the series, Mavs owner Mark Cuban invited Finley's family to watch the series in his family's luxury suite. "I like Mike," said Cuban, adding that he'd consider re-signing Finley when he becomes a free agent after the 2007-08 season. "But, you know, entertainment is part of the game. Booing him doesn't make him a bad guy."
I'm thrilled for Michael, Gregg Popovich said with a message that could have been meant for Dallas. He's such a class act, one of our leaders. He came here in a tough situation for him and played hard without malice or showmanship. And he competes with class.
...showmanship. As in - bouncing the ball off of your head.
You sir are an idiot.
How does the fact that Cuban invites Finley's family to watch the game from his suite justify the insults he is a victim of in Dallas.
Ohh, and that dunk was ing sweeeeeet!
That΄s the word, that΄s the word, he deserves to win a championship, i will be very very glad if spurs could reach one more at least.
Finley nailed that 3 right in front of the Mavs' bench and Cuban with Nowitzki running at him.
Cold.
What??????? ......you're still around? Get lost loser!
I thought the head-butt of the basketball was great. I couldn't blame him for being excited on that one.
The Dallas crowd amped Michael Finley and that guy who they all thought was washed-up and not clutch, for one night at least, shoved all of those sentiments right down their collective throat.
The sweetest irony of all was seeing Michael Finley make a great defensive play at the end of the game, when the Spurs needed it, to help seal that victory.
I have to remind myself that it's 2006 and I'm not in some parallel universe with Finley being the Spurs' playoff hero and AJ the enemy coach.
This is soooo sad. I dont understand Dallas fans anymore. How can they follow that POS Cuban blindly like sheep? And the Terry jerseys... EMMITT ! I used to LOVE you !
What he should have done is bounce it off of Cuban's head. But Finley has too much class for that. I think he handled himself very nicely.
And how can anyone defend Cuban? I put you in the same class as him... NO CLASS
Somehow, I don't think Mike would be interested. Just a hunch....adding that he'd consider re-signing Finley when he becomes a free agent after the 2007-08 season.
Amen to that!
Quit drinking the Pop puss juice and pull out your s and remotes and watch a got damn game.
Booing is a part of sports.
I want to win game 7 so bad just for Finley. It would suck to leave the mavericks and then lose to them next year, and possibly watch them win the championship. We have to win. Plus i hate Cuban. But its mainly for Finley--hes saved our butts a lot these playoffs and in the regular season to help get the #1 seed which has obviously helped us greatly
I saw the Michael Finley postgame interview last night. He seemed genuinely disapointed that after trying to be such a model citizen for the organization for 8-9 years, it now came down to people holding signs calling him a "TRAITOR" when he wasn't the one asking for a trade, and signs saying "LOW BLOW", when he wasn't the one who punched another player. And I was seriously surprised when he said that his family couldn't even attend the games because of all the booing and lack of respect from Mavs fans. That's just classless.
no doubt about it finely was a great signing
everyone is pissy at NVE but if we didn't sign NVE do you think finely woudl of still signed with the spurs
sort of a gary patan karl malone package you have to take both just because one is good
I really think if we didn't have finely we would have lost to the mavs this series as they are the better team
you notice we seems to always have to come back from behind to win these games you know keeping it close then pulling it out or losing
please can we just go up and keep a 10 point lead or something
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