Spurs: Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe

[spurschick]

Hoopsworld article... take it for what it's worth.

By Bill Ingram
for HOOPSWORLD.com
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_19043.shtml

When Mark Cuban brought Avery Johnson in as a veteran voice from the bench, he wasn't completely aware of what he was getting. He knew Avery was a vocal leader; that he would push his teammates to achieve more than they ever had before. What Cuban didn't know was the the former Spurs point guard was going to redefine his new team in the image of his former team.

Don Nelson is a legendary coach. There is no denying that. But Don Nelson and Avery Johnson are as different as day and night when it comes to their coaching philosophies. Mark Cuban explains:

"I think the thing that's going to make a big difference is what (Greg) Popovich calls 'corporate knowledge.' Once a core group of guys has played together under a certain system they get better at it. With Avery coming in for his first full year last year, it was the first time we were really running a system. Nellie (Don Nelson) had plays, but it was more Steve (Nash) and whoever taking the lead. General came in and said 'this is our system, this is how we do it, this is what we're going to do.' The more chances we have to work the system, the better we get at it."

In a nuts , Cuban just explained exactly why the San Antonio Spurs have been so successful over the past eight years. He also explained why the Mavericks were able to unseat them as the best team in the Western Conference last season.

The most crucial part of the Popovich system is the notion of constant improvement. He calls on players to constantly add to their repertoires, no matter whether the player is an All-Star or a rookie trying to scratch out a roster spot. Avery Johnson started riding Dirk Nowitzki from the moment the Little General stepped into the American Airlines Center. This season Gregg Popovich is riding Manu Ginobili especially hard.

Manu's ability to drive and make incredible moves is legendary - it was before he ever put on his Spurs jersey. He has a quirky ability to get to the basket, with moves that throw off the best defenders and somehow get him to hole for a driving lay-up. He also has a nice three-point shot. Teams that sag off of Manu hoping to stop his drive get hurt three points at a time. Last season he hit 38% of his threes, the best of his career. While he may be able to improve even more in that area, Popovich is content with Manu's three-point shot and has targeted another area for his international phenom to focus on.

Manu needs to develop a pull-up jumper. He's an All-Star without it, but after analyzing the way the Mavericks approached defending him last season Popovich found an area that could make him even more effective. Two-dimensional players can be stopped, no matter how good they are at those two dimensions. A great defensive team - like Avery's Mavs - can stop two dimensions. Even the best defensive team, however, can't completely shut down a player who can play in all three dimensions. In NBA terms that means being able to get to the hole, being able to hit the three, and being able to pull up and hit a mid-range jumper. That's what Pop has asked Manu to do to enhance his system this season.

It may seem a little odd. Coaches have so much work to do with young and inexperienced players that it might seem, to an outsider, like a waste of resources to commit so much time to finding ways for establish stars to improve their games. The record, however, shows that Popovich's system works very well, and that even All-Stars are willing to push themselves to new heights with the proper encouragement.

Avery Johnson learned his lessons well. This season he has targeted areas of improvement for every member of his team, including MVP runner-up Dirk Nowitzki. He wants Dirk to add assists, offensive rebounds, and blocks to his repertoire. If Dirk Nowitzki can add yet another dimension to his game, surely Manu Ginobili can do the same. Last season the Popovich system pushed a team to new heights - heights as yet unachieved by the team. Unfortunately, his system was in force on the Spurs' primary foe: the Dallas Mavericks.

Can the master now one-up the pupil?

We'll find out in May.

[wildbill2u]

When you talk about improvement, one thing the Spurs need is a return of Tim's jumper. Last year was pathetic with him missing little four foot bank shots, shots that were once automatic.

We hear he's been working on returning to form. I pray thats so, because we need him to be able to spread the floor more and end the double teams with a threat from outside.

[sprrs]

Now that his foot's all healed up, knocking down his signature shots shouldn't be much of a problem.

[joeyjfive]

Yeah I really hope Tim gets his bank shot back, I remember he had missed so many, that when he finally made one the whole team had jumped off the bench and started clapping (and i dont think it was a close game), which shows even they noticed Tim was losing his consistency with the bank shot.