Spurs notebook: Finley's night marred by miss

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs notebook: Finley's night marred by miss

Web Posted: 11/16/2006 12:25 AM CST

Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...k.3640652.html

Finally finding his offensive game and scoring 17 points after what had been a season-long struggle was no consolation for Michael Finley on Wednesday night.

Missing a 3-point shot that would have won the Spurs' game against the Bobcats at the end of the fourth quarter mattered more after Charlotte secured a 95-92 overtime victory.

Finley's 25-footer, launched with 2.5 seconds left, bounced off the back rim and left the score tied at 83. In hindsight, he knows he had time to continue a drive toward the basket for a better shot, but he has no regrets about taking the shot.

"If I could do it all over again," Finley said of his shot from the right quadrant, "I probably wouldn't have taken that (3-point) shot. But if I had it to do it all over again, I'd still want that shot."

Finley had taken a cross-court pass from Manu Ginobili, receiving the ball with Bobcats defensive specialist Bernard Robinson in close proximity.

"I didn't know how much time we really had," Finley said. "I thought I only had enough time to get a couple dribbles and pull up. I had a good look at it and it felt good. It just didn't go down."

Finley entered the game having made only 25 percent of his shots (13 for 52). He had made only 4 of 16 3-point attempts. Even with Brent Barry making 13 of 17 threes in the first seven games, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich stuck with Finley in his playing rotation.

"It's early in the season," Popovich said. "Making decisions on who should start based on shooting doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's doesn't matter who starts anyway in my book. I've had everybody on the floor at the end of the game already this season: Brent, Bruce (Bowen) and Michael. So that's really what matters. As far as who should start, who should be the first guy off the bench, those sorts of things don't really concern me that much."

Finley is grateful for Popovich's patience.

"He's kept me in the rotation and given me a chance to make shots," Finley said, "and you have to commend a coach who gives you that opportunity."

Finley made his first five shots Wednesday but missed all three 3-pointers, including the shot at the end of regulation.

The book on Jordan: Michael Jordan hasn't been a visible figure around the team during his brief tenure as head of Charlotte's basketball operations department, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been working.

Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said he spoke with him Wednesday.

With the team off to a 2-6 start, are Jordan and the coach on the same page?

"Same page?" Bickerstaff asked. "We're not reading a book."

Does Bickerstaff feel he has Jordan's support?

"We're all on the same page in terms of what's going on with the basketball team," Bickerstaff said. "We're all on the same page in terms of knowing where our problems lie.

"The other part you have to get from Michael."

[Gerryatrics]

As far as who should start, who should be the first guy off the bench, those sorts of things don't really concern me that much

Coach Popovich is undoubtedly a coaching genius, instead of playing the players who are actually playing well, let's just randomly sub players in and out and hope some of them make a couple of shots or whatever it is players do when they're not on the defensive end.

Good to know a little thing like shooting 80% from 3 wont sway his pick a name out of a hat bench rotation. I guess in Pop's system, 5 or 8 minutes is plenty of playing time for the hottest 3-point shooter in the NBA.

[whottt]

Scores well enough to stay in the game, get the team to trust and depend on him, then misses the biggest shot.

Story of Michael Finley's NBA career.

[loveforthegame]

Yep, Finley's missed attempt cost us the game last night.

[GoSpurs21]

Yep, Finley's missed attempt cost us the game last night.

and the Spurs overall team shooting 37% and having 16 turnovers in regulation had nothing to do with the loss

you all are pathetic, go root for the Mavs or something