Buck Harvey: In search of leaders: Popovich in charge
Web Posted: 12/09/2004 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....d57b4aee.html
San Antonio Express-News
Gregg Popovich yelled at a ref for about 10 minutes. Slammed the scorer's table. And benched his starting center for the entire second half.
He also talked to the Spurs at halftime "in a Pop way," as Manu Ginobili described it.
In a Pop way.
With this franchise, it's often the only way.
It's worked, since Popovich has the highest winning percentage among active coaches. But he isn't accustomed to December showdowns between teams with the best records.
He's more accustomed to talk shows calling for his head, and he joked about that Wednesday night before the game.
It didn't take long for Popovich's mood to change. Since the Spurs were routed in Seattle last month, he thought his players now had what he calls "appropriate respect." The Spurs instead played as if the November night had been a blip.
By halftime the spread was 19 points, and Popovich then worked the only angle he could. He stayed on the lead referee, Eddie F. Rush, trying to get the aggressive Sonics off Tim Duncan, and Popovich never let go.
"Relax," Rush told him.
"You call the foul," Popovich said, "and I'll relax."
Popovich was technically right. An NBA scout in attendance said that, yes, the Sonics were dislodging Duncan from the block. The league has emphasized that dislodging is a foul that needs to be called.
But Popovich knew that wasn't the reason the Spurs were a step behind. The Spurs had to dislodge something themselves, and it was their lack of emotion.
For this franchise — through two championships — Popovich has done the dislodging. Duncan has become more of a leader every year, but it's not his nature to take over a locker room. That leaves a young core, as well as one of the few holes on this roster.
Whereas the le teams had veterans Mario Elie and Jerome Kersey, Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry, these Spurs don't have the same personalities.
Robert Horry's experience helps, and Brent Barry might ease into a similar role. But there is little else, just one reason the addition of Karl Malone makes sense.
Popovich says he's "always been interested" in Malone, but Popovich has recruited carefully. Popovich's strategy with Malone is what it was with Duncan's free agency. In short, Popovich has given Malone space.
"He stepped back and let me do my thing," Malone said in September of Popovich. "When the time is appropriate, we'll talk."
The time is as appropriate as it's ever going to get, what with Kobe Bryant running Malone out of L.A. this week. And when they talk, Popovich will tell Malone about nights such as Wednesday and what the Spurs need.
Malone, by every account, was the rational voice in the dysfunctional Lakers locker room last season. He couldn't always play as the Hall of Famer he will be, but, by his nature and his actions, he led.
Wednesday, when Rasho Nesterovic disappeared, Malone would have gotten a chance to do more. A Malone elbow likely would have found Danny Fortson.
As it was, Malik Rose filled in nicely for Nesterovic to start the second half. Popovich never went back to Barry, either, relying on his most aggressive group.
The Spurs had enough energy to win, as well as enough chances. One came when Horry cut for an open dunk toward the end of the third quarter — but lost the ball. That would have pulled the Spurs within two points and would have changed the volume in the SBC Center even more.
Midway through the fourth, the Spurs did cut the Seattle lead to 83-81. Ray Allen, swarmed by Bruce Bowen, followed with a miss. But Duncan couldn't chase down the rebound, ending several steps up an aisle in the stands. Allen followed with a three-pointer.
As for the remarkable turnaround of the Sonics: No one better symbolizes that than ex-Spurs guard Antonio Daniels, who has been solid off the Seattle bench. No one better symbolized the end of this game, either, with a three-pointer with just over a minute left.
Popovich waved to the Sonics' coaches as he walked off the floor. And within minutes he was talking to the media, managing the energy of his team, spending another evening as the emotional leader.
In a Pop way.
I agree. Malone won't have a problem calling people out, much like what Elie did to Drob in 99. We need a junkyard dog to stir up the garbage every once in a while in the locker room. The players have got to be tired of hearing Pop rant and rave, and Malone would fit that needed veteran leadership role nicely.
they played like this win didnt matter to them
As much as I despise Malone, I have to admit that he would never put up with the lax at ude and lack of energy the Spurs exhibited last night. It was supremely disappointing.
Sometimes Harvey manages to render the English language indecipherable to native speakers and then other times he hits the nail squarely on its head.
This team needs more of a physical presence in the paint and it needs more players with some heart to go along with their technical skill and surprising athleticism.
I wonder who fits that description?
Which description?
Someone with physical presence in the paint and heart? Can you say Mailman?
Works for me.
I'd love to see Malone knock Fortson on his ass and wipe that -eating grin off his baby face.
"Malone won't have a problem calling people out"
Like all bullies and cheapshot -artists, Malone's a chicken- pussy.
Such calling out has credibilty and only gets a positive response when coming from an integral, respected member of the team, very probably a starter, or 6th man at worst. Clear examples are Jordan and Magic and Bird. Band-wagoning, fragile-kneed Malone parachuted onto the Spurs in Feb, god forbid, simply won't have the time with the Spurs, won't be starting, won't be in sync with the Spurs' system, nor getting the on-court minutes to have any credibilty as Spurs' ass kicker.
IIRC, Pop said he doesn't want to the be ass kicker, he'd much rather that role be from a player. That's the captain's role, but Tim simply doesn't have the personality to kick asses. I felt this was the biggest absence last season vs the Lakers. Nobody to kick asses, shake shoulders, go nose-to-nose with slackers.
Last edited by boutons; 12-09-2004 at 06:10 PM.
Yep...no mention of Avery Johnson period. Guy was nothing but a scrub.
I respectfully disagree. If i remeber correctly Elie came in 99, played through the first 14 games, and when the Spurs' record reached 6-8, tore Drob a new asshole. Drob sulked in his own way, but he also manned-up and finally shed that soft label. It took a veteran who had proved himself on other teams who wasnt afraid of stepping on toes to call five-O out in front of the team. I wouldnt have considered Elie an "intergral, respected member" of the Spurs after 14 games, but he earned respect through his vocal leaderhip and after that game winner over the Rockets later in the season.
I think Malone is capable of the same thing. Malik mentioned in an interview that anytime you have a chance of playing with one of the 50 greatest players, its always a good thing. Players may not like always him, but they respect him as a great basketball player. I think criticism from within the locker room is sorely needed, and Malone could easily fill this and myriad other roles (strong, non-Rashosoft physical veteran presence in the front court).
"I think Malone is capable of the same thing"
why "think"? The er been in enough games. Has ANYBODY ever seen or heard of Malone kicking his teammates' asses when he was the franchise player for 20 years?
If not, he ain't gonna start doing it as rookie with the Spurs.
Malone. Spurs have tons of other priorities to work on.
Funny thing, when the Spurs needed coaching, err leadership, to help them solve Seattle's zone D in the first half, Pop was nowhere to be found.
But I guess you can even be a leader when you're leading your team to a 19 point hole.
Leadership and coaching are different. From I remember of his comment, Pop wants to coach, and he prefers that a player be the leader.
I also noticed at the Sixers game, that the Spurs were all very relaxed, smiling, laid back, joking, loose. No pre-game intensity or seriousness that I expect.
and they blew the Sixers out, whats your point
.
This team does need a physical presence. Even T. Mass would've knocked someone around last night. Malone is a solid option.
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