Popovich has been called a lot of things. But merciful?
After Lebron was benched by Coach Brown 3 minutes into game two of the Finals, Popovich went on to play fair by benching his starters.
Duncan, Parker, Finley, and Bowen were all sitting on the bench after getting a 15 point lead in the first quarter.
It seems almost embarrassing that the Spurs bench outplayed the rest of the Cavs starters.
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Staff Columnist
San Antonio - Tony Soprano, the mobster we love, is America’s favorite wise guy.
Gregg Popovich, whose stare can kill, is the NBA’s last don.
“Yes, he’s a son of a gun,” San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo said of his boss. “He’s very tough.”
Everybody, including superstar LeBron James of Cleveland, is worried Tony is going to get killed in tonight’s final episode of “The Sopranos.”
“My friends think that either the feds are going to come and get him, or he’s going to make friends with the feds and maybe snitch on a lot of people, or he’s going to get whacked,” said James, who maybe should worry more about escaping the cement sneakers the Spurs slapped on him during that opening-game beat down at the NBA Finals.
But you think Big Tony is gonna be the toughest guy on television tonight?
Fuhgetaboutit.
No Soprano is tougher than “Pop.” He’s the coach of the Spurs. The godfather of the men in black.
Don’t mess with Texas? Whoever wrote that slogan back in the day must have anticipated Popovich was coming to town.
He sets the tone for pro basketball’s most feared operation, sneers at the fawning San Antonio electronic media who trip over themselves to kiss his championship rings, then goes home and sips a glass of fine vino.
Why does the theme song from “The Sopranos” start playing in my head every time Popovich barks orders in the San Antonio huddle? Talk about a dude who was born under a bad sign with a blue moon in his eye.
“You’ve got a lot of coaches in this league who won’t yell at superstars on their team. They fear their superstars because they fear for their jobs. And ‘Pop’ doesn’t worry about that,” Spurs veteran Robert Horry said.
What makes the Spurs murder to play is not their defense so much as their steel-toed-boots attitude.
Any dope with something besides seeds in his melon knew five years ago that Popovich was smarter than Pat Riley or Phil Jackson on the bench. But a little more than 24 hours before Game 2 of the Finals, some fool finally got around to asking “Pop” if he wasn’t more famous because he failed to wear Armani suits and preach Zen.
“No,” replied Popovich, trying not to be annoyed by the flattery.
Then, the Spurs coach punctuated his disdain for celebrity, saying, “I’m not being a wise-(aleck). I don’t care.”
The Spurs, from the gutter tactics of Bruce Bowen to the 1,000-yard stare of Tim Duncan, are not easy to cuddle.
Popovich can be engaging, condescending, fascinating and infuriating. All in the same breath.
And, no, “Pop” does not really give a flip about what you think of him or his team.
Thanks for asking.
In a league where it’s generally believed millionaire players now run the show, Popovich is the last don, straight from the Soprano iron-fist school of management.
And I mean that in a good way.
“Let’s face it — you have a better chance of seeing Billy Donovan’s family vacationing at Epcot than Cleveland winning this series.” - Unknown (let us know if you have the source!)
“Not only will San Antonio win the title, it’ll do it so easily/efficiently/masterfully/overwhelmingly that we’ll remember the Spurs as one of the better championship teams of the past 30 years. We’d even be headed for a sweep if not for the NBA’s old “shaky referee trick,” - Bill Simmons (ESPN.com Page 2)
The game went pretty much the way it should have.
The Spurs owned the Cavs.
The refs we’re noticeably silent throughout the game. They were letting the players play.
Of course, for the first two games the NBA can do that. The Spurs are at home and can obviously easily run through the Cavs.
The next 3 games are back in Ohio. Thats where I really think the NBA and refs manipulation will shine, and kill the integrity of the game.
Oh let me count the ways:
Media
The media has taken control of the NBA and because they can only increase profits through hype they continue to drive the NBA right into the ground. Year after year they choose a player to hype only to be let down. Hardcore fans are always going to watch but the casual fan is what the NBA needs to make the Playoffs and the Finals profitable. The media would rather promote exactly what the highly prized casual TV fans are tired of seeing. Thugs, big mouths and criminals! Just look at what it’s done for the NFL, need I say anymore. Why not choose a player and a team that has already proven itself! Because the media decided years ago that the unassuming Tim Duncan is boring they can’t promote the Spurs. Shame on the media! The Spurs are exactly what the casual fans would love to embrace. Talent, athletic ability and hard work; sure they play defense but you have speed and agility, shooting, tough play in the lane and the wild and crazy moves of Manu “Crazy legs” Ginobili. Nothing to see here! The bad news is that you are not going to read or see these guys in the national media or see these guy mug shots in the crime pages.
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m already tired of the LeBron James media hype. Why is this kid anointed as the savior of the NBA? I understand that “King” James has an overwhelming wealth of talent and has put in the hard work necessary to assume the throne. But what has he done to deserve that title? He has become the leader of the Cavs and has done everything it takes to make to the NBA Finals! He has put the Cavs on his back when he had to and helped to make other members of the team better. He has willed his way to the top and deserves credit for all that hard work and effort. But until he wins something I’m not quite ready to crown him!
NBA Staff
The NBA has embraced exactly what the media told them they had to have and it’s rewarded them with fans losing interest in the game. Sure TNT has drama but the NBA has chosen to manufacture drama instead of letting what we all know is a fantastic game create its own drama. I call it selling out! Change the rules to punish teams that play defense and reward teams that play only offense. The only problem with that is that San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is smarter than NBA Commissioner David Stern. Pop has built a team that not only has adapted to the rules but has stood the test of time. I’m sure he would give most of the credit to having the NBA’s best power forward ever and I believe one of the ten best of all time!
NBA Refs Suck
Maybe NBA Staff and Referees should be categorized together because they orchestrate the game together but with growing fan discontent with the referees they deserve a category all their own! I’m no conspiracy theorist and don’t believe refs intentionally decide the winners. But I do believe they know what is expected from them. Close games are a requirement because sponsors need to know that commercials purchased at the end of games will have value. I game that is over in the first half has no viewers at the end of the game. So referees will always give a team that is getting destroyed an opportunity to get back in the game. I’ve had many conversations with referees from all forms of basketball. They all try to convince me that it’s hard to control the game but all you have to do is watch a game to know that a well placed call or momentum halting call gives the opposing team an opportunity to get back in the game. I’m not buying what they are selling and neither are the fans.
Zip
6/6/07
WHAT?
That was my initial impression after reading Kerr’s prediction of the Suns/Spurs series.
Why would a San Antonio resident, who’s earned a championship with this same team, turn his back on his teammates and actually claim that the opponent would win?
Now it becomes clear. The former University of Arizona star, who owns a small piece of the suns, is to become the president & general manager.
His former teammate, at both Cleveland & San Antonio, Danny Ferry has done very well with the Cavs. We will see how he fairs in the ever improving Western Conference. I have a feeling the only way the Suns will be seeing a championship anytime soon, is if the general managers decide to play H-O-R-S-E for it.
Last season, Nike unveiled an advertising campaign for LeBron James based on the statement: “We’re all witnesses.”
On Thursday, that campaign came to life – because those who watched the young King’s legendary performance on Thursday night witnessed something that simply had to be seen to be believed.
There’s no other way to say it: LeBron James turned in one of the greatest playoff performances in NBA history in Game 5 at the Palace – scoring 29 of Cleveland’s last 30 points as the Wine and Gold took control of the Eastern Conference Finals with an epic 109-107 double-overtime win for the ages.
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