Tag: Gregg Popovich

“Unathletic” Spurs run circles around a young Thunder squad

“When you win, you’re experienced. But if you lose, you are old and unathletic,” Gregg Popovich

The San Antonio Spurs have jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals against a much younger “more athletic” team that radio personalities had no problem telling their listeners the Spurs were.

Tony Parker has led a blitzing, fast pace that Spurs squad showed what crisp, team possessions look like.  Pass, pass, shoot was the mantra of the game and Parker even found time to add 34 points en route to dishing out eight assists and collecting three rebounds.

 “It was one of those nights. I felt in a good rhythm early on. I was making my outside shots and just trying to be aggressive. The first game (game 1) I was a little too much in a hurry. Tonight I took my time, especially on the pick-and-rolls when they doubled me.”  Spurs PG Tony Parker

Rookie guard Kwahi Leonard was sensational and finished the game with a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) while Manu Ginobili was, well,  Manu Ginobili ( 20 points, four assists) and Duncan was his veteran self producing 11 points, 12 rebounds and dishing out six assists.

“They were making shots.  I mean, they were spraying them all over the floor and knocking them in. I thought (Kawhi) Leonard was making the shots. Ginobili made a lot of tough shots tonight.  Parker was on fire … I like the guys’ mental toughness.” Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks

If the Thunder plan on making a series out of this they will have to win game 3.  If they cannot take Thursday’s game, the Thunder will be on vacation by weeks end.

 

Spurs look to go up 2-0 on Thunder

 

“It was a hard-fought ball game. Nothing to be ashamed of.” Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks

The San Antonio Spurs have continued their winning ways and look to capture their 20th consecutive victory tonight as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

In game 1, the Spurs showed the rust of a week plus off while waiting for the Thunder and were behind for 3/4 of the game until Head Coach Gregg Popovich uttered those words that will most likely flood the city of San Antonio via posters and T-shirts “I want some nasty!”

The “nasty” that Popovich was looking for erupted in the 4th quarter as the Spurs outscored the Thunder 39-27 to turn a 10-point deficit into a 10-point lead that the Spurs never relinquished.

“They found some rhythm. They were able to attack us through penetration,” said point guard Derek Fisher. “We spent a lot of time trying to talk about doing the job, taking away the penetration of Ginobili and (Tony) Parker. We didn’t do that in the fourth quarter. You can’t give up a 30-point quarter in a playoff game and expect to win.”

The Spurs and Thunder kick off Game 2 tonight at the AT&T Center at 7:30.   Get your tickets to the hottest series thus far in the NBA Playoffs.

Udoka’s unlikely return to San Antonio

One of the Spurs’ greatest strengths is their willingness to think outside the box. Ken Rodriguez explores one of the latest examples at with his piece on the unusual circumstances surrounding former role player Ime Udoka’s  hiring to assist Gregg Popovich.

A quick summary: Having coached at the AAU level for the past three years, the 35-year-old Udoka was in Las Vegas to keep tabs on a couple of his former players at summer league. He bumped into Popovich, who asked if Udoka might be interested in returning to San Antonio as a coach. Udoka was, but also spoke to several teams about another season on the court in the month that passed. When Popovich called with a firm offer, Udoka’s decision was clear.

“I realize how fortunate I am to go straight into coaching,” he told Rodriguez. “It’s very rare.”

As a hard-working grinder who had to battle for every minute he got in the NBA, Udoka should fit right in with the blue-collar mentality over at Spurs headquarters. Indeed, it was those qualities that led Popovich to encourage Udoka to get into coaching in the first place.