When comparing modern-day coaches, only Phil Jackson’s name (with the 10 titles next to it) is revered more than San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich in the pro ranks. Pop’s four championships and 14 consecutive winning seasons is mind-bogglingly impressive. Entering the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat was largely regarded as the more talented team and the Spurs team was considered to be a more well-coached unit.
But just like LeBron James, the de facto best player on the planet is prone to a subpar game once in a while, apparently so is Popovich, whose Game 6 blunders could cost his team a banner.
Despite his $6 million salary, it seems Popovich does not have a reliable DVR. If he did, there’s absolutely no excuse for pulling Tim Duncan out of the game for defensive purposes twice towards the end of regulation duringTuesday night’s overtime loss. Yes, the second team All-NBA defender had a comfy seat next to his coach while the game was on the line.
I understand the logic and reasoning. Miami needed a three-pointer desperately and had a small lineup on the court. Despite a throwback night where he scored 30 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, Duncan isn’t exactly a spring chicken and you don’t want him running around trying to cover three-point shooters very often.
Still, with a slim lead and the NBA Championship on the line, I want my best players on the court, especially my best defender.
I bring up the DVR because we witnessed a similar strategy backfire for the Indiana Pacers during the Eastern Conference Finals when Roy Hibbert was benched late in a futile attempt to match up with Miami’s small lineup. The Heat exploited the Pacers by getting to the rack and consequently the Finals.
Tuesday night, they earned offensive rebounds that led to three-pointers in both instances and allowed for Ray Allen’s brilliant shot that forced overtime. Had Duncan been in the game on those possessions, he would’ve finished with 19 rebounds and been bathing in bubbly right about now.
Duncan wasn’t the only San Antonio superstar who got the possession game treatment either. Tony Parker also got some pine time late during Spurs free throws and defensive possessions. Yes, the fastest player on the court and primary ball-handler was taken away and it destroyed the Spurs’ transition game.
They were either forced to call a timeout to bring him back into the game or, as they inexplicably did, allow Kawhi Leonard and a struggling Manu Ginobili to handle the ball on the fly with the game on the line in overtime. To no surprise, that critical possession ended in a turnover, Ginobili’s 8th of the game.
One can only wonder whether Popovich’s bizarre decisions were influenced by the strange sight of James’ headbandless hairline during his impressive fourth quarter run. After a mostly passive three quarters, James revved it up in the fourth by scoring 16 points to help eliminate the Spurs 10-point fourth quarter lead.
His Heat teammates deserve credit for showing the toughness and determination to force Game 7, where anything goes. Fan-favorite whipping boy Chris Bosh came up big when it counted with a key rebound and assist on Allen’s shot and game saving blocks with their season on the line. The team also shut down Danny Green and held him to just one three-pointer.
The big question going into Game 7 is how the exciting, emotionally-draining overtime thriller will affect the psyche of the two teams.
Disappointing Game 6 defeats can prove catastrophic. Remember David Freese’s epic 11th-inning walk-off home run during Game 6 of the 2011 World Series? Well, the Rangers didn’t put up much of a fight in the next game as the Redbirds breezed to a 6-2 victory.
Will another Texas team roll over? Then again, this series has been as back and forth as can be imagined. No team has won consecutive games and they’ve often taken turns looking both brilliant and shrug-worthy.
Can 37-year-old Tim Duncan turn back the clock one more game, after logging a massive 44 minutes? Will James’ headband watch from the stands? Will Bosh and Wade step up big or will it be Ginobili and Green? Will Pop fix his TiVo?
Lots of questions to be answered Thursday night. But there’s one thing that’s not in doubt. Game 7s are exciting! The lights will be bright, the American Airlines Arena will be buzzing and the world will be watching. Hopefully we’ll get a fitting end to a great series.
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