Although he would never admit it, some of Pop’s irascibility Saturday was likely nerves before the series with the Warriors. There were mixed reviews from players. When asked if he thought Popovich was more intense, Manu Ginobili said, “Yeah, of course. We all [are] because we all want to win and the margin of error disappears.”
But when Tony Parker was asked if Popovich seemed different, he shook his head and said: “Since Day 1 of training camp, same thing.”
If the Spurs are a little anxious, it is understandable. They know what winning is like – four championships for Duncan and three each for Ginobili and Parker. But they haven’t won a title since 2007. During the six years since that last title, they have advanced to the conference finals twice, lost in the second round once and lost in the first round three times.
Last year, they won 20 consecutive games – 10 to end the regular season, then 10 more in the playoffs. But in the conference finals, the young Thunder players elevated their game and won four straight to eliminate the Spurs.
This year, a trip to the Finals seems to be set up for the Spurs. The Lakers lost superstar Kobe Bryant to injury before the playoffs, and San Antonio swept LA in four games. They are playing a sixth-seeded Warriors team that likely will be without injured All-Star David Lee.
And Oklahoma City, the only team to finish ahead of San Antonio in the regular season, has lost All-Star Russell Westbrook to a knee injury.
The Memphis Grizzlies could provide a challenge if they defeat the Thunder. But the Spurs seem to be in the best shape to make the NBA Finals.
Winning the Finals, of course, is another matter. The Heat have lost just twice since Super Bowl Sunday and are so superior that it is difficult to imagine anyone beating them in the playoffs.
But of the teams that have no hope of defeating the Heat, the Spurs would seem to be the best.
They don’t have much time left with the current team, however. As hot shot analysts have been pointing out for about four years now, the Spurs are getting older. They have done a nice job of incorporating young talent such as Kawhi Leonard, Gary Neal and Danny Green into their rotation as complementary players to Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.
But one day, the Spurs will, in fact, be too old. And with Duncan recently turning 37, that time is not far away.
For now, the Spurs seem poised to make another long run in the playoffs, which means that Pop will have to endure another five weeks or so of media sessions. And a repeat of the scene Saturday is likely. Many times.
“We gotta have some fun,” Popovich said after making fun of the questions. “Anybody else want to give it a shot?”
The reporters knew it was time to raise the white flag, so someone asked Pop what he would ask Pop.
“Here’s one you didn’t ask,” Pop said. “How important is this first game? Nobody asked that. Then you can rotate, and ask about the second game, the third game.”
As everyone giggled, Pop’s 175 seconds were up and he departed, stage right.
“OK, I gotta go,” he said, waving. “We’ve had a good time.”
Next major performance: Monday, Game 1, conference semifinals. Check back to see if he’s still having a good time.
CHECK OUT JAN HUBBARD’S ARCHIVE FROM SHERIDAN HOOPS.COM. GREAT STUFF ON THE NBA, THEN AND NOW.
Jan Hubbard has written about basketball since 1976 and worked in the NBA league office for eight years between media stints. Follow him on Twitter at @whyhub.
長い says
だらしないエロい身体や(;´Д`)ハァハァ おかしくなる黒コンする意味あるか勝手な思い込みです
板野と同じ6頭身くらいだったけど、顔だけ浮き出てくるような不気味さ。 昔、鰻谷におっぱいケーキ作ってくれる店あったな 視力補正用コンタクトレンズと同じように高度管理医療機器として
韓国のメーカーので日本で承認とれてないのはほんとにひどいの多いけどね
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