On the whole, the Spurs played with more intensity and with a much higher level of discipline than did the Heat.
Plus, San Antonio’s game plan on defense was to go under virtually every high pick and allow Miami to fire away with impunity from the perimeter. If the Heat won last season’s lockout-induced mad dash to the wire, they will need to shoot with much more consistency from long range to prevail in the normal marathon season that lies ahead.
Indeed, Stern has no business deciding who a coach chooses to play and not play.
And what does Stern do now?
Follow through and fine Pop and/or the Spurs organization?
Suspend Popovich?
However, no matter how substantial the expected sanctions might be, there’s no way that Stern will intimidate Pop and prevent the best coach in the league from reprising this same move when he feels it will be in the best interest of his ball club.
And what if San Antonio had won the game?
Perhaps Stern would have applied his substantial sanctions to the Heat.
With Phil Jackson out of the league and Stan Van Gundy temporarily out of a coaching job, the only coach left standing with the chutzpah to stand up to the commissioner, with the guts to speak his mind, is Pop.
All told, the only loser in this fascinating, multi-faceted situation is David Stern.
(RELATED: SANCTIONS, SCHANCTIONS. VIVA POPOVICH?)
(MORE ON STERN v. POPOVICH IN THIS MORNING’s BLOG)
The newest addition to the SteridanHoops columnist staff, Charley Rosen, 71, is an American author and former basketball coach. From 1983–1986, he was an assistant to Phil Jackson with the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association. He also served as head coach of the Patroons, as well as the CBA’s Rockford Lightning, Oklahoma City Cavalry and Savannah Spirits. A native of The Bronx, N.Y., Rosen is the author of 16 books about basketball. He is known for his in-depth analysis and caustic views.
Hey Charley, since you are a big-man expert, what do you think about this:
The Lakers are not playing Gasol or Howard correctly. Gasol needs to play CENTER on offense. It is his best position. He is better at center on offense than Howard. At center, Gasol won’t be outquicked by opposing centers. Howard can easily play power forward on offense. He is the best and most devastating pick-and-roll big man. This is Steve Nash’s strength on offense. It would be a match made in heaven if only the Lakers would utilize it. Thus Howard should play farther from the rim, setting picks for Nash and Kobe. On defense, Gasol and Howard can play twin towers. But again, Howard should cover the opposing power forward, Gasol the opposing center. This plays to their strengths. Gasol would then be faster than the opposing center. Against centers, Gasol is actually better than Howard on defending them one-to-one. Howard is better on team defense than one-to-one defense. Howard can still get his rebounds and play quarterback on defense. Gasol and Howard can take turns playing center when either one sits on the bench to rest. Doing these changes would maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of Gasol and Howard, turning them into viable twin towers.
Welcome back Charley! Best basketball writer in the business
Really glad to see CR has a regular platform again. Have enjoyed all the books that I’ve read and echo Lucas’ point: let’s see the occasional game breakdown. Always enjoyable.
Charley Rosen. One of the best. Great addition to sheridanhoops.com
I have never been more upset with David Stern. I can no longer take his rule as dictator and him being under the allusion that he always knows best. If Popovich feels that resting his players give his team the best shot at a title he is entitled to do that. Doesn’t matter that fans bought tickets to see the Spurs, doesn’t matter that it might have hurt TV ratings, doesn’t matter that the Spurs basically gave themselves a loss before the game started. It isn’t like the Spurs are trying to tank to get a higher draft pick or avoid a playoff match up, they are thinking what will help us win a championship. I will admit, I was looking forward to this game beforehand as well, and when I found out Parker, Duncan, Ginobli, and Green would be resting it took a little excitement away; but 2 minutes later I remembered Pop did this last year, and they almost made it to the Finals doing exactly this. If anything, after Dictator Stern’s comments, I was more interested in the game, and I became a cheerleader for the Spurs last night.
And as a Bulls fan I think of all of the games Rose played last year not being 100%. He would play a few games, then sit a few games because he wasn’t healed yet from his injury, or a new injury would pop up. I’m not saying this is why he tore is ACL, but it couldn’t have helped. As long as you put yourself in position of being a top 4 playoff seed it doesn’t matter who you rest and when you rest them. And maybe more teams should help out their aging vets this way, and help out their players who are not quite 100% yet. I think every Bulls game about Derrick Rose and about every possible factor that lead to his injury. I would have gladly given up seeing him in 5-10 more regular season games last year if it meant him being 100% going into the playoffs, which every close observer to the Bulls knows he wasn’t last year. I love Coach Thibs, and I know Rose wanted to play, but maybe if Popovich is coaching the Bulls last year Rose never tears his ACL.
Yes, Rose’s situation and the Spurs last night are apples and oranges, but Pop’s thinking shows he sees the Endgame, he realizes one regular season game forfeit is similar to sacrificing a pawn. Popovich has his mind set on capturing the King in the long-run, and the King was not going to be dethroned last night.
Always liked Rosen’s game breakdowns at Foxsports.com. Any chance we’ll see those return here? Rarely see NBA writers dissect a game like that.
Too bad you’re hiding your best new writer’s content behind multiple pages in a silly chase for pageviews and advertising dollars. Nothing makes me want to leave the article more than seeing a “Next Page” link at the bottom. Oh well! I’m sure the other pages were probably good..