Orlando fue pan comido (ver La Manu Magic abajo) y para el partido ante Miami, Popovich premió a sus 4 titulares sanos dándoles un descanso y jugándole al Campeón de la NBA con sus 9 suplentes disponibles. Y casi lo gana.
El SÁBADO los Spurs juegan un partido muy importante ante MEMPHIS, ya que son del mismo grupo y es fundamental conseguir un mejor record que ellos de cara a los Playoffs dentro de 6 meses.
San Antonio
| Starters | Pos | Min | FG | 3Pt | FT | +/- | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | BA | PF | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. De Colo | G | 33:32 | 4-8 | 2-4 | 5-6 | -4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| P. Mills | G | 23:59 | 3-11 | 1-7 | 0-0 | -16 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| T. Splitter | C | 29:34 | 7-12 | 0-0 | 4-6 | -5 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| B. Diaw | F | 38:04 | 5-7 | 1-2 | 1-2 | -17 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| M. Bonner | F | 29:42 | 4-7 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Bench | Min | FG | 3Pt | FT | +/- | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | BA | PF | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals | 36-80 | 10-31 | 18-24 | 11 | 45 | 22 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 100 | ||
| Percentages | .450 | .323 | .750 | Team Rebounds: 10 | ||||||||||
| G. Neal | 32:14 | 7-20 | 2-8 | 4-4 | +5 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 |
| J. Anderson | 19:31 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 4-5 | +9 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| D. Blair | 18:27 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 0-1 | -2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| C. Joseph | 14:57 | 1-6 | 1-4 | 0-0 | +5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
No jugaron: Duncan, Parker, Ginobili ni Danny Green (ver foto). Leonard y Jackson están lesionados.
29N: "Fue lo mejor para nuestro equipo", dijo Popovich en Miami.
Polémica con los Spurs porque Ginóbili, Parker, Duncan y Green no jugaron en Miami. El técnico Popovich cuidó sus físicos y los mandó de vuelta a San Antonio, pero el comisionado Stern dijo que puede sancionarlos...
Después de brillar en la victoria del miércoles en Orlando, a Manu Ginóbili lo esperaba un duro partido frente a los Heat a las 24 horas, pero el técnico Gregg Popovich modificó sus planes y lo mandó de regreso a San Antonio. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan y Danny Green se tomaron un vuelo de línea junto con el bahiense mientras los otros Spurs se preparaban para salir a la cancha ante los campeones de la última temporada. Una movida diseñada por Pop para cuidar a sus figuras dentro de un exigente calendario que fijaba cuatro partidos en cinco noches para los texanos.
"Es lo mejor para nuestro equipo. Todos tienen que tomar decisiones con el calendario que le toca. Ya lo hicimos antes. Y lo vemos como una decisión inteligente. No a lo macho. Quizás nos sirva para estar bien el sábado contra Memphis", dijo Popovich al llegar a Miami, pero su medida causó malestar en el público y provocó una reacción de los dirigentes. El comisionado David Stern dio un comunicado para contar su enojo: "Le pido perdón a los fans de la NBA. Fue una decisión inaceptable por parte de los Spurs. Impondremos sanciones sustanciales". Polémica en puerta.
San Antonio igual hizo un gran partido, perdió apenas 105-100 pese a las ausencias y así quedó 13-4 en la temporada (9-2 como visitante). Un triple de Ray Allen a 22 segundos quebró la paridad, Gary Neal falló otro en el cierre y Dwyane Wade lo liquidó con libres. LeBron James (23 puntos), Allen (20), Wade (19) y Bosh (18) tuvieron que esforzarse para que los Heat (11-3) ganaran en una noche rara. Neal (20), el brasileño Tiago Splitter (18) y el francés Nando De Colo (15) lideraron la formación alternativa de los Spurs. Casi le sale completa a Popovich...
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MIAMI (AP) -- The NBA plans to make San Antonio pay for resting four stars.
The Miami Heat almost could not.Ray Allen's 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left gave the Heat the lead, LeBron James finished with 23 points and the Heat rallied late to beat the Spurs 105-100 on Thursday night - needing to dig deep despite San Antonio's decision to have four standouts resting at home in a move that irked NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Allen scored 20 points, Dwyane Wade added 19 and Chris Bosh finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, now 7-0 at home.
Gary Neal had 20 points for the Spurs, who played without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green. The Spurs' top foursome was sent back to San Antonio by coach Gregg Popovich, who said the move was in his team's best interest. Stern wasn't happy about it, calling the move ''unacceptable'' and saying that sanctions against the Spurs will be forthcoming.
Tiago Splitter scored 18 points, Nando De Colo added 15, Boris Diaw scored 12 and Matt Bonner had a 10-point, 10-rebound night for San Antonio, which finished a six-games-in-nine-nights road trip with a 5-1 record.
The Spurs led by seven with about 5 minutes left and were up 98-93 after Neal made a 3-pointer with 2:14 remaining.
The Heat finished on a 12-2 run, needing yet another late-game rally.
But all anyone will likely remember from this one is Popovich's decision - and whatever Stern does as a result.
''I apologize to all NBA fans,'' Stern said. ''This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming.''
Stern's statement was released roughly the same time as tip-off in Miami for the nationally televised game.
The Spurs' five starters came into the game averaging a combined 23.6 points, or 1.6 points less than James averaged entering Thursday night.
And when the Heat ran out to a 16-6 lead, it seemed as though a blowout was in the offing. After all, even the oddsmakers in Las Vegas expected it to be that way - the Heat were favored by six points in most sports books before the news broke that the Spurs' regulars were resting, after which the line swelled to 13.
Apparently, no one told the Spurs that the second-string was supposed to play second-fiddle.
San Antonio closed the first quarter on a 21-6 run, taking a 27-22 lead after the period, and simply did not go away. The Spurs led by as many as seven at one point, and after James Anderson made a pair of free throws with 0.6 seconds left in the third, San Antonio held a 76-73 lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
But once again, James-to-Allen proved magical for Miami.
With the Heat down by one, James nearly lost the ball in the lane, collected himself and kicked it out to Allen, who connected from the left wing to put Miami ahead to stay.
Thing is, no one ever thought it would come down to a play like that.
Before the game, Popovich said he decided to sit his core when he saw how challenging this particular part of the schedule was for his team. Thursday's matchup ended a six-games-in-nine-nights swing for the Spurs, who won their first five on the trip.
''Everybody has to make decisions about their schedule, about players playing and back-to-backs and trips and that sort of thing,'' Popovich said before the game. ''In our case, this month we've had 11 away games, after tonight. We've had an eight-day trip and a 10-day trip, and we're ending it with four (games) in five nights here. I think it'd be unwise to be playing our guys in that kind of a situation, given their history.''
It's not unlike other moves Popovich has made before; in fact, not only did he give Duncan, Parker and Ginobili time off together toward the end of last season, which was condensed by a lockout, he actually flew home to San Antonio with them and took a two-game, pre-playoff sabbatical.
This time, when Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Green flew home - reportedly on a Southwest Airlines flight on Thursday from Orlando, where the team played one night earlier - Popovich stayed with the Spurs for the trip to Miami.
Duncan is in his 16th NBA season, Parker his 12th and Ginobili his 11th. Green is a kid compared to those guys - 25 years old and a veteran of only 110 NBA games - but Popovich said he chose to rest him as well because Green has played a lot.
Green leads the Spurs with 496 minutes played this season, which was 44th-most in the NBA entering Thursday's games. The Spurs aren't expected to practice Friday, then they face Memphis on Saturday in San Antonio.
''Perhaps it'll give us an opportunity to stay on the court with Memphis on Saturday night,'' Popovich said.
''Historically, when you're on a long road trip, that first game when you come home is really tough. And Memphis is one of the best teams in the league. They're of much more concern to us than playing four games in five nights. It's pretty logical.''
Given Stern's statement, it's also logical to think that the Spurs could know their penalty by Saturday as well.
Popovich also said facing the Heat had nothing to do with his decision.
''I've gotten letters from those people before when I've done it and I understand their perspective totally,'' Popovich said. ''If I was taking my 6-year-old son or daughter to the game, I'd want him or her to see everybody. And if they weren't there, I'd be disappointed. So I understand that perspective. Hopefully, people in that position will understand my perspective, what my priority is - the basketball team and what's best for it.''
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Popovich's move didn't affect Miami's preparation.
''Each organization has a big-picture view of what they are trying to get accomplished and I think the league respects that,'' Spoelstra said.
In this case, apparently not.
In Defense of Gregg Popovich
Tonight, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich sat most of his starters. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli and Danny Green were told to go home and rest up for Saturday’s game against conference and division rival Memphis Grizzlies.
Popovich is a firm believer in keeping his aging roster fresh, which was exemplified during last year’s incredibly condensed season, during which coach Popovich sat his stars on several occasions. Eighty-two games is a grueling marathon, and Pop knows exactly what pace his Spurs need to keep to end up on top.
During tonight’s matchup between the Spurs and Miami Heat, the fifth game in a five game road trip for San Antonio, NBA Commissioner David Stern issued a statement in which he apologized to NBA fans and noted that, “This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming.”
Every year the jokes roll out that the Spurs are too old, and even Popovich recognizes it. Last season Pop sat All-Star forward Tim Duncan and the disclaimer “DNP-OLD” appeared on the box score sheet. If so many people notice the aging San Antonio roster, how can tonight’s lineup change be so important?
Yes, it is a disappointment to Spurs/Heat/NBA fans attending tonight’s game in Miami that three of the league’s more entertaining talent will not even be in the building for the game, but in the grand scheme of things, is ONE game going to matter?
Memphis is a threat to the Spurs in the Western Conference, and the Heat are a team they MIGHT face in the Finals. Popovich didn’t get recognized as the league’s best coach last year because he made the popular choice, he earned that accolade by making the choices that led to wins.
Any sanctions placed against the Spurs should be met with extreme protest not only by the San Antonio Spurs brass, but by fans and executives around the league.
(As of this posting, the San Antonio Spurs are ahead 94-89 against the Miami Heat with 3 minutes remaining.)
EDIT: The Miami Heat rallied back to beat the Spurs 105-100.
Un aplauso para el mejor técnico de la NBA lejos: GREGG POPOVICH.
28N: La Manu Magic
Ginóbili se despachó con 6-9 triples y terminó con 20 puntos en Orlando, para liderar a los Spurs en la quinta victoria al hilo en la gira por el Este. Así ratifica su mejoría...
Su comienzo preocupaba. Más por sus dolores lumbares que por su nivel, bajo pero con posibilidad de mejorar. Pero si podía superar su lesión... Y Manu, con tratamiento y dosificación de minutos, lo ha logrado y de a poco vuelve a ser el de siempre. Durante el miércoles lo ratificó en Orlando. La mira venía torcida, sobre todo de tres (28%), pero la calibró y clavó 6-9, rompiendo su marca de la temporada (le había hecho cinco a Denver) y quedando a dos de su marca histórica (ocho en el 2008). Ginóbili fue la figura del quinto triunfo seguido de los Spurs en esta gira por el Este (110-89) y el octavo de visitante: 20 puntos, cinco asistencias y cuatro rebotes en 24 minutos. El jueves vuelven a jugar. Gran duelo con Miami, el campeón, a las 22 (Space).
El bahiense salió encendido desde el banco... De arranque la pelota quedó en sus manos en su rol de base real y tomó dos buenas decisiones (asistencias) y luego llegó la lluvia de triples desde distintos lados: 4-4 en seis minutos para cerrar el cuarto inicial con 12 puntos, tres pases gol y tres rebotes. Así aniquiló la Magia local: 29-18. En el segundo, tras descansar, se dedicó a pasarla: dos asistencias más. Y el equipo, con la velocidad de Parker (12) y el gran momento de Duncan (13, con una bomba agónica sobre la chicharra) para el 55-41.
Ya en el tercero, San Antonio no necesitó tanto de la mano de Manu, pero igual clavó una bomba más, para sacar 17 y empezar a liquidarlo. Pero a Gino le quedaba una bala más en la recámara y la usó en el último para terminar con 6-9 triples antes de irse a descansar. El negocio estuvo desde lejos, por eso no lanzó dobles y apenas tuvo 2-2 libres... Manu toma lo que le da el juego y saca su escopeta. Y balear a la Magia...
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