tinysands
2007-04-07, 12:40 PM
Spurs' small unit offers versatility
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040707.01C.BKNspurs.warriors.36e0f2d.html
Web Posted: 04/06/2007 11:00 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) stands 6-foot-7 and allegedly weighs as much as 200 pounds, which, of course, may qualify him as a hulking power forward when the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) play host to the Golden State Warriors tonight.
Warriors coach and small-ball pioneer Don Nelson has no qualms about substituting speed for size, and, of late, that's meant starting 6-9 Al Harrington — who is considered undersized as a power forward — at center.
"That's Nellie," said Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) guard Michael Finley, who played under Nelson for eight seasons in Dallas. "For them, that lineup has been successful. He's the kind of coach that's going to stick with it and more or less have teams prepare for him than him have to prepare for them.
"That's been his philosophy for years now."
The Spurs, in the words of coach Gregg Popovich, are "fairly committed to trying to stay big" this season. That was evidenced Thursday when Popovich often kept either Francisco Elson or Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto) on the floor next to Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) in the team's 92-85 victory over Phoenix.
But in the past few weeks the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) also have successfully employed their own small lineup, using it on those nights when Elson encounters foul trouble, the team needs an extra shooter to erase a deficit, or — as might be the case tonight — the matchups simply make it too difficult to stay big.
"The small lineup is out there to make shots," Popovich said. "They have to make shots. We have good ball movement and more people on the court who can score with that group.
"We have to get good at it. At some point come playoff time teams go small more."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) used their small lineup to rally past Portland last month, then did the same thing against New Orleans on March 28. Andris Biedrins, who stands 6-11, started at center when the Warriors played the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) on March 25, but the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) still played small for stretches of their 126-89 victory.
"On those nights when we do go small and we're scoring 120 points it kind of reminds us we are capable of putting points on the board when we need to," Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) said. "It's still about stopping teams, but we can score and get down the court when we let our guys loose a little bit."
Said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, "I know when they went small with us two years ago (in the conference finals) in Phoenix they killed us with it."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) experimented with their small lineup during training camp, something they didn't do last season, to get the players familiar with it. When the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) do go small, Finley or Bowen usually moves to power forward. Popovich also has sometimes paired Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) in the backcourt with Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker).
"We're still an old-fashioned team as far as starting your regular lineup and making them adjust to you," Bowen said. "But when you have guys like Fin and myself (who can defend) multiple positions, you can do other things on the defensive end, like fronting someone.
"With us going small, it gives us more athleticism and we're quicker, so if we do double-team we can scramble."
Popovich doesn't think the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) give up much defensively by playing small, but "against some teams rebounding-wise we have to be a little bit more cautious."
"There were times last year when the small lineup got us," Popovich said, "and (Dallas' Dirk) Nowitzki got some boards."
As a result, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) prioritized finding an athletic center in the offseason. Elson's length and quickness have improved the team's defense. But he also is sometimes prone to foul trouble, which can limit his minutes.
Nelson even started Harrington against 7-6 center Yao Ming on Wednesday in Golden State's victory in Houston. Harrington fronted Yao and the Warriors gave him help. Afterward, Yao admitted to being frustrated.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) hope Duncan can avoid the same problems.
"This year we're trying to play big against small teams a little bit more than last year," Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) said. "It depends on what Pop sees, what he wants. But I think we are comfortable with both."
Notebook: Ginobili said his back was more sore than his left shoulder after he hit the court hard following a drive to the basket Thursday night. He received treatment at practice Friday, but expects to play tonight. "My back is a little tight," Ginobili said. "I was trying to loosen it up with the trainer, but no big deal. I'm all bone. The bones hit the floor pretty hard." ... Popovich said Barry had another MRI, which showed his back is improving. Barry is still expected to miss another game or two.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040707.01C.BKNspurs.warriors.36e0f2d.html
Web Posted: 04/06/2007 11:00 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen) stands 6-foot-7 and allegedly weighs as much as 200 pounds, which, of course, may qualify him as a hulking power forward when the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) play host to the Golden State Warriors tonight.
Warriors coach and small-ball pioneer Don Nelson has no qualms about substituting speed for size, and, of late, that's meant starting 6-9 Al Harrington — who is considered undersized as a power forward — at center.
"That's Nellie," said Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) guard Michael Finley, who played under Nelson for eight seasons in Dallas. "For them, that lineup has been successful. He's the kind of coach that's going to stick with it and more or less have teams prepare for him than him have to prepare for them.
"That's been his philosophy for years now."
The Spurs, in the words of coach Gregg Popovich, are "fairly committed to trying to stay big" this season. That was evidenced Thursday when Popovich often kept either Francisco Elson or Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto) on the floor next to Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) in the team's 92-85 victory over Phoenix.
But in the past few weeks the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) also have successfully employed their own small lineup, using it on those nights when Elson encounters foul trouble, the team needs an extra shooter to erase a deficit, or — as might be the case tonight — the matchups simply make it too difficult to stay big.
"The small lineup is out there to make shots," Popovich said. "They have to make shots. We have good ball movement and more people on the court who can score with that group.
"We have to get good at it. At some point come playoff time teams go small more."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) used their small lineup to rally past Portland last month, then did the same thing against New Orleans on March 28. Andris Biedrins, who stands 6-11, started at center when the Warriors played the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) on March 25, but the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) still played small for stretches of their 126-89 victory.
"On those nights when we do go small and we're scoring 120 points it kind of reminds us we are capable of putting points on the board when we need to," Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) said. "It's still about stopping teams, but we can score and get down the court when we let our guys loose a little bit."
Said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, "I know when they went small with us two years ago (in the conference finals) in Phoenix they killed us with it."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) experimented with their small lineup during training camp, something they didn't do last season, to get the players familiar with it. When the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) do go small, Finley or Bowen usually moves to power forward. Popovich also has sometimes paired Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) in the backcourt with Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker).
"We're still an old-fashioned team as far as starting your regular lineup and making them adjust to you," Bowen said. "But when you have guys like Fin and myself (who can defend) multiple positions, you can do other things on the defensive end, like fronting someone.
"With us going small, it gives us more athleticism and we're quicker, so if we do double-team we can scramble."
Popovich doesn't think the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) give up much defensively by playing small, but "against some teams rebounding-wise we have to be a little bit more cautious."
"There were times last year when the small lineup got us," Popovich said, "and (Dallas' Dirk) Nowitzki got some boards."
As a result, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) prioritized finding an athletic center in the offseason. Elson's length and quickness have improved the team's defense. But he also is sometimes prone to foul trouble, which can limit his minutes.
Nelson even started Harrington against 7-6 center Yao Ming on Wednesday in Golden State's victory in Houston. Harrington fronted Yao and the Warriors gave him help. Afterward, Yao admitted to being frustrated.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) hope Duncan can avoid the same problems.
"This year we're trying to play big against small teams a little bit more than last year," Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) said. "It depends on what Pop sees, what he wants. But I think we are comfortable with both."
Notebook: Ginobili said his back was more sore than his left shoulder after he hit the court hard following a drive to the basket Thursday night. He received treatment at practice Friday, but expects to play tonight. "My back is a little tight," Ginobili said. "I was trying to loosen it up with the trainer, but no big deal. I'm all bone. The bones hit the floor pretty hard." ... Popovich said Barry had another MRI, which showed his back is improving. Barry is still expected to miss another game or two.