tinysands
2007-04-09, 12:31 PM
Finley makes the most of his time
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040907.06D.spurs.2eed4b0.html
Web Posted: 04/08/2007 08:37 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Michael Finley had just finished his second consecutive 40-plus-minute performance Saturday night when someone asked about the sudden increase in his workload.
"I'm glad we have tomorrow off," Finley said, "so I can rest up a little bit."
Finley earned a day to relax after playing 41 and 40 minutes in the past two games. He had been on the floor for as many as 30 minutes in only five of the previous 58 games.
The absence of Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry), who has missed the past three games with a back injury, has increased Finley's playing time. And his consistent production has given Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich little reason to take him off the court.
In the past eight games, the last three of which he started, Finley has averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 47.7 percent.
During that time, he's made 25 of 48 3-pointers, including at least three in each of the last six games.
"It's the old good days," Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) said. "He used to lead the league in minutes for a couple years there (in Dallas), so he's used to it.
"He knows how to pace himself and honestly, we need him out there. He's been doing such a great job for us shooting the ball, spreading the floor, making the right plays."
Finley had 19 points and a season-high 10 rebounds in Thursday's victory over Phoenix, then made three 3-pointers in the Spurs' 40-point first quarter Saturday against Golden State. With Barry expected to return at some point this week, Finley has built a credible case for continuing to start, but said he won't have a problem should he return to the bench.
"It was something I was accustomed to before I came into the starting lineup," said Finley, in his 12th NBA season. "I just have to mentally stay focused coming off the bench, and if I do that I should be OK."
Finley started to settle into a rhythm before getting the opportunity to start. After he shot 37.9 percent, including 31.2 percent from the 3-point line, in the season's first three months, Popovich told him to stop deferring to teammates and fire away when open.
Finley also was happy to see the NBA switch back to the leather ball at the start of the year.
When Spalding representatives showed up at the Spurs' practice facility last week and gave the players some new synthetic models to test, he started booing.
Finley's increased production has coincided with the Spurs' surge since the All-Star break. Of late, the team has relied on him to help anchor its small lineup.
"This year, I put a lot of pressure on myself early," Finley said. "I wanted to have a stellar season, so to speak.
"From that standpoint, I was taking away from my game. Then I settled down a little bit, let the game start coming to me, come into my role, and I've been a lot more comfortable since then."
That's good news for the Spurs.
Finley had similar struggles last season before improving in the playoffs. During the last four Western Conference semifinal games against Dallas, Popovich played him 47, 44, 45 and 47 minutes.
As Finley headed out of the locker room late Saturday, he looked forward to his day off. But he also said he didn't feel too tired.
"Since the playoffs are rolling around, there's no time to make excuses," Finley said. "I'm just ready to play."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040907.06D.spurs.2eed4b0.html
Web Posted: 04/08/2007 08:37 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Michael Finley had just finished his second consecutive 40-plus-minute performance Saturday night when someone asked about the sudden increase in his workload.
"I'm glad we have tomorrow off," Finley said, "so I can rest up a little bit."
Finley earned a day to relax after playing 41 and 40 minutes in the past two games. He had been on the floor for as many as 30 minutes in only five of the previous 58 games.
The absence of Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry), who has missed the past three games with a back injury, has increased Finley's playing time. And his consistent production has given Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich little reason to take him off the court.
In the past eight games, the last three of which he started, Finley has averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 47.7 percent.
During that time, he's made 25 of 48 3-pointers, including at least three in each of the last six games.
"It's the old good days," Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) said. "He used to lead the league in minutes for a couple years there (in Dallas), so he's used to it.
"He knows how to pace himself and honestly, we need him out there. He's been doing such a great job for us shooting the ball, spreading the floor, making the right plays."
Finley had 19 points and a season-high 10 rebounds in Thursday's victory over Phoenix, then made three 3-pointers in the Spurs' 40-point first quarter Saturday against Golden State. With Barry expected to return at some point this week, Finley has built a credible case for continuing to start, but said he won't have a problem should he return to the bench.
"It was something I was accustomed to before I came into the starting lineup," said Finley, in his 12th NBA season. "I just have to mentally stay focused coming off the bench, and if I do that I should be OK."
Finley started to settle into a rhythm before getting the opportunity to start. After he shot 37.9 percent, including 31.2 percent from the 3-point line, in the season's first three months, Popovich told him to stop deferring to teammates and fire away when open.
Finley also was happy to see the NBA switch back to the leather ball at the start of the year.
When Spalding representatives showed up at the Spurs' practice facility last week and gave the players some new synthetic models to test, he started booing.
Finley's increased production has coincided with the Spurs' surge since the All-Star break. Of late, the team has relied on him to help anchor its small lineup.
"This year, I put a lot of pressure on myself early," Finley said. "I wanted to have a stellar season, so to speak.
"From that standpoint, I was taking away from my game. Then I settled down a little bit, let the game start coming to me, come into my role, and I've been a lot more comfortable since then."
That's good news for the Spurs.
Finley had similar struggles last season before improving in the playoffs. During the last four Western Conference semifinal games against Dallas, Popovich played him 47, 44, 45 and 47 minutes.
As Finley headed out of the locker room late Saturday, he looked forward to his day off. But he also said he didn't feel too tired.
"Since the playoffs are rolling around, there's no time to make excuses," Finley said. "I'm just ready to play."