Buck Harvey: Spurs' hope: Bad Pop turning good

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA012807.01C.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.17c0c70.html

Web Posted: 01/27/2007 09:27 PM CST
San Antonio Express-News

At times on the sidelines he's looked resigned. Other times, vindictive.

He peeled off the last layers of Beno Udrih's confidence, then confused Tony Parker with a don't-shoot-as-much equation. He's stuck with Michael Finley when Brent Barry had more going, and he's found new ways to downgrade the Spurs' defense.

Is this the worst Spurs' defense in six to eight years? Or since Walter Berry was a Spur?

He's said a few things he never said before, such as announcing the Spurs won't make a trade. And now he closes the cabin door behind him for takeoff, sealing off the Spurs for their rodeo road trip, continuing the role he has made for himself.

He's played the bad Pop, and, if the Spurs are to have any chance this spring, he has to be the good.

He works the good-bad roles, albeit with an asterisk; Popovich's emotions are often real instead of calculated. At times this season, when the Spurs have looked like the worst third-best team in league history, his reactions have been heartfelt.

But he knows the power of his personality, and he doesn't mind going to an extreme. Years ago, when he was the general manager, he came up with a strategy to out-crazy a crazy named Dennis Rodman.

It was an act, but it put Rodman on his heels. There have been similar moments in recent years, when he would exit his locker room after a considerable scolding, then ask a staffer, with a smile, if he had been convincing.

Avery Johnson controls his franchise with similar force (wonder where he got it?), but good players usually lead good teams. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson — they dominated the ball and those around them.

But Tim Duncan is more of a nurturing leader. Manu Ginobili has hold of his Argentina national team, but he prefers to blend here. And while Michael Finley displays dignity and occasional direction, he's not a star anymore.

So it's up to Popovich, as it has been since Avery Johnson and Mario Elie left town, to fix what is wrong. In doing so, Popovich, who has never minded sacrificing a few games to make a point, has added to the disorder.

It's no secret he can be temperamental, and he will wear on players at times. There's been griping in his locker room this season, albeit not the kind of howl that destroys a team, and he's added to a climate that has led to losses.

That climate was there last week, for example, when the Rockets beat the Spurs without Yao Ming. The Spurs had little energy and less fun; if this were Minnesota, Kevin McHale would have come out of the stands to fire his coach.

But that's the strength in this good-Pop, bad-Pop world. He's his own boss. He can create doubt, shuffle his lineups, breed some unhappiness — then clean up the mess with a new tone and plan.

He's done it in the past, and he seems to have started the good-Pop transition last week with his declaration that the Spurs will play with what they have. No one rules out the possibility of a deal a month before the trade deadline — especially a franchise that has been looking for a more athletic swingman — so here's the guess:

Popovich figured the fractured state of his team couldn't handle a few more weeks of unrest. He built this team for his style of coaching as much as he did for Duncan, going heavy on shooters with experience, so it was time to send a message to everyone they were in this together and should relax.

His best manipulation and coaching likely won't be enough. He doesn't have the talent that is in Dallas or Phoenix, and this rodeo road trip is more rugged than any the Spurs have faced in the past. No one would be shocked if the Spurs return from this trip in sixth place in the West.

But Popovich has Duncan. He has Ginobili and a core that has won championships. And he has his peculiar way of forging a team through an up-and-down process of stress.

Beginning today, in Los Angeles, good Pop tries to emerge.