Monday, April 6th, 2009...9:57 pm
Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light
Ed. Note: Before reading my thoughts, please take a look at what Tim Varner had to say about this matter. Also, I apologize in advance for the hackneyed literary references.
I spent most of the day thinking about coach Popovich. His recent decisions have pushed the boundaries of reason and tested my patience. After deep reflection, I realized the genesis of my frustration: It wasn’t that the Spurs were playing poorly; it’s that Pop was not putting them in a position to play to their full potential. Rather than regurgitate my feelings, I’ll quote myself directly:
As a fan, that’s what I want to see: our boys playing our game. If that brings us another title, that’s amazing. If it doesn’t, that’s alright. At least I could look back and say we played to our full potential. But the spiritless, unfocused play that has been the by-product of Pop’s recent coaching decisions. That’s what I cannot stand.
The last few hours have been confusing to say the least. What I am about to say, I say unequivocally: This has been my favorite Spurs season I have ever witnessed. And that is because of this blog right here. Mining our every wrinkle for its broader significance has been a joy; it has opened up the game to me in a whole new way.
In an attempt at sobriety, I had been telling myself for some time that a 5th title was not in the works. But I was looking forward to this postseason more than any I could remember. I was so excited because the best part of my day comes at the very end of the day. It comes when I sit down at my computer and spend a couple hours thinking about my favorite sports team. If they won, I sat down with a smile on my face. If we lost, the act of writing put a smile on my face. I was so excited for the postseason because I so deeply cherish my last few opportunities to write passionately about this game (not just put pen to paper) for several months.
And then I got a call from Timothy Varner. His voice sounded more somber than usual (although I’d say he generally employs a muted tone). He relayed this afternoon’s disappointing news to me. It’s only been a few hours but I feel I have already run the full gamut of emotions: Shock, Denial, Grief. And currently, a form of acceptance.
Yes, it is saddening to hear that Manu Ginobili will miss the rest of the season with a fractured fibula. But you know why it is sad? Not because this is the first season in over a decade the Spurs head into the playoffs out of contention. It is sad because, for the next month or so, we know longer get to witness one of the gutsiest players the contemporary game knows. When we are inevitably knocked out of the playoffs, no matter at what stage it comes, I won’t think about the title we could have won. I’ll just be a little disheartened I missed a couple more opportunities to see one of my favorite players play the game he loves.
This is the first season in over a decade the Spurs head into the playoffs out of contention.
Our spoiled upbringing does not make that a less difficult pill to swallow. But what I am about to say, I say unequivocally: I am looking forward to this postseason more than any I can remember. After today’s events, that sounds like lunacy. And in all fairness, I never claimed to be sane. But it is genuinely how I feel nonetheless.
I say that because we still have an opportunity to play our game; to play to our full potential (as currently constructed). And every time we do, I’ll be here writing about it. We can still make it to the Western Conference Finals. It will be difficult; much more difficult than before. But it is still possible. And this time, when we win, nobody will look back and say, “it was inevitable.” Because inevitability has nothing to do with that happens from here on out. Starting April 18th, the Spurs will earn every inch they take. There will be no easy wins. There will be no 4 or 5 game series. We will be a fraction of our former selves but that does not mean we can’t play our game.
We may lose in the first round. We may make what will be described by superficial analysts as a “characteristically deep” playoff run. But no matter what happens, I won’t sit down at my teleivision confidently expecting a particular outcome. We are back in the pack. But as a fan, that is reason to rejoice. Each game will be a testament to basketball’s dramatic capacity. Yes, the history books will remember ’99, ’03, ’05, and ’07. But many insightful observers of the NBA may remember this year. They’ll remember because this was the season the Spurs would not go gentle into that good night.
23 Comments
April 6th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Just read your “thinking about Pop” piece. Excellent. I’ve felt similar and am aware the my trust in Pop goes deeper than any other head coach any of my sports teams have ever had. He’s earned it and yet in the back of my mind the trust has been that once the playoffs start and the games have real urgency and meaning, we’ll finally see Bowen and Hill receive more minutes with a return to defense being the priority and matchups making sense. Your argument of why Pop is going in a different direction for the time being is logical and I hope you are correct that it’s just for the short term.
I too want to see our guys play Spurs ball, whatever the result. Perhaps the players will show more urgency when Pop’s rotations show that he is taking the game at hand seriously and not just as an experimental exhibition.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
we’re back in the pack the way we were in 96.
feels good.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I love the Spurs in the playoffs, we play an insane amount of close, nail biting games that get my heart pumping.
Though Ginobili’s injury hurts bad, at least this gives Parker a chance to show the league he is the best point guard in the game.
We all know Duncan can carry this team pretty far on his own also, we just need some rebounding and defense from the role players!
April 6th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
If anything, Ginobili being out takes one more variable out of Pop’s tinkering…so hopefully he can solve the puzzle sooner now.
As sad as I am about Ginobili being out for the season, i’m really more sad about what it means for his long-term career becuase in my head, he never really came back this season.
I hope if anything, Mason can return to how he played at the beginning of the season. I really think that is our best option at this point. I’m sad we didn’t pick up Gooden sooner (I really think he’s gonna be like Kurt Thomas last year) and would have LOVED to have seen Salmons suit up as a Spur.
Aside from Ginobili’s actual on-court contributions, I think one of the biggest ways him not being there hurts us is mentally. For our team and in the mind of the other team. For example, when you think of the Celtics without Paul Pierce, they’re still a really good team, but for some reason you have more confidence going up against them. Ginobili leaving also takes any of the Spur’s unpredictability away as well.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:05 am
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April 7th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Loved this article.
“When injuries left us without 1.5 of our 3 best players, Spurs are finally only slightly better than Hornets, Rockets and Jazz.”
April 7th, 2009 at 4:36 am
I’m not sure that the Spurs are going to lack unpredictability, because before they had set rotations - and now they barely have a game plan.
It’s time for players to step up, give it all they have, maybe let the younger ones get a ton of experience on the cheap, and who knows what can happen?
If everything was written from the start games wouldn’t even be played. I still believe
April 7th, 2009 at 5:29 am
While we are obviously not winning a championship this year and the best days of the triumvirate of Duncan, Ginobli and Parker are behind them, as Spurs fans, we should take a step back and look at the big picture. We have been lucky enough to savor 4 championships in the past 10 years, which we should be very, very grateful for. Just ask the Mavs, the Jazz or the Pistons about that!
We should start thinking about improving our team for next year. My suggestion is to trade Ginobli (who has an expiring contract) and parts (except George Hill) for Mr. Vince Carter and get Rasheed Wallace to join us on a MLE for 2 years and bid adios to Drew Gooden.
April 7th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I love the attitude, Will. As tough as it is going to be the rest of the way without Manu, there is a reason that they play the games. I’m still going to be there every minute of the playoffs, yelling and cheering my team on.
Go Spurs Go!
April 7th, 2009 at 6:43 am
I love this article. Period. I hope fortune and the FSM favours Manu at least one more solid healthy season to keep our current Big 3.
Meanwhile, even as we miss our Manu’s heady plays, the postseason can be anticipated with new found regard for what our team might accomplish through pure gutsy performances.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Great Read. Injuries have killed the Jazz and and the Suns. Spurs fans should be grateful the SPuRS are even IN the playoffs.
Most Spurs writers are unrealistic homers (though that’s what I want from them), even though its been the Lakers and the “West’s Rest” the entire season. The Spurs were head and shoulders better than the “West’s Rest” only in the minds of Spurs fans. Even with a healthy Ginobili they lost to OKC, didn’t even try v the Cavs, and would have probalby be seed 4. Now, our rotation keeps the SPuRS realistically BEHIND the Jazz and the Hornets.
Jimbo, great points, I like your team-over-individuals mentality. BUT, Rod Thorn expects picks and youth in return for Carter; he wants a Maverick type steal instead of just getting back our expiring contracts. Nets arent ready to recompense for the fact that any team is doing them a favor taking on a bloated multi-year contract. Carter is not head and shoulders better than what other teams could offer.
As to “Pop’s thinking” lately, he knows they were limping into the playoffs, He is trying to rest and move down to see the Lakers in Round 2. He gave Vaughn minutes so another team will pays JV in the offseason. OR Pop is a complete idiot when it comes to players he knows personally. This could explain Finley’s minutes and Bowen’s extended contract.
Pop is one of the best in the NBA, but he’s not a saint. I hated that he fired Hill right as Duncan and Robinson were finally healthy again, then quickly took the credit. Since last year, I hated that Pop kept us old and slow at wing. Udoka is our youth movement! His Euro-love cost the Spurs two first round picks on players that have never contributed. Other than that, he’s beaten the unbeatable Lakers. And for that I love him.
Today I am sorry I ever insulted him. I want Pop Menbensa-Whatever back. I’d rather have him today than Drew Gooden.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Phoebus, “back of the pack like 1996?” What are you talking about?
We’ve been ensconced “in the pack”
for four years! We have not been the best team in the West since 2005. Even in 07, the Suns and Mavs were better teams on paper.
Are you suggesting Duncan should get hurt, we forfeit a full NBA season, win the lottery, and Duncan returns as the #2? I like it!
April 7th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Pops stubborness has shown his genius at times. But this season his stubborness may have worn out its welcome. Pop knows what is at stake. But what I don’t see from him is urgency.
The majority of the Spurs players are over 31. The Spurs need to bring in young talent. Some fresh legs. The legs that can play back to backs. Parker can only do so much.
The man needs some help. Sure TD is there. But for how long can he play at a all-star level?
April 7th, 2009 at 8:21 am
ChillFAN, just an FYI… Hill was fired BEFORE Duncan was drafted. Pop is the only pro coach Duncan has ever had.
April 7th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Krista, thanks, great point. But you understood the spirit of what I was saying about Pop-he took over a winning team as it was about to peak again, a Pat Riley-like chump move-though now a HOF coach, he’s not beyond second-guessing.
I wanted to add, the Spurs had their, “not go softly into the night” season in 2007 when the Mavs and Suns were clearly better. Last year they upset a more talented Hornets team. The Spurs don’t have anything to prove. But a first round win would be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Yesterday, when I initially heard the news, I honestly felt like my heart got ripped out of my chest and stomped on! Who are we kidding, we have to be realistic and cognicent of Pop’s shotty rotations and frickin love for the aging vet, the Spurs are D O N E! For this season I mean. We might still have a couple of more years with the big 3 but not sure about that actually as Ginobili only has one more year on his contract. Believe me, I wish the Spurs could pull a Houston(lose a Tracy McGrady like player) and actually get better but we ALL know that’s not going to happen. Ginobili just has “that” as a ball player. I don’t know what”that” really is but it’s irreplaceable. Yeah he’ll pull some stupid turnovers and I’ll scream at him for that but he’s also got that ice water in his veigns and is never afraid of the big shots/moments. Adn for those of who who cringe while reading this thinking that we can still win then I say, “The Spurs could’ve still beaten some of the “Wests Rest”, but not with a gimpy Duncan too”. We all seem to be in denial that Tim looks like he has aged 5 basketball years in the last 5 basketball weeks. It kills me to accept the ineveitable but I’d be surprised if the Spurs get out of the first round. Can you imagine them falling to 5th in the west(at best) and playing the Trailblazers @ Portland in the first round? Forgetaboutit! I hope I’m wrong but I just can’t see it happening
Sincerely,
Sleepless in S A
April 7th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Outstanding article, Graydon. You’re a man after my own heart.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Hey jeff I commented the last post. I also commented on this post. Its under Jose lol
April 7th, 2009 at 11:24 am
The demise of the Spurs this year is premature. Since Ginobili has been back this last time his play was consistently poor. Never got back into a rhythm and his ankle was obviously a problem very quickly. Before Ginobili’s latest return, Mason was lighting it up at his spot in the rotation. I think reinserting a very healty Mason back where he was is going to immediately bump the Spurs back to where they were before Ginobili returned. We will be a challenge for any team not named the Lakers, Celtics or Caviliers, and even then we will give those teams a better run than last year.
Please retire J. Vaughn. Hill is the future backup and Vaughn should have been retired last year. No offense plus no defense equals what exactly? Hill is not the second coming of Tony Parker, but he can at least play on one end of the floor and makes a decent showing on the offensive end too.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Before throwing Pop under the bus, consider he knew Ginoboli was a longshot for the playoffs.
Perhaps it explains:
1) Ginoboli in the starting rotation. Pop knows his starting five is strong, but worries about the second unit. Putting Ginoboli in the starting five put less pressure on him (and his ankle) and gives Pop the freedom to juggle rotations in the second unit.
2) Knowing he’s probably without Ginoboli, Pop trys anything and everything regarding rotations, just trying to find something that *might* catch fire. If it does, then he’s a genius. If not, all he loses is maybe a homecourt advantage — which won’t matter anyway as they’re surely not going to advance far.
3) If and when Ginoboli was ‘back,’ Pop could then lean on him more and put him with the second five. It never got that far.
4) What makes anyone here think they know about Ginoboli’s health and the team situation more than Pop? If Ginoboli was a probable longshot for making the playoffs, does anyone really think Pop, or anyone in the Spurs organization would announce it while Ginoboli was playing?
Pop, unlike some Spurs fans, is a realist, and knows his team can’t win with both Duncan and Ginoboli unhealthy. His only hope is to keep tweaking rotations and see if something catches fire, else the Spurs are done.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
[...] 48 Minutes Of Hell: "Yes, it is saddening to hear that Manu Ginobili will miss the rest of the season with a fractured fibula. But you know why it is sad? Not because this is the first season in over a decade the Spurs head into the playoffs out of contention. It is sad because, for the next month or so, we know longer get to witness one of the gutsiest players the contemporary game knows. When we are inevitably knocked out of the playoffs, no matter at what stage it comes, I won’t think about the title we could have won. I’ll just be a little disheartened I missed a couple more opportunities to see one of my favorite players play the game he loves. This is the first season in over a decade the Spurs head into the playoffs out of contention." [...]
April 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
[...] 48 Minutes Of Hell: "Yes, it is saddening to hear that Manu Ginobili will miss the rest of the season with a fractured fibula. But you know why it is sad? Not because this is the first season in over a decade the Spurs head into the playoffs out of contention. It is sad because, for the next month or so, we know longer get to witness one of the gutsiest players the contemporary game knows. When we are inevitably knocked out of the playoffs, no matter at what stage it comes, I won’t think about the title we could have won. I’ll just be a little disheartened I missed a couple more opportunities to see one of my favorite players play the game he loves. This is the first season in over a decade the Spurs head into the playoffs out of contention." [...]
November 19th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix.
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