Spurs v Mavs Recap: Right There On The Court
“As conscious beings, we exist only in response to other things, and we cannot know ourselves at all without knowing them. Moreover, there is nothing in theory, and certainly nothing in experience, to support the extraordinary judgment that it is the truth about himself that is the easiest for a person to know.” – Harry G. Frankfurt, On Bullshit
Of all the fantastic moments to take in on the Spurs’ opening night celebration, the most revealing might have been the easiest to overlook. Midway through a tense game against a long-time rival, fans sat back in anticipation for one of the NBA’s greatest recurring gags: the courtside interview with Gregg Popovich. In these quick questionnaires, Popovich’s reactions have run the gamut from tense, angry exchanges to lighthearted goofs. He’s made people cry (off camera), but lately, we’ve mainly seen him make people smile. There was the time he hugged Jeff Van Gundy, giving him a good ribbing for feigning terror at the prospect of asking questions. There was also the interview last season where Popovich looked directly at the camera to give Craig Sager an emotional, heartfelt word of encouragement as the news of Sager’s diagnosis was still sending shockwaves around the league.
So on Tuesday night, there was Popovich, waiting for the questions from David Aldridge, one of his favorite interviewers. It was clearly the offseason for both men, Popovich not quite embroiled in the tension of late season dogfights, Aldridge nervous enough to stumble just a tad over his last question. “This game’s gotten close in the fourth quarter.” Aldridge began. “Where do you see the–” Aldridge couldn’t help but smile as he paused. “–ball movement? Where do you see your team coming up with stops to win this game?”
Popovich’s answer was simple and direct. “Where do I see it? I see it right here on the court.” Popovich smiled, Aldridge giggled (adding a hilarious “love you”), and the interview was over.
It was a quiet bit of levity during a surprisingly tense game, but it revealed something important about how the Spurs will have to proceed if they want to maintain serious aspirations for repeating as NBA champions. Never one to speak more than required, Popovich said quite a bit in that statement, perhaps unconsciously.
Each season starts with its own set of questions, but for the first time in nearly a decade, the Spurs have tossed aside the age question and now face something much less familiar: a question of motivation. Offseasons and preseasons are filled with talk of motivation, of title aspirations, of newfound energy brought out by added muscle or better conditioning, of the buzz around new blood. The tropes repeat themselves as writers rack their brains to glean a story from mundane catchphrases meant to brand a new season of opportunity. Everywhere you look beat the pulses of a motivated squad and a fanbase looking through rose-colored glasses.
But motivation is a tricky thing to nail down. Players find it in trash talk, in big plays, and in bright lights. Coaches find it in quotes thrown up on a marker board. They find it in game footage to push players to make improvements. Hell, owners find it too, using perceived slights to motivate a team and galvanize ticket buyers.
The Spurs do this just like any other team, but they know better than to rely on the fading energy of soundbites and buzzwords. The specter of 2013’s Game 6 haunted them all last season, providing a juicy, if horrific, bit of motivation that pushed them to overcome and avenge the most painful of Finals exits. Becoming a championship team requires more than words. It requires visceral experience. It requires pain and anger and joy and euphoria. Motivation craves action. No amount of talk can solidify a defense for a playoff run or bring an offensive system together. As Popovich said, you have to see it on the court.
So Tuesday night, that’s exactly what the fans at the AT&T Center got to do. They watched their team find its footing for another run, despite missing key contributors on an otherwise celebratory night. A year ago, a Spurs team missing two of its starters might have lost a game this early into the season. Before the game, Popovich joked that he expected that. “It’s the first game of the season. You get your rings. You get beat by 30. You go get a glass of wine.” Part of him surely yearned for that, knowing how losses have propelled his team to greatness. But there was no need for that on a Tuesday night where Tony Parker reminded you why a summer off is a big deal and Manu Ginobili kindly told you to shut up about the preseason. The Big Three provided 57 of the Spurs’ 101 points, and the continuity of last season paid immediate dividends for a shorthanded roster.
There was a lot to like on San Antonio’s side of the court. Tim Duncan looked like, well, Tim Duncan, and he hit a few midrange shots, a promising sign after last season’s horrorshow. Tony Parker hit all four of his three point attempts. Cory Joseph filled in efficiently as the designated backup point guard. Marco Belinelli played fantastic on offense and mostly not terrible on defense. Boris Diaw (The Big Escargot?) dropped Dirk Nowitzki to the ground twice. The only complaints might be that Matt Bonner’s engine is still revving up and Kyle Anderson didn’t get any burn, but these are minor issues. The Spurs have already begun the work of establishing themselves, building off all the experiences of the last two seasons.
And on the other side, we watched a new team find itself. Tyson Chandler’s return invigorated the Mavericks defense, a sign of exciting things to come. Jameer Nelson looked capable as the starting point guard, only taking a break to let Devin Harris resume going off on San Antonio (as is his wont). Chandler Parsons struggled, missing eight of his ten shots, including a potential game-winner. That had to be painful for Mavericks fans excited about his signing, but the truth is Dallas will be just fine. The pieces are there. Carlisle is a fantastic coach, Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis are still ruthless, efficient destroyers, and Raymond Felton remains sidelined with injury. The future is bright for a Western contender.
In the end, the Spurs pulled out a nail biter, holding on to a small lead provided by a Tony Parker three-pointer. When the final buzzer sounded and the arena exploded with cheers, fans went home with smiles on their faces and replica rings on their hands. And Popovich prepared to go home, perhaps to a glass of wine, perhaps concealing a smile. Just like us, he had seen something good, right there on the court.
