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Mike Finger, Express News columnist and Ian Curtis dead ringer, has written a worthwhile article about Drew Gooden’s possible impact this postseason. Gooden, we’re told, has been given wings to fly in the offense-Pop wants him score. Towards the end of the article, Finger asks how the Spurs are going to make up for the loss of Manu Ginobili’s 16 ppg. “You don’t have to score all 16,” he says. “Maybe you score eight, and then take eight away on defense.”

I loved reading this for two reasons. First, it’s a great signal that Gooden is becoming a Spur. His response is quintessential Spursspeak. If the Spurs are to advance in these playoffs, the games will be ugly. Everyone will bemoan them for being slow, hard to watch, and too physical. But without Manu Ginobili, the Spurs have no choice but to take points away from the opposition. They’re not going to win by outscoring opponents. This is the second reason I appreciate Drew Gooden’s comment. He’s clearly parroting what he’s heard at practice and in team meetings. But that’s good, he’s bought it. And it means Pop is going to coach defense and forget about some of those crazy offensive line ups from a few weeks back. Let me be the first to say I’ll be happy if the Spurs only score 85 points per game this series, so long as Dallas only averages 83.