Spo, Pop and the Spurs’ selfless stars
SACRAMENTO, California—How much blame does Erik Spoelstra—the Filipino American coach of the Miami Heat deserve for his team’s lopsided loss to the San Antonio Spurs in this year’s NBA Finals?
Not a whole lot, if you ask me.
The smart, skilled Spoelstra prepared the Heat for the championship round. But with a bench as shallow as a puddle, he had to rely on his superstars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh for heavy minutes during the erratic regular season.
If he were a chess player, Spoelstra and his most important moves were telegraphed around the NBA in advance of the playoffs and the Finals.
On the other hand, the Spurs, blessed with a balanced roster, limited the playing time of their own big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in favor of players itching to shine.
The result was a recharged defense, fresher legs and a splendidly prepared team for what turned out to be a skewed championship series.
With their 4-1 scorching of the Heat, the Spurs revealed the secret to their system: Selfless stars, an unbelievable synergy and a ball movement that created scoring balance.
But the one advantage that glared scintillatingly was the orchestra conductor himself, head coach Gregg Popovich.
Spo and the other tacticians Pop outsmarted for the NBA crown are capable craftsmen. But the soon-to-be Hall of Famer is definitely on top of the mentors’ guild right now.
Of the many accolades heaped on Pop after winning his fifth NBA championship ring, none was more appropriate than this blurb from Aileen Voisin of the Sacramento Bee, the capital city’s Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaper.
Under Popovich, Voisin wrote, the Spurs “continue to shatter myths, defy the odds, change with the times and collect NBA championships in their own inimitable fashion.”
“They (Spurs) just do it differently than most of their counterparts,” Voisin continued. “Instead of establishing street cred by winning back-to-back championships—or back-to-back-to-back titles—they space their five championships over the decades, allowing Pop and his fine wine to breathe: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and, most impressively, 2014.”
“Ah, but the beauty of it all. He (Popovich) deserves extra points for aesthetic appeal of these Finals, for reminding everyone that basketball is a game of grace, elegance, teamwork …”
* * *
After we reported about Bert Eljera’s plight, good Samaritans have chipped in to a fund for the former Bulletin Today sportswriter, now a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. They have contributed a little over $1,000 toward the goal of $15,000.
Bert needs a new kidney since the donated organ transplanted 12 years ago is failing. He needs up front money—plus expenses—to be considered for kidney transplant at University Medical Center in Vegas.
“I am still above ground, and hope to stay that way for some time more … and I want to stick around for my grandkids,” says Bert in a Facebook posting.
He said that through his work as a journalist, he has written about people and their good deeds. “I hope to continue this work; my tank is not empty yet.”
If you would like to send help by PayPal, Bert’s e-mail address is [email protected].
