The question that comes to mind is not how Butler got back to the Elite Eight, but rather how did these Bulldogs lose to Evansville and Youngstown State?
The reason is the Bulldogs weren’t perfect this season. They were flawed like every other team. They needed to go through some growing pains, and mercy, have they grown -- a team that started 6-5 in the Horizon League is one win away from another Final Four appearance after beating Wisconsin 61-54 on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Duke -- the team that beat Butler in a thrilling national championship game -- is out of the field after being pummeled by Arizona.
“I thought this team had a chance to be a good team, but even I’ve been unbelievably impressed with its resiliency and ability to play at a higher level,’’ said the calmest coach in Division I, Butler’s Brad Stevens.
“When we lost to Youngstown and to Evansville, it was a few possessions that we didn’t control,’’ added Butler junior guard Shelvin Mack. “We didn’t dive on the ball, we didn’t take charges, we didn’t do the things we needed to win.’’
Well, the Bulldogs haven’t lost since their Feb. 3 defeat to a Youngstown State team that finished 2-16 in conference play. And that includes a road win over Milwaukee -- a team that beat Butler twice this season -- in the Horizon League championship to secure a bid.
Since the tournament started, the Bulldogs have made winning plays in the final seconds. Against Old Dominion, Matt Howard made a last-second bucket. Against Pitt, Howard's rebound and subsequent free throw saved the game after a foul by Mack nearly cost Butler the match.
“The foul is over. I keep telling my teammates that, to let it go and move onto the next one,’’ said Mack, in jest. “Yeah, it’s been crazy, there were just a few plays here and there in the first game or we’d be home, and then a few plays here or there in the second game against Pitt or we’d be home. So we wanted to make sure we got off to a fast start.’’
And they did just that. Butler busted out on Wisconsin with a nine-point halftime lead and grew it to 20 in the second half before UW mounted a furious comeback to make it a one-possession game in the final minute. But then Mack hit yet another jumper, and after he missed a free throw a possession later, Howard was there with an offensive rebound. The senior forward finished with 20 points and 12 boards
Butler now faces Florida here at New Orleans Arena on Saturday, with a trip to Houston on the line.
“They’re scrappy, relentless,’’ said Wisconsin junior guard Jordan Taylor. “I don’t know, they’re just tough kids. They never quit. That’s what makes them winners.’’
Taylor finished with 22, but Wisconsin senior forward Jon Leuer was pestered so much defensively that he finished just 1-of-12 from the field. As a team, the Badgers shot 30.4 percent, their second-worst performance of the season.
“They’re just tough kids that are all-around good players,’’ Leuer said. “They play to their strengths.’’
Butler is hardly some cuddly, lower-profile team. You can't name a lock for the NBA draft on the Pitt team, but Mack is a first-round pick and Howard, at the very least, is a second-round pick, according to multiple NBA decision-makers. So that would mean that in the past two seasons the Bulldogs will have produced three NBA players, three more than Pitt and at least one more than Wisconsin.
But Butler still had to earn its NCAA tournament berth the hard way, since the Horizon League does not receive much respect. Losing five conference games changed the perception of this team. The nonconference slate was rugged, with games at Louisville and Xavier and against Duke in New Jersey -- all losses. But let’s not forget that Butler did win the Diamond Head Classic by taking down Florida State and Washington State; the former is in the Sweet 16 and the latter in the NIT Final Four.
“We played Valparaiso early in the year and we lost and we gave up 60 points in a half,’’ Mack said. “That’s not us. We usually don’t give up 60 points in a game. We knew what we had to get back.’’
Howard added that he isn't shocked by Butler’s recent run of 12 straight wins.
“I knew what this team was capable of,’’ Howard said. “I knew the type of guys we had and [what we're capable of] if we buy into Coach’s game plan and are able to execute it.’’
Junior guard Ronald Nored said the Bulldogs found their sense of urgency after some ugly games in league play. He added that when the Bulldogs lost three in a row (to Milwaukee, Valparaiso and Youngstown State), “it set us up for what we’re doing now.’’
“People like to put down our conference, but it’s tough,’’ said senior guard Shawn Vanzant. “The coaches got on us to lock teams down.’’
And that’s exactly what occurred against Wisconsin. Stevens said he knew this week that the Bulldogs were playing at a different clip defensively.
“I was concerned about getting out to those shooters because once Taylor comes off those ball screens you have to pay attention to the guys out there,’’ Stevens said. “Once I saw the way we were rotating out there, I knew we’d be a tough out.’’
So at the end of the night, Butler is 40 minutes away from the Final Four. And Duke is done. Who had that?
“That’s this tournament,’’ Stevens said.
It is unforgiving for the losers. And for the team that can make plays, winning plays -- like Arizona did against Duke for most of its game, and the way Butler did to Wisconsin both early and late -- the tournament can be an incredible natural high.
“Teams go through lulls, and we were in a deep one,’’ Howard said. “Fortunately, this team came together, and no doubt we went through a stretch that looked like we could have had a mediocre season. But we didn’t. I’m very, very proud to be a part of this team.’’
4.03.2011
A year later, Butler one up on Duke
On April 5, 2010, with a national title on the line, Duke and Butler sparred in Indianapolis for 40 minutes. In the end, Gordon Hayward's last-second, half-court heave missed by inches. Duke won the national title. Butler ended its storybook run with a real-world ending.
Eight months later, on Dec. 4, the two teams met in New Jersey. Butler played Duke closer than most expected, but the Blue Devils -- helped in part by some debilitating cramps from Butler guard Shelvin Mack -- pulled away late en route to an 82-70 win.
On Feb. 3 of this year, Duke was 20-2. Butler was 14-9. That ninth loss came on Feb. 3, when Butler, in the ugliest moment of what to that point had been a shockingly ugly year, lost to Youngstown State -- yes, last-place Youngstown State. It was the fifth Horizon League loss of the season for coach Brad Stevens. The Butler of 2010 was nowhere to be found.
Last season Matt Howard and Butler had to watch Duke celebrate a national title, but the Bulldogs have outlasted the Blue Devils in 2011.
If someone hopped told you that Butler would outlast Duke in the 2011 NCAA tournament, you would have had that person committed to a highly respected psychiatric facility. And not just because of the time-travel talk.
Just seven weeks later, well, that's where we are. Butler is in the Elite Eight. Duke is not. In case you needed another reminder that college basketball predictions are a foolhardy enterprise -- not that you did -- you won't do much better than Thursday night's simultaneous Sweet 16 action.
Perhaps it was fitting -- or ironic, or coincidental, or all three -- that these two teams' trajectories led them to this night. Duke rolled through much of the regular season as one of the national title favorites -- if not the favorite. Butler struggled from its opening game (a blowout loss at Louisville).
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski found himself replacing his star freshman point guard (the injured Kyrie Irving) by shifting All-American Nolan Smith to the point, with brilliant results. Stevens found himself trying to replace Hayward, a lottery pick, and Willie Veasley, last season’s senior defensive stalwart, with a batch of marginal recruits.
But you wouldn't have been able to tell Thursday night. Butler handled an ice-cold Wisconsin offense with minimal issues, advancing the small Indiana school to its second straight Elite Eight. At the exact same time, thousands of miles west -- hooray for metaphors! -- Duke was waylaid by an athletic, aggressive, unintimidated Arizona team led by the de facto star of this NCAA tournament, forward Derrick Williams.
The nature of Duke's loss was remarkable, but really, the dual outcomes were the most surprising part of this night. Except for the last few minutes of Butler's win over Wisconsin, in which the Badgers made a last-ditch comeback attempt, those outcomes were apparent.
Duke was getting blown out. Butler was moving on.
If you called that, you're a genius. Or a savant. Or you have a really good sense of quasi-irony. Or whatever.
Chances are you, like pretty much everyone else in the world, didn't see this one coming. You didn't see it coming last year. You didn't see it coming in December. You didn't see it coming in February. You didn't see it coming yesterday.
But, yep, here we are. A pair of parallel seasons: one ending, one continuing. Another shocking upset. Another masterful postseason performance by Brad Stevens and the Bulldogs.
Eight months later, on Dec. 4, the two teams met in New Jersey. Butler played Duke closer than most expected, but the Blue Devils -- helped in part by some debilitating cramps from Butler guard Shelvin Mack -- pulled away late en route to an 82-70 win.
On Feb. 3 of this year, Duke was 20-2. Butler was 14-9. That ninth loss came on Feb. 3, when Butler, in the ugliest moment of what to that point had been a shockingly ugly year, lost to Youngstown State -- yes, last-place Youngstown State. It was the fifth Horizon League loss of the season for coach Brad Stevens. The Butler of 2010 was nowhere to be found.
Last season Matt Howard and Butler had to watch Duke celebrate a national title, but the Bulldogs have outlasted the Blue Devils in 2011.
If someone hopped told you that Butler would outlast Duke in the 2011 NCAA tournament, you would have had that person committed to a highly respected psychiatric facility. And not just because of the time-travel talk.
Just seven weeks later, well, that's where we are. Butler is in the Elite Eight. Duke is not. In case you needed another reminder that college basketball predictions are a foolhardy enterprise -- not that you did -- you won't do much better than Thursday night's simultaneous Sweet 16 action.
Perhaps it was fitting -- or ironic, or coincidental, or all three -- that these two teams' trajectories led them to this night. Duke rolled through much of the regular season as one of the national title favorites -- if not the favorite. Butler struggled from its opening game (a blowout loss at Louisville).
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski found himself replacing his star freshman point guard (the injured Kyrie Irving) by shifting All-American Nolan Smith to the point, with brilliant results. Stevens found himself trying to replace Hayward, a lottery pick, and Willie Veasley, last season’s senior defensive stalwart, with a batch of marginal recruits.
But you wouldn't have been able to tell Thursday night. Butler handled an ice-cold Wisconsin offense with minimal issues, advancing the small Indiana school to its second straight Elite Eight. At the exact same time, thousands of miles west -- hooray for metaphors! -- Duke was waylaid by an athletic, aggressive, unintimidated Arizona team led by the de facto star of this NCAA tournament, forward Derrick Williams.
The nature of Duke's loss was remarkable, but really, the dual outcomes were the most surprising part of this night. Except for the last few minutes of Butler's win over Wisconsin, in which the Badgers made a last-ditch comeback attempt, those outcomes were apparent.
Duke was getting blown out. Butler was moving on.
If you called that, you're a genius. Or a savant. Or you have a really good sense of quasi-irony. Or whatever.
Chances are you, like pretty much everyone else in the world, didn't see this one coming. You didn't see it coming last year. You didn't see it coming in December. You didn't see it coming in February. You didn't see it coming yesterday.
But, yep, here we are. A pair of parallel seasons: one ending, one continuing. Another shocking upset. Another masterful postseason performance by Brad Stevens and the Bulldogs.
BUTLER vs WISCONSIN
Matt Howard and Butler are starting to make this look a little easier.
When the final horn sounded Thursday night, the Bulldogs calmly congratulated one another and walked over to shake hands with Wisconsin, yet another higher seed sent packing. It all seemed rather routine, at least for the Bulldogs.
After narrowly surviving its first two NCAA tournament games by margins of two points or fewer, Butler led by 20 points before holding on for a 61-54 victory over the Badgers.
Butler is in the Elite Eight. Defending champ Duke is out of the tournament. Few saw this coming.
The Bulldogs took down the Big Ten bruisers, proving again they can play with anyone, especially in March. Another sure thing about these Horizon League champs: They won't have to duke it out with Duke in this year's tournament.
The top-seeded Blue Devils, who beat Butler 61-59 in last season's thrilling title game, were upset by Arizona 93-77 earlier in the evening.
"I don't know necessarily that I'm shocked by [the upsets] because I know what this team is capable of," Howard said. "But [I'm] very happy that we were able to execute again tonight and get the job done."
The victory sent Butler into the Southeast Regional final, where the Bulldogs meet second-seeded Florida (29-7) on Saturday for a trip to what would be the Bulldogs' second straight Final Four.
"Obviously, we're thrilled to still be playing," Butler coach Brad Stevens said. "I don't think that this group goes into games not believing, and I don't think that this group came here not believing. And so we're going to see if we can't try to get one on Saturday and move on."
Jordan Taylor scored 22 for Wisconsin (25-9), which shot 30.4 percent (17-of-56). Jon Leuer, normally one of the Badgers' top offensive forces with 18.7 points per game coming in, was 1-of-12 shooting and finished with three points.
"We made plays that were uncharacteristic of us," Leuer said. "We tried to force some things, and Butler did some good things defensively. ... They're just tough kids who are all-around good players, and they play to their strengths."
Butler was the aggressor from the outset, using quickness and heady play to counter Wisconsin's size advantage. The Bulldogs took a 6-5 lead on Vanzant's 3 from the corner and never trailed again.
While the Bulldogs shot 50 percent (12-of-24) in the opening 20 minutes, their defense was equally impressive. Wisconsin came in averaging only 7.5 turnovers per game but had eight in the first half alone. Taylor, who entered the contest with the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.18, had one assist and two turnovers to that point.
"It was just kinda one of those nights. The ball just wasn't going through the hoop. It's frustrating," Taylor said. "They're scrappy and relentless. I don't know -- they're just tough kids. They never quit, and that's what makes them winners."
When the final horn sounded Thursday night, the Bulldogs calmly congratulated one another and walked over to shake hands with Wisconsin, yet another higher seed sent packing. It all seemed rather routine, at least for the Bulldogs.
After narrowly surviving its first two NCAA tournament games by margins of two points or fewer, Butler led by 20 points before holding on for a 61-54 victory over the Badgers.
Butler is in the Elite Eight. Defending champ Duke is out of the tournament. Few saw this coming.
The Bulldogs took down the Big Ten bruisers, proving again they can play with anyone, especially in March. Another sure thing about these Horizon League champs: They won't have to duke it out with Duke in this year's tournament.
The top-seeded Blue Devils, who beat Butler 61-59 in last season's thrilling title game, were upset by Arizona 93-77 earlier in the evening.
"I don't know necessarily that I'm shocked by [the upsets] because I know what this team is capable of," Howard said. "But [I'm] very happy that we were able to execute again tonight and get the job done."
The victory sent Butler into the Southeast Regional final, where the Bulldogs meet second-seeded Florida (29-7) on Saturday for a trip to what would be the Bulldogs' second straight Final Four.
"Obviously, we're thrilled to still be playing," Butler coach Brad Stevens said. "I don't think that this group goes into games not believing, and I don't think that this group came here not believing. And so we're going to see if we can't try to get one on Saturday and move on."
Jordan Taylor scored 22 for Wisconsin (25-9), which shot 30.4 percent (17-of-56). Jon Leuer, normally one of the Badgers' top offensive forces with 18.7 points per game coming in, was 1-of-12 shooting and finished with three points.
"We made plays that were uncharacteristic of us," Leuer said. "We tried to force some things, and Butler did some good things defensively. ... They're just tough kids who are all-around good players, and they play to their strengths."
Butler was the aggressor from the outset, using quickness and heady play to counter Wisconsin's size advantage. The Bulldogs took a 6-5 lead on Vanzant's 3 from the corner and never trailed again.
While the Bulldogs shot 50 percent (12-of-24) in the opening 20 minutes, their defense was equally impressive. Wisconsin came in averaging only 7.5 turnovers per game but had eight in the first half alone. Taylor, who entered the contest with the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.18, had one assist and two turnovers to that point.
"It was just kinda one of those nights. The ball just wasn't going through the hoop. It's frustrating," Taylor said. "They're scrappy and relentless. I don't know -- they're just tough kids. They never quit, and that's what makes them winners."
THE BUTLER WAY
Ronald Nored and Matt Howard led Butler to another win and advance to the Final Four for the second year in a row.
The Bulldogs paved a path to get back by developing a will that once again propelled them throughout this tournament.
Butler is back in the Final Four after imposing its will in a 74-71 overtime win over Florida on Saturday afternoon.
“Last year in Salt Lake [site of the 2010 West Regional], it was almost like a ride you never dreamed of being on and we relished every moment,’’ said coach Brad Stevens, who is 10-3 in the NCAA tournament in just four short seasons as Butler's coach. “But this team has been so businesslike.’’
Butler had to earn this trip more so than a year ago, when it won 24 straight games going into the Final Four. The Bulldogs lost three straight in the middle of conference play, even falling to lowly Youngstown State on the road. Butler lost five league games, ended in a three-way tie for first and had to win the conference tournament title on the road at Milwaukee.
“There was turmoil that we had to go through after falling pretty down in January and early February,’’ said Butler junior guard Ronald Nored. “We had to earn this. It was tougher than last year.’’
Against No. 9 seed Old Dominion, Butler had to win on a last-second layup by Matt Howard. An inexplicable foul at the end of the second half allowed the Bulldogs to barely eke past top-seeded Pitt.
“We were lucky to beat Old Dominion,’’ Stevens said. “They could be sitting here. Pittsburgh could be sitting here. There’s no doubt that they were great teams. That’s the tournament. It doesn’t matter how you win, you just try to play the next one and hope you get a chance to play the next one.’’
The Florida game Saturday couldn’t have gone worse for Butler early on. The Gators sprinkled in a zone with their man defense and it perplexed Butler. Florida built an 11-point lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the game and the Gators looked the part of the more experienced NCAA team, en route to its fourth Final Four under Billy Donovan.
“We got them to take shots out of character for them,’’ Donovan said. “But then they found a way to come down and get another possession. The difference in the game was those 50-50 balls in the last 10 minutes of regulation.’’
They’re called winning plays. Butler has made them for the past few years under Stevens, and to some extent long before that under Barry Collier, Thad Matta and Todd Lickliter. Over the past decade and more, those coaches have made this one of the most consistent programs in the country.
“When you get to this point in the season, and I had this with [Joakim] Noah, [Al] Horford and [Corey] Brewer and those guys, there is an internal will and back then our internal will was terrific,’’ Donovan said of the Gators' consecutive championships in 2006 and 2007. “I thought [Butler's] internal will, coming down with those loose balls, being quicker in reacting, they just got it. They made plays. Their will at that point in time and their refusal to be denied speaks to something. I thought it stood out. I thought our guys were terrific in that, but not as good as they were.’’
“What defines this Butler group was the unselfishness of Ron Nored not starting after starting during the national championship game and guarding [Ervin] Walker as tough as he possibly could and Shawn Vanzant tipping plays and Khyle Marshall and our young guys starting to figure this out,’’ Stevens said.
The Bulldogs head to Houston not as underdogs, but as established members of an elite class. Michigan State went to consecutive Final Fours in 2009 and '10. Florida did it in 2006 and '07. The last mid-major school to make consecutive appearances was UNLV in 1990 and '91.
“I know this: Somebody is going to have to beat us because of our will,’’ Stevens said.
The Bulldogs paved a path to get back by developing a will that once again propelled them throughout this tournament.
Butler is back in the Final Four after imposing its will in a 74-71 overtime win over Florida on Saturday afternoon.
“Last year in Salt Lake [site of the 2010 West Regional], it was almost like a ride you never dreamed of being on and we relished every moment,’’ said coach Brad Stevens, who is 10-3 in the NCAA tournament in just four short seasons as Butler's coach. “But this team has been so businesslike.’’
Butler had to earn this trip more so than a year ago, when it won 24 straight games going into the Final Four. The Bulldogs lost three straight in the middle of conference play, even falling to lowly Youngstown State on the road. Butler lost five league games, ended in a three-way tie for first and had to win the conference tournament title on the road at Milwaukee.
“There was turmoil that we had to go through after falling pretty down in January and early February,’’ said Butler junior guard Ronald Nored. “We had to earn this. It was tougher than last year.’’
Against No. 9 seed Old Dominion, Butler had to win on a last-second layup by Matt Howard. An inexplicable foul at the end of the second half allowed the Bulldogs to barely eke past top-seeded Pitt.
“We were lucky to beat Old Dominion,’’ Stevens said. “They could be sitting here. Pittsburgh could be sitting here. There’s no doubt that they were great teams. That’s the tournament. It doesn’t matter how you win, you just try to play the next one and hope you get a chance to play the next one.’’
The Florida game Saturday couldn’t have gone worse for Butler early on. The Gators sprinkled in a zone with their man defense and it perplexed Butler. Florida built an 11-point lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the game and the Gators looked the part of the more experienced NCAA team, en route to its fourth Final Four under Billy Donovan.
“We got them to take shots out of character for them,’’ Donovan said. “But then they found a way to come down and get another possession. The difference in the game was those 50-50 balls in the last 10 minutes of regulation.’’
They’re called winning plays. Butler has made them for the past few years under Stevens, and to some extent long before that under Barry Collier, Thad Matta and Todd Lickliter. Over the past decade and more, those coaches have made this one of the most consistent programs in the country.
“When you get to this point in the season, and I had this with [Joakim] Noah, [Al] Horford and [Corey] Brewer and those guys, there is an internal will and back then our internal will was terrific,’’ Donovan said of the Gators' consecutive championships in 2006 and 2007. “I thought [Butler's] internal will, coming down with those loose balls, being quicker in reacting, they just got it. They made plays. Their will at that point in time and their refusal to be denied speaks to something. I thought it stood out. I thought our guys were terrific in that, but not as good as they were.’’
“What defines this Butler group was the unselfishness of Ron Nored not starting after starting during the national championship game and guarding [Ervin] Walker as tough as he possibly could and Shawn Vanzant tipping plays and Khyle Marshall and our young guys starting to figure this out,’’ Stevens said.
The Bulldogs head to Houston not as underdogs, but as established members of an elite class. Michigan State went to consecutive Final Fours in 2009 and '10. Florida did it in 2006 and '07. The last mid-major school to make consecutive appearances was UNLV in 1990 and '91.
“I know this: Somebody is going to have to beat us because of our will,’’ Stevens said.
KEVIN EASTMON ON KEVIN GARNETT
We are very fortunate to have a Kevin Garnett to coach, and his teammates are fortunate to have a Kevin Garnett to lead. You may have your own Kevin Garnett or someone on your team that can develop into a Kevin Garnett -- not just from a talent standpoint but also from a leadership standpoint.
Here are some of the things I have observed Kevin doing, saying, or demonstrating that allow him to lead at a higher level than most.
• He always looks for teaching opportunities to help young players become “true professionals,” from the way they dress to the way they prepare for the game and for practice, to the way they interact with teammates.
• He lives the “team concept” every day in every way. In fact, last year Kevin wouldn’t do interviews without Paul Pierce or Ray Allen with him because he didn’t want the team to be “his” team; he always wanted it to be “our” team.
• He demands that the coaching staff coach him, call him out, correct him -- so that he can become a better player. He understands that coaching is not criticism, but a very important part of his improvement.
• He works on his game just about every day of our 287-day season. Understands that repetition is the key to being good.
• He is competitive and committed: he plays just as hard whether we are ahead or behind and whether he had 3 shots or 30 points.
• He shows everyone that the great ones just want to get better; always wants to know anything that will make him a better player.
• He often says, “it’s about what you are willing to sacrifice; that’s our way of life here with the Celtics. It’s about putting the team and winning before anything else.”
• He often says, “in order for this thing to work, we all have to sacrifice.”
• He always talks about defense: “We said from Day 1 that we were a defensive team that could also score.”
• And the ultimate sacrifice in today's me-oriented world Kevin says, “from Day 1 we said this is Paul’s team.” Everyone else wanted to make it Kevin’s team but he knew Paul deserved it because Paul had been with the Celtics during tough times.
The list could go on and on, but the point is that true leadership is not about oneself. It is the ability to get not only the most from your own ability but true leadership also means getting the most out of every teammate’s ability as well. Kevin does this by example, by teaching, by his public comments and by his unending commitment to team over self.
Here are some of the things I have observed Kevin doing, saying, or demonstrating that allow him to lead at a higher level than most.
• He always looks for teaching opportunities to help young players become “true professionals,” from the way they dress to the way they prepare for the game and for practice, to the way they interact with teammates.
• He lives the “team concept” every day in every way. In fact, last year Kevin wouldn’t do interviews without Paul Pierce or Ray Allen with him because he didn’t want the team to be “his” team; he always wanted it to be “our” team.
• He demands that the coaching staff coach him, call him out, correct him -- so that he can become a better player. He understands that coaching is not criticism, but a very important part of his improvement.
• He works on his game just about every day of our 287-day season. Understands that repetition is the key to being good.
• He is competitive and committed: he plays just as hard whether we are ahead or behind and whether he had 3 shots or 30 points.
• He shows everyone that the great ones just want to get better; always wants to know anything that will make him a better player.
• He often says, “it’s about what you are willing to sacrifice; that’s our way of life here with the Celtics. It’s about putting the team and winning before anything else.”
• He often says, “in order for this thing to work, we all have to sacrifice.”
• He always talks about defense: “We said from Day 1 that we were a defensive team that could also score.”
• And the ultimate sacrifice in today's me-oriented world Kevin says, “from Day 1 we said this is Paul’s team.” Everyone else wanted to make it Kevin’s team but he knew Paul deserved it because Paul had been with the Celtics during tough times.
The list could go on and on, but the point is that true leadership is not about oneself. It is the ability to get not only the most from your own ability but true leadership also means getting the most out of every teammate’s ability as well. Kevin does this by example, by teaching, by his public comments and by his unending commitment to team over self.
WARRIORS LEAVE THEIR MARK
"Each warrior wants to leave the mark of his will, his signature, on the important acts he touches. This is not the voice of ego but the human spirit, rising up and declaring that is has something to contribute. In every contest, there comes a moment that separates winning from losing. The true warrior understands and seizes the moment by giving an effort so intense and so intuitive that if could only be called one from the heart."
-Pat Riley
-Pat Riley
3.24.2011
PATTY - A GREAT TEAMMATE
There is a lot to be decided for the Trail Blazers in their final 11 games, but it appears one of the major decisions -- who will be the backup point guard -- was made Tuesday night.
Patty Mills, coach Nate McMillan made clear Tuesday, is not the answer.
For the past two weeks -- really since he had a nightmarish end to the first quarter in Atlanta on March 12 -- Mills has seen his backup role diminished. In part, it was because McMillan has been incorporating Brandon Roy back into the mix, using him at times as a point guard.
But much of it also had to do with Mills' play. There have been some careless turnovers. Costly fouls. As much as everyone loves Mills and his personality, the simple fact is he wasn't getting the job done.
So as the season shrinks and the importance of each game grows, what used to be about 15 minutes a game for Mills started dwindling to nine minutes. Then six minutes. And on Tuesday, Mills played all of 14 seconds in a blowout over Washington until he came in for the final 4:50 and the Blazers up 34.
McMillan has been wrestling with this decision for the past couple of weeks. He is hesitant to use Roy and Rudy Fernandez at point guard for extended spells because he feels the offense becomes stagnant. And he feels the responsibility of running the offense takes away from the strengths of Roy and Fernandez.
So he kept telling himself that he likes having a true point guard like Mills in the game because he gets the Blazers into their offense. And he has great speed, which McMillan would like to see translate to the Blazers' offense.
Even after the Blazers' game Sunday in Los Angeles, when Mills made a silly foul that resulted in two made free throws at the end of the first quarter, McMillan insisted Mills would remain in the rotation.
Then before Tuesday's game, McMillan acknowledged that Mills was on watch. His play had to improve, or else Roy and Fernandez would get all of the backup point guard minutes.
Forty-five minutes later, when the game started, Mills was not in McMillan's game plan.
So what did the man who essentially had just lost his job do in response?
What Mills always does.
After the final buzzer, he stood in the tunnel that leads from the court to the Blazers locker room and gave fist bumps to everyone that walked through. Everyone. Owner Paul Allen. Executive Bert Kolde. The mascot. General manager Rich Cho. A janitor with two brooms. All of his teammates. Announcer Michael Holton.
Then there was nobody. But Mills stood there, leaned against the railing and waited.
Finally, teammate Chris Johnson -- who did an interview on the court -- came running through. Another fist bump. And now it was time to join the team.
"I just do it so they know I appreciate their hard work. That they are not alone," Mills said. "I think it goes a long way, especially for the guys who have been giving interviews on the court. They may think that everyone is waiting for him, but I will wait, just to say good game and walk him back in."
Some might think that image is corny. Touchy-feely. Or that it has nothing to do with executing an offense or winning basketball games.
But ask anybody around the Blazers, and they will tell you that Mills is, and always will be, a huge difference maker for this team.
For one, he is not hanging his head and accepting his demotion.
He was the last one to leave the court before the game, nearly missing the team's pregame meeting. He was lathered in sweat, working with assistants Bill Bayno, Hersey Hawkins and consultant Steve Gordon on how to better run his defender off screens. And he was working on altering the speed of his attack so it's not always full-speed ahead, but rather a bolt here and a pull back there.
Also, he continues to be this team's resident chemistry builder.
Publicly, he is already widely known for encouraging his teammates to sign up on Twitter, and now he, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge all share playful banter throughout everyday on the social-mediaplatform, all there for fans to enjoy.
But privately, he also brings this team closer from a basketball standpoint. Take for instance Tuesday's game -- the same game most players probably would be stunned they weren't being put in by the coach.
Instead, Mills was asking questions, stimulating conversation on the bench. When Aldridge received a post-entry pass, Mills wondered aloud which player should cut through the lane to provide proper spacing for Aldridge to work. The next thing he knew, four other Blazers had joined in the conversation, offering their viewpoints.
"It was pretty cool," Mills said. "We had three, four, five guys involved in the same conversation about the game. And the next thing you know, we have five guys on the same page."
There will be times between now and the playoffs that Mills will be called upon. And he vows to keep working to be ready and improved for those opportunities, no matter how small.
"The way I look at it is it's still a role, even though the minutes have been cut down," Mills said. "If it's just a couple of minutes, those couple of minutes can be crucial to that game. So it's still a role. And I feel like I'm contributing whether I'm on the court or not."
Patty Mills, coach Nate McMillan made clear Tuesday, is not the answer.
For the past two weeks -- really since he had a nightmarish end to the first quarter in Atlanta on March 12 -- Mills has seen his backup role diminished. In part, it was because McMillan has been incorporating Brandon Roy back into the mix, using him at times as a point guard.
But much of it also had to do with Mills' play. There have been some careless turnovers. Costly fouls. As much as everyone loves Mills and his personality, the simple fact is he wasn't getting the job done.
So as the season shrinks and the importance of each game grows, what used to be about 15 minutes a game for Mills started dwindling to nine minutes. Then six minutes. And on Tuesday, Mills played all of 14 seconds in a blowout over Washington until he came in for the final 4:50 and the Blazers up 34.
McMillan has been wrestling with this decision for the past couple of weeks. He is hesitant to use Roy and Rudy Fernandez at point guard for extended spells because he feels the offense becomes stagnant. And he feels the responsibility of running the offense takes away from the strengths of Roy and Fernandez.
So he kept telling himself that he likes having a true point guard like Mills in the game because he gets the Blazers into their offense. And he has great speed, which McMillan would like to see translate to the Blazers' offense.
Even after the Blazers' game Sunday in Los Angeles, when Mills made a silly foul that resulted in two made free throws at the end of the first quarter, McMillan insisted Mills would remain in the rotation.
Then before Tuesday's game, McMillan acknowledged that Mills was on watch. His play had to improve, or else Roy and Fernandez would get all of the backup point guard minutes.
Forty-five minutes later, when the game started, Mills was not in McMillan's game plan.
So what did the man who essentially had just lost his job do in response?
What Mills always does.
After the final buzzer, he stood in the tunnel that leads from the court to the Blazers locker room and gave fist bumps to everyone that walked through. Everyone. Owner Paul Allen. Executive Bert Kolde. The mascot. General manager Rich Cho. A janitor with two brooms. All of his teammates. Announcer Michael Holton.
Then there was nobody. But Mills stood there, leaned against the railing and waited.
Finally, teammate Chris Johnson -- who did an interview on the court -- came running through. Another fist bump. And now it was time to join the team.
"I just do it so they know I appreciate their hard work. That they are not alone," Mills said. "I think it goes a long way, especially for the guys who have been giving interviews on the court. They may think that everyone is waiting for him, but I will wait, just to say good game and walk him back in."
Some might think that image is corny. Touchy-feely. Or that it has nothing to do with executing an offense or winning basketball games.
But ask anybody around the Blazers, and they will tell you that Mills is, and always will be, a huge difference maker for this team.
For one, he is not hanging his head and accepting his demotion.
He was the last one to leave the court before the game, nearly missing the team's pregame meeting. He was lathered in sweat, working with assistants Bill Bayno, Hersey Hawkins and consultant Steve Gordon on how to better run his defender off screens. And he was working on altering the speed of his attack so it's not always full-speed ahead, but rather a bolt here and a pull back there.
Also, he continues to be this team's resident chemistry builder.
Publicly, he is already widely known for encouraging his teammates to sign up on Twitter, and now he, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge all share playful banter throughout everyday on the social-mediaplatform, all there for fans to enjoy.
But privately, he also brings this team closer from a basketball standpoint. Take for instance Tuesday's game -- the same game most players probably would be stunned they weren't being put in by the coach.
Instead, Mills was asking questions, stimulating conversation on the bench. When Aldridge received a post-entry pass, Mills wondered aloud which player should cut through the lane to provide proper spacing for Aldridge to work. The next thing he knew, four other Blazers had joined in the conversation, offering their viewpoints.
"It was pretty cool," Mills said. "We had three, four, five guys involved in the same conversation about the game. And the next thing you know, we have five guys on the same page."
There will be times between now and the playoffs that Mills will be called upon. And he vows to keep working to be ready and improved for those opportunities, no matter how small.
"The way I look at it is it's still a role, even though the minutes have been cut down," Mills said. "If it's just a couple of minutes, those couple of minutes can be crucial to that game. So it's still a role. And I feel like I'm contributing whether I'm on the court or not."
2.19.2011
POOH JETER
The oldest rookie in the NBA arrived in the mailroom on campus at the University of Portland late this week, came straight through the doors, and starting high-fiving and hugging people.
Pooh Jeter is 27.
He's a back-up point guard for the Sacramento Kings.
The former UP star decided to spend his All-Star break not in Los Angeles, or Las Vegas, rather, on campus this week thanking mailroom workers, and hanging out with the campus custodians.
"I knew everybody on campus," Jeter said. "It's my personality."
This might be the happiest man in the NBA, mind you.
Consider that Jeter had to hustle and work his way into the NBA. He played five seasons of summer league, including with the Blazers in 2009. He worked out in his offseason with players such as Earl Watson and Baron Davis. And when that wasn't good enough, Jeter went to play in Ukraine, then Spain, then Israel. And he never stopped believing he belonged.
"I still pinch myself when I wake up," Jeter said. "I'm living the dream after four years of the grind.
"I still have to grind to stay in the league."
Jeter is playing 16 minutes a game and is averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 assists. He's trying to improve himself, and now that he's in the NBA, he'd like to stick. And when the Kings travel, the veterans make the rookie wear a purple backpack with daises on it.
Said Jeter: "It's a girls backpack."
I've pulled for Jeter since he left UP, and believed in my bones after watching him in college that he was a better player than the hyped-up Blazers No. 1 draft pick Sebastian Telfair. Jeter went undrafted, though. And while the Kings will tell you that he caught their attention with a strong Developmental League performance, the truth is, Jeter just kept playing.
He became a better distributor. He learned patience. And he watched NBA point guards such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash and current Blazer Andre Miller.
"(Andre) played center in high school. It's why his post game is so good," Jeter said. "One thing I learned from watching Andre is how smart he is.
"People say he can't shoot, but he ... gets ... it ... done."
While in Spain, Jeter also played against heralded point guard Ricky Rubio, and he said he doesn't see the comparisons that everyone wants to make to Pete Maravich. Said Jeter: "He isn't a scorer like that. Ricky's improved his game so much, but he's more of a guy who gets people involved."
The rookie said that he would love to play in Portland someday, "if that's God's plan," and also, that he looks back on his summer league experience with the Blazers fondly.
"I had a pretty good summer, it just wasn't my time."
Jeter is from Los Angeles. He now plays in Sacramento. But he said he considers Portland his "second home." Which is why he spent his break slapping backs with former classmates and meeting with old professors. He even filmed a video that will play at halftime of the Pilots game vs. Santa Clara tonight at the Chiles Center.
NBA owners and union representatives are meeting in Los Angeles, bickering over the details of a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The star athletes, partying and hanging all over an All-Star Game that feels drunk on hype. And just when you think the whole thing stinks, here comes Jeter, smiling and telling anyone who will listen how happy and appreciative he is to be where he is in his career.
Refreshing, isn't it?
Jeter said he now knows where he fits in the NBA. He wants to help the Kings get better. And he said he'll continue to work hard and improve himself.
"I've worked hard to get to this point. I'll continue to keep working."
The NBA needs more players like this.
Pooh Jeter is 27.
He's a back-up point guard for the Sacramento Kings.
The former UP star decided to spend his All-Star break not in Los Angeles, or Las Vegas, rather, on campus this week thanking mailroom workers, and hanging out with the campus custodians.
"I knew everybody on campus," Jeter said. "It's my personality."
This might be the happiest man in the NBA, mind you.
Consider that Jeter had to hustle and work his way into the NBA. He played five seasons of summer league, including with the Blazers in 2009. He worked out in his offseason with players such as Earl Watson and Baron Davis. And when that wasn't good enough, Jeter went to play in Ukraine, then Spain, then Israel. And he never stopped believing he belonged.
"I still pinch myself when I wake up," Jeter said. "I'm living the dream after four years of the grind.
"I still have to grind to stay in the league."
Jeter is playing 16 minutes a game and is averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 assists. He's trying to improve himself, and now that he's in the NBA, he'd like to stick. And when the Kings travel, the veterans make the rookie wear a purple backpack with daises on it.
Said Jeter: "It's a girls backpack."
I've pulled for Jeter since he left UP, and believed in my bones after watching him in college that he was a better player than the hyped-up Blazers No. 1 draft pick Sebastian Telfair. Jeter went undrafted, though. And while the Kings will tell you that he caught their attention with a strong Developmental League performance, the truth is, Jeter just kept playing.
He became a better distributor. He learned patience. And he watched NBA point guards such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash and current Blazer Andre Miller.
"(Andre) played center in high school. It's why his post game is so good," Jeter said. "One thing I learned from watching Andre is how smart he is.
"People say he can't shoot, but he ... gets ... it ... done."
While in Spain, Jeter also played against heralded point guard Ricky Rubio, and he said he doesn't see the comparisons that everyone wants to make to Pete Maravich. Said Jeter: "He isn't a scorer like that. Ricky's improved his game so much, but he's more of a guy who gets people involved."
The rookie said that he would love to play in Portland someday, "if that's God's plan," and also, that he looks back on his summer league experience with the Blazers fondly.
"I had a pretty good summer, it just wasn't my time."
Jeter is from Los Angeles. He now plays in Sacramento. But he said he considers Portland his "second home." Which is why he spent his break slapping backs with former classmates and meeting with old professors. He even filmed a video that will play at halftime of the Pilots game vs. Santa Clara tonight at the Chiles Center.
NBA owners and union representatives are meeting in Los Angeles, bickering over the details of a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The star athletes, partying and hanging all over an All-Star Game that feels drunk on hype. And just when you think the whole thing stinks, here comes Jeter, smiling and telling anyone who will listen how happy and appreciative he is to be where he is in his career.
Refreshing, isn't it?
Jeter said he now knows where he fits in the NBA. He wants to help the Kings get better. And he said he'll continue to work hard and improve himself.
"I've worked hard to get to this point. I'll continue to keep working."
The NBA needs more players like this.
2.03.2011
TENNESSEE WOMEN
The following comes from Tennessee assistant coach Dean Lockwood. He speaks of the importance of passion as a key contributor to competitors in Jeff Janssen's outstanding book, "How To Develop Relentless Competitors."
Tennessee assistant women's basketball coach Dean Lockwood says, "Having been a part of college basketball national championship teams and those that were not, both with comparable talent, I can tell you first that one of the missing components from the latter was PASSION! Passion drives us to go work, to excel, to become almost obsessive about details and the 'little things' that can help our performance. Passion for something will allow an athlete to stay in a gym a bit longer working, shooting, honing skills; it will allow an athlete to squeeze out a few extra reps, sprints, or laps when most others have gone home. Passion can DRIVE us and PROPEL us further than what we know, and it also brings a joy to competition that is almost magical and can be found in few other ways."
Tennessee assistant women's basketball coach Dean Lockwood says, "Having been a part of college basketball national championship teams and those that were not, both with comparable talent, I can tell you first that one of the missing components from the latter was PASSION! Passion drives us to go work, to excel, to become almost obsessive about details and the 'little things' that can help our performance. Passion for something will allow an athlete to stay in a gym a bit longer working, shooting, honing skills; it will allow an athlete to squeeze out a few extra reps, sprints, or laps when most others have gone home. Passion can DRIVE us and PROPEL us further than what we know, and it also brings a joy to competition that is almost magical and can be found in few other ways."
SPURS - A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY
Anyone who knows Gregg Popovich knows there are probably 347 other places he’d rather be than walking the red carpet at the All-Star Game next month in Los Angeles as coach of the Western Conference team. He doesn’t do extravagant parties, and the over-the-top showmanship of the NBA’s annual entertainment weekend likely doesn’t appeal to him. More than anything, he’d rather just not have the attention.
Popovich has always preached a we-over-me mantra with the San Antonio Spurs, and that comes from his days at the Air Force Academy, where he was a walk-on for the basketball team.
“I’m just guessing, but everybody that goes there has a 3.8 or 4.0 [grade-point average] – valedictorians – and did all kinds of stuff,” Popovich said. “And you go there and everybody is the same. They strip you bare. You start over again, and during the four years you learn it’s not about you. It’s about the group. It’s about the people that are around you and how people come together and how teams are put together and how you have each other’s back and that sort of thing.
“You learn that one person really doesn’t get anything done. In any business, in any endeavor, the people around you have to be good people and have to be able to work together. That’s where the real joy is – when you’re sharing success with somebody.”
Over the last 13-plus seasons, no major U.S. professional sports franchise has enjoyed more sustained success than the Spurs. They’ve won 70.1 percent of their games during that time, a mark that ranks ahead of the NFL’s New England Patriots (68.3 percent) and the Spurs’ own rival, the Los Angeles Lakers (65.9). They’ve also won four NBA championships and seven division titles and may have produced their biggest surprise yet this season: At a time when many thought the Spurs would slip from the ranks of the league’s elite, they’ve surged to their greatest start ever with a league-best 40-8 record.
“Everybody is surprised by that record,” Manu Ginobili(notes) said. “But now we are here. We earned it and we want to keep the lead as long as possible and finish No. 1.”
The Spurs have benefitted from good health: They’re the only team in the league to use the same starting lineup for each of their games. But they’ve also won because of their remarkable balance. They rank fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 104.1 points per game, but don’t have a single player averaging even 19 points. Ginobili is the team-high with 18.6 while Tim Duncan, content now to steady the Spurs with his rebounding and defense, is averaging just 13.6 points.
In short, these Spurs may be as team-oriented as any roster Popovich has ever had. All of the Spurs’ three stars – Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker(notes) – are also averaging fewer than 33 minutes. With nearly everyone on the roster contributing in some form this season, the Spurs have continued to win in their usual understated style.
“Even if we’re up by 30 we’re not going to keep screaming and yelling,” veteran forward Antonio McDyess said. “That’s why a lot of people call this team boring. Regardless, we get the job done.”
That’s all Popovich has ever asked. Beginning with David Robinson, the Spurs have had a long line of players who have bought into their team-first mentality, including their three current stars. Players who come into the system learn to adapt – or leave.
“We try not to bring people in who we think they are a bit full of themselves and think they invented the dunk or something like that,” Popovich said. “And after that if somebody is in, the players set an example and react appropriately. If one of our young guys was to try to show up the opponent or beat his chest, I might be the fifth guy to him. There will be other players saying, ‘Hey, whoa, you look foolish doing that crap.’
“And if nobody does, I’ll obviously do it.”
Richard Jefferson learned that early last season after he joined the Spurs.
“There were a few times where he got on me early about screaming after a dunk and showing that kind of emotion,” Jefferson said. “You do what your coach asks for.”
Parker went through his own growing pains with Popovich. And for McDyess, playing for the Spurs is quite different than his days with the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons often had a stereo blaring music in their locker room before games. That won’t be found in the Spurs’ locker room. After the Spurs’ win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, the team enjoyed a dinner together in San Francisco.
“When I got there, the Pistons were playing music, rapping and cursing,” McDyess said. “They said that’s what worked for them. And half of them said that if they don’t go out the night before a game they don’t play well. On this team you don’t get that. Different things work for different teams.”
In part because of their business-as-usual nature, the Spurs haven’t received much attention for their strong start. They reached the halfway point of their schedule on pace to win 70 games and much of the season’s headlines have been devoted to the exploits of the Lakers and Miami Heat or Carmelo Anthony’strade demand. The Spurs could care less.
“Luckily enough I don’t look at the radar so I wouldn’t know what is going on,” Duncan said. “I have better things to do, I guess.”
The Spurs also don’t measure themselves on their success in the regular season. If they keep winning in the playoffs, the acclaim will come.
“We laugh about it and love it,” Popovich said. “The less attention, the more time and focus we have to concentrate on what we’d like to do. Having the success we’ve had with championships, we don’t need anyone to give us credit.”
Popovich has always preached a we-over-me mantra with the San Antonio Spurs, and that comes from his days at the Air Force Academy, where he was a walk-on for the basketball team.
“I’m just guessing, but everybody that goes there has a 3.8 or 4.0 [grade-point average] – valedictorians – and did all kinds of stuff,” Popovich said. “And you go there and everybody is the same. They strip you bare. You start over again, and during the four years you learn it’s not about you. It’s about the group. It’s about the people that are around you and how people come together and how teams are put together and how you have each other’s back and that sort of thing.
“You learn that one person really doesn’t get anything done. In any business, in any endeavor, the people around you have to be good people and have to be able to work together. That’s where the real joy is – when you’re sharing success with somebody.”
Over the last 13-plus seasons, no major U.S. professional sports franchise has enjoyed more sustained success than the Spurs. They’ve won 70.1 percent of their games during that time, a mark that ranks ahead of the NFL’s New England Patriots (68.3 percent) and the Spurs’ own rival, the Los Angeles Lakers (65.9). They’ve also won four NBA championships and seven division titles and may have produced their biggest surprise yet this season: At a time when many thought the Spurs would slip from the ranks of the league’s elite, they’ve surged to their greatest start ever with a league-best 40-8 record.
“Everybody is surprised by that record,” Manu Ginobili(notes) said. “But now we are here. We earned it and we want to keep the lead as long as possible and finish No. 1.”
The Spurs have benefitted from good health: They’re the only team in the league to use the same starting lineup for each of their games. But they’ve also won because of their remarkable balance. They rank fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 104.1 points per game, but don’t have a single player averaging even 19 points. Ginobili is the team-high with 18.6 while Tim Duncan, content now to steady the Spurs with his rebounding and defense, is averaging just 13.6 points.
In short, these Spurs may be as team-oriented as any roster Popovich has ever had. All of the Spurs’ three stars – Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker(notes) – are also averaging fewer than 33 minutes. With nearly everyone on the roster contributing in some form this season, the Spurs have continued to win in their usual understated style.
“Even if we’re up by 30 we’re not going to keep screaming and yelling,” veteran forward Antonio McDyess said. “That’s why a lot of people call this team boring. Regardless, we get the job done.”
That’s all Popovich has ever asked. Beginning with David Robinson, the Spurs have had a long line of players who have bought into their team-first mentality, including their three current stars. Players who come into the system learn to adapt – or leave.
“We try not to bring people in who we think they are a bit full of themselves and think they invented the dunk or something like that,” Popovich said. “And after that if somebody is in, the players set an example and react appropriately. If one of our young guys was to try to show up the opponent or beat his chest, I might be the fifth guy to him. There will be other players saying, ‘Hey, whoa, you look foolish doing that crap.’
“And if nobody does, I’ll obviously do it.”
Richard Jefferson learned that early last season after he joined the Spurs.
“There were a few times where he got on me early about screaming after a dunk and showing that kind of emotion,” Jefferson said. “You do what your coach asks for.”
Parker went through his own growing pains with Popovich. And for McDyess, playing for the Spurs is quite different than his days with the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons often had a stereo blaring music in their locker room before games. That won’t be found in the Spurs’ locker room. After the Spurs’ win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, the team enjoyed a dinner together in San Francisco.
“When I got there, the Pistons were playing music, rapping and cursing,” McDyess said. “They said that’s what worked for them. And half of them said that if they don’t go out the night before a game they don’t play well. On this team you don’t get that. Different things work for different teams.”
In part because of their business-as-usual nature, the Spurs haven’t received much attention for their strong start. They reached the halfway point of their schedule on pace to win 70 games and much of the season’s headlines have been devoted to the exploits of the Lakers and Miami Heat or Carmelo Anthony’strade demand. The Spurs could care less.
“Luckily enough I don’t look at the radar so I wouldn’t know what is going on,” Duncan said. “I have better things to do, I guess.”
The Spurs also don’t measure themselves on their success in the regular season. If they keep winning in the playoffs, the acclaim will come.
“We laugh about it and love it,” Popovich said. “The less attention, the more time and focus we have to concentrate on what we’d like to do. Having the success we’ve had with championships, we don’t need anyone to give us credit.”
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