Home » Sports » Basketball
Spo, Pop don't like it but spotlight's on them
Source: Agencies |
June 6, 2013, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OTHER than being widely known by just the first syllable of their surnames, the coaches who will match wits in the National Basketball Association finals may seem like polar opposites.
Of course, they would probably disagree with that assertion.
Miami's Erik Spoelstra wears sharp suits and is a stats guy; San Antonio's Gregg Popovich often skips the tie and would immeasurably prefer to answer questions about wine than anything about himself. Both are intensely private, but even during an NBA finals loaded with star power - the "Big Three" from Miami, the "Big Three" from San Antonio, a four-time MVP in LeBron James, a four-time champion in Tim Duncan - the coaches will share misery in one way.
To their chagrin, Spo and Pop will be in the spotlight.
"It's easier to talk about how they are similar versus how they are dissimilar," said ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, a former NBA coach who is part of the broadcast team for the series that opens in Miami tomorrow. "They are both going to the Hall of Fame. They both have tremendous respect from the coaches they coach against, and they both have a level of humility that I believe shows NBA coaching in the most positive light possible."
Spoelstra is in the finals for the third straight year and is looking for a second consecutive championship. Popovich is going for his fifth title, the last of the ones currently in his collection coming over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, and could join Phil Jackson as the only coaches to win championships in three different decades.
So far, only Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Kundla and Pat Riley - Spoelstra's mentor and boss in Miami - have five rings as a head coach.
"Maybe I don't show it the way I should, but it's pretty special," Popovich said, in a rare moment of near-sheepishness, after his team beat Memphis and won the West title for a fifth time. "I'm just really proud of the group the way they worked all year long to get there."
Spoelstra took over for Riley five seasons ago, has won nearly twice as many games as he's lost, and has endured a constant circus of distractions ever since the Heat acquired James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade in 2010. San Antonio hasn't had anywhere near that sort of scrutiny; being in a smaller market helps keep the level of attention down.
But, Spoelstra and Popovich are the last two coaches standing. And in a few days, one of them is going to cradle the Larry O'Brien Trophy once again.
That action will be worth much more than any words.
Of course, they would probably disagree with that assertion.
Miami's Erik Spoelstra wears sharp suits and is a stats guy; San Antonio's Gregg Popovich often skips the tie and would immeasurably prefer to answer questions about wine than anything about himself. Both are intensely private, but even during an NBA finals loaded with star power - the "Big Three" from Miami, the "Big Three" from San Antonio, a four-time MVP in LeBron James, a four-time champion in Tim Duncan - the coaches will share misery in one way.
To their chagrin, Spo and Pop will be in the spotlight.
"It's easier to talk about how they are similar versus how they are dissimilar," said ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, a former NBA coach who is part of the broadcast team for the series that opens in Miami tomorrow. "They are both going to the Hall of Fame. They both have tremendous respect from the coaches they coach against, and they both have a level of humility that I believe shows NBA coaching in the most positive light possible."
Spoelstra is in the finals for the third straight year and is looking for a second consecutive championship. Popovich is going for his fifth title, the last of the ones currently in his collection coming over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, and could join Phil Jackson as the only coaches to win championships in three different decades.
So far, only Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Kundla and Pat Riley - Spoelstra's mentor and boss in Miami - have five rings as a head coach.
"Maybe I don't show it the way I should, but it's pretty special," Popovich said, in a rare moment of near-sheepishness, after his team beat Memphis and won the West title for a fifth time. "I'm just really proud of the group the way they worked all year long to get there."
Spoelstra took over for Riley five seasons ago, has won nearly twice as many games as he's lost, and has endured a constant circus of distractions ever since the Heat acquired James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade in 2010. San Antonio hasn't had anywhere near that sort of scrutiny; being in a smaller market helps keep the level of attention down.
But, Spoelstra and Popovich are the last two coaches standing. And in a few days, one of them is going to cradle the Larry O'Brien Trophy once again.
That action will be worth much more than any words.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
