NBA FINALS: PISTONS v SPURS

June 12, 2005

Gregg Popovich

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Well, he's been very important to us because, you know, he adds a space and quality to the team, he's really a good passer, he's a good runner, he's good on the break and he's a good basketball player, so when he plays well, it's really a bonus for us. It really helps out a great deal. This year, I think he's probably spent too much time worrying about making shots. You know, I think that's hurt him in some games where he has not been as consistent as he would like to be. He's really tried to fit in defensively on the floor and rebounding-wise, he's done a real good job for us in the guard position. He's important because he adds depth for us.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Yeah, he did fine. He understands that many times that's what is going to win games for us, the way we're put together and the way we're built. And if he wants to be on the court, that's something he's going to have to do, and he's accepted that readily.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: That's just who he is. I mean, everybody's different. He knows that one of the reasons we brought him here is to make shots. I think he just obsesses sometimes too much when he misses it, like the world is going to end or he's disappointing people and teammates. We just try to get him to relax and realize that's not the case. Everybody wants him to do well, and if he misses them, he misses them. But what's important is to go down and continue to play the D, rebound, run the floor, play basketball. We're not going to predicate his minutes on whether his shots went in or not. We'll predicate it on how he does the other things.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Not much. I think that, you know, if everybody is playing well and we're not in foul trouble, and the game is moving along and nobody is up or down by 10 points or something like that, it's a competitive game, he probably won't get very much time.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: No. We're going to run the same offense that we've always run. I don't know what they will do in regard to Manu, but it won't change anything that we do.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: That's a hell of a question. (Laughter). I don't know. I think there's a period where a young player, no matter where he's at, no matter who his coach is, has a period where he's clueless and probably thinks he's not clueless, and has to figure out that he's part of a whole, and that there are certain things he has to learn. So, if that's the tolerate part, then I'm guilty.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: I've made a list, but I thought I would wait until it was more appropriate.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: You know, they might decide to, you know, front him or limit his catches, that kind of thing, but that's happened a lot before. A lot of teams try to do that, and I think we know how to respond to it. I was more concerned at the beginning of the game that the ball didn't move in general, and that each guy was trying to do something great, if Timmy got it, if Manu got it, if Tony got it, it wasn't going any further and that person is trying to do something, without regard for what was going on out on the court defensively, instead of just letting the game come to them, moving sides, playing the ball, going to the open man and play that way. I thought it caused turnovers and Detroit reacted really well to that and got a lead because of it and then it was, we're going to go to Timmy and that doesn't work in that regard. I think if we can come out, not turn it over, move the ball, we'll be okay.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Whose defense?

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: A lot of frustration on Manu's part. I think Bruce, he's a pro, he's been here awhile and here is this guy, he's an interloper sort of guy and Bruce doesn't know how it's all going to end up and for all he knows, he's taking his spot. From day one in training camp, Bruce welcomed him to the NBA and defense, and Manu thought he was like in a mix-master, you know, his whole first six months of the season, he didn't know which way to turn. Couldn't get anything done, you know, he had the ankle deal and all that sort of thing. Bruce was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. He realized real quickly it wasn't going to be easy and he had some things he had to figure out. He had to work on his shot, which he did, obviously, he couldn't just drive by everybody and, you know, do what he does. So it was a great education for him.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Well, there were practices where we would have to remember they were all falcons and that kind of stuff. (Laughter) He more than anything, you know, they handled him pretty good.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Every day I wonder what the hell I'm doing here. I think there are a lot of other people that could be sitting here doing the same thing. People tell me that we've done this, we've done that, we've done the other, and we have done that. But we've had the pieces to do that, and if I'm going to take any credit at all, I'm going to say I didn't screw it up. But beyond that, it's got nothing to do with me.

COACH GREGG POPOVICH: Well, I'm there. (Laughter).