Interesting theory by Spurs blogger about the final play

[Bankshot]

Over on the Spurs SBN blog, one of their authors writes:

OK, guys, here's my take on the final play of last night's showdown between the Boston Celtics and your San Antonio Spurs. CIA Pop would have preferred to win the game, but when it comes down to the LAST possession against a team that (should the Spurs make it that far) they could possibly meet in the Finals, he's absolutely NOT going to give them even a PEEK at one of our good inbounds plays.

. . .

Now, we can have a discussion about WHY IN THE WORLD, CIA Pop wouldn't want to do more than he did to win this game, but I think it's completely obvious that he was holding back his best plays for later in the season when there's more on the line. If Manu wins it, fine. But he wasn't going to show the Celtics more than he wanted to. He has a precious supply of amazing, game-changing, series-winning inbounds plays, and he didn't want to use one of them tonight. End of story.

Link.

That's certainly a novel theory.  Would any coach actually do this?  I'm got to think not.  Coaches coach to win games, and Pop isn't going to be so paranoid about a potential Finals matchup that he's going to give his team a lesser shot at winning a game like this one.

By that notion, then why didn't he bench his guys down 9 with less than a minute left? Or why intentional foul? Or why call a timeout after the rebounded Allen FT miss?

Because the Knicks were ahead the entire game with no break in sight and he wanted to rest his guys for the next game, which was a back to back (he said as much in his press conference after the Knick game).  The Celtic game was up and down with the Spurs having the lead late in the 4th.  Plus they lost the night before and wanted a win this game.

[2dark]

But the guy clearly said that Pop has numerous in bound plays for the deciding moments in important games.
He couldn't have used 1 on us?

[CelticsWhat35]

I find it a little ironic that the starters were pulled from the Knicks game with 3 minutes to go while down 9, and then the next night the nearly come back from a 9-pt deficit with 1 minute to go.

I'm sorry, but I doubt the players' legs were saved that much by playing 3 less minutes the night before, especially when those 3 minutes would've probably included many timeouts and free throw shots if it got closer.

[Fafnir]

I find it a little ironic that the starters were pulled from the Knicks game with 3 minutes to go while down 9, and then the next night the nearly come back from a 9-pt deficit with 1 minute to go.

I'm sorry, but I doubt the players' legs were saved that much by playing 3 less minutes the night before, especially when those 3 minutes would've probably included many timeouts and free throw shots if it got closer.

I think Pop was p---ed at the Spur's players effort on the defensive end and wanted to send a message.

Besides the C's collapsed more than the Spurs did anything. They allowed a quick three, two turnovers that turned into easy fast break points, and then missed two free throws. Excuting well on any one of those four possessions keeps the game from going into doubt.

[KungPoweChicken]

Pop's plays are so precious he cannot spare them for a regular season game. Give me a break! Some plays are better than others, no doubt, but the idea of saving a potential "game winning play" is absurd. A play in basketball contributes 10% importance. Execution of that play contributes 90% importance. This theory is ridiculous.

[CelticsWhat35]

I find it a little ironic that the starters were pulled from the Knicks game with 3 minutes to go while down 9, and then the next night the nearly come back from a 9-pt deficit with 1 minute to go.

I'm sorry, but I doubt the players' legs were saved that much by playing 3 less minutes the night before, especially when those 3 minutes would've probably included many timeouts and free throw shots if it got closer.

I think Pop was [peeved] at the Spur's players effort on the defensive end and wanted to send a message.

Besides the C's collapsed more than the Spurs did anything. They allowed a quick three, two turnovers that turned into easy fast break points, and then missed two free throws. Excuting well on any one of those four possessions keeps the game from going into doubt.

Oh, I agree with you that the near collapse had more to do with the Celtics than the Spurs (with a little help from the refs as well), but I thought I read that Pop wanted to rest the starters for the 2nd game.  If he did it to send a message to a group of starters that weren't playing any defense, that's fine.  But if a veteran team like the Celtics were able to almost blow a lead like that, don't you think the Knicks could, given a couple more minutes?

[Edgar]

But the guy clearly said that Pop has numerous in bound plays for the deciding moments in important games.
He couldn't have used 1 on us?

He did
Is called pass the ball to an ISOlated Manu
an pray

[Fafnir]

I find it a little ironic that the starters were pulled from the Knicks game with 3 minutes to go while down 9, and then the next night the nearly come back from a 9-pt deficit with 1 minute to go.

I'm sorry, but I doubt the players' legs were saved that much by playing 3 less minutes the night before, especially when those 3 minutes would've probably included many timeouts and free throw shots if it got closer.

I think Pop was [peeved] at the Spur's players effort on the defensive end and wanted to send a message.

Besides the C's collapsed more than the Spurs did anything. They allowed a quick three, two turnovers that turned into easy fast break points, and then missed two free throws. Excuting well on any one of those four possessions keeps the game from going into doubt.

Oh, I agree with you that the near collapse had more to do with the Celtics than the Spurs (with a little help from the refs as well), but I thought I read that Pop wanted to rest the starters for the 2nd game.  If he did it to send a message to a group of starters that weren't playing any defense, that's fine.  But if a veteran team like the Celtics were able to almost blow a lead like that, don't you think the Knicks could, given a couple more minutes?

Sure they could have, but Pop doesn't care to go all out to win every game. He clearly has the goal of getting ready for the post season.