Popovich rests ‘Big 3’ in Spurs’ loss to Grizzlies
Web Posted: 04/17/2007 12:06 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the second game in as many nights, Tim Duncan watched from the locker room as his teammates struggled without him.
This time, he couldn’t blame his banishment on Joey Crawford. Just Gregg Popovich.
With the Spurs’ immediate playoff future already determined, Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry all took Monday night off as the team lost 101-91 to Memphis at FedExForum.
Locked into the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed after losing Sunday in Dallas, the Spurs will play Denver in a first-round series that begins this Sunday at the AT&T Center. The teams also meet Wednesday in their regular-season finale, which figures to look a lot like Monday’s game.
Popovich gave his three stars a rare chance to rest while Barry was suffering from food poisoning or a stomach virus, listed on the official scorer’s sheet by the team’s training staff as “Tummy Ache.” Duncan, who was ejected by Crawford while sitting on the bench during the loss in Dallas, hadn’t missed a game this season before Monday.
“I think this late in the season, somebody’s not going to get into or out of shape depending on what you do,” Popovich said. “I think the mental side of it is real important to maybe take a night here or there where it’s not even on your mind, winning or losing or what you’re going to do defensively or offensively — just let it go. So that cup can fill up totally before playoff time.”
As a result, Jackie Butler and James White watched their minutes soar. Both made their first starts for the Spurs; when the coaches put White’s “JW” initials in the lineup on the locker-room board, the rookie guard questioned whether a mistake had been made.
Said White: “I was like, ‘Are you sure you didn’t mean ‘JV’ — Jacque Vaughn?’”
Vaughn started also, as did Francisco Elson and Bruce Bowen. But none of them played close to the 39 minutes White logged. Prior to Monday, White had totaled only 56 minutes in four appearances.
White made the most of his time, scoring 17 points while making 8 of 14 shots. On one sequence, he took the ball to the rim, had his shot blocked, plucked the rebound out of the air, then threw in a soft hook.
“I thought everybody looked pretty good tonight,” Popovich said. “I thought James got tired. He was playing a lot of defense and running the floor real well.”
Butler had seen even fewer minutes than White this season, playing just 46 over nine games before Monday. During the past two months, however, the Spurs have seen an improvement in Butler’s work ethic as he’s slimmed down and strengthened his body.
In his first extended appearance, Butler had 12 points and 10 rebounds while knocking down an 18-foot jumper that brought the Spurs within 91-86 with 3:19 left.
“It’s always different when a guy plays a game as compared to just practicing every day,” Bowen said.
“So I was glad to see these guys get out there and compete today.”
After trailing by 21 points with nine minutes left, the Spurs reduced their deficit to 93-89 on Beno Udrih’s 3-pointer. But Memphis center Pau Gasol, who scored 25 points, drove for a dunk to help put the game away.
The Grizzlies, who have seemingly been eyeing Greg Oden and Kevin Durant since the season’s opening tip, already are assured of finishing with the league’s worst record. With the Spurs resting their stars, they were able to reward their fans with a rare victory in their home finale.
The Spurs, meanwhile, can turn their attention to the Nuggets.
“Mentally you start getting prepared, getting everything lined up as far as off-the-court things,” Michael Finley said. “So when the weekend comes, the only thing to do is play a basketball game.”