Buck Harvey Mailbag:

When it comes to monitoring minutes, nothing's more important than winning
Buck Harvey
Express-News Sports Columnist
Web Posted: 11/07/2006 05:04 PM CST

I am optimistic the new additions to the Spurs will develop over the course of this season. Do you think Gregg Popovich will approach the first half of this season the way Phil Jackson did with the three-peat Bulls – meaning limit the minutes of the three best players and, when the game is on the line, let some of the veteran role players decide the outcome? This would preserve the overall health of team and allow the new guys to mesh.
– Mike Salas, San Antonio

Popovich might like to do that, and he's always looking to limit the minutes of his players, especially Manu Ginobili. But more than likely he will do what he did against the Knicks when the lead fell to one point: Make sure he wins.


I titled my e-mail message "Lord of Rings," because when Pop gets a ring, he seems to revert to his Larry Brown-bred ways. He had all the answers to the Dallas puzzle right under his nose last year. (Fabricio) Oberto and Beno (Udrih) lost a year of development because of the corrupting power of the ring.
Remember in years past when Pop was running Terry Porter, Antonio Daniels and Danny Ferry out there against MJ 2.0 (Kobe Bryant) and Co.? Stubbornly adhering to a draconian inside-out philosophy? Those playoff beatings forced Pop to change.
– Danny Collins


It's fair to question Popovich's rotation last spring, but I understood his thinking then. Oberto was new to the league, and Popovich also bet on Nick Van Exel's experience over Udrih. Now Popovich leans on both, and even makes fun of himself for not playing Oberto more last year.

Those earlier playoff beatings forced the Spurs to do several things, most of all find better players.


It seems like Manu is much better at facilitating ball movement and giving guys the ball where they want it. (Tony) Parker is not much of a passer. I hardly ever see Parker do anything but score his 19 points a game, no defense and very little else, whereas Manu gets steals, causes turnovers and plays the complete game. Why does Parker get more minutes than Manu?
– Bob Perkins, Glendale, Calif.


Parker gives considerably more than that, especially on defense. He ranks among the better point guards in the league in this area. He isn't as creative as Ginobili is, but Parker is more than a shoot-first point guard. That said, Parker has some shooting guard in him, Ginobili some point guard and that's not a bad combination.

The minutes issue, as mentioned earlier, has nothing to do with Popovich preferring others to Ginobili. Popovich knows Ginobili wears down and wants to save him.


"(Josh) Howard had better learn to control himself." How about (Bruce) Bowen better learn not to stand over another player and step on him? Bowen is a dirty, sneaky, annoying player. You know it. I know it. Josh Howard knows it.
– Brad "Mavs Fan" Price


The Knicks have joined your chorus after Steve Francis came down on one of Bowen's feet Monday night, just as Vince Carter and Ray Allen did with Bowen before.

But here's the point on Howard: He can either control himself or face suspensions, ejections and fines.


Why did the refs not throw Howard out of the game? That was vicious – if the NBA is trying to send a message it seems to me they missed a good chance. I would hope that after the review that he is suspended and fined at least.
–Bob Voreis, Brownsville


You got your wish. According to a later ruling by league officials, the refs should have ejected Howard.


(Francisco) Elson looked great against Mavs. His explosiveness reminds me of K-Mart (Kenyon Martin). Not quite Amare (Stoudemire), but good enough. He seems to have picked up Pop's defensive scheme already.
My question is: How are the Spurs going to address the void at true center for the Spurs against other true centers such as Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming? >
– Brian, San Antonio


The Spurs think Tim Duncan has played Yao Ming well in the past. As Dallas showed last week, even two, large seven-footers couldn't stop Yao from scoring 36 points; if he starts scoring like that, look for the Spurs to send double teams at him.

The Spurs are more vulnerable defending Shaq than they have ever been, but Shaq is also slowing down. If they had to counter him in a seven-game series: Elson, Oberto and perhaps Jackie Butler would burn 18 fouls for three quarters, and then Duncan would draw Shaq for the fourth quarter.


If that's all Dallas has: Good luck Avery. It's going to be a long season. These Spurs will be ten times better in May.
I keep hearing all the talk about the Mavs' acquisitions this summer because I live in the DFW area. Somebody save me. What about the Spurs' new guys? Did somebody miss them?
– Jose Lopez, Dallas-Fort Worth


Many in the national media praised the Spurs for their additions, especially when it came to what they got for their money. But don't be fooled by Dallas' slow start. The Mavericks will contend again, and it may come down to another Game Seven.


Elson as a bigger Bruce – just what the Spurs needed, a little more size coupled with quickness. Super size my Bruce. Should be fun to watch all year.
Spurs fans, time to don those Blues Brother style shades – let's get ready for the "Bruce Brothers."
– Larry Mitchell, San Antonio


For those who don't remember: This would follow the Spurs' "Bruise Brothers" of the late '70s.

I don't care too much for Buck's writing but his answers here are spot on.