Popovich, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy with a Soviet Studies degree, kept a step ahead of Nets coach Byron Scott throughout the low-scoring game that looked more like a chess match. His military intelligence background came in handy. Scott just couldn’t figure out what to do as Popovich threw a variety of guided missiles from the bench.
In the end, Scott emerged from the smoke of battle looking shell-shocked. The Nets held a three-point lead at the start of the fourth period then crumbled in the stretch to lose an 84-79 decision. I’m not sure if he knew what hit him. Popovich dismantled the Nets offense piece by piece and left the fragments in a shambles before a disappointed sellout crowd of over 20,000 fans.
Scott’s problem is he’s too predictable. Popovich reads him like a book. It’s no secret that the Nets’ trump card is their transition attack. And if they’re not running, the Nets try to execute the screen-roll from the perimeter for Jason Kidd to penetrate, dish off, or uncork a jumper. The other halfcourt option is to isolate–Kidd on the post-up against a smaller guard, Kenyon Martin or Richard Jefferson.
Depending on how the defense reacts, the player will try to go one-on-one on the clearout or kick to the outside shooter, usually Kerry Kittles, or pass to the cutter.
Kidd is the key to the Nets offense. If he’s bottled up, the Nets are in trouble. Kidd thrives in an up-tempo game. In the halfcourt, he’s particularly effective breaking down the man-to-man defense.
That’s why Popovich designed a defense to take away Kidd’s control in Game 3. He used a three-guard formation to organize a 3-2 defense that reduced Kidd’s role to minor billing and forced the Nets to play the corners, leaving the two backline defenders to control the boards. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen conspired to anchor the uppercourt defense while Tim Duncan and David Robinson or Malik Rose took care of the interior.
The ploy worked like a charm. It led to 20 New Jersey turnovers and a lowly 37 percent shooting clip from the floor. Kidd couldn’t break loose from the shackles of the Spurs’ stifling defense and delivered only 12 points on 6-of-19 from the floor.
Popovich, who is newly-hired Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown’s best friend, toyed with Scott like a puppet on a string. Scott played right into Popovich’s hand. The Spurs ate up the Nets offense like a shark feeding on wounded prey.
"We had too many turnovers–that was the biggest difference," said Scott after the spanking. "Give them credit. They made the big shots and the big stops. Both teams played aggressive. I’m proud of the way my team competed but if we’re not blocking out for offensive rebounds and things like that, we get killed."
To buoy up the Nets’ spirits, Scott said he’s not worried. "It’s a minor setback," he insisted. "We’ll get this thing tied up then we’ll be right back in it. We’ll take this back to San Antonio."
Another Nets win will force a Game 6 in San Antonio. A winner-take-all Game 7, if necessary, will also be played in the Alamo City.
Scott admitted patterning the Nets after the "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers. He played on three Laker title squads with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, and Kurt Rambis. Someone forgot to remind Scott that during the "Showtime" era, the NBA prohibited the zone defense.