For coaches, the final meal food for thought
SAN ANTONIO -- The wine flowed. The salt and pepper shakers moved. The obligatory drawings on napkins were put aside when the food arrived. It was the last supper of the 2005 NBA Finals for the two coaches and longtime friends.
San Antonio's Gregg Popovich and Detroit's Larry Brown had more than a few meals together over the last two weeks. The finale was on the eve of Game 7, played last night at the SBC Center. Popovich said the dinner conversation didn't stick to basketball -- ''which is awkward because that's all we ever do" -- but there were the customary discussions about plays, summer leagues, and, as Brown put it, ''We've got 103 days to start this nonsense over again."
The two have been close friends for 30-plus years. Brown brought Popovich into the NBA as an assistant with San Antonio. They coached in tandem last summer in Athens at the Olympics. Last night, the Spurs defeated the Pistons, 81-74, to win the NBA championship.
''[Wednesday night] was real special for both of us," said Popovich, who included family, the new collective bargaining agreement, summer camps, and the draft as topics of discussion. ''We haven't talked much about why we're on the planet, or what our fate might be upon death and what happens to an individual at that point. It's always napkins and shakers, stealing things from each other."
Asked what did happen to someone when he dies, Popovich said, ''I think you have to make your own personal decision based on what you believe and most of that is based on the way you grew up and the associations you have after that point."
He then turned to a writer and cracked, ''I don't think you've got a chance. I think you're gone when you die."
Game 7 veterans
Last night was the 16th Game 7 in the history of the NBA Finals. Only two active players, ex-Rockets Robert Horry and Sam Cassell, had played in the most recent Game 7, the 1994 finale between Houston and the New York Knicks. In that game, a 94-84 Houston win, Horry had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in 35 minutes. Horry has played in seven Game 7s, winning six . . . NBA sources confirmed yesterday that the Milwaukee Bucks, who fired Terry Porter, have spoken to ex-Golden State coach Eric Musselman . . . The Pistons were 10-0 in their last 10 clinching opportunities. The streak extended to May 2, 2002, when Detroit couldn't put away those pesky Toronto Raptors after opening a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five first-rounder . . . San Antonio has lost only six games all season at the SBC Center -- and never two in a row. They have not dropped two straight at home in the three-year-old building . . . How Did We Miss This Dept.: A belated happy birthday to Darko Milicic, who turned 20 Monday . . . San Antonio's 3-point shooting will enter the Finals record book. The Spurs connected on 51 treys, passing the 37 set by the Rockets in 1994. The Knicks made 36 in that series . . . With Detroit's win in Game 6, Brown registered his 100th playoff coaching victory, moving ahead of Red Auerbach into third place. Ahead of him are Phil Jackson (175) and Pat Riley (155) . . . Brown failed to become the first coach in NBA history to win three Game 7s on the road. Bill Russell also won two Game 7 roadies in 1968 (at Philly) and 1969 (at Los Angeles) . . . While you can never be sure, especially with big men, last night might well have been Elden Campbell's NBA finale. Campbell finished his 14th year and played sparingly in the postseason (57 minutes over 10 games). He will be a free agent and turns 37 next month. Campbell played for five teams over his career (Lakers, Hornets, Sonics, Nets, and Pistons), totaling 1,044 games and 106 playoff games. Not bad for the 27th pick in 1990 NBA Draft.
