In an interesting move, Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich pulled his best players, essentially waving the white flag, with just about three minutes left and the Spurs down 10 points.  Sure, the Spurs have the Celtics tonight in the second game of a back to back, and he probably wanted to rest the starters, but I think this move had more to do with Popovich being upset at his guys, and if you watch the three defensive possessions before coach Popovice pulls his starters, you will understand why.

Possession 1: A Failed Zone

After Tim Duncan made a hook shot to cut the Knicks’ lead to five points, they retreat back into their zone:

The zone doesn’t surprise the Knicks at all, and they calmly get the ball to the middle of the court, and then swing it quickly around the perimeter and get an open three pointer out of it.

The key to this play, which is broken down in a fantastic post by Gian Casimiro, is a late rotation from Manu Ginobili as the ball goes from one wing to another:

He hits Felton which makes the defense shift sides. You see the Spurs triangulate Amar’e, so Felton swings it to Chandler. As Richard Jefferson closes out on him, he hits Douglas for an open shot.

As soon as Tim Duncan gets to Amar’e, Ginobili needs to get himself to the corner.  He gets there too late, and that late reaction allows Toney Douglas to knock down the three.

Possession 2:  A Poor Double/Recovery

After a made basket, the Knicks quickly push the ball up the floor for their next possession, this leads to some confusion on the Spurs part:

As Felton brings the ball down court, you see Manu Ginobili put both fists in the air, this is the Spurs’ playcall for their zone defense, but it seems he is the only one who is trying to play zone.  As Raymond Felton attacks the ball and kick it out, the Spurs are in their man to man defense.  When the ball goes to Amar’e Stoudemire in the post, Ginobili doubles down.

Felton and Douglas switch places, and it seems like Parker and Ginobili want to switch their man to man responsibilities as Parker picks up Douglas.  Ginobili never seems to react to this, and Felton is able to spot up wide open behind the three point line.  Ginobili is late on the close, and Felton knocks down the three.

Possession 3:  Parker Goes Under A Screen

After a Tim Duncan miss (where Amar’e does a great job of pulling the chair on him), the Knicks again push the ball up the court, but they then slow it down, setting up the pick and roll for Felton/Stoudemire:

Instead of fighting through the screen, Parker goes underneath it, and Felton is able to knock down the wide open jumper, extending the Knicks’ lead to 9 points.  Going underneath the screen here instead of fighting through it when you have a solid shooter handling the basketball is just taking the lazy way out, and I think this is what really got Coach Popovich angry.

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After one more layup from Amar’e Stoudemire (after an offensive rebound), the starters came out.  While saving Ginobili, Parker, and Duncan for the Celtics was probably on Coach Popovich’s mind, these defensive errors on three straight possessions is probably the main reason he pulled his starters.  If they weren’t going to execute for him, there was no reason for him to keep them on the court, or expect them to cut into the Knicks lead in the final three minutes.