The Result Has A Second Meaning
Gregg Popovich used Manu Ginobili the same way a pitcher uses a closer: not for the whole game, but for the moments that mattered most. Ginobili came off the bench for eight of the first nine playoff games in San Antonio's 2005 NBA title run. When the Supersonics tied that second-round series 2-2, Popovich inserted him into the starting lineup and the Spurs didn't look back. The same adjustment followed against the Hornets in 2008, the Thunder in 2012, and even four games into the 2013 Finals against the Heat. Starting Ginobili was the signal that San Antonio was serious.
That's the same signal Mitch Johnson might need to send now.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
The Spurs trail the Knicks 1-0 in the Finals after Game 1, and Dylan Harper was clearly the better player on the court. The 20-year-old rookie generated 10 of San Antonio's 42 points in the paint—Harper has been among the best rim-pressuring guards of the entire postseason, averaging 4.7 shots in the restricted area per game and shooting 67.4% on those looks. De'Aaron Fox, meanwhile, attempted only 2.6 shots in the restricted area per game since returning from his high-ankle sprain and converted just 46.2% of those. In Game 1, Fox shot 1-of-10 outside the restricted area. When he's not getting to the rim, he's not scoring especially effectively.
Fox is a 28-year-old All-Star who just signed a max extension. He's been the starter all year, and the Spurs won 62 games with him in that role. Sticking with what worked is a reasonable inclination. But the Knicks are a different opponent than the Thunder. Only the Pistons forced more turnovers than Oklahoma City this season. New York was a below-average turnover-generating defense. What San Antonio needs against the Knicks is rim pressure and defenders who can hold up on Jalen Brunson.
The Part Worth Keeping
Harper is listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds. Fox is 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. The size difference matters when guarding a guard like Brunson, who hunted smaller defenders throughout the series. When Harper guarded Brunson, the Knicks frequently tried to screen him off. When Fox guarded Brunson in the March games, New York had success switching Fox onto Karl-Anthony Towns.
Fox played 10 more minutes than Harper in Game 1. Harper played less than four fourth-quarter minutes. These are the NBA Finals. The margins are tiny. A single lineup decision can swing games, and games can swing championships.
That's probably why Popovich turned to Ginobili for the biggest games of San Antonio's first dynasty. When your season is on the line, you want to win or lose with your best players on the floor.