On Sunday, Gregg Popovich utilized the Hack-A-Blank strategy to perfection on Clippers forward Reggie Evans. With a little over three minutes left, the Spurs entered the penalty, and Popovich called for the Spurs to foul Evans -- who is an amazing defender and rebounder bu shoots 52 percent for his career from the charity stripe. Evans was shook, missing both; the Spurs tied the game on their next possession, and Evans sat the rest of the game as the Spurs went on to complete the sweep.
Spurs Vs. Clippers: Gregg Popovich, Reggie Evans Share Laugh Over ‘Hack-A-Reggie’
In his press conference, Popovich spoke on the brief postgame interaction with Evans that TNT’s cameras caught.
I said 'I'm sorry I had to do that to you.' I hate it. It's ugly. But it's something that's available. Just like anything else in the game that's legal. I had to have a laugh with him. He was fine. You know, actually what he said is that'll give me something to work on. But really. He said that will give me something to work on in the offseason. It was great.
Popovich may be annoying for opposing fans, but his gamesmanship is impeccable. The hack-a-strategy is no fun for fans, but it wins games, and that's what Popovich is paid to do. Classy move to apologize to Evans after the game for something that had to wreck the veteran's confidence, and even classier of Evans to be able to joke about it.
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