Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs endured two crushing defeats after being 30 seconds away from an NBA Title in Game 6 but he couldn't be prouder of his team.
NBA Finals 2013: Gregg Popovich is proud of what the San Antonio Spurs accomplished
Gregg Popovich wasn’t ready to look forward to the future and talked about appreciating what his team accomplished through the season after Game 7.
"What they accomplished this year is something nobody would have expected." Popovich said as he fielded questions after the conclusion of the NBA Finals.
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The Spurs finished the season with the second-best record in the Western Conference, advanced to the NBA Finals, and pushed the defending champion Miami Heat to seven games. "I couldn't be more proud of them." Popovich told media as he reminisced on the season.
SB Nation’s Paul Flannery asked Popovich if he could elaborate on calling Game 7 “torture”, and if he could appreciate the high-level of basketball displayed by both teams now that the series was over.
“It was a great series. In all honesty even in defeat I’m starting to enjoy what our group accomplished already when I look back. You need to do that when you put it in perspective. Its no fun to lose, but we lost to a better team. You can live with that if you gave it our best, and we did.” Popovich responded.
Popovich was clear that his team did not play their best game, but appreciated their approach and effort. “I expect nothing less and that’s what I got.”
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What did Popovich tell his team when they regrouped in the locker room? “Told em I loved ‘em.”
This could be the last run for the Spurs’ trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili as Ginobili is an unrestricted free agent next season. When asked if this could have been their last run and what the future may hold, Popovich wasn’t ready to look ahead. His message was clear post-game, he was proud of what his team accomplished, and his answer regrading the future echoed that same sentiment.
“I’m gonna go get a meal. I’m gonna enjoy what they accomplished this season.”
Quotes via the NBA's live press conference stream.
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