Spurs feel Popovich's wrath after 'soft' showing in Miami

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SAN ANTONIO - Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called his team soft, undisciplined and lacking in commitment after Wednesday's 95-88 loss to the Heat in Miami.

To underscore his displeasure, Popovich let loose with more pointed criticism while the team watched video of the game Thursday during a rare practice the day after a road game.

How angry was Popovich?

"I've seen my fair share of moments, so this one is kind of up there in the mix just because the stuff we were getting beat at is stuff that we control, not Xs and Os, not necessarily game-skill stuff," said Patty Mills, the longest-tenured active Spur. "It's all desire to want to win and hustle plays and discipline stuff – the stuff you talk about even before you talk about basketball."

Being called soft has the Spurs eager to get back on the court, but they don't play again until Saturday night, when they host Houston. The Spurs are 6-4 after losing two in a row.

"Nobody wants to have that type of label on you," DeMar DeRozan said. "Granted, we played that way last game. But it's all about how you respond back to that. Man up. That's motivation there, and we can't wait to play Saturday.

Said Bryn Forbes, "If you are a competitor that's one of the worst things you can be called. We just have to come out and show it next game. We have to come out that much harder, that much more focused and change his mind."

Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) grabs a loose ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Dante Cunningham, left, guard Bryn Forbes, and forward LaMarcus Aldridge, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Miami. The Heat won 95-88. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) less Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) grabs a loose ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Dante Cunningham, left, guard Bryn Forbes, and forward LaMarcus Aldridge, right, during the second half of an NBA ... more Photo: Lynne Sladky, Associated Press Photo: Lynne Sladky, Associated Press Image 1 of / 104 Caption Close Spurs feel Popovich's wrath after 'soft' showing in Miami 1 / 104 Back to Gallery

The players said it was good to practice so quickly after the Miami game.

"It was needed to get that taste out of our mouths," Forbes said.

Said Mills, "Sometimes it's better to come and squash the stuff that we weren't great at last night rather than having a day to dwell on it at home."

Although the video session was painful, DeRozan said it was much needed.

"You just soak it in," he said. "You take in all the negatives. You got to let it sit on you, so you can understand what to do, what not to do, how not to let it happen, and use that to go out and perform like you need to the next game."

DeRozan said the same was true about Popovich pulling his starters about 5 minutes into Wednesday's game.

"You have got to respect it," DeRozan said of the quick hook that sent him, Forbes, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dante Cunningham and Derrick White to the bench.

"You have got to understand that you are not doing something right. You have got to respect it and be ready when you get called to go back out there. It's fine. You haven't been in any-thing if you haven't been in that situation in the league, that's how I look at it. You just have to be ready, (understand it's a) learning experience and make sure you are not in that situation again."