Robinson, Popovich Become the Scapegoats

Ties bind David Robinson and Gregg Popovich. There’s the military schooling, and then there’s time.

Since 1989 they’ve been together for all but two years.

But ties also bind their hands behind their backs--when they stand together in front of firing squads after losses. That is their position again today, the targets of a dejected city, officially Scapegoat No. 1 and Scapegoat No. 2.

Which is which?

Take your pick and fire.

Ties bind them on this question too. Popovich was second-guessed all the way back to the Dallas series when he subbed Malik Rose for Robinson at the end of the one Spur loss.

The same happened Saturday when Robinson played 30 minutes. But again the details said something else. Robinson was so amped for the opener that he almost hyperventilated. Still, he sat down late in the first quarter, when he usually does.

The Spurs lost the lead without him, then Robinson checked in for the final nine minutes of the second quarter. Down by eight then, the Spurs ended the half down by nine.

So he didn’t make a dent there, nor did he later. Robinson sat down for about seven minutes at the end of the third to the middle of the fourth quarter. When he returned the Lakers’ lead went from 10 to 15 before he left for the final time, with about three minutes left.

In all, Robinson ended the first game with about the same minutes he averaged during the season, and he wasn’t especially effective with the ones he had. But he came out the next day and said what everyone wanted to hear. “I’ve got to be on the floor more,” he said.

Popovich said a few things that day too. To Robinson. According to those on the team, Popovich railed at Robinson at Sunday’s practice for his defensive lapses.

They’ve been together so long, no one thought much of it.

Popovich shotguns fast and to the point, and the last three seasons say something about the effectiveness.

So did Monday. There’s a reason Shaquille O’Neal had five points and seven rebounds at halftime.

But then Robinson did a Robinson. Arguing with a ref over a foul, he turned his head as Horace Grant cut to the rim. Rick Fox, inbounding the ball from under the basket, saw it all. “I could see he was upset,” Fox said. “He wasn’t paying attention.”

Fox fired the pass. Robinson fired off another foul--and had to sit on the bench yet again. Given that, the Lakers could afford to collapse double-teams on Tim Duncan.

“That ranks,” Robinson said, “as one of the dumbest things that I’ve ever done.”

But admitting it isn’t enough. Robinson made a mistake, and it’s damning to his core. From one of several e-mails that trickled in Tuesday: “In spite of [Robinson’s] undeniable talent, he just doesn’t have the heart to compete at the highest level.”

Harsh? For Robinson and Popovich, routine.

You know how it works by now.

Take your pick and fire.