McDonald: NBA GMs Love Pop

[duncan228]

Jeff McDonald: NBA GMs love Pop (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/10/jeff_mcdonald_n_5.html)

The NBA just released its annual survey of league general managers, and there's a lot to like if you're a Spurs fan. It turns out, the NBA GMs love them some Gregg Popovich.

Pop garnered the most votes in four of the six categories related to head coaching -- best coach, best at making in-game adjustments, best in the last two minutes of a close game, and best defensive schemes. He came in second to Phil Jackson on the question of which coach is the best motivator of players.

There was no "best beard" category, but we're guessing training camp Pop would give Jackson and P.J. Carlesimo a run for their money in that regard.

For the record, the league GMs predict the Lakers to beat the Celtics for this year's NBA title. Only 7.7 percent believe the Spurs will win their fifth crown.

To view the full survey, which is chock full of other interesting goodies, click here (http://www.nba.com/2008/tipoff/10/21/gmsurvey.predictions/index.html).

Spurs fans will be dismayed to note who the GMs believe to be the best international player in the game (Hint: His name's not Ginobili).

[benefactor]

Paul faster than Tony with the ball? I'm not buying.

[MoSpur]

Pop is an excellent coach.

[angelbelow]

they should add a best bread. that way pop would win another cat!

[diego]

reading those answers (especially about D), it becomes clear why so many teams suck

it really makes you wonder how these guys get their job in the first place.

[xtremesteven33]

1. Greg Popovich
2. Phil Jackson
3. Jerry Sloan
4. Don Nelson

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

reading those answers (especially about D), it becomes clear why so many teams suck

it really makes you wonder how these guys get their job in the first place.

The one that baffled me was KG as "Best Leader" by a landslide.

[#2!]

The one that baffled me was KG as "Best Leader" by a landslide.yeah me too. apparently even the people running these teams are not immune to the whole "KG finally has a ring so we can declare him best big man ever" bug that has been going around since the finals(even since he got traded to the Celtics).

Also I don't see how Dwight Howard was tied with Tony in best finisher(or even on the list). I mean all the guy can do IN A GAME is hop up and do the same two handed jam over and over. "Best Finisher" to me implies variation and creativity....Whatever though Pop being more highly regarded than Phil makes up for all the other mistakes

[Slomo]

The one that baffled me was KG as "Best Leader" by a landslide.
+1

[Spurs Brazil]

Which player does the most with least?
1. Bruce Bowen -- 12.5%
2. Reggie Evans -- 8.3%
Steve Nash -- 8.3%
Fabricio Oberto -- 8.3%
Mehmet Okur -- 8.3%
Luke Walton -- 8.3%
Others receiving votes: Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Andre Miller, Paul Millsap, Kendrick Perkins, Luis Scola, Robert Swift, Kurt Thomas, David West

[Allanon]

Here's another Spurs related one:

Who is the best international player in the NBA?
1. Dirk Nowitzki -- 66.7%
2. Manu Ginobili -- 18.5%
3. Steve Nash -- 11.1%
4. Yao Ming -- 3.7%

[Allanon]

And yet another:

I'm surprised Ricky Rubio is getting SO much love. And your boy Splitter is 2nd best International player not in the NBA:

Who is the best international player NOT in the NBA?
1. Ricky Rubio -- 57.7%
2. Juan Carlos Navarro -- 7.7%
3. Tiago Splitter -- 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Dimitrios Diamantidis, Jorge Garbajosa, Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar, Theo Papaloukas, Fran Vazquez, Nikola Vujicic

[pad300]

Which player does the most with least?
1. Bruce Bowen -- 12.5%
2. Reggie Evans -- 8.3%
Steve Nash -- 8.3%
Fabricio Oberto -- 8.3%
Mehmet Okur -- 8.3%
Luke Walton -- 8.3%
Others receiving votes: Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Andre Miller, Paul Millsap, Kendrick Perkins, Luis Scola, Robert Swift, Kurt Thomas, David West

It's pretty interesting that SA has 3 of 16 candidates in this category (Bowen, Oberto, KT). The other team with 3 candidates is Utah (Okur, Boozer, Millsap). Old school teams... This may also be indicative of media bias - HOU has 2 candidates as well (Battier, Scola). 8 of 16 candidates between 3 west teams that are not media darlings...

[urunobili]

i have a man crush on Pop

[wildbill2u]

Which player does the most with least?
1. Bruce Bowen -- 12.5%
2. Reggie Evans -- 8.3%
Steve Nash -- 8.3%
Fabricio Oberto -- 8.3%
Mehmet Okur -- 8.3%
Luke Walton -- 8.3%
Others receiving votes: Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Andre Miller, Paul Millsap, Kendrick Perkins, Luis Scola, Robert Swift, Kurt Thomas, David West

If you stop and think of it, Duncan could've made this list. He's doesn't exactly have great athleticism. Can jump maybe over a matchbook and isn't real swift. There are guys who are as tall or taller and don't come near his effectiveness on the court.

But does he ever come with it with what he does have.

[Darkwaters]

Those surveys are always interesting. Good to see Pop getting plenty of love.

[exstatic]

Here's another Spurs related one:

Who is the best international player in the las two minutes of a game?
1. Manu Ginobili -- 100%
2. Dirk Nowitzki -- 0%
3. Steve Nash -- 0%
4. Yao Ming -- on IR

[T Park]

Here's another Spurs related one:

Who is the best international player in the las two minutes of a game?
1. Manu Ginobili -- 100%
2. Dirk Nowitzki -- 0%
3. Steve Nash -- 0%
4. Yao Ming -- on IR

:lmao


Exstatic FTW

[ShoogarBear]

Which player does the most with least?
.
.
.

Others receiving votes: Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Andre Miller, Paul Millsap, Kendrick Perkins, Luis Scola, Robert Swift, Kurt Thomas, David West

:wtf

I guess maybe they were referring to his teammates?

[John_C]

Lol, wasn't the Lakers also predicted to win it all last year?

[Allanon]

Lol, wasn't the Lakers also predicted to win it all last year?

Lakers were predicted to combust by the GMs last year (Kobe asking for trade). I believe Celtics were the #1 GM pick last year.

[anakha]

NBA GMs, what do they know?

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Pop's great; except when coaching against Phil.

[Bender]

they should add a best bread. that way pop would win another cat!
Pop is a baker too ?

[Kamnik]

Pop is a legend and should be a role model to all the young coaches.

True... he was blessed with TD but nevertheless-awsome coach and personality!

[Penya]

And yet another:

I'm surprised Ricky Rubio is getting SO much love. And your boy Splitter is 2nd best International player not in the NBA:

Who is the best international player NOT in the NBA?
1. Ricky Rubio -- 57.7%
2. Juan Carlos Navarro -- 7.7%
3. Tiago Splitter -- 7.7%
Others receiving votes: Dimitrios Diamantidis, Jorge Garbajosa, Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar, Theo Papaloukas, Fran Vazquez, Nikola Vujicic

Lol.

[J-Rock6X]

The one that baffled me was KG as "Best Leader" by a landslide.


Gang leader maybe? I still remember him crying like a little BITCH in that one interview! Fuck Garnett!!!:flag: