duncan228
12-12-2008, 11:36 PM
Edit: Updated version, same link.
NBA coaches facing tough times (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NBA_coaches_facing_tough_times.html)
By Jeff McDonald
NBA coaches kept on short leashes
MINNEAPOLIS — If Spurs coach Gregg Popovich needed a reminder of how tough and short a career in his profession could be, all he had to do was look at the opposing team's bench Friday.
When the Spurs were at the Target Center last month, Randy Wittman sat in the Timberwolves' head-coaching chair. This time, it was filled by Kevin McHale, who climbed down from the front office after Wittman was fired Dec. 8.
“It's a volatile business,” Popovich said before the Spurs' 98-86 victory.
Additional evidence of the short shelf life of the typical NBA coach will come when the Spurs face Oklahoma City on Sunday at the AT&T Center. The Thunder will arrive sans P.J. Carlesimo, who was fired last month and replaced on an interim basis with assistant Scott Brooks.
This season has been especially tough on NBA coaches. Four have received the Donald Trump treatment, and it's not even Christmas.
Also on the list of fired coaches are Washington's Eddie Jordan, at the time the third-most tenured coach in the league behind Popovich and Utah's Jerry Sloan, and Minnesota's Sam Mitchell, the league's 2007 Coach of the Year.
McHale says the rush of pink slips has made him appreciate the longevity of Popovich, who has spent 13 seasons on the bench in San Antonio.
“I've been a big, big, big admirer of Pop's and Jerry Sloan's and (Phil Jackson's) for a long time,” McHale said. “They all have their styles, uniquely different, but their systems work. Once you get players playing inside that system, it's so much easier, because nothing changes. You can go out and get players who fit your system.”
Nice and fresh: The Spurs did not practice before leaving for Minnesota on Thursday, and did not hold a shootaround before Friday's game.
After the Spurs swept a grueling back-to-back against Dallas and Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday, Popovich figured rest trumped practice. His players readily agreed.
“Sometimes, you need to go on the court, talk about the opponent and practice a little bit,” Manu Ginobili said. “Thinking long-term, during a stretch like this, it's good to save your legs when you can.”
On the rebound: The Spurs won the rebounding battle 47-44 on Friday, marking the 10th time this season they've outrebounded an opponent.
The Spurs are 8-2 in those games. Behind 26-23 in the rebounding department at halftime, the Spurs outrebounded Minnesota by six in the second half.
“They really hurt us on the glass in the first half,” Matt Bonner said. “They played more physical than us. We had to respond to that in the second half, and that was the difference in the game.”
NBA coaches facing tough times (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NBA_coaches_facing_tough_times.html)
By Jeff McDonald
NBA coaches kept on short leashes
MINNEAPOLIS — If Spurs coach Gregg Popovich needed a reminder of how tough and short a career in his profession could be, all he had to do was look at the opposing team's bench Friday.
When the Spurs were at the Target Center last month, Randy Wittman sat in the Timberwolves' head-coaching chair. This time, it was filled by Kevin McHale, who climbed down from the front office after Wittman was fired Dec. 8.
“It's a volatile business,” Popovich said before the Spurs' 98-86 victory.
Additional evidence of the short shelf life of the typical NBA coach will come when the Spurs face Oklahoma City on Sunday at the AT&T Center. The Thunder will arrive sans P.J. Carlesimo, who was fired last month and replaced on an interim basis with assistant Scott Brooks.
This season has been especially tough on NBA coaches. Four have received the Donald Trump treatment, and it's not even Christmas.
Also on the list of fired coaches are Washington's Eddie Jordan, at the time the third-most tenured coach in the league behind Popovich and Utah's Jerry Sloan, and Minnesota's Sam Mitchell, the league's 2007 Coach of the Year.
McHale says the rush of pink slips has made him appreciate the longevity of Popovich, who has spent 13 seasons on the bench in San Antonio.
“I've been a big, big, big admirer of Pop's and Jerry Sloan's and (Phil Jackson's) for a long time,” McHale said. “They all have their styles, uniquely different, but their systems work. Once you get players playing inside that system, it's so much easier, because nothing changes. You can go out and get players who fit your system.”
Nice and fresh: The Spurs did not practice before leaving for Minnesota on Thursday, and did not hold a shootaround before Friday's game.
After the Spurs swept a grueling back-to-back against Dallas and Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday, Popovich figured rest trumped practice. His players readily agreed.
“Sometimes, you need to go on the court, talk about the opponent and practice a little bit,” Manu Ginobili said. “Thinking long-term, during a stretch like this, it's good to save your legs when you can.”
On the rebound: The Spurs won the rebounding battle 47-44 on Friday, marking the 10th time this season they've outrebounded an opponent.
The Spurs are 8-2 in those games. Behind 26-23 in the rebounding department at halftime, the Spurs outrebounded Minnesota by six in the second half.
“They really hurt us on the glass in the first half,” Matt Bonner said. “They played more physical than us. We had to respond to that in the second half, and that was the difference in the game.”