Kori Ellis
03-20-2005, 01:14 AM
Buck Harvey: After AJ, the growth of Popovich
Web Posted: 03/20/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032005.1C.COL.BKNharvey.1555765d2.html
San Antonio Express-News
DETROIT — Avery Johnson will draw from his time with Gregg Popovich. He will preach defense and, yes, he will yell occasionally.
But there's another side to this relationship between the coaches of two Texas NBA franchises, and it is about Popovich's own growth away from Johnson.
Popovich has come a long way, all right.
Today a strong leader such as AJ would get in his way.
Today, in Detroit, would normally be about Popovich and his other coaching brother, Larry Brown. They are tied together by individual success and Olympic failure.
But Brown has been out lately for medical reasons, and Johnson is just in. Johnson has become Mark Cuban's hottest stock, joining a coaching fraternity that adds new members seemingly every day.
The move didn't surprise. When Don Nelson wasn't letting Johnson sub for him this season just for fun, Nelson was opting for midseason surgery. Rotator-cuff damage can be painful, but it's not as if a sore wing stopped Nelson from coaching. Wouldn't most coaches wait for the summer to fix the problem?
Johnson's rise didn't surprise, either, and the Spurs know all about this. He acted like a coach while wearing a uniform, and his connection with Popovich in the '90s all but gave Johnson a clipboard.
It was the perfect marriage at the perfect time. Johnson stood up in the locker room for Popovich, and he sat in on meetings as if one of the staff.
Cut a player? Make a change? Johnson's cold outlook had a managerial tone even then.
The public always saw the happy, cordial Johnson. But Johnson is far more complex than a sound bite. He knew how to play the media, and he knew how to play the league.
Nelson is an example. Johnson was never particularly close to him in the past, and there was even a time when Johnson held a grudge. Then Johnson played for Nelson at Golden State, starting as the Warriors' point guard for most of a season. Nelson, in one of his trademark trick moves, chose to bench Johnson for the playoffs and move Latrell Sprewell to Johnson's position.
Johnson arrived in San Antonio immediately after, signing with Popovich and delighted to be away from Nelson. But what Johnson understood about Nelson: He needed to forget what happened and move on. Business is business.
These are reasons to think Johnson will succeed. If he can get past a basic hurdle — if he can learn that the team isn't about him — he will win. He's a survivor, and his time in San Antonio proves that. How else could a journeyman ever expect to have his jersey someday retired?
It didn't hurt that Johnson threw in the title-clincher against the Knicks in 1999, but he did so much more. Popovich needed Johnson, both for his leadership and his support. Without Johnson by Popovich's side in 1999, the Spurs likely would have tuned out a coach without much credibility. Johnson instead saved Popovich's job.
The championship changed all dynamics, too. Established and more comfortable, Popovich rolled on, and the summer of 2001 cemented that. Then Johnson left as Tony Parker arrived.
Now Popovich has built a league power with everything on his roster except, coincidentally, a forceful leader. And it's a void. Most title teams have demonstrative players who care about every detail and don't care who hears it.
But there are reasons to think one not only is unnecessary for these Spurs, but also undesirable. David Robinson and Sean Elliott, for example, were personalities open to Johnson's lead. Is Tim Duncan at this stage in his career?
Popovich, most of all, would butt heads with anyone who tried to run his locker room. He has the voice now. He leads the team, period, with a rare handle on each of his stars. He relishes the strength that comes with having personalities of equal but separate strength, and it's partly the result of the international influence. On this team, Popovich is the common language.
It's a system admired by other coaches around the league. And if Johnson draws on his time with Popovich?
Don't be surprised if, someday, AJ runs his team the same way.
Web Posted: 03/20/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032005.1C.COL.BKNharvey.1555765d2.html
San Antonio Express-News
DETROIT — Avery Johnson will draw from his time with Gregg Popovich. He will preach defense and, yes, he will yell occasionally.
But there's another side to this relationship between the coaches of two Texas NBA franchises, and it is about Popovich's own growth away from Johnson.
Popovich has come a long way, all right.
Today a strong leader such as AJ would get in his way.
Today, in Detroit, would normally be about Popovich and his other coaching brother, Larry Brown. They are tied together by individual success and Olympic failure.
But Brown has been out lately for medical reasons, and Johnson is just in. Johnson has become Mark Cuban's hottest stock, joining a coaching fraternity that adds new members seemingly every day.
The move didn't surprise. When Don Nelson wasn't letting Johnson sub for him this season just for fun, Nelson was opting for midseason surgery. Rotator-cuff damage can be painful, but it's not as if a sore wing stopped Nelson from coaching. Wouldn't most coaches wait for the summer to fix the problem?
Johnson's rise didn't surprise, either, and the Spurs know all about this. He acted like a coach while wearing a uniform, and his connection with Popovich in the '90s all but gave Johnson a clipboard.
It was the perfect marriage at the perfect time. Johnson stood up in the locker room for Popovich, and he sat in on meetings as if one of the staff.
Cut a player? Make a change? Johnson's cold outlook had a managerial tone even then.
The public always saw the happy, cordial Johnson. But Johnson is far more complex than a sound bite. He knew how to play the media, and he knew how to play the league.
Nelson is an example. Johnson was never particularly close to him in the past, and there was even a time when Johnson held a grudge. Then Johnson played for Nelson at Golden State, starting as the Warriors' point guard for most of a season. Nelson, in one of his trademark trick moves, chose to bench Johnson for the playoffs and move Latrell Sprewell to Johnson's position.
Johnson arrived in San Antonio immediately after, signing with Popovich and delighted to be away from Nelson. But what Johnson understood about Nelson: He needed to forget what happened and move on. Business is business.
These are reasons to think Johnson will succeed. If he can get past a basic hurdle — if he can learn that the team isn't about him — he will win. He's a survivor, and his time in San Antonio proves that. How else could a journeyman ever expect to have his jersey someday retired?
It didn't hurt that Johnson threw in the title-clincher against the Knicks in 1999, but he did so much more. Popovich needed Johnson, both for his leadership and his support. Without Johnson by Popovich's side in 1999, the Spurs likely would have tuned out a coach without much credibility. Johnson instead saved Popovich's job.
The championship changed all dynamics, too. Established and more comfortable, Popovich rolled on, and the summer of 2001 cemented that. Then Johnson left as Tony Parker arrived.
Now Popovich has built a league power with everything on his roster except, coincidentally, a forceful leader. And it's a void. Most title teams have demonstrative players who care about every detail and don't care who hears it.
But there are reasons to think one not only is unnecessary for these Spurs, but also undesirable. David Robinson and Sean Elliott, for example, were personalities open to Johnson's lead. Is Tim Duncan at this stage in his career?
Popovich, most of all, would butt heads with anyone who tried to run his locker room. He has the voice now. He leads the team, period, with a rare handle on each of his stars. He relishes the strength that comes with having personalities of equal but separate strength, and it's partly the result of the international influence. On this team, Popovich is the common language.
It's a system admired by other coaches around the league. And if Johnson draws on his time with Popovich?
Don't be surprised if, someday, AJ runs his team the same way.