At least Pop admitted his mistake

[TheProfessor]

I know, fat lot of good it does us now down 3-1. But Pop swallowed his pride because he had no choice, and Hill showed him he was wrong. Hopefully he can take that lesson into next year and give some minutes to our younger core. Bring Gist over, throw him out there with Williams, Hairston, Hill, and Mahinmi in Summer League, and let's see what we've got. This year was shot anyway without Manu, so maybe we'll get a positive out of it this way.

[itzsoweezee]

watch hill get 30 seconds of playing time next game.

[pawe]

sad but true

[BillMc]

Watch Hill get traded for cash considerations...:(

[timvp]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

[Marcus Bryant]

I think the youth movement will begin next season. You can't assume that Manu coming back will be enough. They were going to have to do this at some point. Might as well get it over with.

[TheProfessor]

I think the youth movement will begin next season. You can't assume that Manu coming back will be enough. They were going to have to do this at some point. Might as well get it over with.
I'm not even assuming Manu's coming back. Blasphemy, I know, but...at this point, other than Parker and Duncan, the Spurs will have all options on the table.

[TheProfessor]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea)
You'd think Van Exel would have taught him a lesson. But never has one of his mistakes been more glaring than this series.

[SA210]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

Along with what he did to Bowen too.

[gameFACE]

Here's to the start of the Sugar Hill Gang.

[pjjrfan]

"What was Pop thinking, having this kid on the bench?" Reggie Miller. I think a lot of us fans have been thinking the same thing. If he had been playing on a regular basis he could've helped even more, especially on the defensive end.

[Borosai]

I think the youth movement will begin next season. You can't assume that Manu coming back will be enough. They were going to have to do this at some point. Might as well get it over with.

It should have started this season, but they're on the bench, in the D-League, or in Europe.

[Borosai]

Goddammit it pisses me off.

Benching Hill: FAIL.
Benching Bowen: FAIL.
Mason at PG: FAIL.

I'm sure others can add more, such as starting Bonner, but he just faded on his own. Pop made many mistakes this year.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

It wasn't just that. Mason was in a groove at the SG spot, and ripping the nets from three. Pop destroyed him by moving him to point because he didn't feel Hill was ready.

But yeah, his handling of Hill and Mason was the most pathetic and idiotic thing he's ever done (and that's saying something). He seems to be turning into Larry Brown more and more every day, which isn't good for our prospects of winning another one before the end of the Duncan era.

[poop]

It should have started this season, but they're on the bench, in the D-League, or in Europe.

exactly. no reason why we shouldnt have a handful of young talent next year to put around tim and tony. Mahinmi(hopefully), Hill, Gist, Williams, Hairston...
but something tells me we will just be seeing more matt bonner and another year of finley, more old, etc..

[Josepatches_]

And what about Bonner over gooden or Thomas???

this is fucking crazy

[SenorSpur]

I think the youth movement will begin next season. You can't assume that Manu coming back will be enough. They were going to have to do this at some point. Might as well get it over with.

That was certainly the flawed thinking of many - that the Spurs lost to the Fakers last year simply because Manu was injured. Manu covers up a lot of deficiencies, but as great a player as he is, even HE can't cover up with the other flaws on this roster. Screw 2010, let the youth movement begin!

[Dingle Barry]

Goddammit it pisses me off.

Benching Hill: FAIL.
Benching Bowen: FAIL.
Mason at PG: FAIL.

I'm sure others can add more, such as starting Bonner, but he just faded on his own. Pop made many mistakes this year.

There was just no reason to go away from what worked in November/December. Boggles the mind.

[Budkin]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

Nothing else to be said... the reason our season will be coming to an end in the next few days.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

There was just no reason to go away from what worked in November/December. Boggles the mind.

Hill had a bad game once and he's a rookie, so he had to be benched [/Pop]

[baseline bum]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there; playing Finley 30-35 minutes a night is #1, but I'll give you #2 on Hill.

[Harry Callahan]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

I absolutely agree. I've been scratching my head for three months with that decision.

This season is a mute point with Manu's injury, bench the geriatrics and get some youth out there next year.

[Mugen]

George Hill had a chance to be our X factor this season, and Pop fuckin killed it.

[Josepatches_]

I think the youth movement will begin next season. You can't assume that Manu coming back will be enough. They were going to have to do this at some point. Might as well get it over with.

Enough for what?

What we want to assume is winning years are near to be over.

To be one of the best teams next years we don't need 2,3 or 4 young role players.We need a new TD.

With some moves we can be a playoff team but not a tittle contender.

[Borosai]

I hope that dinner was good, because it didn't work for shit.

[SA210]

Goddammit it pisses me off.

Benching Hill: FAIL.
Benching Bowen: FAIL.
Mason at PG: FAIL.

I'm sure others can add more, such as starting Bonner, but he just faded on his own. Pop made many mistakes this year.

[NRHector]

Goddammit it pisses me off.

Benching Hill: FAIL.
Benching Bowen: FAIL.
Mason at PG: FAIL.

I'm sure others can add more, such as starting Bonner, but he just faded on his own. Pop made many mistakes this year.
Finley starting: Fail

[SpursFan0728]

The reason why "Hill isn't ready for playoffs" is because Pop not giving him more minutes. How ironic?

[spurtech09]

everyone makes mistakes....im not mad at you pop...respect...4 championships is good enough for me......couple more would be sweet though:)

[Russ]

Pop is the best thing that ever happened to the Spurs on the non-player side of the line.

But sometimes Pop acts as if athleticism is a character flaw.

[MmP]

I will never understand Pop for benching Hill all year long, especially with what he has showed in streches in the past. I tell you, this kid has potencial, lots of it. Somehow (don't ask me) he reminds me of a young Manu. Very athletic and humble. With confidence he has probe a good NBA player, more of a SG than a PG. I think I remember a thread some time ago made by TIMVP talking about how Pop has screwed Spurs backups PG. I hope he realizes how bad he handles them and how good players we've missed bacause of it. I hope it's not too late to get Hill back into the action.

[Pauleta14]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.


Pop probably sees/knows things we don't...
because for sure he is not known as "stupid"...

I have never been a fan of Hill, you (spurstalk) used to overate him at the begining of the year!
He dribles teh ball too high...
he takes a tones of time to build a play...
He is not efficient in either jumpshot or layups...
he doesn't have ANY strengh to rely on...

I gess he is young, but...

[TheProfessor]

The reason why "Hill isn't ready for playoffs" is because Pop not giving him more minutes. How ironic?
The vicious cycle. If you don't invest minutes in your young'uns, how are they supposed to develop? Better to sacrifice some regular season victories and have a deeper team. The Mavs gave Barea a real chance, maybe out of desperation, but it's paid dividends.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Pop probably sees/knows things we don't...
because for sure he is not known as "stupid"...

Actually if you've been paying attention he's been developing a rep over the past couple years similar to his mentor Larry Brown as far as player development (i.e., favoring aged vets over developing youth).

And come on - he traded Scola to Houston - that qualifies as not just stupid but fucking stupid.

[SenorSpur]

I called it. I just knew Pop would be forced to dust off Hill and use him - whether he liked it or not.

[SenorSpur]

Pop is the best thing that ever happened to the Spurs on the non-player side of the line.

But sometimes Pop acts as if athleticism is a character flaw.

:tu

[Pauleta14]

Actually if you've been paying attention he's been developing a rep over the past couple years similar to his mentor Larry Brown as far as player development (i.e., favoring aged vets over developing youth).

And come on - he traded Scola to Houston - that qualifies as not just stupid but fucking stupid.


If the purs won so many titles, the common point is : VETERANS !!
There has to be a reason for that...
It's "easy" to be good when nobody expect "big" from you (ie: G. Hill begining of the season)...

+ If we missedScola, it was more a money issue than anything...

[Thompson]

And come on - he traded Scola to Houston - that qualifies as not just stupid but fucking stupid.

Pop made later statements that seemed to imply he did not want to trade Scola, that it was done by others. That said, if it was me I would have been screaming out of my mind at the idiots who thought that was a good idea. Threaten to walk or something. I actually got booted from the other spurs forum for railing against that one.

I would still rank Pop's decision not to play Hill more in the regular season and now as a more glaring error, however. Hopefully next year Mason will be strictly a 2 guard and Vaughn will be gone in favor of Williams as the 3rd stringer. Having waited for years for Scola to finally come over and then to see him traded to the Rockets, followed by Splitter not coming over, Mahinmi being perpetually injured, and Ginobili in and out repeatedly, this has be a lousy couple of years. The only bright spot in Hill was taken out by Pop. :bang

[Marcus Bryant]

Manu's fucking Olympic injury has fucked the Spurs, more than just because of his absence or inability to play at 100%. The Spurs have had to plan as if he was going to be available and at 100%.

[spursfaninla]

I don't get your Olympic injury comment...that was the other ankle. What is your point?

Obviously the Spurs had little to no chance without Manu to win it this year...but I take it you are saying something else.

[objective]

Pop made later statements that seemed to imply he did not want to trade Scola, that it was done by others. That said, if it was me I would have been screaming out of my mind at the idiots who thought that was a good idea. Threaten to walk or something. I actually got booted from the other spurs forum for railing against that one.

I would still rank Pop's decision not to play Hill more in the regular season and now as a more glaring error, however. Hopefully next year Mason will be strictly a 2 guard and Vaughn will be gone in favor of Williams as the 3rd stringer. Having waited for years for Scola to finally come over and then to see him traded to the Rockets, followed by Splitter not coming over, Mahinmi being perpetually injured, and Ginobili in and out repeatedly, this has be a lousy couple of years. The only bright spot in Hill was taken out by Pop. :bang

Pop's statements that you're referencing were just 'cover your ass' statements from him. He didn't want Scola either, he's still in charge. It was just another example of buck-passing when it comes to questionable moves (e.g. "I wanted Nocioni but some low-level scout messed up his birthday")

[Thompson]

Manu's fucking Olympic injury has fucked the Spurs, more than just because of his absence or inability to play at 100%. The Spurs have had to plan as if he was going to be available and at 100%.

Trading Scola, Mahinmi's injury, Splitter's not coming over, and not playing Hill more hurt as well. Manu really should retire from international play, though, or at least only play every four years in the Olympics. He won Argentina a freaking gold medal, (along with the bronze), he's done enough.

I can understand Manu wanting to represent his country, but be honest; it's putting a lot more wear and tear on you, and even if it is 'the other ankle,' you even mentioned earlier in the season that your previous injury was making you nervously compensate with your other ankle, which contributed to it getting injured. Move past denial already.

[Marcus Bryant]

I don't get your Olympic injury comment...that was the other ankle. What is your point?

Obviously the Spurs had little to no chance without Manu to win it this year...but I take it you are saying something else.

Both might just have been related.

[Bender]

what exactly was Pop's admission?

[Thompson]

what exactly was Pop's admission?

He said something to the effect that it kills him to see Scola on the Rockets, and implied he was opposed to the trade. As objective stated, they may have been cya statements. That would conflict with my image of Pop, but who knows, my image of him may be incorrect. After all, I've always thought he was a brilliant coach, and this year's mess with Mason and Hill has shaken that a bit.

The Scola debacle (we waited years for him to come over, and when he finally can we traded him for nothing), along with the '2008' plan we kept putting everything off for, which morphed into the '2010' plan we're twiddling our thumbs for now makes me a little angry with the organization. We're squandering what time we have left with Duncan, Parker and Ginobili (Manu's squandering some of that time himself, to be fair).

P.S. You were referring to the thread title; I think Timvp meant Pop actually gave Hill some minutes, and Hill did very well in what little time he had. The fact that Pop put him in after holding him out previously for fear he'd screw up things as a nervous rookie was an admission that he might have been wrong. Hill's performance was proof of it. George outplayed everyone but Tim and Tony today. Granted, it wasn't too difficult given how all the other role players did, but Hill was doing a good job in the few minutes that he had.

[Behrooz24]

^That benching Bowen in lieu of offense fucked everything up.

[sook]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.

That isn't anything new. Coach's have to shorten their rotations for the playoffs, every team does it, unfortunately it had to be Hill. I'm sure pop had his reasons too.

[Bender]

He said something to the effect that it kills him to see Scola on the Rockets, and implied he was opposed to the trade. As objective stated, they may have been cya statements.he had already said that quite a while back didn't he...?

edit: never mind... all these threads have me going bonkers. Maybe this thread is about what he admitted a while back.

[InK]

George Hill had a chance to be our X factor this season, and Pop fuckin killed it.

Hill did he his part with his unability to score on the drive, but yeah, no excuses for Pop on this one.

[TDMVPDPOY]

that scola trade was disgusting, disrepecting spursfans...we waited for this fool to come over only to be traded for a bag of peanuts which tasted like shit.

shouldve just kept that clown butler and absorb his contract instead of paying out for bonner to do jackshit on teh floor....fuck.

[TDMVPDPOY]

actually if we are going to have a youth movement, pop better start giving them minutes instead of playing his manlove players....

[daslicer]

I think Pop has just lost his edge to some degree and that could be due to a combination of his success and his old age. His madness kind of reminds me of how Pat Riley became crazy during the late 90's and early '00s with his Miami Heat team. Riley during that time period held on to aging old vetrans and refused to upgrade his team with young talent which resulted in them getting their ass handed to them by the knicks in '99 in the first round and then getting run off by a younger hornets team back in '01. Riley had a man crush for old vetran players like Hardaway,Majerle just like how Pop loves Finley. Too many parrallels I see between the two which is both had won atleast 4 titles which resulted in a huge ego, both were stubborn, and three both had gone crazy.

[cwhitti]

You'd think Van Exel would have taught him a lesson. But never has one of his mistakes been more glaring than this series.

Don't forget Damon S., Glenn Roberson, JV,

[NRHector]

Pop gambled (why? i have no idea) that Hill wouldn't be ready for the playoffs. Hill curbstomped Pop's gamble ... with help from the myriad of choking role players around him.

Pop's a great coach but not playing Hill the last three months is the stupidest coaching decision of his life. Fvckin' pitiful.not only that, he wasted a golden season out of 3 or 4 seasons that Duncan has left with his stupid experiments

[bdictjames]

I think Pop just thinks we don't have a chance at all this season. Maybe next year.

[TheProfessor]

Don't forget Damon S., Glenn Roberson, JV,
Oh Christ, how could I forget Damon Stoudamire :lol Big Dog gave us some extremely limited quality minutes off the bench though, I remember at least one amazing block he made out of nowhere. And JV was a great place-holder in 2007, making some key jumpers down the stretch. But yeah, no way should he be on this team right now.

[NRHector]

I think Pop just thinks we don't have a chance at all this season. Maybe next year.well then why play Parker and Duncan? rest them for the next season

[NASHville]

I can't believe how you Spurs fans diss your hall of fame coach like you do.

[daslicer]

I can't believe how you Spurs fans diss your hall of fame coach like you do.

I respect what he's done but I just think he has lost his edge much like Pat Riley did later in his career which is due to his ego and being stubborn. Hell even Phill Jackson sucked the last few years up until the Lakers able to steal Gasol.

[nikegirl]

Nashville, Pop has gotten so much praise from this fanbase for what he has done over the years, but if you actually see how erratic his coaching has been this year, you would understand. We're not blind homers to not call him out when he's not doing a good job just like how we are with our players. But that doesn't mean we dont respect him and what he has done for this team.

[TheProfessor]

I can't believe how you Spurs fans diss your hall of fame coach like you do.
Just because a coach is a Hall of Famer does not mean he shouldn't be held accountable for his mistakes. Some people are jumping way overboard right now, but Pop is quickly headed into Larry Brown land. He needs to adjust or watch Duncan's twilight years get squandered.

[NASHville]

Nashville, Pop has gotten so much praise from this fanbase for what he has done over the years, but if you actually see how erratic his coaching has been this year, you would understand. We're not blind homers to not call him out when he's not doing a good job just like how we are with our players. But that doesn't mean we dont respect him and what he has done for this team.

I can understand that but when TP misses crucial free throws and guys are not hitting open shots how is that Pop's fault? The Spurs had quite a few chances in the 4th to tie and take the lead but missed OPEN shots. I don't see that as Pop's fault.

[AusSpursFan]

I can understand that but when TP misses crucial free throws and guys are not hitting open shots how is that Pop's fault? The Spurs had quite a few chances in the 4th to tie and take the lead but missed OPEN shots. I don't see that as Pop's fault.

Off with you! You clown! Don't pretend that you know our team, anyone with half a brain would have seen what potential this kid had to add to our team. What did Pop do, bench him! Along with a few other names, that had potential to provide some much needed fresh legs to this ageing team. Right now I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel, unless Pop changes his attitude. Here's to hoping! Otherwise expect more of the same next year.

[Thomas82]

It wasn't just that. Mason was in a groove at the SG spot, and ripping the nets from three. Pop destroyed him by moving him to point because he didn't feel Hill was ready.

But yeah, his handling of Hill and Mason was the most pathetic and idiotic thing he's ever done (and that's saying something). He seems to be turning into Larry Brown more and more every day, which isn't good for our prospects of winning another one before the end of the Duncan era.

IMO, those are the biggest mistakes he has made this year.