Popologists, please defend this quote from your guy

[itzsoweezee]

“I think we’ve played basically the defense we’ve played most of the year. It’s gotten to the point where we’re about as good as we’re going to get defensively. That wasn’t our problem during the six games we lost. We’ve talked more about decision making, free-throws, three-point shooting, contested shots versus non-contested shots that sort of thing. Defense was a focus, because given the fact that those other things weren’t happening the defense had to be there or they would have been 15 or 20 point losses. But we were in every game so the defense was good enough.”

I'm seriously interested in hearing your rationalizations for this guy's delusions.

[honestfool84]

i honestly don't think Pop owes any Spurs fans an explanation.

[Halberto]

uh oh

[boutons_deux]

amazing.

What use is a defensive performance that contests no Celts jumpers? sagging off the off-ball men so far you can't close on the jumper when the ball swings?

[ChumpDumper]

It's not a very good defensive team.

[itzsoweezee]

i honestly don't think Pop owes any Spurs fans an explanation.

Typical popologist nonsense. I was expecting something, at least.

[honestfool84]

Typical popologist nonsense. I was expecting something, at least.

i'm pissed off at Pop as much as the next guy for playing a Bonner/Blair lineup and not giving Splitter any minutes.

still, i'm gonna tell you that he doesn't owe you or me any explanation to his rhyme or reasoning.

[ChuckD]

Typical popologist nonsense. I was expecting something, at least.

OK. :lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

[itzsoweezee]

i'm pissed off at Pop as much as the next guy for playing a Bonner/Blair lineup and not giving Splitter any minutes.

still, i'm gonna tell you that he doesn't owe you or me any explanation to his rhyme or reasoning.

Let me clarify, I'm not asking for an explanation from Popovich. I'm asking for a defense from his defenders. Something other than that four rings nonsense.

[J Mack]

just wish we could see splitter and duncan on the floor at the same time together just ONCE! :depressed

[Pauleta14]

I think he just admits/realises that if we're gonna win it all, it's gonna be thanks to our offense and specialy our 3pts shooting...

He looks like resigned to me, the D level is obviously not where he wants it to be, but he (now) knows that he can't get much from this group on a regular basis.

As frustrating as it might be for him, I like the fact that he isn't "stubborn" on that matter and accept the fact that the reason this team is 1st in the league is its 3pts % and its overall O...

I know, I know, D wins championships...

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Pop is admitting that he can't worry about the defense too much at this point and that he's got to play the cards he's been dealt. He's got a team that can do a lot offensively, and can at least hustle on the defensive side of the ball. That's what we saw against PHX today. The Spurs weren't great on defense, but they were very active. That sort of effort will payoff with some shots falling in the playoffs.

[Solid D]

I think he just admits/realises that if we're gonna win it all, it's gonna be thanks to our offense and specialy our 3pts shooting...

He looks like resigned to me, the D level is obviously not where he wants it to be, but he (now) knows that he can't get much from this group on a regular basis.

As frustrating as it might be for him, I like the fact that he isn't "stubborn" on that matter and accept the fact that the reason this team is 1st in the league is its 3pts % and its overall O...

I know, I know, D wins championships...

Nicely stated, Pauleta14.

[DesignatedT]

Realist. if you have been watching the spurs play this season you know that this team is miles behind our championship teams defensively. Hopefully Pop realizes Splitter can help in that department because that is pretty much the only way it can approve at this point in the season but that still won't put it close to what it was when we won the championships. Our big 3 have aged and we no longer have the personnel to play that type of lockdown defense. Pop (and all Spurs fans) should know that if we are going to win it this year it's going to be on the offensive side of the ball. Pop is still going to preach defense and make sure the guys are busting there ass on that side of the ball, that will never change but he also understand what the ceiling is regarding that. I just hope he sees that Splitter does improve it..

[mingus]

just wish we could see splitter and duncan on the floor at the same time together just ONCE! :depressed

oh we'll see it alright, but we'll see it when it's too late.

[Mugen]

Pop is admitting that he can't worry about the defense too much at this point and that he's got to play the cards he's been dealt. He's got a team that can do a lot offensively, and can at least hustle on the defensive side of the ball. That's what we saw against PHX today. The Spurs weren't great on defense, but they were very active. That sort of effort will payoff with some shots falling in the playoffs.

Honestly Chopper, if this team isnt absolutely sizzling from the 3 in the playoffs then they're dead in the water.

This defense is not even close to being able to keep them in games when they aren't shooting lights out.

[mingus]

Realist. if you have been watching the spurs play this season you know that this team is miles behind our championship teams defensively. Hopefully Pop realizes Splitter can help in that department because that is pretty much the only way it can approve at this point in the season but that still won't put it close to what it was when we won the championships. Our big 3 have aged and we no longer have the personnel to play that type of lockdown defense. Pop (and all Spurs fans) should know that if we are going to win it this year it's going to be on the offensive side of the ball. Pop is still going to preach defense and make sure the guys are busting there ass on that side of the ball, that will never change but he also understand what the ceiling is regarding that. I just hope he sees that Splitter does improve it.

i'm missing the part where Bonner/Blair are upgrades over Splitter offensively though. all indications have shown that Splitter is better than both those guys even on the offensive side of the ball.

[Hoops Czar]

It doesn't matter who Pop throws on the court. The defense just isn't that good. This shouldn't be news to anybody. The Spurs will either be the first team in the modern era to win a championship based solely on the three-ball or they just won't win. If it c omes down to defense, the Spurs have no chance.

[DesignatedT]

i'm missing the part where Bonner/Blair are upgrades over Splitter offensively though. all indications have shown that Splitter is better than both those guys even on the offensive side of the ball.

That's definitely the confusing part. I don't think we will see a lot of Bonner/Blair in the playoffs. Splitter coming in 1st off the bench was a good sign even though Blair played the 2nd half. Hopefully I'm right because the Bonner/Blair lineup is :td

[Mugen]

Splitter getting 10 more minutes a game instantly makes us a much better defensive team.

Not because he's that great or he can make up for our horrendous perimeter D but because Bonner/Blair is absolutely the worst defensive frontcourt that can be played by any NBA team.

[foodie2]

I think he just admits/realises that if we're gonna win it all, it's gonna be thanks to our offense and specialy our 3pts shooting...

He looks like resigned to me, the D level is obviously not where he wants it to be, but he (now) knows that he can't get much from this group on a regular basis.

As frustrating as it might be for him, I like the fact that he isn't "stubborn" on that matter and accept the fact that the reason this team is 1st in the league is its 3pts % and its overall O...

I know, I know, D wins championships...

This. Plus, Pop talking to the media doesn't necessarily have anything remotely to do with the truth and what he really thinks and the things he says to the team.

[DesignatedT]

Yes. Splitter > Blair, especially when Bonner is on the floor.

[Crazymaddopeyo]

Pop just telling it how it is. I'm sure he has nagged and nagged and put forward the effort to get this team better defensively all season. He'll always be a defensive minded coach.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Honestly Chopper, if this team isnt absolutely sizzling from the 3 in the playoffs then they're dead in the water.

This defense is not even close to being able to keep them in games when they aren't shooting lights out.

Yeah, you do kind of get that 'Phoenix Suns playoff team' vibe from these guys, but truth be told, the defense hasn't been the same for the Spurs since Bowen left. At least this team can "sizzle" offensively. The prior couple years' teams didn't even have that going for them.

It would take a lot of people peaking together for the Spurs to make a deep playoff push, but, it could happen. I'm more optimistic about this group than I was in '09 or '10.

[TD 21]

I was surprised to hear him say this. He's basically conceded that they're not going to be a good defensive team and is now publicly embracing what they've become in recent years: an offense team, that relies on good three-point shooting.

I was expecting the usual "well, defense is always the focus and we're going to continue to work at it and try to get better, just like everyone else". Alas, they've broken his spirit.

[Mugen]

Yeah, you do kind of get that 'Phoenix Suns playoff team' vibe from these guys, but truth be told, the defense hasn't been the same for the Spurs since Bowen left. At least this team can "sizzle" offensively. The prior couple years' teams didn't even have that going for them.

It would take a lot of people peaking together for the Spurs to make a deep playoff push, but, it could happen. I'm more optimistic about this group than I was in '09 or '10.

I am too. Mostly because we have a deeper bench and Neal >>>> Mason.

But Bonner still plays too big a role for this team to realistically beat LA.

Pray SpurFan pray, that this team is going to be the first 3pt chucking team to win a :lobt2:

[ohmwrecker]

Hate to nitpick but . . . shouldn't the term be Popapologist? A Popologist would be someone who studies and analyzes the whole zeitgeist of Gregg Popovich, but doesn't necessarily feel the need to defend him.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Hate to nitpick but . . . shouldn't the term be Popapologist? A Popologist would be someone who studies and analyzes the whole zeitgeist of Gregg Popovich, but doesn't necessarily feel the need to defend him.

It's kind of like the thread about "cliching HCA". Is it "clinching" or "cliche-ing"? Maybe HCA is just a cliche...perhaps there is not true HCA. Perhaps HCA is meaningless. These threads may run far deeper than folks realize. I'm convinced it's not grammatical errors, it's meaning within meaning. Very intense.

Nice catch. :tu

[jsandiego]

“I think we’ve played basically the defense we’ve played most of the year. It’s gotten to the point where we’re about as good as we’re going to get defensively. That wasn’t our problem during the six games we lost. We’ve talked more about decision making, free-throws, three-point shooting, contested shots versus non-contested shots that sort of thing. Defense was a focus, because given the fact that those other things weren’t happening the defense had to be there or they would have been 15 or 20 point losses. But we were in every game so the defense was good enough.”

I'm seriously interested in hearing your rationalizations for this guy's delusions.
:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

[MannyIsGod]

“I think we’ve played basically the defense we’ve played most of the year. It’s gotten to the point where we’re about as good as we’re going to get defensively. That wasn’t our problem during the six games we lost. We’ve talked more about decision making, free-throws, three-point shooting, contested shots versus non-contested shots that sort of thing. Defense was a focus, because given the fact that those other things weren’t happening the defense had to be there or they would have been 15 or 20 point losses. But we were in every game so the defense was good enough.”

I'm seriously interested in hearing your rationalizations for this guy's delusions.

He's right. The Spurs aren't going to play defense that is any better so you can't expect them to win by holding teams to 80 points per game. He's acknowledging that in order to win the Spurs can't: 1) fuck up late in games the way they have during the streak and 2) play better offense than the other team.

Just the facts.

[Mugen]

Hate to nitpick but . . . shouldn't the term be Popapologist? A Popologist would be someone who studies and analyzes the whole zeitgeist of Gregg Popovich, but doesn't necessarily feel the need to defend him.

which is why i've always separated the words and stuck with "Pop Apologist". No need to get all fancy with it.

Though "PollyAnna Poppers Club" has a great ring to it.

[DMC]

Defense is something that takes time to develop and can generally be summoned on command whereas offense comes and goes. The Spurs are out of time to develop better players, and most of the players they have are not lock down defenders. That's what Pop was saying, if they are going to win it will have to be with something better than the garbage offense they've had in the past few games, and much better decision making late in games.

So, if Pop bitched about the defense, would that make us a better team?

[cherylsteele]

“I think we’ve played basically the defense we’ve played most of the year. It’s gotten to the point where we’re about as good as we’re going to get defensively. That wasn’t our problem during the six games we lost. We’ve talked more about decision making, free-throws, three-point shooting, contested shots versus non-contested shots that sort of thing. Defense was a focus, because given the fact that those other things weren’t happening the defense had to be there or they would have been 15 or 20 point losses. But we were in every game so the defense was good enough.”

I'm seriously interested in hearing your rationalizations for this guy's delusions.
For me, It upsets me, sounds like he gave in on the"D" philosophy that he leaned on all this time, however, he is right it seems that the "D" this year's team has leveled off, it has its moments though. He is roght, in that decision making, FT's, and shooting played a huge part in that losing streak, I'll bet if they had won at least some of those games, there would ne different perspective on his statement.

[xellos88330]

He is saying the defense has been like that all year. It is more porous than in years past. He understands that. How do you counter sub-par Spurs defense? The other half of the game. Told the guys to score efficiently.

If the defense is as good as it is going to get, we all will just have to deal with it. Complaining doesn't help. What does help is finding solutions to the problem. Pop did that to the tune of best record in the NBA currently this season. Will it work in the post season? History books say no. Then again, the Spurs will have a chance to write their own page in that history book should they pull it off.

There will never be change until someone crazy enough to try, accomplishes what was deemed impossible. Kinda like flying.

[gospursgojas]

It is what it is...Spurs are not built to be a defensive team. Our title hopes hindge on whether or not the 3 ball goes down.

[Cessation]

Making it to wcf, is still a good season, tbh.

[Capt Bringdown]

This quote embodies all that's gone horribly wrong with Pop. To paraphrase, our defense can't get any better, only our 3-pt shooting can. He's trying to rationalize Bonnerball.

Spurs didn't win rings with "good enough" defense. Bonnerball closed the window on the Duncan era, TD may as well retire. Seriously, it's over.

[Brazil]

I think he just admits/realises that if we're gonna win it all, it's gonna be thanks to our offense and specialy our 3pts shooting...

He looks like resigned to me, the D level is obviously not where he wants it to be, but he (now) knows that he can't get much from this group on a regular basis.

As frustrating as it might be for him, I like the fact that he isn't "stubborn" on that matter and accept the fact that the reason this team is 1st in the league is its 3pts % and its overall O...

I know, I know, D wins championships...

good take

The positive thing here is he is trying to adapt his coaching to the players he has and not the contrary. This is a big change for him I'm sure, last year for instance he didn't want to see some major flaws and try to fix what he couldn't fixed by giving minutes to the masterpiece Bogans thinking the guy could be a kind of Bowen clone.

Sometimes a coach needs to work with the material he has, we have no more the pieces to be an elite defensive team ala Chicago Bulls.

It surely also the reason he is forcing the things with Bonner vs. Tiago or Blair. I do think Pop doesn't believe that Tiago could be the missing D anchor we need and as his O & FTs are not elite, he is trying to maximise O with Bonner.

[hater]

translation we suck at defense. At least Pop faces it. Can't really do anything about it at this point.

[ohmwrecker]

It's kind of like the thread about "cliching HCA". Is it "clinching" or "cliche-ing"? Maybe HCA is just a cliche...perhaps there is not true HCA. Perhaps HCA is meaningless. These threads may run far deeper than folks realize. I'm convinced it's not grammatical errors, it's meaning within meaning. Very intense.

Nice catch. :tu

I really just wanted to use zeitgeist in a sentence, tbh.

[Pauleta14]

good take

The positive thing here is he is trying to adapt his coaching to the players he has and not the contrary. This is a big change for him I'm sure, last year for instance he didn't want to see some major flaws and try to fix what he couldn't fixed by giving minutes to the masterpiece Bogans thinking the guy could be a kind of Bowen clone.

Sometimes a coach needs to work with the material he has, we have no more the pieces to be an elite defensive team ala Chicago Bulls.

It surely also the reason he is forcing the things with Bonner vs. Tiago or Blair. I do think Pop doesn't believe that Tiago could be the missing D anchor we need and as his O & FTs are not elite, he is trying to maximise O with Bonner.


-1 and +1 :p::lol

That was the most surprising thing about Pop's analysis/pov of the losing streak, I thought/expected him to go old school/concervative (transition D, TO, FT%...) and instead, he went "we didn't lose because of our D"!! :lol

I was shoked at 1st, but then (that's the reason of my 1st answer in the "games quotes" thread) I realised that:

1- he wasn't wrong (we lost ESSENTIALY due to mental mistakes at the end of games)

2- we can't give up NOW on the 3pts shooting that made this year's spurs identity and allowed the team to win so many games...

Concerning Pop's "evolution" on that matter, I don't think it's new.
RC and him often talked in the interviews about the fact that you have to deal with the "material" you have (even if the 1st goal is the scout/recruit players who "fit" with the organisation).
RC seems more "liberal" than Pop (ie; TP scouting), but I think Pop has started to change a long time ago thanks to ..... Manu!
If you remember Manu's 1st years, it was illarious to see Pop getting crazy on his bench, not understanding what the hell was doing this crazy argantinian guy... :lmao
Then, he slowly started to "let Manu do his stuff and see what happened", thankfully Manu helped the team win games and Pop (I think) started to change/evolve his coaching, which btw worked also toward TP (whom Pop wanted to become the next Stockton! :lol).

Concerning last year, he didn't expect anything that shouldn't be expected from Bogans (D stopper), RJ (anything please) or Mason and Bonner (3pts shooting)...
All those guys just didn't show up...:bang

[Brazil]

-1 and +1 :p::lol

That was the most surprising thing about Pop's analysis/pov of the losing streak, I thought/expected him to go old school/concervative (transition D, TO, FT%...) and instead, he went "we didn't lose because of our D"!! :lol

I was shoked at 1st, but then (that's the reason of my 1st answer in the "games quotes" thread) I realised that:

1- he wasn't wrong (we lost ESSENTIALY due to mental mistakes at the end of games)

2- we can't give up NOW on the 3pts shooting that made this year's spurs identity and allowed the team to win so many games...

1- I disagree during the last 6 games our D has been atrocious. We lost due to mental mistakes because our O enabled us to carry us untill the fourth but overall D has been horrible. Opponents were shooting above .500 ! unacceptable even for a squad -Tim.

2- As already commented and before loosing 6 in a row Spurs didn't shoot that much of 3s compared to the rest of the teams and compared to the previous years especially when you consider Spurs are playing at higher pace this year. Big difference is untill recently the guys shot very well and that was partly fluke, bonner shooting over .500 was a fucking fluke everybody knows that and pop knows too.


Concerning Pop's "evolution" on that matter, I don't think it's new.
RC and him often talked in the interviews about the fact that you have to deal with the "material" you have (even if the 1st goal is the scout/recruit players who "fit" with the organisation).
RC seems more "liberal" than Pop (ie; TP scouting), but I think Pop has started to change a long time ago thanks to ..... Manu!
If you remember Manu's 1st years, it was illarious to see Pop getting crazy on his bench, not understanding what the hell was doing this crazy argantinian guy... :lmao
Then, he slowly started to "let Manu do his stuff and see what happened", thankfully Manu helped the team win games and Pop (I think) started to change/evolve his coaching, which btw worked also toward TP (whom Pop wanted to become the next Stockton! :lol).

yeah but it didn't change his overall philosophy of the game for TP and Manu, he just let them doing their stuff within his framework. BTW untill two years ago, Pop was yelling at TP for not respecting his playbooks and for gambling for steals.
So for me the change is not that old.



Concerning last year, he didn't expect anything that shouldn't be expected from Bogans (D stopper), RJ (anything please) or Mason and Bonner (3pts shooting)...
All those guys just didn't show up...:bang

I strongly disagree here regarding Bogans, He was expected too much for Bogans same with Mason, thinking the guy had the qualities to run the point is pretty dumb IMO.
Now I do agree with RJ and Bonner.

[polandprzem]

I was quite shocked by this comment.
Mainly because Pop alwas talks about improvements.

Now he said the defense was a maximum what the spurs can play and will in the playoffs and the only problem was the offense. It might be.
Although I still think with such D and with mistakes on O the spurs are doing they have not much chances in the playoffs esp when Bonner is now ina slump and Pop is hoping Matt will produce just because he created the style of this offense.
I need to see the suns 1st half to watch if the spurs are back to the offense from the 1st part of a season.

Anyway even though the leauge is not that phisical it will be more phisical in the playoffs and I don't know if the spurs can handle it?

It will be intresting to see what Pop will do now with froncourt and overall rotation. Still few games left and I wonder if there will be a bit of a CIA in LA game

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Something other than that four rings nonsense.


In what sport are 4 championship titles "nonsense?" Or what team do you root for?

[Cessation]

Pop's just preparing us for the wcf failure ahead, everyone knows d wins the championships.

[Strategic]

just wish we could see splitter and duncan on the floor at the same time together just ONCE! :depressed




At first that sounds good. The problem is McDyess is the first sub and then who plays beside him? The Spurs have two centers, Splitter and Blair, and three forwards, Duncan, McDyess and Bonner. The Combinations that have worked this year are TD and AM, TD and MB, TS and AM, TS and MB. Then to a lesser extent DB and TD, DB and AM. What hasn't worked is DB and MB, AM and MB. I think if Pop can stay away from these last two the Spurs stay fairly solid on the interior.

[jjktkk]

This quote embodies all that's gone horribly wrong with Pop. To paraphrase, our defense can't get any better, only our 3-pt shooting can. He's trying to rationalize Bonnerball.

Spurs didn't win rings with "good enough" defense. Bonnerball closed the window on the Duncan era, TD may as well retire. Seriously, it's over.

He knows this team doesn't have the talent to be a top defensive unit. So he plays to this team's strength. Offense.

[jjktkk]

In what sport are 4 championship titles "nonsense?" Or what team do you root for?

itzsoweezee is part of the "what have you done for me lately" Spurs fan base.

[Obstructed_View]

At first that sounds good. The problem is McDyess is the first sub and then who plays beside him? The Spurs have two centers, Splitter and Blair, and three forwards, Duncan, McDyess and Bonner. The Combinations that have worked this year are TD and AM, TD and MB, TS and AM, TS and MB. Then to a lesser extent DB and TD, DB and AM. What hasn't worked is DB and MB, AM and MB. I think if Pop can stay away from these last two the Spurs stay fairly solid on the interior.

Uh, still sounds good. Putting your best players in the starting lineup makes sense. The problem you're citing is centered around Matt Bonner, and that's a different discussion. Dice and Blair are more than adequate backups with Bonner in a shooting role.

[Mugen]

Jesus Christ, the Pop homerism in this thread is ridiculous....

[JR3]

I think Pop knows we don't have the players to be a great defensive team, so he doesn't expect us to be great like having Stephen Jackson/David Robinson/Bruce Bowen/Kevin Willis type guys.

[Crazymaddopeyo]

Jesus Christ, the Pop homerism in this thread is ridiculous....


Ahh...very intelligent response..to this "homerism"

[Mugen]

I think Pop knows we don't have the players to be a great defensive team, so he doesn't expect us to be great like having Stephen Jackson/David Robinson/Bruce Bowen/Kevin Willis type guys.


Ahh...very intelligent response..to this "homerism"

I'm just surprised that Pop and PopHomers are satisfied with the defense during that losing streak...

Giving up a 108/game on 51% shooting to the opponent during that span, and defense wasn't the problem :rolleyes

i dont expect us to be great or even good but if he's satisfied with those kind of numbers then we are all fucked :lmao

[Chomag]

i honestly don't think Pop owes any Spurs fans an explanation.

Nope, it's not like Spur's fans pay for Pop's salary. Oh wait..

[Crazymaddopeyo]

I'm just surprised that Pop and PopHomers are satisfied with the defense during that losing streak...

Giving up a 108/game on 51% shooting to the opponent during that span, and defense wasn't the problem :rolleyes

i dont expect us to be great or even good but if he's satisfied with those kind of numbers then we are all fucked :lmao


That's the whole point, he never said he was satisfied, in fact all season long he has said he wasn't satisfied. He is just speaking the truth, this team just can't get better defensively. I'm sure they will turn it on a little more in the playoffs but you're assuming he hasn't pushed them in practice to improve their defense.

Also 4 of those 6 games were without Duncan, so maybe that is what he expected for the majority of those games.

[Mugen]

"...But we were in every game, so the defense was good enough." - Pop

Sure sounds like he was satisfied with it....

And it's bullshit to say this team can't get better defensively. Maybe not perimeter wise but you really don't think playing Tiago more and Bonner/Blair less doesn't make this team instantly better on defense?

They don't have the personnel to defend because Pop didn't bring in guys who could defend, plain and simple. And when he actually has players that can defend, he benches them in favor of a ginger who turns everybody into Karl Malone when they play against him.

This paradigm shift started when he benched Bruce Bowen for Michael fucking Finley and it's been killing this team ever since.....

This quote reeks of D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns and I guess i'm just not as enthusiastic about it as the PopHomers.

[ChumpDumper]

Really, which poster said he was enthusiastic about it?

[jjktkk]

"...But we were in every game, so the defense was good enough." - Pop

Sure sounds like he was satisfied with it....

And it's bullshit to say this team can't get better defensively. Maybe not perimeter wise but you really don't think playing Tiago more and Bonner/Blair less doesn't make this team instantly better on defense?

They don't have the personnel to defend because Pop didn't bring in guys who could defend, plain and simple. And when he actually has players that can defend, he benches them in favor of a ginger who turns everybody into Karl Malone when they play against him.

This paradigm shift started when he benched Bruce Bowen for Michael fucking Finley and it's been killing this team ever since.....

This quote reeks of D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns and I guess i'm just not as enthusiastic about it as the PopHomers.

You got the Spurs defensive problems all figured out. Why don't you provide a list of top notch defenders Pop could of/can bring in to shore up the Spurs defense. I'm sure there are quite a few of them just floating around out there, waiting for Pop to bring them in.

[Mugen]

Really, which poster said he was enthusiastic about it?

i don't think Pop is enthusiastic about it. I think he just gave up. PopHomers are enthusiastic about all things Pop does.


You got the Spurs defensive problems all figured out. Why don't you provide a list of top notch defenders Pop could of/can bring in to shore up the Spurs defense. I'm sure there are quite a few of them just floating around out there, waiting for Pop to bring them in.

Yup, I do. Pop didn't even have to bring in anybody. All he had to do was not re-sign Bonner.

Defense = Shored up.

[ChumpDumper]

i don't think Pop is enthusiastic about it. I think he just gave up. PopHomers are enthusiastic about all things Pop does.
You didn't answer the question.

Really, which poster said he was enthusiastic about it?

[Chomag]

Truth is Spur's can be a pretty decent defencive team if the want to as it has been proven from the spurts we have seen. Problem is the effort, they don't seem to want to commit to it.

Why Pop's settling for the lack of effort on D I have no idea. One of a coaches main jobs is to bring out the most potential out of his team not just settle .

[Mugen]

You didn't answer the question.

I'm fine with that answer.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm fine with that answer.So no posters were actually enthusiastic about this.

OK.

[Mugen]

So no posters were actually enthusiastic about this.

OK.

Anything else?

[ChumpDumper]

Anything else?Nope. Verification of your blatant misrepresentation is quite enough for now.

[Mugen]

Nope. Verification of your blatant misrepresentation is quite enough for now.

:toast

[Strategic]

You can find it in the Poptionary under "it is what it is".

[Obstructed_View]

Love when Chump comes to bat for his girl.

[Kermit]

Love when Chump comes to bat for his girl.

Picturing Pop in drag just made me throw up in my mouth. Thanks asshole, and may God have mercy on the Baylor Bears.

[Obstructed_View]

Picturing Pop in drag just made me throw up in my mouth. Thanks asshole, and may God have mercy on the Baylor Bears.

:lmao sorry about that.

[wontstartdumbthreads]

Picturing Pop in drag just made me throw up in my mouth.

http://orvillelloyddouglas.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/monica-seles.jpg

[Kermit]

http://orvillelloyddouglas.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/monica-seles.jpg

Needs more pockmarks.

[ChumpDumper]

Love when Chump comes to bat for his girl.In what way did I do that?

Please explain.

[jjktkk]

I Love it when I try to prove I know alot about basketball.

[Obstructed_View]

No such word as "alot".

[DMC]

In what way did I do that?

Please explain.

Hasn't it already been established that accusations can be made freely without the need to back it up?

[SenorSpur]

Sounds to me that this prattle is nothing more than Pop publically telling the world that "Look, I'm drinking my own kool-aid. See, it's not that bad. Have some."

[DMC]

"...But we were in every game, so the defense was good enough." - Pop

Sure sounds like he was satisfied with it....

Confirmation Bias (hint: no relation to Len)

If the Spurs had 50 wins, lost in the 2nd round but had good defense (and Pop whined about it all the time), how would that be any better than having 60+ wins, losing in the 2nd round and having worse defense but better offense?

[SenorSpur]

Defense is something that takes time to develop and can generally be summoned on command whereas offense comes and goes. The Spurs are out of time to develop better players, and most of the players they have are not lock down defenders. That's what Pop was saying, if they are going to win it will have to be with something better than the garbage offense they've had in the past few games, and much better decision making late in games.

So, if Pop bitched about the defense, would that make us a better team?

Agree. The team defense is not going to get any better this year. It is what it is. However, the fact that it's in the current average condition rests solely with Pop and RC. If they truly want that aspect to improve, it starts in the offseason.

[DMC]

Agree. The team defense is not going to get any better this year. It is what it is. However, the fact that it's in the current average condition rests solely with Pop and RC. If they truly want that aspect to improve, it starts in the offseason.

The defensive struggles (if they can be called that) are part and parcel with what Pop and RC (and the assistants) decided on in the off season.

What worries me more than the defensive lapses is that Pop seems to be trying to hybrid a half court game into his up tempo game. That shit killed the Suns any time we could drag them into it. I think it will kill us as well. The "slow it down" "speed it up" side line micromanaging is bothersome. I think it's a good idea late in games when we need to run some clock, but Pop seems to employ it as a stop gap measure when the team has a couple of sloppy possessions.

[jjktkk]

No such word as "alot".

But, due to your high iq, you figured it out anyway. Truly astounding tbh.