Gregg Popovich gets some credit

[SpursRock20]

I know we like to ride him hard sometimes on Spurstalk because we each can undoubtedly coach better than him, but Pop finished in third place on the question on which coach NBA players would like to play for :toast. Doc Rivers finished in first.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/19/doc-rivers-coach-players-most-want-to-play-for-stan-van-gundy-not-so-much/

[Rapper]

Gregg Popovich will be named Coach of The Year this season

[KaiRMD1]

D'Antoni ahead of pop? Carmelo doesn't agree.

[TheSkeptic]

Overall he's done a great job this season imo.

[Spurs9]

The entire spurs organization too, look at all the pieces the Spurs continue to add when alot of fans were worried at the beginning of the year from the offseason.

[Dr Cox]

Pop should win COY and RC should win the front office award IMO.

[Venti Quattro]

Thibs is going to win it again.

Mitch for GM of the year. He was able to trade nothing for Sessions imo

[lurker]

I've always felt that Spurs fans are a bit too hard on Pop, though the same is probably true for Mavs fans when it comes to Carlisle. :lol

[EVAY]

We have all seen Pop work harder this year than any year in recent memory. He has honestly seemed to be trying hard this year, like he really wants it himself. I haven't seen him this involved with the team during games in at least five years.

[smaka]

If Pop doesn't win Coach of the year award this year, then...
Why the hell would Thibs win it?
Pop is so much better.

[Jimcs50]

Overall he's done a great job this season imo.



Duh!


I'm willing to bet that not one of us homers in this forum gave the Spurs any chance of finishing with the best record in the WC, let alone the NBA this year, especially if told that our 3rd best player would miss half of the season with various injuries.

I think not only Pop deserves coach of the year for 2012, I think he did the best coaching job of any coach in any one year in NBA history. I know it sounds like hyperbole, but seriously, try to name a better coaching job, given the preseason expectations and number of injuries to star players.

[smaka]

Plus don't forget how good he deals with player's minutes. He rests his players, plays with exelent bench... Good job Pop.

[TheSkeptic]

Duh!


I'm willing to bet that not one of us homers in this forum gave the Spurs any chance of finishing with the best record in the WC, let alone the NBA this year, especially if told that our 3rd best player would miss half of the season with various injuries.

I think not only Pop deserves coach of the year for 2012, I think he did the best coaching job of any coach in any one year in NBA history. I know it sounds like hyperbole, but seriously, try to name a better coaching job, given the preseason expectations and number of injuries to star players.

Thibs maybe comes close what with Hamilton/Rose/Deng being in and out of the line-up. But what I appreciate is how Pop has managed to accomplish all of this while also keeping Tim well rested. Going into the playoffs I think that Duncan's health and freshness will make a huge difference overall.

I'll admit to being mad about the big rotation and the defense but now that Pop seems to have sorted that out I think the Spurs are in a position to make some noise in the playoffs -and maybe even take number 5. That's in no small part due to what Pop has done this season. Whether he wins COY or not, the man deserves his props. :toast

[Jimcs50]

Thibs maybe comes close what with Hamilton/Rose/Deng being in and out of the line-up. But what I appreciate is how Pop has managed to accomplish all of this while also keeping Tim well rested. Going into the playoffs I think that Duncan's health and freshness will make a huge difference overall.

I'll admit to being mad about the big rotation and the defense but now that Pop seems to have sorted that out I think the Spurs are in a position to make some noise in the playoffs -and maybe even take number 5. That's in no small part due to what Pop has done this season. Whether he wins COY or not, the man deserves his props. :toast



Difference between the Spurs and Bulls is that the Bulls were favorites to win not only their division in the preseason, but one of two teams favored to win East and win it all in all the preseason discussions.

The Spurs were not even in the discussion to win the division, let alone have best record in the NBA in the preseason, and be in the mix to win their 5th ring.

[Jimcs50]

Proof in the pudding:


Power Rankings: San Antonio Spurs finish No. 1 Week: Select Comments91By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Monday, April 23


The season's first edition of ESPN.com's weekly NBA Power Rankings had the San Antonio Spurs ranked 10th … and headed in the direction of the Senior Tour.



A mere 122 days later, Team Duncan sits atop the final 2011-12 edition of the rankings, looking every bit like the NBA's Masters of the Lockout-Shortened Season. Again.



The playoffs begin Saturday with San Antonio, thanks to two 11-game win streaks fueled by Tony Parker's monster season and a young and springy supporting cast that has rejuvenated Tim Duncan, looking like a sure thing to open as the West's No. 1 seed. The Spurs and No. 2-ranked Chicago remain the only teams in the league that can win 50 games in this 66-game schedule depending on what happens this week.

[therealtruth]

Difference between the Spurs and Bulls is that the Bulls were favorites to win not only their division in the preseason, but one of two teams favored to win East and win it all in all the preseason discussions.

The Spurs were not even in the discussion to win the division, let alone have best record in the NBA in the preseason, and be in the mix to win their 5th ring.

But nobody expected the Bulls to miss Rose for most of the season. He's probably missed more games than Ginobili.

[Gutter92]

If Pop doesn't win Coach of the year award this year, then...
Why the hell would Thibs win it?
Pop is so much better.
http://px9.funformobile.com/d/169/61/1fjdcjav7c/ohface.gif

Parker: "And when I was running up to Blake he was like...then when I passed him he was like "oooh"

[adonis827]

^ lol at kawhi still focused on the game.

[SpursRock20]

^ lol at kawhi still focused on the game.

I think the Spurs FO created Leonard in a lab or something. He fits the system way too soundly for a rookie.

[GSH]

Good article on NBA.dotcom. It's about the Celtics dynasty and Red Auerbach, but it says a lot about the value of playing as a team, and the value of a coach that can get players to buy in.

http://www.nba.com/2012/history/features/04/23/season-of-giants-celtics/index.html

[Old School 44]

This is from so-called Fox Sports NBA Expert - Sam Amico
http://www.foxsportsohio.com/04/23/12/NBA-award-season-arrives---heres-our-win/msn_landing.html?blockID=715022&feedID=3725
Now, I really have no issue with Vogel or Thibs, but to not even mention Pop as a runner-up....WHAT??? Maybe Pop abused this "expert" in an interview session some time ago.

Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel, Pacers

The Pacers are likely to finish as a top three seed in the East. And guess how many All-Stars they had? OK, one -- but even that was Roy Hibbert, the lanky center who sometimes just gets in the way of things. Don’t misunderstand. Hibbert is indeed solid. Danny Granger and David West are better than that, too. But do the Pacers really have top-three-seed talent? Most observers would say probably not. Yet Vogel has instituted a physical brand of team-first basketball that has turned this unsung bunch into a playoff sleeper. Runners-up: Tom Thibodeau, Bulls; Doc Rivers, Celtics.