Pop to be named Coach of the Year at 2pm

[deibero]

According to multiple twitter sources...

WELL DESERVED!

[spursfan1000]

hopefully

[CGD]

Wonder if Rose's injury and scrutiny on Thibbs had an impact on this...

[NASpurs]

hopefully

He is going to be COY.


Mike Monroe (http://twitter.com/Monroe_SA): Popovich to be named Coach of Year at 2 pm about 5 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/Monroe_SA/statuses/197377483895611392)

[birdy219]

Well deserved :toast

[scanry]

Don't really care, but i just hope we ring this year.

[ElNono]

Congrats Pop... time to dust off the "individual accomplishments mean nothing to me" script

[Dex]

Not a surprise, but still well deserved.

Thibbs did a good job, especially considering Rose's injury, but many people had Chicago pegged as one of the superpowers in the East even before the season. And it's still the Eastern conference...

On the other hand, most people had already begun slinging dirt on the grave of the Spurs (again). The fact that Pop was able to resurrect this team, bring in and incorporate a handful of new and young players, help with making some incredible midseason moves, survive the loss of Manu Ginobili, monitor players minutes so masterfully, and still have them on top of the Western Conference is nothing short of amazing.

[sharkenleo]

Very well deserved honor for Pop. Gig 'em!

[easy7]

Good for Pop. I am glad he got it.

[ajballer4]

As much as he deserves it, I thought the media would go for Thibs, cause its the media

[sa_butta]

Don't really care, but i just hope we ring this year.

I'm sure he feels the same way...:lol

[timtonymanu]

Well deserved!!

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Wonder if Rose's injury and scrutiny on Thibbs had an impact on this...

If I'm not mistaken votes were in before the playoffs, though I may be wrong and the fact that it happened in Game 1 would mean if I was then it would probably have been within the voting time frame.

That said, for the reasons Dex listed above Pop was the obvious choice over Thibbs. Everyone had Chicago as a top two team in the East, nobody had us as a top three or even four team, much less the number one team, in the West. Pop incorporated young no names, built the most efficient and fun to watch offense in the league (shhh, dont tell ESPN), and masterfully navigated the condensed schedule, all while losing Manu and Splitter for significant time and TJ Ford entirely.

Well done, Pop :toast

[smaka]

Well deserved, mr. Popovich! What he made out of couple of unknown boys (Kawhi, Danny - damn, when he played in Slovenia, I thought what the hell is he doing in Nba, if he can't play here; seeing where he is now... wow), connected whole team to play as one - fantastic.

Congratulations Pop!

[Libri]

Pop is going to get wasted tonight. :jekka

[scanry]

I'm sure he feels the same way...:lol

He feels exactly the same way because he's more than just the coach. He's the Bellichek of the New England Patriots.

[EVAY]

He sure worked hard enough for it this year. I have never seen him so engaged and so involved in games as he was this year. Happy for him.

[TheSkeptic]

Most definitely deserves it. :toast

[Spurs Brazil]

Congrats Pop!!

Well deserved

[lefty]

Woooot :tu


He should thank Matt Bonner for the award, TBH

[Spurtacus]

Congrats to Pop :tu

[td4mvp21]

Well deserved. Congrats, Pop!

[superbigtime]

What the Spurs have done this year in this compressed crazy season with young dudes, no names, new players, and key injuries is really amazing. Pop deserves the credit. He is definitely the COY. Now don't fuck it up Pop.

[clambake]

could be the kiss of death.

there. i just reversed jinx for you guys.

[Ditty]

:pop: "Playing Matt more then Tiago was the reason I won this award. I will continue to play Matt more for years to come to win more of these."

[lefty]

Gregory Popovich ‏ @FakeCoachPop (https://twitter.com/#%21/FakeCoachPop) The last 8 Coach of the Years have won 0 rings. Nice award.


https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/480263134/POP2_reasonably_small.gif

[cd98]

Let's hope Ty Corbin doesn't sit on the sideline on the opposing bench during the award presentation at game 2 and think...that's my award.

[Fernando TD21]

Nice, he deserves it.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/Fernando_M/NBA/th_happypopo.gif


Last time Pop won COY, the Spurs won the Title. Funny thing is, it was the year SJax was still on this team.

SJax back.
Ginobli Heathly.
Duncan looking like his old self.
Lockout year.
Pop COY again.

I don't believe in astrology, but if I did, I would say the stars were aligning for the Spurs this year.
It's been that long? I thought he had won a few years ago.

[coyotes_geek]

I'm sure Pop is celebrating news of this award by practicing an extra special death stare for whichever media member is dumb enough to fall into the trap of asking him what this award means to him.

Congrats to Pop!

[FromWayDowntown]

If true, Pop becomes the 7th coach to win multiple NBA Coach of the Year awards, joining:

Hubie Brown
Bill Fitch
Cotton Fitzsimmons
Don Nelson
Pat Riley
Gene Shue

[timtonymanu]

Uh oh. Does this mean Pop will lose his job soon?

[timvp]

Job well done in the regular season, Pop.

Now prove it in the playoffs.

Thanks.

[lefty]

THe last time he won the award : NBA title in 2003 !


And we had Jax in 2003 too !





OMG :wow

[SenorSpur]

Congrats to Pop!

Much deserved.

We all know Pop HATES public recognition. I wouldn't put it past him to blow off both the announcement and the presentation. The NBA would be better off mailing the trophy to him.

Job well done by Pop!

[DesignatedT]

Will he get honored at game 2 tomorrow? jw

[Jumi]

Congrats to Pop! It was a toss up with him and Thibs, but Pop did a helluva job this year!!!

[Darkwaters]

Well deserved!

[Bruno]

Congrats. It's a well deserved award. IMO, the best aspect of Pop coaching has been how he has been able to limit minutes in this condensed season and keep winning games.

Thibodeau deserved it too because 50 wins without Rose for most of the season was awesome but I guess he had the drawback of having won it last year.

There will have a news conf about it streamed on nba.com:
http://www.nba.com/live1/

[baseline bum]

I think this was a pretty obvious call. With a core as old as the Spurs' is, this ridiculously compressed season should have probably chewed up and spit the Spurs out the way the 99 season did Utah. When this season was first announced I thought there was no way in hell the team would survive it after running out of gas in a much easier year last season, but here the Spurs are in great position to make a strong playoff run. I don't think anyone else in the league could have done it.

[lefty]

Congrats to Pop! It was a toss up with him and Thibs, but Pop did a helluva job this year!!!
Fuck Thibs

He is coaching in a shitty EC

[lefty]

I was the last COY to win one.
yup

2003


And with Jax :D

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Nice, he deserves it.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/Fernando_M/NBA/th_happypopo.gif


^^^such a top notch gif :lol


I'm sure Pop is celebrating news of this award by practicing an extra special death stare for whichever media member is dumb enough to fall into the trap of asking him what this award means to him.


:lol I'm actually looking forward to that moment

[Beanzamillion21]

Gj pop

[Mr Fundamental]

Well deserved !

Congrats Pop.

[Mugen]

Congrats to Pop, well deserved.

[jjktkk]

Congrads. Pop.

[ElNono]

Live press conference will be here at 2 pm (3 pm ET):

http://www.nba.com/live1/

[Drachen]

Wonder if Rose's injury and scrutiny on Thibbs had an impact on this...

which injury?

If you mean the one that just happened, that would be impossible as ballots are due before the playoffs start.

[sharkenleo]

Does anyone know if the press conference will be available on the nba or spurs website?

Nevermind, got it. Here's the link: http://www.nba.com/live1/

[Keepin' it real]

:pop: "Playing Matt more then Tiago was the reason I won this award. I will continue to play Matt more for years to come to win more of these."

:downspin:

[loveforthegame]

Congrats to Pop. It's well deserved. :whine

[Texas_Ranger]

congrats :toast

[Solid D]

Pop's projected press conference transcript:

Q: Pop, how does it feel to be awarded coach of the year?
A: Fine.

Q: Does this award make all the hard work worth it?
A: Not really.

Q: Is this something you can look back on and come to appreciate that you were recognized and honored among so many great coaches?
A: I honestly don't put a single thought into who wins the award.

Q: ...........(silence)................
A: Anyone else?

Q: ...........(silence)................
A: Thanks guys!

[mexicanjunior]

Congrats Pop!

[jestersmash]

Live news conference to start in a minute: http://www.nba.com/live1/

I'm currently getting a black screen.

[DarkGinobili]

congrats

[BanditHiro]

he looks so pissed

[smaka]

he is pretty talkative lol

[SpurinDallas]

Sounded like he was getting a little choked up when he was giving props to his asst coaches.

[Warlord23]

He's already talked more than I expected him to through the entire press conference :lol

[loveforthegame]

Pop always so humbled. :tu

[Solid D]

Nice job Pop. You were very gracious and complementary to others.
Clearly, this is a very big deal for the organization and you honored that with your remarks!

(now I feel bad for making fun of your press conference manner)

[SpurinDallas]

Pop's gonna celebrate by breaking down film and RC is gonna pick up some UIW chicks for drinks at Cappy's.

[Dex]

What was that last question that Pop refused to answer? I didn't catch it.

[Tp9gospursgo]

What was that last question that Pop refused to answer? I didn't catch it.

I was wondering that as well.

[SpurinDallas]

What was that last question that Pop refused to answer? I didn't catch it.

His thoughts on the last 8 winners of COY not winning the Title that year.

[Nathan89]

" Other coaches could've been just as successful in this situation":pop:

"Pop is the greatest coach ever and no one else comes close. It's almost like he coaches with alien intelligence."- Pop Lovers

Props to Pop though recently he's even showing signs of getting over himself.

[Mel_13]

What was that last question that Pop refused to answer? I didn't catch it.

It was about how the last 8 COYs hadn't won the championship.

[silverblackfan]

Congrats Pop. Well deserved for so many reasons.

[DesignatedT]

Danny Green ‏ @DGreen_14
Shoutout to coach Pop for winning coach of the year award...definitly shud b coach of century, glad/proud to say I play for that guy

[Buddy Holly]

Wonder if Rose's injury and scrutiny on Thibbs had an impact on this...

No. Voting occurred before Saturday. And that wouldn't even be a reason. Pop > Thibs.

[DesignatedT]

Manu Ginobili ‏ @manuginobili
Congrats to Pop on winning the NBA Coach of the Year award. Well deserved! ~ Felicitaciones a Pop x ser el "DT del Año". Un MAESTRO!!

[DesignatedT]

Manu Ginobili ‏ @manuginobili
Congrats to Pop on winning the NBA Coach of the Year award. Well deserved! ~ Felicitaciones a Pop x ser el "DT del Año". Un MAESTRO!!

[Dex]

His thoughts on the last 8 winners of COY not winning the Title that year.


It was about how the last 8 COYs hadn't won the championship.

:lol His reaction makes total sense then.

"Security! Someone get that guy outta here."

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Crofl solidD

[Sa_Spursfan20]

Congrats to Pop! Let's see him get #5 as well! :toast

[SpursRock20]

Here's the voting results for Pop and Thib, not as close as I thought:

Pop got 77 first place votes, 24 second place votes, and 10 third place votes for 467 points.

Thib got 27 first place votes, 53 second place votes, and 21 third place votes for 315 points.

Congrats Pop :whine

[manu the best]

Congratzzz coach POP

[DesignatedT]

Stephen Jackson ‏ @DaTrillStak5
Congrats to Coach Pop. Well deserved.

[CIA Pop]

Look, I don't care about this award, but would you people go buy some damn playoff tickets so I don't have to listen to people cheering for the other guys? $2 tickets, WTF?

[davidbowie]

^truth

[SpurinDallas]

Would be nice for BSPN to give Pop some props on their NBA Page. Its been the same pic of Amare in a sling all day long.

[MannyIsGod]

Props to Pop!

[Budkin]

Pop FTW! Congrats!

[DesignatedT]

Patrick Mills ‏ @Patty_Mills
MASSIVE S/O to Coach Pop on winning 'Coach of the Year'. I can now say I've witnessed what it takes to be a great coach. #wenotdoneyetthough

[DesignatedT]

David Robinson ‏ @DavidtheAdmiral
Congrats to Coach Pop, again- The greatest coach in all of sports. Very fortunate to have played for him. #PoundTheRock

[Seventyniner]

CoY isn't for the best coach, it's for the coach of the biggest overachieving team. Still, it's nice to see Pop recognized for his masterful handling of the regular season. Now just get 15 more wins and we'll call it a season.

[SpursWench21]

Congrats Coach Pop!:toast Bring on game 2:flag:

[mudyez]

congrats!

[Kuestmaster]

Congrats to Pop!
Pop CoY, Jackson here again... 2003 all over again! Let's ring

[gameFACE]

Congrats to Pop! Go bust out a good bottle of vino from that cellar and work out those X's and O's for the 2012 Championship!
:toast

[DesignatedT]

tony Parker ‏ @tp9network
CONGRATS to POP on winning NBA COACH OF TH YEAR!!! well deserved!!! FELICITATIONS a pop davoir gagner COACH DE L...

[Mugen]

No congratulation tweets from Splitter? :stirpot:

[SpurinDallas]

No congratulation tweets from Splitter? :stirpot:

His wrist is hurt. He can't tweet

[Mugen]

His wrist is hurt. He can't tweet

:lol

Pop did fuck Tiago over for a season and a half, tho.

[therealtruth]

Congrats to Pop for winning it. However I expect a big part of it is alot of the media didn't expect the Spurs to be that good this year after last year's playoff defeat. Then add Ginobili's injury and that Leonard and Green are starters. They also probably felt they couldn't give it to Thibs two years in a row.

[SpurinDallas]

Congrats to Pop for winning it. However I expect a big part of it is alot of the media didn't expect the Spurs to be that good this year after last year's playoff defeat. Then add Ginobili's injury and that Leonard and Green are starters. They also probably felt they couldn't give it to Thibs two years in a row.

All good points. Thibs proved on Saturday that he isn't COY material

[Mugen]

All good points. Thibs proved on Saturday that he isn't COY material

To be fair to Thibbs, Pop basically did the exact same thing by playing Manu in the PHX game last year. Dumber move IMO but he wised up this year.

[therealtruth]

All good points. Thibs proved on Saturday that he isn't COY material

Yeah I am thinking Thibs best option on Sat was probably to work D. Rose back slowly. I know there was no minute restriction but the guy was constantly getting injured all year.

[SpurinDallas]

To be fair to Thibbs, Pop basically did the exact same thing by playing Manu in the PHX game last year. Dumber move IMO but he wised up this year.

Yeah, thats true. Quit raining on my parade. :lol

[DesignatedT]

Bruce Bowen ‏ @Bowen12
Congrats to Coach Pop, well deserved! VANILLA!!!!!!

[Legacy]

Congrats to Pop! Let's keep it up now! :toast

[ace3g]

Jeff McDonald ‏ @JMcDonald_SAEN

Pop said Spurs' mantra during lockout season: "Less is more." Mindful of overburdening players w/info, in light of little practice time.

[DMC]

Gregory Popovich ‏ @FakeCoachPop (https://twitter.com/#%21/FakeCoachPop) The last 8 Coach of the Years have won 0 rings. Nice award.


https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/480263134/POP2_reasonably_small.gif

This is true, but it doesn't tell the whole story. The reason a coach gets such notice is generally because his team outperforms expectations. The Spurs have been doing that since 2004, I think, however lately the Spurs have appeared better by changing up their scheme. Many coaches, if they even tried that, would be fired by the middle of the season because the team would not cooperate, or the coach and coaching staff could not implement it well enough early on to gather support. Pop, on the other hand, has seemingly adopted the new scheme flawlessly, and he got Tim and crew to buy into it. Sure it's a pig in a poke at first, but we now know it's at least good for regular season success, which a lot of teams in the league would prefer over what they have now.

Even now, however, I see it not so much as a gimmicky scheme as much as a last ditch effort to make this core serviceable. I don't think they will win the championship, even though their success this year seems to indicate otherwise. I think offense can be stopped, but defense cannot. So, like those other "didn't make it" teams, the Spurs have outperformed expectations yet again, and if they make it, they will cause a paradigm shift in the NBA that we've rarely seen; up tempo teams will emerge and the days of the big lock down defender will be numbered. I don't see it happening though.

[Mel_13]

Press conference video:

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/120501_pop_coach_of_the_year

[therealtruth]

This is true, but it doesn't tell the whole story. The reason a coach gets such notice is generally because his team outperforms expectations. The Spurs have been doing that since 2004, I think, however lately the Spurs have appeared better by changing up their scheme. Many coaches, if they even tried that, would be fired by the middle of the season because the team would not cooperate, or the coach and coaching staff could not implement it well enough early on to gather support. Pop, on the other hand, has seemingly adopted the new scheme flawlessly, and he got Tim and crew to buy into it. Sure it's a pig in a poke at first, but we now know it's at least good for regular season success, which a lot of teams in the league would prefer over what they have now.

Even now, however, I see it not so much as a gimmicky scheme as much as a last ditch effort to make this core serviceable. I don't think they will win the championship, even though their success this year seems to indicate otherwise. I think offense can be stopped, but defense cannot. So, like those other "didn't make it" teams, the Spurs have outperformed expectations yet again, and if they make it, they will cause a paradigm shift in the NBA that we've rarely seen; up tempo teams will emerge and the days of the big lock down defender will be numbered. I don't see it happening though.

The Mavs basically proved that offense wins last year. That's why I felt the Spurs had a really good shot. The Mavs defense was better than the Spurs though.

[Solid D]

Gregory Popovich ‏ @FakeCoachPop (https://twitter.com/#%21/FakeCoachPop) The last 8 Coach of the Years have won 0 rings. Nice award.


https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/480263134/POP2_reasonably_small.gif

Haha, 9 years ago it was Pop...with an accompanying ring.

[Vic Petro]

Press conference video:

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/120501_pop_coach_of_the_year

Is Pop's nickname for RC "Arse"?

[blkroadrunners]

Congrats to Pop :toast

[DMC]

To be fair to Thibbs, Pop basically did the exact same thing by playing Manu in the PHX game last year. Dumber move IMO but he wised up this year.

Thibbs coached under Doc, and Doc would play the big 3, up 40, until there were only 2 minutes left in the game. He did it all the time.

[DMC]

The Mavs basically proved that offense wins last year. That's why I felt the Spurs had a really good shot. The Mavs defense was better than the Spurs though.
The Mavs wouldn't have won shit if they didn't have the defensive presence of Chandler and Stevens. They've long been an offensive juggernaut, but last year, they had the defense to go with it.

[timtonymanurich]

HMMMPH. Phil(up me) Jackson Never ONCE won the COY award.

IMAGINE FUGGIN' THAT.

Probably cuz Lenny Wilkens woulda won 10 titles with the teams that Jackson coached.

:hat:hat:hat:wakeup:wakeup:wakeup

:lmao:lmao:lmao

[T Park]

Fabbs and the other arm chair QBs here gotta be pissed.

[therealtruth]

HMMMPH. Phil(up me) Jackson Never ONCE won the COY award.

IMAGINE FUGGIN' THAT.

Probably cuz Lenny Wilkens woulda won 10 titles with the teams that Jackson coached.

:hat:hat:hat:wakeup:wakeup:wakeup

:lmao:lmao:lmao

PJ won in '96 when he won an NBA record 72 wins. Jordan and Pip won nothing before PJ got there. Same thing with Kobe and Shaq. The big 3 of the Heat lost last year. Just having talented team doesn't guarantee you're going to win. This guy repeated 7 times. That means winning with the expectations while playing 82 games. Even the best coach right now Pop hasn't repeated once.

[benefactor]

Well deserved.

:toast

[Dark Matter]

Even now, however, I see it not so much as a gimmicky scheme as much as a last ditch effort to make this core serviceable.
I think offense can be stopped, but defense cannot. So, like those other "didn't make it" teams, the Spurs have outperformed expectations yet again, and if they make it, they will cause a paradigm shift in the NBA that we've rarely seen; up tempo teams will emerge and the days of the big lock down defender will be numbered. I don't see it happening though.

I'm gonna have to run a bug sweep of my house after this post. the only difference is -



I don't think they will win the championship, even though their success this year seems to indicate otherwise.

I do.



I think offense can be stopped, but defense cannot.

But it can be matched.



the Spurs have outperformed expectations yet again, and if they make it, they will cause a paradigm shift in the NBA that we've rarely seen; up tempo teams will emerge and the days of the big lock down defender will be numbered. I don't see it happening though.

Welcome to the new world order:whine. I can't tell you why I feel the spurs will run up a 130 point game, on their way to the Championship, but they are peaking at the right time. Once the pilgrims settle in, watch out. :flag::lobt2:

[JR3]

Glad Pop got it. It was a given though. Its like you can smell it every year before its given out. All the announcers give it away.

[KenziE]

PJ won in '96 when he won an NBA record 72 wins. Jordan and Pip won nothing before PJ got there. Same thing with Kobe and Shaq. The big 3 of the Heat lost last year. Just having talented team doesn't guarantee you're going to win. This guy repeated 7 times. That means winning with the expectations while playing 82 gam
es. Even the best coach right now Pop hasn't rep eated once.

WORD i remember shaq and company always loosing to utah in the playoffs before PJ came on board ..

congrats to POP! you have to be a true SAS fan to understand P.op`s humor gotta love Pop

[Wild Cobra Kai]

Flabbs on suicide watch, tbh.

[Spurs Brazil]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/wp-content/blogs.dir/617/files/spurs-gregg-popovich-nba-coach-of-the-year_2/19651294-coach-of-the-year-popovich-kmh-4-05_01_2012.jpg

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/wp-content/blogs.dir/617/files/spurs-gregg-popovich-nba-coach-of-the-year_2/19651284-coach-of-the-year-popovich-kmh-2-05_01_2012.jpg

[wildbill2u]

Win or lose in the playoffs, it has been a privilege to watch Pop lead this team to a year that no one in all basketball predicted.

Pop shows that a team's success is about more than overwhelming basketball talent and physical prowess or the ability to use "Xs" and "Os" on a chalkboard. It's about trust between players and coaches and the ability to translate that into a TEAM that will keep pounding the rock relentlessly in every game.

There were teams with better talent, fewer injuries, more vets, fewer unknowns and yet the Spurs wound up with an unimaginable 50 wins and led the league in victories.

The Spurs way is how basketball should be played. Congratulations to Pop and to the staff and FO and players.

[timvp]

I was surprised at the pageantry when Ppp accepted the COTY award, tbh. Back in 2003, I don't think he ever even addressed winning it.

But I'm glad Pop took time out to soak it in this time. Richly deserved. The growth he's shown to be able to win with offense and also trust young players more than any coach in the league has been commendable.

[Malice]

Congrats. Now back to work bish.

[Muser]

Maybe. The faggots will stop complaining about pop and realise the spurs have one of the best coaches in nba history.

[Vic Petro]

I was surprised at the pageantry when Ppp accepted the COTY award, tbh. Back in 2003, I don't think he ever even addressed winning it.

But I'm glad Pop took time out to soak it in this time. Richly deserved. The growth he's shown to be able to win with offense and also trust young players more than any coach in the league has been commendable.

Just my impression, but I got the sense Pop suffered through the pageantry in order to acknowledge his coaching staff and the job they've done publicly. I don't know how many previous winners took their press photo with the entire staff holding a piece of the trophy, but I felt it was a nice gesture by Pop and RC.

[dylankerouac]

Well deserved. Still think a sabbatical wouldn't be bad but he can ride a final wave with his stars before that. Great job coach.

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Just my impression, but I got the sense Pop suffered through the pageantry in order to acknowledge his coaching staff and the job they've done publicly. I don't know how many previous winners took their press photo with the entire staff holding a piece of the trophy, but I felt it was a nice gesture by Pop and RC.

no chip in the photo... :stirpot:

[Spurs Brazil]

Pop’s way continues to shine

Fran Blinebury

SAN ANTONIO – For nearly two decades, there have been many different ways to describe the enduring success of the Spurs.

In the Alamo City, it’s known simply as Pop’s way.

It’s contentious and cranky, irascible and irreverent, insightful and often inventive.

Year after year, more than anything, it’s just winning.

Gregg Popovich was named the 2011-12 NBA Coach of the Year, the second time he has won the honor, once more validating a style and an attitude that permeates the Spurs organization.

“That’s probably overblown I’m sure,” Popovich said. “When you win a lot of things get attributed to you that you shouldn’t get full credit for and when you lose you get a lot of things you shouldn’t be blamed for.

“We’ve just been blessed with people who understand their priorities and are very team and community oriented. Our organization has also been blessed, as I’ve said many times, with incredible good fortune. If you can drafted David Robinson and follow that up with Tim Duncan, that’s a couple of decades of very, very possible success unless you just screw it up.

“It’s hard to take credit when the circumstances have gone your way so consistently. There are a lot of people who have been in circumstances that have not been in their favor that would be just as successful in this situation, but just didn’t have the opportunity. So we don’t pay much attention to that.”

However, so many of the players that have passed through the Spurs locker room and organization have paid attention. Just the other day, Stephen Jackson said the Spurs were “the most family team” of any in the league. Whether they are franchise icons such as Robinson or Duncan or Sean Elliott or role players like Steve Kerr and Danny Green or a rookie such as Kawhi Leonard, they note that there is a special attitude that starts at the top.

Popovich is the longes- tenured coach with the same team in all four major professional American sports and holds the best winning percentage of the longest tenured coaches (.679). In addition, his 847 victories with the Spurs ranks second all-time in NBA history for wins with one team, behind only Jerry Sloan in Utah with 1,127.

In his 16th season as head coach of the Spurs, Popovich guided San Antonio to a league-tying-best 50-16 (.758) record. The Spurs ranked second in the league in scoring (103.7 ppg) and point-differential (+7.2). In the second half of the season, however, the Spurs were the league’s most dominant team, posting an NBA-best 26-6 (.813) record while averaging league highs in scoring (108.3 ppg) and point-differential (+10.8). In the process, Popovich guided the Spurs to their 15th consecutive postseason berth, which is the longest active streak in the NBA. San Antonio won at least 50 games for the 13th straight season – all under Popovich’s tenure – surpassing the Lakers (1979-80 to 1990-91) for the longest streak in NBA history. The Spurs also set a franchise mark with three double-digit winning streaks.

“Pop has provided this whole organization with a vision and a clarity of purpose, as players, coaches and staff, that has put us in position to be successful,” said Spurs general manager R.C. Buford. “Through his hard work he’s taught us the importance of pounding the rock.

“For everybody who has been a part of our team he’s been a mentor and a friend, always stressing that the real rewards of the job come from caring for each other and trusting each other.

“This is a difficult profession, but Pop loves doing it. The challenges are unique for all 30 coaches and their teams. Pop and his staff have done a terrific job molding both the inexperienced and the experienced into a team we’re all proud to be a part of, at the same time developing relationships that will last our players a lifetime.”

For a coach with a resume that already includes four titles, this has been arguably Popovich’s best season ever. Dealing with the added burdens of the post-lockout schedule, he rejuvenated a team with a veteran core around Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, he worked the journeyman Green and the rookie Leonard into the starting lineup and, in the process, transformed the once-plodding Spurs into a high-octane offense. Yet he kept his core principles.

“We haven’t really changed our philosophy in the sense of what we think wins and what we want to emphasize,” Popovich said. “The pace was a little bit different. We probably had to be a little more simple. ‘Less is more’ is a big motto for us this year, because you can’t get in everything you want to get in. We’ve become a little bit more of an offensively-oriented team as we evolved. But other than that, the principles that we live by and things that we think should pay attention to have all remained the same.”

In the 50-year history of the Coach of the Year Award, only five of the past 49 winners have gone on to win the championship – Red Auerbach (1965), Red Holzman (1970), Bill Sharman (1972), Phil Jackson (1996) and Popovich himself (2003).

“The players I’ve had the privilege to coach have been incredible,” Popovich said. “The fact they allow me to coach them the way I coach them surprises me, almost on a daily basis.

“It’s a great group of people who, as I always say, have gotten over themselves. They come to practice; they play the games; we win, we lose, we go home. They do it wonderfully and Timmy is the guy who is in charge of all that. He sets the tone for our players and our success.

“Although all of us have a part of it here, those are the guys who get it done. They are the most important part of what we do and they’ve done it wonderfully. Win or lose, they do it with class. They do it the right way.”

That is, Pop’s way.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/05/01/pops-way-continues-to-shine/

[The ADMIRAL 50]

no chip in the photo... :stirpot:

just watched the video...guess family comes before the organization, really gotta question his priorities :stirpot:

[Vic Petro]

no chip in the photo... :stirpot:


just watched the video...guess family comes before the organization, really gotta question his priorities :stirpot:

I did notice that Pop lumped Chip in with Jacque Vaughn and not Bud/Brown/Newman.

[T Park]

Chip was at the hospital. His wife was having their second child...

[DMC]

Chip is so overrated as a shooting coach.

[The ADMIRAL 50]

I did notice that Pop lumped Chip in with Jacque Vaughn and not Bud/Brown/Newman.

to be fair Bud/Brown/Newman all sit on the bench and contribute heavily to the coaching within games. Chip has always been known as the shooting specialist, he is extremely valuable and while his role has grown over the years it remains limited. Bud, Brown, and Newman are your prototypical assistant coaches, whereas the rest of the bunch, while highly useful, serve more periphery roles. I honestly dont know what Jacque's role is though, I've always sorta thought of him as an assistant to the coaches rather than an assistant coach, but I readily admit thats purely an assumption out of ignorance on my part.

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Chip was at the hospital. His wife was having their second child...

I know, did you see the second one?

lighten up mate

[100%duncan]

In CIA Pop, We trust!

[Obstructed_View]

I was surprised at the pageantry when Ppp accepted the COTY award, tbh. Back in 2003, I don't think he ever even addressed winning it.

But I'm glad Pop took time out to soak it in this time. Richly deserved. The growth he's shown to be able to win with offense and also trust young players more than any coach in the league has been commendable.

In '03, Pop had an obscene amount of talent on the team and they didn't always exactly play to their full potential, so that might be why. This year's team is really a squad to be proud of and everything has fallen perfectly into place. I'm glad he's basking in it.

[Splits]

Press conference video:

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/120501_pop_coach_of_the_year

Pure. Class. Organization.

[Danny.Zhu]

Well deserved.

[Vic Petro]

...I honestly dont know what Jacque's role is though, I've always sorta thought of him as an assistant to the coaches rather than an assistant coach, but I readily admit thats purely an assumption out of ignorance on my part.

They are grooming him for something. If he doesn't get hired by another team (he prob will eventually), I'm sure he'll move to the bench once Pop retires.

[FkLA]

But I thought Pop was senile and had lost it since ~2007? How did he manage to win this ??

[lefty]

Why arent we playing today?

I want to see the award ceremony godammit !!!!!!!

[NickiRasgo]

Congrats Coach Pop! You deserved it. Drive For Five! :lobt2:

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Congratulations Pop! :toast

Thoroughly deserved. He should have more than 2 CoY awards IMHO.

[MaNu4Tres]

Well deserved. Especially after demoting Blair! :tu

[Brutalis]

Pop earned it. He should have 4 if they were in the spotlight more often.

[angelbelow]

Considering the circumstances this year, there is no other coach that deserves it more than Pop. He turned this bottom feeding playoff team into legit contenders in a matter of a few months. Amazing transformation with Pop as one of the main architect. Couldn't be happier to be able to watch this season unfold the way it did. Might challenge 2005 as my favorite season...

[Stringer_Bell]

As soon as Pop tricked EVERYONE into believing that Splitter had no chance at starting alongside Duncan against the Lakers, then did it and fuckin' crushed them twice in the middle of such a ridiculous schedule...I knew he was COY.

I liked the metaphor last year of Pop being the skipper on a tiny boat that everyone thought would sink, only to come out with the #1 seed in the west. This year, he's like a painter that's got all these pretty colours (like the colour Green and the colour Kawhi) and he's painting with an uncanny flow. Then the way he's integrated additional scenery like Diaw and Jackson...and suddenly you realize Pop is attempting to paint the most vicious, depraved, and violently sadistic masterpiece the NBA has ever seen - in blood.

And I like it. Congrats Pop! :downspin:

[Obstructed_View]

But I thought Pop was senile and had lost it since ~2007? How did he manage to win this ??

Amazing how good you suddenly look when you play your young players and don't set guys up to fail.

[BillMc]

And Well deserved.

Now give the Executive to R.C., put Tony in the Top 4 MVP and First or Second Team All-NBA, and put Leonard in the top 3 for Rookie of the Year.

[KenziE]

As soon as Pop tricked EVERYONE into believing that Splitter had no chance at starting alongside Duncan against the Lakers, then did it and fuckin' crushed them twice in the middle of such a ridiculous schedule...I knew he was COY.

I liked the metaphor last year of Pop being the skipper on a tiny boat that everyone thought would sink, only to come out with the #1 seed in the west. This year, he's like a painter that's got all these pretty colours (like the colour Green and the colour Kawhi) and he's painting with an uncanny flow. Then the way he's integrated additional scenery like Diaw and Jackson...and suddenly you realize Pop is attempting to paint the most vicious, depraved, and violently sadistic masterpiece the NBA has ever seen - in blood.

And I like it. Congrats Pop! :downspin:

[Rapper]

Congrats Pop

Pop named COY because of having Tim Duncan

[TwelveGs210]

Wtf

[GSH]

:lol

Pop wins COTY, and for one night he was a kinder, gentler Pop in the post-game. Don't get used to it.