ESPN Radio: Great interview with Pop

[Uriel]

Pop discusses being coach of the All-star team, compares this year's team to last year's, explains why he thought we lost to Oklahoma CIty, and gives his thoughts on our odds of winning it all this time around.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8952460

[BatManu20]

:tu

[Spur|n|Austin]

That's some good, Pop right there. :toast

[Pasta Batman]

That was solid.

[chapnis]

"I don't wanna win 20 games in a row". Makes me think about that Detroit game haha.

[Fireball]

good stuff ... he knows the statistics

[wildbill2u]

This was a very unusual interview for POP. No sarcasm or humor. Just the straight dope on every question. It was the first time I ever heard an interview where Pop gave his real opinion on last year's team vs. this year's team without the little gibes.

[DesignatedT]

Highly recommend listening to this interview if you haven't yet.

[capek]

Dude is an empiricist per par. Very smart dude. Hope some great writer cajoles him into a co-writen autiobiography some day.

[Fabbs]

Pop....explains why he thought we lost to Oklahoma CIty,..
If anyone can write it down please do.
I don't have 8 Pop minutes right now. Might later.

[SpursRock20]

If anyone can write it down please do.
I don't have 8 Pop minutes right now. Might later.

He said that we peaked at the wrong time, and our bench wasn't ready for the playoffs. He said we also weren't ready for a long series.

[HI-FI]

This was a very unusual interview for POP. No sarcasm or humor. Just the straight dope on every question. It was the first time I ever heard an interview where Pop gave his real opinion on last year's team vs. this year's team without the little gibes.
co-signed.

that was a great interview. even though I love his grumpy, asshole remarks to reporters, I really wish I could hear more of this straightforward side of him. You can tell how passionate and intelligent he is about the game in this context.

It's going to suck when he retires.:depressed

[therealtruth]

He said that we peaked at the wrong time, and our bench wasn't ready for the playoffs. He said we also weren't ready for a long series.

Especially after he destroyed the bench and rode the veterans too hard.

[CGD]

Great interview. Reminds me of his tone during an interview he did during a summer league game last year. Candid, open, and insightful.

[EricB]

If anyone can write it down please do.
I don't have 8 Pop minutes right now. Might later.


Yeah so very busy I'm sure.

[timvp]

Hell of an interview. Great find :tu

[Splits]

Pop flat out says he was trying to tank games during the 20 win streak. Amazing admission, I bet he was ecstatic with the recent DET loss. We STers have all "known" this but I've never heard him say it straight-up like that.

[racm]

Pop flat out says he was trying to tank games during the 20 win streak. Amazing admission, I bet he was ecstatic with the recent DET loss. We STers have all "known" this but I've never heard him say it straight-up like that.

I think more than anything else it showed that the defense wouldn't be elite until TD returned.

[SA210]

One of the better interviews I've heard from Pop, pretty open about some things which was very interesting, but in case I missed it, correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't think he mentioned Tiago at all as a plus to this season? Did I miss something? wtf lol

[BigTex342006]

I was also surprised he didn't mention Splitter's improved play. He probably would have if the interview went longer or pressed about it. He mentioned Neal as one of the guys that are better this year, specifically for "knowing their role". That was somewhat odd for how poor he has played lately.

You can tell that Pop is a different person in a situation like the all-star weekend. He can relax and enjoy himself and the scenerio. When the real games are back, he will be back to business with no time or patience for bull shit or fluff.

This team is more prepared than last year's version. Playing balls-out offensively was some fun basketball to watch, and overwhelmed most teams, especially with the depth, but as usual, it doesn't always translate to playoffs. I like the fact that we have slowed down somewhat and are getting more stops. It is pretty simple....Spurs won't win it all if they aren't a top defensive team. Saying that though, they were pretty damn close to getting to the finals last year. OKC pretty much had to have some unbelievable games to pull it out (Perkins and Obaka going 18-20, Hardin hitting unbelievable shots, etc).

Not going to be easy by any stretch, but they have a pretty good chance at getting back to the finals. Manu's health and play are going to be needed no doubt, and they need to start coming together near the end. I actually think Pop played too many players during the last stretch run last year. The lineup shortens in the playoffs, and your horses get more minutes. I want the rotation normalized and consistent over the last seven games or so preparing for the playoffs. This may be one of the best last shots for getting to the championship series.

[DesignatedT]

One of the better interviews I've heard from Pop, pretty open about some things which was very interesting, but in case I missed it, correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't think he mentioned Tiago at all as a plus to this season? Did I miss something? wtf lol

He has multiple times in other interviews.

[timvp]

Pop flat out says he was trying to tank games during the 20 win streak. Amazing admission, I bet he was ecstatic with the recent DET loss. We STers have all "known" this but I've never heard him say it straight-up like that.Yeah, that was a surprising admission. We've all seen games where we're like "WTF Pop wasn't even trying to win that game". I guess that's more than simply a case of a paranoid fan.


One of the better interviews I've heard from Pop, pretty open about some things which was very interesting, but in case I missed it, correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't think he mentioned Tiago at all as a plus to this season? Did I miss something? wtf lolWell, to be fair, Pop also didn't call out Tiago by name for being the main example of a bench player who "wasn't ready for the playoffs". If Tiago played half as well as he's playing now against the Thunder, Spurs very well win that series.

[polandprzem]

But Green was the choker

[Fabbs]

Interviewer:
"Did your coaching play into the OKC series loss? Anything you would have liked to have done differently?"

We know nuttless San Antone media won't ever ask him but wouldn't that be a doozy question. Yes i know this was espn.

[romad_20]

Interviewer:
"Did your coaching play into the OKC series loss? Anything you would have liked to have done differently?"

We know nuttless San Antone media won't ever ask him but wouldn't that be a doozy question. Yes i know this was espn.

It helps that it was Dr Jack Ramsey (I think) asking.

[timvp]

But Green was the choker

Splitter's D was as bad as Green's O, tbh.

[therealtruth]

Yeah, that was a surprising admission. We've all seen games where we're like "WTF Pop wasn't even trying to win that game". I guess that's more than simply a case of a paranoid fan.

Well, to be fair, Pop also didn't call out Tiago by name for being the main example of a bench player who "wasn't ready for the playoffs". If Tiago played half as well as he's playing now against the Thunder, Spurs very well win that series.

Pop certainly played a role in Tiago not being ready. He could have given him more minutes to get ready like he's doing this season. I still don't think DG will be ready enough to start for a championship team. A good defensive team might reduce us to playing 4 on 5 again and then Pop has to start Manu again. Better to get that out of the way now.

[polandprzem]

Splitter's D was as bad as Green's O, tbh.

Yup I do not negate this. But overall it was Green that everybody was mad at. And there were few guys that should level their game up rather then play poorly that's why Pop addressed it.

[TD 21]

Pop flat out says he was trying to tank games during the 20 win streak. Amazing admission, I bet he was ecstatic with the recent DET loss. We STers have all "known" this but I've never heard him say it straight-up like that.

I'd have to listen to it again (which I don't feel like doing), but I'm pretty sure it was said tongue in cheek. I don't think he was literally trying to tank games during that streak, I think he was just hoping they'd lose at some point, for law of average purposes.

What I don't get is how he's come to the conclusion that the bench is so much better, when in actuality it's been worse than last season.

[freetiago]

all the guys from last season were mid season pickups or playoff virgins/young guys
Neal had 1 playoff series
Tiago had 1 series that he didnt start til game 5 and ended in 6
Danny Green wasnt even suppose to be on the team but he ended up starting and played his first series
Kawhi- rookie
Diaw- midseason pickup
Jack- midseason pickup
and Bonner the playoff choker

[Brunodf]

Splitter's D was as bad as Green's O, tbh.

I think u expected too much from a player who was just the 4th big last season tbh.
Pop also didn't make any adjustments to avoid the hack...

[Obstructed_View]

The difference in Pop:

Jack Ramsey <> Mark Jones.

[SA210]

Pop certainly played a role in Tiago not being ready. He could have given him more minutes to get ready like he's doing this season.

[Solid D]

I was thinking along the lines of what wildbill mentioned about Dr. Jack Ramsay. Pop gives Jack much respect...like student to teacher.

[Sean Cagney]

This is a great interview.

[Dingle Barry]

Really enjoyable. Wish there was at least one asshole comment though. This just felt like it was probably the T1000 in Pop form.

[Mugen]

Great stuff from Pop.

[Budkin]

This was a very unusual interview for POP. No sarcasm or humor. Just the straight dope on every question. It was the first time I ever heard an interview where Pop gave his real opinion on last year's team vs. this year's team without the little gibes.

I doubt he would be like that when Dr. Jack Ramsay is asking him questions just out of admiration and respect.