Does Pop really give a crap about the #1 seed?

[ElNono]

He's been saying he does not, and that he'll prioritize resting players over that.

Not to overanalyze a single game, but I did think it was strange he basically didn't call any timeouts to rip the players when they were amazingly sloppy, even downright pathetic, and the Wolves were making their runs.

Anybody gets the feeling he just doesn't care about the seeding and would rather get the players rested? The Spurs underwent somewhat of a similar situation last season, closing it playing incredibly bad and Pop basically waving the white flag in early 3rd quarters (coincidentally, the Wolves was an opponent that beat us badly too back then).

Thoughts?

[RD2191]

I think OKC goes in raw if the Spurs don't have home court.

[ElNono]

I think OKC goes in raw if the Spurs don't have home court.

Maybe, but do you get the feeling that Pop gives a shit?

[TheGreatYacht]

I think he cares more about Matty, tbh

But no he doesn't care. The fake injuries have begun

[RD2191]

Maybe, but do you get the feeling that Pop gives a shit?
He has too, I mean we don't have star players in their primes anymore. Who wants to go home down 0-2 in a series? OKC is tough as is, now imagine the nerves in a Game 3, forget about it.

[Mugen]

He doesn't really have to give a shit to wrap up the 1seed at this point tbh. And yes, i do think he cares.

He played Manu in basically a meaningless game in 2011 to secure overall HCA from the Bulls who had like a 10% chance of makign the Finals in the first place so he cares.

Pop is great throughout the regular season with rest but he always tends to lose his shit in the last couple of weeks in the regular season IMO.

[Mikeanaro]

Ronny Turiaf= Spur Killer :lmao
He was so good that Pop´s mind went blank, speechless.

[ElNono]

He has too, I mean we don't have star players in their primes anymore. Who wants to go home down 0-2 in a series? OKC is tough as is, now imagine the nerves in a Game 3, forget about it.

Well, I think he said that a championship teams needs to know how to win on the road.... I think he feels like winning on the road isn't impossible.

[ElNono]

He doesn't really have to give a shit to wrap up the 1seed at this point tbh. And yes, i do think he cares.

He played Manu in basically a meaningless game in 2011 to secure overall HCA from the Bulls who had like a 10% chance of makign the Finals in the first place so he cares.

Pop is great throughout the regular season with rest but he always tends to lose his shit in the last couple of weeks in the regular season IMO.

:tu

[DarrinS]

You can lock the #1 with two wins and you get stomped by a scrub team. Makes no sense.

[ElNono]

meh, the stomping can happen... we were due for a shitty game where we can't make a shot... I just thought Pop really didn't care early, which is normally when he cares (ie: calling a TO 20 secs into the game).

[Darius Bieber]

I think OKC goes in raw if the Spurs don't have home court.

They're gonna go in raw either way tbh

[Robz4000]

He might not but the reality is if they don't get HCA and meet the Thunderefs, they'll lose the series. The whole mentality that championship teams win on the road is moot if they win two more games.

[DarrinS]

I'm pretty sure the ambiguously gay duo of TheGreatYacht and Skull-1 accounts have only existed since last years' Finals and merely exist to shit on Manu -- they bring no other value.

[DarrinS]

Sorry, had nothing to do with this thread -- just annoyed.

[ElNono]

Truth be told, we lost HCA many times... and still won. Heck, we took HCA from Miami last Finals... so there's a bit of truth about being a capable road team.

[RD2191]

I say we lose in the 2nd anyway so to me it doesn't matter.

[spurraider21]

The Parker injury probably scared him. Manu going down won't make that any better. Still with the magi number down to two, it's tempting

[Splits]

I'm gonna go with...

http://weknowgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/i-dont-give-a-fuck-pocahontas-gif.gif

[HI-FI]

He doesn't really have to give a shit to wrap up the 1seed at this point tbh. And yes, i do think he cares.

He played Manu in basically a meaningless game in 2011 to secure overall HCA from the Bulls who had like a 10% chance of makign the Finals in the first place so he cares.

Pop is great throughout the regular season with rest but he always tends to lose his shit in the last couple of weeks in the regular season IMO.
But you think he's still the same way or he learned from what happened to Manu?

I think he values health over seeding, which I think is right, but I imagine he waffles back and forth which is normal since it's a tough balancing act. If the officiating in the NBA was fair, which it isn't, HCA wouldn't matter as much, but I imagine the realities of thunderefs and other teams affects his decisions.

[TheGreatYacht]

I'm pretty sure the ambiguously gay duo of TheGreatYacht and Skull-1 accounts have only existed since last years' Finals and merely exist to shit on Manu -- they bring no other value.


Sorry, had nothing to do with this thread -- just annoyed.

What did I do? :depressed

[DarrinS]

What did I do? :depressed

Suck at posting, tbh

[Kool Bob Love]

What did I do? :depressed

No more bruceblitZ updates.

[Mugen]

But you think he's still the same way or he learned from what happened to Manu?

I think he values health over seeding, which I think is right, but I imagine he waffles back and forth which is normal since it's a tough balancing act. If the officiating in the NBA was fair, which it isn't, HCA wouldn't matter as much, but I imagine the realities of thunderefs and other teams affects his decisions.

Homecourt over OKC is much more crucial than homecourt over the Bulls in 2011. For Pop to blatantly tank the remaining 4 games would be the dumbest thing he's ever done tbh. He can still rest Tim/Manu/TP/Leonard plenty and be able to secure the 1 seed.

[dallasmaverickslose]

Does Pop really give a crap about anything?

[Kool Bob Love]

IMO Spurs only need home court vs the heat. Spurs can win in 0kc.

[Budkin]

:lol thinking this team can't win 2 games the rest of the season. Jesus.

[spurtech09]

Does this question really need to be asked now? My answer is no. The question is ?....Is tony and Manu going to be healthy enough for the start of the play offs?

[itzsoweezee]

I don't think he wants to rest players. From everything I've read recently, Popovich wants to increase minutes for the regular rotation guys to prepare them for the playoffs. Kawhi and Manu, in particular, were mentioned by Pop as guys that needs more playing time.

[Horse]

It was pretty clear pretty early this was not our night couldn't get a bounce or hit a shot while they couldn't miss. I think they're so ready for the playoffs they may lose interest these last few games. I could see dallas getting a pounding tomorrow.

[Sybok]

He's been saying he does not, and that he'll prioritize resting players over that.

Not to overanalyze a single game, but I did think it was strange he basically didn't call any timeouts to rip the players when they were amazingly sloppy, even downright pathetic, and the Wolves were making their runs.

Anybody gets the feeling he just doesn't care about the seeding and would rather get the players rested? The Spurs underwent somewhat of a similar situation last season, closing it playing incredibly bad and Pop basically waving the white flag in early 3rd quarters (coincidentally, the Wolves was an opponent that beat us badly too back then).

Thoughts?

Pop knows OKC will work their asses off to get that 1st seed, not resting anyone in the process, so why not allow them to do so?

[Hoops Czar]

And ElNono asking rhetorical questions.

[superjames1992]

He's been saying he does not, and that he'll prioritize resting players over that.

Not to overanalyze a single game, but I did think it was strange he basically didn't call any timeouts to rip the players when they were amazingly sloppy, even downright pathetic, and the Wolves were making their runs.

Anybody gets the feeling he just doesn't care about the seeding and would rather get the players rested? The Spurs underwent somewhat of a similar situation last season, closing it playing incredibly bad and Pop basically waving the white flag in early 3rd quarters (coincidentally, the Wolves was an opponent that beat us badly too back then).

Thoughts?
I think you're right. One time I thought for sure Pop was going to call a timeout after a couple idiotic plays in a row, but instead he was sitting on the bench looking at the floor hunched over. :lol

[superjames1992]

Tbh, we're still three games up in the loss column, though. We've got this wrapped up, tbh.

We should beat the LOLakers and surely we can win one of Dallas/Houston/Phoenix, even if we're not at full strength.

[polandprzem]

Pop wants to have a bit of control in the matchups. Maybe dropping to 2nd seed will be better?

[Robz4000]

Pop wants to have a bit of control in the matchups. Maybe dropping to 2nd seed will be better?

OKC would have a cakewalk as the 1 seed.

[dbreiden83080]

They'd basically have to drop 4 straight to lose it.. And OKC won't win out..

[Captivus]

The most important thing I saw yesterday was CoJo's performance.
I understand that the second unit has been doing great with Mills, but I dont understand why Mills isnt starting.
Without Parker the starters need a good ballhandler, and the best we have after Parker is Mills.
Is a shame that Cojo is playing worst than last year, he is getting less minutes..so thats probably the reason.
IMO, Mills just start and Cojo should go with the 2nd unit, that already has Manu and Belli as ball handlers.

Does Pop care about the #1 seed?
I dont thing even he knows. Either you care or not. If you dont, you rest, Im talking REST, staying at home, not traveling.
If you care than you try to win every game. Like Nono said (and I sense that also) it looked like Pop didnt care, the fact that he didnt call TO when the Spurs were being destroyed makes no sense.

[urunobili]

I say we lose in the 2nd anyway so to me it doesn't matter.

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs6/i/2005/115/7/e/__Jump_Off_a_Cliff___Emoticon_by_neek_zique.gif

[sharkenleo]

IMO Spurs only need home court vs the heat. Spurs can win in 0kc.

You have that backwards mate.

[bklynspursfan]

I don't mind the loss. Now they should be able to take care of business these last 4 games, especially against Dallas, Phoenix, and Houston.

[weebo]

The Spurs need the HCA to get to where they want to go. They won't get there playing a game 7 at OKC where the refs tend to let the home team get away with a lot more than they normally would on the road. So, Pop does care.

[team-work]

This game is not a “calculated loss” in that it is not a b2b etc. Also the opponent will absolutely not be seen in the POs. But Pop needed not push the panic button when things went wrong this game. There are still plenty of chances to achieve all those “secondary” aims e.g. getting HCA, having a winning streak and the momentum to bring into the POs.

Should any further stumble happened that led to the ultimate goal unaccomplished, this loss would be remembered.

[spurs10]

Obvious to all is health comes before seeding, but I do think he and the team consider HCA just that, an advantage. :flag:

[Chomag]

Would have rather locked up the 1st seed with just the 2 wins and then rested everyone, but Pop just playing cutsie with everyone again. I just hope that he didnt out clever it and get burned.

[Budkin]

I think OKC goes in raw if the Spurs don't have home court.

Been trying to stay positive but I simply can't argue with this. There is no way in hell we win if OKC has HCA. Get those 2 fucking wins Spurs!

[Sean Cagney]

Pop wants to have a bit of control in the matchups. Maybe dropping to 2nd seed will be better?

NO, it would not be better under any circumstance.
Been trying to stay positive but I simply can't argue with this. There is no way in hell we win if OKC has HCA. Get those 2 fucking wins Spurs!

THAT, or get a win tonight and OKC loses tonight. I can only HOPE this happens.


Sorry, I meant win thursday after an OKC loss tonight.

[r0drig0lac]

IMO Spurs only need home court vs the heat. Spurs can win in 0kc.haha, no

[TheGoldStandard]

Spurs will need the #1 Seed, it makes the matchups more favorable and again HCA helps

[hater]

as I said weeks ago, it would take a small collapse for Spurs to lose #1 seed. Now, today, I will have to upgrade that to a big collapse. If Spurs lose #1 seed it would be a huge chokejob and collapse. Not a good way to start your championship run tbh, especially after what happened last year :lol

[TheGoldStandard]

as I said weeks ago, it would take a small collapse for Spurs to lose #1 seed. Now, today, I will have to upgrade that to a big collapse. If Spurs lose #1 seed it would be a huge chokejob and collapse. Not a good way to start your championship run tbh, especially after what happened last year :lol

Pop is salivating over the opportunity to pull Duncan once more

[TD 21]

Truth be told, we lost HCA many times... and still won. Heck, we took HCA from Miami last Finals... so there's a bit of truth about being a capable road team.

When you already don't have the best player in the series (and actually, in their case, it's probably the two best, against the other top five teams), to not have home court would be fatal. Even though this team has shown a penchant for losing big home games over the years, it's still vital to have, because it means in addition to the one they'll probably lose to those teams and the one they'll probably win on the road, those teams will likely have to win twice on the road to the win series, plus game 7 at home. If you look at the history of the league, when two teams are close, the team without home court almost never wins twice on the road, particularly a game 7.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

meh, the stomping can happen... we were due for a shitty game where we can't make a shot... I just thought Pop really didn't care early, which is normally when he cares (ie: calling a TO 20 secs into the game).

I can see where he wasn't doing his best to win. Pulling a Bill Parcells and putting the squad in bad circumstances to see how they react to adversity. The lineup he put in the second halves of both losses. Playing that Ayers lineup extended when trying to come back couldn't have helped.

He cares about winning but I think he cares about not getting too comfortable either.

[Baseline]

We have to have home court to have any chance against OKC. Those boys are out for blood. Our roles players will play infinitely better at home than in OKC, so we need four games on our floor.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I was thinking that Ayers would be a good fit in OKC. They don't get called as much for swiping and missing.

[kjhip1]

Home court would be nice against the thunder but let's be honest, they have our number... I really think the thunder feel it doesn't matter where they play us because they've had our number. That being said, The spurs will figure something out that works for them, ahem Westbrook chucking. I think pop will be ready come western conference finals if we are to meet the thunder there. The spurs problems seem to be turnover related. I think our guys know what must be done to redeem themselves from last year. I will say this, if we can make it to the finals, I see no reason why this team can't obliterate the heat who look horrible considering last year. What looked like a cake walk through the east, I see the heat having trouble this year.