SpurSpike
11-15-2023, 10:51 AM
When asked about who the starting 5 will be...
"Iv had no discussions with anyone but if Manu Ginobili can come off the bench, anyone can and I don't want to hear it"
First of all why had he not had discussions with his players about the starting 5? When I heard this statement I thought we were going to see lineups with some "starters" making sacrifices and playing bench roles. At the very least I thought this meant that the starters may have to earn their spot and that we might see many different starting lineups until we found what works. It would be fun to see players fighting for a starting spot and seeing different lineups, this is part of what had me excited for the season. The biggest assumptions at the time was that it would be Keldon or Sochan coming off the bench. I had no idea he was actually talking about Tre, lol.
Below is this years list of starting lineups by game. Not seeing a whole lot of changes or anyone having to earn a spot on the starting 5.... The few times things are changed up its because of injuries more than pop trying something new.
G
Date
Opponent
Tm
Opp
W
L
Starting Lineup
1
2023-10-25 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=25&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310250SAS.html)
Dallas Mavericks (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2024.html)
L
119
126
0
1
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
2
2023-10-27 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=27&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310270SAS.html)
Houston Rockets (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2024.html)
W
OT
126
122
1
1
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
3
2023-10-29 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=29&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310290LAC.html)
@
Los Angeles Clippers (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/2024.html)
L
83
123
1
2
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
4
2023-10-31 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=31&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310310PHO.html)
@
Phoenix Suns (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2024.html)
W
115
114
2
2
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
5
2023-11-02 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=2&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311020PHO.html)
@
Phoenix Suns (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2024.html)
W
132
121
3
2
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
6
2023-11-05 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=5&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311050SAS.html)
Toronto Raptors (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2024.html)
L
OT
116
123
3
3
M. Branham (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/branhma01.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
7
2023-11-06 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=6&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311060IND.html)
@
Indiana Pacers (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/2024.html)
L
111
152
3
4
M. Branham (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/branhma01.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
8
2023-11-08 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=8&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311080NYK.html)
@
New York Knicks (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2024.html)
L
105
126
3
5
M. Branham (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/branhma01.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
9
2023-11-10 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=10&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311100SAS.html)
Minnesota Timberwolves (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2024.html)
L
110
117
3
6
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
10
2023-11-12 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=12&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311120SAS.html)
Miami Heat (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2024.html)
L
113
118
3
7
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
11
2023-11-14 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=14&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311140OKC.html)
@
Oklahoma City Thunder (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2024.html)
L
87
123
3
8
J. Champagnie (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/champju02.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanya (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
On what is more important this year winning or development...
"Winning is as important this year as learning was in the past"
This implies that if someone was to go to the bench than it would be for the betterment of the team and not for teaching new things.... So what does Pop do after saying this? He starts Sochan at the point.... a position he has never played and forces him to learn on the fly which directly contradicts the winning is as important as learning statement. Was winning really that important when you decided to start the season with little veteran leadership and putting your only point guard on the bench? If winning was really that important you would be doing more than 1 single "experiment" with the starting line-up.
Looking back on these statements by Pop after the first 11 games. He was either full of shit, or he has no control of the team whatsoever. There really isn't any decent excuse to how this team can be worse than last years tank team.
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2023/10/2/23900182/san-antonio-spurs-media-day-if-manu-ginobili-can-come-off-the-bench-anyone-can-said-gregg-popovich
"Iv had no discussions with anyone but if Manu Ginobili can come off the bench, anyone can and I don't want to hear it"
First of all why had he not had discussions with his players about the starting 5? When I heard this statement I thought we were going to see lineups with some "starters" making sacrifices and playing bench roles. At the very least I thought this meant that the starters may have to earn their spot and that we might see many different starting lineups until we found what works. It would be fun to see players fighting for a starting spot and seeing different lineups, this is part of what had me excited for the season. The biggest assumptions at the time was that it would be Keldon or Sochan coming off the bench. I had no idea he was actually talking about Tre, lol.
Below is this years list of starting lineups by game. Not seeing a whole lot of changes or anyone having to earn a spot on the starting 5.... The few times things are changed up its because of injuries more than pop trying something new.
G
Date
Opponent
Tm
Opp
W
L
Starting Lineup
1
2023-10-25 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=25&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310250SAS.html)
Dallas Mavericks (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2024.html)
L
119
126
0
1
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
2
2023-10-27 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=27&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310270SAS.html)
Houston Rockets (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2024.html)
W
OT
126
122
1
1
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
3
2023-10-29 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=29&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310290LAC.html)
@
Los Angeles Clippers (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/2024.html)
L
83
123
1
2
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
4
2023-10-31 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=10&day=31&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202310310PHO.html)
@
Phoenix Suns (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2024.html)
W
115
114
2
2
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
5
2023-11-02 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=2&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311020PHO.html)
@
Phoenix Suns (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2024.html)
W
132
121
3
2
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
6
2023-11-05 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=5&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311050SAS.html)
Toronto Raptors (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2024.html)
L
OT
116
123
3
3
M. Branham (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/branhma01.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
7
2023-11-06 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=6&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311060IND.html)
@
Indiana Pacers (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/2024.html)
L
111
152
3
4
M. Branham (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/branhma01.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
8
2023-11-08 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=8&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311080NYK.html)
@
New York Knicks (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2024.html)
L
105
126
3
5
M. Branham (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/branhma01.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
9
2023-11-10 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=10&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311100SAS.html)
Minnesota Timberwolves (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2024.html)
L
110
117
3
6
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
10
2023-11-12 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=12&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311120SAS.html)
Miami Heat (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2024.html)
L
113
118
3
7
Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · K. Johnson (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanyama (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
11
2023-11-14 (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=11&day=14&year=2023)
Box Score (https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202311140OKC.html)
@
Oklahoma City Thunder (https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2024.html)
L
87
123
3
8
J. Champagnie (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/champju02.html) · Z. Collins (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colliza01.html) · J. Sochan (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01.html) · D. Vassell (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vassede01.html) · V. Wembanya (https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wembavi01.html)
On what is more important this year winning or development...
"Winning is as important this year as learning was in the past"
This implies that if someone was to go to the bench than it would be for the betterment of the team and not for teaching new things.... So what does Pop do after saying this? He starts Sochan at the point.... a position he has never played and forces him to learn on the fly which directly contradicts the winning is as important as learning statement. Was winning really that important when you decided to start the season with little veteran leadership and putting your only point guard on the bench? If winning was really that important you would be doing more than 1 single "experiment" with the starting line-up.
Looking back on these statements by Pop after the first 11 games. He was either full of shit, or he has no control of the team whatsoever. There really isn't any decent excuse to how this team can be worse than last years tank team.
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2023/10/2/23900182/san-antonio-spurs-media-day-if-manu-ginobili-can-come-off-the-bench-anyone-can-said-gregg-popovich