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from this board? i think some would slit their own throats first before giving props to Pop.
Popovich deserves more credit
By Vitale
ESPN.com
When I look at the landscape of college basketball over the years, there have been a number of coaches getting less publicity than they deserve. I think about guys like Gene Keady, Eddie Sutton, Ralph Miller, Gene Bartow and Norm Sloan. They were solid leaders who went about their business and got the job done, winning in a professional manner.
Turning to the NBA, I think it's safe to say that some coaching giants have graced the sidelines and received a ton of PR -- Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Larry Brown, etc. These guys are Hall of Famers, baby!
But what about the guy doing an incredible job down in San Antonio? Gregg Popovich is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. He led the Spurs to four NBA les in a remarkable nine-year run. Yet if you walked down the street and asked the average person if they knew who Popovich was, the majority of folks would shrug their shoulders.
Quietly, Gregg Popovich does a solid job year in and year out. Consistency is the trademark of his coaching. At this point in the playoffs, many felt that his Spurs would be history: put away by the Mavericks in the first round.
Well, think again my friends! Don't ever bet against this veteran coach come playoff time. He has a way of getting his team to play at a different level when the postseason rolls around. They perform to the best of their ability.
Isn't that the true sign of a winner and leader? I often define the ability of a coach by how much he gets out of his players. That certainly applies to Popovich.
This version of the Spurs is not the same as some of his past championship contenders. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are getting older, but they are still dangerous. This group has been successful for a long time, so is it that surprising there is another run left in them?
San Antonio has been putting up consecutive 50-win seasons for over a decade now. Naturally, Popovich deserves some ink -- some publicity for a job well done.
Do you think it is any coincidence that the leadership skills of a coach like Popovich could stem from his early days in the military? Think about the immense coaching success at the collegiate level with two West Point guys: Mike Krzyzewski (four national les) and Robert Montgomery Knight (three championships). Popovich learned so much from his days at the Air Force Academy.
There is no doubt in my mind that, when the time comes, he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He has done a phenomenal job throughout his career and you cannot count out the Spurs, even in this postseason!
Popovich deserves a lot more ink for his success over the years. It all comes down to discipline, shot selection and playing as a team.
But it all comes back to the name P-O-P-O-V-I-C-H.
from this board? i think some would slit their own throats first before giving props to Pop.
i'll give props to Pop for putting Blair in last night to get the team going when we were down in double figures. but i take away the props for his decision to take Blair out of the game once we had a nice lead, which resulted in a total collapse of momentum and a very-near loss.
I know he was having a bad game and all, but I'm not sure that taking Dejuan Blair out of the game to put Tim Duncan back in should count against Pop as a bad coaching decision.
I just read that with Vitale's voice in my head the whole time, Babeee!!!. I need an advil now.
Except for the fact that both the first and second parts of your post are completely untrue.
If anyone on here thinks that Popovich sucks as a coach then they don't know jack about basketball. This guy is a mad scientist and complete genius when it comes to strategy and making in-game adjustments. Not to mention he can squeeze the very last drop of warrior out of every one of his players. Tough minded coach means resilient tough minded team.
I venture to say that Parker would not be the player he is today without the tough love Pop has given him throughout the years.
George Hill is Pop's new project and has already made great strides in confidence over last year. Hill will end up being a long term Spur and future of the next great Spurs teams.
I'll never forgive him for...
- Nick Van Exel experiment that he would not admit failed... ever
- Thinking that Butler guy was a center
- Then admitting he sucked and having to throw in Scola to get rid of him
- Giving Finley about 2000 jumpers more than he should have
- And of course, not allowing the two greatest players to develope as the Spurs future Jordan & Pippen: Pops Mensah-Bonsu & James White
I don't believe his statement that the average person in San Antonio wouldn't know who Gregg Popovich is. Maybe I'm just so mired in Spurs-mania that I have forgotten what it's like not to be a fan, but surely most people here would recognize the name.
Since his afraid of Lakers, if it's Dallas it's Dallas statements I can't give him any props until the Spurs are either in the NBA finals or at the very least take the Lakers to 7 games.
After collecting millions in salary for a job that consists of coaching adults to play a kids game and opening up a new wine cellar the size of 3 football fields, I can see how Pop might cry himself to sleep because he doesn't get enough credit in his life.
Poor guy.
yup.
Pop is genius. He deserves the series game ball.
He called out the dogs (everyone but the Big 3) and it worked.
He called the defensive smothering of Dirk because nobody else can hit a shot and that worked.
And there is your series.
Pop 3 Mavs 1
Hmm, yeah...
He and Jerry Sloan are terribly underrated.
Where are all the dumbasses that said he sucks as a coach and they wanted Avery instead simply because he wouldn't give Ian Mahinmi minutes?
all of yous!
Same exact thing is going on with dallas fans and Carlisle... want him to play beaubois and put the blame on carlisle not playing him for the reason there down 3-1 when in reality the spurs are just the better team. simple as that. Not saying Carlisle is Pop but he isn't some bad coach.
I think he meant anywhere else in the US...
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