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.
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 , 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...gregg-popovich
Nicely done.
When Champagne and Grahm were in last night (together for a little while?) Spurs looked like a real team.
In the 1st half:
I counted two (2) lobs for Wemby, both went for easy slams.
I was from Grahm, the other Champagne?
The other lob was a disaster from Collins that got easily picked off.
NONE from Sochan and Vassell.
this has always been the case with Pop. When Poeltl looked better than Pau Gasol, he had to wait til Pau fractured his foot to start Jakob. Bryn Forbes was ironman, so it took 2 years and a worldwide pandemic to finally sit him. Nothing here is surprising. Also you forgot to mention that he said "this year the emphasis will be on defense", yet this team is on it's way to break the record for worst defense in NBA history from last year.The few times things are changed up its because of injuries more than pop trying something new.
The players? You don’t ask the players if they want to start. Good heavens. Surely you jest.
Discussing with the players who will start is not the same thing as asking the players if they want to start. Its getting on the same page so everyone knows what to expect going into the season.
You don’t do that. It’s totally useless and it’s horrible for morale.
If you’re a teacher are you going to have a discussion with the students about which of them should get an A and which ones should get an F? C’mon now. Think about what you’re advocating.
I think the Spurs really have no depth whatsoever. They have a few guys who are simply not NBA players and the guys who are, aren’t good enough to carry them…. They are not the kind of stars that you can hide marginal players with, as Pop could do in the past. Basically… the good players are good, but not great, some are just ok… the bad are really bad. They simply cannot spare anyone.
When Vassell was injured and the Spurs started Branham … it was a guaranteed loss because there is a gulf between Vassell and Branham and the rest can’t compensate for that loss. When Tre is unavailable the Spurs will be TO the ball because they really have no lead guard and once you can’t score or run a competent offense then it snowballs from there bc you can’t stop anybody who’s stealing the ball in the open court and then morale and effort goes to the bottom.
Maybe Pop can’t experiment too much because the roster is not good. Have to look at Wright and the drafting and roster building he’s doing…
Pop seemed intent on pairing Sochan and Wemby… at times sitting them or switching them in together. It seemed to me he wanted to force those two to develop chemistry they don’t have… but maybe it was just that one game…
senility
noun
se·nil·i·ty si-ˈni-lə-tē also se-
Synonyms of senility
: the quality or state of being senile : the physical and mental decline associated with old age
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