Pop can shove small ball up his a--

[ShoogarBear]

Unforunately Pop is capable of following up a perfectly coached game 7 road win against a team that had blown them out 3 times prior with this gem. Of course, it was a real gem until that point in the 3rd.

The upside is that Pop seems more willing to adjust and throw out his initial assumptions in a series. Granted, it did take him until the 3rd game to make the obvious defensive adjustment against the Hornets.

If there are adjustments to come out of game 1, it's more Bowen and Barry and less Finley.

The worrisome thing is that if this were against another coach, it would just be a simple brain fart. But against Jackson, there's the fear that Pop will either choke or overcoach.

[dg7md]

I'm really shocked people never referred to Bowen as the most crucial piece to our le runs outside of Duncan. Without him, there would be a very large chance that LeBron and the Cavs' offense would have ran all over us and took the le away from us last year.

Without Bowen, we'd be out in the first round, it's been this way for a long while. What Bowen does to this team when it comes to winning is simply amazing.

[SPARKY]

Bowen and Pop are almost always on the same page, but this is one night that Bowen has a big right to go against Pop and rip his ass. (That would be kind of funny to watch.)

Maybe Mike Bud and Newman need to have an intervention.

[whottt]

Bowen and Pop are almost always on the same page, but this is one night that Bowen has a big right to go against Pop and rip his ass. (That would be kind of funny to watch.)

IT'll never happen...those two are like father and son...Bruce is Pop's boy all the way. Pop can talk about whoever and whatever being great...but it's completely obvious that Bruce is his favorite Spur. And I honestly think Bruce kind of looks up to him as a father figure.

[T Park]

And on the subject of Bowen, I thought it was cool of Kobe in the interview prior to the game to make it so clear that Bowen isn't dirty, hasn't been given his due, and is an awesome defender. I know Kobe has always praised Bowen before. But after the last few years of scrutiny for Bowen and with him never getting DPOY, I was happy Kobe continued to recognize and appreciate.

Bowen and Pop are almost always on the same page, but this is one night that Bowen has a big right to go against Pop and rip his ass. (That would be kind of funny to watch.)

Bowen going serbian on pop in the film session would be funny


Great to hear that though, my respect for Kobe has gone up 1000% in the last couple years.

[Kori Ellis]

Ok you guys are right. Pop is the worst coach around. Has no ing clue what he's doing. If only Holt would have hired one of you then we'd have 10 rings.

All hail Phil Jackson. All hail the mighty laker defense that kept the spurs from scoring.

It's over. Spurs are old and they suck.

Come on everybody, let's just jump ship now....

Do you have a reading comprehension problem. No one is given up or saying to fire Pop. They are just discussing his errors in this particular game. If you don't want to participate, move on to another thread.

[T Park]

Oh and not only was the game almost over, the series would have been over as well. You are playing a team led by Kobe Bryant ... with the word "led" used loosely. You put the Lakers on their heels and they aren't going to go to bat for a teammate they don't even really like.

Pop keeps Bowen in the game to finish off the third quarter and the Spurs sweep or win in five and then get like a week and a half before the finals.

If you win game 2, could it still come into play?

[T Park]

IT'll never happen...those two are like father and son...Bruce is Pop's boy all the way. Pop can talk about whoever and whatever being great...but it's completely obvious that Bruce is his favorite Spur. And I honestly think Bruce kind of looks up to him.

I dunno, I've seen a few times Bowen and Pop go at it pretty good on the bench.

[Kori Ellis]

...but it's completely obvious that Bruce is his favorite Spur. And I honestly think Bruce kind of looks up to him.

I agree. That's why, no matter what people say about Bowen's other aspirations after his playing days are done, I think he'll end up on the bench next to Pop.

[SPARKY]

God forbid that a basketball discussion should break out tonight.

[T Park]

Maybe Mike Bud and Newman need to have an intervention.

Mike Bud seems to be the only one Pop will listen to.

Duncan maybe and Parker, but who knows if they would say anything.

Duncan did say something about Kerr in 03...

[timvp]

I'm going to go for an overall question here:

Was this the best playoff game Bowen has ever had defensively against Kobe Bryant? I know its a very valid argument that Kobe was playing possum in the first half. We all know this. He has no in between game between Distributor Mode and Attack Mode. This is what helps him be the disgusting piece of trash he is.

But honestly, overall, judging from the tape, the stats, the facts, was this or was this not the best defensive performance against kobe in kobe playoff history?
Was it the best bruce bowen performance against kobe in kobe playoff history?

I am so sick, and bummed, and I think the reason i feel like this is because the answer to my questions is yes.

Yeah Bowen was in perfect rhythm. He was spacing him the exact right amount to allow Kobe to get off a contested shot but not drive around him or draw a foul. Bowen was in a defensive zone and was playing almost perfect basketball.

Then Pop overcoached and killed his own team.

[1Parker1]

Oh and not only was the game almost over, the series would have been over as well. You are playing a team led by Kobe Bryant ... with the word "led" used loosely. You put the Lakers on their heels and they aren't going to go to bat for a teammate they don't even really like.

Pop keeps Bowen in the game to finish off the third quarter and the Spurs sweep or win in five and then get like a week and a half before the finals.

Ok now you're just exagerating. No way Phil Jackon or Kobe would allow a sweep or this series to be over in 5. Momentum can change very quickly as we've seen this postseason. This was a huge loss by the Spurs and I think the fact that they let a big game slip from them may hurt them later on. But I don't think this series would have been over in 4 or 5 had they won.

[T Park]

Ok now you're just exagerating. No way Phil Jackon or Kobe would allow a sweep or this series to be over in 5. Momentum can change very quickly as we've seen this postseason. This was a huge loss by the Spurs and I think the fact that they let a big game slip from them may hurt them later on. But I don't think this series would have been over in 4 or 5 had they won.

I've seen teams fold up under Phil jackson.

06 against Phoenix being one of em.

[T Park]

Yeah Bowen was in perfect rhythm. He was spacing him the exact right amount to allow Kobe to get off a contested shot but not drive around him or draw a foul. Bowen was in a defensive zone and was playing almost perfect basketball.

Then Pop overcoached and killed his own team.

Damn't. Pop pulled a Tony La Russa.

[1Parker1]

I will say this, Game 2 is now a must win for the Spurs. Period.

[Discoflux]

blaming Pop?

*shaking head*

[T Park]

Yeah, the backs are back to being against the wall again, 4 days later.

Thats why getting tonight would've been huge mentally. It would've really helped out after the Hornet's series.

[1Parker1]

I've seen teams fold up under Phil jackson.

06 against Phoenix being one of em.

The fact that Phil even took that team to a game 7 should say something to you. Smush Parker and Kwame Brown were his starters. Now he has Fisher and Gasol and a deep bench. Imagine the adjustments he can make.

[T Park]

blaming Pop?

*shaking head*

Honestly, I'm admittedly the last to blame pop for a loss, but tonight was totally 100% in his hands.

Identical to games 1 and 2 against New Orleans.

[Kori Ellis]

blaming Pop?

*shaking head*

You don't think Pop was stupid to sit Bowen and watch the lead go from 20 to 6?

If you think that wasn't a key to the game, then you didn't watch.

[baseline bum]

I've seen teams fold up under Phil jackson.

06 against Phoenix being one of em.

They were a Devean George up from winning a series they had no business even extending to a game 6, much less having a chance to take the series in the game.

[ShoogarBear]

I think it could have been over in 4 or 5. The only experience the Lakers have are Fisher and Kobe. Odom's psyche will crumble at the first sign of trouble, and Gasol is still a Grizzly at heart. And like timvp said, Kobe-led camaraderie is a big Hollywood facade that's likely to disappear when the going gets tough.

Having said that, if by some miracle Bruce can repeat his performance in Game 2, and Pop has learned from his mistakes, that would be the Spurs' best shot at pulling this out.

[T Park]

The fact that Phil even took that team to a game 7 should say something to you. Smush Parker and Kwame Brown were his starters. Now he has Fisher and Gasol and a deep bench. Imagine the adjustments he can make.

I agree, but still they folded. I mean down 50 in a game 7 is Yankees esque.

He can make adjustments, but, the personnel like Odom and Gasol are very dependent if they step up.

I think if the Spurs stay big in game 2 that negates the adjustments.

Hopefully Ginobili has something for game 2, cause he HAS to guard Radmonovic better.

[whottt]

I dunno, I've seen a few times Bowen and Pop go at it pretty good on the bench.

Watch the end of the 05 Finals...


The split second the clock stops Pop makes a beeline for Larry Brown, instantly...and Bruce Bowen is right behind him...it reminded me of a son following his father to work for the first time.