"The best coach in the league (and its not even close) is Gregg Popovich"

[romad_20]

With the amount of basketball you watch, and the systematic way you analyze it, you must have all kinds of insight into the game that most of us don't have. I'm not looking for gambling tips here, but in general, can you share some knowledge? Like, is this or that coach exceptionally good or bad? Who's your MVP? Are there tactics you think are great or terrible, like Hack-a-Shaq?


As far as insights go, I think teams that are losing tend to wait too long to foul. I also think that if the rules for "hack a Shaq or hack a Ben" aren't changed, teams should really consider fouling players who hit less than 45% of their free throws even when winning a game between the four-minute mark and the two-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

One tactic that I feel is pretty silly is the "foul to give." A lot of teams use this really liberally and will even foul when there is a difference in the game clock to shot clock. For example say there is a four-second differential between the shot and game clock and a team will still take "foul to give." This is foolish because it eliminates the last four seconds whereby the defending team could then get the ball and have a chance to score.

Another clock management example I hate is when teams don't try to get a shot off in the last 30-39 seconds of a quarter, there are a lot of teams who seem to waste these seconds.

Both of these are pretty basic game situations, but you'd be surprised how many teams eliminate extra offensive possessions as if it's their job.

The flip side of that are the teams/players who do a great job of garnering extra possessions, my numbers tell me the Hornets and the Spurs do this best.

The best coach in the league (and its not even close) is Gregg Popovich. He is without peer in terms of how well he manages a game, as well as prepares his team. It's really not even close, he is just that much better than every other coach in the league. If you are ever unsure of what the correct strategy is in a certain situation, look to the Spurs. If they are doing it, it's probably the right strategy.

There are a lot of coaches who do a poor job with what I call the mathematics of the game, but to be fair, maybe they are better at other aspects of their job like motivation or player development.

However, I have a hard time believing that Doc Rivers could ever make up for his in-game strategy with his ability to motivate or develop players. I would like to have seen how the Celtics would have fared this year if they didn't hire Tom Thibodeau to install a great defensive system. If Popovich is the guy you lean to if you are unsure of what to do, Rivers is certainly the guy you look to if you want to know what NOT to do.

As far as MVP goes, I am not even sure what criteria the NBA uses to define its MVP award. If you go by the last few years, especially the years Nash won and use the "guy who means the most to his team" definition. I'd have to go with LeBron, Garnett, or even Chris Paul over Kobe.

I'd like to see how far the Cavs would go if Kobe and LeBron switched teams.










It's not based off of some homer opinion. The guy is professional gambler that watches 1000 games a year and has a giant database to base his bets off of. He also says Doc Rivers is the worst decision maker (we already know this) But if the the guy says that Pop is the best and it's not even close who am I to argue, he makes a living making bets on the NBA. He most know something.

[K-State Spur]

Phil Jackson? that......he hasnt done without a superstar. , he hasnt even really drafted anyone. He has always been handed a star studded team. Who in the couldnt win with that? Or without the FIX in place for that matter.

Jerry Sloan??? LOL, dude you are killing me
He hasnt won !!!!

Pop's always had a superstar too.

However, Phil has always had at least 2 of the top 10 players in the game on his championship teams (with the possible exception of '98, when Pippen was starting to break down).

Pop's never had more than 1.

[rAm]

People like to point out that Phil Jackson had arguably the 3 of the top 10 best players in the history of the league, Pop has had he benefit of having two #1 draft picks playing under him. I never understood that argument used against Phil. Those players didn't win anything before/after Phil came to town and they didnt become anything until Phil coached them.

I'm not sure if Pop is a better coach than Phil or vice versa. To me, they are actually pretty even. I think each has a strength that the other one doesn't. But the argument used against Phil to say "Oh well, it's easy to win when you have Jordan, or Shaq, or Kobe" is very misleading.

This

[Supergirl]

Pop and Jerry Sloan are the best coaches in the league IMO. I think it's no coincidence they are the two longest tenured coaches.

Jackson gravytrains his way to greatness on the heels of a superstar. Pop and Sloan are the best at identifying and cultivating talent, and are disciplined and efficient in their approaches.

[xtremesteven33]

For a compulsive gambler to say his money is on Popovich as the best coach in the NBA. ill believe him

[jag]

Jackson>Pop>Sloan

I hate Jackson, but he eats Pop's lunch in their "chess games" of adjustments whenever playoff time comes.

[slayermin]

name me a coach that has won a le without a great player...

Larry Brown

[SPURSGOAT]

YAY POP!!! POP IS THE BEST!!!

[ducks]

Pop is not the best coach in the league.

Phil Jackson... Jerry Sloan... then Pop. Don't get bias now.

jerry sloan has done what exactly?

[tmtcsc]

Pop is not the best coach in the league.

Phil Jackson... Jerry Sloan... then Pop. Don't get bias now.

Jerry Sloan ? He might be the best coach w/o a Ring. C'mon now, you gotta have at least one.


As for Phil Jackson, he's an outstanding coach but I have 3 names for you:

Kobe, Shaq and MJ.

Pop has won 4 championships with multiple rosters, save for Tim Duncan. And when he's not winning them, he's getting pretty damn close.

[SPURSGOAT]

Jerry Sloan ? He might be the best coach w/o a Ring. C'mon now, you gotta have at least one.


As for Phil Jackson, he's an outstanding coach but I have 3 names for you:

Kobe, Shaq and MJ.

Pop has won 4 championships with multiple rosters, save for Tim Duncan. And when he's not winning them, he's getting pretty damn close.

Agreed!

[DarrinS]

Are you kidding me?


What other basketball coach in the universe could've succeeded with


Jordan/Pippen
Kobe/Snaq


That man turned these scrubs into future HOF'ers. They wouldn't be jack diddley squat without Phillip MyCrevasse Jackson there to guide them.

[romad_20]

I agree Pop has had Duncan and Robinson for 2 of those les. But I do not agree that Duncan and Robinson = Shaq and Kobe or MJ and Pippen. It could be argued that Duncan is equal to or better than any of those 4 but Big Dave is one level below them. Jackson has had much better superstars than Pop has had and Pop hasn't had down years like Jackson has had in LA. Jackson also pulls the ref card over and over and gives no respect.

[SPURSGOAT]

Are you kidding me?


What other basketball coach in the universe could've succeeded with


Jordan/Pippen
Kobe/Snaq


That man turned these scrubs into future HOF'ers. They wouldn't be jack diddley squat without Phillip MyCrevasse Jackson there to guide them.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Pop is great because of his consistency (highest win percentage), but having the greatest PF of all time, helps a little too--especially when they're a cornerstore Big, which is a lot easier to build around, than a SG.

Phil Jackson still >>>>> Pop. It's not even close. His teams in the last two seasons, 2006, 2007 , should have never made the playoffs, even WITH Kobe (see: 2005)

And this team right now should have never gone all the way with Gasol. Maybe 2nd round, a 3rd round outing. Looking at their regular season, they were not any better than the Suns, Spurs, Jazz, Hornets in making the finals, but Phil lives for playoffs.
Pop may be a great coach in running teams in the long run, using the regular season smartly, but Pop kinda sucks in the playoffs relative to Phil.
His 41-0 record that was brought up this year is crazy.

[Strike]

Pop is not the best coach in the league.

Phil Jackson... Jerry Sloan... then Pop. Don't get bias now.

Phil Jackson has an argument. But Jerry Sloan?

[mrspurs]

isiah thomas hands down....then maybe pop

[Strike]

Larry Brown

Over- ing-rated.

[Sway]

I cant stand Phil or the Lakers, but I still think Phil>>>Pop. You cant argue stats and facts.

[Tacker]

Bull , Jerry Sloan has 2 allstars to work with in Deron and Carlos...Popavich has 3 allstars to work with in Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, with Duncan considered by many the greatest PF of all time. Phil Jackson has one in Kobe Bryant..

MASSIVE FAIL

[E20]

Phil jackson landed in Chicago at a nice time when Collins got booted. Michael had been in the league for a few years, he was developing and with the addition of Scottie pippen and other solid role players like Rodman, Grant and Paxson all Phil had to do was run an offense to capitlize off of Michael and Pippen. If Doug Collins were to stay and not get fired Bulls still would have won their championships. Same scenario for the Lakers with Del Harris. Also if Phil is so ing good how come he bailed on the Lakers the 1st time when Shaq got traded? Also if Phil is so ing good at coaching he should have gotten past the ECSF during those two years Jordan was out.

[Tacker]

Pop's always had a superstar too.

However, Phil has always had at least 2 of the top 10 players in the game on his championship teams (with the possible exception of '98, when Pippen was starting to break down).

Pop's never had more than 1.

Same goes with Popavich.... He had Duncan and Robinson...... Sloan had Malone and Stockton...

Your argument fails....

[Tacker]

Bull , Jerry Sloan has 2 allstars to work with in Deron and Carlos...Popavich has 3 allstars to work with in Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, with Duncan considered by many the greatest PF of all time. Phil Jackson has one in Kobe Bryant..

MASSIVE FAIL

Why is Phil Jackson the highest paid coach??? ING FAILED!

[E20]

Same goes with Popavich.... He had Duncan and Robinson...... Sloan had Malone and Stockton...

Your argument fails....

Robinson had back problems and was severly limited. He was not in top form at that time.

[Tacker]

Robinson had back problems and was severly limited. He was not in top form at that time.

and so was scottie in his final bulls year.....