Pop vs. Phil

[duncan228]

“The Lakers were obviously a little shorthanded and played mentally tougher than we did and physically tougher than we did,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Don’t ask me why.”

[duncan228]

Found the rest of Pop's quote.

"Don't ask me why we didn't play tougher. Because if I knew, we'd have played differently."

Popovich, known for saving a tirade for midseason to get his team's attention, said he has already tried that -- "five of six times."

"For some reason, I'm not getting through to this group."

"Bottom line, we just haven't jelled as a group, to date," said Popovich before the game.

"We haven't developed a trust, a communication, a camaraderie as far as executing on the court -- which is strange for us. We've never had that situation, really. . . .

"Everybody [in the West] is kind of in the same muck. The Lakers aren't playing as well as they have in the past, although the Lakers are better than everybody else in the West.

"We're all in the same boat, really. Nobody's really stepping out of it and playing really good consistent basketball. We're all kind of up and down."

[timvp]

"For some reason, I'm not getting through to this group."

[neboat]

Found the rest of Pop's quote.

These are today's post game quotes? I dunno man...i hate the that POP spews out to the press...the way he does interviews....

He used to be honest in interviews...in the past few years he's over compensate...now it's all a load of crap

[duncan228]

These are today's post game quotes?

They're today, some before and some after the game.

[neboat]

and just to add to the phil vs pop discussion..

Phil is willing and able to take different and extreme personalities and make them work

It seems Pop only wants mature self motivated coachable players that are less talented... JR Smith would not have lasted a month if we had gotten him for Barry....

[MannyIsGod]

I know Pop wanted to go out with Duncan - but if he's not getting through to the team then maybe he should reconsider that. Maybe its time to bring in a coach and let Pop handle the front office.

[HarlemHeat37]

"Getting through" is really irrelevant..Pop can say it all he wants, but this team clearly doesn't have the talent to compete right now..it's simple as that..even if this team built a great chemistry, we'd still have major holes, and we'd still be an old ass team..it doesn't help that he sticks to small ball and neglects the youth in favor of old ass men..

[MannyIsGod]

Its not a talent issue. This team has a LOT of talent on it. Its probably not championship quality, but it sure as is a lot better than what they're playing at right now.

[HarlemHeat37]

I agree that they're definitely better than how they've played, but I really don't think this team has that much talent..there's also major holes that can only be solved with using players that the Spurs don't currently have in our rotation..

[ShoogarBear]

"Getting through" is really irrelevant..Pop can say it all he wants, but this team clearly doesn't have the talent to compete right now..it's simple as that..even if this team built a great chemistry, we'd still have major holes, and we'd still be an old ass team..it doesn't help that he sticks to small ball and neglects the youth in favor of old ass men..

The team has more talent 1-12 than any team Popovich has ever had, including the 03/04/05 years. So I think if the chemistry were there, we would be thinking that there was a very good chance at another le.

The perceptions everyone had at the beginning of the year were not unfounded.

[intothechaos]

Pop says.." I will counter young with old"..... Yeah really genious Pop. May have worked in the past. But like your team, that strategy is old already. You suck so bad right now we fans aren't buying it anymore. Either get the out or do your fkn job. None of your players like you anymore..well maybe only Bonner. You have wasted this season and you need to go....

[Brazil]

pop has no idea at all regarding how turning this group around.... no ing clue.

It's time to prepare the future and give a shot to the young guys ! hairston ian blair hill

[ElNono]

I called this a few weeks ago. Some players just simply tuning out Pop.
Guys like Mason started great, and now they're just a turd sandwich. Bogans too.

[ElNono]

I agree that they're definitely better than how they've played, but I really don't think this team has that much talent..there's also major holes that can only be solved with using players that the Spurs don't currently have in our rotation..

This team might not be able to compete with the Lakers on a 7 game series, and it might have some holes, but they're talented. Sloan would have this team executing like clockwork and playing defense by now. Pop has just been too soft all season long on these guys and too in love with Nellie ball.

[Spurminator]

As far as I can tell, Phil Jackson today is the same coach he was 20 years ago. In many respects, Pop has done a complete 180 from the coach he used to be.

There were times in the early aughts when his rotations were maddeningly consistent... to the point where he would even pull the hot hand because it was the 2:00 mark of the first quarter and that's when he gets subbed every game. His focus on defense often had fans scratching their heads as the team put up brick after brick on the offensive side.

Now we have Midget Ball and we can't decide on a rotation until... well, , it was still changing in the Playoffs last year.

This team has enough talent to be a lot better than they are, and I think this was the case last year as well. The coaching has been subpar. I'm not sure what the alternative is, but at this point I think it might be time to have someone else running this team on the sideline.

[Johnny RIngo]

It seems Pop only wants mature self motivated coachable players that are less talented... JR Smith would not have lasted a month if we had gotten him for Barry....

JR Smith is human garbage though. Talented player but a human being.

On that note, it's always bugged me that the FO would rather go after someone like Jefferson instead of SJax just because the former has a vanilla personality.

[picc84]

The grass is always greener, huh guys.

[dbestpro]

The grass is always greener, huh guys.

Yeah we wish we had all your rings and you wish you had all the Celtics and the Celtics can't understand why they don't win every year.

[Obstructed_View]

Coaches rarely pull out crazy lineups to create massive matchup problems and win with some genius move.

Yet Popovich continually tries to do exactly that. I guess he's praying for his "Nellie versus the 07 Mavs" moment, and is willing to sacrifice any number of opportunities in order to make it happen.

[picc84]

We switch coaches and 2 months later you're pissed off and complaining about all the same you about now.

lol Pop wont play young talent over old-scrubs so we need Phil. PJ INVENTED that .

[Obstructed_View]

I guarantee that Phil Jackson wouldn't be carefully monitoring the minutes of a team that can't play well together and shows no heart or energy. He'd put a seven man rotation out there against Denver on Thursday and make some of those guys play 42+ minutes.

[picc84]

For everything you think Pop does wrong and Phil does right, there is something Pop does right and Phil does wrong.

[ShoogarBear]

We switch coaches and 2 months later you're pissed off and complaining about all the same you about now.

lol Pop wont play young talent over old-scrubs so we need Phil. PJ INVENTED that .

Missing the point, it's not about methods, it's about results.

When was the last time Jackson didn't make a deep playoff run with a talented team? The only year he didn't was 2003 when he lost to the Spurs, and he was arguably only a Horry rimout from beating them.

[pad300]

Found the rest of Pop's quote.

"Don't ask me why we didn't play tougher. Because if I knew, we'd have played differently."

Popovich, known for saving a tirade for midseason to get his team's attention, said he has already tried that -- "five of six times."

"For some reason, I'm not getting through to this group."

"Bottom line, we just haven't jelled as a group, to date," said Popovich before the game.

"We haven't developed a trust, a communication, a camaraderie as far as executing on the court -- which is strange for us. We've never had that situation, really. . . .

"Everybody [in the West] is kind of in the same muck. The Lakers aren't playing as well as they have in the past, although the Lakers are better than everybody else in the West.

"We're all in the same boat, really. Nobody's really stepping out of it and playing really good consistent basketball. We're all kind of up and down."

You picked the players and signed them, Pop.
You approved the trades.
You established the strategic plan for this season.
You picked the game plan
You picked the lineups

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY