An Open Letter to Everyone Calling to Fire Pop

[mudyez]

[jjktkk]

Basketball is pretty basic game.

You play guards at guard, forwards at forward and centers at center - unless you're Pop.

You start your five best players - unless you're Pop.

You play the same rotation in the playoffs that won 63 regular season games - unless you're Pop.

You call a timeout when the other team is going on a run - unless you're Pop.

When a player is hot, you leave them in the game - unless you're Pop.

When you give up 70 points in the last 26 minutes of a game against Denver, you realize your defense is a problem - unless you're Pop.

You realize that Keith Bogans is not Bruce Bowen - unless you're Pop.

You impose your will on inferior teams - unless you're Pop.

You let your best players play enough minutes to win a game - unless you're Pop.

You don't bring Tim Duncan off the bench to try to get him rest - unless you're Pop.

You never say that your team can't win without one of your players - unless you're Pop.

You don't put Michael Finley in the game and tell him to front Lamar Odom - unless you're Pop.

There are literally hundreds of high school coaches in the United States that know all the above truths about basic basketball. At some point, you put your players in the best position to win, line them up and get out of the way. All the Spurs need is someone to get out of the ing way.

Damn , Obstructed_View, you got it all figured out. I vote OP to replace Pop. Just think OP, since your the Spurs head coach, you can finally start Mahimni, who you want starting and averaging 35 minutes a game, like you you posted in another thread(30 games remain: Make your predictions here, #78). My fearless forcast would be Mahimni MVP of the 2nd half of the season, and OP coach of the half year. But seriously O V, you need to go to Walmart and see if they have clues on sale.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Dear sticks,

I, along with a growing number of real Spurs fans on this site, am growing tired of your bull . By openly accusing Pop of all the problems on the Spurs and by extension insinuating that him being fired and replaced (hint: the only better coach than Pop in the NBA right now is Phil Jackson and good luck with that) will make this team perform better, you are either admitting your status as a fairweather stick or have overdosed on the greatness of Tim Duncan and the four championships he has delivered to this team.

Many of us remember the days before Pop and don't see it as an improvement. Many of us remember what it was like to not have a championship, let alone four. Three NBA franchises have more rings than the Spurs, and since you probably don't know who they are, it's the Celtics, Lakers and Michael Jordan. That's some pretty ing good company if you ask me.

This team needs a Bowen clone and another dominant big man next to Duncan to succeed. Not a new coach. If you believe otherwise, you must be shrooming.



Those of you who have had enough of this bull feel free to sign in below. If you truly believe Pop is the problem, explain how any other coach available in the NBA (i.e. not already coaching another team) can make this team capable of dominating the Lakers or any other good team in the West. If the Spurs make the playoffs they'll probably get swept and it has everything to do with the lack of a big man, which has been a big problem here since '08.

Get a mother ing clue for Christ's sake.

Love,

J.T.

you.


Find me one coach in the league who would start Bonner as part of their starting five. Find me one who would start Bogans. For kicks, show me one who would start *both*.

And that's not even touching strategy, that's just talking personnel 101.

[Obstructed_View]

Damn , Obstructed_View, you got it all figured out. I vote OP to replace Pop. Just think OP, since your the Spurs head coach, you can finally start Mahimni, who you want starting and averaging 35 minutes a game, like you you posted in another thread(30 games remain: Make your predictions here, #78). My fearless forcast would be Mahimni MVP of the 2nd half of the season, and OP coach of the half year. But seriously O V, you need to go to Walmart and see if they have clues on sale.

Wow, all those facts and you can't seem to refute a single one, so I guess I'm stuck addressing what you actually had the balls to challenge me on:

I want all the starters averaging at least 35 minutes a game, and I want the best players starting at their natural position (because 35 minutes of Bonner and Bogans is about as bad as most of your posts). If Mahinmi can't play 35 minutes a game, then Theo Ratliff can back him...oops.

By the way, where you always fail is in thinking the Spurs need Mahinmi to be the MVP of anything. All he has to do is be in position and get back on defense, block some shots and rebound. Basically you make Ian a DVD of Rasho highlights as a Spur and you tell him that's how he needs to pattern his game if he wants minutes. It might take him a weekend of watching it over and over. The Spurs don't need superstars, they need role players. One of the roles they need is someone to help Timmy in the paint. Playing Ian every game until he fouls out would improve the defense on this team.

[eric365]

This season is over anyway.

There is still a chance next year with Pop IMO :
- TP will rest this summer whatever he says (contract year)
- Pop (with RC) is really good at drafting player and we will have our best draft pick in the Duncan era this year (18 or 19).
- Pop will have another chance at finding the Bowen replacement and the defensive big we need. They failed with Bogans, and Dice and I think they know it

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

With all this being said about pop and his crummy job...

What if Manu continues to improve

What if The Spurs eek into the 5Th spot

What if Manu goes Kobesque and carries the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals...


And saves Pop ing Rep, Job, and legacy....


Wouldn't that be just Grand?

Again, Bonner and Bogans.... teams would just double Manu, Tony, or Tim, and make those two beat them. That ain't happening in a 7 game series.

[rascal]

Pop isn't the problem.

He's trying everything he can to fix the REAL problem.

Pop is responsible for getting the team he has.

[Bukefal]

Pop is the best we have. We should be glad with him. As J.T. said in his op, he is indeed the best together with jackson.

The time when pop decides to retire, that's the time when I will really be worried, that's the time the nightmare starts.

[EmptyMan]

No, Pop does some stupid .

[rascal]

I heartily endorse the OP. The coach's job is to prepare the players, but it is the player's job to get the game plan done, and they simply aren't doing that right now.

Pop has not had his greatest season, but it's not his fault that the team hasn't gelled, nor that he doesn't have the horses he needs for the system to succeed. I can't see how replacing him with Generic Coach X will improve things.

Pop is responsible for putting this team together.

For getting a player, Jefferson who is not a good fit for the way he wants to use him, for failing to get a true center and being stuck with Bonnner getting too many minutes, for getting Bogans as a type of Bowen replacement.

[rascal]

Pop is the best we have. We should be glad with him. As J.T. said in his op, he is indeed the best together with jackson.

The time when pop decides to retire, that's the time when I will really be worried, that's the time the nightmare starts.

Thats because Duncan will be gone and the team will be rebuilding and looking for another franchise player. Not because of Pop.

[lotr1trekkie]

If we get Butler and Haywood we are in the mix. Wizards are so re ed. They trade for Josh Howard. Anyway we can get Oberto back if he's waived? How about kurt Thomas?

[Spurminator]

Pop doesn't need to be fired. He needs to transition out of the head coaching job. He is no longer getting the best out of his players, and hasn't for some time.

This team should be contending for a Championship. Last year's team should have contended as well. Pop has had a great run, but almost every coach reaches this point at some time in his career. Whether it's because of boredom or age, he's gotten away from what made him such a successful coach in the past and I don't have any confidence that he can regain that focus.

[pjjrfan]

With all this being said about pop and his crummy job...

What if Manu continues to improve

What if The Spurs eek into the 5Th spot

What if Manu goes Kobesque and carries the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals...


And saves Pop ing Rep, Job, and legacy....


Wouldn't that be just Grand?

As far as I'm concerned that is the Key. I mean Manu was playing lights out when he got hurt last year, also Timmy has to stay healthy and Tony has to get healthy. And strangely maybe that's what Pop is trying to do, but then we see a game like philly's where it was painfully obvious Tony was hurting and he kept him in the game and ran him down some more. That I don't understand.

[rjv]

nice thread, but do you really think that those who think pop should be fired are going to stop and be reasonable or rational?

[Ocotillo]

The chemistry on this board sucks.

[Obstructed_View]

nice thread, but do you really think that those who think pop should be fired are going to stop and be reasonable or rational?

Yeah, facts and evidence and stuff. Jerks.

[Obstructed_View]

Pop doesn't need to be fired. He needs to transition out of the head coaching job. He is no longer getting the best out of his players, and hasn't for some time.

I'm personally hoping for this. I'd like to see him hand the reins of coaching over to someone else and continue to have a hand in personnel decisions. I'd be perfectly happy with Pop being associated with the team in perpetuity, but his time as the coach is long since passed.

[jjktkk]

Wow, all those facts and you can't seem to refute a single one, so I guess I'm stuck addressing what you actually had the balls to challenge me on:

I want all the starters averaging at least 35 minutes a game, and I want the best players starting at their natural position (because 35 minutes of Bonner and Bogans is about as bad as most of your posts). If Mahinmi can't play 35 minutes a game, then Theo Ratliff can back him...oops.

By the way, where you always fail is in thinking the Spurs need Mahinmi to be the MVP of anything. All he has to do is be in position and get back on defense, block some shots and rebound. Basically you make Ian a DVD of Rasho highlights as a Spur and you tell him that's how he needs to pattern his game if he wants minutes. It might take him a weekend of watching it over and over. The Spurs don't need superstars, they need role players. One of the roles they need is someone to help Timmy in the paint. Playing Ian every game until he fouls out would improve the defense on this team.

Something is obstructing you view. I'm calling out your idea that Mahimni can be a starter. Mahimni is not talented enough to be a starter. How can anyone think that Mahimni can start and actually average 35 minutes a game? What do you base that on? Because hes tall? My neighbor's son is 6'11", maybe he can start for the Spurs. You make it sound so easy Coach Obstructed View. Along as someone is 6'10", or better, they can watch your coaching DVD, and after a weekend of watching it over and over, they will be ready to start for the Spurs, or at least be a solid role player. OMG why didn't Pop think of this?

[cherylsteele]

Something is obstructing you view. I'm calling out your idea that Mahimni can be a starter. Mahimni is not talented enough to be a starter. How can anyone think that Mahimni can start and actually average 35 minutes a game? What do you base that on? Because hes tall? My neighbor's son is 6'11", maybe he can start for the Spurs. You make it sound so easy Coach Obstructed View. Along as someone is 6'10", or better, they can watch your coaching DVD, and after a weekend of watching it over and over, they will be ready to start for the Spurs, or at least be a solid role player. OMG why didn't Pop think of this?

What makes you think Mahimi can't be a starter? What do you base this on?
I personally don't know because I have yet to see him for a good stretch of games to know one way or another what he can do, yet you know with the same information we all have here spurstalk.

Pop doesn't need to be fired. He needs to transition out of the head coaching job. He is no longer getting the best out of his players, and hasn't for some time.

Pop has even said he can't get through to them, this IMO is the most disturbing thing about this year. The players seem to be playing out the string for the most part, which really frustrates me, which in turn I think is causing Pop to say to with this season, and has coused him to pretty much right off the season, who knows.

[z0sa]

Just because no one out there is better on paper than Pop doesn't mean that he's above criticism or error; a 15+ year tenure with one team, the vast majority of which residing at head coach while assuming some GM duties, will no doubt have a few controversial decisions.

[jjktkk]

What makes you think Mahimi can't be a starter? What do you base this on?
I personally don't know because I have yet to see him for a good stretch of games to know one way or another what he can do, yet you know with the same information we all have here spurstalk.

I base this on Mahimni only playing in garbage time. Based on what little time I've seen of Mahimni, he does look like starting material. And the fact that hes not playing meaningful minutes and, for whatever reason, has not cracked the rotation. To go from the 12th man to starter would be pretty unusual don't you think? I base my opinion on Mahimni because the Spurs FO decided not pick pick up his option for next year.

[poop]

lots of diehard homers with their heads in the sand in this thread.

[BillMc]

For the record, I don't think Pop should be fired. If he stepped away from coaching, that would signal the end to this era.

That said, I just can't defend the moves he's made this season. It's by far the worst coaching job I've seen him do. From beginning the season with Finley and Bonner in the starting lineup to his post-All-Star break "adjustments", he just hasn't pushed a right button all year.

Hall of Fame coach. Bad season.

This!

[Manu_Ginobili]

Dear sticks,

J.T.

BLA-BLA-BLA-BLA-BLA-BLA!!!, LOOK AT yourself first [in the mirror], BEFORE INSULTING others[/B]!!! When someone starts insulting, the logic says he "HAS NOTHING VALUABLE TO SAY!" YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH THE PAST, bonehead, you would need TO LIVE WITH THE PRESENT and the FUTURE! Pop already RECEIVED a BIG GLORY and Money for what he has done in the past! His name as a coach will remain forever in the NBA history - he will be "hall of fame coach", yes! But, as any other job, you would need to perform NOW, this is why he is getting paid BIG $$$ NOW (eh?), so, take your "Pop's glasses" OFF and see the reality - and the reality is WE HAVE NO TEAM right now to win a le, PERIOD, we (even) have NO team to pass the 1st round in the Playoffs, as someone else here said, if Timmy gets injured, we WILL NOT even make the Playoffs; And after spending so much money [the 1st time in the Spurs history!!!], someone has to take the responsibility [as Pop said himself!!!] for mismanaging the team, playing time, plays, etc., everything, and this one, unfortunately, is the Coach...We got Ratliff and Haislip - and then, we benched them!??? SO FOOLISH! Pop SIMPLY LOST IT this time around! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!! Time to go, Pop!, Time to go, buddy...