Thread for all you bball illiterate "fans" to apologise to Pop.

[HarlemHeat37]

Agreed, Bonner was pretty bad tonight, and I'm usually pro-Bonner..

He was really bad in the 1st half, getting beat by Shawn Marion, missing a box out on Eddy Najera, missed a few rotations..he wasn't as bad in the 2nd half, but he was pretty useless out there..

He was a no-show on offense, like DPG said, and that's the main thing he has to work on..he can't disappear in this series, the Spurs need him in the playoffs..

I don't blame Pop for that though, he pretty much has no choice..no other options..

[The Truth #6]

I'll go with warlord on this one. There was no true experimentation this year. That's ridiculous. He never experimented with Malik or Ian. I don't see the true experiment. He flogged dead horses as long as he could and then realized he then had to shorten the rotation. This current rotation was obvious by early December. I do give him props for giving Temple a chance at the end.

[GSH]

Since this is an "apologize to Pop" thread, there may be a couple of players who should get in on the action. Ginobili was pretty vocal about his displeasure with Pop for limiting his minutes for the first part of the season. Pop wanted to be sure he was totally well, and to bring him back slowly. Looks like a pretty good decision right about now.

Same with calling Tony home this Summer. I don't know if that was all Pop, but I'm really glad to have Tony fully healthy at the right time.

[spursfaninla]

I'll admit Pop finally pulled his head out of his ass and tightened up the lineups.

You do realize that we had to keep our older starters fresh for the playoffs by playing our scrubs sometimes, right?

[silverblk mystix]

i think that Pop---and this spurs team---

should be judged at the END OF THE SEASON....

IF the spurs are the champs---Pop is a genius...

if not---then we'll see

[VBM]

You do realize that we had to keep our older starters fresh for the playoffs by playing our scrubs sometimes, right?

What made Bogans and Mason better scrubs than Mahinmi, Ratliff and Hairston?

[elbamba]

Pop has done a great job in the playoffs. However, he killed the Spurs for a long time with playing small ball. He also gave way too much time to KB and Mason.

Pop is a great coach, but even great coaches have to get over their pride sometimes and and Pop is no different. He should have given more playing time to Ian and Harriston.

One concern I have is that even if we close this series out over the next two games, and that is a tall order, he is playing Duncan and Manu way too much. Duncan needs to play around 35-38 minutes. Pop needs to put a little more trust in Blair because eventually, Tim is going to wear out.

[LakerHater]

I probably wont be able to see your apologies because I put most of you cliff jumpers on ignore, but nonetheless here is your forum.

For those of you who understand basketball at a basic level at least, how good were Pop's adjustments and rotations? This team has always been a "big four" especially in the playoffs.

Well I agree but, it's still alittle premature.... Hope you didnt jinx the Spurs!

[jjktkk]

Keith Bogans started 50 games. That ain't Playoff prep.

Look, it's one thing to call for Pop to be fired, but a lot of the criticism this year was justified. He took too long to settle on a rotation, he played bad players too often at the expense of developing players who could have contributed more, and he has a history of overthinking things and getting in the way.

Fortunately, he's simplified his approach, stuck to a winning strategy and gotten back to what makes him a Hall of Fame coach. It's working now.

He also has a history of winning.

[Obstructed_View]

Pop's adjustments have been nothing short of brilliant. I guess he's been maneuvering for the seventh spot in the west all season long. The players deserve a lot of credit for stepping up, but Pop has not put the team in position to fail like he did so many times during the regular season. No Keith Bogans and no smallball has been incredibly effective, as has going to the rim instead of settling for a bunch of three pointers. If only someone had been suggesting that all year long.

[Obstructed_View]

You do realize that we had to keep our older starters fresh for the playoffs by playing our scrubs sometimes, right?

There are plenty of young scrubs that could have been playing heavy minutes if rest were the only goal. Putting small lineups against bigger opponents in late-game key defensive stretches on more than one occasion has nothing to do with rest.

[ulosturedge]

He knows which of his players get it done out on the court and which don't. He will still give the others a short look in case they might have something to contribute for that game. When he sees they don't he quickly pulls them. Then there is the fact that our starters can't play 48 minutes. You got to bring someone off the bench at some point in time lol.

Anyways anyone who assumes that Pop was going to use the same scrappy rotations he used in the regular season for the playoffs is clueless. People need to quit getting so melodramatic over the things that go on in the regular season. You can question some of it, but the bulk of it was experimentation and making sure our veterans stay well rested for the playoffs.

I've been very pleased with Pop's rotations. When it's not working he is quick to rectify the situation. But for the most part he has been quit good with his lineups.

[Spursfan092120]

I agree with the OP, but it's kind of ironic how he uses the word illiterate and then misspells apologize.

[Muser]

Pop's gone back to being awesome Pop, it's a welcome return.

[ElNono]

Bonner outside of the missed rotation on Terry played GREAT defense. He missed a couple shots but u know that's gonna happen..

I guess you missed Marion doing whatever he wanted with him while reaching for the flaming hot Doritos...

[Spurminator]

He also has a history of winning.

When he keeps it simple.

[Obstructed_View]

He knows which of his players get it done out on the court and which don't. He will still give the others a short look in case they might have something to contribute for that game. When he sees they don't he quickly pulls them. Then there is the fact that our starters can't play 48 minutes. You got to bring someone off the bench at some point in time lol.

Anyways anyone who assumes that Pop was going to use the same scrappy rotations he used in the regular season for the playoffs is clueless. People need to quit getting so melodramatic over the things that go on in the regular season. You can question some of it, but the bulk of it was experimentation and making sure our veterans stay well rested for the playoffs.

I've been very pleased with Pop's rotations. When it's not working he is quick to rectify the situation. But for the most part he has been quit good with his lineups.

The coach benched the starting centers on a 63 win team in favor of a rookie and two vets that aren't known for defense and did so until the team was eliminated. He benched Bruce Bowen and George Hill last year against the Mavericks until it was too late. He went through much of the season giving Keith Bogans the responsibilities that Bruce Bowen had. Stating that you knew all along that he was going to suddenly figure it out this postseason is delusional. You aren't suggesting that Pop didn't actually want to get home court advantage, right?