Pop's Headscratchers

[FkLA]

Duncan was a beast tonight. But he was getting eaten up by Melo once they ran the pick and roll and he had to switch on him. The very next play after Duncan was subs uted, the Nuggs tried the same play and Dice was able to stay in front of him forcing Melo to pass. That was a good subs ution in my opinion.

The play where he called a timeout when Manu had the ball in his hands I can understand, because they couldve easily tried to trap. There were still 20+ seconds left in the game. Agree about the play where they stole the inbound though, that definitely warranted a timeout.

[ElNono]

He's heading Spurstalk. Play bonner less.

Not playing him in crunch time is a no brainer... This was early in the 4th though... (8 mins left when he pulled him).

[timvp]

Pop shouldn't have to be the one to call timeout when Mcdyess is bringing in the ball. Mcdyess is an old vet who should see if he can catch Manu open (which happens a lot when defenses can't get set) and is more than capable to call timeout himself if he can't get Manu open (which he should have done)

Bonehead play by Dice.

First of all, it probably should have been a timeout before McDyess even attempted the inbounds. That situation was much more timeout worthy than when Pop called a timeout when Manu had the ball and 25 seconds to go.

Secondly, with Pop standing there right next to a ref, he could have called timeout easier than anyone. Dice is looking for an open man and maybe didn't know the timeout situation. After Dice didn't find anyone right away, Pop should have called the timeout ... and he almost always does in that situation.

I was wondering about the Dice subs ution myself considering how Duncan had been beasting.

I can live with the Dice sub for the defensive possession. Duncan would have had to guard Harrington beyond the three-point line ... and that would have been pretty dangerous. McDyess is much better at defending the perimeter and pick-and-rolls.

But after getting the rebound, how Pop didn't call timeout to put Duncan back in to take advantage of Harrington at the other end is something I can't figure out.

As for the part about calling a timeout with 25 seconds left when Manu got the rebound... I think he might have wanted to clear things up on the defensive side of the court for when Denver ends up getting the ball back (If they didn't call a timeout). Only thing I can think of since he was really working a lot with the white board in that specific timeout.

That would have been the first such timeout in NBA history. Up by one with the ball and an opportunity to waste time and send your best free throw shooter to the line and you call timeout to talk about defense on the following possession? Yeah ... unlikely, to say the least.

If Pop wanted to talk defense, he could have taken the timeout after Ginobili got fouled.

[TJastal]

I dont get players not moving on the baseline. Don't they understand they can move up and down the damn baseline?

That pass was on McDyess and Manu.

Underrated point here, about moving on the baseline. Still can't blame either one though IMO. McDyess put the pass on the $$$$, Ginobili's isn't right handed, if anyone is to blame it should have been Pop for not using a timeout to set up an inbounds play.

[EricB]

Then after Harrington misses the free throw that could have tied it with 25 seconds to go, I don't understand why Pop called a timeout there. Manu had the ball, the Nuggets had to foul ... what more could he want?

Inbounding at half court and running 7 more seconds off the clock


Just sayin

[DesignatedT]

You are re ed.

He had Ginobili open it's not McDyess's fault Manu fumbled the pass off his weak right hand. McDyess put the pass right on the money, I gaurantee you if it had been Ginobili's left hand he would have caught it no problem.

I don't know if you ever noticed this or not, but Manu is a very left hand dominant player.

calm down son.

Sure, Manu could have still caught that ball but it was still a questionable decision seeing that you still had 3 timeouts left. A risk not worth taking...understand?

You mean Manu isn't right handed?

[ElNono]

It was a mental mistake at the end, and I agree with TPark it's on both. I'm glad it happened now and not in April though.

[Spursfanfromafar]

Maybe Kenny Smith was right about the Spurs' coaches expecting their opposition to be dumb enough...Nothing else (better) explains Coach Pop's mis-moves in the final minutes.

[Pauleta14]

Telll me about it

IDK why he stuck with GH

Manu bailed Pop out

As long as Anderson is out, we don't have that much options to rest Manu.

Even if George wasn't good offensively, he's still a good physical presence defensively...

Would you prefer more PT for Quinn?

[EricB]

Again, mcdyess could've moved down the baseline, and manu had the ball hit him right in the damn hands.

If Mcdyess shakes the cement off or Manu could catch the ball its all negated.

[timvp]

Inbounding at half court and running 7 more seconds off the clock

Manu could have run off just as much time in the backcourt. On the inbounds, a smart team would have fouled either Duncan or Parker. Spurs got lucky that the ball got back into Ginobili's hands.

And plus, if inbounding at halfcourt was important, the time to call timeout was when McDyess was panicking under the opponent's basket . . .

[EricB]

I think the "discussion points" are ticky tack discussion points IMO.

He's made far more curious decisions that have ended up doing worse or better in games that never got threads before.

[TJastal]

calm down son.

Sure, Manu could have still caught that ball but it was still a questionable decision seeing that you still had 3 timeouts left. A risk not worth taking...understand?

You mean Manu isn't right handed?

So you're saying Dice is more to blame than Pop for not calling a timeout on the play? I put that one on the coach, every time.

[EricB]

Manu could have run off just as much time in the backcourt. On the inbounds, a smart team would have fouled either Duncan or Parker. Spurs got lucky that the ball got back into Ginobili's hands.

And plus, if inbounding at halfcourt was important, the time to call timeout was when McDyess was panicking under the opponent's basket . . .

Alright if we really want to get into semantics. What if Pop's thinking is, lets run this diversion because the players the Nuggets have 0 BBall IQ and won't react quick enough.

Again, if Mcdyess followed basketball 101 and moved along the baseline and if Manu could catch a pass that hits him in the hands there is no questioning the no timeout.

[Capt Bringdown]

There's enough blame to go around regarding the TO that almost cost us the game.
You don't expect seasoned vets to make such boneheaded plays. But it happens, folks get caught up in the heat of the moment.
That's when the coach is supposed to step in and make the right move, ain't it?
I think Pop was probably a much smarter coach when Carlesimo was around.

[DesignatedT]

First of all, it probably should have been a timeout before McDyess even attempted the inbounds. That situation was much more timeout worthy than when Pop called a timeout when Manu had the ball and 25 seconds to go.

Secondly, with Pop standing there right next to a ref, he could have called timeout easier than anyone. Dice is looking for an open man and maybe didn't know the timeout situation. After Dice didn't find anyone right away, Pop should have called the timeout ... and he almost always does in that situation.

The players should always know the timeout situation, especially when you have 3 left. Since it happened so fast, I'm sure that Pop wanted to see if Dice could find an open man before calling timeout. If he could do it over I'm sure he'd do it differently but it wasn't necessarily the wrong call. It was a bonehead play by Mcdyess by throwing the ball.

That would have been the first such timeout in NBA history. Up by one with the ball and an opportunity to waste time and send your best free throw shooter to the line and you call timeout to talk about defense on the following possession? Yeah ... unlikely, to say the least.

If Pop wanted to talk defense, he could have taken the timeout after Ginobili got fouled.

Probably right. He could have also been scared of our guys not handling a potential double team correctly.

[timvp]

I think the "discussion points" are ticky tack discussion points IMO.

He's made far more curious decisions that have ended up doing worse or better in games that never got threads before.

Pop always has quirky rotations. But when's the last time Pop had a handful of questionable decisions down the stretch? This is one of the rare times where I didn't follow his logic at all on multiple occasions in such a short amount of time.

[EricB]

There's enough blame to go around regarding the TO that almost cost us the game.
You don't expect seasoned vets to make such boneheaded plays. But it happens, folks get caught up in the heat of the moment.
That's when the coach is supposed to step in and make the right move, ain't it?
I think Pop was probably a much smarter coach when Carlesimo was around.

Is there such a thing as most overrated assistant coach ever?

Seriously He wasn't even Pop's right hand man when he was in town.

[DesignatedT]

So you're saying Dice is more to blame than Pop for not calling a timeout on the play? I put that one on the coach, every time.

Blame could go to both. It was just a freak play. It's not a bad idea to see if you can catch the defense off guard and get a easy pass to Manu...

[EricB]

Pop always has quirky rotations. But when's the last time Pop had a handful of questionable decisions down the stretch? This is one of the rare times where I didn't follow his logic at all on multiple occasions in such a short amount of time.

Oh please.

Again, rewatch past games and I gauran damn tee you he's done same or worse decisions that again, in a win if you want to be picky were worse or more unexplainable.


The inbounds pass hit ginobili in the hands. Ball should've been caught.

McDyess should have moved Manu should have caught it, pop could've called timeout.

[Gooshie]

I agree that he shouldn't have called timeout off of Harrington's missed free throw and should have called one before McDyess inbounded the ball. I was screaming at the tv both times.

However, I don't mind not calling timeout in the other situation you mentioned to get TD back in the game. I'm ok with him saving a timeout there and just playing through it. Duncan had just missed 2 free throws a minute before that, too.

The best thing is we still won, and hopefully Pop learns from this and will call a timeout in that Dice situation every single time from here on out.

[TJastal]

The players should always know the timeout situation, especially when you have 3 left. Since it happened so fast, I'm sure that Pop wanted to see if Dice could find an open man before calling timeout. If he could do it over I'm sure he'd do it differently but it wasn't necessarily the wrong call. It was a bonehead play by Mcdyess by throwing the ball.



Probably right. He could have also been scared of our guys not handling a potential double team correctly.

Once again, how is it McDyess' fault for putting a pass right on Manu's hand?

[timvp]

Oh please.

Again, rewatch past games and I gauran damn tee you he's done same or worse decisions that again, in a win if you want to be picky were worse or more unexplainable.

Like what game?

The inbounds pass hit ginobili in the hands. Ball should've been caught.

McDyess should have moved Manu should have caught it, pop could've called timeout.

That's only one of the plays I'm talking about.

But still, I think it's just weird that Pop didn't call a timeout there when he calls a timeout in that situation 98 times out of a 100. And even weirder since Pop had just called a timeout that wasn't necessary.

Seems discussion worthy to me even though the Spurs got the win.

[TJastal]

Blame could go to both. It was just a freak play. It's not a bad idea to see if you can catch the defense off guard and get a easy pass to Manu...

Now you're coming to your senses, after your initial McDyess witchhunt.

[DesignatedT]

It happens in almost every single close game in the NBA. A team makes a shot to cut the lead to a couple with under 20 seconds and the opposing team grabs the rebound and inbounds it so quick that the defense doesn't have time to set up and they get the ball to there best ft shooter. It was just a bad pass from Dice and he needs to be smarter in that situation. It's nothing new.