Pop Pulling the Plug against the Knicks

[jag]

Winning in those conditions obviously would have been good for a number of reasons, namely the overall record. But long term the Spurs could actually benefit as a result of the starters being pulled and the team having to experience that loss. Oversimplifying the argument to “winning is bad” doesn’t exactly show you have a firm grasp of the reasoning behind seeing this loss as possibly having a positive long-term impact.

If you feel the need to convince Spursfan that winning is in fact good, then ok. But it seems you’ve missed the point.

[ElNono]

Winning in those conditions obviously would have been good for a number of reasons, namely the overall record. But long term the Spurs could actually benefit as a result of the starters being pulled and the team having to experience that loss.

Debatable. Which is what we did in this thread before you came around crying "you don't understand".

The players can experience the loss on the floor also, and it's entirely subjective what the perceived benefit could be long term. Furthermore, this team came into the season with the mantra of not wasting games early so they could be rested and be fresh for the postseason, and this is a game we simply threw away. Both the players with their play and the coach with the early white flag.

Oversimplifying the argument to “winning is bad” doesn’t exactly show you have a firm grasp of the reasoning behind seeing this loss as possibly having a positive long-term impact.

But THAT is the argument in this thread. Did Pop threw the towel too early?
One person went further and posited the argument that even if the Spurs would have pulled a win in those last 3 minutes, it would've been worse than losing. What is that if not "winning is bad"? it's a ridiculous argument.

I explained my reasoning and line of thought about that particular comment. Considering that you had nothing to retort about it, I have to assume it was the correct reasoning.

If you feel the need to convince Spursfan that winning is in fact good, then ok. But it seems you’ve missed the point.

I don't have to convince anybody. You don't agree with me, just say so.
The whole "you don't understand" argument is re ed.

[senorglory]

Bench those suckers. Coach reserves the right to sit anyone he needs to, no matter salary, all-star run, or status as revered veteran and franchise player... to a point. Spurs sucked in the 4th, Pop didn't cross the line sitting their asses.

Go Spurs!

[duncan228]

Classic Popovich: The San Antonio Spurs are nowhere near the same defensive team right now that they were during their championship years, but head coach Gregg Popovich still cares about the defensive side of things more than anything. That's why it sickened him yesterday to watch his team give up 128 points in a losing effort to the New York Knicks. Popovich was so upset with their defensive effort that he pulled his starters with three minutes to go despite being within three points.

"That's exactly what I felt," said Popovich after the game when asked if he thought it was out of reach at that point. "We have another game tomorrow. It's a long season. The chances of winning the game were not good."

While the chances of winning the game may not have been good, it was not impossible to say the least. But as Popovich pointed out, the Spurs have a game today and it's a big one. They take on the defending Eastern Conference champions in the Boston Celtics and he felt like his guys needed something to fire them up.

Manu Ginobili was visibly upset by his decision immediately afterwards and Tim Duncan was mum on his choice as well.

"We have a game tomorrow," said Duncan. "We're down 10 points with three minutes to go and just can't seem to get under that six point mark. He made a decision to pull us, we're ready to play for tomorrow."

Popovich has done this before in the past and it has worked out well for him. Nobody understands how to motivate his team better than he does, and an improved Spurs team should be expected tonight despite Popovich doing his best to downplay that possibility.

"I was pretty nice (to them after the game)," said Popovich. "I just asked if they could play a little better tomorrow. They said they'll think about it, so we'll see what happens."

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18388

[Agloco]

Usually I have no problem when Pop waves the white flag early but down ten with 3:15 to go against these Knicks. There are a ton of possessions left. Heck, in the next minute a few threes go down and the Spurs are right there.

I understand the back-to-back against the Celtics is looming but WTF. Another 1:30 wouldn't hurt anything and at this pace, that could be another five possessions.

Weird end to a crazy game.

Wasn't happening. You could have blindfolded Felton and he still would have hit his shots. Saved our starters 3 minutes of floor time to prepare for Boston.

[slayermin]

I thought Pop pulled the plug too early. We probably don't win but I sure would've liked to see them give it a shot.

As bad as the score looked last night, it just seemed like every Knick was in a groove. They hit every open shot, every semi open shot, and almost all contested shots. The Spurs looked like they were giving an effort but the Knicks were just one step quicker on the offensive end. I don't think the Spurs were as bad as the score indicated. The Knicks were just red hot.

And as great as the Spurs defense seemed to be against OKC, I watched that game and I thought OKC just missed a lot of shots they normally hit. I didn't think the Spurs defense was as good as the final score suggested. I haven't rewatched either game so I maybe totally off. But that was my impressions of the last two games.

[Texas_Ranger]

The Knicks yesterday played the best game in like 30 years. They made every single shot from outside and inside. They will not have a game like that for the next 10 years against a team like the Spurs. In San Antonio we'll kick those ing losers and that's all. And RJ was right, who gives a about a team that did in the last 38 years. For a big market team they suck ass. At least the Lakers won something, but those Knicks are just a piece of .
When someone will say that the Kings are not that good will everybody go crazy in California?? Cause you know they did win a championship back in 1951!!
New York Knicks are a LOL and that's all.

[TD 21]

What message is Tim Duncan going to receive after 10+ seasons in the league? You don't think he knows what happened? He received the same message a bunch of times over the years. Do you really think that quitting games is going to fire him up? He was going to hear it after the game regardless, and he's fully aware that this team needs to improve defensively.

These are not 10 year olds or a bunch of rooks.

No, but they are compe ive, prideful people. You don't think those guys weren't pissed and somewhat embarrassed being pulled from the game when it was still winnable?

It's the Celtics, so chances are they'd have been up for it anyway. But just in case they weren't going to be, you can bet they will be now.