Pop's Decision to Play the Starters

[SenorSpur]

I certainly don't blame Pop for Manu's injury - that can happen anytime.

However I do question his confusing strategy of NOT playing the starters on the next to last game of the season, then playing them the last game of the season.

If the Spurs had nothing to play for and he decided to sit them versus the Fakers, where was the logic in NOT continuing to rest them the following night versus Suns?

Was he worried about the rust factor? Was concerned with building some momentum?

Very confusing.

[Dex]

I certainly don't blame Pop for Manu's injury - that can happen anytime.

However I do question his confusing strategy of NOT playing the starters on the next to last game of the season, then playing them the last game of the season.

If the Spurs had nothing to play for and he decided to sit them versus the Fakers, where was the logic in NOT continuing to rest them the following night versus Suns?

Was he worried about the rust factor? Was concerned with building some momentum?

Very confusing.

Pop made the decision to NOT play the starters on both games of the back-to-back. That much is clear, and in my opinion, pretty reasonable.

For whatever reason, he chose to play them on the tail of the back-to-back against Phoenix. Maybe he was worried about a physical game in LA against a spiraling Lakers squad. Maybe he was hoping to affect seeding. Maybe he really was just worried about the players gathering rust of if they had four days off instead of three.

Nobody really knows the answer but Pop, and when you've got four rings, I think you deserve a little cushion with your decision making. Putting the blame on him doesn't make much sense. An injury could have just as easily occurred against the Lakers as it did against the Suns. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20 around these parts.

The fact is, it was just a crappy fall of the cards. Pop tried to make the semi-safe play. Like it or not, this team does need to be on some kind of roll entering the playoffs, and I'm not sure it was quite there yet. Couple that with the #1 spot still being up for grabs, and it's pretty apparent why Pop made the decision that he did. It just backfired.

That could've happened at any point over this 82-game season; it just happened to choose the worst possible time.

[GrandeDavid]

I can't fault the strategy. The strategy made sense heading into the Lakers game … and it makes sense to me now. Obviously, the Manu injury was about the worst possible outcome but it was, even with hindsight, a risk worth taking.

First, even though Pop would never admit it, there was a smidgen of value in having the best record in the league. Yes, the chances aren't great for a Spurs vs. Bulls meeting in the NBA Finals, however having a shot at home-court advantage in such a scenario shouldn't be totally discounted.

But most importantly, the Spurs starters needed the extra work. The last quality win this team put together was almost a month ago against Dallas. If the Spurs had been rolling to the finish line with rhythm and confidence, punting the final two games of the season would have been the right move. Unfortunately, that was simply not the case. In theory, letting the starters break a sweat and try to regain their edge held a lot of value.

Pop is going to be second-guessed, and he has to be kicking himself every time he looks over and sees Manu's arm in a sling, but the logic was sound. Now the most important thing is for the team to overcome the awkward end to an otherwise fantastic regular season. Although it's not the way you want to do it, it's very possible to find a groove and get healthy within a playoff run -- just look at the Lakers and Celtics last season.

Hope Manu's MRI comes back clean. Get in a few good practices. Put on the hardhats for what promises to be a very physical series against the Grizzlies. And let's get this ish started.

I don't second guess Popovich either. I also don't think Manu's injury will be serious and even if he misses the first game of this series, for example, the Spurs have plenty of firepower and talent to overcome his absence at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Also, and while I'm sure there are few who could blame them for doing so, the Grizzlies basically told San Antonio that they think they can beat them and that they are inferior to Los Angeles. As a man and compe or, I would assume that that would provide every single Spur, even Matt Bonner, with that deep-in-the-gut fire to tighten up defensively, work hard, get physical, and resoundingly beat the you-know-what out of Memphis.

I say Spurs in five.

[Kamnik]

timvp is doing his Horry. Coasting during the regular season to show up for the playoffs.

GOOD! I missed his insight during regular season... would be even worse during playoffs.

Welcome back timvp!

[PM5K]

What annoyed me the most was that I figured he wouldn't play them, I totally expected to see them all in street clothes.

[rmt]

He out-thought himself. No other coach does this - they just do what is widely accepted.

He should have either completely rested them or just played them as they normally do during the season. Instead, they were confused with half effort and the resulting injury. I don't see the need to play them for that little return - a coin flip - after seeing Bynum, Nene and Lawson go down with injuries in the last 2 games of the season.

Hope Manu is okay or this dream season will do down the drain.

[ArtVandelay]

pop is puss

[xtremesteven33]

You cant blame Pop. Freak accidents happen all the time. The MRI hasnt come out yet so let the Pop Bashing stop

[Sii]

Yeah..the 4 time le winning coach has no clue and is a puss

The either "play both" or "play neither" makes no sense to me. I see zero issue giving the guys a night off. There is no reason he should have sat them both nights. That means come Sunday those guys wouldn't have played a real game in over a week. It has nothing to do with being afraid of the Lakers, but if you are going to pick the most risky game to rest your guys is the LA game..no question. LA had everything to play for seeding wise and went balls out with their starters the whole way. You pick that game, and then let the guys shake some rust off against the Suns. Manu got bumped. happens. Deal with it

[DesignatedT]

Like someone said before, Pop would usually pull the "play it safe" card 100% of the time but for some reason felt that the guys should get in some minutes before the playoffs (guys coming back from minor injuries and other things im sure he knows) and while he didn't go with the full out play it safe strategy he still tried to play the semi-safe card by letting the guys go against a non physical phoenix squad and it backfired on him.

tbh I would have just sat the guys both games like he would have done in the past but I dont think there was any wrong in what he did. The LA game would have been a much more physical battle then the PHX game and that's a fact. They would have needed that "extra day" of rest if they played LA with all the added bumps and bruises that would have occured.

It's a pretty ty situation but to start blaming people is re ed (wouldn't expect anything less from spurstalk though). If Manu can't stay healthy then that is his ing fault, not the coaches. If he went down with some bull elbow injury now then he will definitely go down or be hurting with other injuries by the time Memphis is done with him. It's not a good sign how fragile he is and doesn't give me much confidence that he can make it through a whole playoff run 100%

[MannyIsGod]

timvp is doing his Horry. Coasting during the regular season to show up for the playoffs.

05 Horry or 08 Horry?

[GrandeDavid]

You cant blame Pop. Freak accidents happen all the time. The MRI hasnt come out yet so let the Pop Bashing stop

I agree. All this second guessing is hilarious. Understandably and rightfully, fans criticize and second guess, but Pop's thinking wasn't flawed. On a positive note, Manu may get to rest his legs for Game 1 and possibly Game 2, and if you can't beat Memphis two games at home in the playoffs, even missing Manu, then that's pretty weak.

On another note, between Memphis' obvious unstated declaration that they can beat the Spurs and that the Spurs are inferior to the Lakers, I think that the Spurs will have ample motivation to kick their asses, and probably will do so in five games.

[Bruno]

05 Horry or 08 Horry?

Time will tell what version will show up.

What is sure is that after such a crappy regular season, he better has to deliver in the playoffs. If he sucks, it will maybe be time to move on and ship him to spursreport.

[ElNono]

I don't think anybody is blaming Pop on Manu's injury, at least I'm not... I question the giving up games strategy in the name of avoiding injuries... just play to win the games. If you want to play some guys reduced minutes to keep them fresh, that's ok, but flat out sitting out people and handing out games, especially against good teams that are desperate for a win, is just mind-boggling...

I agree with whoever posted that he outsmarted himself...

[DMC]

Any other coach in the league would not have that record with that squad. Some coaches wouldn't accept the position with that squad. Your best bench player is George Hill, IUPUI guy? Two foreign players and a washed up power foward as your "big 3"? Matt Bonner and a 27 year old rookie in Neal? No way Thibbs or Jackson coach this team to this record. It's not like we acquired Boozer or a 1st overall pick in the off season, or like we got one of the best big men in the league for free over the summer.

I don't get why anyone would look at this organization and question their coaching.

You guys act like Pop is underachieving.

It's a decision a coach makes and you live with the results. I feel the same way when Neal shoots that quick 3 in transition, but when it goes I feel like Neal is a beast. When it doesn't I feel like he's out of control and playing out of the system. I cannot have it both ways. Make the decision and live with the results.

[DesignatedT]

Any other coach in the league would not have that record with that squad. Some coaches wouldn't accept the position with that squad. Your best bench player is George Hill, IUPUI guy? Two foreign players and a washed up power foward as your "big 3"? Matt Bonner and a 27 year old rookie in Neal? No way Thibbs or Jackson coach this team to this record. It's not like we acquired Boozer or a 1st overall pick in the off season, or like we got one of the best big men in the league for free over the summer.

I don't get why anyone would look at this organization and question their coaching.

You guys act like Pop is underachieving.

[polandprzem]

Time will tell what version will show up.

What is sure is that after such a crappy regular season, he better has to deliver in the playoffs. If he sucks, it will maybe be time to move on and ship him to spursreport.

Business is business