Q&A: What does Pop do now?

[dbestpro]

Article by McDonald on mysa as a continuation to the Q&A with Pop:
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...%99s-sidekick/

"“I think Tiago has to be a linchpin for our future here, because he has the size, the length, the toughness, the grit, the consistency,” Popovich said. “He’s going to be a stalwart of this team going forward.”

There may be hope for Pop, yet.

[TJastal]

There may be hope for Pop, yet.

lmao.... every year people say the same thing, and every year Pop takes a 50 pound dump over them, the team and all its fans. I've watched enough of this dog and pony show over the years to know this is just a tease. He knows he has to make people think he's going to get Splitter involved to pacify them for the time being. Splitter will get more PT next year, but once again it will be alot of garbage time and probably never together with the guy who needs him the most, Tim Duncan. And if the big 3 miraculously stay healthy again the spurs will probably win games during the regular season again (and probably make the playoffs) but come playoff time the lack of proper cohesion and size in the paint will once again be an issue. Another 1st or 2nd round quick exit is on the forecast.

Only until Tim Duncan is retired, dead, or being held hostage will we see Splitter start to get any significant playing time. And then only because Pop will have no choice. And I'm sure whoever plays next to Splitter will be a total putz like Bonner (or Bonner himself). So the cycle will start all over again, where Splitter will be stuck manning the paint by himself and being overworked and stressed like Tim Duncan has been now for 5-6 years.

And I'm sure everyone will still kiss Pop's ass in the media and on the boards here,.. some things will never change.

[jjktkk]

Although I try every year to prove that I know alot about basketball and evaluating NBA talent, I still get on here,.. Some things will never change.

[NRHector]

Stupid Pop, blaming injuries for his ups.

[TJastal]

[underdawg]

Pop:Is it MATT BONNER?

That is as far as anyone has to read to discover that Pop is still delusional.

If you keep supporting him...go ahead...but be prepared to keep losing...that is just plain common sense.

Anyone with a brain can see that players like Bonner will never be enough against playoff teams with young athletes that can ball.

Pop is still trotting out that 1950's bull that athlete's aren't necessary...that a player with intelligence and character can help more than an athlete. Well of course...if the athlete in question is dumber than a bag of rocks...but today's athletes are not only athletic...but also have smarts,character and discipline.

Why continue to depend on a BONNER with no athletic ability, no balls, short arms and no in' mental toughness when other teams just attack and destroy him at will?
To prove what?

That nice guys CAN succeed? That character guys who suck off the coach can implement that coach's system without ever making a mistake or take a bad shot.....while LOSING?

I tried very hard to keep supporting Pop for years and years...

Once upon a time I believed in Pop and pounding the rock and all that hoo-rah spurs philosophy crap...until I opened my eyes and thought to myself;

hmmm...

It appears that Pop stresses defense and will jump on your if you miss a defensive rotation...that is good...b-but wait...Finley s up left and right...and Pop seems to just overlook it. Is it because Nellie recommended Finley? Is it cause Pop loves Finleys jump shot? Why is it that Bruce Bowen is in the doghouse...yet Finley is spared?

I kept watching...and wondering....

Why is Pop trying to match up with other teams going small by going smaller? Why is Naz'r, Rasho, and any other bigs...rotting on the bench while teams continually drive in for layups? Why is Bogans a centerpiece of a defense that can't stop anyone? Why?

This continued and got worse with Bonner....who ANYONE could see was getting killed each and every time he stepped on the floor? Why? Why would you continue to overplay a guy who does nothing but get killed on defense...yet you continue to lie to yourself that defense is the first priority? Why?

Finally, this past season...

To me...after being a diehard spurs fan since the red,white & blue ABA days...through thick and thin...through suffering through elimination after elimination....through all that...why was this season ---for me---

the absolute worst?

This season I found myself...unhappy...AFTER A WIN!!!!

Each time that the spurs won...I found myself unhappy???? I could not understand why????


Then it hit me....


This season the spurs acquired a big man...finally...

Tiago Splitter....


Finally...Pop will go back to the defensive schemes that won the spurs 4 les....championship spurs defense is back!!!!!!

Except...Pop refused to play him....Pop buried him on the bench...Pop at first blamed Tiago's injuries....then blamed Tiago missing training camp....then blamed the complicated spurs system as too complicated for rookies....then Pop just buried him.

Even when Tiago got healthy and was fresh from not playing all season...still...Pop would not play him.
Each victory was more of the same...yay...we won...but we played no defense...Bonner played 30 minutes and Tiago got another DNP....the worst thing was that you could not really be mad at Pop...because...hey--we are winning...but still no defense. No presence down low...no blocked shots--except for Timmy...no dominance.


The wins were not even satisfying....was I just a hater? Did I just fall out of love with my team that I had supported in good times and bad since 1973? (When they were the Dallas Chapparrals)....

The reason was that I just saw through the fact that Pop was not helping the team but hurting it. That the spurs were winning ---in spite of Pop---NOT BECAUSE OF HIM.

This is the truth if anyone wants truth.

If you want to continue losing in the first or second round...or worse...then keep believing in Pop...he was once great but now is just old and senile.

that's pretty much as spot on as a Spur fan can be if they'll take the homer glasses off just for a moment.

It didn't have to go down the way it did and hopefully some change in philosophy or personnel will salvage some of what's left.

[SenorSpur]

Pop:Is it MATT BONNER?

That is as far as anyone has to read to discover that Pop is still delusional.

If you keep supporting him...go ahead...but be prepared to keep losing...that is just plain common sense.

Anyone with a brain can see that players like Bonner will never be enough against playoff teams with young athletes that can ball.

Pop is still trotting out that 1950's bull that athlete's aren't necessary...that a player with intelligence and character can help more than an athlete. Well of course...if the athlete in question is dumber than a bag of rocks...but today's athletes are not only athletic...but also have smarts,character and discipline.

Why continue to depend on a BONNER with no athletic ability, no balls, short arms and no in' mental toughness when other teams just attack and destroy him at will?
To prove what?

That nice guys CAN succeed? That character guys who suck off the coach can implement that coach's system without ever making a mistake or take a bad shot.....while LOSING?

I tried very hard to keep supporting Pop for years and years...

Once upon a time I believed in Pop and pounding the rock and all that hoo-rah spurs philosophy crap...until I opened my eyes and thought to myself;

hmmm...

It appears that Pop stresses defense and will jump on your if you miss a defensive rotation...that is good...b-but wait...Finley s up left and right...and Pop seems to just overlook it. Is it because Nellie recommended Finley? Is it cause Pop loves Finleys jump shot? Why is it that Bruce Bowen is in the doghouse...yet Finley is spared?

I kept watching...and wondering....

Why is Pop trying to match up with other teams going small by going smaller? Why is Naz'r, Rasho, and any other bigs...rotting on the bench while teams continually drive in for layups? Why is Bogans a centerpiece of a defense that can't stop anyone? Why?

This continued and got worse with Bonner....who ANYONE could see was getting killed each and every time he stepped on the floor? Why? Why would you continue to overplay a guy who does nothing but get killed on defense...yet you continue to lie to yourself that defense is the first priority? Why?

Finally, this past season...

To me...after being a diehard spurs fan since the red,white & blue ABA days...through thick and thin...through suffering through elimination after elimination....through all that...why was this season ---for me---

the absolute worst?

This season I found myself...unhappy...AFTER A WIN!!!!

Each time that the spurs won...I found myself unhappy???? I could not understand why????


Then it hit me....


This season the spurs acquired a big man...finally...

Tiago Splitter....


Finally...Pop will go back to the defensive schemes that won the spurs 4 les....championship spurs defense is back!!!!!!

Except...Pop refused to play him....Pop buried him on the bench...Pop at first blamed Tiago's injuries....then blamed Tiago missing training camp....then blamed the complicated spurs system as too complicated for rookies....then Pop just buried him.

Even when Tiago got healthy and was fresh from not playing all season...still...Pop would not play him.
Each victory was more of the same...yay...we won...but we played no defense...Bonner played 30 minutes and Tiago got another DNP....the worst thing was that you could not really be mad at Pop...because...hey--we are winning...but still no defense. No presence down low...no blocked shots--except for Timmy...no dominance.


The wins were not even satisfying....was I just a hater? Did I just fall out of love with my team that I had supported in good times and bad since 1973? (When they were the Dallas Chapparrals)....

The reason was that I just saw through the fact that Pop was not helping the team but hurting it. That the spurs were winning ---in spite of Pop---NOT BECAUSE OF HIM.

This is the truth if anyone wants truth.

If you want to continue losing in the first or second round...or worse...then keep believing in Pop...he was once great but now is just old and senile.

ing this! ^

I missed reading this before, but this is so on-point and about as spot-on as anything else in this thread. I share those thoughts and you've crystallized the feelings of many here - myself included. Many, who experienced a level of uneasiness, wondering whether what were watching all season would ultimately turn out to be nothing more than fool's gold. All the while hoping that we were proved wrong. Unfortunately, we were not wrong.

1000 kudos to you sir.

I offer you the never-before seen

[timtonymanu]

Pop:Is it MATT BONNER?

That is as far as anyone has to read to discover that Pop is still delusional.

If you keep supporting him...go ahead...but be prepared to keep losing...that is just plain common sense.

Anyone with a brain can see that players like Bonner will never be enough against playoff teams with young athletes that can ball.

Pop is still trotting out that 1950's bull that athlete's aren't necessary...that a player with intelligence and character can help more than an athlete. Well of course...if the athlete in question is dumber than a bag of rocks...but today's athletes are not only athletic...but also have smarts,character and discipline.

Why continue to depend on a BONNER with no athletic ability, no balls, short arms and no in' mental toughness when other teams just attack and destroy him at will?
To prove what?

That nice guys CAN succeed? That character guys who suck off the coach can implement that coach's system without ever making a mistake or take a bad shot.....while LOSING?

I tried very hard to keep supporting Pop for years and years...

Once upon a time I believed in Pop and pounding the rock and all that hoo-rah spurs philosophy crap...until I opened my eyes and thought to myself;

hmmm...

It appears that Pop stresses defense and will jump on your if you miss a defensive rotation...that is good...b-but wait...Finley s up left and right...and Pop seems to just overlook it. Is it because Nellie recommended Finley? Is it cause Pop loves Finleys jump shot? Why is it that Bruce Bowen is in the doghouse...yet Finley is spared?

I kept watching...and wondering....

Why is Pop trying to match up with other teams going small by going smaller? Why is Naz'r, Rasho, and any other bigs...rotting on the bench while teams continually drive in for layups? Why is Bogans a centerpiece of a defense that can't stop anyone? Why?

This continued and got worse with Bonner....who ANYONE could see was getting killed each and every time he stepped on the floor? Why? Why would you continue to overplay a guy who does nothing but get killed on defense...yet you continue to lie to yourself that defense is the first priority? Why?

Finally, this past season...

To me...after being a diehard spurs fan since the red,white & blue ABA days...through thick and thin...through suffering through elimination after elimination....through all that...why was this season ---for me---

the absolute worst?

This season I found myself...unhappy...AFTER A WIN!!!!

Each time that the spurs won...I found myself unhappy???? I could not understand why????


Then it hit me....


This season the spurs acquired a big man...finally...

Tiago Splitter....


Finally...Pop will go back to the defensive schemes that won the spurs 4 les....championship spurs defense is back!!!!!!

Except...Pop refused to play him....Pop buried him on the bench...Pop at first blamed Tiago's injuries....then blamed Tiago missing training camp....then blamed the complicated spurs system as too complicated for rookies....then Pop just buried him.

Even when Tiago got healthy and was fresh from not playing all season...still...Pop would not play him.
Each victory was more of the same...yay...we won...but we played no defense...Bonner played 30 minutes and Tiago got another DNP....the worst thing was that you could not really be mad at Pop...because...hey--we are winning...but still no defense. No presence down low...no blocked shots--except for Timmy...no dominance.


The wins were not even satisfying....was I just a hater? Did I just fall out of love with my team that I had supported in good times and bad since 1973? (When they were the Dallas Chapparrals)....

The reason was that I just saw through the fact that Pop was not helping the team but hurting it. That the spurs were winning ---in spite of Pop---NOT BECAUSE OF HIM.

This is the truth if anyone wants truth.

If you want to continue losing in the first or second round...or worse...then keep believing in Pop...he was once great but now is just old and senile.

Really great post. Any fan that wants to bring out the "4 rings" argument should get this shoved in their face anytime. It's not even about not winning a championship. Championships aren't easy to get. It's about putting your best players out there and giving them a chance. However, Pop puts out less talented players because of the reasons you stated. Had he let Splitter play all year and benched Bonner and the Spurs still lost, I would have applauded his coaching and been satisfied because at least he tried. It's really hard to defend Pop at this point and your post states why. I don't know what else I could add so great post again.

[silverblk mystix]

ing this! ^

I missed reading this before, but this is so on-point and about as spot-on as anything else in this thread. I share those thoughts and you've crystallized the feelings of many here - myself included. Many, who experienced a level of uneasiness, wondering whether what were watching all season would ultimately turn out to be nothing more than fool's gold. All the while hoping that we were proved wrong. Unfortunately, we were not wrong.

1000 kudos to you sir.

I offer you the never-before seen

Unfortunately, there were some LOSSES that I actually enjoyed watching more than some wins, for example-there were some games that for some reason or other Pop was forced to play all the bench/role players and everyone knew beforehand that it would be a loss.
The bench came out with so much effort...and you could see how a green, novak, splitter....could actually help this team and it made you root for them. It also made you wish that Pop would see that certain players could be just as good or better than bonner,RJ...or Hill.

The excruciating part was that after these players played their hearts out...they remained buried on the bench even when other suckage was occurring on the court.

[DMC]

Then you look at last year's COY, Scott Brooks. He benches Durant in the 1st and Durant loses any semblance of rhythm. I saw Larry Brown do that to Billups in game 7 of the 2005 Finals in SA. Billups became a non factor after that. It's as if 2 fouls = done. In deciding games, like the one last night in Memphis, it's an over cautious move to bench your star player for extended minutes even if you have a lead early. They lost the game. What's the worst that could have happened? Durant fouls out and they lose the game.

My point is that all coaches make strange decisions that seem to cost games, and we all sit aside and make rhetorical assessments about how the game would have gone otherwise. It's not valid however, because our assessments cannot be played out to see if they work.

The games in which Tiago started while Tim was injured, we lost. Tiago is ok, he's not all that. I have been saying all year that he needs to work with shooting coaches and get his fundamentals down. People scoffed at it like I was saying that about Duncan. Now, what's happening? Tiago is working with shooting coaches and getting his fundamentals down.

So sure, we've all spent years second guessing coaches. That doesn't prove our alternative would have worked any better.

[20beastie45]

Does anyone know where I can find the original article?

[mingus]

not only have his schemes and decions as a coach been wrong lately, but he's got too much pride to admit when he is wrong. disgusting interview. he wouldn't have change anything? really? what a joke.

this interview has me thinking Spurs need to find a replacement for him. a coach who apparently thinks he's incapable of making a bad decision and putting it all on his players is a bad coach.

[silverblk mystix]

not only have his schemes and decions as a coach been wrong lately, but he's got too much pride to admit when he is wrong. disgusting interview. he wouldn't have change anything? really? what a joke.

this interview has me thinking Spurs need to find a replacement for him. a coach who apparently thinks he's incapable of making a bad decision and putting it all on his players is a bad coach.

+1,000

I would add that it was his decision to overplay these players...

If Pop was capable of throwing Tiago in -game 4- as a panic move...

he was also capable of pulling Matt Bonner, RJ & Hill off of the floor when he saw that they were confirmed playoff chokers.

Pop was also capable of switching the defense to stop going under screens when he saw that Conley was quite capable of hitting wide open jump shots consistently.

Pop was also capable of throwing in a zone D once in a while...or of throwing Danny Green on Conley to pressure him and hound him all over the court--al la Bruce Bowen...

Pop could have also kept runnin' the Taigo/Manu pick and roll---at least until Memphis stopped it even once...but he didn't...

Pop needs to move back to the front office--at least-- if not just retire.

[lefty]

not only have his schemes and decions as a coach been wrong lately, but he's got too much pride to admit when he is wrong. disgusting interview. he wouldn't have change anything? really? what a joke.

this interview has me thinking Spurs need to find a replacement for him. a coach who apparently thinks he's incapable of making a bad decision and putting it all on his players is a bad coach.

Yes yes yes


Not gonna happen anytime soon though

[rmt]

Article by McDonald on mysa as a continuation to the Q&A with Pop:
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...%99s-sidekick/

"“I think Tiago has to be a linchpin for our future here, because he has the size, the length, the toughness, the grit, the consistency,” Popovich said. “He’s going to be a stalwart of this team going forward.”

A limited offensive player, Splitter already has begun offseason work with Spurs shooting guru Chip Engelland to work on his free-throw stroke and to move his game a bit further from the basket. That work, however, is likely to be interrupted when Splitter joins the Brazilian national team for preparations for the Tournament of the Americas later this summer, and won’t resume until the NBA’s collective bargaining issues are settled.

Though Splitter did not spend much time paired with Duncan this season, and doesn’t have a jumper to spread the floor as McDyess did, Popovich thinks the two could coexist. For proof, he points to Fabricio Oberto, a player similar to Splitter who started next to Duncan on the Spurs’ 2007 championship team."

Nice to hear he considers him a serious part of the future and that he can work with Duncan. Also nice to hear he is working on his shooting as much as he can.

Too bad he didn't think he had the size, length, toughness and grit this season until it was too late. And consistency? LOL - the last thing he had as Pop didn't play him.

Why does he want to move his game away from the basket? Why not improve his game and post moves near the basket and have him play like a real big man - none of this spreading the floor BS. Blair started the majority of the year beside TD so I don't know what rubbish excuse he's explaining why they can't co-exist.

[DMC]

Too bad he didn't think he had the size, length, toughness and grit this season until it was too late. And consistency? LOL - the last thing he had as Pop didn't play him.

Why does he want to move his game away from the basket? Why not improve his game and post moves near the basket and have him play like a real big man - none of this spreading the floor BS. Blair started the majority of the year beside TD so I don't know what rubbish excuse he's explaining why they can't co-exist.

In order to get any looks at the rim, Tiago has to be a threat away from it. Otherwise defenders don't worry about him anywhere besides in the paint.

[jiggy_55]

Too bad he didn't think he had the size, length, toughness and grit this season until it was too late. And consistency? LOL - the last thing he had as Pop didn't play him.

Why does he want to move his game away from the basket? Why not improve his game and post moves near the basket and have him play like a real big man - none of this spreading the floor BS. Blair started the majority of the year beside TD so I don't know what rubbish excuse he's explaining why they can't co-exist.

His play in the paint is decent, he has ok footwork and can finish under the rim well enough. What he needs mostly is to improve that horrible free throw shot, because he gets fouled a lot. Ane then it would be nice if he added some 10-15 ft. jumper to his range so that he can hit some shots when open.

Same goes to Dejuan, that guy needs to first lose some damn weight! Then needs to work on his outside game a bit, during pre-season he was shooting jump shots all the time but didn't see him to do it all season. If people have to respect your mid-range shot, it makes it easier for you to drive to the lane because they have to respect you and can't sag when your away from the rim.

[Cessation]

Splitter is a center, it's not a necessity for him to have a jumper and spread the floor. To shore up spurs biggest weakness, lack of interior presence, all he had to do this season is play d, rebound and set picks. Something that he has done all of his career. I doubt he could have done worse than bonner/blair/dice. I gotta admit though, it was rather amusing seeing pop realize his ty frontline isn't good enough to beat an 8 seed, panick and play splitter when it's already too late.

lol "it was the injuries"

[UnWantedTheory]

Splitter is a center, it's not a necessity for him to have a jumper and spread the floor. To shore up spurs biggest weakness, lack of interior presence, all he had to do this season is play d, rebound and set picks. Something that he has done all of his career. I doubt he could have done worse than bonner/blair/dice. I gotta admit though, it was rather amusing seeing pop realize his ty frontline isn't good enough to beat an 8 seed, panick and play splitter when it's already too late.

lol "it was the injuries"

It helps when the C & PF positions are traditionally defined. He at least needs to be respected away from the basket.

[objective]

Pop won't learn his lesson on who to play. Didn't learn it after Hill, still won't learn it after Splitter. Won't learn his lesson on who not to play. Never learned it with Finley, never learned it with Bonner.

Even IF the Spurs get lucky and dump Jefferson's trash contract and dump Bonner and luck into players who could be difference makers, it won't matter because he won't play them. He'll screw it up, that's just Pop doing what Pop does.

[Cessation]

It helps when the C & PF positions are traditionally defined. He at least needs to be respected away from the basket.

Splitter is a defencive big, what spurs needed most, I thought. Why does he need to shoot when he has 4 shooters around him? Let them ing score. Aren't his responsibilities enough? I mean, he's already playing 1 on 2 on the defencive end when bonner/blair is out there with him. Besides, spurs use pnr heavily, and thats how splitter gets most of his points. You don't need to shoot when you roll hard to the basket or post up.

Seriously, this is just pop paying lip service, d is not his prority when night in and night out he rolls out defencive midgets like bonner/blair, and leaves bigs that actually play d, rotting on the bench. I think the fo realize that money is tight, and a small market team can't go over the luxury tax for consecutive years. They still gotta sell tickets, so they feed to the masses this, "we're contenders" shtick. Their new found focus on offence makes it rather apparent, that they've become a regular season team these days.

[carina_gino20]

The games in which Tiago started while Tim was injured, we lost.

In a lot of those games, Tiago played well in the first half only to be benched in the 2nd half/4th quarter, while the Spurs' lead kept whittling down to zero.

[UnWantedTheory]

Splitter is a defencive big, what spurs needed most, I thought. Why does he need to shoot when he has 4 shooters around him? Let them ing score. Aren't his responsibilities enough? I mean, he's already playing 1 on 2 on the defencive end when bonner/blair is out there with him. Besides, spurs use pnr heavily, and thats how splitter gets most of his points. You don't need to shoot when you roll hard to the basket or post up.

Seriously, this is just pop paying lip service, d is not his prority when night in and night out he rolls out defencive midgets like bonner/blair, and leaves bigs that actually play d, rotting on the bench. I think the fo realize that money is tight, and a small market team can't go over the luxury tax for consecutive years. They still gotta sell tickets, so they feed to the masses this, "we're contenders" shtick. Their new found focus on offence makes it rather apparent, that they've become a regular season team these days.

If Splitter were to start next year we will need him to improve his offense. We were not only lacking interior D but interior offense as well. We need Splitter to be able to at least be respected away from the basket & be semi capable of creating more of his own offense eventually. I do not know why that is difficult to understand.

[Cessation]

If Splitter were to start next year we will need him to improve his offense. We were not only lacking interior D but interior offense as well. We need Splitter to be able to at least be respected away from the basket & be semi capable of creating more of his own offense eventually. I do not know why that is difficult to understand.

I was reffering to this year's fiasco. Yes it would be nice if he were able to do these things next year, but I doubt he will. Even if he doesn't he'll still be more usefull than the "bigs" we currently have, other than td, of course.

[G-Dawgg]

Pop's obviously lost many key pieces of his coaching staff, he obviously is not equipped to adjust on fly anymore... An important part of the playoffs is how you make coaching adjustments as the series goes on and he evidently couldn't do this....

It is clear that he owes alot of his success to his coaching staff throughout the years and Coaching arguably the best big man in the past 10 years