OT: Hypothetical/Polll: Could Popovich lead this group of Lakers to a championship?

[DeadlyDynasty]

No...as stated by others on this forum repeatedly, the role of NBA Head Coach isn't that important in the grand scheme of things. Look no further than last year's CF's for confirmation of that.

[HI-FI]

Media there would hate Pop, but Jack Nicholson and the rest of the Laker faithful would be all over his nuts guaransheed

agreed, I think Jack would love Pop. He'd probably try to get him to hang out, drink wine and do blow with him. It's the new breed/Rapist fans that wouldn't like Pop. Why aren't you letting Kobe play 40 minutes and shoot 41 times?

Pop would need an RC Buford type GM and a Peter Holt type owner. It's not just Pop. Flamboyant personalities never fared well in SA, Jax not withstanding but even Jax has his issues. The Lakers are so ego heavy it would be hard for Pop to just go in and change the culture. However, he would do things that earned the trust of the players, like take a fine just to rest them if he thought they needed it, and no way Kobe gets 40 minutes a night under Pop. He'd get the most out of all of them, and we'd actually get to see if what they were capable of. Not all "stacked" teams are capable of playing championship level ball as a team.

Truth, RC and especially Peter Holt don't get enough credit. But Pop still is a great leader/tactician and I think he could easily have this team in the playoffs. Watching him bench Kobe would be hilarious, but I imagine Kobe would create all kinds of trouble for Pop.

[Malik Hairston]

Coaching isn't LA's problem, it hasn't been at any point..

Pop wouldn't be able to magically heal Howard's back and Gasol's entire lower body, the two biggest problems with the Lakers..

[Latarian Milton]

pop is known to be a pro in getting the most out of craps but it's still unproven if he can handle more than one superstar on his team tbh

[Chris]

pop is known to be a pro in getting the most out of craps but it's still unproven if he can handle more than one superstar on his team tbh

Got 2 rings with Robinson/Duncan

[KL2]

Can you imagine Pop yelling at Kobe like he does TD and TP? Fuuuuck no, Kobe would cry and demand him out of there, Pau would just cry since he's a pussy, same with Howard, too many big egos.

[Malik Hairston]

I doubt Kobe would have a problem with Pop's yelling, Pau as well, but ya, Howard would not be able to accept it..

[Killakobe81]

Lol great coach but he is not a miracle worker. We have no bench and ty defense he would help with d but this bench is trash Pop is my third favorite coach all time behind Riles and Phil but none of them was bearing LeBron or Durant with this lineup. Pop hasn't even been to a Finals without a near prime Duncan and solid bench. No one on Laker roster playing close to a prime Duncan level despite a hof resumes

Dumb thread tbh

[StrengthAndHonor]

He would make a difference.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Just to show you guys an example albeit a small one.


Spurs vs Miami.

Spurs almost beat the Heat at home this year without Granger, Manu, TD and TP.


Plain and simple. Players respects Pop. Can't say the same for MDA.

[HarlemHeat37]

Just to show you guys an example albeit a small one.


Spurs vs Miami.


Spurs almost beat the Heat at home this year without Granger, Manu, TD and TP.


Plain and simple. Players respects Pop. Can't say the same for MDA.

the Lakers almost beat the Spurs without Howard, Gasol and Hill..what a terrible argument, tbh..

[Brunodf]

the Lakers almost beat the Spurs without Howard, Gasol and Hill..what a terrible argument, tbh..

Exacly, Lakers bench can play when they get touches

[StrengthAndHonor]

So you're actually arguing that Popovich as a head coach has no impact to his players?

[StrengthAndHonor]

Pops will make a difference. He's the primary reason why the Spurs were relevant during those Duncan is done years.

[HarlemHeat37]

Pop would make the Lakers better, but he wouldn't make them contenders..if 2 of your 3 best players, your starting frontcourt, are clearly limited by injuries, your team isn't going to contend for a le, tbh..

[DAF86]

As it's currently constructed, with the lack of bench and the variety of issues of age, injury history, ego, etc. in the starting five, that's not a championship team under anyone's leadership. It's not a team that should be under .500 and looking lottery bound, either.

Pop would develop a bench by actually playing those guys.

[DAF86]

And to answer the OP's question, I don't know if championsip but they would definitely be a good team.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Pop would make the Lakers better, but he wouldn't make them contenders..if 2 of your 3 best players, your starting frontcourt, are clearly limited by injuries, your team isn't going to contend for a le, tbh..

I never said they will be contenders, but I do believe they will be a Top 4 team with Popovich.

[TrainOfThought5]

i think Pop Might just bench one of the super 4 to better fit a scheme, and provide better bench play.

[irishock]

Only PJ can lead the current Lakers to a le.

[Spurs9]

A big fat NO !!! Dude couldn't survive in LA....He's too ugly..in fact I read somewhere that he's the ugliest coach in NBA History..and tbh that's hard to dispute