Pop with the coaching decision of the year (so far)

[Man In Black]

I actually thought that removing Tim forced the Spurs to just focus on running the offense. It seemed like, for a few minutes, that the team was scrambling and they tried to go to Duncan to bail them out. Pop taking Tim out left the team with no other options than to just build from the motion set and find the open man.

GENIUS

[DAF86]

I actually thought that removing Tim forced the Spurs to just focus on running the offense. It seemed like, for a few minutes, that the team was scrambling and they tried to go to Duncan to bail them out. Pop taking Tim out left the team with no other options than to just build from the motion set and find the open man.

GENIUS

I think it had more to do with Tim sucking on offense and Tiago providing the better defense to be the anchor in the middle of the 4 guards, tbh.

[tesseractive]

This is the opposite of 2011. This team was built to beat Memphis.

This. Tiago may not be the toughest guy in the post, but our post rotation has completely changed from 2 years ago. We have two guys with size in the starting lineup now, Blair's riding the pine, and Bonner has only been playing a handful of minutes. That's night and day different from 2 years ago, when the Turd Towers were crucial parts of our rotation.

We also didn't have Kawhi 2 years ago. With their lack of 3-point shooting, he's going to be able to camp out near the lane for most of the game and bring the double team whenever we need it. We can throw Danny, Tony, and Cory at Conley, and he's not going to see a ton of great looks.

They have a great defense, but so do we. We may be winning some of these 75-65, but I just think we can get more stops when it comes down to it.

[Man In Black]

I think it had more to do with Tim sucking on offense and Tiago providing the better defense to be the anchor in the middle of the 4 guards, tbh.

Watching at a Sports Bar, that what I felt at that time. I read the SB Nation post and I agree with it but, last night, I didn't think Tim's D was that bad. Overall, the FG%'s for GSW were low all around regardless of who was in but I agree Tiago's position D was much better.

[wildbill2u]

I can't think of another coach in any sport who would have removed his star player, especially after his scoring in the first half. If we had lost, the decision would have come back to haunt Pop forever.

And when questioned about it after the game, he protected Tim by simply stating it was his decision to make the move without any reference to WHY he did it.

The bravest move by a coach I ever saw.

[therealtruth]

Who remembers the Suns exposing Duncan at the end of game 2 in '10 on the pick and roll. I think Pop was trying to avoid that. If we had some decent pick and roll defense in that series we probably could have won it.

[Gino-Step]

I can't think of another coach in any sport who would have removed his star player, especially after his scoring in the first half. If we had lost, the decision would have come back to haunt Pop forever.

And when questioned about it after the game, he protected Tim by simply stating it was his decision to make the move without any reference to WHY he did it.

The bravest move by a coach I ever saw.

lol. have you ever asked out a girl on a date? you seem real scared to do anything. Give him credit (to quote Mark Jackson) but damn you got no balls.

[NickiRasgo]

CIA Pop!

Why Gregg Popovich benched Tim Duncan

http://www.sbnation.com/2013/5/17/43...s-nba-playoffs

[ducks]

http://www.sbnation.com/2013/5/17/43...=articlebottom

[therealtruth]

This. Tiago may not be the toughest guy in the post, but our post rotation has completely changed from 2 years ago. We have two guys with size in the starting lineup now, Blair's riding the pine, and Bonner has only been playing a handful of minutes. That's night and day different from 2 years ago, when the Turd Towers were crucial parts of our rotation.

We also didn't have Kawhi 2 years ago. With their lack of 3-point shooting, he's going to be able to camp out near the lane for most of the game and bring the double team whenever we need it. We can throw Danny, Tony, and Cory at Conley, and he's not going to see a ton of great looks.

They have a great defense, but so do we. We may be winning some of these 75-65, but I just think we can get more stops when it comes down to it.

What killed us two years ago is that Gasol/Randolph could shoot over the top of Blair/Bonner. Also Duncan had to help so much he couldn't focus on his individual coverage.