Pop Named Coach of the Western Conf. All-Stars

[BatManu20]

I'm sure he's thrilled.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Good to hear, it's well deserved.

[LakerHater]

Hope he adds Tim to roster!

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm surprised that he didn't insist upon the league giving the spot to Walton.

Maybe he did, and the league rejected it; seems ridiculous this season to not have Walton get that honor.

[FromWayDowntown]

Hope he adds Tim to roster!

The All-Star coach doesn't have that power in the NBA. He gets a vote in who the reserves are; if an elected All-Star can't play, the Commissioner gets to decide who the replacement is.

[LongtimeSpursFan]

Hope he plays Curry 48 minutes.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Poor Pop.

[Spur|n|Austin]

I'm surprised that he didn't insist upon the league giving the spot to Walton.

Maybe he did, and the league rejected it; seems ridiculous this season to not have Walton get that honor.

Just curious, has an interim head coach ever coached an AST?

[JohnnyMax]

Coaches can't coach All-Stars in 2 straight yrs, so Steve Kerr's ineligible.

[Seventyniner]

I guess the league is applying the Riley rule to franchises and not coaches. Or is it because Kerr came back before the cutoff?

[I. Hustle]

Hope he plays Curry 48 minutes.

Agree. Let him be the AS MVP if he wants.

[FromWayDowntown]

Just curious, has an interim head coach ever coached an AST?

I'd doubt that. The cir stances this year are really unique, but Walton should have had the opportunity and the League should have found a way to work around the Riley Rule to recognize that cir stance. Bad job by the league, I think.

[Kawhitstorm]

The first female to coach an NBA All-Star game:

[loveforthegame]

Good for Pop. I'm sure he's thrilled.

[FromWayDowntown]

In any event, it's Pop's 4th All-Star game. The Spurs have reached the Finals in 2 of the 3 prior years (2005, 2013) in which he coached the All-Stars. The other one was 2011.

Only 4 coaches have more All-Star selections -- and all before the Riley Rule: Red Auerbach (11), Pat Riley (9), K.C. Jones (6), Fred Schaus (5). Pop's 4th selection ties him for 5th place with John Kundla, Tommy Heinsohn, Billy Cunningham, Lenny Wilkens, and Phil Jackson.

[LakerHater]

So is Lue gonna coach east?

... or Blatt

[spursistan]

Play Curry/Raymond 48 minutes, tbh..

[FromWayDowntown]

I guess the league is applying the Riley rule to franchises and not coaches. Or is it because Kerr came back before the cutoff?

Probably the latter (combined with the fact that Kerr gets credit for all of Walton's wins).

I don't think the Riley Rule applies to franchises -- in 2003, Isiah Thomas coached the East All-Stars while serving as coach of the Pacers; the next year, Rick Carlisle coached the East while also serving as coach of the Pacers.

[SupremeGuy]

Hope he adds Tim to roster!

Hope he plays Curry 48 minutes.

These.

[BatManu20]

[I. Hustle]

THANKS!

[Uriel]

Hope he plays Curry 48 minutes.

[LakerHater]

no Boban in the rising stars??

[Spur|n|Austin]

So is Lue gonna coach east?

... or Blatt

good question, awkwarddd..

[FromWayDowntown]

good question, awkwarddd..

I'm sure the league would be relieved if Toronto could somehow overtake Cleveland by the cut-off. Not likely to happen, but it would make things much easier (and give even more Raptors presence at the game itself).