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It's funny how of all the people who have disagreed with JT in this thread, NOT ONE OF THEM HAS GIVEN THE NAME OF AN AVAILABLE COACH WHO WOULD DO BETTER THAN POPOVICH.
Hear that? That's the sound of your credibility flying out the window.
It's funny how of all the people who have disagreed with JT in this thread, NOT ONE OF THEM HAS GIVEN THE NAME OF AN AVAILABLE COACH WHO WOULD DO BETTER THAN POPOVICH.
For the record, I don't think Pop should be fired. If he stepped away from coaching, that would signal the end to this era.
That said, I just can't defend the moves he's made this season. It's by far the worst coaching job I've seen him do. From beginning the season with Finley and Bonner in the starting lineup to his post-All-Star break "adjustments", he just hasn't pushed a right button all year.
Hall of Fame coach. Bad season.
TPark, is that you?
I go to the gym on a regular basis, so no.
not sure that is the answer either since PJ is traveling with the team doing color commentating...He's there if they want him
Kinda like what you just did with your post
I'm glad I went to the game last night... I saw Pop do two things that were encouraging:
1) He got seriously pissed off the first 3 or 4 times were we made high school-type of defensive mistakes. I mean, he was livid with RJ, Hill and Blair.
2) He really sat down in a couple of timeouts and really tried to coach. You know, grab the board, tell them what to run, and encourage them to get the flow going, and what not.
He's definitely trying. I just think he's sincere when he says he can't get through to them. I just don't understand the reasoning for his lineups or the personnel decisions.
One other thing is that when Tony sat down after his first stint, and basically sat him down for a while, I think he kinda figured Tony couldn't play much and he toned down a bit. I'm not going to say he gave up, but I think he figured Tony wouldn't be able to do much.
And I think that's a lot of what's going on in his mind. I think he realizes that with a hobbled Tony, we're not going anywhere. He might not say it right now so it's not used as an excuse, but it's really the reality here, as much as it was last season without Manu.
as much as pop has been questionable this year its hard to get this team going anywhere when players are constantly going in and out of injuries.... its no surprise tony needs to be on an all-star level for us to win.. thats just fact. and from the way tim looks of late those knees are definitely bothering him a bit.
What is so hard to understand about this? Just because there might not be an available coach, with all things considered, who can turn this completely around does not mean Pop has not had a very bad season as a coach.
This team was not going to win a le with TP, Manu and RJ performing how they are. No coach would have changed that. Having said that, Pop's decisions have compounded the problem. He could have done many things differently that could have helped the situation. Not that it would have mattered with regards to a le, but that is not how he should be evaluated.
Many of his moves, especially the new ones make no logical sense. Some things cannot be defended. Should he be fired because his main players outside of Duncan have vastly under achieved for various reasons, no. But he should take a long hard look in the mirror when it comes to why things got as bad as they currently are.
Great coach overall, terrible season for him.
this says it all
Pop is not the coach he used to be.. the lineups he puts on the floor are pathetic and having bonner start again is a bad move.. He's lost it and if he can't get through to the team then he has failed as a coach. I don't really care if he is fired or not but if firing him will make the team better then I'm all for it.
Coaches are really overrated in general..a coach is more likely to hurt a team than he is to help it..I believe Pop is a good coach, same with Phil Jackson, same with Larry Brown and others, but they're all overrated to an extent..I'd still say they are good coaches, but I don't believe you can "rank" a coach..it's either good or bad..at the end of the day, players win les..
These coaches that have success end up having huge egos..they become stubborn and believe whatever they do is the correct decision..their success came from the talent they had on the team..
The Spurs weren't going to win a le this year, but they could be better if the coach kept it simple..
+1 to DPG's post..
There's only been two games since the all-star break; I'd give that some more time. Its not entirely Pop's fault that both Parker and Duncan combined for 5-19 last night in addition to the disappointments known as McDyess and (combined 7-17 last night). Duncan's been struggling as of late and you'd think with Dalembert fouled out he'd capitalize.
In some ways I've been impressed by Pop this season, he's given young guys like Hill and Blair their earned minutes which seems like a contrast to years before (thankfully Blair has gotten the nod over Ian). He's also given Jefferson ample opportunities to prove his worth despite his disappointing game which is a good move, better for him to actually get chemistry than get chained to the dog house.
Finley only has started 4 games and Bonner 6; both are averaging under 17 mins a game so at least they don't eat up too much minutes. Both are arguably better at defense than their counterparts in Mason Jr., Bogans, Dice, and Blair. Bonner's +/- stat is pretty good along with 48MoH recent article that listed him in two of the five best Spurs lineups (http://www.48minutesof .com/2010/...t-1/#more-6511). Also for most of the season the Spurs have one of the most electric first quarters in the league.
The standings are so close in the West that its incredible the Spurs have kept up despite incredibly disappointing trade acquisitions, rampant injuries, chemistry issues, and lack of consistent effort. The big three haven't looked anywhere near as good as they did last year when they were healthy; imo having an injured Parker is one of the killers for our losses this year. He just doesn't look like an elite PG like he did last year and instead of improving like he has every season he's unfortunately regressed instead. Ginobili is still getting up to par and Duncan is struggling recently offensively; not to mention Jefferson and Dice's shortcomings.
Yet we're only 3 games behind in the loss column behind the #2 spot but also three losses away from the #9; with the toughest schedule left this is going to be do or die for the Spurs. As long as there are no more significant injuries, Pop should be able to find a way to make it through.
normally i'd agree, and its obvious i wasnt around before pop, in fact where I have criticized him I've also said i dont think its a good time to change coaches and dont know who'd make a good replacement.
but to me pop seems out of character lately, and when you say we're missing a good big- compared to what? oberto/elson/nazr/rasho/horry*? i agree about bruce though, thats probably the biggest difference. in the end, pop chose the pieces, said they were good enough, but hasnt been able to put them together. its probably part of the reason hes been out of character, he knows the jacuzzi is getting hotter.
I'm not known for my memory, but were those bigs really that much better than dyess/blair/bonner/ratliff/mahinmi *(horry is the only clear exception). and though I do remember pop being prone to experiments and shifty rotations, I dont remember it ever being this bad. you can get away with that stuff when you're kicking ass, but not when you're getting your ass kicked.
Firing Pop is not going to fix anything next season. A healthy Tony Parker, Manu playing like it's 2005 and Duncan rolling back the clock a bit, a coach can not make happen.. Any coach..
Yep and a lot of people agree, so whats the problem?
I heartily endorse the OP. The coach's job is to prepare the players, but it is the player's job to get the game plan done, and they simply aren't doing that right now.
Pop has not had his greatest season, but it's not his fault that the team hasn't gelled, nor that he doesn't have the horses he needs for the system to succeed. I can't see how replacing him with Generic Coach X will improve things.
The frustration of this season is wearing on fans, players, coaches...so we as fans point fingers...try to find answers...make criticisms,suggestions,etc...
Pop has been probably one of the 2 or 3 best things that has ever happened for this franchise...
What have you done for me lately?
That, I believe---unfair or not---is what it will ultimately come down to.
Okay, say we just keep trusting in Pop because of his resume....
Suppose ...
2010---first round playoff exit---or worse...
2011...no playoffs...
2012...rebuilding...
2013...miss playoffs again...
WHEN---would it be TIME to look at pop and possibly making a change...
you say...NAME a better available coach....
I say---WHEN is it acceptable to look at pops performance and question him?
For the record...I have been a diehard spurs fan since the ABA days, watched as our beloved G.Gervin was traded to chicago, cried when that stick JAKE ODONNEL ed us against Washington Bullets, endured during the years WE were like Suns fans crying about the refs--losing to the lakers,etc...
i have always supported and believed...but if a hall of famer like gervin can be disrespected like that for the betterment of the team/franchise----why is POP above that....
Do you think if pop were offered a CRAZY offer in a year or two ---to basically trade Duncan---for someone...and the deal was just TOO GOOD to pass up...do you think Pop would turn it down because of Duncan's status?
if so, dream on...
I say---Pop should definitely be put to the fire...
what have you done for me lately?
You would think that this season would further prove to people the importance of chemistry and understanding the system.
Meh, if that were the case the '08 Celtics shouldn't have won it all.
Yes, about these great coaches--could someone remind me how well Phil has done when he wasn't coaching the best players in the league? I just can't remember... And I think Pop has always acknowledged his success was duo to TD, not primarily his coaching.
About the only guy who can make lemonade out of lemons, polish a turd you might say, is Larry Brown--for one season. And I don't think it would work on the Spurs' veterans.
Besides that, we are seeing a man who is furiously pulling levers behind that green curtain, and it's not really working. Probably it would be better if he did hardly anything at all, and let the team win or lose on its own merits.
But imagine how angry people would be if he didn't do anything!
If Pop is not the problem then who is??? Bonner? RC? RJ? TD? TP?
It's Pop.
Pop requested RJ. So RC is off the hook there.
Pop is trying to turn RJ into something he is not. He is a volume shooter which doesn't work in our system. So RJ is off the hook there.
Pop is trying to turn Bonner into a defensive stalwart which he could NEVER be. So that's Bonner and Pop's fault.
Pop didn't play Theo, Pop didn't play Ian. Pop played Finley ahead of the younger Mason. Pop needed 50 games to finally insert Hill into the starting lineup with Parker. Pop didn't play Blair. Pop is mauling the rotation. Pop cut Haislip.
And don't get me started about the game time adjustments, because they are horrible too.
If it's not Pop's fault, then who?
Pop is not the problem, players not playing to their abilities is the problem. Tony parker thinking that france has a chance to be a world class team is the problem. I don' know if any of the other top coaches in the league could have coached the 05' and 07' teams to a championship. I don't know how we even have as many wins this year as we do having only one consistent player (Tim Duncan).
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