Seattle Writer Takes Shot At Popovich

[Rummpd]

Thiel is from Tacoma Way in the Seattle area (and if are referring to me I live now near Philadelphia.
Thiel is normally a decent writer - someone fed him some real BS about Pop.

[FromWayDowntown]

The facts are David Robinson only played 6 games in the entire 1996-97 year that Popovich took over, and Popovich took over a team without him.

That is not a fact. In fact, it's 100% incorrect.

Pop took over the Spurs on December 10, 1996. Here's a link to the Spurs' 2005-06 media guide that has year-by-year transactions. You can confirm the firing date on page 141.

On December 10, 1996, the Spurs played a game at Phoenix in which David Robinson participated. He played in the 5 games that followed that one:

12/12/96 @ Clippers

12/14/96 vs. Dallas

12/19/96 @ Houston

12/21/96 vs. Phoenix

and

12/23/96 vs. Miami

David played in 6 games that season, and all six were after December 10. So, to say that Popovich took over a team without David Robinson is simply not right. The team that Popovich took over HAD David Robinson while the team that Bob Hill coached that season did not.



The remainder of your letter is pretty accurate, but that bit bothered me.

[Rummpd]

I made a mistake there but the fact is that Pop only had him for 6 games not the entire season as the author implies.

[FromWayDowntown]

I made a mistake there but the fact is that Pop only had him for 6 games not the entire season as the author implies.

He didn't imply that at all. He implied that Pop was an opportunist and that he sought to benefit himself by firing Hill before Robinson came back.

Anyone who knows anything about NBA basketball over the last decade or so knows that David Robinson didn't play that whole season -- indeed, Thiel acknowledges that tacitly by explaining how poor the Spurs record was after Pop took over.

Nevertheless, my point is that I'd strongly (and respectfully) suggest that before you blast a writer for factual matters, be certain that you're right about the facts.

[baseline bum]

I thought David and AJ wanted Hill out and Pop took the blame???

[mikejones99]

Things are so bad in Seattle they try to take shots at others now.

[pache100]

The fact is, getting fired sucks, and I dispute the notion that there is a good way to get the heave.

I just think everyone who is being fired deserves a face-to-face with the person/people firing them before the story is released to the media. NO ONE should find out from a parking lot attendant at the Phoenix airport that they have been fired. As I said, I had no problem with the Spurs firing Hill. I just think they should have talked to him about it before they let the story get out to the media while Hill was on an airplane. That just plain sucks.

[Clutch20]

This is a copy of an email I sent to A. Thiel:

"After reading your article I got the feeling that you were not in the mood for formulating a column based on a scaffolding of sports facts and researched-supported observations. If the main thrust of your amblings was to reveal your distasted of Greg Popovich's successes on and off the court and or his innate ability to draw the best out of his role players, then you were successful in revealing your grudge. "

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

To be fair a lot of people thought Pop was screwing Hill over at the time.

Pop as the defensive coordinator, and hill the offensive coordinator, wouldve been fantastic.

But Hill is a whiney little , so oh well.

Funny, whenever I called for Pop to do similar in years past when our offense was sucking hind , you called me out for it and defended Pop like he was family.

Oh the irony...

[T Park]

Funny, whenever I called for Pop to do similar in years past when our offense was sucking hind , you called me out for it and defended Pop like he was family.

only because it

WE HEARD YOU THE FIRST GODDAMN TIME!!

WE GOT IT!!!


This all moot anyways.

Popovic has turned into one of the best coaches in history and right now is considered the best in the leauge, despite most here not having much respect for him anymore.

[Obstructed_View]

Pop fired Hill because Robinson was coming back and the Spurs had a chance to start winning, which, as we all know, would have been a disaster. If their record had started to improve it would have been more difficult to explain the firing. Hill was thrown under the bus, but the Spurs got the Bus Driver in the draft. I don't feel a bit sorry for Hill. He was a good coach, but I'd rather have Duncan.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Popovic has turned into one of the best coaches in history and right now is considered the best in the leauge, despite most here not having much respect for him anymore.

Our offense still needs some work, unless you like watching 8 point quarters against Detroit.

[Marcus Bryant]

The Sonics are committed to tanking this season.

[Obstructed_View]

The Sonics are committed to tanking this season.

If they were then they'd have kept Weiss.