Could Gregg Popovich Coach the Detroit Pistons?

[nbascribe]

Prunty was an advanced scout for his last three years with the Spurs. Meaning he wasn't even with the team, he was on the road scouting. He didn't have anything to do with the plays in San Antonio. He was out scouting the teams they were going to play. He wasn't even in San Antonio for like 9 months out of the year.

But he still knew the system. And even as an advanced scout, you have meetings and such. I know that much from talking with Gene Little and the job he does for Seattle. He has a playbook because scouts have to file reports of plays that will work against what they saw at a game.

And the argument of scout only solidifies my point. Taht means taht he scouted Dallas. He'd know something to do to fix their problems and to cause problems for others.

[Kori Ellis]

I just know that Prunty is a scrub. He was low man here in San Antonio. Laura told me that in 2004 the only time he was even home in San Antonio or with the team was in August. He wasn't a big part of any plays, etc.

AJ's coaching success is because of AJ. He knows the Spurs playbook because a lot of what is in it, he was a part of. But he didn't win the series because of the playbook. He won the series because he made adjustments that were successful and Pop made adjustments that failed. Their personnel that was on the floor was better than the Spurs personnel.

[Spurologist]

The answer to this question depends on the situation. I don't think pop has had much experience dealing with tough nosed players (off the wall. Artest, Sheed, etc). He hasn't had to. He has gained respect from the entire league and him going to Detroit would have them play much better defense. What happened? They look slow, unconcerned, and often times confused out there. This has to do with players taking pride in playing D, but the coach is a major factor in that area. The very championship experience of pop would make them play better. Believe it or not, the pistons are afraid of the unknown. Flip hasn't won since he entered the nba coaching ranks. That robs off on players. This is why I believe getting the first nba le for a coach is the hardest one they will go through. I don't if the prowess of pop when he first entered the league would be able to lead the pistons to the le.

This pop, right now, would lead this team to the championship. Bank on that.

[JamStone]

One thing Pop would get that Flip has not gotten is respect.

Ben Wallace would respect Pop. Rasheed Wallace would respect Pop. Yes, he would. And, even if they disagree with Pop, they would listen to him and follow what he says.

Success against the Miami Heat is an entirely different thing. But, there would be no rumors of mutiny or disharmony among players and the coach or the players themselves.

I actually think that Phil Jackson would do a great job with the Pistons as well. Dumars would have no problem with Jackson. Dumars doesn't interfere with coaching at all. The one and only time I can remember Dumars insisting something of a coach was in the 2003 playoffs when he insisted that Rick Carlisle play Tayshaun Prince. It took an entire season and being down in the first round of the playoffs for Dumars to say anything. Other than that, Dumars stays away from what the coaches have done. Perhaps, Dumars should have tried to insist playing the bench more during this season as well. But, as successful as the Pistons were, it was hard to complain.

[nbascribe]

I can't put too much credence into Laura!! lol

Seriously though, Pruny was in the same position before Mike Budenholsier moved to the assistant spot under pop. They came in the league together. And to call him a scrub is kind of classless. Just about every assistant coach today comes up that way and AJ isn't the only one that knew something about the playbook from 1999. but that's evolved a bit too. Basic schemes are still there though. I mean even Cleveland is running a hybrid of it right now. They just don't have the personnel.

But I'll agree with you about what was on the floor. when it counted, the Mavericks were the better team. I call it being hungry. They were starving for a series win and the Spurs just couldn't belly up to the table and eat.

Oh well, back to the current channel of the thread…

[sprrs]

First, has anyone put specific credence to "all the bull " going on in Detroit? There's rumors flying here and there but it's not clear whether they are losing because there are problems, or whether there are problems because they are losing.

If you accept that there's stuff going on, then no I don't think Pop would be any better at getting it (i.e., Rasheed) under control than Flip. Pop's strength is that he picks and coaches players to prevent it from happening in the first place.

You know who would rule under that kind of chaos? Phil Jackson.

Latrell Sprewell?

[Spurologist]

Latrell Sprewell?

That never happened.

Pop was in Golden State as an assistant coach and never had much say about picking sprewell in the draft.

[ShoogarBear]

1. Some people *cough*timvp*cough* will say that AJ coached Pop in 99.

2. True, Pop did want Sprewell in SA. But apparently the feeling was mutual, Sprewell really wanted to play for Pop. So again, you think there was any question in Pop's mind that Latrell was going to cause problems he would still want him here?

3. The only think about Jackson is that he seems to like to have the One Dominant Player to build his team around. It would be very interesting to see, for example, if he would try to play Big Chief Triangle with the Pistons.

[bdubya]

The one and only time I can remember Dumars insisting something of a coach was in the 2003 playoffs when he insisted that Rick Carlisle play Tayshaun Prince. It took an entire season and being down in the first round of the playoffs for Dumars to say anything. Other than that, Dumars stays away from what the coaches have done. Perhaps, Dumars should have tried to insist playing the bench more during this season as well. But, as successful as the Pistons were, it was hard to complain.

As I understand it, Joe has said he has no interest in coaching, but I still gotta wonder how that would turn out.

[ShoogarBear]

Success against the Miami Heat is an entirely different thing. But, there would be no rumors of mutiny or disharmony among players and the coach or the players themselves.

Back to my question, how much of this is not playing well due to disharmony, and how much is disharmony due to not playing well?

[Spurologist]

Back to my question, how much of this is not playing well due to disharmony, and how much is disharmony due to not playing well?

100%

[Bob Lanier]

It's mostly the former - although most of the popular scapegoat, Rasheed's, is the latter.

Pop would not allow Chauncey Billups to be out of control, and he would get much more respect from the players. Ironically enough, his offense would probably be more effective than Flip's in the playoffs. His defense would definitely be a lot better. His game management and subs utions couldn't be worse (yes, I'm aware that certain of you will say something similar).

Yes, Pop could do very well as coach of the Pistons. Somebody mentioned Phil Jackson , and I think he'd be a perfect coach for the Pistons.

As for this:

no. pop would probably play mo evans at center

one of the quirks Flip's tugged out of his collar during this playoff "run" is a lineup featuring Maurice Evans at power forward. Smallball is not a new thing for Flip. One of his lineups this season that's always irritated me features Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace, one of whom is apparently supposed to be playing center. I know it's necessary to get Dice more minutes, but that lineup provides absolutely no resistance when our "All-Defensive" perimeter players get blown by off the dribble. Sheed is a fantastic help defender, but not much of a shotblocker; and McDyess, always a mediocre defender, has become an awful one since LB left. Flip absolutely refused to play Dale Davis to rest Ben until Shaq forced him to.

[SequSpur]

Hmm.........

Why doesn't Pop quit and go try? I am all for it.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

For the umpteenth time, AJ DIDN'T OUT COACH POP.

Um, yes he did. I'm tired of the denial around here about the coaching in our series with the Mavs, AJ coached circles around Pop.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

BTW, Rip, Chauncey, and Sheed running the triangle would be sick. You can throw Prince in there too. Hope it never happens.

[picnroll]

Speaking of Latrell, as a mid-season pick-up he would have come in handy, particularly against Howard. Spurs were on decent swingman with balls away from taking this series with some room to breathe,

[Darrin]

With all the bull going on in MoTown, do you think the Pistons would be winning the series against the Heat if Pop was the coach instead of Flipper Saunders?

YES!

[Tek_XX]

Are their actually people who don't think pop was outcoached?

[Spurodamus]

Gregg Popovich purposefully lost the series to force the Spurs' miserly owner into spending more on the team.

[TDMVPDPOY]

pop would likely play small ahhahaha and lose the series

seriously the clowns on teh pistons team are like prime madonnas, they will not be able to handle pops screamin at them

[nbascribe]

Spreewell?
Pop wasn't there when that went down was he?

[CosmicCowboy]

Funny that everyone is talking about Sheed as the problem. Word is that Big Ben is the one that is unhappiest. Flip has totally cut him out of the offense...Ben was never the #1 go to guy in Larry Browns offense either but he would always run 3 or 4 plays a game for him to keep him involved on both ends.

[Vashner]

It takes 2 to tango... Need a team.. not a single person for Victory.

No coach.. no player.. no nothing. Team...

ALL FOR ONE.. and ONE FOR ALL!! Spurs 2006 / 2007 !!

[1Parker1]

Ben was never the #1 go to guy in Larry Browns offense either but he would always run 3 or 4 plays a game for him to keep him involved on both ends.

Flip's problem is he's given too much reign to Hamilton and Billups. Guys like Prince, Sheed, and to a degree Ben are suffering a little more to get an offensive rythmn when Hamilton and Billups are dominating on offense more so. Also, the entire team seems to have fallen in love with the 3 point and mid-range jumpshot. Whatever happened to them driving and taking it to the basket??