Popo at it again; this is INEXCUSABLE.

[UnWantedTheory]

I'm not sure if you're serious, but I hope not. You think you can take anything away, evaluation-wise, from a game like this? There's nothing to be taken away from a game where you get demolished like this, except a loss and a killing of the streak/momentum.

Absolutely correct, for those who are limited.

[TJastal]

Now that this so-called ''brilliant coach'' gave this game away, will he be in a giving mood to give Karl and the Nuggets Thursday's game by not playing Tony/Tim again? I wouldn't put it past this Pizza face,wine drinking mother er.

[UnWantedTheory]

+1

slap in the face to every fan that paid good money to come see a compe ive game. It also reinforced to the networks why they should not show spurs on national t.v.

Unfortunately this is true.

[SA210]

+1

It was an absolute disgrace to the name of professional basketball and a slap in the face to every fan that paid good money to come see a compe ive game. It also reinforced to the networks why they should not show spurs on national t.v.

A perfect trifecta of FAIL.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Waiting for the first moron to say "who cares if we are national tv"

[UnWantedTheory]

"who cares if we are national tv"

[TJastal]

Everyone can pinpoint many "bad" decisions made by any coach who has ever sat his ass on a bench. Mistakes are to be made, but tonight was not one of them. The streak was great and all, but this is a team and organization that puts emphasis on being opposite of what you little s are crying for. We will never know what we could have done with TD and Tony starting, but the deck was stacked against us as the Blazers were hungry for blood after their embarrassing loss to LA, TD and Tony were played heavily the night before, and we are missing 2 key players, one of which is the most efficient big we have, against an athletic talented team. If we were to rest TD and Tony and take a night off without hurting our team psychologically, tonight was it. , there was even a silver lining throughout this atrocious showing. We now know what some of our players are truly made of. Education can be expensive.

We could have at least had our cake, cut it into squares, and maybe enjoyed a few. In other words, could have found out what a few of those guys "were made of" and still used Duncan and Parker for 20 minutes each. Might have still been a loss, but at least it wouldn't have been caused by a pussy coach dropping his pants and bending over for the other team. That is what is irking alot of folks here. There is a reason Pop is the only coach in the league that uses this foolhardy strategy, and more often than not it ends up biting the spurs in the ass.

[Hoops Czar]

Everyone can pinpoint many "bad" decisions made by any coach who has ever sat his ass on a bench. Mistakes are to be made, but tonight was not one of them. The streak was great and all, but this is a team and organization that puts emphasis on being opposite of what you little s are crying for. We will never know what we could have done with TD and Tony starting, but the deck was stacked against us as the Blazers were hungry for blood after their embarrassing loss to LA, TD and Tony were played heavily the night before, and we are missing 2 key players, one of which is the most efficient big we have, against an athletic talented team. If we were to rest TD and Tony and take a night off without hurting our team psychologically, tonight was it. , there was even a silver lining throughout this atrocious showing. We now know what some of our players are truly made of. Education can be expensive.

There wasn't a single teaching moment in the game. This was more of " remember kids, wining or losing isn't important. All that matters is that you try your best. Now, lets go out and have some fun kids, and after the game we'll all go out for some pizza and wings."

[UnWantedTheory]

We could have at least had our cake, cut it into squares, and maybe enjoyed a few. In other words, could have found out what a few of those guys "were made of" and still used Duncan and Parker for 20 minutes each. Might have still been a loss, but at least it wouldn't have been caused by a pussy coach dropping his pants and bending over for the other team. That is what is irking alot of folks here. There is a reason Pop is the only coach in the league that uses this foolhardy strategy, and more often than not it ends up biting the spurs in the ass.

Or you can lose anyway and rest your aging tired stars who have been carrying the team all season. Also, Pop maybe the only coach in the league that uses that foolhardy strategy, but how many other coaches have 4 rings?

[UnWantedTheory]

There wasn't a single teaching moment in the game. This was more of " remember kids, wining or losing isn't important. All that matters is that you try your best. Now, lets go out and have some fun kids, and after the game we'll all go out for some pizza and wings."

Teaching moments? Not so much. I would call it more revealing than anything.

[TJastal]

There wasn't a single teaching moment in the game. This was more of " remember kids, wining or losing isn't important. All that matters is that you try your best. Now, lets go out and have some fun kids, and after the game we'll all go out for some pizza and wings."

+1

Another salient point.

If anything all this game accomplished was instilling into the youngsters a whole boatload of new unfundamentally sound habits that will have to be ironed out now for the next month or so.

Pretty scary looking ahead to what this team is going to be like post-Duncan. Would be fitting if Pop retired the day Duncan did. Might be the
2nd smartest coaching decision he ever makes.

[Hoops Czar]

Or you can lose anyway and rest your aging tired stars who have been carrying the team all season. Also, Pop maybe the only coach in the league that uses that foolhardy strategy, but how many other coaches have 4 rings?

Funny you included the four rings. Pop didn't use this strategy when they won their rings. Since he employed this strategy, he hasn't gotten past the second round. So I guess you could say the stragedy really hasn't worked.

[UnWantedTheory]

Funny you included the four rings. Pop didn't use this strategy when they won their rings. Since he employed this strategy, he hasn't gotten past the second round. So I guess you could say the stragedy really hasn't worked.

Because the core players were not old then. Aging happens and precautions need to be made in order to prolong careers. Pop is not the only coach who has ever done this. Managing minutes does not slow down the aging process so you have to realize that every year he has done this, we have continued to age and continued to have key injuries. This is an utterly ridiculous discussion to be had if you are truly attempting to connect how he has managed minutes to why we have not won another championship. The main reason we have not won another championship is due to injuries and the fact we did not surround our stars with a better supporting cast as they have aged. No more, no less.

[Hoops Czar]

Teaching moments? Not so much. I would call it more revealing than anything.

Your right about this. What have we learn...

Pros

Leonard was solid both offensively and defensively


Cons

Green has no business starting

Rj will continue to get playing time eventhough he is a complete and utter liability both offensively and defensively.

Joseph should be playing for the Toros.

Dawson, its nine days and counting.

[spurs4real]

Calm down! People calling for his firing need to realize this could be worse, we could be the Lakers with the ex coach of Lebron James. It's just 1 game. Chill.

[Hoops Czar]

Because the core players were not old then. Aging happens and precautions need to be made in order to prolong careers. Pop is not the only coach who has ever done this. Managing minutes does not slow down the aging process so you have to realize that every year he has done this, we have continued to age and continued to have key injuries. This is an utterly ridiculous discussion to be had if you are truly attempting to connect how he has managed minutes to why we have not won another championship. The main reason we have not won another championship is due to injuries and the fact we did not surround our stars with a better supporting cast as they have aged. No more, no less.

I was merely pointing out that 4 rings has really nothing to do with this discussion. I know the cir stances ae different now tht age is a factor. Phil had 10 rings and never employed this strategy.

[TJastal]

Your right about this. What have we learn...

Pros

Leonard was solid both offensively and defensively


Cons

Green has no business starting

Rj will continue to get playing time eventhough he is a complete and utter liability both offensively and defensively.

Joseph should be playing for the Toros.

Dawson, its nine days and counting.

I thought Green had some nice moments. I would wager it might be asking a little much for him to be a full time starter going forward however. Next year perhaps. Leonard IMO should start however. Not only because RJ is horrible but I think he is a quick study who is ready to contribute in a playoff setting.

[UnWantedTheory]

I was merely pointing out that 4 rings has really nothing to do with this discussion. I know the cir stances ae different now tht age is a factor. Phil had 10 rings and never employed this strategy.

4 rings was used as a reminder, as you and others are questioning his ability to coach, which is ridiculous. Also, Phil never needed to.

[Hoops Czar]

I thought Green had some nice moments. I would wager it might be asking a little much for him to be a full time starter going forward however. Next year perhaps. Leonard IMO should start however. Not only because RJ is horrible but I think he is a quick study who is ready to contribute in a playoff setting.

If RJ isn't amnestied this offseason, Buford needs his head examined.

[UnWantedTheory]

If RJ isn't amnestied this offseason, Buford needs his head examined.

This we agree on.

[Hoops Czar]

4 rings was used as a reminder, as you and others are questioning his ability to coach, which is ridiculous. Also, Phil never needed to.

I never questioned his ability to coach. As I pointed out earlier, there wasn't a single teaching moment in the game. There wasn't a game plan nor strategy of attack. This was a free-for-all where anything goes. This was a school yard pick up game and I'm not sure if you could take anything seen on the court even half serious. If your into resting your players, then tell the refs you forfeit. Bench players aren't getting useful court time and experience by winging it. This was a total waste of time. Duncan and Parker should have been on the next plane to Denver resting and getting ready for Thursday.

[Yuixafun]

Talk about hyperbole. These guys just won 11 in a row, 8 on the road??

This is gonna pass, and do way more good than harm.

And for Portland, this has to be an empty win, despite the blowout and seeding implications.

I didn't want to see the streak come to an end either, and in such an emphatic fasion, but don't get it twisted.

The risk for injury increases dramatically under conditions of fatigue and we don't know the inner secrets of the team. While I'm guessing morale is sky high, you have to understand for older players, they take longer to recover, especially when you play at a high level.

So playing them 20 more minutes, in a succeptible state, on fumes, against an angry, more rested, team at home... while giving us a chance to do better, ultimately would not have led to a win, just a less of an ass spanking.

I'd rather lose by 40, then possibly incurring a dramatic injury, for the sake of pride of a streak.

The Spurs were in prime position to sneak in a rest day for it's stars, while giving their youth a full game to put under their belt.

Maybe TP has some nagging minor injuries? If he goes down here, we're ed. As evidenced lol....

This one game loss, in my opinion, will not ruin the psyche of this Spurs team in the least, and it was putting money in the bank.

It strikes me very similar to when he left his 2nd unit against Dallas, simultaneously instilling faith in them, and sending a message to the starters, that they can't just sleep walk, they need to play hungry and enthusiastically, and fight!

This move does the same thing, understanding that your players are human and do get tired in such a condensed schedule, while maybe showing players who were starting to get big headed.... not so fast.

Our 2nd/3rd stringers lost by 40 to their pissed off starters that got embarrassed the night before.

So now all our younglings understand and have experienced the pressure of a playoff caliber team playing with a chip on it's shoulder

Also it might have humbled anybody that was starting to think they were too big for their britches.

This to me was another sublime move by Pop, low risk, high reward, when it comes to developing a team and understanding your personnel. It's a smart, wise, move filled with foresight, just like the move he made against the Mav's.

[UnWantedTheory]

I never questioned his ability to coach. As I pointed out earlier, there wasn't a single teaching moment in the game. There wasn't a game plan nor strategy of attack. This was a free-for-all where anything goes. This was a school yard pick up game and I'm not sure if you could take anything seen on the court even half serious. Bench players aren't getting useful court time and experience by winging it. This was a total waste of time.

Then the criticism should have been focused on the team being ill prepared and less on the resting of 2 tired stars IMO.

[ChumpDumper]

So anyone care to venture a guess how many grey hairs did Timmy gain sitting and watching his team get bent over, courtesy Popo ?

Zero.

[UnWantedTheory]

Zero.

I am gonna go with this as well.

[Calispursfan11]

Magua hate the Popovich name.