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One thing that I noticed in the pre-game presser prior to Game 3. Pop was once again asked about his team's 'mental preparedness' or 'emotional state', or some words to that effect, and he said what he has said so many times before: "I don't know - you think I go ask 'em? You just go play. These guys are adults and they are professionals and they know what is required".
Then the Spurs went out and fell flat.
There is a recurring theme here - that is that the lack of a 'killer" instinct has been a characteristic of Pop's teams his whole coaching career, and I'm beginning to conclude that he has no clue about motivation other than fury when they have screwed up, which is also always present in the aftermath of one of the meltdowns that they occasionally have.
When he said in the post-game presser how 'disappointed' he was that his team lacked the willingness to 'put the foot on the neck' of the opponent, I thought to myself "Come on, Pop - even professionals need a little juice every now and then. And you knew damn well that OKC was coming with an emotional high from the Ibaka return and feeling desperate because they were down 0-2, and you don't think your team needed something motivationally from you? Of course they are grown men who SHOULD know what it is going to take, but how often do you have to be reminded that without some emotional boost, they might fall flat?
Pop has been 'surprised' that his teams 'haven't brought it' too often for it to be believable any anymore that it is really a surprise. If it is truly a surprise, then you are not paying attention, coach. And if it is not a surprise, why do you continue to insist that they need nothing from you until you have to yell at them?
let's do this. 
