Pop Will Miss Next 2 Games Due to Family Medical Situation

[Kidd K]

, we're on a road b2b too I think? @ Pacers then @ Wolves.

Hopefully we don't drop one.

[Chinook]

We have won games where Pop has sat and asked about plays run at the ends of games last season in a game against the Pacers when Pop had that hip surgery, he said they were all Pop plays.

Messina isn't going to call other plays when he's Pop's subs ute.

He's very personable, likeable and articulate with the media. I think he has clicked with young players in particular.

He is articulate and obviously very smart. But I don't know that he's any more likable than the other coaches. I don't hear him referenced as much as the other guys, though that's anecdotal, I know.

He's the most enthusiastic of all the coaches over good defensive plays. Like I said my opinion is maybe colored by how I have observed him interact with younger players like Slow-mo and Boban. He might return ultimately to Europe and said so himself in an interview. The Spurs figure to continue having international players anyways so it's a different culture here.

I don't think he'd have the same problems in SA than he would at some other teams. I think he'd have a very different problem. The Spurs are probably the only team in the league that has a system large enough to be an en y in and of itself. It's like the Holy Ghost of the Spurs Trinity. Messina is too established to not change it. Udoka mostly grew up in it, so I think he would probably be the best as far as maintaining it. Hammond might be able to do that, too. But I don't know if she'd be ready in three years.

His contract is going to be up b4 Pop retires so I don't think he even fits the timeline, but I like what he's brought as an assistant coach.

We'll probably know his intentions when the contract is up. If he re-ups, I think he's Pop's replacement.

[HarlemHeat37]

You are taking one very unique situation in the Gilbert/LeBron relationship and saying it's spreading across the league. To say that top players want to opt for a black coach is crazy talk. But even if that were the case the owners are collectively a bunch of very successful, inpatient white dudes who will hire and fire whomever they want without giving a about what the players think. JB Bickerstaff is gone after this season. Did Harden get McHale fired six games in after a WCF appearance because he wanted a young, unproven coach just because he happens to be black? No. And JB will get the pink slip this year no matter what Harden thinks or does because Morey runs the personnel and Alex signs the checks and makes all final calls

trolling as usual per par...

The 2 most powerful players in the league(Paul and James) have already done it..they are also probably the 2 most influential people in the league among their peers..

Part of the reason JB Bickerstaff got his job is because he's close with the players..he even goes out with them IIRC..

It'll continue to be the case, especially since analytically-driven GMs like "yes men" that don't think for themselves, as we see in baseball..

[SAGirl]

Yes about the reupping the contract. If we win I think he will be in demand and there a lot of vacancies this season, but I do hope for his sake that he's selective where he goes. I could see him with Sean Marks in Brooklyn, his comments about wanting a good communicator struck with me.

Frankly when Pop reupped his contract I stopped assuming he's a successor bc the timelines don't fit and Messinas statement in that interview I posted during the off-season led me to believe his future is truly uncertain.

[DMC]

Someone should write on Ettore's clipboard in all caps:

REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE KAWHI LEONARD ON YOUR TEAM.

Kawhi might sound like a Palestinian name to him.

[DMC]

Next Spurs coach will be Manu Ginobili

[hater]

As a training exercise, they let Becky coach the team - Anderson and Simmons go off summer league style.

Those pre-game private pep talks do the lords work tbh

[TheDoctor]

Becky has my nod.

[houston spurs fan]

The 2 most powerful players in the league(Paul and James) have already done it..they are also probably the 2 most influential people in the league among their peers..

Part of the reason JB Bickerstaff got his job is because he's close with the players..he even goes out with them IIRC..

It'll continue to be the case, especially since analytically-driven GMs like "yes men" that don't think for themselves, as we see in baseball..

Doc Rivers is a championship winning coach, the fact that he is black is irrelevant. I believe Doc chose them anyways (and they gave him Pop power). I know JB goes out with players, I'm in Hosuton, well do ented. So when he gets fired after the season what excuse will you say about that? He was too close?? Making blanket generalizations about race and player's mindsets is what holds us back from moving forward. KD and Westbrook would have personally made sure they hired a black coach (who has more power than those two) if your theory is true. It's hot air, meant to arouse people and draw attention to yourself.

[Old School 44]

Damn, I hope it's something like Pop being there for support in say a scheduled surgery to take care of something that's under control as opposed to his wife, one of his kids, one of their spouses, etc having a heart attack or something else sudden and threatening.

Pop is from Indiana, not sure what, if any extended family he still has there, but it could be something like you suggest.

[TheDoctor]

I read that Nancy Reagan died yesterday. Perhaps Pop was her lover

[Ditty]

I want Ime to be the next coach for the Spurs. Think Messenia ends up in Brooklyn this offseason.

[Kawhitstorm]

Damn, I hope it's something like Pop being there for support in say a scheduled surgery to take care of something that's under control as opposed to his wife, one of his kids, one of their spouses, etc having a heart attack or something else sudden and threatening.

If it was something serious or someone very close then it would have been "out indefinitely" like Rick Adelam for rather than next 2 games.

[Solid D]

I hope everything turns out okay for the Popovich family.

Messina will be fine, filling in for Pop. He has a successful career in coaching and was ranked second all-time (last time I checked) among Euroleague head coaches with four les won.

[Splits]

I read that Nancy Reagan died yesterday. Perhaps Pop was her lover

Yeah, he was pounding her anally and eating that sweet first lady pussy