For everyone ragging on Pop and RC

[pgardn]

What a bunch of bull . Look, this version of the Spurs thats being trotted out on the floor is NOT what Pop or RC had in mind. This team was set up to revolve around Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Everyone else were support players - young and old. Last season - without Tim Duncan, this roster with the exception of Jonathan Simmons, reached the WCF.

I thought it was downright ing miraculous that they got that far with the lack of talent they had. So this year, despite not having their best player available for the majority of the season, being in third place in the Western Conference and having statistically, one of the highest rated Defenses in the league, it's time to usher the coach and GM off the team.

Holy . I'm not tuning in to watch many games this year because the product is sub-par. No Leonard, no Rudy Gay, no scoring punch from Mills - its been ugly. The NBA is typically about who has the best talent but in the Spurs' case, the system and coaching staff has played a HUGE part in their success. Earlier this year there were threads saying "Do we even need Kawhi?" when Rudy Gay was playing decently.

The Spurs are mired in injuries and strange lineups right now. They are faced with an aging roster and relying on unlikely players to contribute heavy minutes. No one is happy about this but lets pump the brakes on putting the blame on Pop and RC. Lets see this thing play out first.

And there are teams with far superior talent. It happens.

[pgardn]

Damage control thread.

Sober reality.

[objective]

I don't believe those years were wasted. No one is en led to a championship, not even The Admiral. They fought hard but were unable to win a le in his prime. Many all-time greats didn't win a le. That doesn't mean their careers were a waste.

But those Robinson years were great and a lot of fun, despite the playoff disappointments.

And regarding Kawhi's prime, it's gonna be "wasted" regardless due to Golden State's dominance.

Robinson's early years arguably were wasted by bad management and cheap ownership, particularly after Robinson's rookie year. Injuries hurt, maybe ultimately even a larger factor, but they didn't do a good job controlling the things they could control.

Let's not forget the annual Spurs signing of a wretched, washed up players (typically a rocket) on his way to retirement. Sleepy Floyd, Larry Smith, Trent Tucker, Vinnie Johnson, etc etc.

Trading Brickowski for Pressey was awful. Being too cheap to sign Strickland in an era where there wasn't a luxury tax ... He signed a deal to be a backup to Porter, that's how little he was paid. Backup money. Rod wasn't a great player or guy maybe, but that sent them into a tailspin if point guards. Refusing to pay Avery a guaranteed deal for what I think was close to the minimum. He left to be a backup in Golden State.

When they signed Sleepy Floyd, possibly the most washed up player in Spurs history, it was the point guard apocalypse. They cut Chris Childs in camp, he would get picked up that year and easily establish himself as an NBA player. Chris Whitney overtook Sleepy. Then they traded for Negele Knight. Just a giant wasted season because there was no point guard on the team, traced back to Strickland.

[dbestpro]

Pop has lost his focus on basketball. He's got his mind too much on politics, and he is doing a lousy job of making anything better in that arena, as well.