Pop is probably gonna cost us a ring

[DMC]

Exactly. Which is why you need to give yourself a fighting chance by playing your best players.

The best players do play, just not in the sequence and coupling you think is best. That's what separates a HOF coach from an armchair coach.

[mingus]

last year i sais it was a mistake not paying Splitter and Duncan together because in the playoffs, if we wanted to compete, wthey would have to play together and they needed time to get a feel for one another's game. sure enough, against the Grizzlies, he had to go with Splitter and Duncan. the same thing will happen this year.

[mingus]

The best players do play, just not in the sequence and coupling you think is best. That's what separates a HOF coach from an armchair coach.

lol resorting to the armchair coach personal attack. just give it up.

[Nathan89]

The best players do play, just not in the sequence and coupling you think is best. That's what separates a HOF coach from an armchair coach.

The switch from Blair to Splitter after 3 games in the playoffs was the cherry on top that solidified him as a HOF coach. That preparation for the playoffs was just remarkable.

As for the last two games I'm shocked the starting center(Blair) only had 25 minutes total. He should've had a lot more to prepare for the likely playoff matches.

[DrSteffo]

The switch from Blair to Splitter after 3 games in the playoffs was the cherry on top that solidified him as a HOF coach. That preparation for the playoffs was just remarkable.

What is even more remarkable is that he hasn't learned . Contrary to some other ppl here I'm not surprised at all. He is a good coach in some ways but has some serious flaws.

[SenorSpur]

It probably will cost them whatever chance they have, along with injuries. But it'll probably only cost them against the Lakers. They can beat the Grizzlies without it, especially if they continue with this big rotation (highly unlikely) or if Randolph can't get at least close to the level he was at last season.

People seem to forget, but Randolph isn't 7-1 or 7-2, he's a mere 6-9. Sure, he's extremely strong, but physically, they can do a reasonable enough job on him. And Gasol, for all his size, is just not a dominant rebounder. The two of them played above their heads in the playoffs last season and fooled people into thinking they're better than they are. I'm not saying they're not either the second or third best big duo in the league, because they definitely are. They just don't compare to the Lakers duo.

While all that is certainly true, the bottom line is both Gasol and Randolph are far more physical than any of the Spurs bigs. As such, the Spurs simply are ill-equipped to counter or respond with the limitations and deficiencies that they have along the frontline.

The Grizzlies pair usually outrebound and out -energize anyone Pop can throw at them. The philosophy of the Grizzlies, much like the Fakers, is that they do not care to employ bigs or stretch-4's that can shoot 3's. They want their bigs to do what bigs should do: Score inside the paint, protect the rim and muscle their way for rebounds.

Last year, even Darrell Arthur managed to routinely outmuscle and torch Bonner throughout that entire playoff series. Now that he's hurt, we've seen Maresse Speights is now doing the same thing.

Sadly, Pop seems to be either unwilling or unable to comprehend and responde the message being sent. Therefore in that sense, Pop is failing to maximize the waning years of Duncan's career by NOT providing him with adequate frontline help. I've been saying this for four years.

[SenorSpur]

You guys all saw that these past two games Bonner was there in crunch time....obviously Pop is depending on Bonner to close games...

Goodbye #5.

Any team that has Bonner on the floor in crunch time is not a championship team. This doesn't get any clearer. Pop is going to cost the Spurs another ring.

Anyone that cannot see this is just plain blind.

Amen!