At last, summer ending for Popovich

[TheGreatYacht]

All you STers who wanted to call out Pop should realize his daughter already did so:

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...-words-helped/

Good read tbh. This article kind of changes the perspective I have of Pop. Hopefully the heartbreaking Game 6 loss can help Pop regain a little bit of his mojo and can somewhat be like "The Old Pop" and win a 5th championship. The new Pop is senile.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Manu. The guy is done! He's only playing for $$$. RC Buford begged him not to retire by waving that $14.5 M check. BTW, at you ppl hoping that I eat crow. Keep dreaming. I'd love to eat crow though. I'll be the first one on the dinner table.

[xmas1997]

I error on the side of pessimism because this type of decline happens to all athletes. Manu is starting to exhibit those signs - frequent injuries, declining numbers, loss of quickness, inability to defend. Again, the athlete is usually the last to know.

This is basically correct, it happens to all of us, athlete or not, although many times an athlete can compensate for loss with knowledge and smarts.
This is the sort of debate that has made ST the gold standard of sports forums because we can have differing opinions and still be persuaded to see other rational points of views, maybe even change our opinions.
And this is what I enjoy the most about this site along with all the information I've found out here through the years.
It gladdens my heart that finally more and more of the saner, more rational, and intelligent realistic posters are coming out of the woodwork and putting in their two cents worth.
Because lately this site has been grossly plagued with the opposite to the extent of trollish juveniles.
To play devils' advocate on the side of pessimism is cool and informative. Plus it shows rationality and maturity.
I like taking the optimistic approach for the most part.
I applaud your post and actually learned something. Thank you!

[Skull-1]

I error on the side of pessimism because this type of decline happens to all athletes. Manu is starting to exhibit those signs - frequent injuries, declining numbers, loss of quickness, inability to defend. Again, the athlete is usually the last to know.

I hope you are wrong, but I suspect you aren't.

[Skull-1]

Belinelli > Neal...

The Artist Formerly Known As Pendergraph ~= Blair

the young guns should improve

Manu getting old matters less when Leonard and to a lesser extent Green/Splitter can compensate

Correction: Next season Belinelli > Neal > Manu

[Skull-1]

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Manu. The guy is done! He's only playing for $$$. RC Buford begged him not to retire by waving that $14.5 M check. BTW, at you ppl hoping that I eat crow. Keep dreaming. I'd love to eat crow though. I'll be the first one on the dinner table.

I am stealing this line from someone else, but it is so funny: "OPERATION HISPANIC OUTREACH MUST CONTINUE". LOL

[SenorSpur]

This is basically correct, it happens to all of us, athlete or not, although many times an athlete can compensate for loss with knowledge and smarts.
This is the sort of debate that has made ST the gold standard of sports forums because we can have differing opinions and still be persuaded to see other rational points of views, maybe even change our opinions.
And this is what I enjoy the most about this site along with all the information I've found out here through the years.
It gladdens my heart that finally more and more of the saner, more rational, and intelligent realistic posters are coming out of the woodwork and putting in their two cents worth.
Because lately this site has been grossly plagued with the opposite to the extent of trollish juveniles.
To play devils' advocate on the side of pessimism is cool and informative. Plus it shows rationality and maturity.
I like taking the optimistic approach for the most part.
I applaud your post and actually learned something. Thank you!

Much appreciated!

[SenorSpur]

http://www.expressnews.com/sports/co...29f3a0ebaa2aab

I will add this: I am glad that Game 6 continues to haunt Pop and even more pleased that he admitted it.

While I never expected him to publically second-guess himself, I'm glad that the loss bothers him as much or more than it bothers the fan faithful.

Every year, it seems for each championship contender, there are certain conditions, a lot of talent, and a bit of luck that factors into their run. In addition to their stellar play, the Spurs certainly had several breaks that went their way. While their chances of getting back to the Finals are very probable, there are so many other factors that make that goal less than certain.

[Spur|n|Austin]

I've let that eat at my gut all summer and I'm ready to move on to the next season. We still have a great chance to get right back there.

[kobyz]

Belinelli adds another playmaker and not just a shooter (as good as Neal could be at times, he was just a shooter, never looked to attack the basket).

Spurs now have Parker, Manu, Kawhi (more offensive responsibilities), Diaw (new aggressive Diaw), and Belinelli who can make plays off the dribble.

Belinelli playmaking ability doesn't translate to nba level of game, his playmaking ability is better than Neal but is irrelevant for us, for the role Neal played for us he is much better than Beli...

[ace3g]

Belinelli playmaking ability doesn't translate to nba level of game, his playmaking ability is better than Neal but is irrelevant for us, for the role Neal played for us he is much better than Beli...

Beli has more ways to keep the defense honest coming off screens: Neal is a more explosive scorer but I believe Beli will be more consistent in the Spurs system.

[Skull-1]

Well we need someone to offset Manu's decline in desire, ability, and decision making. I hope Beli is it but I have a feeling we are putting too much hope in him. But as bad as Manu sucks now, hope is all we have. Of course, that didn't work out so well with Nobama, so I am not expecting it to with the Spurs either.

[PlayNando]

It's ing sad how obsessed Skull and TGY are about Manu. They are sexually attracted to the man. I guarantee it.

It's pretty pathetic, though. A mental illness for sure. They both should probably be ins utionalized in a maximum security insane asylum. Maybe a lobotomy would help?

[Skull-1]

It's ing sad how obsessed Skull and TGY are about Manu. They are sexually attracted to the man. I guarantee it.

It's pretty pathetic, though. A mental illness for sure. They both should probably be ins utionalized in a maximum security insane asylum. Maybe a lobotomy would help?

It's f**king sad how obsessed PlayNado is about Skull-1 and TGY. He is sexually attracted to those men. I guarantee it.

It's pretty pathetic, though. A mental illness for sure. He should probably be ins utionalized in a maximum security insane asylum. Maybe a lobotomy would help?

[TD 21]

Spur fan acts like it's the end of the world to lose in the Finals to the best player on the planet.

It it when you lose the way they did . . . but maybe you can tell us all for the umpteenth time that, because they've won four championship and it was difficult to envision them winning another from '09-'11, we're spoiled and should just be content watching a team that's clearly capable of winning a championship continue to come up with new, unexpected ways to disappoint.

[Skull-1]

It it when you lose the way they did . . . but maybe you can tell us all for the umpteenth time that, because they've won four championship and it was difficult to envision them winning another from '09-'11, we're spoiled and should just be content watching a team that's clearly capable of winning a championship continue to come up with new, unexpected ways to disappoint.

SYEAH!!!

[benefactor]

It it when you lose the way they did . . . but maybe you can tell us all for the umpteenth time that, because they've won four championship and it was difficult to envision them winning another from '09-'11, we're spoiled and should just be content watching a team that's clearly capable of winning a championship continue to come up with new, unexpected ways to disappoint.

You are spoiled. Happy, got?

[Skull-1]

You are spoiled. Happy, got?

No, but you are an annoying, self-righteous bag that thinks he is the oldest guy on this forum and thus has some "insight". STFU.

[benefactor]

Oh no...more sick burn from the Bible Answer Guy. Go feed your penis to a 12yr old, Koresh.

[Skull-1]

Oh no...more sick burn from the Bible Answer Guy. Go feed your penis to a 12yr old, Koresh.

Obviously you haven't been paying attention. LIARS (catholic priests, youth ministers, christian evangelists, and malefactors--none of which I am, thankyouvermuchjerkoff) do little boys (so do you apparently, otherwise, why bring it up? Sicko!). Apostles don't commit sin. Bring it azzhole. You don't scare me a bit. .

[Brunodf]

He should.

1- Pop didn't play Kawhi enough

2- Overplayed scrub Neal after fools gold game 3.

3- Panicked about the Mike Miller "adjustment" playing small

4- Benched Timmy for Diaw when we just needed one single rebound to win the championship.

5- Overplayed Manu when he clearly wasn't on a good day.

6- Destroyed the regular rotation.

[HI-FI]

I will add this: I am glad that Game 6 continues to haunt Pop and even more pleased that he admitted it.

While I never expected him to publically second-guess himself, I'm glad that the loss bothers him as much or more than it bothers the fan faithful.

Every year, it seems for each championship contender, there are certain conditions, a lot of talent, and a bit of luck that factors into their run. In addition to their stellar play, the Spurs certainly had several breaks that went their way. While their chances of getting back to the Finals are very probable, there are so many other factors that make that goal less than certain.

i'll admit, i was a little pissed hearing Pop not second guess himself in that article. his stubbornness (while telling others to get over themselves) brings out my inner silverblack mystix. still, some of the other stuff he said in there was good. That quote from his daughter was right on the money. I'm glad it's haunting him. I don't like how he handled the loss at first, giving Lebron the bedroom eyes, making that one reporter feel stupid (per par) by saying "that's a European question". Hopefully this loss has humbled him a bit, or at least lit a huge fire under his ass to do the best he can with the time him and TD have left.

I don't think there is anything bad about second guessing yourself. Hopefully he has, and hopefully he's just being stubborn to the media so they don't run with it. All that matters is the players trust in him, so hopefully he can confide in them that he had his share of mistakes as well.

I agree on your points about Manu above. good stuff. I didn't like the last two contracts because I think the decline and unreliability has been obvious for awhile now, but it's done so hopefully Manu can help us in some fashion win a ring again.

[Skull-1]

i'll admit, i was a little pissed hearing Pop not second guess himself in that article. his stubbornness (while telling others to get over themselves) brings out my inner silverblack mystix. still, some of the other stuff he said in there was good. That quote from his daughter was right on the money. I'm glad it's haunting him. I don't like how he handled the loss at first, giving Lebron the bedroom eyes, making that one reporter feel stupid (per par) by saying "that's a European question". Hopefully this loss has humbled him a bit, or at least lit a huge fire under his ass to do the best he can with the time him and TD have left.

I don't think there is anything bad about second guessing yourself. Hopefully he has, and hopefully he's just being stubborn to the media so they don't run with it. All that matters is the players trust in him, so hopefully he can confide in them that he had his share of mistakes as well.

I agree on your points about Manu above. good stuff. I didn't like the last two contracts because I think the decline and unreliability has been obvious for awhile now, but it's done so hopefully Manu can help us in some fashion win a ring again.

Amazingly great post, Hi-Fi. Right on about Manu. As for second-guessing... I always debrief with my crew after every flight. We hash out the mistakes. The things that went wrong or could have been better. No ego. "Glad to be here." And we use that to get better. Hopefully Pop will, too...but I am afraid we wasted a miracle season, particularly the Tim resurgence.

[PlayNando]

It's f**king sad how obsessed PlayNado is about Skull-1 and TGY. He is sexually attracted to those men. I guarantee it.

It's pretty pathetic, though. A mental illness for sure. He should probably be ins utionalized in a maximum security insane asylum. Maybe a lobotomy would help?

Aw, you're so original. Did you come up with that spiel of bull yourself?

Oh, wait, no... you stole it from me. It just shows how stupid you are and how smart I am.

[lefty]

Hey Pop

























you

[weeks]

Obviously you haven't been paying attention. LIARS (catholic priests, youth ministers, christian evangelists, and malefactors--none of which I am, thankyouvermuchjerkoff) do little boys (so do you apparently, otherwise, why bring it up? Sicko!). Apostles don't commit sin. Bring it azzhole. You don't scare me a bit. .

it's funny how un-jesus-like the most hardcore christians are.
jesus would find them appalling.