Any other team would have hired a coach by now.

[Gandalf]

I can understand any sentimentality in not wanting to force Pop out, but it’s time for him to retire, for his own sake and the Spurs.

The coaching was bad for years before he left (I think R.C. Drunkford started another thread that we’ve been last in box-outs for a while), and if we go another year like this, Wemby might not extend, and you can safely guarantee the Lakers (or some other teams) will be tampering like crazy to encourage him to leave.

Spurs need to grow a spine and do what MUST be done. Then kick the tires on the UConn coach, Spoelstra, etc.

[Sugus]

I can understand any sentimentality in not wanting to force Pop out, but it’s time for him to retire, for his own sake and the Spurs.

The coaching was bad for years before he left (I think R.C. Drunkford started another thread that we’ve been last in box-outs for a while), and if we go another year like this, Wemby might not extend, and you can safely guarantee the Lakers (or some other teams) will be tampering like crazy to encourage him to leave.

Spurs need to grow a spine and do what MUST be done. Then kick the tires on the UConn coach, Spoelstra, etc.

It's his own sake I'm worried most at this point, tbh

I really hope the Spurs don't plan to subject elderly, post-stroke Pop to highly stressful situations like NBA games, and last night's game in particular. Nobody expects anything to happen, until it does... And I seriously don't want anything like that to happen in the middle of an NBA game, on live TV.

Pop's own medical staff should be strictly forbidding him from any sort of "returning to work" activities for his own health. It's not like he's a 9-to-5 office, sit-on-his-butt administrative assistant. The travel alone increases his risk factor significantly.

[Gandalf]

It's his own sake I'm worried most at this point, tbh

I really hope the Spurs don't plan to subject elderly, post-stroke Pop to highly stressful situations like NBA games, and last night's game in particular. Nobody expects anything to happen, until it does... And I seriously don't want anything like that to happen in the middle of an NBA game, on live TV.

Pop's own medical staff should be strictly forbidding him from any sort of "returning to work" activities for his own health. It's not like he's a 9-to-5 office, sit-on-his-butt administrative assistant. The travel alone increases his risk factor significantly.

Yep. It sucks to do it, but it’s time to ‘take the keys away from Grandpa.’

[scott]

It's his own sake I'm worried most at this point, tbh

I really hope the Spurs don't plan to subject elderly, post-stroke Pop to highly stressful situations like NBA games, and last night's game in particular. Nobody expects anything to happen, until it does... And I seriously don't want anything like that to happen in the middle of an NBA game, on live TV.

Pop's own medical staff should be strictly forbidding him from any sort of "returning to work" activities for his own health. It's not like he's a 9-to-5 office, sit-on-his-butt administrative assistant. The travel alone increases his risk factor significantly.

Yeah, assuming we are firmly out of the play-in race at that point, I say bring him back for the last home game of the season, with the assistants doing most of the work, let him grab the mic during the game as many times as he wants, and have a nice farewell.

[z0sa]

^ I think that's exactly what the Spurs brass are planning. There's no such thing as a "minor stroke RTW process" for a 75 year old in terms of one who is working in a high-stress environment.

No doctor will give the go-ahead to return to a high stress environment for an elderly person who should be retired, at least, that I've heard of.

Pop literally dying on the sidelines during a game would be massively bad PR from a Spurs ownership (and NBA) standpoint, as well.

If I was a betting man, I'd say the Pop is era is over in all but name. They simply must want Pop to coach one last game, preferably a meaningless one, and bow out "on his own terms."

[LeBowen]

Final game of the season is against the Raptors, should be winnable and a nice send-off for Pop.
Having him anywhere near the team when the next season starts would be malpractice.

[BackHome]

What was the name of the coach that keeps coming up as Pop replacement it is not one of Pop ex coaches or assistants?

[RC_Drunkford]

What was the name of the coach that keeps coming up as Pop replacement it is not one of Pop ex coaches or assistants?

Dan Hurley. It‘s a long shot to ever get him to coach an NBA team, but if there’s one it’s the Spurs. NBA teams would hate us even more if we pull this off.

[TD 21]

Hurley is an egomaniac, expensive and not part of the "family".

Johnson is predictably receiving far too much blame for clearly carrying on or out what Pop (who he's in constant contact with) wants.

Unfortunately, politics and stature play a major role in rotational decisions in this league. A relative neophyte like him isn't bringing a future 1st ball HOF'er off the bench, or not closing with him or excising a once core player making $20M from the rotation.

Come the off season, all the excuses are out the window though. Can't be half pregnant. Size and shooting must be added and decisions have to be made on if/where Vassell, Johnson, Sochan fit.

[RC_Drunkford]

Hurley is an egomaniac, expensive and not part of the "family".

sounds exactly like Pop to me. Would fit right in

[Gandalf]

Johnson is predictably receiving far too much blame for clearly carrying on or out what Pop (who he's in constant contact with) wants.

Is Pop telling Mitch not to let anyone box out (we’re dead last in the NBA)? Even if Pop is, why would Mitch listen?

If and to the degree you’re suggesting they should stick with Mitch after Pop retires, hoping he’ll magically get better than he has been this year, I think that’s a horrible, horrible plan. We can’t risk wasting yet another year of Wemby on the hope that Johnson might pan out (despite all evidence to the contrary). We need a good coach (Hurley, Spoelstra, etc.) next year. We can’t wait any longer. If Wemby doesn’t extend and other teams tamper to get him to leave (which a third down year would make exponentially more likely), the Spurs are toast for a decade, if not permanently.

[TD 21]

Is Pop telling Mitch not to let anyone box out (we’re dead last in the NBA)? Even if Pop is, why would Mitch listen?

If and to the degree you’re suggesting they should stick with Mitch after Pop retires, hoping he’ll magically get better than he has been this year, I think that’s a horrible, horrible plan. We can’t risk wasting yet another year of Wemby on the hope that Johnson might pan out (despite all evidence to the contrary). We need a good coach (Hurley, Spoelstra, etc.) next year. We can’t wait any longer. If Wemby doesn’t extend and other teams tamper to get him to leave (which a third down year would make exponentially more likely), the Spurs are toast for a decade, if not permanently.

So Johnson is telling his players to not box out?

I'm not suggesting they should or shouldn't stick with Johnson, I'm simply explaining how the league works. Johnson is a mere figurehead.

What cons utes a "good coach"? If they add shooting + size and have internal improvement from Wembanyama and Castle next season, they'll likely be a good team and it won't be because of whoever the coach is.

[RC_Drunkford]

So Johnson is telling his players to not box out?

I'm not suggesting they should or shouldn't stick with Johnson, I'm simply explaining how the league works. Johnson is a mere figurehead.

What cons utes a "good coach"? If they add shooting + size and have internal improvement from Wembanyama and Castle next season, they'll likely be a good team and it won't be because of whoever the coach is.

yeah I'm sure the Cavaliers' improvement had nothing to do with changing the coach

[Knoxxx]

Any other team doesn’t have the coach with the most wins in NBA history.

[TD 21]

yeah I'm sure the Cavaliers' improvement had nothing to do with changing the coach

Nah, it mostly had to do with the core + Jerome getting healthy (check their on/off #'s from 2 seasons ago) and Mobley and Garland getting closer to their prime.

If you're going to pretend otherwise, then make sure to give Bickerstaff the same credit you give Atkinson for the Pistons turnaround.

[Gandalf]

So Johnson is telling his players to not box out?

He’s apparently not coaching them to box out - or he is, and they’re completely ignoring him for an entire season. Either way, not good.

I think it’s fair to say that if your relatively inexperienced interim coach has you dead last in the NBA in boxing out, you should never risk hiring him to be your permanent coach - and particularly when Wemby and your franchise may well depend on your next coaching hire and season.

[OldMan88]

Pop’s done. They’ll maybe let him coach the last game of the season then he’ll announce his retirement. Agree his doctors won’t approve his return to work.

[Gandalf]

Any other team doesn’t have the coach with the most wins in NBA history.

You could still be repeating this same sentence after three more losing seasons, with Wemby in LA, and the Spurs thinking about Vegas. How has Pop’s coaching looked the last few years?

Two things can be true: 1) Pop might have been one of the best coaches, but 2) he isn’t now. As has already been said, it’s in both his and the Spurs’ best interest that he retire now. An 82-game NBA season and that travel / stress is not good for a 75-year-old recovering from a stroke. What happens if he has another in the middle of next season? What about Pop, and what about the Spurs, who can’t likely hire a good coach mid-season (see this season)? It’s time (if not long past time) for Pop to retire.

[rankingtear]

Hope it is CP3 i think that is why they wanted him on board this year. Nobody really has that intensity young Pop had. Hurley is another but he comes off just as a major asshole than a compe or. With Victor usually calm demeanor a aggresive type coach is a good compliment.

[RC_Drunkford]

Nah, it mostly had to do with the core + Jerome getting healthy (check their on/off #'s from 2 seasons ago) and Mobley and Garland getting closer to their prime.

If you're going to pretend otherwise, then make sure to give Bickerstaff the same credit you give Atkinson for the Pistons turnaround.

you are missing the part of using Mobley as an offensive initiator to improve spacing which has everything to do with coaching, but it's all Ty Jerome apparently

[TD 21]

you are missing the part of using Mobley as an offensive initiator to improve spacing which has everything to do with coaching, but it's all Ty Jerome apparently

They did some of that under Bickerstaff too and probably would have done more anyway given that Mobley "taking the next step" was both low hanging fruit and their best bet to raise their ceiling.

Forgot to add, the core also has more continuity.

[LeBowen]

They did some of that under Bickerstaff too and probably would have done more anyway given that Mobley "taking the next step" was both low hanging fruit and their best bet to raise their ceiling.

Forgot to add, the core also has more continuity.

They went from 18th ORTG last season to 1st this season.
It's the closest thing to when Kerr took over for Mark Jackson.

[TD 21]

They went from 18th ORTG last season to 1st this season.
It's the closest thing to when Kerr took over for Mark Jackson.

They were 9th two seasons ago, when the core was healthier, younger and lacking in continuity and shooting around them.

All of those things have been remedied this season, but somehow it's the genius coach who apparently knows something the previous one didn't, but random message board posters do.

[LeBowen]

They were 9th two seasons ago, when the core was healthier, younger and lacking in continuity and shooting around them.

All of those things have been remedied this season, but somehow it's the genius coach who apparently knows something the previous one didn't, but random message board posters do.

Stop digging yourself deeper.
Last season Cavs fans were mostly down on Bickerstaff because their offense got stagnant and it was about Mitc and Garland taking turns.
You say they were 9th best offense two seasons ago? Correct and they were dead last in pace. This season they're 6th.
A completely different approach despite roster and individual numbers looking more or less the same.

[itzsoweezee]

ONE player on the current roster has drawn a charge this season. Victor has drawn 8, every other Spurs has drawn ZERO.