Reply With Quote
I caught the end of the Hawks game, I noticed that Blair hit the floor for an offense rebound and actually kept possession (I think) and Pop was applauding LIKE crazy.
I watch every Spurs game and have since before David Robinson ever donned a Spurs jersey. I don't watch the ball so much these days, but I do watch other people on the floor and I take note of the time outs and the coach's reactions to certain situations.
Pop applauds not when his team hits a game winning shot, or when they run a perfect fast break with a monster jam at the end. He applauds when someone hits the floor for a loose ball or when they take a harder than necessary charge. He applauds when players do little things that make the big things mean something. That's what I like about Pop. It's not showmanship, he's not concerned that he's being watched. It's that he genuinely appreciates those efforts.
It reminds me of watching a chess grandmaster pause for a longer moment than usual after a lesser opponent has made a seemingly normal move, and sure the lesser opponent loses, but the grandmaster knows the significance of that move and what it indicates about the opponent. It's a level of respect and acknowledgment that the seeming small things are the most important parts.
Next time you watch a Spurs game, watch what Pop applauds, what gets him off the bench and then watch what gets the opposing coach fired up. You will see that many of the coaches on sub-500 teams get fired up because of offense. They may slap a player on the ass for hustle, but they get fan-like excited over, well, exciting plays. The grandmasters, they applaud those things that make a great team a championship team, and only a handful of these coaches recognize those small things when they are happening.
I caught the end of the Hawks game, I noticed that Blair hit the floor for an offense rebound and actually kept possession (I think) and Pop was applauding LIKE crazy.
Saw him applaud Tiago emphatically after he aggressively hustled for board.
yup...I noticed pop applauded when one night tiago got a hand on a board (which resulted in a jumpball) and last night when blair hustled his ass off and saved the ball for a possession.
Good Read. Popovich definitely has his business face on when people make open jump shots or the Spurs make a spectacular offensive play. He really, like me, gets excited when a spur does that intangible dirty work that is so key to winning a ball game.
Heres to you Pop:
Phil rarely leaves his throne...only when Ron Artest makes a shot
One time Bonner got a rebound over a tough boxing out point guard and Pop literally went over to a silver dancer, stole her pom poms and did a shimy for Matt.
Last edited by gospursgojas; 12-12-2010 at 12:25 PM.
Great post.
I think that may have been Terrell Owens, sitting court side at the AT&T Center.
You watch every game and are just now realizing this? He's been doing it for 14 years.
Someone seems to be trying too hard to make themselves look like some sort of basketball guru.
It's about time someone threw some negativity into this post
Phil sends out mind bullets.
cool story bro
DMC forget that poon, some people in this world think that being sarcastic makes them seem funny and importatnt.That only works if you get a check!
He probably gets a check with the Statue of Liberty on the front.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
