Nice SI article on the Spurs and their depth

[Rummpd]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...?sct=nba_wr_a1

This is Popovich's 16th season with the Spurs, the longest tenure of any current coach with the same team in the four major sports. He's led the Spurs to a numbing 15 straight playoff appearances and notched his 13th consecutive 50-win season despite playing just a 66-game schedule.

His pursuit of a fifth NBA le, which would move him into a tie for fourth all time, has featured some of his best work yet. The Spurs put together three separate 11-game winning streaks this season, including the 12-game torrent they're currently riding. Along the way, Popovich has developed young talent like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, DeJuan Blair and Splitter into meaningful role players and seamlessly meshed midseason additions Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw into the rotation. His demeanor would suggest otherwise, but Popovich's work this season has been sensational. His team's dismantling of the Jazz is just the latest example.

• Much like Rajon Rondo was to the Celtics during their 2008 le run, Leonard is the perfect splash of young talent to the Spurs' talented-but-aging nucleus.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1tvLsgMvn

[_jin]

"Popovich looked like he'd rather be anywhere else when he accepted his second NBA Coach of the Year trophy before Wednesday's game. The expression on his face was a pained mixture of disinterest and boredom."
lol

[CitizenDwayne]

"Popovich looked like he'd rather be anywhere else when he accepted his second NBA Coach of the Year trophy before Wednesday's game. The expression on his face was a pained mixture of disinterest and boredom."
lol

Glad to have a coach that literally ONLY cares about the championship.

In the midst of this whole "Splitter minutes" debacle, some people have forgotten just how damn good Pop is. While some people initially complained about the move to a more offense-driven squad, it turned out to be a stroke of genius.

Once the dead weight ( ) was lopped off, everything became clear.

[hooperflash]

"Popovich looked like he'd rather be anywhere else when he accepted his second NBA Coach of the Year trophy before Wednesday's game. The expression on his face was a pained mixture of disinterest and boredom."
lol

+1 Just wanted to get that game going!

[Spur|n|Austin]

Good read, thanks!

[smaka]

"Popovich looked like he'd rather be anywhere else when he accepted his second NBA Coach of the Year trophy before Wednesday's game. The expression on his face was a pained mixture of disinterest and boredom."
lol

[703 Spurz]

"Popovich looked like he'd rather be anywhere else when he accepted his second NBA Coach of the Year trophy before Wednesday's game. The expression on his face was a pained mixture of disinterest and boredom."
lol

It was equally funny when he tried passing the trophy off to his assistant coaches and they all walked away not wanting to have anything to do with it.

[Knoxxx]

LOL @ "The Thunder and Mavericks are also known to utilize skilled second units"

say what?!? Hardin and Terry is all either has off the bench, and their starting 5s are nothing special, top to bottom.

[Obstructed_View]

To be fair to Pop, I don't think it was disinterest or boredom, because those would indicate that he's got no respect for the award, and that's not like him at all. It's pretty clear he'd like to have been anywhere else, but it's more likely because he values the contribution of his assistants and players so highly and feels embarrassed receiving an award for himself by himself. Whoever came up with the idea of David and Timmy pinning him in and giving him the award deserves a CIA Pop T-shirt.

[Obstructed_View]

It was equally funny when he tried passing the trophy off to his assistant coaches and they all walked away not wanting to have anything to do with it.

I think he gave it to them in 2003. They learned their lesson this time.