Or match it?
For those of us who think Pops 2104 season including Championship Redemption was his best, can he match or top it in 2014-15?
I believe if he can match or even exceed it, we repeat. Of course health, non rigged reffing etc will be neccessary but for here and now, coaching.
Doesn't need to top it. Continue to rest the big 3 and involve Leonard MORE in the offense. De-emphasis Parker/Duncan pick and roll and do more ball movement so the players truly become interchangeable. Develop Daye to replace Bonner and give Bellinelli Mills' minutes.
I don't see why not.
Plus they hired Messina, and drafted Kyle.
That should be all the edge they need, besides "luck" in remaining healthy.
If he remembers what he once said,
"how do we handle winning/success" (or something similar)
and takes his own advice - he can top it.
If he loses his "hunger for redemption" because he knew he ed the spurs in game 6 -
then he won't top it.
Pop choking in game 6 was the biggest reason for Pop coming back hungry for redemption and putting together his best ever coaching season.
I've been a huge Pop basher but game 6 provided the inspiration needed to reach the pinnacle of his coaching talent. He wont top it because it was as good as it gets with the roster we have. Who would have thought an old Big 3 could crush in the Finals the way they did with a young kid breaking out along the way,,,,Pop did an outstanding job not letting his ego get in the way and coached to his strengths. If he takes the same approach,,,Spurs win #6 and go back to back.
I would never underestimate Pop. With that said, knowing Messina would be coming over was probably the chance why he resigned as he can take it easier.
Hopefully the surgery doesn't hinder him... I'm hoping Messina and Udoka keep the fire alive and bring some new ideas.
he will top it if pop and his staff can:
- develop cory joseph to a breakout year with mills' mins the first few months
- get ayres to learn how to catch a ball
- polish baynes who is still a bit raw
- get daye to click in a role (long shot)
- maintain belinelli and get his confidence in his role back to reg season 14 status
- develop/toros for anderson and fit him in a role
Health is #1 concern, and of course with Duncan/Manu you never know when the wheels will fell off for good.
OKC is the #2 concern, still the toughest match-up and a full strength OKC team with proper minute management for Durant/Westbrook is incredibly difficult to beat.
Cleveland with Love is the X-factor, LeBron just keeps on coming up with overpowered big three's and he will probably get his ref treatment back now NBA wants to sell return of the king plots.
I actually think Portland will be the team we need to fear more than OKC next year,,,
He almost choked in round 1, KY isn't that great at guarding quick PG's like Ellis, whereas Green excels at it (his 1st great lockdown performance ever actually came against Ellis), he went away from the obvious defensive match ups and it greatly hurt the Spurs. This wasn't the first time either, it happened in the GS series as well. He had Green on KT and KY on Curry, took him like 2 games to fix the match up after they were getting burned, both players proceeded to shut their man down.
Involve Leonard in the offense more by actually drawing plays for him, lessen the Splitter/TD combo as it destroys spacing, develop the young guns and he'll top it easily.
I think he'll use 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008 as a strong motivator - surely these guys want a repeat to place the cherry on top of their careers?
Beyond that, it's just a matter of managing minutes and injuries, giving more of the scoring load to Kawhi, and adding a few new wrinkles. I think he'll do the best possible job - the day he's not capable of that is the day he retires.
lol the rear guard hating is pathetic
I think it will be hard to repeat last season, in terms of fluidity, passing, shooting.. that was something we will remember for decades
I just hope for a team that will fight and give their best, don't care if we don't repeat
Pop had surgery?
que? did ElCliente let you in on a secret? haven't read that anywhere else....
Ayres doing a thing at all or catching the ball is the real long shot there...... He just sucks.
He had hip replacement surgery, per this article:
www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237873
Any pop suckers gonna do some damage control?
It's all Pop's fault. We should be celebrating 8 now.
I agree that health is a major factor, but I dont see how he can top it. People thought SA was done, we didnt pick up any super-star, he absolutely did an amazing job keeping them focused, managing minutes, and maintained bench confidence. Those things will all be expected this year, and unfortunately he will be a failure (mainstream) if he doesnt duplicate the success with the addition of the two you mentioned and another year together. Even if you dont agree with his rotations or decisions, it would be hard for anyone to not put Gregg in the top, if not the top, of the coaching ladder. People dont understand how hard it is to build a culture, and maintain it with professional athletes. If he leads SA to a ring this year, I dont know how anyone could say there was a better coach.
Pop's other secret weapon is that Tim, Manu and Tony are all hyper-compe ive, and they expect nothing less than full commitment from their teammates. With Tim and Manu's careers close to an end, they'll have plenty of motivation to do it one last time.
At some point Pop is going to want/need a hiatus from all this. I don't see how he can keep an edge. , when the Heat made 4 consecutive Finals... you have to think they lose their edge after a while. Other teams are hungry, but how do you stay hungry when you're so full and looking down the barrel at a sunset ride?
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