I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

by sungo on Jan 11, 2008 9:24 PM CST in Game Previews & Recaps Comment 18 comments

When the Pistons went on a 22-2 run to end the first quarter, Popovich never called a timeout. He chose, instead, to sip from a cup.

If this was a message for his players, it was this: You have to decide to play. Afterward he praised Tim Duncan and Jacque Vaughn and, when asked to critique others, he praised Duncan and Vaughn some more.

Look, don't get me wrong; Parker and Manu sucked and played like vajays. Duncan played well on the offensive end and Jacque Vaughn played his best game of the year. But I'm fucking tired of Pop's bullshit and it leads to a quick question.

Is ANYTHING ever Pop's fault?

For example, whose idea was it to double-team Rasheed Wallace for three-quarters of the game? That's not necessarily a bad idea. He's a tough cover. But, umm, why not try different players on him? Horry and Oberto didn't work out. Neither did Elson. But, uh, lemme see, why not put, I don't know, Tim Duncan on him?

Tim Duncan, covering Rasheed Wallace, man-to-man. What a fucking crazy idea! But, as always, Tim stands of the weak side covering the other team's least talented big man. And Pop, believing in the almighty defensive help/rotation, sends double teams at just about everybody. Rasheed Wallace. Tayshaun Prince. Chauncey Billups. That shit doesn't work against complete teams like the Pistons. They can all pass. They all know where to move with respect to the double team. They can all can the open jumper. I'm waiting for Pop to eventually send a quadruple-team at somebody like Luke fucking Walton. Hey, I'm sure everything will be fine as long the lone remaining defender sticks to the genius Pop system, right?

And please Pop, for the love of fucking Jehova, get it through your drunken wino head that Tony Parker cannot guard Chauncey Billups. This isn't about toughness. This is about simple size difference. And this is exactly what almost cost the Spurs the 2005 Finals. Pop, out of nothing more than being a stubborn crotchety bastard face, refused to put Bruce Bowen on Chauncey Billups. Despite the fact it made perfect, irrefutable sense. Bruce on Billups, Parker on Hamilton. Let the quicker Parker chase Rip off screens. The vertical size difference between the two was much less dangerous than Billups strength advantage. It took the Spurs being on the brink of losing game 7 at home for Pop to make the change. And what do you know, Bowen shut Billups down and the Spurs win the title.

Blame Tony all you want Pop, but how about you fucking put the players in position to succeed?

Like Robert Horry, for instance. You know where he could succeed right now? On the bench. In street clothes. HE CAN'T EVEN FUCKING CATCH OR DRIBBLE THE BALL ANY MORE. I don't give a flying fuck how many fucking shots he fucking hit during the fucking playoffs. Eventually everyone just gets too fucking old to play. That's Robert Horry. Too fucking old to play worth a shit. He's played 205 minutes this season during which the Spurs have been outscored by 20 points. Are you even fucking watching the games Pop?

Speaking of too fucking old, when's the last time you developed a player? Or fuck, even found a player and plucked him off another team? How come every other fucking team finds the Jason Maxiells, Leandro Barbosas, Glen Davis', Brandon Bass' and Paul Millsaps of the world while we sign the likes of Ime Udoka? And when we finally come up short for nothing more than the fact we're fucking old, who will you blame?

Wait. I actually know the answer to that question. You'll blame Manu. You fucking fuck.

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Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

I feel like the Spurs season has finally begun, we're cursing Coach Poop on PTR.

BTW--Are we doing the Blogger for a Day thing again this year? That was fun.

by JamesR on Jan 11, 2008 10:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Your right we haven't had any young players since Manu which was 5 years ago!!! I don't even know why the Spurs sign young players because they waive their asses a couple of weeks later.

They get rid of James White which was asbolutely stupid!!!!!

They then sign DerMarr Johnson and Keith Langford and then waive them.

They also waive Marcus Williams and I forgot who the back up point guard was too but I know they got rid of him too!

by adam8065 on Jan 11, 2008 10:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pop

Damn Matt, tell 'em why you're mad. Pop is notoriously stubborn and he is notorious for giving a game or 5 away during the regular season. That's what he did last night and he'll do it again later on this year. That's just how it is. I still see a strong push coming sooner rather than later.

"I will slap you into a jelly!!!!"

by DennardC on Jan 11, 2008 11:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

What am I missing? What's wrong with Ime? He's not great, but I thought he was a decent -> good roll player. Plus, I kinda like him. Also, he's 30, which makes him the second youngest player on the team that we won't be cutting within 10-15 days...
Anyways, if I'm wrong, please educate me.

by Krukow on Jan 12, 2008 12:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Fucking A!

by Hipuks on Jan 12, 2008 12:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

yeah, i don't see the problem with pop doing something stupid once in a while. plus, like jamesr and dennard said, the coaches like created false drama to motivate the players.

i think the spurs should take a page out of pritchard's book. forget record. just play the right way (or sit the bench) and everything else will take care of itself.

by dmcnulla on Jan 12, 2008 1:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

That was the post of the year. I missed angry Matthew.

by Aaronstampler on Jan 12, 2008 4:10 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Ok so you are a little mad. I was too. But then I realized that it was January. Pop won't be have runs go on like that without at timeout in the playoffs. He'll have the right matchups. A big reason for the lost the other night was because of Pop's double teams and poor matchups. But that'll change in the playoffs.

by BUTD on Jan 12, 2008 9:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

I pissed too man, but I'm way more pissed with the players than I am at Pop. Listen, if the guys who were on the court during the first quarter had actually decided that they wanted to be on a basketball court, and then played like it, it would have been a totally different ballgame. The came out flat, lethargic, lazy. They basically looked like they would rather be lotioning themselves in Buffalo Bill's basement than playing Detroit that night. That's why we lost, not because of some bad defensive match up decisions.

by pollackj on Jan 12, 2008 11:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Pop is not going to develop young talent because he figures he's going to stay until TD retires, probably in 3 - 4 years. After that, he clearly doesn't give a shit what happens, he'll be chugging wine in Oregon or Vermont or wherever the hell he's moving to. Until then, he has Tony and Manu as his other key players, and they will last until TD goes, and he surrounds them with other proven role players. He figures that cast will give him a shot at the title every year. And, of course, while he's right, the Spurs and their fans will pay a heavy price in a few years.

by agutierrez on Jan 12, 2008 2:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Pop has a backup plan when he retires with Timmy!!
Scola will be our starting PF!!!!

Awww fuck..... we gave him away for nothing......

by Chilai on Jan 12, 2008 2:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Did anyone notice that Flip threw the Dallas game the night before so he could save his starters for the Spurs game? Starting 5 played 139 minutes against Dallas, 180 against the Spurs. Well played Flip, well played.

The one thing I used to respect about Pop was his system. On defense, press the perimeter, funnel everything baseline to great shot blockers and never give up the middle. On offense, work the big men in the post. You get the opposing big men in foul trouble, wear them out so they are tired on offense, open things up for your three point shooters.

Now, the Spurs have no shot blockers. Second worst in the NBA with 3.7 blocks per game. The interior defense is a lay up drill. Pathetic. On offense, there are bizzare stretches were Tim hangs out above the free throw line doing I don't know what and when he does work the post, he puts up marshmellow shots that are routenly slapped back at him by inferior talent. Beside Duncan, the Spurs have zero post game. I just don't think you can win in the NBA without a post game.

Pop's one saving grace was his system and they way he was so hard nose about. Now, he is has bought into his own greatness. Sad to see him fall into a trap so many have before him. Reminds me of Eric Bishoff right before WCW went bottom up.

-Hannibal ad portas (Hannibal is at the gate!)

by ClintonsCigar on Jan 12, 2008 2:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Excellent points.

Are we more of a 3 point shooting team now? When we win, it sure seems that way.

As for the defense and the system, I also wonder if they need to begin adjusting. For one, it seems to take new players a whole year to learn the system. If the system isn't working, these two things don't add up. However, the "system" is supposed to include a huge offensive playbook so I don't want to blame it all on a possibly out-dated defensive approach. However again, the Spurs improved once Pop let Tony and Manu do their thing.

I have no idea how to define the team anymore. In the end, as Bruce would say, "it is what it is."

by Jones on Jan 12, 2008 8:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

i'm kinda hacked off at the spurs need to play muscial chairs with the last roster spot. how may guys have been there already? we'd have someone to put there if we did just a little better job of drafting this year. that's my contribution to the poop on pop part of the blog.

by bones on Jan 13, 2008 5:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Soo . . . anybody have a suggestion regarding who they would want to replace Pop with? Anybody think that there is a coach out there who could do better if he suddenly keeled over from a heart attack in the next week? Because if you don't, I don't see much point in attacking a coach that has had as much success as he is and has led your team to 4 championships.

by pollackj on Jan 14, 2008 1:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

Wow, brilliant comment! The point of "attacking a coach" is to get the coach to improve his coaching (or as an excuse to curse a lot). Based on your logic there's no point in Pop criticizing Parker because there's no better point guard available.

by sungo on Jan 14, 2008 5:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I Am Less than Happy With Mr. Gregg Popovich

So the relationship that you have with Pop can be compared favorably with the relationship that Pop has with Tony. I'm gonna call bullshit on that one.

The reason you criticize Pop is because your pissed off that we're losing and you want to bitch about something. No problem, feel free. But the fact is we are playing like crap right now. Parker is making tons of mistakes, Manu is shooting poorly, and Duncan seems like he forgot the season has started. These guys are pros, you can't blame that on the coach.

Also, there are better point guards available than Parker. I'm willing to say that there is not one single coach in the NBA that I would rather have than Pop. That doesn't mean he's immune to criticism, but it does mean that a 6 paragraph rant about how much Pop fucking sucks is probably an overreaction.

by pollackj on Jan 15, 2008 3:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs