Comments on: Other People: Matt Moore on Pop

By: Robby

Robby — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:34:15 +0000

Will, nobody here is saying that “Pop won with spare sparts” as compared to the last champions they are assembled in a manner to get most ALLSTARS to win (see boston and lakers) while in contary, the Spurs did it by having TD and having a little luck with the draft, (Manu and Tony)… but at the time specialy in ‘99 how knows Manu will the be Manu of ‘05? in ‘03 the Spurs actually think
Tony might not be their PG of the future and yet they won… that to me is more impressive than assembling a team of proven allstars in the past just to win a title… and Pop has a close relationship with his players, he treats them with respect (specially Duncan). So having been said that, i think that seperates Pop to alot of NBA coaches… and did i mention he rarely complains about officiating…. as for PJ’s case he always blasts the referees if they loss and playoff game… (maybe one of his mind games), Pop is such a class in this regard… Go Spurs Go!

By: Robby

Robby — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:23:28 +0000

Agree with Bentley, we might have won 6 rings already if ” had it not been for .4 and Dirk Nowitzki’s lucky shot in Game 7 of the 2006 playoffs” … and BB “I just think we’re really lucky to have all the moving parts working together so well. I’d argue that he’s as important a piece as Tim Duncan in making it all happen.” thats how important Pop is in this organization…. a little luck maybe involved but i think people that knows Spurs culture are really class acts, intelligent and with high character that makes them a model of consistency and excellence for the past decade…

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:36:36 +0000

For one thing it does make me happy to see so many Spurs fans, the whole season i heard of how the Spurs didn’t have it anymore, and it almost seemed to me like the city had given up.

And it’s also amazing the consistency we’ve had. Being mentioned as contenders for over the past decade, and had it not been for .4 and Dirk Nowitzki’s shot in Game 7 of the 2006 playoffs and other things we might have had 6 or 7 championships. Pop has stayed rock solid, while all the other NBA Elite:Celtics, Lakers, Mavs, Magic, Pistons etc. have gone through numerous coaching changes and player changes

Go Spurs Go. Seriously

By: Area Man

Area Man — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:44:49 +0000

Will Pop walk away from the bench, when Duncan finally hangs it up? He’s gone on record as saying he will. But like Matt Moore indicated in his article, the man is prone to whimsical statements. My gut says it will happen, but who knows? *shrug*

If Pop does leave, however, who would he hand the reins of the team over to? Don Newman? Mike Budenholzer? Quin Snyder? [Insert-Name-Here]?

By: gospurs44

gospurs44 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:15:33 +0000

he could have been a 20+ pt per game guy but that’s the year he deferred to duncan. still all-star numbers. would pop still be here if the spurs wouldn’t have won the duncan lottery?

By: Juan

Juan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:02:27 +0000

Robinson’s stats:

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/david_robinson/

He averaged 29.8ppg on 93-94! I would say 15ppg is well below his peak.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:09:21 +0000

Robinson prime was 24 pts & 12 reb + 3 blocks

By: JohnnyF

JohnnyF — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:49:48 +0000

gospurs44:

Before Robinson got hurt in ‘96-’97, he was a solid 25 and 12 (not to mention the 3.5 bl, 3 ast, 1.5 stl). So yeah, I’d say 15.8 and 10 puts him pretty well past his prime.

By: gospurs44

gospurs44 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:07:11 +0000

Robinson past his prime in ‘99? 15.8 pts & 10 reb.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:04:39 +0000

Re: the Phil Jackson I think we (Spurs fan) should stop saying Pop won with spare sparts – ok PJ had Jordan (obviously that helps), Kobe/Shaq and generally speaking teams loaded with talent. But Pop had Duncan (best PF of all time anybody?), D-Rob (MVP, All-time 50 best), Parker, Ginobili… that’s 2 HOFers and 2 others that might very well end up there too (for Parker it’s borderline and a bit early to say, for Ginobili probably a lock due to his international contributions – remember it’s the basketball HOF, not the NBA HOF). Add to that guys like Horry, Finley… etc. Tons of quality role-players and former All-Stars.

The Spurs are NOT depleted of talent, far from it (and this year’s team shows it again).

What’s amazing is how this talent has been acquired, no blockbuster trade, no freebies like Gasol and so on.

For me where Pop and the FO have made a huge difference is to bring a small-market franchise into the spotlight, at a time where everybody thought it was impossible.

By: idahospur

idahospur — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:33:42 +0000

It’s amazing to look at that Spurs are #4 with total NBA Championships after Celtics, Lakers, and Bulls. Pop has also been involved in training other important coaching figures in other teams (Mike Brown for one). Pop has also mastered finding talent in places that no other team looks. To be able to accomplish this much in a “smaller venue” shows how talented he truly is.

By: BB

BB — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:30:02 +0000

Yeah, his record is nuts – he only missed the playoffs once, when we bombed to get Tim Duncan.

I also wonder how it affects the chemistry to know your coach almost certainly won’t be fired at the end of the season. For the sake of comparison, in the past 10 years the Pistons have fired Rick Carlisle (2 50-win seasons), Larry Brown (1 championship, 2 Finals appearances), and Flip Saunders (2x Conference Finals, 60+ win season). We have an excellent combination of personnel, coaching staff, and management, and I don’t think you could take any one part away and expect results anywhere near as good as we’ve had.

None of this is to belittle Popovich’s career, mind. I just think we’re really lucky to have all the moving parts working together so well. I’d argue that he’s as important a piece as Tim Duncan in making it all happen.

By: Robby

Robby — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:19:09 +0000

Just to add to on how great Poppovich has… remember that the spurs haven’t miss a playoffs for the past 12 years and won atleast 50 season games during that span… and for the past decade spurs are always title contenders year in and year out… you can’t say that to another NBA team can you?

By: Robby

Robby — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:10:21 +0000

There is no wrong way when you win championships… from a comparison stand point, P. Jackson have MORE accomplished All Star Players on a team when he wins those rings…

While in Pop’s case, he only have ONE true All Star (Tim Duncan) when he won his first ring in ‘99 at this point the admiral is past his prime, Manu is still a rookie and their starting PG is Avery Johnson. Manu and Tony DEVELOPED as an all star players during the Duncan era on their in winning rings in ‘03, ‘05 and ‘07.

all i’m saying is, Coach Pop won championships with “lesser” talent as compared to what P.Jackson had….

By: BB

BB — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:42:34 +0000

If the wrong way wins championships, it’s the right way. Pop is a great coach, and much like Phil Jackson, an excellent counterpart to his star players. It must have sucked hard for TP when Pop doubted his potential and they went after Jason Kidd, but I’m pretty sure that experience made Tony the tough, aggressive PG he is today. If he did nothing else but raise Tony’s game to an All-Star level, Pop’s a good coach. That said, the front office deserves a lot of credit for helping Pop get the players he needed for all those championships.