Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010...6:39 am
What is my relationship with Gregg Popovich?
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve noticed an interesting trend in the comments section here at 48 Minutes of Hell. A small but vocal minority has been increasingly critical of Gregg Popovich and has even called for the coach that helped bring this franchise four NBA titles to be fired.
I’ll admit, I find people who believe that to be deeply frustrating. It’s a laughable opinion, shortsighted at best. Nonetheless the few yet hypercritical who have been haunting 48 Minutes of Hell recently do pose an interesting question, however unintentionally, for your humble author: What is my relationship with Gregg Popovich?
To be clear, I am not interested in my personal relationship with the man. I know what he thinks of me: Nothing at all. I can assure you that every time I have had the pleasure of interviewing Popovich he has forgotten about my existence mere moments after we have gone our separate ways.
My question is more abstract. As a supporter of the team, as a journalist, and as a student of the game, what is my relationship with Gregg Popovich?
The answer to that question lies in a different question, one which strikes at the heart of why I have chosen to pursue the craft of journalism: Do I wish to know or do I think I know better?
Layton Ehmke, a close friend and a brilliant journalist, is fond of explaining his favorite aspect of our profession by saying, “I love asking cool people questions.” Ehmke, whose mannerisms are a cross between a Midwestern farmer and a Californian surfer, is endowed with an enviable characteristic both of those archetypes possess. He has the uncanny ability to capture insight with simple language. I mention the characteristic specifically because of how dramatically I lack it.
In this instance, he has touched upon a particular insight that far too few members of the media understand: It is better to listen than to be heard.
Punch drunk boxers and hedge fund managers. SWAT team members and major conference commissioners. Graffiti artists and urban farmers. In the brief time I’ve had the pleasure of calling myself a journalist, these are the kinds of people I’ve had the opportunity to speak with and, more importantly, listen to. Just think of whom I’ll have met by the time I’m done.
It’s important to remember that, like Gregg Popovich, it means little to any of these people that they’ve spoken with me. Why should it? They are actors; I am merely an observer. But the idea of speaking with them is what gets me out of bed in the morning. It’s my job to find very interesting people and ask them questions. All things considered, it’s a pretty good job.
This brings me back to the difference between knowing and knowing better. It’s not my job to know better than Gregg Popovich. And thank God it isn’t, because I don’t. But it is my job to try to know him, to look at the decisions he makes as a coach and understand them as best I can. Sometimes I have what are commonly referred to as “criticisms,” instances in which I don’t understand what he is doing and can envision a strategy or tactic that I believe would have been more effective.
But rather than react with vitriol, I try my best to remain sober and inquisitive. That’s the tone we strive for here at 48 Minutes of Hell and it’s the attitude we hope our readers embody as well. I’m not saying you can’t be critical of Gregg Popovich. All I’m saying is, if you are waiting to see a member of this staff react disdainfully towards a coach and a front office that has brought this franchise four titles, you’re wasting your time.
I may have moments where I am confused or critical. But at those moments I don’t have the audacity to believe I could do a better job. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say no one could do a better job- not Phil Jackson, not Jerry Sloan, not anyone -of coaching the San Antonio Spurs than Gregg Popovich. That does not mean he is infallible. What it means is that when I question his decisions, I do exactly that: I ask questions about his decisions in the hopes that I may discover answers. What I don’t do is assume I know better.
58 Comments
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 am
I agree with you that it is ridiculous to call for Pop to be fired - we should not even be thinking about firing a coach who has brought us four titles in 11 years. The Jazz stuck with Jerry Sloan in times thick and thin (They still don’t have a title in the last 20 years) and I believe we should be doing the same. But having said that some of the lineups that Pop likes to throw out there drives me nuts - as it does with most of the readers here. Even so, we should not be calling for Pop’s firing just because our last championship was three years ago. I think we have just become a little spoiled by our own success!
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:28 am
Your editorial embodies the problem with most of the San Antonio media as it pertains to the Spurs: you all are more fans than journalists. Fans come and go, will get off and on the bandwagon, will cheer and jeer and so forth. But people who follow the team don’t need “fans” to write the Spurs onto a pedestal. We need you to probe, learn and provide information.
The big disappointment I find is that the media seems to be reluctant to do this; they don’t ask tough questions of members of the Spurs organization. Just click on any postgame webfeed and you can hear some weak sounding guy asking softball fan-like questions.
For example, why didn’t anyone in the media ascertain Finley’s disappointment and desire to be released? Maybe the question was asked, and maybe a polite answer was given. But I doubt anyone probed.
Its the Spurs organization is adept at providing the media with simple soundbites over and over, and sticking to that message. The local media rarely, if at all, gets them to provide any more than that.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 am
Awesome post, and I hope you stay in sports journalism for a long, long time, because this field needs more people with your approach and attitude.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:42 am
It’s foolish to think that anyone can follow a team 24/7 and not be a fan. Heck, I don’t think you could find one single beat writer who follows one team that doesn’t have a fandom or biased way of thinking towards the team. Graydon and everyone else contributing to this blog aren’t robots. I’m sure a vast majority of blogs like this started because people were fans.
And another thing, how much more is there to know? No playing time = wanting out. It’s no gigantic conspiracy theory. You don’t have to go all private eye on it
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:56 am
Great post.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:10 am
Spurs Fan 78, see this: http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/buckharvey/2010/03/finleys-exit-wound.html
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:12 am
Well, I must comment here. I am a huge critic of what Pop has done with the team this season. I absolutely hate the line ups and rotations, misuse of players, and underutilization of other players.
However, I do not feel that Pop should be fired. Dont think that getting rid of him is the answer. He just needs a wake up call. Needs to know that the Spurs are about the city and the fans, not him!
I agree wholeheartedly with SPURS FAN78 above. The media is not properly covering this team and never has. All we get from the media is praise for this FO and coach. No tough questions are asked and thus, never answered.
On the few occasions that a reporter has had the gonads to ask the tough question, Pop lashes out at them with some kind of angry response and they cower away like children. Im sure that you wouldnt do that.
Most of the Spur fanbase has been extremely supportive and tolerant of this FO and coach for years, regardless of the decisions that they made. Yes, they won 4 championships and we absolutely loved it.
But, lets not forget that in doing so, they gave us the appetite for winning. We want to win, period! Wont accept less.
So, regardless of what this coach and FO did for us yesterday, we feel that the state of affairs now is horrible, and even worse, unexplained.
We the fans, being of sound mind and acceptance of the fact that we are not NBA coaches, dont understand why a HOF coach needs an entire season to find a starting line up or to develope rotations. Why he cant seem to develope our young players, though he has had them for years.
We dont understand why we see Bonner signed for 11 million when we could have signed Scola for less. I came to the conclusion that Bonner is seceretly Pop’s son.
We dont understand why Bogans is starting for our team and playing 20 minutes a game, yet producing nothing but a body on the court. Why this caoch would rather lose with Bogans that try another option.
We dont understand why this coach and FO remained silent during trade time and allowed thier competitors to get better while they did nothing.
Finally, we certainly dont understand why players are asking to be released from this organization. That is a red flag, period. Ratliff, Haislip, and Finley were just the beginning. Im sure that if Hairston and Mahinmi had any leverage, they too would have asked to be released. Mason would have been the 4th to leave by request if a deal would have been reached. We absolutely cannot ignore that red flag.
We are not so vain that we think we are better than Pop at coaching this team. Very few posts have even suggested that Pop be fired.
Its actually simple…We want to know what is going on?
We want to know what the thinking is that is prompting these moves, or lack thereof.
Media wouldnt ask, so we took it upon ourselves to get some answers.
In closing, my question to the author is this…
Are you the man? Are you the one to ask the tough questions?
Or, do we need a savior?
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:21 am
Again I agree wit Ballhog. Pop is a great coach but sometimes great coaches need to be made aware of a problem. The spurs problem is too long they have picked up veterans to fill holes witout developing a player. It has finally caught up to them.
Pop needs to be able to infuse guys like mahimi, harriston, hailsip, and others to come to see wat they have got. If after a while they show nothing, then ok cut them. But they need to be given a chance. If not, the team will get old and be exposed, as has been the case for 2 yrs running.
Its time to start building a new core of young players. Guys like Mcdysse, Ratlif, and finnely wont be in the league much longer. We need young guys totake their spots
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:28 am
@Ballhog,
Wow. Moving. Reminiscent of the list of grievances against King George, another undeserving dictator. Would be revolutionary, except, these are the same arguments you have smattered in the comments of nearly every article lately.
Nice anaphora.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:31 am
@ Renato
I could not have said it better. This is not an attempt to create a conspiracy against Pop. This is real. The moves he is making dont make basketball sense.
It has a tone suggestive of personal preference as opposed to sound basketball decisions.
Maybe a trip to the playoffs this season will be the telling point. After all, Ball dont lie.
I will add this…If Mcdyess’ injury would have been serious, where would it have left Pop then? Wouldnt Ratliff and Haislip have been sorely missed at that point?
As a fan, Im just tired of being left scratching my head after each game. Even wins are ugly with these pitiful line ups.
Ther is no way that this team wouldnt be better had this coach used his roster. Had he played Hairston, Mahinmi, Ratliff, and Haislip from the beginning of the season, we wouldnt be convinced of a first round exit in the playoffs. Period!
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:33 am
[...] Having a strong relationship with the coach of your favorite NBA team can be very important. After all he is the guy leading your players to victory, so to respect him is key. Well, some San Antonio Spurs fans have started to turn on coach Gregg Popovich but 48 Minutes in Hell has a rebuttal. [...]
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:36 am
@ballhog. Good post. I, myelf, don’t hate Pop or want him fired, but there are many questions that beg answers.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:01 am
BALLHOG,
Not to single you out but in response to “On the Departure of Veterans,” you wrote, “Here’s hoping that Peter Holt is growing tired of the BS games going on with this coach. If it was my franchise, He would have followed Finley out of town, today!”
What did you mean by that last line if not that Pop should be fired?
Renato,
“Guys like McDyess, Ratliff, and Finley wont be in the league much longer. We need young guys to take their spots.”
Two of those three are no longer with the team, so It’s not clear to me what your complaint is.
-
This is my problem- There are lots of complaints and lots of mutual support among commenters for voicing those complaints, but at points those complaints are in direct contradiction with one another.
Also, regarding the idea of sobriety which I mentioned: Calling the situation “horrible” when the team is 10 wins over .500 is not a sober assessment.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:15 am
I think there are two distinct arguments being made. One is the quality of Pop’s decisions and second the media’s coverage of the Spurs. First, Pop’s decisions as far as lineups, rotations etc. are a direct result of Pop’s and R.C. failings in personnel decisions for the last 3 or 4 yrs. Give them credit for Hill and Blair was an obvious choice. But the strategy of stashing players in Europe hasn’t seem to work. I do understand that many of these decisions are determined by economics.
As far as the media’s treatment of Pop specifically and the Spurs in general I would argue it’s hard to be critical of a team that has won 4 championships and is a perennial contender and has players that aren’t going to embarrass the franchise with their off the court behavior. At the same time I’m sure we’ve all heard rumors about local media folks who have had their run-ins with Pop and how that has negatively effected their careers. The Spurs are the biggest fish in a relatively small pond considering there are no other major sports franchises in town. If you are a local reporter and run afoul of Pop and this team and lose access you will not have a job in this market for very long.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:18 am
As for Buck Harvey’s 3-2-10 article-after the Finley move-there are 3 lines of his editorial that underscore what I’m saying:
1. Popovich had always seen Finley as different than, say, Bruce Bowen. When Bowen’s minutes dropped last season, and Bowen counseled with several Spurs, among them Tony Parker, Popovich rolled his eyes.
2. But then came this season, when Popovich veered away from Finley, especially after a sprained ankle sidelined him. Maybe Finley didn’t have the same body language that Bowen had the year before. Still, Parker admitted Finley had come to him about his concerns, just as Bowen had, except Finley was more direct. He wanted out.
3. There’s something else the Spurs won’t like: It appears Finley’s agent talked to other teams, weighing interest, before Finley approached Popovich.
Obviously, BH knew or learned this around the time that it happened, but it went unreported. Why is this stuff always mentioned in articles after the fact?
The point I’m trying to make is that there are a lot of stories about this team that fans should want the media to report on-good and bad. But I think the beat reporters and bloggers just skate by, which is too bad for us fans.
P.S. I think BH is the lone exception to the Fan-dom remark of the media.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:21 am
Well said once more, Graydon!
I understand questioning moves - heck, I’m a Cowboys fan, so it’s a pretty common thing since Jimmy left town - but here’re some glass half-full thoughts:
This team is 10 games OVER .500.
They haven’t really gelled, offensively or defensively.
They’re playing a sophomore and a rookie regular minutes - occasionally HEAVY minutes.
TD has played at his regularly expected levels, maybe a little better even than most were expecting, particularly at the beginning of the season.
TP has been dinged and banged and sick and looks to be learning how to play at something a little slower than an F-17.
Manu hasn’t been Manu until the last month - and since then he’s been steadily improving.
In other words, I think this team is setting up for some decent success if things progress as they have been considering the quality of teams they’ll be playing to finish out the season. They’ll basically be playing playoff games from here on out, so we should know by the end of the season whether this team will be capable of winning series in the second season.
I guess what I’m saying is it’s all well and good to question and wonder what has been going on with this team, but don’t ignore the positives that are there. Otherwise you’ll be preaching to closed ears, and simply B- and Moaning to hear yourself - which is what it seems to be at the moment; talking to hear your own voice.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 am
Saw Phil Jackson playing Adam Morrison last night. Just sayin
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:32 am
Spur Fan 78,
Buck Harvey has a big enough following and track record in this town that’s he isn’t concerned about how the Spurs as an organization will react to any of his columns. Buck has a unique talent and in my opinion is the best sports columnist in the country and has been for a couple of decades. But if you are a television sports reporter in the 35th or whatever it is now TV market in the country you’re not going to tick off the Spurs because they are so dependent on access to the players and coaches.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:33 am
@ Graydon…You got me…I did call for his head when I saw his starting line up at New Oeleans. The emotion got the best of me.
I want to be very clear here. Again, I dont think that firing Pop is the answer, besides, I dont get any pleasure out of seeing a man lose his ability to feed his family…Doesnt matter who it is.
As for the issue at hand. It is simply a request for answers. Answering a few fan driven questions shouldnt be that difficult to do for this organization.
We endure the strange draft picks and all that goes along with personnel selections made by this franchise. We remain steadfast and loyal each year, regardless.
Now, the team is barely above .500 and for most Spurs fans, thats not where we want to be. Winning is, after all, contagious!
If memory serves me correctly, I recall the Spurs drafting George Hill. When they called his name, my reaction was like many other Spur fans, “WHO”?
Each year, the moves are off base and strange. Europeon players are selected repeatedly, and most never get to San Antonio, as if the pick was just tossed. Waisted.
I would like to know why?
Do the Spurs feel that none of the thousands of College players are worthy of playing for this team?
Do the Spurs feel that they must continue to sacrifice talent in hopes of obtaining “John Boy Walton” type character in players?
For instance…In this years draft, Spurs pick 20th in the 1st round. Clearly, they could select the 7’1 center out of Florida St, Solomon Alabi.
They then select at 50 in the 2nd round…still a quality pick…
Why not a guy like Missisippi State’s Renardo Sidney…Huge kid…6’10, 275lbs..This kid is a brawler and a player already…Just think…He is still growing….
But, if history is my reference, none of this will happen. At least one of those picks will probably be wasted, again….
Isnt it reasonable that we want our questions answered.
Cant we know the rationale? Something?
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:44 am
How are the calls to fire Pop as head coach from the comments section more troubling than the four collective writers of a Spurs blog unanimously deciding that we should trade Manu?
Both lines of thought are ridiculous, and reek of panicky short-sightedness.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:45 am
We all have our personal grievances about what could be changed so that the team can play more efficiently. Some of the posts are soooo repetitive that it becomes a game of who likes to hear their thoughts the most or even attacking one’s intelligence. I’m glad the moderaters have stepped in and called out the contradictions. Let’s stay within the realm of bball purity fellas (and ladies).
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:52 am
BALLHOG,
Just to be clear, the point of this isn’t to play gotcha with the commenters. I change my opinions about this team all the time, you certainly are allowed to as well. I was just saying…
I don’t have time to respond to every question you raised because I’m really busy today, but I wanted to ask about two things you said.
First, in regards to, “If memory serves me correctly, I recall the Spurs drafting George Hill. When they called his name, my reaction was like many other Spur fans, “WHO”?”
Although I also had little to no idea who Hill was at the time, I am really happy we selected him and that he has gotten so much playing time this year. Is your comment meant to be a criticism? Because I consider drafting Hill to be one of the Front Office’s savvier decisions in recent years.
“For instance…In this years draft….”
I don’t know if it is fair to criticize the front office for draft decisions they’ve yet to make, although I do agree with the idea of drafting guys who will be ready and able to contribute on the court their rookie year, as they have done with Blair and Hill.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:53 am
On a side note, please tell me everyone else saw the Skip Bayless and DeJuan Blair video, priceless!
Pop’s methods have always been unorthodox, just gotta roll with and stay faithful, and stand behind the team.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:53 am
Also, we do have a month and change to play, with a semi wide open 2-9 seeds in the West… maybe we should focus more on the Spurs now in March 2010 than what they should do this offseason.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:56 am
This page right here is why I love 48 MOH. Clean, intelligent debate! Thank you!
I love Pop and every other member of the Spurs franchise. I have gotten used to their highest standards and am unable to understand our current predicament. Thanks to long term success, tough questions rarely needed to be asked before and over time I believe a pattern of weak questions has been established between the media and the Spurs personnel.
Answers to the difficult questions only leads to a more informed fan base and in the absence of explanations, combined with less than acceptable results (10 games over 500 is not what I expected at this stage in the season for this team) the questioning is only going to increase.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
I agree Colin. I used to love coming to this site and enjoying the back and forth within the comments. But now I’m just getting tired of hearing the same people waxing poetic, just to see their name and thoughts in print. I’m sure the majority of people who make these long comments have never played basketball in their entire life. I’m tired of everyone acting like they know what is better for this organization than the people who run it and have brought us 4 titles.
@Ballhog, don’t forget to sit by your phone for the next few weeks as the season draws to a close. With all of your insight and knowledge on the draft and inner workings of what would be best for the Spurs, I’m sure their front office will be calling you very soon. And if not them, any number of teams would be happy to have someone who is such a bright basketball mind.
To the 4 writers of this site, I love what you do. Please keep it coming. This site is a daily check for me and your coverage of the team has been tremendous. I just won’t be checking the comments section anymore.
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:11 am
@ greg..
48minutesofhell provides us fans with a wonderful platform. I enjoy the site…Im sure that all of the posters in here are different people with different opinions and points of view. That is the point afterall.
I get hit with angry responses all the time…Its part of blogging. I choose not to respond in kind, for it would make me no better than them or you.
If my post sparked a lil emotion in ya, good! Wouldnt be any fun if we just all came in here to praise Pop.
Instead of attacking me though, how about some insight into the subject at hand.
Now that would certainly help….
Debate is awsome…
anger is just not necessary….It spoils the fun….
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:00 am
My complaint is that for 10 years I can name 3 draft picks that I would say were good aquisitions and players: Hill, Manu, Blair. (TP was 99). The spurs need young players to add to the team. I add the GM into this conersation bc too many draft picks have not panned out. The spurs need to use their bench more. Think about this line up
TP, Mason, Hariston, Duncan, Blair.
Hill, Manu, RJ, Mcdysse, and Mahimi off the bench.
Hill i think is like manu in that, despite the fact he is a great player, Id rather have him off the bench backing up TP. The spurs have shown they clealry need a proven jump shooting SF and another Big man. Bowen, was great, but spurs never groomed a player to take his spot and bogans isnt cutting it. Bonner has proven while he can be a good asset, he is not a 5 on the spurs roster. Spurs should look around the league, the teams that play buy signing big name free agents arent cutting it (celtics, pistons, ect.). They need to start drafting players and developing them and puttin them into the roster. Age has really caught up to this team, and the fact that youth wasnt really infused until this year is what is hurting it alot
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:07 am
I agree with the draft comments to some degree, but we all have to remember that when you’re at the top of the league EVERY year (like we have been until now), you aren’t getting lottery picks, but rather later picks. There aren’t very many “can’t miss”, “immediate impact” players at these spots.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 am
I’m a first time poster but long time reader. This article inspired me to dust off my keyboard to express my .02.
Wow, are we getting tense in here or what?
I enjoy visiting 48moh because I love the Spurs and I love the site. They set a tone here that matches the team when it’s going well: consistent, steady, not too high, not too low. This is one of the few sites that doesn’t seem to have too many trolls lurking as well, that’s refreshing these days. I enjoy reader responses as they are not only consistently passionate; but for the most part, well thought out and logical. It’s like discovering an online Spursoholics Anonymous club with well adjusted members. Other sites don’t accomplish this as well. For instance, I follow the US men’s national soccer team and most of the responses read like a gang of pubescent middle school punks. I don’t read them anymore.
So I find myself agreeing with Graydon, as I start to see some “fire Pop” posts begin to tag the site, they make me cringe that we may be beginning to debase a little. God knows this season has been a trying one on the nerves, but what NBA season isn’t? I believe the problem is for some, the fear of losing has outgrown the expectation of winning. There is a difference. I liken it to getting laid. Let me explain.
When you’re getting some on a regular basis = Spurs winning comfortably over everyone, keeping opponents in the low 90′s, all is right with the world. So the foreign players go to their International teams in the summer? They’re dedicated. We have ballers. Our coach is God. We will prevail.
When you’re not getting laid all the time = Spurs losing to flat tire teams like Detroit, getting thumped by Portland, Boston, Dallas, LA. Our foreign players are unprofessional. They ruin their bodies playing so much. What is Pop doing? His lineups suck. Our trades suck. We suck!
We don’t! We’re not the Nets, some skinny little freshmen virgin geek that the bullies delight stuffing into their locker and tormenting on a daily basis. We still get ours, just not as much as the recent past. But we will. These things go in, uh… spurts? We’re over thinking things.
I think the thing to keep in mind is that we are NEVER, EVER going to change the mind of someone like Pop by venting in a blog. And as Graydon said, he and the other 48MOH staffers aren’t granted some special audience in hill country to specifically address our grievances with Pop and the mighty FO. He will not be presented with your input in this blog and go, “My God, I’ve been playing Bogans for twenty minutes a game? What the hell was I thinking? Thank you 48MOH posters!” The point is, he will never read these words. We do. And we will. This site is for the fans, serious fans.
I say this not in jest, and I haven’t been drinking (yet), because I respect the writers and the input of the readers of this site. Yes a lot of us are ticket holders, yes we purchase the jerseys, the balls, even the burnt out looking coyote dolls. But our power is extremely limited. Hey it’s the NBA, just saying.
We’ll be fine once Pop returns from his year long secret vacation and replaces his avatar as coach. So relax, refill up your pitchers of Dos Equis and “Go, Spurs, Go!”
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 am
@ Renato
TP was drafted in ’02 not ’99. Manu was the one taken in the 2nd Rd of ’99. But agree with your post otherwise…
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:21 am
@Kevin
I agree…but when you consider that in ten drafts the net result is 3 maybe 4 players (depending on Splitter). Ontop of this, I just feel the spurs always turn to a guy who is like 30 something. I mean, the spurs havent addressed the center position since the retirement of david robinson. They just plugged one guy in after another and progressively it became more of a problem. List goes on and on. Spurs need to stop drafting for 5 years down the road and occasionally draft for the now. And if it is for 5 years down the road, bring them back and play them. Dont trade them away or never give them a chance.
What annoys me is what I dont know. I have no idea if Mahimi is a good center. Pop never gave him a chance to show it. In the end, players you draft and groom need to be given shots on the court to show wat they have, not be stored away so no one ever knows
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:23 am
@Renato
I didnt see your post as a complaint at all. It sounded like a reasonable concern.
Again…Having questions answered would easily solve these issues…
Maybe the Spurs do have some type of Genious behind the methods. If so, great…
But share it with the folks that buy tickets and beer….That would be great!
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:26 am
I agree with Ballhog. Legitimate questions don’t get asked and therefore can’t get answered.
For example, Bogans in the past 3 games has missed the 1st 3 shots he’s taken. Hairston has gotten 1 opportunity and excelled in it, by shutting down Martin defensively, and getting to the rim with ease for layups(so much so that announcer Clyde Drexler was impressed since he claimed the Rockets knew that was Hairston MO and still he couldn’t be stopped). Why on earth has he yet to get a 2nd opportunity after a performance like that?
Or why after a big win in Denver before the all-star break with one lineup would you come out of the all-star break with a different lineup? Why not see if that lineup that can lead to sustained success?
Or why Ratliff (a defensive big that protects the paint every one acknowledges has been part of Spurs success in the past) never got 10 to 12 minutes a game. Especially now that he has enough stamina to start for the Bobcats and block 2 shots a game.
These are basic questions for which no answers have been forthcoming.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
I’ve questioned POP so many times this year, but I don’t think he should be fired.
Bottom line is players aren’t hitting the wide open 3, they’re turning the ball over and slipping on defensive rotations.
PLUS, TP and MANU haven’t been there. Until now it appears. ( I hope)
It’s easy to say play IAN and HAIRSTON. They might be ready to PLAY, but not ready enough to play in the SPurs system.
Just look at HEDO TURKOGLU, remember the SPurs actually had him? The guy that lead the MAGIC to the Finals. He never found his place in the SPURS system. In the Magic system he was amazing.
So you can’t really blame POP too much. And you certainly shouldn’t be calling for him to be fired.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:50 am
I do put it on the coach of the system is that complex. I mean just look at dallas, they traded for haywood and butler and booom 8 straight wins. A system cannot be so complex it hinders the team from winning. Hedo was a different story, he was just not a good fit. But thats my point. Draft them or sign them, leave them on the end of the bench for yr have them learn the system and then the next yr put them in. Except that never happens, either they are drafted and play in europe and nothing ever comes of it. Or they sign a veteran who takes the youngers players minutes year after year.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 am
@Graydon
Good point, the Spurs are 10 games above .500.
It’s just theirs and every team’s bad luck that the west is so good.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
@Renato
That’s a good point. At times players do look lost out there. Which also proves my point. The SPurs find guys that can execute the system.
Part of the system leaves a shooter in the corner to hit a wide open 3. It sucks, but Bogans isn’t a 3 point specialist.
Also, even though I am in favor of POP I am not giving him a free ride. Of all the things that bug me the thing that bugs me the most is small ball. I don’t see why he tried to make it work for so long, knowing the LAKERS are freaking huge.
It looks like he isn’t playing so much lately, so we’ll see.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
As fans, we expect an excellent product put out there every night the Spurs play. We watch games for entertainment, and Pop and the players are entertainers.
Pop is coaching for the playoffs. His roster management might not make sense sometimes . . . but only if you think he’s solely interested in winning each game independent of the consequences for team chemistry or health.
If you watch the games with an eye on the playoffs, Pop’s decisionmaking is more understandable.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Just throwing this out there….
What are the track records of the other 29 teams’ late first round and second round draft picks?
It would be hypocritical to say that our drafting sucks if we have average or better than average success. On the other hand, it may prove that we do indeed suck. It would be an interesting research opportunity to say the least.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I always felt that the spurs set a trend of drafting the best talent, and if they were dynamic players playing them now. If they were not then sending them overseas or to the d league and saving the team money. other teams have followed this trend, you don’t keep talent like this team has and win championships in a small market without a system like the spurs have developed.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Not to say that Pop and the FO haven’t made their share of mistakes, but let’s zoom back and look at the bigger picture for the moment.
Regarding the lack of a trade at the deadline — When Holt agreed to take on RJ & McDyess’ contracts, my guess would be that he did so with the stipulation that if these moves didn’t put us right back among the elite, we would ride out our expirings over the summer to get back under the tax line. Most media accounts suggest that the FO was very active on the phones at the deadline. Why are so many commenters slamming Pop and Buford for not making a move when, reading between the lines, their hands were probably tied by a dictate not to take on salary past this year?
The failure to add more youth & athleticism — Not only does the late first round come with a diminished talent pool, but 1st rounders have guaranteed 4-yr contracts. If you keep your 1st round picks every year, then in any given season, you have as many as 4 roster spots taken up by guys who aren’t likely to stick in the league. We instead used that cap and roster space on buy-out guys like Glenn Robinson and Fin that played some important play-off minutes in our championship years. I’d trade more rings in our good years over development of marginal talent that makes us suck only a little less once our window closes any day.
Secondly on this topic, we might have had Omri Caspi in the second round this year if other teams hadn’t caught onto our interest before the draft.
Also also wik, this time next year, we hopefully will be counting Splitter among our draft successes, we just haven’t seen the fruit of that pick yet. In that light, late round pick-ups of Hill, Splitter, & Blair, at minimum, is a pretty good haul in my opinion.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Pop is 100% at fault for this seasons woes - No Damn Beard!
BRING IT BACK POP!!!
“With your beard goes the mojo…”
-DiehardSpur
circa 2010
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
@junierizzle
About small ball against the Lakers, I’m just speculating, but I would bet that the FO was looking at what Houston did to them in the playoffs last year and that we may indeed have been trying this out as a strategy to use against the Lakers. Clearly, it’s a failed experiment, but that may have to do more with Tony’s health issues than with the system being fundamentally flawed. Small-ball seems to be highly dependent on a quick, effective PG, and Tony hasn’t been quite that this season.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
What a wonderful situation we can be in as Spurs fans. We are so used to sustained success that we have been able to (forced to?) move our measurement of success. Perspective is a wonderful thing when we have it and a woeful thing without.
There is only one fan in the league who would be so critical of a team ten games over .500. A fan who has had the luxury of one of the better performed front offices of the last 10+ years; a fan of who’s team has won four championships in that span; a fan who’s coach is universally regarded by those who don’t follow the team to be among the greatest of all time (routinely topping pre-season GM polls for coaching); a fan of a team that has been so successful that s/he has been able to redefine what team success is.
The end goal certainly is about rings on fingers, but success also comes in the journey. A journey the Spurs have been highly successful in; in fact no team over the past ten years has had such success.
We have had the pleasure of watching Duncan, Parker, and Manu delight us in various ways. We’ve been surprised by off-the-radar draft picks who far exceed expectations. Sure, there have been misses, but the strike rate is far greater than any other office in the league! Is this because the Spurs are better at identifying transferable talent? Or is it because the coaching staff are better at fostering and developing it, working out how to make it work?
I will never be critical of Pop, he knows far more about this game and this team than I. He has done right be me as a fan in the past and I have faith he will continue to do that.
Pop continues to delight with his media presence too. His tongue-in-cheek humour with the league is as refreshing as his candor. Yes, let us ask questions… who better to answer those, and to enjoy his answers.
You do not succeed with shoulda, woulda, coulda’s, no one knows this better than a Spurs fan. The Spurs are.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Most of you probably know by now that I’m a strong Pop supporter. I might question his line-ups from time to time, or his use of rotations, but I’ve never made a comment suggesting that Pop, “doesn’t know what he’s doing”, or “he’s wrong, I’m right”. And I certainly haven’t made “personal” types of comments, like, “he’s a dictator”, or, he’s just “too stubborn”. Obviously, I have nowhere near his knowledge of coaching a basketball team (nor does anyone else on this blog), and I certainly don’t know him personally to be able to make a “personality” assessment in terms of how this might effect his running of the team and his relationship with his players. And I will ALWAYS ultimately defer to Pop’s judgment. For example, if he starts a line-up that I disagree with, the chances clearly favor that he is right about it, and I’m wrong (in terms of what’s in the best short & long-term interests of the team).
That said, I have played several years of formal, competitive basketball, and have LONG been a “student” and fan of the game. I’ve also been a true Spurs fan since 1999. So I do put considerable though into most of my comments, and try to make reasonable assessments of the team’s outlook based on statistical analysis, and “what I see” in the games.
I’ve been frustrated by this season, as most everyone else is to varying degrees. I’ve managed to hold back on questioning line-ups & rotations until just after the all-star break. I was more interested in understanding Pops moves. And I still am, because one must always retain an inquisitive mind to have even a chance at offering sound analysis.
Many would agree that we have the talent to be in the top four in the West. However, we have seen inconsistent under-performance from two of the “big three”, underachievement from three significant acquisitions (RJ, Dice, Bogans), as well less than expected performance from key role players (e.g., Mason, Bonner…). Hill and Blair have saved our collective asses so far!
In recognizing these facts, what sticks out for me more than anything else (in terms of our mediocre record) is the drastic drop-off in the the effectiveness of our DEFENSE. Obviously Pop and the FO knew we were headed in this direction, hence the “hope” involved in the acquisition of Bogans (& even RJ) in the off-season. Not in the sense that Keith would be our savior on the defensive end (as Bowen was in many ways), but that perhaps he might forestall our perimeter “D” from becoming a sieve (obviously our “D” in the paint is also an issue). I’m not blaming it all on Keith, but however you look at it, he has not been able to do what we needed as our “designated perimeter defender”. Plus, his production has been more dismal than anyone could have even expected (look at his production line over the past five games!).
The point is, we’re fighting for our lives right now “just to make the playoffs”. After the all-star break, in my view, we should have come ready to really shake things up. 45+ games is plenty to evaluate where we’re at. Having RJ come off the bench was a crafty move, but we needed Hill in the starting line-up anyway. So Bogans gets the start at SF. Unequivocally, this has not worked out well.
Then we get our young, athletic “swingman”, Hairston, into the game for extended minutes against the Rockets (a play off contender), down 23 midway through the 3rd Q. The “second” team, with Hairston playing an integral role, gets the team to within 3 pts. in the closing minutes of the game. Hairston logs 18 minutes and had by far the highest +/- on the team, at 18. He also played “under control”, having only one foul and no turnovers in his 18 minutes on the floor, which including going against one of the most prolific young shooting guards in the game (Martin).
Look, at this point, I believe we should take some risk. So, as I’ve asked before, WHY NOT TRY HAIRSTON in Bogans role, as a defensive specialist, taking Bogan’ approximately 15-20 minutes? He “might” surprise us. Isn’t that possible? Look at what the “green” Blair did as soon as he got substantial minutes early on, and I can tell you, Pop & staff was not expecting all they’ve gotten from Blair this year.
One last thing. Many, probably just by habit for the most part, are lumping Hairston in with Mahinmi when complaining about not getting minutes. This is faulty analysis. Number one, it appears obvious that Mahinmi is simply not as polished as Hairston. Just for example, he commits a PF about every three minutes. And no, one can’t shrug this off. These unnecessary fouls lead to FREE points. And that’s a problem (I’m not saying Mahimi should get no regular minutes). In addition, Hairston is the most qualified to fill a role currently occupied by one of our most ineffective players (Bogans). Nobody is saying that Hairston doesn’t have flaws that still need work (so does Bogans, and he’s been playing 20 minutes a game the whole season), but some flaws are corrected much quicker with game-time experience, AND let’s face it, his positives (compared to Bogans) counter his flaws to some extent.
Can some of you either agree with these comments, OR, offer some well-thought out reasoning WHY HAIRSTON SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN A CHANCE AT THIS POINT TO ASSUME BOGANS ROLE? Granted, the experiment may fail, but the fact is the Bogans one already has. We have to come up with something brash to save this team from embarrassment (which for this team would be missing the playoffs). And if we stay with the status quo, that “embarrassment may be right around the corner.
Finally, I’m probably wrong, and Pop’s probably right, but humor me a bit.
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
@Jim
I’m not going to advocate either way the use or misuse of Hairston.
I will say that Pop is traditionally quite hard on young players… Last season we begged for more minutes for Hill that weren’t forthcoming and look at the result.
The attitude of giving a young player minutes either for the sake of giving them minutes, or because they will be no worse than what we currently have can be fraught with the danger of that player thinking his minutes come easy, he doesn’t have to earn them.
Pop makes the youngsters earn it; instills a strong work ethic that makes them better players ongoing and ensures ego does not overide ability.
It doesn’t always work and some players can’t handle it… The Spurs don’t want those types of players though who put self ahead of team.
I’m not privvy to what goes on in practice with the team, who works and who doesn’t… so I won’t make any comment that that has anything to do with it.
I think Pop sees Hairston as a valuable piece to the Spurs puzzle in years to come and is teaching him the value of hard work. Is it at the expense of this season? I doubt it, I don’t think he would provide much more than Bogans does now… But as a result of working hard to earn the shot? Let’s see how it pans out next season with Hairston…
Do we want roughly equivalent production now i.e. no net gain? or do we want a Hill like jump next season?
My thoughts.
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:50 pm
@ Jim Henderson…
Awsome post…Made for great reading…
@ Brian…also a great post…Dont agree with your assessment of Hairston. I think he would more than double Bogans’ production right now.
I agree that Hairston is a young player, but these guys have been playing basketball for most of thier lives. Am I to understand that Pop has to teach these kids how to play?
Someone posted this point earlier…If this coach’s system takes 2 to 3 years for players to pick up, it needs an overhaul.
Personally, I never did buy any of that. If it were true, and this system is so mindboggling, I cant understand how Mcdyess and Blair, and Jefferson seemed to have mastered it already.
Besides, why not mix it up a bit. Is it mandated that Spurs play two man basketball and have 3 players standing on the perimeter hoping for a 3 point look?
Im not doubting this caoch’s ability. He has demonstrated that he can win, yesterday.
If there is any line up or rotation that can help the team win, regardless of the players name, experience level, or jersey size,
shouldnt we use it, NOW?
A few more unanswered questions…
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
@ Ballhog
Bluntly, yes, you are to understand that it is absolutely the coaching staff’s role to teach these kids to play… in the NBA. Hairston has spent time with the Toro’s so will have learnt the system to some extent which helps but he also should learn that hard work gets you playing time, not being a DLeague star.
Would he double Bogans production? Would he be required to? I guess it depends on your definition of production… Bogans role is as a role player with limited ‘box score production’ opportunity. He is not reuired or asked for more.
From what I’ve seen of Hairston, he has the tools to do more, but in the system, and the role he would be taking, he wouldn’t be required to. Can he hit the open shot as well as Bogans? Defend? Sure, but would likely be about equivalent in that regard to Bogans.
In the future, he may be required to do more, so let’s better prepare him for that.
As for the system, any new system takes time to learn and employ. The Spurs is complicated and relies a lot on trust. Trust is not developed quickly. There is no question it takes longer to fit than most… players exposed to it have taken this position and I am not going to question that.
Have Jefferson, Dice and Blair mastered it already? Really? Really? If they had, the Spurs would be competing with the Lakers for the number one seed right now…
RJ has looked his best when on the court with Manu of late where the structure is looser and more variable; Dice is just starting to play some good ball; and Blair is a flat out baller who even Pop doesn’t understand yet.
A coach’s obligation is to try to win, now and with a view to the future if you want to remain successful. Would Hairston offer so much more now that Bogans doesn’t? I doubt it. Next year definitely, if gone about the right way. Pop has shown his way works and Hairston appears from interviews and performance (DLeague and Spurs) to have responded well, much like Hill did.
I’m betting with the proven method coming together this year, and the Hairston step up next season.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Wow… Graydon, I appreciate the reflective tone you establish in your posting, and I continue to be flabbergasted by Ballhog et al who simply shout out their opinions repeatedly, as if by repetition they can make them correct. Most of what follows is a rant that’s longer than I intended, directed towards the Ballhogette Naysayers.
First, if you have hard data to support your claims, then by all means share it- I’m sure that there are many who frequent this site who would enjoy looking at it. But if your thesis boils down to “Dang! I sure did like them Spurs more when they was winnin’ more games!” then there’s little to be gained from airing your opinions here. I guarantee you, Pop does not read this site. Pop’s lackey’s unpaid interns do not read this site. They have better things to do with their time.
If you are truly interested in learning more about how the Spurs do business, I would ask more more questions and state fewer opinions. One valid question you asked (couched more as criticism) was “why do the Spurs draft they way they do?” implying that the Spurs had the habit of wasting draft picks.
You seem convinced that the Spurs/Pop chose Bonner over Scola, when really the question was whether they could afford Scola. The Spurs made a huge mistake after they won their first championship by “rewarding” players like Malik Rose and Jaren Jackson with bloated contracts. Those bad deals, as much as Timmy’s bad knee and Sean’s kidney, kept the Spurs out of contention for a few years. Once they had re-established a strong core, through the radical approach of drafting unheard of European players like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs were a) loaded with talent and b) close to their owner’s spending limits.
If you go to the NBA Finals, or even the conference finals, every year, your draft position sucks. A late first-rounder and a mid second-rounder are probably near identical in their talent and their prospects for becoming a long term rotation player, much less an impact player. The huge difference- the first round guy gets a guaranteed deal. The Spurs front office has been very smart to avoid wasting contracts on talent that they know would not be able to contribute. And they have slowly, steadily, and stealthily brought up a wealth of talent through their summer league and D-league teams.
Finally, to address your notion of your “rights” as a fan- your basic right is to expect that your team will show up and play, that they will give an effort to win, and hopefully the product will be entertaining. And if you’re not entertained? Go hop on the Lakers bandwagon. True Spurs fans are long-haulers.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:46 pm
i aim definately on of the minority that has but the words “pop” and “fire” in the same sentence.
i will admit i am an emotional guy and that’s why i would make a terrible sports writer. i have a friend who covers the mavericks in their PR department. i would gouge my eyeballs out with toothpicks.
any how, i would like to see pop move more towards a rebuilding approach rather than see what he can squeeze out what he can from dice, bogans, and formerly, fin. i would still like to him incorporate mahinmi and hairston in limited roles for the time being, but once again, that is my emotion talking. i am hung up on this frenchman for some reason. i just want to see an athletic big on this team. pop must prove that he can rebuild this team, but even he said so himself that he should be fired at one point.
thanks for reaching out to the fans and opening a dialogue. no one is really right or wrong here, but it’s nice to receive an address from you guys.
thanks for this awsome blog. i shoot my fingers off on a daily basis here and i love it
GO SPURS
GO 48minoh
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Brian
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
“Would he double Bogans production? Would he be required to? I guess it depends on your definition of production… Bogans role is as a role player with limited ‘box score production’ opportunity. He is not reuired or asked for more.”
True, we don’t need MAJOR “box score” production from Bogans. However, we do need more than this:
Bogans average production numbers over the past 6 games:
Minutes – 21
FG’s – 7 for 26 – 27%
3 pt. – 3 for 16 – 19%
Rebounds – 1.0 per game
Assists – 1.2 per game
TO’s – 1.0 per game
PF’s – 2.5 per game
Points – 3.0 per game
Hairston has recently shown that he has the potential to do just that, in the Rocket game:
Hairston’s numbers (an upgrade over Bogans #’s that are meaningful & helpful to team success) in the only game he got significant minutes in “non-garbage” time (getting 18 minutes starting middle of 3rd Q, down 20, is NOT garbage time). And if you remember, his game showed that he merely exploited opportunity on the offensive end; he didn’t demand the ball away from the other “scorers”.
Minutes – 18
FG’s – 4 of 6 – 67%
3 pt. – did not shoot one (although shooting 41% in D- league)
Rebounds – FIVE, three on the offensive glass
Assists – One
TO’s – ZERO
PF’s – One
Points – EIGHT
** A team high +18 when he was on the court!
Here you say:
“In the future, he may be required to do more, so let’s better prepare him for that.
Why would it hurt to give Hairston game time now? Remember, some level of “preparation” has to come from “meaningful” game time experience.
So I ask again, other than pure faith in Pop’s decisions (and I think he’s great, but everyone’s fallible), what leads one to believe that Hairston doesn’t have a shot at giving us a needed boost in the role that Bogans currently occupies?
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 pm
@ Jim
Bogans certainly has underperformed in the last 6 games. That underperfomance is an understatement, but comparing such a small sample size (six games to one) is underhanded. What’s the over/under on that?
Bogans has had some very good performances as well as the bad. He could be shooting the ball better right now but I don’t think the last six games are indicative of any over-riding underachievment in the shooting stakes and are rather a fairly commonly occuring (among all players) shooting slump from which he will recover.
Hairston did give quality minutes against the Rockets, but I think you overstate their meaningfulness… Down 20 with nothing to lose? Pop has a history of surrendering such games and going to the less used players to see what they can do. These situations vary greatly in meaning to those where less than 10 points separate the teams and the outcome is yet to be determined. They are meaningful insofar as the game had more than a quarter to play, not that the result was on the line. Let’s not confuse that fact.
Using a one game sample size, selectively can make Ian Mahinmi look an all-star, like his performance against the Nets. Sure an argument can be made that any minutes against the Nets this season can hardly be called meaningful (including a start), but Brook Lopez is no mug.
I take that Hairston could provide at the very least the same as Bogans and getting that experience would be a good thing, and to that end I agree.
Pop seems to be taking the earn your minutes and establish a work ethic that nothing comes easy rather than give minutes for the benefit of that experience playing in NBA games.
Which is better for the development of a player? I don’t know and would certainly not presume to know better than Pop.
Is there another way to what Pop is doing? Yes, and some other organisations prescribe to it…
I also think that Pop is taking the same/similar track with Hairston this season as he did Hill last (when Spurs fans were begging for more Hill PT).
I like the outcome of that scenario, and hope I like it equally with Hairstons.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Spurs are in a tough position. Duncan and Manu are in their final few years and being a contender once again will take a long while.
The front office has a limited payroll so they have to be careful with their moves. The big problem with the team this year is the amount of new players in the regular rotation.
Spurs have a lot of roster spots to fill in the offseason. Pop needs to retain some of these guys who the problem repeats itself.
—-
The most important thing for Pop is getting his rotational players up to speed. RJ and McDyess are looking like they are finally turning the corner.
Blair is a rookie who is maturing with time. He still has a good amount of bad habits which tend to take him out of the game (mostly fouls these days).
Then you have your other new guy, Bogans. He’s a better than average defender, but he’s not a great defender. However, he’s still learning the system as well. Defense gets easier once you know the system. Pop needs guys he can depend on in key defensive sequences. This is why he sticks with him.
The growth of Hill is the best story of the season so far outside of how amazing Blair has been in a few games. However, this is his first season where the pressure actually exists and the expectations are higher. More often than not, he has brought it, but he still doesn’t have that ability like the big 3 (have, but haven’t shown as often this season)
-
Parker not being healthy definitely has taken its toll. Spurs did suffer when they lost many of their shooters. Both Finley and Bonner were shooting well when they went down with injuries. Mason Jr. who has been super inconsistent this season became the only shooter.
Spurs didn’t have the luxury to stick a new shooter in since the other two sat for long periods of time. And for a shooter, losing rhythm is often fatal especially as minutes become tighter and games become more important (and often times higher quality opponents).
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Ballhog you make it sound as if we drafted Kwame Brow or something, and Im sure you agree Manu, Tony and Hill have been great WHO? drafts. I dont think this is an area in which we should be worried too much, you cant be right 100% of the time anyhows.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Agree with spursfan78,
I am definitely one of those guys calling pop out, the way i see it when he does great things we praise him for it, why not be able to question or be angry at his decesions when theyre obviously insane and hurting the team. I know hes 20x smarter than me all the more reason, how in the heck are we hurting so bad with a “genius” as a coach???!!?
spurs fan 78 said it all for me, there needs to be these questions for pop not halftime questions real questions!! san antonio is a very loyal city, very!! like i said previously there are hundreds of thousands of people “you know all the people who go out and see games religiously!” im one of them along side hundreds of people at the local bars, hooters, and we do talk about whats not being said every single discussion. theres always been a love hate relationship but overall “pop knows best” attitude as the conversation ended. So when you hear “rants” were not some young kids coming in here being disrespectful, you better believe that people are pissed off at these decisions, try going to fatsos during a game, not courtside seats in the lockerroom.
what im saying is if these questions were answered for the “common person” there would be less animosity towards “pop” because we’d know why hes doing certain things, now hes smart enough to understand that isnt he? spursfan78, said some of our problems best, ballhog too. We want answers behind what appears to be “absurd and incoherent decisions by poppovich” thats all.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Brian
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:08pm
Thanks for the response to my post. I’m quoting excerpts of your comments below, and I’ll respond after each.
“Hairston did give quality minutes against the Rockets, but I think you overstate their meaningfulness… Down 20 with nothing to lose? Pop has a history of surrendering such games and going to the less used players to see what they can do. These situations vary greatly in meaning to those where less than 10 points separate the teams and the outcome is yet to be determined. They are meaningful insofar as the game had more than a quarter to play, not that the result was on the line. Let’s not confuse that fact.”
I have to disagree. Anytime a team is down about twenty points with a full 18 minutes to play, that game is NEVER considered over by either team in an NBA game. 18 minutes is an eternity in the NBA! Also, the Spurs did have a shot a winning that game. They cut a 23 pt. Rocket lead to 7 in a 16 minute span with about 2 minutes still remaining. A seven point deficit with 2 minutes remaining; that game is still “winnable”, my friend. Unless you think the next time we’re up seven with two minutes left you think Pop should go ahead and take out our best players? I don’t think so, and I’m sure you’d agree.
“Bogans certainly has underperformed in the last 6 games. That underperfomance is an understatement, but comparing such a small sample size (six games to one) is underhanded.”
Look, I’m just pointing out the recent trend, which I’m afraid is more important than past history right now. Why do you think Bonner has sat more recently; because he shot 35% from 3 pt. land in the month of February instead of his 40%+ avg.
And the fact is, Bogans only avgs. 40% FG! (this is terrible), 4.5 pts., 1.2 assists, & 2.5 rebounds per game for the entire year (56 GAMES), at 20 minutes per game. On the other hand, in Hairston’s 49 games played in a Spurs uniform, including last years, he’s averaged 50% FG, and, if you pro-rated his minutes to Bogans minutes, he would have had higher production numbers in ALL categories. Now of course, his minutes aren’t as meaningful (more “garbage” minutes), and that’s why in my original analysis I stuck to the Houston game. But you were objecting to small sample size, so here you go, a larger sample. Now, FOR THE DATA TO BE MORE VALID, HAIRSTON WOULD NEED TO PLAY MORE REGULAR, MEANINGFUL MINUTES. So you see the catch-22. The fact is we won’t have PROOF that Hairston would or would not help us over Bogans unless we give him a chance. There’s always some risk involved, and in this case I contend it’s worth it, because we ain’t goin nowhere with Bogans this year. That is a fact anyone with commonsense KNOWS (even Pop would probably admit this).
“I also think that Pop is taking the same/similar track with Hairston this season as he did Hill last (when Spurs fans were begging for more Hill PT).
I like the outcome of that scenario, and hope I like it equally with Hairstons.”
This is not anywhere near a good analogy. Hill played a lot last year, including a lot of meaningful minutes, particularly with the injuries to Parker & Ginobli. Hill got into 77 games last year at 17 mins. per game, and is getting 28 mins. per game this year. Hairston got 10 mins. game last year (including more garbage mins.), and this year he’s only averaging 4 mins. per game. No, he’s NOT being developed like Hill, but he should be, otherwise why even have him on the roster?
March 4th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Zack
Be patient man, you’ve obviously been rooting for the Spurs no earlier than their first championship season and been spoiled by success. Nothing you mentioned actually had to do with how the team plays, nuances of players, etc. Why does everyone get soooo riled up at the first sign of adversity? This is what it feels like to be the other 95% of teams in the NBA. I’ve been rooting for the Spurs since I could first read the box score and “Cadillac” Williams was their best player. 20 win seasons were the norm and yet I would still look to see who did what………until Robinson came to town and blew all of the anticipation came to fruition. We can all thank Robinson and Duncan for initiating success on the court since and Poppovich for facilitating it all since he became head coach.
—-You’re right, Poppovich is 20x smarter than you and will forget more basketball than you (and me) will ever know. 10 games over .500 isn’t exactly hurting (again, we’ve all been spoiled). Keep things in perspective, the world will be Ok.
Leave a Reply