An Open Letter to Gregg Popovich

by

Coach Popovich,

Listen, we know you hate doing in-between quarter interviews during televised games. Who wouldn’t? You’re concerned about winning a game and some suit with a microphone hits you with “Coach, how will your team stop Kobe Bryant in the second half?” There is only so much one can say to such empty questions. But we’re writing to ask a favor: play along.

We can just imagine the dismissive scowl you’ve cooked up at this suggestion. We’re not asking that you return the question in kind, empty for empty. This is not a plea for “Well, Lisa, we’re gonna have to clamp down on D.” No, we’ll all get along just fine without that, thank you.

Instead, we want Xs. And we want Os. We want the answer you’d give Larry Brown if he were the one asking about your adjustments.  Elevate the discourse. Push the television audience past the brink of boredom. And if we don’t fully understand your answer, we promise to figure it out. Work with us.

Everyone knows this won’t ingratiate you to the television producers. They’ll cut you off after 15 seconds and complain to the league office. After a few thoughtful responses your time as a sought after sideline interview will come to an end. I think George Carlin once identified “pinch post” as an off-limits term for TV. Yes, there is no doubt you will be replaced by a member of the dance team or a mascot. But until then, give it a go for us, won’t you?

Sincerely,

48MoH

  • Christian

    Completely enamored with this idea.

  • http://atxsports.net Andrew A McNeill

    I don’t know, I think the disdain that coaches like Pop and Phil Jackson have for the between-quarter interview is priceless.

    I can listen to Pop give condescending and one-word answers to the sideline interviewers for hours.

  • Bryan

    Is this really a good idea? Would we really want Pop explaining his strategy on national TV, where a member of the opposing organization can easily tune and and begin planning adjustments before the Spurs strategy is even revealed? I don’t think I like the idea. I know this isn’t football, where espionage is rampant. Basketball is such a fast-paced game that knowing what one team is going to do is a matter of 2 or 3 possessions, or 1-2 minutes of play. But every possession counts, and I wouldn’t want the Spurs giving away any advantages.

    In reality, I truly enjoy Pop’s halftime interviews immensely. The above statement is probably just “logical” rationale for me to be selfish and get those “Get the Heck Out of My Face” interviews.

  • Bryan

    Totally agree with you, Andrew.

  • http://atxsports.net Andrew A McNeill

    @Bryan,

    The thing is, every team knows what everyone else is going to do anyway. There is very little creativity in strategy in basketball. It all comes down to execution, which is where the Spurs shine.

  • 09.20.21.50

    No way, Pop’s responses are absolutely delightful how they are; short, precise, and humorous.

    Keep ’em flowing!

  • BigFresh

    @09.20.21.50

    you forgot .24 (RJ) in your Name.

  • http://www.myspace.com/smiyt bryan j

    Pop should tell them about the wine he had with dinner, or the challenges of hailing a cab in a given city. We already know the Spurs are going to lock down and play the game thier way. It’s not like he’s going to put RJ out there as the center, or let Timmy play point.
    It’s the Spurs, they’re like the Scrubs of the NBA, you get what you expect, and you enjoy it.

  • Bryan

    Andrew,
    I mostly agree with you. Nearly quoting Denny Green, “they are who we think they are.” Especially on the offensive side of the ball. Teams are not going to deviate from the style of the game they play.

    However, on defense, teams do actually mix it up from time to time. When the Spurs play teams like Dallas, Pop varies his coverage on Dirk. Some games Tony guards him, others it was Bruce. Then they throw in a little double team and zone when required.

    All I’m saying is that I wouldn’t want Pop giving an interview saying, “We are going to start the first possession of the 4th quarter in zone, and revert to zone on sideline out of bounds plays.”

  • benschon

    My favorite Pop interview exchange:

    “Coach, what does your team need to do in the second half to get back in this game?”

    [sneer, long pause]
    “Fewer gross defensive errors.”

  • http://atxsports.net Andrew A McNeill

    @ Bryan

    Sure, I see what you’re saying, but at the same time, teams are going to immediately see what the Spurs are running and make adjustments on the fly.

    If an opponent inbounds the ball and sees the Spurs in a zone, they are going to go into their zone offense. If on the next play they see the Spurs in man-to-man, they are going to run a pick-and-roll most likely.

    Basketball isn’t about plays and strategy as much as it’s about matchups and exploiting them. Teams are going to want to vary what they do, just to keep the opponent on their toes.

    But giving a detailed account of what the teams is doing to defend Kobe like, “well his left ankle is bothering him, so we’re going to sit the defender on his left knee and force him to push off that ankle and go right” isn’t going to break the Spurs defense, the Lakers and Kobe could already see what the Spurs are doing, but it’s going to educate the viewer and make for smarter fans.

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    I don’t think Popovich could ever top “because he’s Manu Ginobili.” Bucher still looks dismayed.

  • Bryan

    Once again, I completely agree with you Andrew. But you can’t tell me that going into zone for 1 play doesn’t periodically discombobulate a team.

    Tim, I’m with you… by far my favorite Pop/sideline reporter exchange.

  • GREG53

    I can still see Bucher standing there with his mouth open and no come back as Popovich turned and walked away,my all time fave! Thanks for bringing the memory to the surface Timothy. On a different note can anyone tell me when we can look forward to seeing the draft pick from Phoenix for Leanard Barbosa? Did we trade it and I just missed it or what? Thanks in advance.

  • http://atxsports.net Andrew A McNeill

    Sure it throws them off for a second, that’s the idea of keeping them on their toes, but these guys are professional athletes and they’ve been seeing zones since high school. In the end, it all comes down to recognition and execution, which is where the Spurs excel.

  • SAJKinBigD

    Someone should collect all of Pop’s sideline moments and put ’em online or sell a DVD of ’em!
    “Pop’s Greatest Hits!” MWAHAHA!
    I understand the point, but I really like the little displays of dry wit that we get from those interviews.
    He should figure out a way to metaphor winemaking and wines for every answer.

  • Joe

    I’m not sure that all half-time or between-quarter coaching adjustments are as obvious as shifts of defensive sets. Sometimes the subtle moves are what matter most.

    For example, in the 2007 series against Phoenix, there was a game where Amare had something like 30 points on us in the first half (I’m going off of memory, so forgive me if the details are off a bit). Every time he got the ball near the free-throw line, he put it on the floor, and by the time the help defender rotated to him, he was already at the rim. The subtle adjustment I noted at the time was that after the half, we started making sure that someone bumped him or made a swipe at the ball during his first step. Sounds simple, but it disrupted his dribble just enough that he couldn’t finish the drive, and we basically shut him down after half time and won the game.

  • AP

    X’s and O’s are great, and I’d love to hear about them, as long as Pop continues to verbally abuse Craig Sager and his wardrobe.

  • 09.20.21.50

    BigFresh: He’s not supposed to be in there.

    Good call Andrew McNeill.

  • Ruffy

    Love this idea.

    Pop’s utter disdain for the vacuous inanity of the sideline reporters always tickles me, so flipping it upside down and giving them long and technically involved answers would be hilarious!

    PS I’d really like to beat the living crap out of Sager and Gray… hate those guys.

  • phoebus

    Sager? how can you hate Sager? It’s basically like having an extra cheerleader, or mascot, or… something. something kind of like Donald Trump, only okay with being mocked.

  • phoebus

    the thesis here is basically anti-average-NBA-fan.

    Of which the numbers are dwindling, rapidly, while the NFL explodes and baseball sort of staggers away.

    Maybe alienating them isn’t such a great idea?
    What were the golden years to a lot of us? Sure was a whole lot of Ahmad Rashad on the screen back then huh?

  • http://myspurslink.blogspot.com Robby

    what about? because he’s Tim Duncan?….

  • b1gdon

    An open letter to 48MoH,

    Booooooooooo.

    Signed,

    Spurs Fans who love Pop’s flippant answers

  • Yuccaflats

    I think what Pop should say to an insipid question as are usually asked is that he is planning on having Timmy play the point with Parker playing power forward in the 2 nd half. That should keep them thinking for a while.

  • Caleb

    Not a Spurs fan myself, but I love Pop’s flippant, condescending answers. Its the sort of answers those questions deserve. Its always the same recycled cliche nonsense, and Pop looks at them like they are stupid because they are asking stupid questions. I love it.

  • Pok Flied Lice

    I would love the idea purely for the fact that we can laugh at Craig Sager’s suit for a few more seconds. You guys should create a poll… then a petition… then, who knows

  • Crow

    With Kobe Bryant some nights you want him to shoot a lot from mid-range or even from 3. Let him become a ball-hog. You are trying to beat the team not him and when he is Kobe by himself they ain’t as good.