Pop, a mastermind? You better believe it
Even with the Spurs continued success, people still don't really like the guy. Maybe it's his no nonsense approach to basketball business. Maybe it's because he fired Bob Hill and replaced him with Gregg Popovich. Maybe it's his aesthetics. Whatever the case, no one likes Pop.
I mean, for real there's like 18 of us in the world that have something positive to say when we hear his name. Even during the David Robinson ceremony/love fest after the Bucks game, Spurs fans were still squirming when his image appeared on "The Lighthouse" (Jumbotron in my book). I believe some guy even booed Pop when his footage was introduced. Hell, my mom doesn't like him.
Well, you know what Mom and Spurs fans? Boo yourself.
Pop has a large hand in all Spurs basketball operations and I would say we are doing pretty damn good. First, look at the lineup we bring. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Stephen Jackson, Manu, Malik … Yeah, I mean I'm not going to name off everybody on the roster except Ferry and Bateer, but we are really good. The whole team compliments one another very well, which is rare in pro sports. Well, granted Steve Smith usually doesn't try very hard, but he's the moderate exception.
And not only do we have talent busting at the seams, but a blend of experience and youth that even beats those Ocean Spray concoctions. We're built for the future and the title. We have a legitimate shot this year and five years from now. How many teams can you say that about? A dumb blonde may come up with the Lakers, but that's about it.
Ok, Ok so yeah we have a good team, but we better go far in the playoffs or Peter Holt is going to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for all of our high-priced stars. Guess what -- Pop even takes care of our finances too. He should start a negotiating service for buying used cars. You could probably get a 2002 Escalade for $13,500 with Pop in your corner. I'm kind of surprised Tim even got the max allowed. I can just hear Pop now, "Let's see you missed that double-double against the Hawks and we did only win by 11 that game, so that's a $500,000 deduction."
No, but seriously, he drives hard bargains on contracts. Many complained about Jaren Jackson's three-year, $9 million, when J.J. turned sour, but the guy was like 40% of the championship. You had to give him that much based on the playoffs alone. One playoff run bumped Mike Bibby from about $40 million to the max, so I think Pop signed Jaren for a thrifty amount considering other teams were after him.
Looking in the present, we may have the best backup center in the game today with Kevin Willis. That's very impressive considering we got him for the veteran minimum. Early in the season, Willis was mistake prone, but now he has become a productive, somewhat interchangeable big man.
Further transactions continue to reveal a great basketball mind. Carl Herrera and Felipe Lopez for a fourth pick in the '97 draft. Signing a rugged, overweight power forward given up on by the Charlotte Hornets. Giving an unpolished, streetballer and part-time small forward repeat chances to display his potential. Taking a chance on a young Argentine shooting guard with a late second round draft choice.
Those are only some of the brilliant moves made by Pop. However, not all of his dealing has been met with open arms. Pop is a guy that must have ultimate power when it comes to making decisions, thus he is a big target for criticism when things look bad.
But Pop doesn't care what the fans or media think, he does whatever he thinks will make the Spurs the best.
Spurs fans howled when he replaced Bob Hill with himself, but the truth is Hill isn't a major league coach. Why do you think he isn't even an assistant coach in a league thin on quality coaches? Did you know the Clippers told him to stop calling about their coaching vacancy a few years ago? Now that's pretty bad when you're jocking the Clippers and they tell you to go away. Hill was a must drop.
Telling Avery Johnson to leave was another hard one to deal with. He is still an excellent leader and point guard, but not what the Spurs needed going into the future. They needed youth and more skill. Spurs fans all loved AJ and so the decision not to re-sign him drew ire to Pop as well.
The recent trade that brought Steve Kerr back to San Antonio also cast a cloud over Popovich. The Spurs gave up Charles Smith, Antonio Daniels, and Amal McCaskill for Kerr and a second round pick they originally had. The trade looked bad for several reasons. First, Antonio was a fan favorite and occasional spark off the bench that the Spurs had invested several years into developing. Second, Smith was a nice shooting guard that had shown the potential to start. Next, McCaskill was an athletic, legitimate center which is hard to find. And then you have Kerr who had already had an unsuccessful stint in San Antonio, plus a second rounder that was yours anyway.
The trade didn't make any sense to anyone. Well, anyone except for Pop. Now, the move has genius written all over it. Of course we needed to make room at the 2-guard for Stephen Jackson and Emanuel Ginobili. Of course we wouldn't miss Antonio. Of course we would get Kevin Willis and he would contribute more than McCaskill ever had. Of course Kerr would come back and shoot like his glory days in Chi-town.
Of course.
Yeah right, it's the kind of stuff that has taught me not to question Pop.
And you've got to love his X's and O's as much you do the fact that we got some phenom French guard with the 29th pick in the first round.
Don't you love watching that high-low, slip of the pick, with Tim Duncan lobbing to David Robinson for a dunk? Don't you love the play that got Sean Elliott the Memorial Day Miracle shot and Stephen Jackson the three to send the Timberwolves game into overtime? The Spurs use Tim Duncan's all around talents very effectively in the half court and now they even thrive pushing the ball with their athleticism. Pop has something to do with both. I know the Spurs have Tim and that makes everyone look better, but Pop helps reflect some of that sunshine back to Tim with his plays.
Make no mistake about it, the Spurs have the equivalent of a brand name coach.
We don't need a Pat Riley or a Phil Jackson.
Peter Holt and his $17 million know it.
Tim Duncan knows it.
And I think Gregg Popovich knows it.
Even when things looked really bad and San Antonio hated him. Pop knew he was the one.
Make no mistake -- he didn't.
