Pops is proof that Doc isn't all that great

[TitleMaster]

Yes, Popovich has managed a great 1st game against Miami.

In all honesty, Parker is an excellent PG, however, he's not as naturally gifted as Rondo. Rondo, throughout the big three era, had relied on his natural gifts [eagle-eye pass { for fat assists total }, mini-dream shake layups, etc], instead of developing into a JoJo White style super combo guard.

In essence, Pops had done that with Parker and today, he's the most consistent PG in the west, able to finally compensate for the aging Ginobili, the mid-2000s Paul Pierce of the west. Thus, the Spurs have JoJo in his prime, an older PP, a mature Admiral (ala Duncan's role) and a complimentary crew.

I believe that had we had Pops, the 2008 run would have been 4-1 against Detroit and 4-1 against the Lakers. Kobe, at most, wins that game 3. The historic comeback of game 4 wouldn't have happened, as we'd simply win it. And finally, that hustle/bustle of game 5 wouldn't have neted the Lakers a win. The 2008 Celts were stacked, with talent across the board. Pops would have maximized the talents of that squad. Instead, Doc simply hoped for Thibodeau's schemes worked and prayed for the rest to fall in line. Sure, with Ariza & Odom not playing for a future contract, that wasn't a big deal.

[Yogi]

Um, Doc has taken the Celtics further than the Spurs every year since 2008 except this year.  You know the year, where the Spurs were fully healthy and the Celtics are missing 3 of their rotation players including their best player.  If anything, Pop is the measuring stick that best illustrates Doc's greatness.

[SparzWizard]

I still wonder how Doc is still a top 5 coach...top 10, maybe.

[NocturnalRebel]

So is Kool-Aid proof that Fruit Smack wasn't all that great either?

[BballTim]

Yes, Popovich has managed a great 1st game against Miami.

In all honesty, Parker is an excellent PG, however, he's not as naturally gifted as Rondo. Rondo, throughout the big three era, had relied on his natural gifts [eagle-eye pass { for fat assists total }, mini-dream shake layups, etc], instead of developing into a JoJo White style super combo guard.

In essence, Pops had done that with Parker and today, he's the most consistent PG in the west, able to finally compensate for the aging Ginobili, the mid-2000s Paul Pierce of the west. Thus, the Spurs have JoJo in his prime, an older PP, a mature Admiral (ala Duncan's role) and a complimentary crew.

I believe that had we had Pops, the 2008 run would have been 4-1 against Detroit and 4-1 against the Lakers. Kobe, at most, wins that game 3. The historic comeback of game 4 wouldn't have happened, as we'd simply win it. And finally, that hustle/bustle of game 5 wouldn't have neted the Lakers a win. The 2008 Celts were stacked, with talent across the board. Pops would have maximized the talents of that squad. Instead, Doc simply hoped for Thibodeau's schemes worked and prayed for the rest to fall in line. Sure, with Ariza & Odom not playing for a future contract, that wasn't a big deal.

 Maybe if Doc had coached the Spurs that year they'd have won more than 1 game in the playoff series against the Lakers.

[TitleMaster]

Since 2008, Ginobili's been injured almost every year. The greatest challenge was for Pops to eliminate the need for a Paul Pierce Q4 performance from Manu. Unfortunately, that was what was lacking with the Spurs which is why that despite their great regular seasons, they never had much success in the playoffs. My yearly prediction for SA was that as soon as I saw that Manu had a problem, I'd called it curtains for 'em, year after year.

In contrast, we always had a Rondo, who couldn't shoot from the outside. And unlike JoJo, he rarely drove, to setup the outside shooter. Instead, he dribbled, waiting for someone to come off the screen to make the assist. Parker was making all the JoJo White modifications during those Ginobili injured playoffs.

As for our Paul Pierce, he was seldom injured. I think Pops would have done a better job of managing PP's minutes than Doc.

[TitleMaster]

Doc's plan: Get the ball to Paul and Kevin and get out of the way.

[TitleMaster]

So is Kool-Aid proof that Fruit Smack wasn't all that great either?

Doc is Crystal Light. Fruit Smack is Pat Riley.

[esel1000]

Um, Doc has taken the Celtics further than the Spurs every year since 2008 except this year.  You know the year, where the Spurs were fully healthy and the Celtics are missing 3 of their rotation players including their best player.  If anything, Pop is the measuring stick that best illustrates Doc's greatness.

It's true, I bet no one had a thread like this when the top seeded spurs lost in 6 to the grizz in 2011.

[TitleMaster]

Um, Doc has taken the Celtics further than the Spurs every year since 2008 except this year.  You know the year, where the Spurs were fully healthy and the Celtics are missing 3 of their rotation players including their best player.  If anything, Pop is the measuring stick that best illustrates Doc's greatness.

It's true, I bet no one had a thread like this when the top seeded spurs lost in 6 to the grizz in 2011.

Folks, Ginobili was injured. In contrast, was our Paul Pierce injured?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/666719-nba-playoff-schedule-times-channels-and-predictions-for-2011-nba-playoffs/entry/63743-2011-nba-playoff-predictions-will-manu-ginobili-injury-cost-spurs-first-round

[esel1000]

Um, Doc has taken the Celtics further than the Spurs every year since 2008 except this year.  You know the year, where the Spurs were fully healthy and the Celtics are missing 3 of their rotation players including their best player.  If anything, Pop is the measuring stick that best illustrates Doc's greatness.

It's true, I bet no one had a thread like this when the top seeded spurs lost in 6 to the grizz in 2011.

Folks, Ginobili was injured. In contrast, was our Paul Pierce injured?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/666719-nba-playoff-schedule-times-channels-and-predictions-for-2011-nba-playoffs/entry/63743-2011-nba-playoff-predictions-will-manu-ginobili-injury-cost-spurs-first-round

Who cares? How injured have the Celtics been every year since 2009? Not to mention Memphis didn't have Gay that year and back in 2011 he was considered the best player on that team.

[LooseCannon]

I still wonder how Doc is still a top 5 coach...top 10, maybe.

Because there weren't a bunch of coaches who magically got better than Doc.

[TitleMaster]

Um, Doc has taken the Celtics further than the Spurs every year since 2008 except this year.  You know the year, where the Spurs were fully healthy and the Celtics are missing 3 of their rotation players including their best player.  If anything, Pop is the measuring stick that best illustrates Doc's greatness.

It's true, I bet no one had a thread like this when the top seeded spurs lost in 6 to the grizz in 2011.

Folks, Ginobili was injured. In contrast, was our Paul Pierce injured?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/666719-nba-playoff-schedule-times-channels-and-predictions-for-2011-nba-playoffs/entry/63743-2011-nba-playoff-predictions-will-manu-ginobili-injury-cost-spurs-first-round

Who cares? How injured have the Celtics been every year since 2009? Not to mention Memphis didn't have Gay that year and back in 2011 he was considered the best player on that team.

The Spurs were never a stacked team. Lose a Ginobili and you're not going far in the playoffs. In '09, we lost KG. Afterwards, we had PP, RR, KG, and even brick laying Ray for much of the time but despite having key personnel around, Doc's plan was to simply to rely on Paul or Kevin getting the ball and finishing it off. I believe many coaches can win with PP and KG.

[Yogi]

Um, Doc has taken the Celtics further than the Spurs every year since 2008 except this year.  You know the year, where the Spurs were fully healthy and the Celtics are missing 3 of their rotation players including their best player.  If anything, Pop is the measuring stick that best illustrates Doc's greatness.

It's true, I bet no one had a thread like this when the top seeded spurs lost in 6 to the grizz in 2011.

Folks, Ginobili was injured. In contrast, was our Paul Pierce injured?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/666719-nba-playoff-schedule-times-channels-and-predictions-for-2011-nba-playoffs/entry/63743-2011-nba-playoff-predictions-will-manu-ginobili-injury-cost-spurs-first-round

Who cares? How injured have the Celtics been every year since 2009? Not to mention Memphis didn't have Gay that year and back in 2011 he was considered the best player on that team.

The Spurs were never a stacked team. Lose a Ginobili and you're not going far in the playoffs. In '09, we lost KG. Afterwards, we had PP, RR, KG, and even brick laying Ray for much of the time but despite having key personnel around, Doc's plan was to simply to rely on Paul or Kevin getting the ball and finishing it off. I believe many coaches can win with PP and KG.

Yeah remember when the Celtics lost the reigning Defensive player of the year and the best player in 2008 and lost in the first round?  Oh wait...

[Ogaju]

Yes, Popovich has managed a great 1st game against Miami.

In all honesty, Parker is an excellent PG, however, he's not as naturally gifted as Rondo. Rondo, throughout the big three era, had relied on his natural gifts [eagle-eye pass { for fat assists total }, mini-dream shake layups, etc], instead of developing into a JoJo White style super combo guard.

In essence, Pops had done that with Parker and today, he's the most consistent PG in the west, able to finally compensate for the aging Ginobili, the mid-2000s Paul Pierce of the west. Thus, the Spurs have JoJo in his prime, an older PP, a mature Admiral (ala Duncan's role) and a complimentary crew.

I believe that had we had Pops, the 2008 run would have been 4-1 against Detroit and 4-1 against the Lakers. Kobe, at most, wins that game 3. The historic comeback of game 4 wouldn't have happened, as we'd simply win it. And finally, that hustle/bustle of game 5 wouldn't have neted the Lakers a win. The 2008 Celts were stacked, with talent across the board. Pops would have maximized the talents of that squad. Instead, Doc simply hoped for Thibodeau's schemes worked and prayed for the rest to fall in line. Sure, with Ariza & Odom not playing for a future contract, that wasn't a big deal.

This