The question is, why? Not so much why make a change, but why did it matter who started the game in the world of the great Greg Popovich? Publicly declaring Boris Diaw and Matt Bonner over Thiago Splitter seemed a declaration of deep seeded concern for a team that the Spurs have dominated at home this playoff series, but seem clueless against on the road.
For 5 games, each home team has dominated in this series and for 5 games the opposing team has sounded the bell as though they had to dramatically adjust the game plan in order to turn the tide. As this series has played out, the tide has proven to be home cooking, and unless San Antonio travels to OKC with their Diaw plan firing on all cylinders, Durant and company will likely exact their revenge on the home court.The reason I focus my attention on Pop' is only partially from the geriatric depiction his nickname evokes. Growing old gracefully is a luxury that only great coaches enjoy. Everybody else has to prove that they can remain effective and relevant in a world where AAU born players lack respect for coaching philosophy and team concepts. Although the game will never truly change, the ability of older coaches to be heard by the younger generation of players is starting to resemble an episode of Charlie Brown. "Wa, wa wa wa waaa".
In today's game, you win Coach of the Year and you are likely to lose your job soon after. The winning is one part of conjoined triplets. His brothers recognition and expectation shall never depart from him. The Lakers and the Knicks are burdened by expectations from successes that we hardly recall anymore, but they are equally blessed with the eyeballs that generate revenue that give you a chance to make it happen every season. For years the recognition that Pop' has received has outshined the expectations, and while his teams remain competitive the top of the mountain has eluded them for years.
San Antonio is the team that Pop built and his success is legendary, Hall of Fame worthy in fact. His ability to win, and keep winning has displayed a masterful use of superstar talent, over achieving backups and an unmatched system for developing teamwork. Players don't scream of their joy of playing for Pop' but they do scream of loving the way they've personally improved while playing for Pop'. In the end, a coach must win in the game of player development and Pop' makes the more of marginal talent than any coach left in the game.
Pop' developed Thiago Splitter into his starting center, only to bench him when it became obvious that his slow feet were jamming up the lane. To my eyes, Splitter jammed up the lane in the games they won as well but teams don't really make adjustments until they are forced to. Winning is a dangerous elixir that rarely inspires a repeat performance. Educated sports fans across the world have assumed that one of these amazingly talented teams would find a way to put up a sincere fight on the road realizing the necessity of winning on the road in the playoffs. Even the legend himself, Tim Duncan has declared this the strangest series that he's ever been a part of with the unpredictable performances from each losing team and the 20+ point spread on all of the wins thus far.
As of yet, neither team has found the road to be predictable, and unless the Spurs reverse a trend, this series is going 7 and the Thunder will need to roll into San Antonio with a roar to steal a chance at the NBA crown. I have a hunch that basketball experts are not totally wrong and the Thunder will find a way to be the first team to show up on the road.....but first they must force the game back to the road by staying alive at home.
The Spurs have to be fighting for a closeout, but it is not always wise to send your Queen running wild if it leaves your King exposed to attack? In other words, they are probably best served to save some energy for a home court defense instead of wasting it on an improbable closeout in the house of OKC. Adrenaline has a way of inspiring your legs, but old legs require a whole lot more adrenaline than their feeble minds will ever produce anymore. Once you've seen too much and traveled too many miles to see it, you simply can't make your legs do what they refuse to do. Despite the Spurs tradition of winning, Father-Time remains undefeated and he is chasing fast after every part of this legendary team, especially its leaders.
The Spurs are coached by a dude named Pop' who is likely the oldest coach left in the game. His closest comrade in coaching (at least in age) was a guy who, last season, received the same "Coach of the Year" honor that Pop' won this year. George Karl got canned in Denver because "Coach of the Year" is the biggest kiss of death on the planet. The list of coaches who win the award and soon lose their job resembles the Sports Illustrated or the Madden video game cover jinx. Some accolades just ain't worth it at times, but is this curse strong enough to take out Pop' too?
Age and wisdom have a value, but basketball is ultimately a young man's game. If the Spurs pull off a championship victory in the Western Conference or NBA finals, they will have placed a mark in the column for the old guys. If you hadn't noticed, the old guys don't have many marks in their favor. On the 'every other game' occasion that the great (an old) Dwayne Wade has a good game these days, it becomes leading news. Manu Ginobli is officially in the every third game category of old age in basketball and even Tony Parker is struggling to string consistent games together. Young minds might not be able to produce consistent production either, but young legs don't have a big problem answering the bell. Unless you can rip the hearts out of young players, you run the risk of them finding their confidence and running you into the ground because of it
Popovich is the last of the "young player hating" coaches in the league. He is not afraid to play young players like Karl seemed to be at times, but he is guaranteed to maintain a short leash on them. Since Ginobli is only good every third game, he is given carte blanche to stink when the Danny Green's of the world lose minutes the minute they aren't hitting shots. Shooting out of it is a luxury that Pop' only offers to his elder statesmen.
Win or lose, it will soon be time to blow up the Spurs and start anew. If the time is now, do you want to assign that task to Greg Popovich? If the time is not exactly "now" but "soon", how deep do you level the foundation in order to begin the rebuild?. Pop' may be the last guy who gets to decide his own departure, but it is more likely that he will eventually get replaced like every coach gets replaced? Teams that win have expectations to go along with all that recognition. Eventually, like George Karl, close will not be good enough anymore and the Spurs will be forced to move on.
Whether we are witnessing the beginning of the end of Pop' will soon be determined? You might say that we will know in a Diaw or two.
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