Fictional basketball: Where would Greg Popovich be if he got Ron Mercer instead of Tim Duncan in 1997

Arteezy · Post #1 » by **Arteezy** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:56 pm

My guess is manager at McDonalds, but I don't rule out being a Statefarm salesman .

ChiLongQua · Post #2 » by **ChiLongQua** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:15 pm

Instead of talking **** about pop why dont u just win this TI for north america Arturo

Arteezy · Post #3 » by **Arteezy** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:39 pm

ChiLongQua wrote:Instead of talking **** about pop why dont u just win this TI for north america Arturo

If I had a carry like Duncan I would have multiple TIs by now

KirkHinrich12 · Post #4 » by **KirkHinrich12** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:41 pm

Most overrated coach in history by far. Arrogant clown.

Buckets22 · Post #5 » by **Buckets22** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:42 pm

Coaching in a second tier NCCA college or something.

Slim Charlez · Post #6 » by **Slim Charlez** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:51 pm

Here we go...

Lexluthor · Post #7 » by **Lexluthor** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:57 pm

The Spurs have been really mediocre since Kawhi got hurt in the warriors series . He was has been a awful coach for team USA . Worse than Larry Brown

druggas · Post #8 » by **druggas** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:58 pm

On RealGM as a poster.

coastalmarker99 · Post #9 » by **coastalmarker99** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:08 pm

Pop is just old and out of touch honestly nowadays.

He was a great coach just 5 years ago but it just seems like he lost his fire and zeal to be great after his wife died.

Bergmaniac · Post #10 » by **Bergmaniac** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:10 pm

He's 72 and past it, which is normal at this age, it doesn't take away all the great years he had as a coach.

Ugalde · Post #11 » by **Ugalde** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:22 pm

lol at everyone talking bad about pop. coaching is hard. there is a ton that goes on behind the scenes that we don’t see. no one knows if this is pops fault or not.

UcanUwill · Post #12 » by **UcanUwill** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pm

Bergmaniac wrote:He's 72 and past it, which is normal at this age, it doesn't take away all the great years he had as a coach.

He was in his prime when he subbed out Duncan out of the game that time they just needed one rebound to win a championship against the Heat.

Memories · Post #13 » by **Memories** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:25 pm

coastalmarker99 wrote:Pop is just old and out of touch honestly nowadays.

He was a great coach just 5 years ago but it just seems like he loss his fire and zeal to be great after his wife died.

I think so too.

The man was heartbroken about his wife's passing. He probably just doesn't have it in him anymore to coach like he did in the past. Greg Pop 5 years ago would have put a lot more fire under his player's asses whenever they made a stupid mistake, regardless if it was someone like Tim Duncan or the 10th player off the bench. He doesn't seem to do that anymore.

At this point, he's probably close to retiring and we will see Becky Hammon take over.

HEKTOR · Post #14 » by **HEKTOR** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:34 pm

UcanUwill wrote:
Bergmaniac wrote:He's 72 and past it, which is normal at this age, it doesn't take away all the great years he had as a coach.

He was in his prime when he subbed out Duncan out of the game that time they just needed one rebound to win a championship against the Heat.

He's over-rated.

Bergmaniac · Post #15 » by **Bergmaniac** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:37 pm

UcanUwill wrote:
Bergmaniac wrote:He's 72 and past it, which is normal at this age, it doesn't take away all the great years he had as a coach.

He was in his prime when he subbed out Duncan out of the game that time they just needed one rebound to win a championship against the Heat.

My bad, obviously this one play negates everything he's achieved as a coach and proves that he's always been clueless.

ItsDanger · Post #16 » by **ItsDanger** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:38 pm

Retired.

UcanUwill · Post #17 » by **UcanUwill** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:40 pm

Bergmaniac wrote:
UcanUwill wrote:
Bergmaniac wrote:He's 72 and past it, which is normal at this age, it doesn't take away all the great years he had as a coach.

He was in his prime when he subbed out Duncan out of the game that time they just needed one rebound to win a championship against the Heat.
My bad, obviously this one play negates everything he's achieved as a coach and proves that he's always been clueless.

I am not saying that, but he had suspect moments, and horrible moment that cost them a championship. He had great teams in San Antonio, he was the first guy in the NBA to embrace Euro style team play, but in a setting where everyone knows how to play team ball, hes not standing out in a good way.

Roger Murdock · Post #18 » by **Roger Murdock** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:41 pm

I cant wait for the Pats to have another below average year so everyone can say Bill Belicheck sucks too.

Patches Perry · Post #19 » by **Patches Perry** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:28 pm

Pop would be part of the coaching carousel without Duncan, but it's not exclusive to him. NBA coaching is a marginal impact thing that some coaches get lucky with historic talent and develop coaching reputations that make people overrate their impact. It was often thought that Pop's system alone could make them competitive, but since Duncan retired, it's been all downhill. Even an old Tim Duncan was the piece that made them go.

KodiakBear · Post #20 » by **KodiakBear** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:35 pm

Out of coaching or like Mr Patches Perry says, part of the carousel where he would have coached 4 different teams in the past 20 years.

Popovich was a great coach, but even as a great coach he was overrated. He got more credit than he deserved for those titles and the Spurs run. He deserved credit, but people were making it seem it his was his great coaching and not the great talent led by one of the best players to ever play. He should have got the Phil Jackson level of credit. People give Phil Jackson credit and he is considered a great coach, but people don't put his role on equal footing with Jordan or Kobe's role in those 11 rings.

To top it off, he is way over the hill. He was 100% the wrong choice to coach Team USA. Team USA has been extremely embarrassing so far and Pop deserves his share of blame for the horrible product that is out there. Even the 2004 letdown at least got a medal. Does anyone here think Team USA will get a medal at this point? I don't know if they even make it to the knockout stage.