To be fair, since I've said it was a bad decision, let's suppose he kept Duncan in, and Duncan grabbed the rebound. Miami would immediately foul him. And Duncan is not the guy you want taking free throws in that situation. So, there's some chance that, if Pop had played it the other way, Duncan gets the rebound, misses his foul shots, and we end up with the same result. I still think it was the wrong move, especially on the second possession, because at that point time was really short and Miami had no time-outs left. Thus, even if Duncan had missed his foul shots, it would have taken a miracle for Miami to get it up in time and get off a decent shot. Of course, it took a miracle as it was, so maybe Miami just had more stored up miracles at that point than the Spurs.
This part you wrote is the important thing. But more likely, Duncan would've made one shot, which would've given them a 4pt lead, which would've likely decided the game.
Blah, blah, blah. I don't understand how the Spurs, the only team in the NBA to have both a 1st and 2nd team all-NBA player on their roster (yes that includes the Heat), were undermanned in the series. Can you explain that math to me? I also don't understand how the Spurs kept the series close only due to coaching, and the Heat coaching had nothing to do with their victory. Did Shane Battier check himself into the game repeatedly during the last 15 or so games while producing nothing over and over, only to come up big in game 7 of the finals, as the coach sat there taking a nap? How is Frank Vogel not the best coach in the league, after taking the Heat to 7 just like Popovich but with a lesser squad? Is Pop responsible for Kawhi Leonard putting up 15/11 in the Finals?
Tim Duncan made all that possible. Not Popovich. Just like Jordan made it possible by trusting Jackson, Magic w/Riley, Hakeem and Rudy, and so on. It first comes from the player trusting the coach. Don't act like Pop is doing something different or unique. It's all about having a legendary player buy into what you're saying, not having something different to say.
yeah it was a mistake not putting Duncan at the end, but if Ginobili didnt miss a free throw to give the Spurs a six-point lead with 28 secs to go, and no timeouts, that would have sealed the championship.
it's funny how everyone's legacy would be different if Kawahi Leonard or Manu hit both their free throws.
Pop is the best coach in the league and deserves the benefit of the doubt. Looking back on it, it's easy to say Pop should've had Duncan in the game, but there's a strong chance this play weighed heavily on his mind. Look how slow Duncan is to close out on the Bosh 3. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gG_vdeu8dGE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
BTW, not saying I agree with Pop's decision, but that play is probably the best explanation to the question a lot of you are asking: 'What was he thinking?!?!?!'
To add some stats to your comment Magic and Bird both won with two different coaches. Both players got their championship coach fired because they didn't agree with them Popovich is amazing how he gets the role players to play. But so was Sloan and Bobby Knight. But both Sloan and knight cratered without superstars. Popovich will either retire without Duncan or show his true assholeness without him like Sloan did. This isn't the NFL. NBA coaches don't mean that much vs the player
Ugh sorry for multiple posts, hit 'post reply' too soon... anyway, if Bosh burns Duncan for a 3 in similar fashion, the reaction would've been 'ZOMFG DIDN'T POP LEARN ANYTHING FROM THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED!!!' Sooo... he was gonna get roasted either way.
Also TheFreak I agree...the championship role players don't buy into the coaches system as much as they buy into what the superstar player demands of them
You don't get it because you are a stupid spurs fan The whole point is don't over coach by sitting both Duncan and Parker. The coach is not above the game and players Let your HOF players fail or succeed on the court. Not the bench You can't walk into the lockerroom saying to yourself, "man, I wonder if Timmay is mad at me for making him watch on the bench" The NBA coach must let Timmay decide his own fate Do you not understand this?
Actually, I'm a Heat fan and I'm perfectly fine with how everything worked out :grin:. Not sure why you are so passionate about this topic though... in the short time I've been here, don't think I've seen you so worked up about anything even involving the Rockets.
And I said that I don't necessarily agree with Pop's decision, just trying to offer an explanation to his thought process.
game 6 had so many mistakes in the last 30 seconds, it wasn't even funny. the first mistake was when Duncan forced a turnover that resulted in Parker pushing the ball upcourt and passing to Ginobili for the foul. Parker should have dribbled out the ball since they weren't immediately fouling and put a shot at the last second similar to game 1. they still had a 4 point lead, so it would still be a two possession game with about 9 seconds left. or Pops should have called a timeout on the floor as soon as Parker passed the ball to Ginobili. the whistle blows and if Allen continues to foul Ginobili as he goes to the basket, it's an automatic technical on Allen and Parker gets to shoot one and they have a 5 point lead with possession. well forget that scenario, and skip forward to Manu's choked free throw. the Spurs still have that endlessly discussed 5 point with 28 seconds left. Lebron bricks the first 3 point shot, and the Spurs lose out on the ensuing scrum and Miller secures the rebound. the Spurs were surrounding him and they should have immediately fouled him to prevent that dangerous open 3. Miller shoots 2, probably makes 2, but the Spurs only need to make 1 to keep it a two possession lead with about 22 seconds left and no timeouts for either team. they should have continued to play hard defense to deny open 3s and limit them to one shot either by securing the defensive rebound (Duncan please) or immediatly fouling the rebounder and turn it into a free throw shooting contest with a 3-5 point advantage. there's probably only enough time for 1 or 2 more offensive plays for the Heat anyway (no timeouts left), and they probably can't get the win. of course, the Heat could intentionally miss their free throws with or without making the first one, although i have no idea what the success rate of that is. however, the Rockets have done it perfectly at least twice, once from Yao and the other from Aaron Brooks (technically, Brooks committed a borderline lane violation, but they're not going to call that during the end of a finals game). the other thing the Spurs didn't do is that if you know that the Heat are going to intentionally foul you as in the case of the last foul on Kawhi Leonard, you should at least put up a three right after the foul (if you are outside the arc) or at least fake a shooting motion, as the player approaches. at the least it should freeze the fouler for a few precious seconds and it might even get you to the line 3 times, or better yet even a four point play.
Mistakes happen, it happens to the best coaches. Belicheat is a 3x NFL champion, but he has made some glaring mistakes like going on 4th down at his own side of the field and playing Gronk on an extra point in a blowout last year which led to his 4 surgeries. Belicheat should of won more Super Bowls just like Pop should of won 5.
I know this is oversimplified. But I've always believe that players win games and coaches lose games. The gap between a good coach and a great coach is not much. The gap between a bad coach and a good coach is huge. The trick is not to get a great coach. It is to avoid getting a bad one. Popovich is not a bad coach. Is he a good one or a great one? Doesn't matter that much.
if they had made just 1 of the 3 free throws they missed late in regulation of game 6 we wouldn't be debating this
