Pop’s hair is snow-white and he can almost be doing anything else and yet there he sits yelling at men a quarter of his age to play defense and box out and do whatever.
I have been watching him yell at Spurs players since 1996, when I was ten or eleven or so and wanted him fired. I could not believe that this weird-looking guy fired Bob Hill and took the job for himself when it seemed like injury was clearly the only reason for the Spurs’ losing.
LaMarcus Aldridge was also ten or eleven or so. Dejounte Murray was born sometime as the Spurs were entering preseason of that year that David Robinson got hurt and it all sort of fell into place for Tim Duncan.
So Pop is still there and I am still here watching him and the new them. Instead of Dave and Sean and Vinny Del Negro it is LaMarcus and DeMar and Lonnie.
I cannot reasonably say I have anymore insight relative to the actual workings of the organization and basketball than I did when I was eleven but that does not mean I will not share them.
People like me are tedious to the actual knowers of the game and it’s intricacies. Pop is famous for his gruff and surly attitude about the types of questions he gets. It has to be because they are exceedingly silly to a man that has lived and breathed the game for his entire life. He famously thinks being asked about adjustments between quarters during the game is an entertainment bridge too far.
This season the Spurs are embracing youth and athleticism, and a more modern basketball sense. I suspect the Spurs’ reluctance to embrace this way of doing things was not because they didn’t know how other teams were playing, but that they saw value in playing a different way.
The why don’t you just type of questions that we ask usually have more complicated answers than we could imagine. Before Dejounte Murray’s injury a couple seasons ago, the Spurs wanted to embrace more tempo based on Murray’s ability to sprint past everyone. His injury necessitated a change.
The team had a limited ability to maneuver the roster to suit the new guys. Whatever you think of DeMar DeRozan, he is a premier scorer in this league, has a knack for distributing, and is a great teammate. That kind of combination is not easy to find. People wanted him traded — but for whom? Someone you hope can fill those same shoes?
Frustratingly, it has simply taken time for everyone to adapt. LaMarcus Aldridge has slowly begun to take the three-point shots he was always good at but reluctant to embrace. DeRozan has dipped his toes beyond the three point line again — he shot 3/4 from distance last night.
The front office has built up the roster to compliment the stars — while also considering if there is anyone to replace the stars with, just in case. Now, Devin Vassell, and Dejounte Murray are hounding the perimeter, while Keldon Johnson, and Lonnie Walker IV are bringing athletic enthusiasm. Johnson attacking the rim with no fear is a bit of that Manu Ginobili stuff that not only brings a spark, but also, you know, points.
So it is that the Spurs are embracing the new, modern NBA. It is also that they stayed patient and waited for to add the pieces, and develop the players, and not trade away the guys that can help the young players come along. DeMar DeRozan, that guy who is mostly known for not being Kawhi Leonard was clutch against the Raptors and scored 28 against the Grizzlies. In this two games and in the bubble, he got the closer buckets. It is a role that Rudy Gay had during that year without Leonard with mixed results. It ain’t easy but DDR has been great.
Also great? Aldridge. One advantage of everyone going small is the power forward is now the biggest guy on the court. Against the Raptors with 29 seconds left, LMA put up the go-ahead bucket after fighting for the rebound. He scored with his characteristic scoring touch off the glass. Like DeRozan, Aldridge gets a lot of criticism that mostly is that he is not someone we want him to be. In his case it is he is not Tim Duncan. Somewhere in the archives of the old version of the Spurious Blog is some of my own criticism of the guy, for his disappearing acts in the big moments in the playoffs.
There is value in having long-time league veterans to show the way. Even if a championship is not remotely likely this season, continuing the culture of winning and sustained excellence is how you set up the program to be ready when the next generational talent (hopefully) dons the Silver and Black.