It's Time To Talk About Gregg Popovich As The Spurs Clinched Their 21st Straight Playoff Berth
It makes absolutely no sense for THIS Spurs team to be in the 2018 NBA playoffs. It makes no sense that they are 47-34, currently in the 6th spot with a chance to finish as high as the 4th seed in the West. It makes no sense that they are doing this with Kawhi Leonard missing 71 games. It makes no sense that they are doing this with really just one top-75 player in the NBA in LaMarcus Aldrdige. It makes no sense that they are doing this despite playing 25 different starting lineup this year.
It makes all the sense they are doing this because of Gregg Popovich.
Popovich, in my eyes, is the best coach in NBA history. The fact that he’s been able to adjust his style of play so many different times, adjust his teams and even his philosophy makes him in that top tier and then throw in all the wins and championships and that’s why he’d get my vote for best coach ever. However, what he’s done this year is nothing short of insane. This is a year where the West is loaded again. Obviously you have the top-2 teams in Houston and Golden State, but then you have a bunch of teams all mangled together from the 3rd to 10th spot. In that mess were the Spurs, who of course clinched their 21st straight playoff berth with a win over the Kings last night.
The Spurs are doing this, as I mentioned with just one top-75 player in the NBA. That’s what makes this year’s run even more crazier. In a league where you hear that you need multiple superstars in order to succeed, the Spurs are doing this with Aldrdige as the lone star. The reason why? The Spurs are getting back to their defensive ways. They are fourth in the league in defensive rating at 102.3 just behind the Celtics, Jazz and Sixers. When you look at the four defensive factors that make up basketballreference, they are 6th in effective field goal percentage, 12th in turnover percentage, 8th in rebounding percentage and 3rd in FTA/FGA. It’s a bit of an old school way to play, but it’s Pop doing what he does best yet again.
Adjusting on the fly is something that Pop had to do all year this year. Only three players will play in 80 games this season – Bryn Forbes, Dejounte Murray and Patty Mills. Only three five-man combos have played over 100 minutes together, with the most successful being Aldridge/Anderson/Green/Mills/Murray, with a +17.8 in 177 minutes together. He’s had to start 13 different players this year including the likes of Brandon Paul, Joffrey Lauvergne, Davis Bertans and Bryn Forbes. It’s no surprise that he’s getting help from the bench as they play the 5th most minutes at 20.3 minutes per game. But, really it’s just Pop being Pop. It’s why you could see how excited he was when the Spurs won last night, knowing he clinched another playoff berth. It’s why during a press conference he talked about how rewarding it was – in only the way Pop can.
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In a time where we want to argue about Rookie of the Year, LeBron vs Jordan and everything else, we all should take a minute to enjoy what we’ve seen from Popovich and the Spurs. It’s one of the most impressive runs in sports and we’re watching greatness on the sidelines game in and game out.