[Highlight] Mitch Johnson directing the Spurs defense last night
Yeah, Pop raised him
Do you guys like him as the HC for years to come though? I mean yeah you’ve got a very very good team and A lot of times those teams can look like they are carrying the coach but I like him and he’s young too
Players respect him and play hard under him so I like him. I’m not privy to the game plans but nothing I’ve seen sticks out as bad coaching. I think he’s done 10⁄10 job this year
He’s really good with development, managing depth and minutes, but this is his first chance to be good at the series adjustments. It’s a pitfall of most young coaches that they’re not dynamic enough in adjusting game to game or even quarter to quarter in the post season.
So far he’s rising to the challenge.
He’s the perfect mix of preserving/preaching patience and discipline from the church of Pop, while bringing modern schemes and adjustments. Plus all the players love him.
No clue if he was the succession plan all along, but he stepped up when we needed a leader and we haven’t really looked back since.
With all that being said the reality is he’ll need to win a ring eventually for him to be a no brainer top coach for fans.
Even a ring isn’t enough for most coaches to be viewed that way. Malone. Budenholzer. Nurse. Even Joe Mazulla is getting some flak because the Celtics blew a 3-1 lead.
It was supposed to be Becky right until the Vegas job
This was the case for all of his top assistants though. At first it was Bud, then it was Messina, then Becky. Becky and Hardy left around the same time, so naturally Mitch was next in line.
Don’t forget Ime.
Oh I am so fucking overly jovial that Ime Udoka is not the coach of the Spurs. Whew!
Ime actually overlapped with Messina and Becky and I like to think they would have gone with the latter two before Ime lol
No it wasnt, it was never going to be her
I like him. Can’t really judge how good he is as a coach until a few seasons go by.
Need a couple of decent playoff runs to see how he handles adjustments etc but liking what we’ve seen so far
Imo he has done a great job so far and he seems to be liked alot. Potential Coach of the year, also alot of meme potential. 10⁄10 in my books
we won’t know what we got for a few more seasons.
can’t really judge him based on last year.
we were projected ou40 wins this year so gotta see if this season was just an anamoly.
and then one of the biggest tests will be how we transition from a sean sweeney led defense when he inevitably gets a head coach gig in the next year or two.
until then, I’m loving every moment with mitch in charge.
If you watch the games this season is not an anomaly. They’ll be even better next year.
i go to most home games, and watch most all the rest. but yeah you’re right.
we were a joy to watch this year and I doubt it was an anomaly. we’re on a killer trajectory. but things change fast in this league.
just giving my, albeit cautious, take.
You got a season ticket? How’re the spurs ticket prices?
I wish I had em.
one buddy has a 20 game package and lets my buy his second ticket when it’s up for grabs. those are outta my price range but a great experience, row 8 across from our bench.
other than that I just wait day of for the algorithm to bring ticket prices down to the point I can go. bleeds under \(100 or lower bowl under \)200.
and if you go to Josephine Street before the game, they’ll take you on the school bus for free with purchase of a meal. easiest way to get to and from the game, but I think they’ve ended it for next year.
and for another games just hit my neighborhood bar and knock back some cold ones.
the jump in prices for season tickets to playoff tickets is about 2x each round for ticket holders.
long gone are the Alamodome days where you could go row 3 for $80 and watch Timmy bounce kg from the playoffs.
Thanks man. Thats crazy, I remember the spurs having affordable tickets.
We don’t let go of coaches for nonsense like that. He’s growing with them and pop is there to help him. Pop helped in a film session before game 2. He’ll be fine.
Players seem to like and respect him. He makes some excellent game to game adjustments. And the team has developed well.
He’s done some head scratchers this season and some of the issues in the playoffs have been totally predictable. (Ie, putting Castle on Randle would mean Steph would get in foul trouble every game. Though it seems like Mitch is fine with that) but he’s just as young in coaching years as the rest of the team and I expect him to get better too.
IMO this year he’s certainly earned next year no matter what happens the rest of the playoffs. It’s next year that there will be real expectations and that’s the test. Though I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Hammon, who I think is the best coach in professional basketball, interests me. I think these guys would respect and respond well to her (not all teams would..) But this is Mitch’s job unless it’s clear he can’t handle those coming expectations.
Listening to his post game interviews, he comes across as thoughtful and reflective both when things go bad and good, similar to Victor, so I can see where their personalities can gel. I believe it is very important for a head coach to connect with the superstar player on the team.
As an example the other day when Castle fouled out, it would have been very easy to blame the refs or give a very generic answer, but Mitch’s answer was that his team would go back look at the tape and coach Castle on how to be physical while still playing without fouling. That was refreshing to hear, he is a coach and his answers are grounded in helping his player improve.
Are you trying to imply they should move on from him for a more experienced coach?
I trust the Spurs, and I trust their decision makers. There might be a time to move on from Mitch, but that absolutely isn’t now. There might be some mistakes you can point, but the team invariably responds very well, and there is an argument of how much is due to the roster, and the role of assitants - but that applies to every coach of a good team.
There is no chance I would move on from him now, and I think he deserves COTY. If in 2-3 years time we still haven’t won a championship then that would be time for that conversation. But right now, fuck no.
And who else do you think you can garauntee would get more out of this roster this early in their development? Spo is the only guy I would point to (and I don’t think he will ever be available). Nobody else is worth the risk. Mitch has achieved just as much as Daigneault at this stage of the team’s trajectory (and will have gone one step further if we can get past Minnesota), I do not trust Kerr’s ability to develop young players AT ALL (which is kind of imperative for this team), and all the other guys have just been on the merry go round themselves.
Actually bro I literally didn’t imply anything, nor do I think that either. I asked a question to fans of the franchise, lol. That’s all it was. In fact, I even said that I personally liked Mitch. So I don’t know why you would think I would be implying getting rid of him at all
You literally started the comment with:
“Do you guys like him as the HC for years to come though?”
Adding “though” automatically frames that as a negative, and not a neutral, question. (When responding to a positive comment… in the same way as if you started your question with a “But”, or a “However”)
I see, I mean it was just directed at all Spurs fans and some of you may have differing opinions. I saw a few comments through the year saying he should have been fired etc. which is typical I mean that’s how the internet goes
I don’t root for any particular team, I just watch any basketball game I can catch and so prior to the playoffs I had only seen the team (Mitch coaching) a handful of times and from what I saw I thought his coaching looked good and I watch interviews and shit all the time so I’ve seen some of those from him. I think he’s your coach of the future similarly to how I view JJ Red Dick over there in LA. Two really intelligent, friendly, passionate, young HCs!
But you never know what the general fanbase thinks, although after today I can see most of y’all definitely love the guy. Which is awesome
I think you can feel the negative effects of a bad coach way more than the positive effects of an average-to-good coach. (Excluding great coaches)
Mitch isn’t Pop, but Pop also didn’t have Wemby. (And that’s no shade on Tim or Robinson)
Absolutely. He’s a first year head coach, whom Pop selected to take the reins, and has done an amazing job. We were projected as a 44-win play-in team and we ended up 2nd seed in the Wild West with a chance to win it all. Just like player development takes time, coaching development takes time. There’s truly no one else I would want as coach, and the players respect him too.
I watched some random radio podcast show with Sean Elliot the other day and he talked about how the first couple years were not great in terms of wins for Pop. This guy got his team in the WCSF in his first year. We believe in Mitch.
In his first full season, we managed to win 62 games while developing our starting PG, backup PG, and 3&D wing.
Hard to ask for more
I would like to see a little more individual defensive responsibility, feels like everyone just funnels everything to Wemby and I don’t think we need such an extreme scheme.
They did that with Duncan too. Tried and true strat.
There were hardly any 5 out offenses in the early 2000s. We got killed in Game 1 when the Wolves ran 5-out and let Randle iso.
So that’s why he always sounds like Doc Rivers in every post game interview…
I thought it was at least a pack a day
My exact thought!
It is crazy how we have one rookie that plays like an absolute rookie and another that looks like a vet, but they are both so valuable to us right now
Bryant only plays like a rookie cuz he didn’t get the reps that Harper has gotten. I’m surprised they didn’t send Bryant to Austin more this season honestly. Next season he’s gonna be a beast tho. If his shot improves he’s taking Champagnies minutes
He’s taking Barnes minutes. Champagnie is too important to this team. Him and vassell.
Yeah, I agree with this. Champ is just so deadly from 3. He makes everyone else on the floor so much better.
Plus champ rebounds well.
Until Champagnie gets his bag.
I think we’ll pay to keep him.
Champagnie, Keldon and Vassell are key to us going really far. I think all the other guys will be more or less reliable, even Castle and Harper, but if those 3 consistently deliver we’re the best team in the league.
This statement wouldve gotten you crucified at preseason, everyone was saying Trade Vassell, need a better shooter than Champ, more minutes to Barnes, package Big Body for a star…
A lot has changed after 90 or so games
I don’t think Carter really benefits from the G league. His issues get completely masked against worse competition because jumping and being more physically dominant will just destroy any g league player.
This specific Spurs team top to down is literally the best situation he could be in.
Carter went down his first stint and he became a much more composed player. He became too good for the g league team
Is a single G league game a stint?
Not only was it a single game, but I think he was back on the Spurs bench like 24 hours later lol
It took one game for him to lock in i guess.
If you dominate it hard enough it is lol
It’s about playing a different role with them, being a leader. The same reason DJ, KJ, Devin, Tre Jones, Kyle Anderson etc etc all played in the g league. To get reps and play a leadership role
He’s not taking champagnies minutes till champagnie gets that big contract and gets up outta here, he is way too good of a role player not to be out there. Carter might get some of Keldons minutes, he’ll keep getting a better and better feel for the game until we can start him.
He’s currently 3rd of 4th in the forward rotation with Devin, Jules, and Barnes. He can also play small ball 5 which might open up more French Vanilla reps, since I feel like we would benefit from some lineups against teams with size with Kornet and Wemby on the floor together and the two of them almost never play in the same lineups.
He just makes so many silly mistakes and has probably the dumbest fouls you can think of by being WAY too physical. But once he figures that out and gains more confidence in his offensive role he could probably give me confidence in sadly seeing Julian go cause we already know he’s about to get a huge paycheck.
It’s probably the first time a coach has told him to not worry about fouls and make sure the other team feels you. He’s been the star until college (1 year of that) and now here he’s a role player as well.
carter bryant committed some stupid fouls but he did a really good job on ant last night. granted, this is ant on one leg but still a good job nonetheless
Barnes also has a great night on defense
He’s just got a wild energy and pop out there. Very infectious to inject during a game, and the Spurs definitely love to have that edge during the game
im 100% sure some of those were on purpose, like he was sending a message
I sort of agree. Feel like the coaches just want him to play hard and since his minutes are so low they aren’t worried about him fouling out. Risk/reward of him picking up team fouls is the only thing to manage.
I don’t think so. He did all season as well. He just has to much energy when he comes in lol
Funny how nobody excused Ant’s health in Game 1
dam ain’t seen coaching like this..ever really. so sick
It’s probably related to Carter being the target of this instruction. XD
You can tell the players hear and respond to it so it’s not unusual for them. That’s pretty awesome work
Gives me chills. Love it
same brother–love watching this team and they’re super young (including Mitch) so still got like a decade+ of great ball coming still
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Do you think Mitch is an assistant? I’m confused…
He has absolutely 0 idea what he’s talking about. It’s pretty common. Thinking Basketball has a whole video on it.
This happens basically in every game, we just don’t hear it from the screen
I like Mitch. Sean Sweeney is equally as nuts. He will be a head coach next year somewhere else and I will be sad.
Would be so sick to keep Sweeney around for one more year but it looks that that ship is for sure sailing. We’ll miss him dearly
What indications are there? Are teams tampering w our defensive coordinator???
He’s been linked with a few head coaching searches from what I could tell. What do I know though
There is a chance he might stay if we pay him well. He can earn that ring with the Spurs and solidify his cv for a longer contract offer down the road.
I have a feeling it’s going to be Chicago. I heard they really really like him
Why are you posting about ongoing playoffs games on the NBA sub? It’s taking up valuable space from Draymond beefing with Austin Rivers and Jaylen Brown beefing with SAS
Why JB beefing woth Spurs? 😋
This is dope!
Target center needs to be extremely loud tomorrow so Spurs can’t hear him
Damn I bet his throat hurts after a game
Pause 👀
No
Man look like Mitch wants to jump in there and play
He’s like 2 years younger than LeBron lol
I can see Pop’s spirit funneling its way into Mitch.
Love to see it
My boy pennywise the coach
If ANT were to have hit Johnson with the ball or part of his body would that have been a foul?
Johnson’s clearly not in play but could be if ANT were to jump towards him in an attempt to get a better pass off.
as long as hes not on the court i think its fine
The Jason Kidd special
“Hit me.”
My gf calls him temu Terrance Howard lol. He’s cool with me tho
It’s like if Terrance Howard and Anthony Ramos had a baby
Most surprising thing is that this looks like a classic rip-through foul on Carter literally right in front of the ref’s face but he lets them play.
More of that please.
Probably would’ve been if Ant attempted the shot rather than a pass
Carter Bryant walking into that with both hands down was very typical for a young player. All Ant had to do was swing his arms up and Bryant would have been caught with his hands in a cookie jar.
I do the exact same thing standing up in front of my TV 😂
We wouldnt be this loud while on offense, mainly on defense, right? So this strategy may not work.
is he allowed to do that? damn near playing in the game
Damn NBA defense looks complicated when you’re a player. No wonder why a lot of rookies and some vets get lost in the actions. The game is fast
I appreciate Mitch’s energy from the bench here but also CB shouldn’t need to be told this lol trapping is to get the ball out of Edwards hands. Once it’s out you have to get a body between him and the ball to deny the pass back. Or the trapping is for nothing. Thats just how that defense works. CB shouldn’t need to be told that hopefully just a bit too hyped up in his first game back
He probably didn’t need to be directed this much but mitch in this particular clip probably just felt super fired up and involved. It definitely doesn’t hurt and i’m sure it’s super motivating to the players to hear their coach like this mid-possession
Idk cb might be the most gifted defender on the team not named Wemby but this isn’t the only time I’ve seen the bench have to yell at him about where he is on the floor. He’s a rookie. It’s normal tbh
Guy plays with that Border Collie energy wanting to go run and jump everywhere.