San Antonio Spurs Fall to Grizzlies, Popovich Quips: His Top 10 Video Moments

By (Featured Columnist) on April 30, 2011

2,428 reads

7

Previous
1 of 13
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12:  Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs reacts from the bench during a 102-93 Los Angeles Lakers win at Staples Center on April 12, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agr
Harry How/Getty Images

Gregg Popovich.  He's got that dry sense of humor, seasoned over 15 years of coaching in the NBA.

And he showed it in the post-game following the San Antonio Spurs ouster from the first round at the hands of the very up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies.

The Spurs were the best team in the NBA for most of the season, starting off a torrid 29-4, but they flailed down the stretch, losing eight of their final 12 games.  Before you knew it, Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls caught up and took home court advantage by a game in the final month.

Still, the Spurs were expected to go deep in the playoffs, at least past round one, and maybe even take the West.

It didn't happen.

The Grizzlies were simply the better team in every phase of the game just about all series long.  They finished off the Spurs four games to two in an unexpectedly dominant fashion.  There was nothing San Antonio could do about it, but begin scheduling tee times.

It happens.

Coach Pop knew the deal and kept it light after the game in his classic manner.

We won't be seeing too much of him until next October, so get some Gregg Popovich video moments in while you can, starting with last night's quote...

10. Gregg Popovich Will Have a Stiff Gatorade Following First Round Ejection

The new Gatorade flavor: Martini.

9. Never Say to Coach Pop, "Gimme Your Autograph"

Popovich is one of the best basketball, and grammar, coaches.

8. Gregg Popovich: San Antonio Spurs' Sixth Man

Popovich does his best "Carmelo Anthony calling for the last shot" impression.

Find him in the upper right, on the court, with clipboard prop.

7. Gregg Popovich Gets Ejected

Coach Pop with the quickest "technical foul-ejection-leave the court" move in NBA history.

He's on the upper left this time, rightfully flipping his lid over a missed travel call.

6. Gregg Popovich Called for the Block

If you look closely at the instant replay, you can tell...He was moving!!

5. Gregg Popovich Called for the Charge

Popovich and Tim Duncan train for the running of the bulls.

4. Gregg Popovich Punks Shaquille O'Neal

In the 2008 NBA playoffs when the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns met in the First Round, Popovich employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy to great success and the Spurs advanced.

Shaquille O'Neal called it "cowardly."

So what does Popovich do when they meet for the first time the following season? Have O'Neal fouled within the first five seconds of the game.

3. Gregg Popovich on Manu Ginobili

Popovich's analytical mind and keen sense of the game are evident here.

2. Gregg Popovich on Kevin McHale

Popovich minces his words.

1. Gregg Popovich "Taking One for the Team"

The obligatory nutshot. Guaranteed laughs.

Check out the replay.  Great work by the production team here, from the camera work to the lighting, straight up to the booth.  Nothing like an "Owww, my balls!" play-by-play to capture the No. 1 spot.

Hang on, there's a bonus clip...

Bonus: Gregg Popovich, Close-Up. Really, Really Close-Up.

The obligatory human interest segment.

And that's Gregg Popovich.  Hope you enjoyed your visit.

 

Need more Coach Pop?  Check out Dan Schultz' very popular Top 10 Gregg Popovich Quotes of All Time.

Begin Slideshow
Keep Reading
Flag
Props (0)
This article is

What is the duplicate article?

Why is this article offensive?

Where is this article plagiarized from?

Why is this article poorly edited?

Flag This Article
San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs: Like this team?
Crop_45x45
or to post a comment

7 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading comments...
just now posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

Follow B/R on Facebook

Fans of bleacherreport

Follow @BleacherReport on Twitter
San Antonio Spurs

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address

Thanks for signing up.

We're Scouting Top Writers

Post-Lottery 2-Round Mock Draft Hint: you can use arrow keys to navigate through this channel.