Gregg Popovich: Is This the Spurs Coach's Best Year of Coaching Yet?

Riddle me with irony, if you must, as I continue to cover one of my least favorite teams in NBA history: the San Antonio Spurs.

The fact of the matter is, their system has worked to perfection for over a decade now, and at the heart of it is Gregg Popovich, a coach who got his start at a Division III school: Air Force.

The man they call Pop is currently involved in a masterpiece, coaching an underwhelming roster to overwhelming success. He has drawn an MVP-caliber season out of Tony Parker, overcome multiple injuries to star Manu Ginobili and utilized the ageless Tim Duncan to perfection. He's also made players such as Daniel Green and Tiago Splitter look like they know what they're doing.

All in all, Popovich has been incredible. The question is, how great has he been?

Is it possible that a four-time NBA champion is having the best year of his career with the playoffs yet to begin?

Much is made of talent, but not enough is made of team chemistry. In the case of the San Antonio Spurs, chemistry should have been nearly impossible to come by. Not only did Ginobili go down for an extended period of time, but he did so just five games into the season—and missed the next month.

In his absence, Popovich made the gutsy call and began alternating James Anderson and Richard Jefferson at the 2. Most significant, however, was the playing time awarded to Daniel Green—a player who was unable to win playing time on a Cleveland Cavaliers team with virtually nothing at the 2.

While the Spurs' victories have been impressive, it's what they haven't done that is so significant. The Spurs have yet to suffer more than two consecutive losses, bouncing back with victories over quality opponents, including the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies.

Although some have been more dominant, no team has been quite as consistent.

Today, the Spurs are back at full strength. Ginobili has returned from injury, and the Spurs have made key acquisitions in trading for Stephen Jackson and claiming Boris Diaw off waivers. The Spurs have since clinched their 15th consecutive playoff berth under Popovich, including a ninth division title.

Both of those are tops among NBA teams since Popovich took over in 1996.

But what separates this season from the rest? In a Hall of Fame career, what makes one year better than another? When you consider Popovich's perfect 4-for-4 record in the NBA Finals, what separates a typical season from a title victory?

Adaptation.

The NBA has changed since Popovich first landed the job in San Antonio, becoming a league dominated by athleticism and defense. While fundamentals are present in the minds of veteran players, most of the NBA's youth rely on one specific characteristic, while the rest need further developing. That characteristic is often freakish athletic ability.

In San Antonio, however, Popovich and the Spurs have yet to buy in.

Rather than pursue the big-market free agents, the Spurs have stuck with the core that first won them an NBA title in 2003. They've also remained loyal to Tim Duncan, who won his first title with the team in Popovich's second full season: 1999.

Miami is dominant, Oklahoma City is a legitimate title threat and Chicago is as dangerous as they come. That said, the fact is there is no team or coach that is more prepared for a title run than the San Antonio Spurs.

That's why every year is a new high for Gregg Popovich.