1997-04-13, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer
他会还是不会？
格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 会还是不会？这是个问题。马刺队的赛季正在痛苦地接近尾声。随着球队继续跌入创造记录的失利深渊，季后赛的希望早已破灭。
很快，人们的注意力将转移到即将到来的 NBA 选秀抽签和 6 月份的选秀大会上。
但在此之前，人们的猜测将集中在现在执教这支伤兵满营球队的波波维奇身上。
问题是：他会选择继续执教马刺队，还是会溜回总经理办公室相对安全的圣殿？
波波维奇本人甚至不愿暗示他打算做什么。
“我现在关心的是球队，”波波维奇说道。“我还没有花时间去考虑其他事情。当时机成熟时，我会考虑那些问题。”
这是典型的波波维奇的推脱之词。如果他曾向一些人透露过谁将执教马刺队下个赛季，那也仅仅是机密。
绝对可以肯定的是，波波维奇得到了老板们的许可，可以签署一份未来几个赛季的教练合同。
“决定权在他手中，”马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt) 说道。“如果他想要执教，我将百分之百支持他。我非常希望看到他执教。
“我认为他在困难的情况下做得很好。他对球队的状况比任何人都了解。他知道球队的动态。”
但霍尔特表示，他也对此一无所知。
“波波维奇玩得相当隐秘，”霍尔特说道。“每当我提起这件事，他就会变得难以琢磨。他说他与一些球员、教练和家人谈过。他正在思考。”
球队总裁杰克·迪勒(Jack Diller) 也站在波波维奇一边。
“我小心地没有问他这个问题，”迪勒笑着说道。“但我们都为球队和波波维奇让球队继续比赛的方式感到自豪。
“我们将等待波波维奇做出决定，然后我们将讨论他执教的原因。如果他认为自己想要继续，我们都站在同一阵线，我认为我们都能达成一致。”
迪勒表示，他不会对波波维奇施加任何压力。
“这类决定涉及家庭；它们非常私人，”他说道。“波波维奇会与家人谈谈，与球员进行离职面谈，然后做出决定。”
波波维奇在 12 月 10 日将鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill) 赶走时，激怒了马刺队的球迷，最初也激怒了一些球员。那天正是大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 从第一次伤病中恢复回来的日子。
骚动很大，批评从相当简单的“他怎么能在离圣诞节这么近的时候这样做？”到更严肃的“他怎么能在球队领袖回归的时候这样做？”
罗宾逊在六场比赛后因脚趾骨折而赛季报销。肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott) 在 2 月份跟进。查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 始终没有上场。查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith) 最终在 3 月 15 日重返阵容。
这支伤病缠身的马刺队在他们的新教练手下取得了 17 胜 43 负的战绩。尽管如此，他们仍然展现出更强的防守精神——这是波波维奇 12 月份解雇希尔的根本原因——但波波维奇是否能够带领马刺队在季后赛中走得更远这个问题还没有得到答案。
这个问题可能永远不会真正得到答案。马刺队下个赛季在罗宾逊健康且有其他球员支持的情况下，可能取得的任何成功，也可能是在希尔手下取得的。
就球员而言，他们似乎都希望波波维奇继续执掌帅印。
“如果由那些即将留在这里的家伙决定，我想他会是明年的主教练，”格雷格·安德森(Greg Anderson) 说道，听起来像是某个不指望续约的人。“我认为他应该担任主教练。”
蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams) 的观察更加微妙：“我认为他想执教。否则，他早就做出决定了。”
科里·亚历山大(Cory Alexander) 有其他想法：“我不确定；我认为他会留任总经理。我认为他不想执教。我相信他只是想灌输某种态度。他做到了。”
阿维·约翰逊(Avery Johnson) 在评价和希望中没有保留任何东西：“你可以从他绝对应该回归教练岗位开始写这篇文章。他可以将一些总经理职责移交给山姆(Sam)(球员人事总监山姆·舒勒(Sam Schuler)) 和R.C.(R.C.)(球探R.C. 布福德(R.C. Buford))。但这将是他的决定。”
威尔·珀迪(Will Perdue) 表示，他希望波波维奇做对他认为对球队最好的事情。
“如果他认为自己能够带领一支健康的球队迈向更高的层次，那么他应该执教，”珀迪说道。
“他是在一个非常尴尬的时刻上任的，并且做得很好。从我所见，他喜欢执教，他喜欢准备工作。但话又说回来，如果他坐下来决定想要安全感，他可能会选择做总经理。”
总经理更加安全。在困境中，他们中很少有人被解雇。但这里可能并非如此。如果波波维奇聘请了一位新教练，而球队在季后赛中崩溃，篮球运营办公室很可能将进行全面清洗。
罗宾逊已经表示，他百分之百支持波波维奇。在当今时代，球员可以集会投票罢免教练，这并非一个坏人。罗宾逊还表示，他不知道波波维奇会选择哪条路。
还有其他强烈的因素表明波波维奇将继续担任教练：
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重新开始一切的心态的危险。波波维奇担心马刺队组织的持续变化。罗宾逊也是如此，他在 8 年的时间里已经经历了 6 位主教练——拉里·布朗(Larry Brown)、鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)、杰里·坦卡尼安(Jerry Tarkanian)、约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas)、希尔和波波维奇。这还不包括雷克斯·休斯(Rex Hughes) 在坦卡尼安和卢卡斯之间短暂执教的一场比赛。
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无论谁被聘用，新人的想法都不会完全复制波波维奇的想法。他曾看好希尔，后来发现他们之间防守理念的差异，最终导致了希尔的解雇。
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波波维奇的薪酬不会过高。炙手可热的“大牌”——查克·戴利(Chuck Daly)、里克·皮蒂诺(Rick Pitino)、乔治·卡尔(George Karl)——每年将花费球队 150 万美元或更多。也许波波维奇会将这一事实传达给老板，同时为自己争取更高的下一季薪水，虽然不会达到巨星级别。
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波波维奇不必把自己束缚在多年合同中。他可以执教一两个赛季，将自己的理念灌输给一支健康的球队，再加入一些新球员，冲击季后赛冠军，然后交出指挥棒。
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他可以采用太阳队的做法——将未来的接班人作为学徒助理教练聘用一两个赛季。科顿·菲茨西蒙斯(Cotton Fitzsimmons) 对丹尼·安吉(Danny Ainge) 这样做过。波波维奇和多克·里弗斯(Doc Rivers) 会是下一对吗？
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可以放心的是，波波维奇处于一个令人羡慕的位置。本赛季到目前为止，已经有 6 位教练被解雇。更多教练将在赛季结束后收拾行囊离开。
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如果马刺队宣布下个赛季将由大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 领衔的球队空缺一个教练职位，那么将有一长串候选人——老练的、备受尊重的以及渴望成为 NBA 新人的教练——出现在阿拉莫穹顶外。
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波波维奇的主要举措
格雷格·波波维奇（右）自 1994 年 5 月 31 日成为马刺队篮球运营执行副总裁/总经理以来所做的主要交易：
1994-95 年
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将选秀球员比尔·科利(Bill Curley) 和 1996 年的第二轮选秀权交易到活塞队，换来肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)。
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签下了自由球员艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)、查克·珀森(Chuck Person)、摩西·马龙(Moses Malone) 和多克·里弗斯(Doc Rivers)。
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聘请了主教练鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill) 和助理教练戴夫·考恩斯(Dave Cowens)、汉克·伊根(Hank Egan) 和保罗·普雷西(Paul Pressey)。
1995-96 年
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用第 29 号选秀权选中了科里·亚历山大(Cory Alexander)。
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将威利·安德森(Willie Anderson) 和查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 放在在扩军选秀中。安德森被猛龙队选中。
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行使了释放特里·卡明斯(Terry Cummings) 的选择权。
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签下了格雷格·安德森(Greg Anderson)、卡尔·埃雷拉(Carl Herrera) 和布拉德·洛哈斯(Brad Louhas)。
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将丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman) 交易到公牛队，换来威尔·珀迪(Will Perdue)。
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将J.R. 里德(J.R. Reid)、洛哈斯(Lohaus) 和 1996 年的第一轮选秀权交易到尼克斯队，换来查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith) 和蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)。
1996-97 年
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签下了多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins) 和弗农·麦克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell)。
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解雇鲍勃·希尔(Bob Hill)，并担任主教练。
点击查看原文：What's up, Pop? He's not saying
What’s up, Pop? He’s not saying
Will he or won’t he? That is the question. The Spurs’ season is grinding to its painful close. Playoff hopes have long since been squashed as the team continues its plunge into the pit of record-establishing losses.
Soon, attention will gravitate to the upcoming NBA lottery and the June draft.
But first, speculation will focus on the man now coaching the injury-ruined team - Gregg Popovich.
The question: Will he elect to continue coaching the Spurs, or will he skedaddle back upstairs to the relative safety of the general manager’s sanctum?
The man himself refuses event to hint at what he plans to do.
My concern now is the team,'' Popovich said. I have not taken time to be concerned about other matters. When the time comes, I will concern myself with that.‘’
That’s typical Popovich deterrent talk. If he has confided to some about who will coach the Spurs next season, it remains just that - confidential.
An absolute certainty is that Popovich has the green light from his bosses to sign a coaching contract for the next few seasons.
The decision is in his hands,'' Spurs chairman Peter Holt said. If he wants to coach, I will support that 100 percent. I’d love to see him coach.
``I think he’s done a great job under difficult circumstances. He knows the situation better than anybody. He knows the dynamics of the team.‘’
But Holt says he, too, is in the dark.
Pop's playing it pretty cagey,'' Holt said. Whenever I bring it up, he becomes kind of inscrutable. He says he’s talked to some players, coaches and his family. He’s processing it.‘’
Team president Jack Diller also is in Popovich’s corner.
I've been careful not to ask him that question,'' Diller said with a laugh. But we’ve all been very proud of the team and the way Pop has kept them playing.
``We’ll wait for Pop to make his decision, then we’ll go over his reasons for coaching. If he feels that he wants to go for it and we’re all on the same page, I’d say we all could reach an agreement on it.‘’
Diller said he would put no pressure on Popovich one way or the other.
These type of decisions involve the family; they are very personal,'' he said. Pop will talk with his family, have his exit interviews with the players and then make up his mind.‘’
Popovich incurred the wrath of Spurs fans, and originally from some players, when he jettisoned Bob Hill on Dec. 10, the very day David Robinson was returning from his first bout with injuries.
The uproar was immense, criticisms ranging from the rather simplistic - How could he do this so close to Christmas?'' - to the more serious - How could he do this when the main man is returning?‘’
Robinson was shelved for the season six games later, felled by a broken toe. Sean Elliott followed in February. Chuck Person never played. Charles Smith finally returned to the lineup on March 15.
The wrecked Spurs have mustered a 17-43 record under their new coach. Still, they have played with more defensive spirit - the fundamental reason why Popovich fired Hill in December - but the question of whether or not Popovich could push the Spurs farther through the playoffs won’t be answered.
It may never be really answered. Any success the Spurs enjoy next season, with a healthy Robinson and supporting crew, possibly could have been accomplished under Hill.
For their part, the players seem to want Popovich to keep calling the shots.
If it's up to the guys who are going to be here, I'd say yes, he'll be the head coach next year,'' said Greg Anderson, sounding like someone who doesn't expect to be re-signed. I think he should be the head coach.‘’
Monty Williams’ observation was more subtle: ``I think he wants to coach. Otherwise, he’d have made his decision by now.‘’
Cory Alexander had other ideas: ``I’m not sure; I think he’ll stay as general manager. I don’t think he wants to coach. I believe he just wanted to instill a certain attitude. He’s done that.‘’
Avery Johnson held nothing back in his appraisal and hopes: ``You can lead off the story by saying that he definitely should come back as coach. He can turn over some of the general manager duties to Sam (director of player personnel Sam Schuler) and R.C. (scout R.C. Buford). But it will be his decision.‘’
Will Perdue said he expects Popovich to do what he believes is best for the organization.
``If he thinks he can take a healthy team to the next level, then he should coach,‘’ Perdue said.
``He came in at a very awkward time and did a good job. From what I’ve seen, he enjoys coaching, he enjoys the preparation. Then again, if he sits down and decides he wants the security, he might opt for general managing.‘’
General managers are more secure. Fewer of them get the ax during troubled seasons. But that might not be the case here. If Popovich brought in a new coach, and the team crashed in the playoffs, a complete sweep most likely would occur in the offices of basketball operations.
Robinson already has said he supports Popovich 100 percent. Given these times, when players can gather and vote out a coach, that’s not a bad person to have in your corner. Robinson also said he did not know which way Popovich would swing.
There are other strong factors indicating Popovich will remain as coach: -The danger of the starting-all-over-again mindset. Popovich is fearful of the constant changes in the Spurs organization. So is Robinson, who has toiled under six head coaches in his eight years - Larry Brown, Bob Bass, Jerry Tarkanian, John Lucas, Hill and Popovich. That’s not counting Rex Hughes’ one-game stint in between Tarkanian and Lucas.
If there is anything that Popovich has stressed since arriving, it’s stability, perhaps the one factor that kept him from firing Hill immediately after last season’s playoff crash against Utah. -No matter who is hired, the new man’s ideas will not be carbon copies of Popovich’s. He was sold on Hill, then discovered those differences in defensive philosophies that resulted in the firing. -Popovich will not be overly expensive. Red-hot ``names’’ -Chuck Daly, Rick Pitino, George Karl -would cost the franchise $1.5 million or more per year. Perhaps Popovich will convey that fact to the ownership while snagging a bigger paycheck of his own for next season, though not in the superstar range.
Popovich doesn’t have to tie himself down to a multiyear pact. He could coach for one or two seasons, instill his philosophy on a healthy group with a sprinkling of new players, make his run for the playoff gold and then turn over the reins.
He could play it the Phoenix way - bring in the eventual successor as an apprentice assistant for a couple of seasons. Cotton Fitzsimmons did it with Danny Ainge. Are Popovich and, say, Doc Rivers next?
Rest assured, Popovich is in an enviable position. Six coaches have been fired so far this season. More will be packing their belongings and moving on when the season ends.
There would be a line of candidates - shopworn, venerated and eager NBA newcomers -around the Alamodome if the Spurs were to announce a vacancy to coach a David Robinson-led team next season.
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Popovich’s main moves
Prinicpal transactions Gregg Popovich (right) has made since he became the Spurs’ executive vice president for basketball operations/general manager on May 31, 1994:
1994-95
-Traded draft pick Bill Curley and the 1996 second-round pick to Detroit for Sean Elliott.
-Signed free agents Avery Johnson, Chuck Person, Moses Malone and Doc Rivers.
-Hired Coach Bob Hill and assistant coaches Dave Cowens, Hank Egan and Paul Pressey.
1995-96
-Took Cory Alexander with the 29th draft pick.
-Exposed Willie Anderson and Chuck Person to the expansion draft. Anderson was snagged by Toronto.
-Exercised option to release Terry Cummings.
-Signed Greg Anderson, Carl Herrera and Brad Louhas.
-Traded Dennis Rodman to Chicago for Will Perdue.
-Traded J.R. Reid, Lohaus and the 1996 first-round draft pick to New York for Charles Smith and Monty Williams.
1996-97
-Signed Dominique Wilkins and Vernon Maxwell.
-Fired Bob Hill and assumed head coaching duties.
By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News