When it comes to the greatest coach in basketball history, Spurs legend Gregg Popovich is usually close to the top.
His system, combined with the way he communicates with players, forms a very solid framework that undoubtedly contributes to spurs' record of excellence in the NBA.
So when he took over the U.S. team from Mike Shashevsky, everyone hoped that the U.S. would continue to dominate the sport.
On the contrary, the results did not fully meet the standards, and Popovich was one of the public's favorite figures to blame.
"I've always said Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest NBA coaches in history, but he's also one of the worst international coaches. ...... I'm not going to cancel Team Usa entirely. But if they win the gold medal, I might be surprised, even more surprising than losing the gold medal. ”
Translation: "I've always said Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest NBA coaches in history, but he's also one of the worst international coaches. ...... I wouldn't completely dismiss Team Usa. But if they win the gold medal, I might be surprised, too. ”
Sounds harsh, maybe it is. Popovich's resume is rarely accessible in NBA history.
But as far as Team Usa is concerned, the numbers aren't very encouraging. Coach K led 24-0 at the Olympics, while Pop was already 9-5.
While no one can pinpoint exactly what the U.S. team's problems are, a report has surfaced claiming that some players are unhappy with the way their coaches attack.
Criticizing Popovich like this may be unfair (especially given his resume as a coach), which is normal given what people expect from American Basketball.
Most importantly, we are the best in the world, and this year's list reflects that. No one wants them to struggle like this, because, they really shouldn't. This team is too talented and too good.
Still, it's not quite over yet, and it's going to be interesting to see if they can bounce back.