Pop has not been a big fan in the past of players he has acquired. He is the type of coach who thinks he can coach up. So, I would say the makeup up of a person prior to him coaching them has not been much of a deterrent in the past. I don't think he puts as much stock in a player's previous reputation once they get there.
Preach Muggz. Great points!
But that was due to Poetl’s physical limitations. Pop can work magic with players who are willing to buy-in and do what he instructs. The reason Ayton isn’t a pop player imo is bc he will never use his physical traits the way pop wants him to and likely doesn’t respond well to a harsh coach. And before anyone says the suns never asked him to play more physical just look at Monty’s repeated comments about wanting Ayton to play more physical or in the playoffs “play with force.” I have a difficult time seeing that soft leopard changing his spots. If pop wants to lean into his jumpshooting game aka Lamarcus Aldridge, maybe it works.
If Pop gets ahold of this kid it could be very bad. In a sick, glutton for punishment sort of way I kinda wanna see it happen.
Coach Pop is one of the best if not the best coach in the NBA. He knows how to use players to help them reach their potential.
We tried to make DA a central figure on offense from his rookie season on until a few weeks into CP's time with us. We lost a lot of games because of how ineffective we were at the start of games because DA wouldn't go up strong, wouldn't catch the ball cleanly or wouldn't catch the ball at all. Once we stopped trying to force feed Ayton we became a much better team and that approach has continued for us.
By the end of the season?!? I think you’re outta your mind. His scoring is going to leap 8 pts/game and his rebounds 7 per game?!? Particularly on the 17 boards per game. Cmon muggz, stick to the real comedy.
Name a soft goofball he’s been successful with. Can’t name Rodman, that guy was a dawg’s dawg. Robinson, Duncan were pro’s pros. They came to work every day. No motivation issues. No shying away from contact.
Absolutely some teams are better developing players. But it’s rare to see the goofy coaches outta a big. Or to see a soft guy learn to play into contact.
Agree with all of this.
This would give Ayton probably the best season any Center has had since Wilt Chamberlin. I’m a little on the dubious side that would happen.
There’s David Robinson “soft” at 10 FTs per game as a rookie and then there’s actual soft (Ayton’s < 3 FTs per game over every period of his career). So let’s maybe not try that silly comparison.
In David Robinson WORST season in terms of FTAs he averaged 3.3 per game or almost an ENTIRE free throw per game (0.8) better than any season of Ayton. And that was when Robinson was 37 years old.
I think Robinson was looked at as more mentally soft, rather than physically. He wilted in big games… wasn’t the type who could overcome obstacles.
Yeah… there’s such a stark difference in great coaches and good coaches. Just last night, Kerr realized how much Draymond was killing them and sat him the majority of the 4th quarter and then did offense/defense substitutions with him.
Not much. Shaq was jealous of Robinson - despite the fact that Shaq was the better player Robinson got the respect Shaq didn't and the only thing bigger than O'Neal is his insecurity complex. Keep in mind that Honest Shaq always claimed he'd beast against DR because David ignored him when Shaq was a local high school fan of David's. Which of course turned out to be pure fiction as they were thousands of miles apart at the supposed time.
He's got the keys already, I just don't see that changing for at least another season.
