The NBA world loves Popovich.
LeBron, other current, former NBA players react to Popovich setting wins record — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
GAME #65 – TORONTO RAPTORS (34-30) at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (25-40)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 – 8:30 P.M. (ET) – AT&T CENTER
TV: TSN – RADIO: TSN 1050 TORONTO
INJURY REPORT AT 5:30 P.M.
TOR@SAS
San Antonio Spurs
Bates-Diop, Keita Out Injury/Illness – Low Back; Soreness
Cacok, Devontae Out Injury/Illness – Left Heel; Contusion
Langford, Romeo Out Injury/Illness – Right Hamstring; Strain
Stewart, DJ Out G League – Two-Way
Vassell, Devin Available Injury/Illness – ” “; Pharyngitis
Walker IV, Lonnie Available Injury/Illness – Stomach; Illness
Wieskamp, Joe Available G League – On Assignment
Woodard II, Robert Out G League – Two-Way
Toronto Raptors
Anunoby, OG Out Injury/Illness – Right Hand; Ring finger fracture
Champagnie, Justin Out G League – Two-Way
Flynn, Malachi Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strain
Johnson, David Out G League – Two-Way
VanVleet, Fred Questionable Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Soreness.
• The Toronto Raptors (34-30) continue a six-game road trip (March 6-16) Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs (25-40) at AT&T Center. The Raptors are 2-5 since the All-Star break. Rookie Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.6 and a team-high 8.9 rebounds over the last seven games. The Raptors have
won two in a row vs. San Antonio – Toronto has never won three straight against the Spurs. Fred VanVleet scored 33 points in the Raptors’ 129-104 victory over the Spurs in early January.
• All-Star Fred VanVleet has missed five straight games (Feb. 28 – Mar. 6) with right knee soreness. The Raptors are 5-7 without VanVleet in the lineup this season. VanVleet is averaging career highs of 21.4
points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists, in 52 games this season, and ranks third in the NBA in 3-pointers made (208) – behind only Stephen Curry (270) and Buddy Hield (217) – despite missing 12 games.
• Pascal Siakam is averaging 21.5 points, and career bests of 8.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists, in 51 games this season. Siakam is one of just seven players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0
assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Dejounte Murray and Julius Randle. No Raptor has averaged 20-8-5 over the course of an entire season.
• The Raptors have lost a season high-tying three straight games (Mar. 3-6). Toronto is averaging 99.7 points and shooting .407 (110-270) from the field, including .287 (25-87) from beyond the arc, over the past three. Opponents are averaging 105.0 points, shooting .428 (113-264) from the floor and 30 percent (33-110) from three-point distance, during this stretch.
• Scottie Barnes posted his fourth double-double in the last five games (Feb. 28 – Mar. 6) with 19 points and 12 rebounds Sunday at Cleveland. Barnes is averaging 19.2 points and 10.6 rebounds during this span. Barnes now has nine double-doubles this season – fifth most by a Raptors rookie behind Damon
Stoudamire (37), Chris Bosh (13), Ed Davis (13) and Charlie Villanueva (12).
• Toronto tied a season-low with just seven turnovers Sunday against the Cavaliers. The Raptors had committed double-digit turnovers in their previous seven games (Feb. 16 – Mar. 4). Toronto (12.7) and San Antonio (12.7) are currently tied for fourth in the NBA in turnovers per game.
• Scottie Barnes was named Eastern Conference rookie of the month for February after averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 31.8 minutes in 12 games last month. Barnes is the 11th player in franchise history to earn the honour.
• The Raptors acquired Thaddeus Young, along with Drew Eubanks and a 2022 second round draft pick, from San Antonio at the NBA trade deadline in exchange for Goran Dragic and a protected 2022 first round draft pick. Young appeared in 26 games with the Spurs this season. Since joining Toronto, he has scored in double figures in four-of-eight games off the bench, averaging 6.6 points and 18.0 minutes.
F – CHRIS BOUCHER #25
MIN: 20.5 REB: 5.9 AST: 0.3 STL: 0.6 TO: 0.6 BLK: 1.0 PTS: 9.0
• Contributed 21 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes Mar. 6 at Cleveland – first start since Jan. 25 at CHA.
• Averaging 16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 28.8 minutes in nine starts this season.
• Leads the Raptors with 60 blocks and ranks second in offensive rebounds (128) – behind Scottie Barnes (146).
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 37.6 REB: 8.4 AST: 5.0 STL: 1.3 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 21.5
• Scored a game-high 24 points Mar. 6 at Cleveland; added four rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes.
• Leads the Raptors with a single season career-high 20 double-doubles.
• Has scored 24+ points in three straight games (Mar. 3-6), averaging 28.7 points during this stretch.
C – KHEM BIRCH #24
MIN: 18.2 REB: 4.4 AST: 1.1 STL: 0.7 TO: 0.5 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 4.6
• Tallied five points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 26 minutes Mar. 6 at Cleveland.
• Has scored in double figures four times this season (Last: 11 – Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn).
• Averaging 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 18.2 minutes in 15 games as a starter this season.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.7 REB: 2.6 AST: 2.1 STL: 1.9 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 17.9
• Finished with 19 points, three rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes of action Mar. 6 at Cleveland.
• Tied for second in the NBA in total deflections (200) and ranks third in steals per game (1.85).
• Has scored 20+ points in 21-of-55 games this season, something he did 15 times in 58 contests last year.
G – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 35.4 REB: 7.6 AST: 3.3 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 14.9
• Recorded his ninth double-double with 19 points, 12 assists and six assists in 42 minutes Mar. 6 at Cleveland.
• Ranks among the top-five rookies in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes.
• Has scored 20+ points 13 times – most by a Raptors rookie since Vince Carter (23) during the 1998-99 season.
2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 34-30 23-19 11-11
HOME 17-15 11-9 6-6
AWAY 17-15 12-10 5-5
OVERTIME 2-1 2-1 0-0
INJURY REPORT
OG Anunoby (Right Hand; Ring Finger – Fracture) – Out
Justin Champagnie (G League – Two-Way) – Out
Malachi Flynn (Left Hamstring; Strain) – Out
David Johnson (G League – Two-Way) – Out
Fred VanVleet (Right Knee; Soreness) – Questionable
UPDATED: Mar. 9, 2022
NEXT GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Phoenix Suns
Date: Friday, March 11
Tip-Off: 9 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Footprint Center
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. PHOENIX
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2021-22 0-1 0-1 0-0
ALL-TIME 18-32 9-16 9-16
STREAKS Lost 3 Lost 2 Lost 1
LAST WIN: Mar. 3, 2020 (123-114)
LAST ROAD WIN: Mar. 3, 2020 (123-114)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +27 (Mar. 6, 2013)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -20 (Feb. 27, 2009)
LAST TIME VS. PHOENIX
GAME 38 – JANUARY 11, 2022
PHOENIX 99, TORONTO 95
TORONTO — Devin Booker scored 16 points, including the go-ahead
basket with 1:02 remaining, and Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists
as the Phoenix Suns beat Toronto 99-95 to snap the Raptors’ longest
winning streak of the season at six games … Jae Crowder matched his
season high with 19 points, Deandre Ayton had 16 as the Suns improved
to 31-9, matching the franchise’s best record through 40 games … Phoenix won despite allowing Toronto 15 more field goal attempts, and letting
the Raptors grab a season-high 22 offensive rebounds … OG Anunoby
scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam had 22 and Fred VanVleet added 21 for
the Raptors, who lost for the first time since Dec. 28 against Philadelphia … Chris Boucher had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors, who
played without injured starters Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr … Crowder and Bridges each hit a 3-pointer before Ayton capped an 8-0 spurt as
Phoenix opened an 89-83 lead with 4:13 to go, its biggest of the game …
Siakam stopped the run with a basket and Anunoby added a 3 to make it
89-88 with 2:36 to play … Booker fouled Anunoby as they scrambled after
a loose ball with 1:41 left, and the Toronto forward made both to put the
Raptors up 90-89 … After three missed 3-pointers by the Suns, Booker hit
a go-ahead jumper with 62 seconds left and, after Siakam missed, Paul’s
pull-up jumper made it 93-90 with 32 seconds remaining.
1 2 3 4 TOT
PHOENIX 23 23 23 30 99
TORONTO 31 17 23 24 95
GAME 64 – MARCH 6, 2022
CLEVELAND 104, TORONTO 96
CLEVELAND — Evan Mobley had 20 points and 17 rebounds, Lauri
Markkanen scored 22, and the Cavaliers beat the Raptors 104-96 … AllStar center Jarrett Allen reportedly suffered a fractured finger during the
first quarter … Allen had six points and two rebounds in 10 minutes …
Darius Garland had 17 points and 10 assists, Cedi Osman added 17
points and Kevin Love 15 as Cleveland improved to 3-0 against Toronto
… Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and Chris Boucher 21 for the Raptors,
who opened a six-game road trip without All-Star guard Fred VanVleet
(knee soreness) or forward OG Anunoby (fractured finger) … Down 18 in
the fourth, the Raptors closed within 100-95, but Garland made two free
throws and Osman’s steal with 56 seconds left helped seal it for the Cavs
… Injuries to VanVleet and backup Malachi Flynn led to Toronto coach
Nick Nurse starting rookie Scottie Barnes at point guard … He finished
with 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in 42 minutes … Cleveland led
by 13 at halftime and then overcame a brutal third quarter — 16 points, 1
of 10 on 3-pointers — by opening an 82-64 lead early in the fourth … Love
then hit a 3-pointer and reserve Dean Wade delivered a thunderous dunk
over Toronto’s Khem Birch … The Raptors finished 6 of 24 on 3-pointers.
… VanVleet has missed the past five games.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 29 17 16 34 96
CLEVELAND 30 29 14 31 104
Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches of all-time. Maybe the best coach of all-time.
Spurs open quarter with just four players, Doug McDermott sheds warmups and runs on after play starts — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Without legendary coach Gregg Popovich’s endorsement, Nuggets coach Michael Malone wouldn’t be in the position he’s in, as the fifth-longest tenured coach in the NBA.
Nuggets Journal: How Spurs coach Gregg Popovich paved the way for Michael Malone — The Denver Post
“I’d just like to say to all the out there, ‘How the f*** do you like us now?'”
Watch Gregg Popovich’s emotional comments to Team USA after winning gold — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Gregg Popovich isn’t one to shy away from social issues, especially in terms of civil rights. So, naturally, the death of United States representative and civil rights icon John Lewis struck a chord with the San Antonio Spurs’ head coach. Popovich released a powerful statement about the late congressman Sunday morning. “(Lewis has) been such…
Gregg Popovich Delivers Powerful Statement Following John Lewis’ Death — NESN.com
Gregg Popovich isn’t one to shy away from social issues, especially in terms of civil rights. So, naturally, the death of United States representative and civil rights icon John Lewis struck a chord with the San Antonio Spurs’ head coach.
Popovich released a powerful statement about the late congressman Sunday morning.
“(Lewis has) been such an iconic figure for so long. It’s hard not to feel the loss of somebody who has been so important for our country. He’s a rare combination of an abundance of courage, and at the same time, amazing humility,” Popovich said Sunday, via ESPN’s Marc J. Spears.
“Nothing was ever about him. It was always about the work that he wanted to do to try to make this nation live up to its promises. And that — I always felt — was really special about him. He was always hopeful. He was always ready for the fight — in a good way. He pushed America. He pushed white privilege. Kind of ironic that white privilege and white supremacy kept those promises from being fully realized. And he — who was downtrodden — made sure that he never gave up and continued to push this country in the right direction. “So, he — along with many others obviously — he was one of those special people that now that he is gone, you really feel an absence — an absence of decency, an absence of righteous effort for justice for everybody. And hopefully we can move on in a way that honors what he did his whole life. You know, the opposite of what is going on now with the gutting of the Voting Rights Act. So all those politicians that are praising Congressman Lewis on the one hand are the same people that are willing to gut the Voting Rights Act that he worked so hard for. That, I think, is disgusting.”
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich on the passing of Civil Rights Icon and Congressman John Lewis. pic.twitter.com/X1cNZOgS75 — Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 19, 2020 Well said. Lewis, 80, had battled pancreatic cancer in the six months before his death. More NBA: Doc Rivers Reveals Powerful Interaction With John Lewis Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/07/gregg-popovich-delivers-powerful-statement-following-john-lewis-death/
The NBA might be resuming its 2019-20 season soon, but some staff members are worried about how it might impact their careers. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is one of a handful of NBA coaches worried about how the league’s new COVID-19 restrictions “could be restricted from leading their teams and some could…
Gregg Popovich, NBA Coaches Worried Plan Could ‘Severely’ Impact Careers— NESN.com
The NBA might be resuming its 2019-20 season soon, but some staff members are worried about how it might impact their career.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is one of a handful of NBA coaches worried about how the league’s new COVID-19 restrictions “ould be restricted from leading their teams and some could face considerable challenges in resuming their careers,” per ESPN. In fact, the National Basketball Coaches Association worries the new rules could “severely jeopardize” some coaches’ future.
“The health and safety of all NBA coaches is our main concern,” the NBCA told ESPN in a statement. “However, we are also concerned with a coach’s opportunity to work and to not have their ability to secure future jobs be severely jeopardized. The league assured us that a coach will not be excluded solely because of age.
“We feel the medical review process is designed to flag only those individuals who pose significant threats of substantial harm to themselves that cannot be reduced or eliminated by the NBA’s considerable steps to create a healthy and safe atmosphere in Orlando.
“Adam (Silver) and the NBA have created a situation in Orlando that is likely far safer than in our coaches’ home markets. Absent a significant threat, we believe a coach should be able to understand and assume their individual risks, waive liability, and coach in Orlando.”
Popovich, 71, and other older coaches are among those considered among candidates at “higher risk” for COVID-19 once the NBA resumes play. But the doctor’s decision “will be final, binding, and unspeakable,” per the league.
How the 2020 season actually will play out, however, remains to be seen.
We’ve often seen that it unfortunately takes tragedy to effect change. And that’s the analogy San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich used to compared race relations in our country, as protests against police brutality and racism continue across the United States. The 71-year-old coaching legend, regarded highly for his wisdom as his basketball IQ, called…
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Says ‘Country Is In Trouble’ In Emotional Video — NESN.com
Workers at the San Antonio Food Bank on Thursday achieved an impressive feat: feeding 10,000 households (a record) via a drive-thru distribution method on the South Side. And those workers received some praise and words of encouragement from a special local sports figure. Gregg Popovich called the Food Bank on Monday to deliver a quick pep talk…
Gregg Popovich Offers Words Of Encouragement To San Antonio Food Bank Workers — NESN.com
And those workers received some praise and words of encouragement from a special local sports figure. Gregg Popovich called the Food Bank on Monday to deliver a quick pep talk to the workers. The Spurs head coach lauded them for all their efforts so far and noted just how important their job is. “He said, ‘We are just entertainers playing a sport that doesn’t mean much, but you guys are serving the community,’” Food Bank president and CEO Eric Cooper said Tuesday, via the San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Orsborn. “Our staff and volunteers really appreciated it.” Workers even got a chance to ask Pop a few questions, some of which helped lighten up the mood. “Someone even asked him why he benched Timmy (Duncan) in Game 6 (of the 2013 NBA Finals against Miami), and I was like, ‘Oh, man,’” Cooper said. “But he was just a real blessing to the staff. He gave us some good insights about leadership and getting through tough times. It was cool to see.”
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/04/gregg-popovich-offers-words-of-encouragement-to-san-antonio-food-bank-workers/
The view from left field 