Basketball Intelligence For 5/3/25
Pop steps down, the Rockets step up, Memphis goes sideways, and more...
HONORING GREGG POPOVICH
Gregg Popovich Built the NBA’s Best Modern Defense. Then He Built One of Its Best Offenses.
Neil Paine, Neil’s Substack
Appreciation: Gregg Popovich had a view of the world, and it changed both the Spurs and the NBA
Tim Reynolds, AOL
Houston's Ime Udoka reflects on 10 years of 'daily messages' from retiring Spurs coach Gregg Popovich
Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle
Gregg Popovich done coaching Spurs: What's next in San Antonio?
NBA Insiders, ESPN
As Gregg Popovich steps away from coaching, here’s what made Spurs great a ‘generational leader’
Jason Quick, The Athletic
Three degrees of Gregg Popovich: The coaching tree that connects the entire NBA
Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo! Sports
What can we learn from Gregg Popovich about leadership? Our 4 favorite lessons
Rustin Dodd, The Athletic
Gregg Popovich Has Always Been More Than a Coach
Danny Chau, The Ringer
The transition makes logical sense to ease the physical tolls of the job, giving Popovich, 76, fewer high-pressure day-to-day responsibilities without sacrificing his all-important voice. Mitch Johnson, who served as interim head coach this season in Popovich’s absence due to a stroke last November, has been named the franchise’s 18th official head coach. Johnson was a member of Popovich’s coaching staff for the past six seasons. Pop’s successor was always going to come in-house; there just wasn’t any way of knowing when that time would come. Popovich steps away from the sideline as the winningest coach in NBA history, with 1,422 regular-season wins. Among coaches with at least 20 years of experience, his win-loss percentage is bested only by Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, and Pat Riley. He’s won five NBA titles. He’s produced 19 50-win seasons—more than any other coach. He is right up there with John Wooden as the greatest basketball coach ever. He’s a living legend, and he couldn’t care less about the acclaim—announcing the end of an iconic head coaching run in a Friday-afternoon news dump is Peak Pop.
Gregg Popovich's impact on the Spurs and NBA was immense. Six ways he left his footprint.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today
TEAM NEWS
BOS: The Boston Celtics are expected to make some big trades this coming NBA offseason
Justin Quinn, Celtics Wire
DEN: What Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic expects to see from Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7
Vinny Benedetto, The Denver Gazette
DET: Can the Detroit Pistons Resist a Summer of Temptation?
Howard Beck, The Ringer
DET: Pistons offseason outlook: Detroit needs to keep setting up Cade Cunningham for success
Morten Stig Jensen, Yahoo! Sports
GSW: Warriors pushed to Game 7, but confidence 'not wavering'
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN
GSW: Warriors can’t solve Rockets’ bruising defense, squander series lead in Game 6 defeat
Sam Gordon, ESPN
BI: In the history of the NBA, teams down 3–1 have a cumulative record of just 13–277
GSW: Warriors suffer staggering Game 6 loss to Rockets. How do they respond?
Anthony Slater, The Athletic
GSW: Warriors need a Playoff Jimmy miracle to avoid impending disaster
Tyler Watts, Blue Man Hoop
IND: (PODCAST) The Definitive Pacers vs. Cavs Preview
Caitlin Cooper, Basketball, She Wrote
IND: Heat-Cavaliers Series Thoughts & Overall Themes
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files With Scott Agness
LAC: Clippers center Ivica Zubac is 1 game away from finally getting his flowers
Maxwell Ogden, Clipperholics
LAC: Clippers are actually healthy in NBA playoffs. Can they win Game 7 vs. Nuggets?
James H. Williams, USA Today
BI: The Clippers organization’s overall record is just 4–5 in Game 7s, with them having lost a Game 7 relatively recently against Denver in the bubble, in a series in which they led 3–1
LAC: Inflatable Ponies and Playoff Euphoria at the Wall!
Tyler Parker, The Ringer
The Swell makes up the first 13 rows of The Wall! Why “The Swell”? Because, for the first time since they had ships on their jerseys, the organization’s finally getting back to embracing the ocean. And these Swelldwellers are in the business of making things a loud hell for the opponent. Fans in The Swell are expected to stand for the entirety of the game, to chant and holler and make merry. The Clippers refer to The Wall! as the Intuit Dome’s “beating heart.” If that’s true, then The Swell is its myocardium, the central layer of the team’s supporters, the people who set the tone for everyone else in attendance.
LAL: 'Gobert looked like Shaq': How the Lakers were exposed -- and what comes next for LeBron and Luka
Dave McMenamin, ESPN
LAL: Next for Luka Dončić? The Lakers star has a decision to make
Dan Devine, Yahoo! Sports
Remaining Team News, Leaguewide, WNBA, and Fantasy for paid subscribers