San Antonio’s Elephant in the Room is Knocking Over Champagne Glasses at the Spurs Cocktail Party
In the legendary Casino movie, there’s a scene where mobster Nicky Santoro is causing a scene at the blackjack table. Head of security, Billy Sherbert, places a call to Tangier’s unofficial head of operations, Sam Rothstein (also connected to the mob), to let him know the situation is getting out of control.
Let’s watch a non-HD clip.
This scenario is playing out in San Antonio as we speak.
Whispers are abound.
People are starting to wonder out loud.
Euphemisms are rising to the surface in mainstream media.
And everybody’s wondering the same thing:
What the hell is Gregg Popovich doing?
My best guess is he’s sabotaging the team.
And, at this point, we’re beyond tanking because he’s not just losing, he’s trashing the place.
Signs
As I wrote in my Popovich opposite-approach article, sometimes you look for signs to know if your suspicions are right.
Your instincts are almost always money but sometimes you just want that little extra confirmation.
Well, in the fourth quarter of the Spurs game against Memphis last night, Pop gave us another sign. Take a look at this beaut:
- 7:03 Jeremy Sochan enters the game for Victor Wembanyama 79-93
- 4:47 Victor Wembanyama enters the game for Julian Champagnie 84-98
- 3:07 Tre Jones enters the game for Victor Wembanyama 84-100
- 1:46 Victor Wembanyama enters the game for Blake Wesley 91-102
- 1:10 Blake Wesley enters the game for Victor Wembanyama 94-102
What the hell are you doing?
(Edit: We now know what happened: Victor took control from Pop and checked himself into the game. Holy smoke, we’ve got a new era in San Antonio.)
Elephants don’t partake in cocktail parties from one nonsensical fourth quarter substitution sequence.
Bad decisions happen. Off nights happen. Errors and mistakes litter our lives.
But we don’t need to look at the tea leaves to know Pop’s off-moments are stacking. A few of the signs in plain sight:
- Jeremy Sochan point guard
- Kawhi-Mic Moment
- OCD with Victor’s minutes
- Spurs playing iso ball offense
- Spurs regression
You counter, well, he’s tanking.
A) I think that’s completely asinine in its own right.
But B) we’re beyond tanking.
I see willful and wanton recklessness. This young team is demoralized.
Who’s going to be San Antonio’s Sam Rothstein?
Because this is getting out of hand.
If you don’t believe me, just ask the Spurs record.
A wealthy family knows you through a friend of a friend. You’ve got a good reputation so they ask you to house sit their Colorado mansion in the mountains.
They’re going on the European vacation of a lifetime, you see. And they’ll be gone for six months.
And you might not want to pass on this Showcase Showdown:
- Free wifi
- All the streaming services
- Cable subscription
- Big screen TVs
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Fully stocked kitchen
- Use of the Range Rover
You have run of the house.
And they’re paying you $3,500 a month.
You don’t really have to do anything. All you have to do is make sure nothing goes wrong and keep a watch over the place.
What do you do?
Bebop and scat all over that house.
- Raid the wine cellar.
- Order adult movies on cable.
- Bring home stray cats.
- Throw a party for 20 of your furthest friends.
- Throw more parties.
- Sell furnishings on Craigslist.
- Spill lasagna on the couch.
- Eat Doritos on the bed.
What’s curious is you don’t even like Doritos.
Want more Spurs commentary based on 0 rumors and 100% public info?
Read my George Costanza — Gregg Popovich article. Pop’s either worse than a little league coach or he’s tanking. You make the call.
