Every time Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks to the media, people can expect pretty much the same thing. Short, surely answers, and the often entertaining battle of reporters trying to get Pop to respond to their questions.
Pop is given a huge amount of leeway by the media and has a relationship with them that few, if any, other coaches do. ESPN senior NBA writer Marc Spears told Murph and Mac Thursday that he thinks the media needs to challenge Popovich more often.
“He always rants and raves but we could have asked him why didn’t you have your team better prepared,” Spears said. “But because Pop is such a celebrated coach, perhaps the best coach in sports, a lot of times he never really gets questioned. His players always get questioned, but we never really question him. Perhaps we do need to challenge him more about what could (he) have done better.”
After Game 2, Pop had a terse exchange with long-time Bay Area columnist Ray Ratto, but Spears said Ratto is an example of the kind of journalists who aren’t afraid to challenge Pop.
“Ray Ratto could care less if Pop says something back to him,” Spears said. “Ratto’s been around a long time and he’s been called worse. I’m not afraid of (Pop), I’m not scared to ask him a question.”
Spears went on to say that with Popovich’s recent remarks about Zaza Pachulia, “It just seems like Charlie Brown’s teacher speaking right now.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Spears’ comments on Popovich go to the 2:54 mark.