Gregg Popovich | NBA San Antonio Spurs Playbook | Brandon Rosenthal

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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June 4, 2012

Gregg Popovich is an excellent basketball tactician that has developed one of the most detailed offense and most principle defenses in basketball. He can be an emotional leader at times in selective situations. He will use quotes to inspire his players like “I want some Nasty”.

Coach Popovich is very intense and that comes from being in the military. He will light up any guy on the team, but he picks his spots very carefully. He also makes sure to have a fun-loving relationship with his players and staff.

He is a system coach and the Spur’s Continuity offense is a thing of beauty. The system has the players in constant motion and doesn’t rely on individual shot selection. It’s ball movement and spacing. He tailors many of his actions to maximize his star players like Tony Parker. Defensively, it’s pretty simple. No middle, fill and sink on the backside, and get into bodies (not just space).

Coach Popovich doesn’t like his big men to be outside the paint defensively and his defensive scheme makes sure that they stay put. The Spurs will send a second body at an opposing big man who has the ball on block, they will send that defender from the baseline while the original defender moves to the high side. This makes a skip pass next to impossible to make and allows the Spurs weak side defender to get closer to the paint.

The Spurs put a lot of pressure on the point guard when he crosses half court. They play the ball handler’s strong shoulder, they want to push the ball to the weak side of the floor. Gregg Popovich is also regarded as the best play caller in the game out of a timeout.

Brandon Rosenthal’s Daily Chalkboard has a NBA San Antonio Spurs Playbook today. Brandon is an graduate assistant at St. Edward’s University in Texas and does a great job with his basketball diagrams. I think that you will enjoy his work.