Gregg Popovich lashes out at Spurs for lack of effort

Gregg Popovich is not pleased with the effort from the San Antonio Spurs as of late. 

The San Antonio Spurs are off to an 18-5 start to their season. Even though that’s good for second place in the Western Conference, Gregg Popovich isn’t content. After a 95-91 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, the coach lashed out at his team when asked if it’s his job to have his team ready to play.

“I don’t remember playing tonight,” said Popovich, via ESPN. “No Knute Rockne speeches. It’s your job. If you’re a plumber and you don’t do your job, you don’t get any work. I don’t think a plumber needs a pep talk. A doctor botches operations, and he’s not a doctor anymore. If you’re a basketball player, you come ready. It’s called maturity. It’s your job.”

The loss is the Spurs’ first on the road this season. Before their loss to the Bulls, San Antonio had a 13-0 record away from home. Perhaps they have lost their famous mental edge without all-time great Tim Duncan?

As always, Popovich has been easy on the Spurs as far as practices. He has always believed rest can be a good thing. Expect that to change soon. While San Antonio has been phenomenal on the road this season, they’ve been far less efficient at home — just 5-4 record in San Antonio. Maybe this is just San Antonio learning how to survive without their emotionless, consistent leader in Duncan.

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While winning on the road is extremely important in the NBA, you have to be able to win at home as well. Especially if you’re a team like the Spurs who will probably have home court advantage at some point in the playoffs. Even though San Antonio’s record on paper looks very good, maybe something is wrong with them. And Popovich is bent on figuring it out.