Tim Duncan: Gregg Popovich is the NBA’s Coach of the Year

Obvious bias aside, it’s kind of difficult to quibble with Tim Duncan’s choice for coach of the year this season. Per the Express-News: “Wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference moved Spurs captain Tim Duncan to do some campaigning for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for Coach of the Year. ‘Is it time to start the chant?” he said after Monday’s 124-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the AT&T Center that clinched the top spot in the West. ‘Coach of the Year, Coach of the Year.’ Duncan declared the work Popovich has done this season the best he has observed in any of his 15 seasons playing for him. ‘I really think so,’ he said. ‘He’s put so many guys into our system. We’ve been playing with two very young guys starting for us the entire year; getting all those guys acclimated on the fly with very little practice time. All those things, he’s done an unbelievable job with it. Yeah, it’s probably the best job he’s done thus far. Obviously, not only the coaching job he’s done, but the rotation he’s given us. He’s kept us fresh. He’s found ways to rest guys when he can. I think our minutes are as low as anyone, and we’re still No. 1 in the West.’ Duncan’s minutes are at a career low, 28.2 per game, and he is one of 10 current Spurs who average at least 20 minutes per game on the deepest roster of Popovich’s 16 seasons as head coach. ‘All the credit to Pop for making a season that could have been very bad and very tough into something very manageable,’ Duncan said.”