Finding Their Gregg Popovich

For lottery teams looking to be playoff contenders, finding the right coach is just as important as finding a franchise player.

This week, the Spurs celebrated their latest NBA championship, and Gregg Popovich wanted to make sure we all remembered just how many titles he’s won as head coach. Oh Gregg, I never knew you had so much swag. Such a gesture comes with the territory, and at this point there is little argument to be made as to who’s the best coach in the NBA. Popovich is the king, but unfortunately we cannot clone 29 other Gregg Popoviches for the rest of the league. Unless Popovich learns to clone himself like skeleton Moby from Game of Thrones, the next best option is to find a coach that does it almost as well.

One of the trendier moves in recent coaching searches (apart from the whole hire-a-point-guard-right-out-of-retirement thing) is to interview candidates from the Popovich coaching tree. A few have found head-coaching employment — Brett Brown, Jacque Vaughn and Monty Williams worked under Popovich at one point, and Doc Rivers, Avery Johnson and Vinny Del Negro played for him. His influence runs deep, but it extends well beyond the aforementioned ways (assistant coaches and former players).

Every team is looking for the next Popovich. This doesn’t necessarily mean they want someone who acts and coaches in the same way, but rather one who establishes a system and identity with his roster, maintains good relations with his front office and boasts longevity.

For a lottery team, finding a coach who fits these parameters can quickly change the fortunes of the team much like drafting a franchise player can. Looking at this year’s lottery teams, a few candidates stand out.

I wrote last week on the Phoenix Suns’ season. Much of their 2013-14 success can be attributed to the job Jeff Hornacek did in his first year in charge. Finishing second in the Coach of the Year voting, Hornacek helped orchestrate the largest turnaround in wins from the previous season, winning 23 more games, and falling just one game outside of a playoff spot. Had it not been for an injury to Eric Bledsoe, the Suns would likely have topped 50 wins and made the playoffs.

Hornacek does not come from the Popovich coaching tree, but Gregg had a lot of praise for the former NBA point guard. Speaking last December, Popovich applauded Hornacek’s transition from player to coach:

“He played a fundamental game both in Phoenix and Utah,” Popovich said. “He understands what it takes at the highest level to win, and he’ll demand it. He’ll be disciplined, and he’ll do it fairly and that engenders respect … and you can tell they don’t disrespect him and they’re having fun playing.”

The Suns were not expected to win a lot of games this past season, but the team bought into Hornacek’s system, and nearly every player on the roster improved from the previous year.

In the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Hornets may have found their man in Steve Clifford. Hailing from the Van Gundy (Jeff and Stan) tree, Clifford walked into a similar situation to that of Hornacek. Less was expected of him, however, not due to his coaching ability, but rather because the then-Bobcats had shown little ability to compete over the years and Clifford would be their third coach in four seasons.

Like in Phoenix, the team bought into Clifford’s system. Defense was stressed, particularly not allowing points in the paint, and limiting transition scoring. Charlotte would finish with the fifth-best defensive rating in the league and were one of the best at preventing transition chances (In December, only 10.6 percent of opponent possessions were on transition chances, which ranked second only to Indiana).

With the team buying into Clifford’s system (and adding Al Jefferson), Charlotte reached the playoffs for only the second time since returning to Charlotte (with the old Hornets records given back to the team, 2013-14 technically marks the ninth playoff appearance in franchise history).

Despite a first-round sweep by Miami, the now-Hornets look primed to take a step forward, and their star players have Clifford to thank.

It’s way too early to suggest either coach will have the success Popovich has had, but they certainly have the ingredients for a winning formula. Each has a strong relationship with his general manager, and both GMs (Ryan McDonough in Phoenix, Rich Cho in Charlotte) have had successful stints in their current jobs and in past front-office positions. Both locker rooms appear strong, and while Phoenix and Charlotte are not big markets, each team’s surprising turnaround (and in Charlotte’s case, its rebranding, too) has the league looking at them in positive lights. Additionally, both teams will have a ton of cap space to make runs at top free agents.

These factors are good signs and also resemble much of what San Antonio was when Popovich took over. Like Hornacek and Clifford did in their first seasons, Popovich turned around the Spurs in his second season as coach, winning 56 games following a 17-win season the year before. Of course, Pop benefited from David Robinson and a young Tim Duncan, two Hall of Famers, a luxury neither Hornacek nor Clifford has. Yet there is talent on both rosters, and playoff contention could be a reality if either team lands a top free agent.

Again, neither Hornacek nor Clifford is Gregg Popovich. Only Pop says things like this, and we love him for it. But the importance of having a coach like Popovich who establishes the identity and system of a team, and has good relationships with players and management, can potentially lead to consistent success and championship contention. Of the teams drafting in this year’s lottery, Phoenix and Charlotte seem to have coaches who fit that criteria.