Short version of the Popovich model

Posted on LakersGround.net on 8/17/07.

Short version of the Popovich model:
1. Get an elite center with a #1 pick
2. Don't have him play for 2 years so you can get a #10 and #3 pick to play with him
3. Win 56 games the first year your elite big man plays
4. Go downhill from there with 55 and 47 wins
5. Get fired
6. Have a new GM take the team back up to 55 wins
7. Get re-hired
8. Bring in a new coach and some veterans to push the team to 62 and 59 wins, but still don't make it to the NBA Finals
9. At this point, 7 seasons after you put your #1 and #3 pick on the court, they are still your only good players
10. Have your two best players have injury problems, go 20-62, beat the odds to get the #1 pick when another elite big man is in the draft (and the player quality drops off dramatically after him)
11. Two seasons later, your veteran team wins the NBA Championship in a strike shortened season
12. Bask in the admiration for your BB acumen
13. The fact that outside of your second elite big man, the rest of your team is old catches up with you and you struggle the next three seasons, not making it to the NBA Finals. During this time, you retool your roster. One of your moves is to use the second to last pick in the draft on a South American player who might be good some day
14. Draft a 19 year old French point guard who is amazingly good
15. Win your second NBA Championship with the two elite bigs and the point guard
16. The South American player turns out amazingly good, giving you a trio that is the basis of winning another championship
17. Have the NBA declare a one-time luxury tax amnesty so you can get another elite swingman while he is still only 32
18. Win another championship
19. Bask in the admiration for your BB acumen