What Are The Top Coaching Blunders In NBA Finals History

[Foster5k]

One, that recently comes to mind, is when Gregg Popovich took Tim Duncan out late in game 6. It resulted in Chris Bosh getting a game changing rebound and passing it to Ray Allen. Ray Allen then made one of the biggest shots in NBA history, to tie the game for Miami. Ultimately, Miami went on to win the NBA Finals in game 7.

What other coaching blunders can you guys think of? Does any top this one?

[Black and White]

Vogel sitting Hibbert in game 1

[K Xerxes]

Hindsight is golden, right?

The idea behind it wasn't actually so bad. Miami obviously needed a 3 to get back in the game and Duncan isn't the greatest perimeter defender at this age, especially when Bosh has shown the ability to knock down clutch threes before.

Even without Duncan, you still expect 2 defensive rebounds. Hell, in the first one, two of the Spurs player fought for the rebound and fumbled it. They were long bounces after both Lebron misses, would Duncan have got them if he was in anyway?

Pop's biggest 'blunder' was sticking with Manu that long, but who can blame him when Manu is the prototypical 'brick everything then nail clutch shots' guy.

[Foster5k]

Vogel sitting Hibbert in game 1

Good one, but that was in the Eastern Conference Finals, not the NBA Finals.

[Black and White]

Hindsight is golden, right?

The idea behind it wasn't actually so bad. Miami obviously needed a 3 to get back in the game and Duncan isn't the greatest perimeter defender at this age, especially when Bosh has shown the ability to knock down clutch threes before.

Even without Duncan, you still expect 2 defensive rebounds. Hell, in the first one, two of the Spurs player fought for the rebound and fumbled it. They were long bounces after both Lebron misses, would Duncan have got them if he was in anyway?

Pop's biggest 'blunder' was sticking with Manu that long, but who can blame him when Manu is the prototypical 'brick everything then nail clutch shots' guy.

This, hell, T-Mac would have played better lol

[no pun intended]

Spoelstra playing LeBron in the 4th in 2011 NBA Finals

[Black and White]

Good one, but that was in the Eastern Conference Finals, not the NBA Finals.

Sorry man, my bad

[Eric Cartman]

Scott Brooks refusing to sit Kendrick Perkins in '12.

[red1]

One, that recently comes to mind, is when Gregg Popovich took Tim Duncan out late in game 6. It resulted in Chris Bosh getting a game changing rebound and passing it to Ray Allen. Ray Allen then made one of the biggest shots in NBA history, to tie the game for Miami. Ultimately, Miami went on to win the NBA Finals in game 7.

What other coaching blunders can you guys think of? Does any top this one?

That really wasnt a blunder. His logic was sound and if the spurs won it would have been looked at as a good decision. Pop just got unlucky, it's not his fault jesus played for the other team.

[ZenMaster]

Calling Popovic matching up with the oposition a blunder, because you somehow take it as fact they would have gotten the reobund if Duncan was on the floor and not given up an open make, is BS.

Brooks not starting Ibaka at center instead of Perkins over the course of a series is a legit coaching blunder.

[west_tip]

Hindsight is golden, right?

The idea behind it wasn't actually so bad. Miami obviously needed a 3 to get back in the game and Duncan isn't the greatest perimeter defender at this age, especially when Bosh has shown the ability to knock down clutch threes before.

Even without Duncan, you still expect 2 defensive rebounds. Hell, in the first one, two of the Spurs player fought for the rebound and fumbled it. They were long bounces after both Lebron misses, would Duncan have got them if he was in anyway?

Pop's biggest 'blunder' was sticking with Manu that long, but who can blame him when Manu is the prototypical 'brick everything then nail clutch shots' guy.

Yeah but after the substitution hadn't worked the first time why do it again?

Also, most coaches would settle for Bosh shooting a three and live with the consequences, he didn't attempt any 3s in that game and its not his shot.

[red1]

Scott Brooks refusing to sit Kendrick Perkins in '12.

I truly believe that OKC would have won if they didn't play him at all. Every time the thunder were losing momentum it could all be traced back to perk and the fact that the thunder were literally playing 4 on 5 for stretches. Why would you play the slowest player in the league against the fastest team? Especially when collison and ibaka were doing a good job of matching up with bosh at the 5. Brooks really loses points for that

[ZenMaster]

Yeah but after the substitution hadn't worked the first time why do it again?

Also, most coaches would settle for Bosh shooting a three and live with the consequences, he didn't attempt any 3s in that game and its not his shot.

No coach, being up 3 points, would never settle for anyone to get an open 3 pointer at the end of the game. Especially not when it's know the guy is capable of making it, just because he hadn't hit one that day you don't want to give him an open one.

[fsvr54]

Not having Payton on MJ from the start.

[Droid101]

I truly believe that OKC would have won if they didn't play him at all. Every time the thunder were losing momentum it could all be traced back to perk and the fact that the thunder were literally playing 4 on 5 for stretches. Why would you play the slowest player in the league against the fastest team? Especially when collison and ibaka were doing a good job of matching up with bosh at the 5. Brooks really loses points for that

Collison has been a better center/player than Perkins since they day they acquired him. Perkins is only good at defending one player in the league, and he's starting to falter at that.