Gregg Popovich is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NBA. Many people consider him to be the best. He’s also changed over the years, according to Tony Parker.

“As he gets older and drinks more wine, he gets more patient,” the Spurs point guard said.

“I always tell the rookies they’re lucky,” Parker said. “Because it’s nothing like when I was a rookie. He’s so nice to them.”

According to the San Antonio Express-News, Parker had been waiting for an eruption from Popovich all season but he hadn’t seen one until Wednesday night. The Spurs came out of halftime playing poorly against the Hawks, so Pop did a mass substitution, benching many players. The overhaul resulted in an easy 105-83 win.

San Antonio is 12-7 on the season, so whatever coaching method Pop’s been using seems to have been working. Maybe it’s the wine, maybe it’s not. If it is the alcoholic grape juice, I just hope it’s not any ******* Merlot.

Chest bump to Ball Don’t Lie, True Hoop

A few weeks ago, Tony Parker had a lapse in judgment.  The Spurs guard probably realizes now that it isn’t a good idea to write your team off as a championship contender, especially when you are going to be playing with that team until 2015.  Naturally, Parker backed off of the comments he made about the Spurs being finished, but Gregg Popovich was obviously rubbed the wrong way by what he said.

“You think I care what Tony Parker says?” Popovich told WOAI-TV via Spurs Nation. “You think Tony Parker is gonna coach when he quits? Why would I listen to Tony Parker.”

Pop was then reminded that Parker owns a basketball team in France, and he responded by piling it on his All-Star guard even further.

“He can own but he can’t coach,” Popovich continued. “Get your ass out there and play, Tony. Tie the score. But talk about basketball, I don’t need Tony for that.”

What is interesting about all this is that Parker made it a point to take back what he said and assure everyone he would not have signed a four-year extension with the Spurs if he thought they couldn’t contend.  Despite the backpedaling, Pop still had to show that the remarks annoyed him.  Popovich sounded more like a coach talking about an ex-player than someone on the current roster.  While this isn’t the first time there have been signs of the two not getting along, they have plenty of time left in the offseason before they have to get over it.