Open Thread: We return to the Pop Countdown after an unnecessary hiatus

A much needed Spurs win gets us back on track.

15.

Here in San Antonio, 15 is the age when many of our daughters have their quinceañera. 15 is the first score in tennis. It is triangular, pentagonal, and pentatope simultaneously.

The 15-puzzle is a 4×4 grid with 15 movable pieces and one missing piece. The game is solved when all fifteen numbers appear in order.

15 is the number of seasons of coaching (assistant and head coaching) that Gregg Popovich had under his belt before taking over as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. He served as an assistant coach for six seasons in the Air Force, eight with Pomona-Pitzer as head coach, and a year under Larry Brown in Kansas.

In the 2015-16 season, the Spurs record was 67-15. Fifteen losses is the lowest by Pop all time during a full 82-game season.

More recently, fifteen is the number of consecutive points scored by DeMar DeRozan in the third quarter to help elevate the Spurs morale and create a much needed win.

And win they did, #15 in the Pop countdown to be exact. It took place last night at the AT&T Center against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team whose head-to-head record is closest. They are currently 85-83 with the Spurs holding a slim edge. Of course, the Spurs have winning all-time records against all other NBA teams. But Portland was the last for the Silver & Black to overtake, so the win helps to maintain that unique stat.

Gregg Popovich is now three wins from surpassing Pat Riley for 4th all time wins by an NBA coach.

So cheer on Pop and Company as they face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night.

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Source: Pounding The Rock