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Pop rips Spurs after loss: 'Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play'

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs don't lose that often. In fact, it's only happened 20 times in the team's last 102 regular-season games. That, however, doesn't mean head coach Gregg Popovich will let any corner-cutting slide.

Following Thursday's 95-91 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Popovich called out the Spurs' effort in the stern yet calm way only he can.

"Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play," Popovich told reporters, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright. He added, "No Knute Rockne speeches. It's your job. If you're a plumber and you don't do your job, you don't get any work. I don't think a plumber needs a pep talk. A doctor botches operations, and he's not a doctor anymore. If you're a basketball player, you come ready. It's called maturity. It's your job."

Related: Spurs' Gasol heads for wrong locker room in return to Chicago

The loss was the Spurs' first road defeat of the season, and cost them a chance at tying last year's Golden State Warriors' NBA record of 14 straight road wins to start a campaign.

Despite San Antonio's success this season, the team has not played its best basketball in the first half of games.

"We played 24 minutes again, as we have for about the last 10 games," Popovich said. "We go through the motions in the first half."

Without naming names, Pop added that certain players are underperforming.

"We also have some people playing very poorly," he said. "You have to participate in your own recovery. Some players have to play better."

LaMarcus Aldridge is a combined 8-for-23 for 16 points in his last two games. Manu Ginobili was held scoreless in Chicago, shooting 0-for-9 from the floor.

The Spurs return home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

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