McDonald: Musing On Minutes

[duncan228]

Jeff McDonald: Musing on minutes (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/11/jeff_mcdonald_m_16.html)

We're only two games into the season, not long enough to come to any concrete conclusions about, well, anything really.

But there have been some curious numbers in the "minutes-played" category on the Spurs' two box scores to date.

* Bruce Bowen, the team's 37-year-old defensive stopper, has averaged just 21.5 minutes in the two games. This after playing 30 minutes a game last season. Against Portland, Bowen did not play at all in the fourth quarter.

What does this mean going forward? Who knows? Bowen got off to a slow start last year, leading to whispers that maybe Father Time had finally caught up with him. By the end of the season, he was as good as he ever was.

* The big minutes winner off the bench has been Roger Mason. Mason averaged 30 minutes in each of his first two games with the Spurs, and has made the most of them (13 ppg, 10-of-14 from the field). Most notably, Mason was in the game at crunch time in each of the narrow losses.

* Matt Bonner has played 21.5 minutes per game, almost out of neccesity with all the big men out. With Fabricio Oberto scheduled to return Tuesday against Dallas, Bonner can return to his comfort zone as a 3-point specialist. No more guarding the likes of Amare Stoudemire or LaMarcus Aldridge for him.

[exstatic]

I think Bowen is just caught in a numbers/offense crunch. If our only option was Finley, Bowen would be playing more, but in Manu's absence, Mason is someone who can D up and create and score on offense.

[timvp]

Matt Bonner has played 21.5 minutes per game, almost out of neccesity with all the big men out. With Fabricio Oberto scheduled to return Tuesday against Dallas, Bonner can return to his comfort zone as a 3-point specialist. No more guarding the likes of Amare Stoudemire or LaMarcus Aldridge for him.:lol Does McDonald realize Bonner is a power forward. If he's going to play in the NBA, he's going to have to learn how to defend his position. And even 3-point specialists have to play both ends of the court.

[Obstructed_View]

:lol Does McDonald realize Bonner is a power forward. If he's going to play in the NBA, he's going to have to learn how to defend his position. And even 3-point specialists have to play both ends of the court.

I'm not sure how that's so wrong. With Oberto back in, Bonner gets more minutes guarding backup power forwards instead of starters.

[Manufan909]

Crappy PF's should guard backup PF's, but Bonner was thrown to the wolves on the defensive end, so to speak. Not saying Fab is an awesome defender, but after Tim he is the best defensive big this season, til KT gets back in shape.

[Obstructed_View]

Crappy PF's should guard backup PF's, but Bonner was thrown to the wolves on the defensive end, so to speak.

Despite what many people that despise him have ignorantly claimed, Bonner's defense has been decent considering the competition. Duncan had no more success with either Amare or Lamarcus.

[timtonymanu]

cant believe im saying this, but i cant wait till oberto comes back.

[The Truth #6]

I took it more as a diss against Bonner than a lack of knowledge about what position he plays. Neither option is great. This is (already "was"?) Bonner's year to step up. I think he'll have to do more than hide out at the 3 point line. I think he can do more than that. It's a head game for him. He's useless if he doesn't have his confidence.

[Spur-Addict]

Despite what many people that despise him have ignorantly claimed, Bonner's defense has been decent considering the competition. Duncan had no more success with either Amare or Lamarcus.

I think it's worth saying that Duncan's offensive importance is sky high right now. Sometimes when you have only two legit options, and the rest of the team is still figuring out how and from whom consistent contributions will come from, that it is more important at this point to just stay on the court. When things become more evident, then yes, defense for Duncan will become more of a priority. He can only do so much right now with these conditions.

[The Truth #6]

Manu coming back is not going to help our interior defense. Rebounding, perhaps somewhat.

The other post players have to contribute. I have less faith in KT and Oberto to turn back the clock. Ian and Tolliver have to show something, and really, Ian is the one who could potentially make a difference. In other words, yikes.

[SenorSpur]

I took it more as a diss against Bonner than a lack of knowledge about what position he plays. Neither option is great. This is (already "was"?) Bonner's year to step up. I think he'll have to do more than hide out at the 3 point line. I think he can do more than that. It's a head game for him. He's useless if he doesn't have his confidence.

He's also useless if he's not hitting his outside shots.

[timvp]

I'm not sure how that's so wrong. With Oberto back in, Bonner gets more minutes guarding backup power forwards instead of starters.The Spurs themselves have pointed to Bonner as the potential replacement for Horry's minutes. Horry spent a whole lot of time against very good bigmen. In fact, when playing next to Duncan, the PF usually is given the tougher matchup.

To think Bonner is suddenly going to have a cakewalk defensively would only be true if he's going to be an end of the bench option during blowouts. Otherwise, he's going to actually have to man up and defend top flight power forwards when called upon. He can't simply be a three-point specialist and that's it, as McDonald suggested.

[SequSpur]

all bonner can do is shoot threes. wtf? he can't do anything else.

[Obstructed_View]

The Spurs themselves have pointed to Bonner as the potential replacement for Horry's minutes. Horry spent a whole lot of time against very good bigmen. In fact, when playing next to Duncan, the PF usually is given the tougher matchup.
Robert Horry averaged a staggering 12 minutes per game in the last two months of the season (his max was about 17 per in January). Bonner logged 30 minutes in the Phoenix game. Duncan typically does not spend huge minutes at the center position. If KT, Oberto and Mahinmi aren't going to provide any defensive help, the Spurs are doomed. Bonner can play defense, but if you don't think that his role is primarily to stretch the floor on offense, then I don't know what to tell you.


To think Bonner is suddenly going to have a cakewalk defensively would only be true if he's going to be an end of the bench option during blowouts. Otherwise, he's going to actually have to man up and defend top flight power forwards when called upon. He can't simply be a three-point specialist and that's it, as McDonald suggested.

I didn't read anywhere that he's going to have a cakewalk, but it seems obvious he's no longer going to be the first defensive option against first rate frontline opponents when some of the other bigs come back. Having more bodies gives the team more versatility when choosing matchups. I agree that he's still going to have to play defense when called upon, but he's not going to be called upon as often or for as long if there are other options.

[MoSpur]

Bonner needs to go. Jacque Vaughn I can tolerate. Its Bonner, that really irritates me.

[Avitus1]

cant believe im saying this, but i cant wait till oberto comes back.

Same here.

[DROB4EVER]

Bowen is done! When Ian and Oberto come back I see Bonners min to be under 10pg and KT to be under 15. I think the spurs will look at adding a pc soon maybe Watkins or trading for a younger set of big man legs.

Ian is gonna need to give us 24 good min per game and I dont know if his body will hold up yet to big mins. Tolliver will hopefully be able to give us some good mins, Bonner tries but he just cannot defend anyone and is a below avg rebounder.