duncan228
02-24-2009, 02:06 AM
Nowitzki back on Bonner's 'hit list' (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Nowitzki_back_on_Bonners_hit_list.html)
Jeff McDonald
The list of players Spurs center Matt Bonner has been asked to guard this season reads like a who's-who of All-Star big men.
Amaré Stoudemire. Kevin Garnett. Dirk Nowitzki. Pau Gasol. David West.
Never one to be confused with a defensive specialist, Bonner self-deprecatingly calls this his “hit list.”
“Pretty much every game, I go in more focused on defense than on offense, for sure,” said Bonner, who will start on Nowitzki again tonight when Dallas comes to the AT&T Center. “Usually I am at a disadvantage against those guys, and I have to find a way to overcome that.”
Known more for his sweet 3-point stroke, Bonner harbors no delusions about morphing into a defensive stopper. In one of the more unheralded success stories of the Spurs' season, however, he has begun to mold himself into a serviceable defender.
Even coach Gregg Popovich has taken notice.
“In the beginning, he kind of played like an erector set,” Popovich said. “He's learning to bend his knees, move his feet, read situations. It's a repetition thing. I think he's come a long way since the beginning of the year.”
There was a time when Bonner would have been more likely to win a Miss Hawaiian Tropic competition than earn praise from Popovich about his defense.
Bonner, 6-foot-10, earned his starting job on the basis of his 3-point accuracy, which at 49.7 percent leads the NBA. He might not have been able to keep the job, however, had it not been for steady march toward competence on the defensive end.
In a victory at Washington on Saturday, Bonner had a hand in holding Antawn Jamison to 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
“I'm not quite at the level of Bruce Bowen just yet,” Bonner said. “I'm just trying to manage my limitations, basically.”
Post-break blues: Since returning from the All-Star break, Tony Parker has been struggling to regain his shooting groove.
In three games, Parker has made just 31.9 percent of his field goals (15-of-47). He did most of the damage to his shooting percentage in a loss at New York, in which he went 5-of-20.
“That first game was tough for me,” said Parker, who was 7-of-11 for 14 points in the All-Star game. “After that, it should be back to normal.”
Parking lot closed: Due to ongoing clean-up from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Lot 1 at the AT&T Center will be unavailable for tonight's game against Dallas and Wednesday's game against Portland.
Fans attending the game are urged to allot extra time to park.
Jeff McDonald
The list of players Spurs center Matt Bonner has been asked to guard this season reads like a who's-who of All-Star big men.
Amaré Stoudemire. Kevin Garnett. Dirk Nowitzki. Pau Gasol. David West.
Never one to be confused with a defensive specialist, Bonner self-deprecatingly calls this his “hit list.”
“Pretty much every game, I go in more focused on defense than on offense, for sure,” said Bonner, who will start on Nowitzki again tonight when Dallas comes to the AT&T Center. “Usually I am at a disadvantage against those guys, and I have to find a way to overcome that.”
Known more for his sweet 3-point stroke, Bonner harbors no delusions about morphing into a defensive stopper. In one of the more unheralded success stories of the Spurs' season, however, he has begun to mold himself into a serviceable defender.
Even coach Gregg Popovich has taken notice.
“In the beginning, he kind of played like an erector set,” Popovich said. “He's learning to bend his knees, move his feet, read situations. It's a repetition thing. I think he's come a long way since the beginning of the year.”
There was a time when Bonner would have been more likely to win a Miss Hawaiian Tropic competition than earn praise from Popovich about his defense.
Bonner, 6-foot-10, earned his starting job on the basis of his 3-point accuracy, which at 49.7 percent leads the NBA. He might not have been able to keep the job, however, had it not been for steady march toward competence on the defensive end.
In a victory at Washington on Saturday, Bonner had a hand in holding Antawn Jamison to 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
“I'm not quite at the level of Bruce Bowen just yet,” Bonner said. “I'm just trying to manage my limitations, basically.”
Post-break blues: Since returning from the All-Star break, Tony Parker has been struggling to regain his shooting groove.
In three games, Parker has made just 31.9 percent of his field goals (15-of-47). He did most of the damage to his shooting percentage in a loss at New York, in which he went 5-of-20.
“That first game was tough for me,” said Parker, who was 7-of-11 for 14 points in the All-Star game. “After that, it should be back to normal.”
Parking lot closed: Due to ongoing clean-up from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Lot 1 at the AT&T Center will be unavailable for tonight's game against Dallas and Wednesday's game against Portland.
Fans attending the game are urged to allot extra time to park.