bring THEO back from the DEAD THREAD!!

[thOOdee]

when will this bonner experiment end!! lets get a petition rolling. THESE BETTER TEAMS ARE KILLING US WITH THEIR LENGTH!

[thOOdee]

again......BONNER WITH 23 MIN! WHERE IS THEO!!! combined with blair he would bring the big we need along with intangibles that can't be measured like altering shots. SPURS WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE WITH BONNER PLAYING BIG MINUTES.

[TIMMYD!]

I agree, more Theo would've been nice but Pop was being a douchehead.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Spurs are just a mess, more minutes for Theo isn't going to solve the problem.

[Muser]

Theo Ratliff won't stop the Spurs from giving the opponent the ball every posession.

[thOOdee]

Theo Ratliff won't stop the Spurs from giving the opponent the ball every posession.

agreed, but he may give them the cushion they need to make those mistakes at least. It seems like every game they are behind by 5. A little tweak could make the difference. spurs already have a shit load of shooters who are "SUPPOSED" to hit the threes. Why waste another position for another shooter when a big could provide the defense to prevent those 5 point trails.

[itzsoweezee]

he definitely needs some playing time against big teams like the nuggets or the lakers. i don't know what popovich is thinking.

[TD 21]

Why would you want an actual center/rim protector on the court when you can have a front line that's: 6'11'', 6'9'', 6'8'' 1/2, 6'5'' 1/2...because teams always win championships with one player with length on the front line.

[HarlemHeat37]

Ratliff isn't the answer..

We have a bunch of expiring contracts, go out and get a big..some of them are overpaid and it will hurt our cap for next year, but we need an athletic big man next to Duncan..

[thOOdee]

:bang:bang I'm just really tired of seeing BONNER out there. Im at the point where seeing those "RARE" 5/6 from the 3pt line games from him are actually disappointing, since it just means more time and hope for pop to prove he was right.

[Duncan2177]

:bang:bang I'm just really tired of seeing BONNER out there. Im at the point where seeing those "RARE" 5/6 from the 3pt line games from him are actually disappointing, since it just means more time and hope for pop to prove he was right.

Pop needs to get his head out of his ass and play Theo.

[thOOdee]

:bang:bang I'm just really tired of seeing BONNER out there. Im at the point where seeing those "RARE" 5/6 from the 3pt line games from him are actually disappointing, since it just means more time and hope for pop to prove he was right.

AGAIN A RARE GLIMPSE OF OFFENSE!!!. while his defensive assignment "BOOZER" scores 27!!!:pctoss

[Chomag]

Who is this Theo you speak of? When did we get him?

[Chieflion]

AGAIN A RARE GLIMPSE OF OFFENSE!!!. while his defensive assignment "BOOZER" scores 27!!!:pctoss
Some people don't get that he was never guarding Boozer. He was guarding Millsap and Okur.

[thOOdee]

theo sighting!...and a win....w bonner playing limited 15 mins. good game. hopefully this becomes a trend. next lets see if some of those 15 mins gets dispersed to blair

[HarlemHeat37]

They're more than likely saving Ratliff's minutes for the stretch run..I think the guy will be a factor for us, he looks like he can still protect the rim..I'd like to see him play against guys like Bynum, Howard, Nene and others though, hopefully Pop will play him in some of those match ups..

no point in risking injuries right now..Ratliff is very injury prone..

[Spurs da champs]

What about Ian dudes young near 7 footer Pop praised him for his athleticism and shot blocking in the summer. Why not give him a shot? Theo Ratliff is too old.

[thOOdee]

They're more than likely saving Ratliff's minutes for the stretch run..I think the guy will be a factor for us, he looks like he can still protect the rim..I'd like to see him play against guys like Bynum, Howard, Nene and others though, hopefully Pop will play him in some of those match ups..

no point in risking injuries right now..Ratliff is very injury prone..

I really hope so...but am afraid to have that frame of thinking. i thought the same way last year w george hill on barea. popovich can be stubborn.

[Ice009]

What about Ian dudes young near 7 footer Pop praised him for his athleticism and shot blocking in the summer. Why not give him a shot? Theo Ratliff is too old.

Have you watched any games with Theo Ratliff?

He still looks like he is in great shape. He seems like he can even jump higher than most players on the team. I'd say Pop is saving him like Harlemheat is suggesting. Theo has had some MONSTER blocks and has protected the rim very well at times this season when he has gotten some decent court time.

[VI_Massive]

I really hope so...but am afraid to have that frame of thinking. i thought the same way last year w george hill on barea. popovich can be stubborn.

I think when the money's on the table, Pop will go to the veterans, meaning a big rotation of TD, Dice, Bonner, and Ratliff. Unless Blair shows a ton of improvement or presents a unique match up advantage vs. a certain opponent.

If he's healthy, I think you can count on seeing Ratliff in there.

[The Truth #6]

Ratliff, like Bonner, is a specialist who thrives in some facets of the game but is quite bad in others. I agree with Harlem that Theo should be saved for when we'll need him. Bonner has been on a roll so no reason not to milk that and see what he can give us. If his shot isn't falling and he isn't rebounding then yes by all means play someone else.

[thOOdee]

shit if theo can barely crack the lineup, im not counting on seeing ian at all. too much on the line and his inexperience will make sure of that.
although i would really like to see what hes got against some legit bigs.

[Chieflion]

Ratliff can still meet people at the rim, but he is not that durable. Not only that, this game against the Bobcats, he seemed to jump at every fake the Bobcats made and fouled at an alarming rate. The flagrant 1 was the highlight though.

[HarlemHeat37]

BTW, I still don't think Theo is the answer at all and I still think we should TRY to package Mason/Finley/Haislip and maybe Bonner(+ whoever else it takes) for a younger guy that can block shots, but obviously that's easier said than done..

I like Ratliff though, I just don't trust him enough..

[Chieflion]

BTW, I still don't think Theo is the answer at all and I still think we should TRY to package Mason/Finley/Haislip and maybe Bonner(+ whoever else it takes) for a younger guy that can block shots, but obviously that's easier said than done..

I like Ratliff though, I just don't trust him enough..
As far as I would like an athletic big who can block people at a high rate, we are not scrapping our depth at the wings.

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't think it's going to happen, I'm just hoping..I would also assume Finley returns after being bought out if a trade happened..

Mason and Finley are very irrelevant when it comes to the success of this team, at least IMO..

[thOOdee]

given on whos on the team now. i just hope when its knuckle puck time, blair and theo are higher up the ranks than bonner.

[Chieflion]

I don't think it's going to happen, I'm just hoping..I would also assume Finley returns after being bought out if a trade happened..

Mason and Finley are very irrelevant when it comes to the success of this team, at least IMO..
But without them, we have

SG: Manu Ginobili / Keith Bogans
SF: Richard Jefferson

I am assuming Malik Hairston will be a complete non-factor in the playoffs. We have to keep one of Mason or Finley.

[HarlemHeat37]

Hill has been playing a lot of 2 and they seem to like that going forward..

the 5th wing is kind of irrelevant, since I don't think Pop is gonna go with Mason and Finley either way, other than spot minutes..that can be replaced with Finley returning after a buyout, Hairston, or a filler in the trade..the 5th wing might not even see any minutes at all in certain playoff games..

I'm just saying..I don't actually believe a trade is going to happen, but I'd easily give up Finley and Mason if we get a shot blocker in return..I'll worry about the 5th wing after..

[spursbird]

Bring on Ian Mahinmi-THE SAVIOR!

[thOOdee]

mason = finley imo except one is a bit longer and the other is a bit quicker. mason will stay and finley will retire. hopefully a berry trade happends with the expiring contract.

[Chieflion]

Hill has been playing a lot of 2 and they seem to like that going forward..

the 5th wing is kind of irrelevant, since I don't think Pop is gonna go with Mason and Finley either way, other than spot minutes..that can be replaced with Finley returning after a buyout, Hairston, or a filler in the trade..the 5th wing might not even see any minutes at all in certain playoff games..

I'm just saying..I don't actually believe a trade is going to happen, but I'd easily give up Finley and Mason if we get a shot blocker in return..I'll worry about the 5th wing after..
I think we look undersized at our wings. What about Ginobili's injury concerns? A tweener like say Gomes would be good, but I doubt it. However, the Wolves lack a 3 point shooter, so it is possible for Gomes to be acquired.

[TDMVPDPOY]

seems like theo has record a block for every game his been in

[Spursmania]

They're more than likely saving Ratliff's minutes for the stretch run..I think the guy will be a factor for us, he looks like he can still protect the rim..I'd like to see him play against guys like Bynum, Howard, Nene and others though, hopefully Pop will play him in some of those match ups..

no point in risking injuries right now..Ratliff is very injury prone..

Harlem, that has been my hope on why Pop is holding Ratliff out. If anyone has read about Ratliff's career they would know how injury prone he is. I hope we're right. However, why didn't Pop play him recently against teams like Utah, Nuggets or Boston? That worries me.

[TD 21]

given on whos on the team now. i just hope when its knuckle puck time, blair and theo are higher up the ranks than bonner.

Somewhat off-topic...It's a long way off obviously, but I'm fairly sure of the Spurs playoff rotation (barring a trade) already and have been for some time. It looks like Mason and Blair will be the odd men out, which means a more conventional, traditional rotation will be in place.

Starters: PF- Duncan, SF- Jefferson, C- McDyess, SG- Bogans, PG- Parker

Bench (rotation): SG- Ginobili, PF- Bonner, PG/SG- Hill, C- Ratliff, SG/SF- Finley

Bench (out of rotation): SG/PG- Mason, PF- Blair

Inactive: SG/SF- Hairston, PF- Haislip, C/PF- Mahinmi

Why Blair, you ask? Because the Spurs will likely favor Bonner's shooting and Ratliff's shot blocking/length, in addition to their being more experienced players, over Blair's rebounding. I've said it before and I'll say it again: his impact statistically (outside of blocked shots) will be minimal, but the Spurs aren't winning a championship without Ratliff playing a key, if subtle, role.

As for Mason, while his poor shooting certainly doesn't help, he'll likely be in tough even if he begins to shoot the lights out. The Spurs will likely favor Finley's veteran know how (Pop loves Finley) and superior size, as the team lack a true backup small forward. Finley is also helped by the simple fact that he's out shooting Mason so far this season.

[thOOdee]

i see bonner doing pretty good. i really like seeing him play against these slow bigs, but can't stand seeing him against the lengthy athletic forwards. Another great team he should thrive against would be the cavs.

[thOOdee]

wow..theo didn't play. Not to say spurs would have won, but it would have been nice to see a block on one of the hundred dunks amare made.

[thOOdee]

sorry, but just noting down again.....THEO OVER BONNER!! ...i haven't seen the spurs manhandle a team in a while, and much credit to roger mason also, but you have to get a defensive minded big other than bonner. THEO PLAYED A PERFECT ROLE, even after not playing for awhile

[HarlemHeat37]

He definitely made a big impact, and it further proves that they're just saving him for the playoffs/not risking injury..he clearly still has some game left..

[anonoftheinternets]

why pick when u can have both? theo knows his role. Lets keep bonner warm during regular season, and ramp up with theo late in the season. And play whoever gives us the most advantage during the POs.

[SamoanTD]

damn Theo and dyess together is a fuking bad ass 2 string front court no question I think pop likes the lineups he sees out there. Dyess looks more comfortable with ratliff out there the he has with Tim or bonner or blair.

[thOOdee]

why pick when u can have both? theo knows his role. Lets keep bonner warm during regular season, and ramp up with theo late in the season. And play whoever gives us the most advantage during the POs.

I agree, but w/out these injuries i doubt pop would make theo the go to reserve over bonner when playoffs roll around.

[Manufan909]

damn Theo and dyess together is a fuking bad ass 2 string front court no question I think pop likes the lineups he sees out there. Dyess looks more comfortable with ratliff out there the he has with Tim or bonner or blair.

I hope your wrong, I'd rather Theo like playing with Blair, so they can mask each others weaknesses to an extent.