Just a note from the news..

[TwelveGs210]

Not too big of a deal, but just saw the 6:30 news and saw Tony doing an interview saying the plan is to have him and George playing together opposed to backing him up..

I think having a fully healed, rested Manu off the bench is better anyway. Hill and Parker is at least in the top 2 fastest backcourts, and that's just a guess, I cant think of any other starting backcourts to compare to.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Not too big of a deal, but just saw the 6:30 news and saw Tony doing an interview saying the plan is to have him and George playing together opposed to backing him up..

I think having a fully healed, rested Manu off the bench is better anyway. Hill and Parker is at least in the top 2 fastest backcourts, and that's just a guess, I cant think of any other starting backcourts to compare to.


I can certainly live with that. Especially if guys like Neal and Temple develop in the system fast enough.

[DesignatedT]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163328

video is right there if you want to watch.

[TwelveGs210]

I can certainly live with that. Especially if guys like Neal and Temple develop in the system fast enough.

Yeah i agree..I'm hoping Neal can do his job and hit threes..I mean Danny Ferry was a valuable piece and he did nothing but funnel his man to the Towers, and hit the open shot..oh and audition for Camby's sparring partner/punching bag..

[ace3g]

other news....

Bogans starting for the Bulls tonight
http://www.nba.com/games/20101005/CHIMIL/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0011000006

[Obstructed_View]

So we return to the fact that the Spurs have no backup point guard, right?

[ElNono]

So we return to the fact that the Spurs have no backup point guard, right?

Probably Turnobili...

[rogcl1]

Yeah i agree..I'm hoping Neal can do his job and hit threes..I mean Danny Ferry was a valuable piece and he did nothing but funnel his man to the Towers, and hit the open shot..oh and audition for Camby's sparring partner/punching bag..

But there are no more twin towers and in recent years some of the funneling looks like a matador waving the players through.

[TDMVPDPOY]

his just saying that cause he knows his starting position is up for grabs

[Cessation]

Looked like neal played pg, in the scrimmage, hill and parker with ginobli(who can play point) of the bench with splitter would be great.

[TimmehC]

So we return to the fact that the Spurs have no backup point guard, right?

Temple? I like him better as a 2, be he can hold it down pretty well.

[duncan228]

JMcDonald_SAEN

tiagosplitter (http://twitter.com/tiagosplitter) Im getting better day by day... Cant wait to play this season...thanks for all the supporters!!

[gospursgojas]

Yeah...

so whos the backup point guard then?

vaughn?

[EricB]

Did Garrett Temple get jettisoned?

[duncan228]

Strong point guard play a reality (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/strong_point_guard_play_a_reality_104390934.html?s howFullArticle=y)
By Jeff McDonald

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/strong_point_guard_play_a_reality_104390934.html?s howFullArticle=y

[gospursgojas]

LOL "Big and Smalls"..."Im Big" -George Hill

[MaNu4Tres]

So we return to the fact that the Spurs have no backup point guard, right?

Not necessarily,

If Hill starts the year off starting, Pop will most likely take him out at the 6-7 minute mark as Manu subs in.

Then whenever Parker subs out at around the 2 minute mark, Hill will then return to being the back up point guard with Manu on the floor.

Same situation as last season.

I'm willing to bet anything Hill doesn't play all of his minutes at the 2.

Hill is still the back up point guard. IMO

[Obstructed_View]

Temple? I like him better as a 2, be he can hold it down pretty well.

While I honestly just forgot about Temple, he doesn't have a ton of experience. He's not even a lock to make the team, so even if it were a good idea, planning to make Hill the starting 2 at this point seems to be jumping the gun a bit. That's an awfully undersized backcourt.

[#2!]

While I honestly just forgot about Temple, he doesn't have a ton of experience. He's not even a lock to make the team, so even if it were a good idea, planning to make Hill the starting 2 at this point seems to be jumping the gun a bit. That's an awfully undersized backcourt.

Especially with the possibility of Blair starting. That leaves the starters undersized at 2 positions, and with no strong passer to make RJ look really good. Maybe the length of both Blair and Hill could make up for the size issue, but mostly I think this means that Dyess or Splitter should take over as starter going into the playoffs, to give the Spurs a chance to start games well against a team as large as the Lakers.

[jjktkk]

Starting Hill and Parker does make the backcourt undersized, but Hill has proven that he can defend against bigger guards. The Spurs have 4 players on their roster who can play the point. Parker, Hill, Ginoboli, and Temple. Parker might be considered the only true pg, but the above players mentioned can play the pg as well.

[Chomag]

Wait, Pop is experimenting with Neal at the PG? Mason the 2nd on our hands?

[Texas_Ranger]

Parker - Temple
Hill - Ginobili - Anderson
Jefferson - Simmons
Duncan - Blair - Bonner
Dice - Splitter

That's a 12 man rotation... So I gues Neal and Gee will be in suits.

[angelbelow]

Dont expect Gee or Neal to see much playing time this year...

[Obstructed_View]

Especially with the possibility of Blair starting. That leaves the starters undersized at 2 positions, and with no strong passer to make RJ look really good. Maybe the length of both Blair and Hill could make up for the size issue, but mostly I think this means that Dyess or Splitter should take over as starter going into the playoffs, to give the Spurs a chance to start games well against a team as large as the Lakers.

You touched on it, but I'm going to reassure you: Don't get too caught up in listed height numbers. From a reach and arm-length standpoint, Blair is an improvement over Bonner and probably equal to Dice, and from an athletic standpoint he's better than both. The only weakness in his defensive game was between his ears. If he's figured out the rotations, their overall defense will be vastly improved with him on the floor. That said, he's not likely to start, though I think it would be a great idea.

[Obstructed_View]

Dont expect Gee or Neal to see much playing time this year...

I might have suggested that a few years ago, but I never expected to see Matt Bonner or Keith Bogans starting as many games as they did. Given Pop's player crushes and his love of not starting Ginobili, Gary Neal as your opening day starter isn't at all inconceivable.

[TwelveGs210]

But there are no more twin towers and in recent years some of the funneling looks like a matador waving the players through.

We dont have a tandem we call "The Twin Tower's" but now with another legit big man to guard the basket, it will be the closest to the Tim/David era we have been. I agree with the funnel tactic failing over the last couple years, but we have upgraded our youth and athletecism, so hopefully with Tiago's addition that will change.

[ElNono]

Did Garrett Temple get jettisoned?

Is he a lock to even make the team?

I understand TP will probably command most of the minutes, but if he happens to go down for a bit, are you telling me you're confident a pseudo-rook like Temple can play against the likes of Nash, Rondo, CP3, etc?

[SenorSpur]

Would love to see Garrett Temple as primary backup PG. He performed well and clearly played like he belongs during the latter part of the last season.

[jjktkk]

Is he a lock to even make the team?

I understand TP will probably command most of the minutes, but if he happens to go down for a bit, are you telling me you're confident a pseudo-rook like Temple can play against the likes of Nash, Rondo, CP3, etc?

Hill would take over if TP were injured and then you definitely would see Temple play. Temple showed flashes last year that he, at the very least has the potential to be a solid combo guard player, with the ability to defend. The Spurs pg position is solid and is alot better depth wise than other NBA teams IMO.

[TD 21]

Not necessarily,

If Hill starts the year off starting, Pop will most likely take him out at the 6-7 minute mark as Manu subs in.

Then whenever Parker subs out at around the 2 minute mark, Hill will then return to being the back up point guard with Manu on the floor.

Same situation as last season.

I'm willing to bet anything Hill doesn't play all of his minutes at the 2.

Hill is still the back up point guard. IMO

I don't know why this is so difficult for people to figure out or grasp.

It's called a three-guard rotation and it's not exactly a novel concept. Hill can (and probably will) double as the starting SG and the backup PG.

Because Pop is always cognizant of managing minutes throughout the regular season, I'm sure against lesser competition, during blowouts and during hectic stretches in the schedule, we'll see a fourth guard playing more frequently. But when it get's right down to it, against quality - elite opposition and in the playoffs, expect to see a three-guard rotation, so as to maximize the minutes of three of the Spurs four best players.

A three-guard rotation doesn't necessarily exclude Anderson from cracking the rotation. He could still be in it as the backup SF.

If I had to guess how Pop would work the rotation, I'd say Ginobili in for Hill at the 7 minute mark, then Hill returning for Parker at the 4 minute mark, followed by Parker returning for Ginobili at the 10-9 minute mark, followed by Ginobili back in for Hill at the 6 minute mark, followed by Hill back in for Jefferson at the 4-3 minute mark.

[yavozerb]

http://ownersedge.fanball.com/player_notes/nba

According to this site which uses SAEN as a source Manu will be starting at SG and Hill will be coming off the bench..

[TwelveGs210]

I see the humor behind your post implying the source I got the bit of news from should be taken with a grain of salt, only thing is, the news I posted wasn't from a source other than the direct one itself, Tony.

[Leonard Curse]

While I honestly just forgot about Temple, he doesn't have a ton of experience. He's not even a lock to make the team, so even if it were a good idea, planning to make Hill the starting 2 at this point seems to be jumping the gun a bit. That's an awfully undersized backcourt.


temple is def. making the team, hes a solid backup and has some real defense in his bones

[ohmwrecker]

temple is def. making the team, hes a solid backup and has some real defense in his bones

It's hard to imagine a scenario where Temple will not make this team. It would require both Neal and Penney being so potentially awesome that they supercede what Temple has already proven he can do on the NBA level.

[Obstructed_View]

temple is def. making the team, hes a solid backup and has some real defense in his bones

I like Temple too, but there is no way a guy who has played 27 games with three teams can be considered a "solid backup". I hope he develops into, at very least, a solid defensive role player for the Spurs, but I stand by my original point that planning to put Hill and Parker in the starting lineup is incredibly premature.

I can understand benching Manu for Turkoglu or Finley, guys who are starting-caliber NBA players who actually produce more from a starting role, but the Spurs are just getting stupid at this point. You start your best players, and Ginobili needs to be starting.

[ohmwrecker]

You start your best players, and Ginobili needs to be starting.

Amen!

[Barfunk]

You start your best players, and Ginobili needs to be starting.

He is a starter. If my 65 year old uncle can work 8-16 hour shifts in 110 degree weather welding and fitting huge and hot ass pipe in awkward spaces on two HORRIBLE knees for 40+ years then in my personal opinion a 33 year old Ginobili can log 30-35 minutes every other game as a starter.

[cutewizard]

So we return to the fact that the Spurs have no backup point guard, right?


Garrett Temple is our back up point guard man. Remember, he is now Pop's favorite player.

[Obstructed_View]

Garrett Temple is our back up point guard man. Remember, he is now Pop's favorite player.

I hope that's true, but I don't believe it. Gary Neal has Anthony Tolliver II written all over him.

[MaNu4Tres]

I hope that's true, but I don't believe it. Gary Neal has Anthony Tolliver II written all over him.

Read TD21's post.

[Blackjack]

There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Temple makes this team. He may turn into their defensive stopper on the wing, in an attempt to make chicken salad at least - beats having Hill as your primary defender against legit 2s and 3s.

Also you've gotta consider cutting Temple costs the Spurs $110K and Gee costs them $100K.

[Obstructed_View]

Read TD21's post.

Okay, I read it. It has absolutely nothing to do with who Pop's favorite player is. Now you read it and tell me what your intended point was.

[MaNu4Tres]

Okay, I read it. It has absolutely nothing to do with who Pop's favorite player is. Now you read it and tell me what your intended point was.

Back-up point guard position.

[Obstructed_View]

Back-up point guard position.

Oh, okay. My post was saying that I hope Temple is Pop's favorite player. It'd be nice for him to like a guy who can probably play defense.

The Spurs are thin at the point guard position even if Parker starts and Hill backs him up. Trying to justify starting the two of them together borders on madness, and I'm sure Pop and those that hate to see him questioned will spend lots of time doing it if it comes to pass.