Pop might be waking up

[Nathan89]

Minute trend gives insight on how Pop truly feels about Blair/Bonner/Dice.

Blair mpg
Game 1 21:55
Game 2 13:04
Game 3 9:37

Dice mpg
Game 1 13:08
Game 2 26:48
Game 3 28:25

Bonner mpg
Game 1 24:29
Game 2 19:57
Game 3 21:39

Just look how drastic Blair's playing time has decline since game 1. Bonner's playing time has decreased slightly throughout the series as well only increasing in game 3 because of a injury to Dice. I think Poop gets the picture that Blair is only a huge hindrance to the team and Bonner is a serviceable piece for only 18-20min .

I would bet that coach Poop is now regretting not playing Splitter throughout the year. Does this mean that Splitter is going to play next game? Probably not because Splitter has gone so long without playing. The trend definitely leads to an increased possibility of him playing. I doubt Poop will play Dice as much in Game 4 do to injury and realization that he can't handle 30min of playing time. This means more minutes for the other bigs.

Now Pop has to make the decision to play the unknown or play what he clearly knows doesn't work.

[Obstructed_View]

The trend in Splitter's minutes proves that he's not.

[analyzed]

Of the10 min Blair played in game 3, how much time was with Bonner, I'm guessing around 7 minutes, mostly between the end of 1st and start of 2nd quarter where memphis build a double digit lead ( their plus minus together must have been horible)

Pop also decided to go with Bonner and Dice together with bonner defending gasol ! the result Gasol litterally ate him up alive.

On those two occasions about 15 min of playing time, Splitter could have been playing instead and would have done a much better job. That alone caused us the W.

[Nathan89]

The trend in Splitter's minutes proves that he's not.

You have to release the gas before you push the brakes.

[objective]

I would bet that coach Poop is now regretting not playing Splitter throughout the year.

:lol

I would bet that he doesn't regret not playing Splitter.

If anything, he regrets playing Splitter the 738 minutes he did play in the regular season. Only 100 or ever better, ZERO minutes would have helped Splitter get over himself or improve his corporate knowledge like Stephen Jackson in 01/02 or George Hill in 08/09.

[Obstructed_View]

You have to release the gas before you push the brakes.

No you don't, either literally or figuratively.

Literally: Look up heel and toe driving.

Figuratively: There's no rule that you have to ramp down someone's minutes before replacing him. Pop could say "Wow, player X is not doing well, I'll put player Y in."

If Pop puts in Splitter he'll wait until the Spurs are down 20 in an elimination game when there's not enough time for it to matter, and it won't because he's been sitting on the bench for a month.

[objective]

"Matt Bonner will be the 5th big, and at most get 15 minutes a game in the playoffs." - ST buffoons and sad, wishful thinkers.

[DJ Mbenga]

pop might be hibernating then

[silverblk mystix]

Every minute....or every second that Bonner gets is time that is not going to someone more deserving.

[Nathan89]

No you don't, either literally or figuratively.

Literally: Look up heel and toe driving.

Figuratively: There's no rule that you have to ramp down someone's minutes before replacing him. Pop could say "Wow, player X is not doing well, I'll put player Y in."

If Pop puts in Splitter he'll wait until the Spurs are down 20 in an elimination game when there's not enough time for it to matter, and it won't because he's been sitting on the bench for a month.

Perhaps he was thinking Blair could play better in limited minutes. That the team would win with Dice playing a lot of minutes. Whatever the case it wouldn't make sense to increase Blair or Bonner's minutes back up.

I never said he was going to play Splitter.

[Obstructed_View]

I never said he was going to play Splitter.

Then he's not waking up, and you wasted everyone's time with this thread. :)

[DAF86]

He needs to start Blair and bench Dice, this move is key IMO. We're 11-11 since Pop moved Dice into the starting lineup.

[itzsoweezee]

Lol, your own stats prove you're wrong. Bonner can do nothing to reduce his own minutes. The guy wll get 20+ minutes no matter what.

Popologists never learn.

[TampaDude]

Lol, your own stats prove you're wrong. Bonner can do nothing to reduce his own minutes. The guy wll get 20+ minutes no matter what.

Popologists never learn.

^ this

Bonner could run over Pop's dog and he'd still get 25 minutes a game.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't have a problem with Bonner's minutes. What I have a problem with is Bonner's shot attempts. If you're going to have the best three point shooter in the league on the floor for 25-30 minutes getting his brains beat in, you need him to have at least ten shot attempts per game.

If you really believe in the "spread the floor" philosophy, which people claim Pop does, then it makes no sense that Bonner's not getting plays run to get him shots.

[Sean Cagney]

We as Spurs fans seriously had to know when he resigned he would get regular mins, if they thought Bonner would only get 15mpg they were seriously delusional! Pop loves that guy.

[4>0rings]

We as Spurs fans seriously had to know when he resigned he would get regular mins, if they thought Bonner would only get 15mpg they were seriously delusional! Pop loves that guy.
Look at the re-signing thread. Everyone thought he would only get 15-20 mins and be last to come off the bench. Those ignorant idiots...

[Isitjustme?]

pop might be hibernating then

Explain how that joke makes sense.

[John Basedow]

Explain how that joke makes sense.

lol grey

[Isitjustme?]

lol grey

Good work, you just passed the eye exam.

[Budkin]

Bonner's minutes are still too high.

[Isitjustme?]

Glad to know John Basedow isn't color blind.

[Basketball Power]

Bonner is getting his 20+ minutes even if he's averaging 1pt 9TO 6fouls a game

[Nathan89]

Then he's not waking up, and you wasted everyone's time with this thread. :)

The thread is showing evidence that Pop lacks confidence in both Bonner and Blair. This evidence supports the notion that there is reason to believe that Splitter might play but we all know that he probably isn't. When I noticed the trend I was more optimistic about the possibility than in the previous three games.

[Obstructed_View]

In 2006, I was optimistic that when Pop saw how badly playing Michael Finley at power forward was hurting the Spurs' interior defense, he would put Rasho or Nazr back into the game. When Robert Horry and Tim Duncan couldn't stay on the floor due to foul trouble, I was sure that Pop would put Rasho or Nazr back into the game. Instead he put Fabricio Oberto, who hadn't played all season, in ahead of both of them.

Recognize.

[dbestpro]

You have to release the gas before you push the brakes.

Time to power brake.

[crc21209]

If only all of Blair or Bonners minutes went to Splitter....

[Josepatches_]

The trend in Splitter's minutes proves that he's not.

Yep


And Bonner is playing the same number of minutes so clearly Pop's not wake up.

It's even gettin' worse because Blair is playing much less minutes when he's the only one of the turd towers who can rebound.

I'd say he wants to spread the floor a few more.

[Josepatches_]

We as Spurs fans seriously had to know when he resigned he would get regular mins, if they thought Bonner would only get 15mpg they were seriously delusional! Pop loves that guy.

It's the age.He's old

Nobody could believe 5 years ago that Pop could be in love with Bonner. The guy can't guard anybody,he can't rebound,he's not tall,he's not strong......

[Nbadan]

both dice and Bonner are completely incapable of guarding Randolph....Spurs have to come up with a offensive plan that gets Randolph in early foul trouble..the key to beating Memphis is keeping randolph in check....

[Nbadan]

It's the age.He's old

Nobody could believe 5 years ago that Pop could be in love with Bonner. The guy can't guard anybody,he can't rebound,he's not tall,he's not strong......

I think they are grooming him to be a coach..

[rmt]

Don't know how much spreading of the floor Bonner's doing when he's only attempted 9 three pointers total (making only 3) in all 3 games. Pop will still give him his 22+ mins/game. Meanwhile, he's getting abused by Randolph/Gasol/Arthur on the other half of the court.

[mexicanjunior]

You have to release the gas before you push the brakes.

Car will run out of gas well before the brake is pushed in this instance...

[Dingle Barry]

I don't have a problem with Bonner's minutes. What I have a problem with is Bonner's shot attempts. If you're going to have the best three point shooter in the league on the floor for 25-30 minutes getting his brains beat in, you need him to have at least ten shot attempts per game.

If you really believe in the "spread the floor" philosophy, which people claim Pop does, then it makes no sense that Bonner's not getting plays run to get him shots.
Motherfucking this

[hater]

wtf putting Bonner for 20+ minutes is just fucking suicide :pctoss

[Leetonidas]

DeJuan needs to be traded in the offseason. I love the kid, but his rookie season was more of fluke than anything, he really looks like he regressed this season. I mean how do you put up multiple 20-20 games as a rookie, then become a starter, and post none?

The Spurs don't have a lot of trading pieces but he is definitely one of them, though on his own won't fetch much of anything.

[Nathan89]

Bump.

He woke up.

[Nathan89]

The trend didn't lie.

He just pushed the fucking breaks boys.

[BOHOLANO#21]

fucking popovich must be sober today...good grief..go splitter...

[Nathan89]

Pop just admitted that he fucked up all year.

[Obstructed_View]

:toast

[Nathan89]

:toast

Yep, pretty much called it with this thread.

Should get a Spur for this or something.

[Obstructed_View]

Yep, pretty much called it with this thread.

Should get a Spur for this or something.

No, not really. There was no evidence that Pop was going to give Blair's minutes to Splitter.

[dunkman]

Pop has seen the light . . .

[fotan2]

pop half awakens as splitter is on the floor. take bonner out if he is fully awake

[Spursmania]

Effing Pop...Stubborn ass could have given Tiago some playing time before this crucial game.

But beggars can't be choosy. I'll take the minutes Tiago's getting now.

[Spursmania]

wtf putting Bonner for 20+ minutes is just fucking suicide :pctoss

A la popovich:bang

[Nathan89]

No, not really. There was no evidence that Pop was going to give Blair's minutes to Splitter.

I gave you the evidence that he wasn't liking what he was seeing out Blair. Hence Pop only other option this game was to play Splitter. I started one Splitter thread for a reason and look who plays. There certainly wasn't concrete 100% evidence but there was reason to believe.

[ChumpDumper]

I never said he was going to play Splitter.Bold.

[Obstructed_View]

I gave you the evidence that he wasn't liking what he was seeing out Blair. Hence Pop only other option this game was to play Splitter. I started one Splitter thread for a reason and look who plays. There certainly wasn't concrete 100% evidence but there was reason to believe.

And I credited you for having belief. Again, I caution you not to underestimate the myopia of Pop. You might see Blair get a second chance in the second half.

[Obstructed_View]

Duncan and Splitter to start the second half. Woot.

[Nathan89]

And I credited you for having belief. Again, I caution you not to underestimate the myopia of Pop. You might see Blair get a second chance in the second half.


Duncan and Splitter to start the second half. Woot.

:lol:lmao