CNNSI Bonner Interview

[BillMc]

Bonner Interview on CNNSI (http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2012/02/25/spurs-matt-bonner-talks-coolness-roast-beef-and-more-at-nba-all-star-weekend/?sct=nba_bf2_a3)

Didn't see this posted earlier. Red Rocket talks Splitter, rotations, his defensive mentality, being a geek in high school, sandwiches.

[Paranoid Pop]

Pretty cool overall, Matt comes across as a good guy tbh.

[letmk]

I like Bonner's self-depreciation in a humorous way, and taking a jab at his own un-coolness.

[wildbill2u]

The guy has a role, accepts it and works at it.

No matter how good he plays or improves, the haters will still jump all over this rotational player for every mistake or claim in advance that he'll choke in the playoffs.

I think it's like the syndrome where abusive parents pick one child out of the family and pour all the abuse on it. It's irrational, but apparently a characteristic of pack behavior.

[DPG21920]

It's not irrational when people comment on something that has actually repeatedly happened i.e. Bonner in the playoffs.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Pretty lame he got snubbed again for the three point contest.

[ajh18]

Bonner seems to have gotten slightly better every year he's been a Spur. Very solid role player, improving defense and versatility (his little runner has gotten better), great three-point shooter, and not afraid to mix it up with bigger and stronger guys.

I think people are biased against him because the favorable mismatches he creates are seen as more easily replaced than the negative ones. His major plus is three-point shooting, which people figure can be done by guards and small forwards, while his weaknesses in rebounding and defense against other bigs can't be replaced as easily by players at other positions. That said, his ability to stretch the floor, improved defense, and our acquisition of guys like Leonard who can rebound from the 3 make Bonner more valuable now than ever.

PS, has anyone ever messed around with Synergy Sports (http://www.mysynergysports.com/) (mentioned in the article)? That's an interesting stat they say it provides (opposing players are shooting 8-37 against Bonner in the post this year) and I'd love to see similar stats for other players.

[silverblk mystix]

Every year...I almost start liking Bonner again...just in time for the stretch run...
and every year...Bonner wilts and disappears in the playoffs...

and I end up hating him all over again.

I have noticed this happening right now with a lot of posters...a lot of you have really short memories...and you can see he is starting to play a little better...hit a few more shots...

and you are getting your hopes up again that ...maybe...just maybe...

THIS year....

[BillMc]

He seems like a good guy.

[timvp]

Very good interview :tu

Bonner is having a pretty damn good season, all things considered. But I disagree with anyone who says Spurs fans are too tough on him. Bonner has played well in the regular season and then fell flat on his face in the playoffs. If Bonner had been a playoff hero over the years, he'd be right there with Manu as the most popular player on the team.

But until then, he'll be viewed as the guy who shines in the regular season and then wilts when the games matter. And it's a pretty fair view at this point, tbh.

[vander]

Very good interview :tu

Bonner is having a pretty damn good season, all things considered. But I disagree with anyone who says Spurs fans are too tough on him. Bonner has played well in the regular season and then fell flat on his face in the playoffs. If Bonner had been a playoff hero over the years, he'd be right there with Manu as the most popular player on the team.

But until then, he'll be viewed as the guy who shines in the regular season and then wilts when the games matter. And it's a pretty fair view at this point, tbh.

he'd be somewhere else making 8-10 million a year :bang

[ginobilized]

Great interview!
It's nice to gain the little glimpses into the Spurs approaches and payers.
Matt seems like a great guy. I hope he can shine a bit more these playoffs.

[boutons_deux]

If only he were as aggressive on the boards and defense as he is amiable.

[Fabbs]

"Bonner: I mean, Pop’s all about defense. One of his pet peeves is bad post defense."

:lmao
Zero credibility.

Mrs FinleyPop
Himself
Soft Dick
All *manning* the PF/SF position in the post. That's some "demanding" defense.

GMAB.

[letmk]

Every year...I almost start liking Bonner again...just in time for the stretch run...
and every year...Bonner wilts and disappears in the playoffs...

and I end up hating him all over again.

I have noticed this happening right now with a lot of posters...a lot of you have really short memories...and you can see he is starting to play a little better...hit a few more shots...

and you are getting your hopes up again that ...maybe...just maybe...

THIS year....

The problem is that we should not place our disappointment of the Spurs on Bonner alone. He didn't play well during the playoffs. That is true. But as a role player, he goes as far as star players go. When our big three were outplayed by other teams' star players, we were bound to lose.

Compared to other Spurs, Bonner's performance roughly matches his salary (around $3M) and a reasonable expectation on him. When you blame team failure on him, you are barking at the wrong tree.

It's because of Tim becoming old (not his fault), Manu getting injured (not his fault either) and Tony not playing up to his capable level (like this season, partially his own fault), and more importantly, the management's failure to find better complement players.

When we were at the championship level from 03-07, the big three were dominant even we didn't win in 04 and 06. We lost because of some trivial things, or maybe just bad luck.

In the past several seasons, however, that's not the case. We were simply not that good. Like last year, as disappointed as we all were, it's more of over-achieving in regular season than under-achieving in playoffs.

All in all, there are two steps. First, you need star players to get the team to a championship level; second, you need role players and some good-executions to win the real thing. We were just not in the first category in the past several seasons.

[Fabbs]

At least we got "asked and answered" by SI reporter even if BonBon had no idea re Splitter-Duncan. :clap

SI.com: Tiago Splitter and Duncan have played something like 110 minutes together this season after barely playing together at all last season. Have you noticed that? Have the coaches talked about it — how playing those two together could help the team’s defense inside?

Bonner: I’m obviously not in on the coaches’ meetings, but we knew when we got Tiago last year, how respected he was on the international basketball scene, and his potential to be a really good player in the NBA. Going back to your question before: Coming in here last year, with the Spurs system, your first time in the NBA after playing overseas for six or seven years — there’s a lot of adjustment. He’s made that adjustment now, and you can see by how he’s stepped up for us this year. He’s really helped us, and we’ve needed help. Guys are tired.

SI.com: What are the challenges of playing him and Duncan together, specifically? Is it a spacing issue on offense?

Bonner: It’s just the rotation. It just comes down to different skill sets and how we complement each other. Maybe as the season goes on, you’ll see them play more together, but that’s up to the coaches.

"It's just the rotation."
In other words :pop: loser hasn't told BonBon why either. :lol

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It's not irrational when people comment on something that has actually repeatedly happened i.e. Bonner in the playoffs.

The stats are not all that clear cut actually.

[timvp]

The stats are not all that clear cut actually.

Uh, yeah they are:

PER: Down 42.4% in the playoffs
WS/48: Down 62.7% in the playoffs
Points: Down 27.5% in the playoffs
FG%: Down 16.4% in the playoffs
3P%: Down 22.7% in the playoffs
eFG%: Down 14.3% in the playoffs
TS%: Down 11.1% in the playoffs
Rebounding: Down 12.7% in the playoffs
Assists: Down 50.8% in the playoffs
Turnovers: Up 44.6% in the playoffs

And his advanced defensive metrics go from very good to very bad.

To say the stats aren't clear cut that Bonner has struggled in the playoffs is wrong.

[The Reckoning]

timvp dumping stats smegma all over these forums

fuzzy needs to go home and calculate the regression line of that bloadation fallout

[letmk]

Uh, yeah they are:

PER: Down 42.4% in the playoffs
WS/48: Down 62.7% in the playoffs
Points: Down 27.5% in the playoffs
FG%: Down 16.4% in the playoffs
3P%: Down 22.7% in the playoffs
eFG%: Down 14.3% in the playoffs
TS%: Down 11.1% in the playoffs
Rebounding: Down 12.7% in the playoffs
Assists: Down 50.8% in the playoffs
Turnovers: Up 44.6% in the playoffs

And his advanced defensive metrics go from very good to very bad.

To say the stats aren't clear cut that Bonner has struggled in the playoffs is wrong.

Numbers don't lie. Do they?

Exactly because the gap between his regular season and playoff stats is SO big, my thinking is, maybe we should look from another perspective.

Bonner was, is and will always be a spot-up 3-pointer shooter. Unlike some skillful or athletic players who might have a very good series when finding how to beat the defense scheme, or a very bad series vice versa, or simply lost a step, Booner always relies on his shooting touch.

When other players set up for him, he shoots. It's hard, if not impossible, to think that he suddenly lost this touch once entering into the playoffs for several consecutive years. Then suddenly he regained his touch once the next season starts.

Obviously he is not old enough to be in a consistent decline. And if it should not be about confidence either as he is always in this kind of hesitate-some-shoot-some mode, no matter in regular season or in playoffs.

And unlike LeBron, who mystically stopped attacking in NBA Finals, all Bonner needs to do is just shoot or not shoot. So it's not about aggressiveness either.

So I would rather think that in a best of 7 series, the opponents found out that big three, especially Tim, does not merit double team any more, so their focus shifted to the shooters. And when our star players cannot break down the defense, it's hard for the role players to perform.

This season follows the same script. Bonner and others do have better stats recently, but it's truly because Tony started taking off after the first 15 or so games, that the Spurs are on a roll. When the opponents cannot find a way stop Tony, we became the old always-find-a-way-to-win Spurs.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[vander]

So I would rather think that in a best of 7 series, the opponents found out that big three, especially Tim, does not merit double team any more, so their focus shifted to the shooters. And when our star players cannot break down the defense, it's hard for the role players to perform.


yep, if we had real offensive threats, who could break down playoff defenses, Bonner would be hitting 3s at a much higher percentage.

[underdawg]

yep, if we had real offensive threats, who could break down playoff defenses, Bonner would be hitting 3s at a much higher percentage.

exactly - 2 problems for the Spurs in the playoffs:
1. Defenses will key on Tony & Manu to limit their effectiveness to penetrate and kick out.
2. Bonner needs open shots and therefore unable to help the offense in the playoffs.

Solution: Give most of Bonner's minutes to a player that can help the offense when Manu and Tony are shut down and as a result later helping them.

[Sean Cagney]

It's not irrational when people comment on something that has actually repeatedly happened i.e. Bonner in the playoffs.

This is very true, and to dude above we are not hating at all it's just the truth when they say he fades every year annually around say April.

[ElNono]

Very good interview :tu

Bonner is having a pretty damn good season, all things considered. But I disagree with anyone who says Spurs fans are too tough on him. Bonner has played well in the regular season and then fell flat on his face in the playoffs. If Bonner had been a playoff hero over the years, he'd be right there with Manu as the most popular player on the team.

But until then, he'll be viewed as the guy who shines in the regular season and then wilts when the games matter. And it's a pretty fair view at this point, tbh.


Uh, yeah they are:

PER: Down 42.4% in the playoffs
WS/48: Down 62.7% in the playoffs
Points: Down 27.5% in the playoffs
FG%: Down 16.4% in the playoffs
3P%: Down 22.7% in the playoffs
eFG%: Down 14.3% in the playoffs
TS%: Down 11.1% in the playoffs
Rebounding: Down 12.7% in the playoffs
Assists: Down 50.8% in the playoffs
Turnovers: Up 44.6% in the playoffs

And his advanced defensive metrics go from very good to very bad.

To say the stats aren't clear cut that Bonner has struggled in the playoffs is wrong.

Thanks for filling in for me :lol

I'm spending some quality time in Texas with the family for the next couple of weeks so I appreciate the backup, tbh :tu

[therealtruth]

exactly - 2 problems for the Spurs in the playoffs:
1. Defenses will key on Tony & Manu to limit their effectiveness to penetrate and kick out.
2. Bonner needs open shots and therefore unable to help the offense in the playoffs.

Solution: Give most of Bonner's minutes to a player that can help the offense when Manu and Tony are shut down and as a result later helping them.

Off penetrate and kick the defense has an easier time recovering. That's what happened against the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were basically playing the middle on the penetration. That allowed them to recover to the shooters and contest the penetration. The downside to playing that way is the amount of effort/energy required. However when Pop saw it wasn't working he should have been able to go with something else but they never really developed something else.

Although Bonner isn't a star, he needs to adjust to the nature of playoff basketball to help the team. He needs a faster release. Alot of times in the playoffs you're shot is barely going to make it off your hand in time before the defense recovers. The other option is being able to get an automatic midrange jumper or floater of a drive and kick. A third option would be for him to stand farther back than the three point line to make it harder for the defense to recover. Regardless he has to make quick decisive moves.

[jason1301]

Bonner has played well during the reg season for the most part of his career, however he has NEVER played that good D, EVER! The throw the ball to who-ever Bonner guards ear is gone. Bonner has proven a capable defender this year and that's very exciting.

[DMC]

There were a lot of people who could have been in the 3pt contest, but it's fucking boring as shit and the more they put boring people in it the worse it gets. Same with the dunk contest, stupid as shit and should go away. In fact, there should only be the AS game. No rookie sophmore, nothing. Just AS game and move on. Back in the day it was good because players didn't think they were too high class to be seen in it, but these days all the best talent refuses to show, so it's a group of nobodies and no one gives a shit who wins.

Otherwise, I like Matt. Most people like Matt. They don't like how Matt is a huge liability on defense and goes tits up in the playoffs. That has nothing to do with Matt the person, but Matt the player is a 3pt shooter and a damn good one in the regular season. We get what we can from him, and so does the opponent.

[DMC]

Bonner has played well during the reg season for the most part of his career, however he has NEVER played that good D, EVER! The throw the ball to who-ever Bonner guards ear is gone. Bonner has proven a capable defender this year and that's very exciting.
Not sure what games you've watched, but I see Bonner being the goal posts for the opponent to line up their shots. He escorts them to the basket then provides the sights. His "being there" gets mistaken for defense. It's not. Our defense last year and the first part of this one has sucked so bad that Matt Bonner standing in the lane with his arms up is now considered viable defense.

[outmap]

People seem to forget that the Spurs are paying him 3M a year, we get what he's worth. If he could grab boards, he'd receive mid level annually. If he had any post move + rebounding skills, he'd probably worth 10M a year; And if he could defend, post and grab boards, while shooting 3s, he'd get more than what Kevin Love will get.

[DMC]

People seem to forget that the Spurs are paying him 3M a year, we get what he's worth. If he could grab boards, he'd receive mid level annually. If he had any post move + rebounding skills, he'd probably worth 10M a year; And if he could defend, post and grab boards, while shooting 3s, he'd get more than what Kevin Love will get.
I don't think anyone is forgetting it. It's not about how much we pay him. It's about how much Pop relies on him.

You get to the playoffs with a certain group and then some of that group becomes useless. Then you have to change up the minutes and rotations on the fly and that screws everything up.

In this order, I would like to see these guys go:

1 RJ
2 Blair
3 Bonner

Bonner hits 3s but he gives up points on the other end like it's going out of style.

None of these guys play defense. I don't think we can afford to have players on the floor who cannot defend.

[therealtruth]

I don't think anyone is forgetting it. It's not about how much we pay him. It's about how much Pop relies on him.

You get to the playoffs with a certain group and then some of that group becomes useless. Then you have to change up the minutes and rotations on the fly and that screws everything up.

In this order, I would like to see these guys go:

1 RJ
2 Blair
3 Bonner

Bonner hits 3s but he gives up points on the other end like it's going out of style.

None of these guys play defense. I don't think we can afford to have players on the floor who cannot defend.

RJ at least has the physical tools to be adequate when motivated. He's already had a couple of clutch moments on offense/defense this year. However his contract probably needs to be readjusted.

Like your saying Pop shouldn't be relying on 3M/year player so much. You can't give a one-trick role player 20+ minutes in the playoffs and hope to be successful. Bonner just doesn't have the tenacity and hustle needed for playoff basketball. I blame Finley and Bonner for getting Pop to stop caring about defense just because somebody can shoot 3's. I blame Horry for making Pop fall in love with stretch 4's.

[mountainballer]

nice interview.
you don't find many guys with this down to earth nature in the NBA. and we all know that Matt is really smart.
that's why I'm pretty sure we will see him in a FO in SA role in some years. hell, maybe the whole Bonner story is all about acquiring him for the FO.

[FkLA]

SI.com: Can you dance?

Bonner: I’m not much of a dancer. You’ve seen me run up and down the court, so you probably figured that out. I just try to not stick out too much. That’s my goal.

:lol

[Blake]

Uh, yeah they are:

PER: Down 42.4% in the playoffs
WS/48: Down 62.7% in the playoffs
Points: Down 27.5% in the playoffs
FG%: Down 16.4% in the playoffs
3P%: Down 22.7% in the playoffs
eFG%: Down 14.3% in the playoffs
TS%: Down 11.1% in the playoffs
Rebounding: Down 12.7% in the playoffs
Assists: Down 50.8% in the playoffs
Turnovers: Up 44.6% in the playoffs

And his advanced defensive metrics go from very good to very bad.

To say the stats aren't clear cut that Bonner has struggled in the playoffs is wrong.

Do you happen to have other Spur players' playoff stats during the "Bonner era"

[DMC]

RJ at least has the physical tools to be adequate when motivated. He's already had a couple of clutch moments on offense/defense this year. However his contract probably needs to be readjusted.

The D-league is full of players who have the physical tools to be adequate and they are already motivated.



Like your saying Pop shouldn't be relying on 3M/year player so much. You can't give a one-trick role player 20+ minutes in the playoffs and hope to be successful. Bonner just doesn't have the tenacity and hustle needed for playoff basketball. I blame Finley and Bonner for getting Pop to stop caring about defense just because somebody can shoot 3's. I blame Horry for making Pop fall in love with stretch 4's.

Bonner does keep the defense honest in the regular season, but maybe Pop is playing two different games: one regular season and one playoff version. I mean, we all know that playoff teams are going to shut Bonner down on offense and attack him relentlessly at the other end. Pop knows it as well.

I don't know many things we could have done differently and still be as competitive as we are. I can speculate but then there are a lot of other teams who have done things that seem like they should produce rings and have not.

[TimmehC]

When other players set up for him, he shoots. It's hard, if not impossible, to think that he suddenly lost this touch once entering into the playoffs for several consecutive years. Then suddenly he regained his touch once the next season starts.

No, but it's rather easy to think that opponents are keen to chase him away from his spots during a playoff series. When a player is only above average at one thing, he's basically useless if you can take that one thing away from him.

[timvp]

Do you happen to have other Spur players' playoff stats during the "Bonner era"

Here are all the players in the Tim Duncan Era who have played at least 3,000 regular season minutes and 200 playoff minutes. The percentage next to each player is their PER increase/decrease in the postseason.

Jaren Jackson: +17.6%
Robert Horry: +11.2%
Antonio Daniels: +8.1%
Avery Johnson: +6.5%
Michael Finley: +3.3%
Tim Duncan: +2.4%
Fabricio Oberto: +0.8%
Sean Elliott: +0.2%
George Hill: -4.3%
Manu Ginobili: -5.1%
David Robinson: -5.9%
Steve Smith: -6.8%
Bruce Bowen: -7.4%
Mario Elie: -7.6%
Tony Parker: -11.2%
Antonio McDyess: -12%
Malik Rose: -15.1%
Brent Barry: -21.6%
Richard Jefferson: -22.2%
Rasho Nesterovic: -26.7%
Danny Ferry: -32.9%
Terry Porter: -38.1%
Matt Bonner: -42.4%



While it's true that some of Bonner's playoff struggles are due to the opposition taking away his strengths, that's not the only thing going on. As I said earlier in this thread, all of his defensive metrics also crash and burn in the playoffs.

It's pretty obvious at this point that, for whatever reasons, Bonner isn't built for the playoffs.

[Blake]

do you happen to have Bonner's stats for just the past two years?

[Blake]

Lol Rasho -26%

[silverblk mystix]

do you happen to have Bonner's stats for just the past two years?

In other words...

you would like to defend Bonner---at all costs!

[Blake]

In other words...

you would like to defend Bonner---at all costs!

to the e-death!

[ElNono]

It's not all bad with Matty in the playoffs... Was it Frye that got a terrific deal out of looking like the 2nd coming of Larry Bird?

[FkLA]

Jaren Jackson: +17.6%
Robert Horry: +11.2%
Antonio Daniels: +8.1%
Avery Johnson: +6.5%
Michael Finley: +3.3%
Tim Duncan: +2.4%
Fabricio Oberto: +0.8%
Sean Elliott: +0.2%
George Hill: -4.3%
Manu Ginobili: -5.1%
David Robinson: -5.9%
Steve Smith: -6.8%
Bruce Bowen: -7.4%
Mario Elie: -7.6%
Tony Parker: -11.2%
Antonio McDyess: -12%
Malik Rose: -15.1%
Brent Barry: -21.6%
Richard Jefferson: -22.2%
Rasho Nesterovic: -26.7%
Danny Ferry: -32.9%
Terry Porter: -38.1%
Matt Bonner: -42.4%

Manu outplaying Parker in the postseason. No surprises there tbh.

[ChumpDumper]

Manu outplaying Parker in the postseason. No surprises there tbh.:lol

[therealtruth]

No, but it's rather easy to think that opponents are keen to chase him away from his spots during a playoff series. When a player is only above average at one thing, he's basically useless if you can take that one thing away from him.

That's exactly what playoff basketball is about: taking away as many things from your opponent as you can so you can get the advantage. Whoever is more successful at it wins. Teams usually go with one of two strategies. They can say we'll let the role players beat us and focus on the stars. Or we'll make sure the role players don't beat us but give up more to the stars. Depending on what they choose your stars have to perform or your role players have to step up. The last thing you want is for them to limit both stars and role players.

[timvp]

Manu outplaying Parker in the postseason. No surprises there tbh.

Before throw the parade, it should be noted that a study showed that star PGs historically lose about 10% of their efficiency in the playoffs while star SGs usually become more efficient in the playoffs. But don't let that stop you, tbh.

[DPG21920]

So PGs are overrated with regards to winning playoff basketball? DoK just wet himself.

[FkLA]

Before throw the parade, it should be noted that a study showed that star PGs historically lose about 10% of their efficiency in the playoffs while star SGs usually become more efficient in the playoffs. But don't let that stop you, tbh.

Link ?

[Keepin' it real]

Lol @ CNNSI for interviewing Matt freakin' Bonner. Must have been a sloooooooooooooooooow news day.

[DisciplinaryOffice]

Oh, what the hell... Does anyone happen to know what his bison burger place is? Is it The Cove?

[Sean Cagney]

No, but it's rather easy to think that opponents are keen to chase him away from his spots during a playoff series. When a player is only above average at one thing, he's basically useless if you can take that one thing away from him.

That is usually true, but wide open shots he misses then as well it seems, not just contested. He just seems to turn it all off in clutch situations and in April it starts to fade annually.