Why Did We Keep Bonner in Favor of Novak?

[BanditHiro]

TSIA.

[NRHector]

TSIA.

I know!!!!! I know!!!!! because Pop is stupid

[timvp]

Bonner Thread!

[Mr. Body]

Hmm... This is actually a pretty good question.

[BanditHiro]

Hmm... This is actually a pretty good question.

They were both shit defenders but Novak had a better shot. Even form wise, Novak has a better shot as it's much faster and harder to close out compare to Bonner's shot.

[Mel_13]

False premise.

[Drz]

They were both shit defenders but Novak had a better shot. Even form wise, Novak has a better shot as it's much faster and harder to close out compare to Bonner's shot.
Jesus Christ what is wrong with you people.

Perhaps this chart (http://basketballvalue.com/teamplayers.php?team=SAS&year=2010-2011) will help you. Note the numbers next to their names in the 1 year unadjusted defense category.

Bonner is a league average defender. The Spurs gave up less points on defense when he was on the floor than when he was off it. There are tons of ways to slice the data, but whether you look at simple counting or advanced stats, they ALL say the same: that Bonner is an average defender.

[Russo21]

Bonner walked in on Pop and RC having sex with a super hot under-age girl. He has threatened to tell the authorities on Pop and RC if he is traded or amnestied. It's called Blackmail. True Story.

[BatManu20]

Bonner walked in on Pop and RC having sex with a super hot under-age girl. He has threatened to tell the authorities on Pop and RC if he is traded or amnestied. It's called Blackmail. True Story.

This seems the most logical tbh.

[ChumpDumper]

spurfan has odd sexual fantasies.

[Obstructed_View]

Because Novak is even worse than Bonner was at the time. Bonner's going through a terrible phase right now and he's probably still better than Novak.

[DapDaGenius]

Novak did great, hopefully he can keep it up and help the Knicks out.

[spurs50_]

hopefully bonner gets out of his slump.

[Spurious]

Bonner's going through a terrible phase right now
If by "phase" you mean "career," I think I agree.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Did anybody actually watch Novak when he was with the Spurs? He played almost zero defense. That is a big no no on a Spurs team. Pop gave him every chance.

He's now on a team where they apparently don't care. He even has a role model, mr. All O no D, Carmelo.

[Juggity]

When Novak was on the team, he and Bonner were providing about the same on the offensive end, whereas Bonner (incredibly) provided slightly more on the defensive end. Bonner's familiarity with the Spurs' system was ultimately more important to the team at the time.

Bonner may be a defensive traffic cone, but Novak is somehow even worse.

[Obstructed_View]

If by "phase" you mean "career," I think I agree.

Meh, Pop has asked him to be a starting center or a power forward. He's really not, and that's on the coach that continues to try to play him in those positions. He's a three point specialist. His unwillingness to take those threes and his inability to make them when needed are what makes him useless. He can turn it around and make some shots, at which point he's Novak but better.

[NRHector]

Meh, Pop has asked him to be a starting center or a power forward. He's really not, and that's on the coach that continues to try to play him in those positions. He's a three point specialist. His unwillingness to take those threes and his inability to make them when needed are what makes him useless. He can turn it around and make some shots, at which point he's Novak but better.

:lol

[Obstructed_View]

:lol

Exactly what part of that is funny? It's the only thing he does at an NBA level. He's going through a terrible phase because he's not doing that one thing.

[NRHector]

Exactly what part of that is funny? It's the only thing he does at an NBA level. He's going through a terrible phase because he's not doing that one thing.

he's not a specialist if he's going through a phase,

[SayTown]

So he is a small forward then, :lol at bonner trying to guard small fowards

[timtonymanu]

Spur fan overrating another scrub.

[Obstructed_View]

I can't read

He's not a starting center or power forward. In fact, he's not even a rotation big. He's a role player who should only be on the floor to hit a few three pointers in very specific situations, then should sit back down.

[Obstructed_View]

he's not a specialist if he's going through a phase,

:lol You definitely have a point there. He doesn't have to be a GOOD specialist to be a specialist. Fact remains that shooting's the only thing he brings to the table. It sucks for us that he doesn't bring it consistently, but it's a really crappy phase that he's not hitting or attempting very many at the moment. It's not really even correct for me to refer to it as a phase until he actually comes out of it, and we all know there's no guarantee of that happening.

[SayTown]

I guess I can't see either because I don't recall him being a starting center or power forward.

[Obstructed_View]

I guess I can't see either because I don't recall him being a starting center or power forward.
He started 70 games a few years ago, and has been the first big off the bench for the Spurs far too often. The point I was making is that it's not Bonner's fault his career looks so bad when he was just doing what an insane coach asked him to do.

[Drz]

A reminder: let's say he takes three 3 point shots a game. When he's running hot, he makes 50% of them. When he's running cold, he makes 25% of them. The difference is 3x(.50) = 1.5 pts - 3x(.25) = 0.75 pts = 0.75 pts per game. Not even one full point.

His value isn't if he's making shots, his value is if he's spreading the floor. And he'll still spread the floor, as long as he doesn't go on a super, super prolonged dry spell, where other teams start believing he won't hit the three. Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet. No team backs off a player just because he's 2 for his last 10 or something. You have to really be a complete non-factor in your shooting for a long, long time.

[therealtruth]

A reminder: let's say he takes three 3 point shots a game. When he's running hot, he makes 50% of them. When he's running cold, he makes 25% of them. The difference is 3x(.50) = 1.5 pts - 3x(.25) = 0.75 pts = 0.75 pts per game. Not even one full point.

His value isn't if he's making shots, his value is if he's spreading the floor. And he'll still spread the floor, as long as he doesn't go on a super, super prolonged dry spell, where other teams start believing he won't hit the three. Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet. No team backs off a player just because he's 2 for his last 10 or something. You have to really be a complete non-factor in your shooting for a long, long time.

You didn't watch the WCF? OKC was backing off him and he was still missing or not shooting. Why do you think Pop couldn't play him? Unless maybe you believe Pop didn't play him enough.

[Drz]

You didn't watch the WCF? OKC was backing off him and he was still missing or not shooting. Why do you think Pop couldn't play him? Unless maybe you believe Pop didn't play him enough.
I addressed that recently in this post (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204938&p=6174254#post6174254) (link below). The bottom line is OKC has an ideal lineup for neutralizing Bonner, and they did it properly.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204938&p=6174254#post6174254

[Raven]

they're the same player..

[ChuckD]

Bonner was due about 8 mil guaranteed and played better D than Novak who had zero dollars guaranteed on a training camp contract and who played ZERO defense. Novak also tanked completely in the playoffs, so there isn't even that to dream about.

[skulls138]

Bonner is a big body that mixes it up on defense. Thats why he is more valuable than Novak.