Who's our Back up Center in the Playoffs?

[Boomersgold]

Pop clearly doesn't have much confidence in Ayres and Baynes, and he usually plays Tiago and Duncan together in the starting lineup. That leaves Diaw, whose natural position is PF. Who is our back up center in the playoffs?

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Pop clearly doesn't have much confidence in Ayres and Baynes, and he usually plays Tiago and Duncan together in the starting lineup. That leaves Diaw, whose natural position is PF. Who is our back up center in the playoffs?

Baynes spot minutes. Duncan and Splitter will rotate at Center with Diaw playing 4. Small ball Diaw might get a shot at the 5 with Leonard at the 4.

[Aztecfan03]

Duncan/ Tiago rotate at the 5. Duncan/Diaw rotate at the 4. Playoff rotations are supposed to be smaller anyways, right?

[Splits]

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[benstanfield]

Baynes if we need someone to check Howard in R2 is the only way I see anyone but Splitter/Duncan/Diaw playing (besides blowouts). That being said, we'll probably have to play smallball against Dallas, Houston, OKC, and Miami.

Look for Bonner as a desperation adjustment if we go down by 2 games though.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Baynes for sure, his minutes may be limited but he's far better than the other options. I mean, would you rather have Errors or Bonner out there? Besides, Baynes is a good defender against the right opponent. I actually could see him playing decent defense on Gasol or Randolph at times. But when the Spurs were playing their best basketball this season during March, they're starters were the usual starters, Parker-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Splitter, but their second rotation was Mills-Ginobili-Bellinelli-Diaw-Baynes with other players only playing for really bad matchups or foul trouble.

[Boomersgold]

Baynes for sure, his minutes may be limited but he's far better than the other options. I mean, would you rather have Errors or Bonner out there? Besides, Baynes is a good defender against the right opponent. I actually could see him playing decent defense on Gasol or Randolph at times.

Errors is more familiar with the system than Baynes. All he really needs to do when he's out there is set decent screens for Manu and Mills. He does this quite well, imo.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Errors is more familiar with the system than Baynes. All he really needs to do when he's out there is set decent screens for Manu and Mills. He does this quite well, imo.

Ya but then he gives up constant easy baskets. At least Baynes makes you work for points.

[ElNono]

Duncan/Tiago/Diaw/Small-Ball is the playoff rotation...

We might see some Baynes/Ayres in case of foul trouble, but it's emergency cases only.

[Mel_13]

Splitter

[exstatic]

Baynes spot minutes. Duncan and Splitter will rotate at Center with Diaw playing 4. Small ball Diaw might get a shot at the 5 with Leonard at the 4.

[SpursFan86]

For our sake, hopefully no one besides Duncan/Splitter/Diaw sees any meaningful minutes.

[Raven]

Splitter.

[Raven]

For our sake, hopefully no one besides Duncan/Splitter/Diaw sees any meaningful minutes.

word.

[dbestpro]

Remember this is Pop. In the playoffs, he plays the people he trusts, and he trusts no one on the bench more than Bonner.

[Seventyniner]

Any bigs beyond Duncan/Splitter/Diaw will only get minutes in emergencies.

[playbonner15]

I don't see Bonner in there

[Boomersgold]

I don't see Bonner in there
Bonner's a given at the PF position.

[Mel_13]

Bonner's a given at the PF position.

Bonner would have been the 4th big against the Grizz. He won't be in the rotation against the Mavs.

[lurker23]

The people who said that the true rotation is Duncan/Splitter/Diaw/small ball have got it right. Most of the meaningful minutes will go to that rotation, with Baynes and Bonner getting spot/situational minutes.

[PingPong]

Splitter and Diaw will guard Dirk in the first round. From there all will depends on wich team the spurs will face. But trade Ayres, Bonner and Baynes for some used rim nets in the offseason.

[bklynspursfan]

Baynes/Ayres just have not been consistent enough. Each have had stretches where they looked good, and just crappy. It'll probably be Duncan/Diaw/Splitter, especially against Dallas. In meaningful minutes at least. It'll change from series to series depending on the opponent. If we end up facing Houston, Pop may throw Baynes and/or Ayres on Dwight if nothing else to frustrate/hack a dwight, etc....

[Spur|n|Austin]

Remember this is Pop. In the playoffs, he plays the people he trusts, and he trusts no one on the bench more than Bonner.

:lol Pop has finally moved out of that stage, Bonner won't see any minutes unless they are garbage in these playoffs (just like last season).

[superjames1992]

:lol Pop has finally moved out of that stage, Bonner won't see any minutes unless they are garbage in these playoffs (just like last season).
Um, no. I guess you missed Bonner getting major minutes in two playoff series, including the WCF against the Grizzlies? That was hardly garbage time.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Um, no. I guess you missed Bonner getting major minutes in two playoff series, including the WCF against the Grizzlies? That was hardly garbage time.

Um, yes. You're talking about the team we swept last season? :lol

Bonner is not going to control the Spurs' playoff destiny ya nitwit.

[silverblackfan]

I would love for Baynes to make the move to another level (less fouls and more offense), but think Pop trusts having Diaw on the floor with Tiago or Duncan as center more.

[superjames1992]

Um, yes. You're talking about the team we swept last season? :lol

Bonner is not going to control the Spurs' playoff destiny ya nitwit.
No. Bonner played significant minutes in key moments in the Memphis series, not "garbage time". Pop sees Bonner as a favorable matchup against teams like LAL and MEM. Pop sees Bonner as a liability against teams like OKC, GSW, and MIA and he doesn't play them (and he's right, tbh).

[dmon35]

Count on Pop to put Baynes on Dwight Howard to roughen him up should the spurs meet the rockets.

[TheyCallMePro]

It's Splitter. Because Diaw will become a starter after the Dallas series is over.

I'm glad Pop has Splitter on a tight leash these days. He trusts Diaw a lot more now. Can't win with Splitter playing heavy minutes.

[BillMc]

Splitter will be big against Dirk. As others have said, in later series Boris becomes more important.

[moisaenz]

Bonner got minutes against memphis because of how he matched up to the big men of Memphis.

[TD 21]

Splitter. Given their path (Mavericks, Rockets, Thunder, Heat), the only scenario they might need a fourth big in, is if they face the Pacers (and even then, it'll be spot minutes), since all of the others will play small/combo forwards as their backup PF's.