Should Rasho...

[Tek_XX]

replace Nazr? He seems to be playing well recently

[Leetonidas]

In this series, yes. Nazr is useless against the Kings. Save Nazr for PHX or LA, or whoever we could match up with in the WCF.

[T Park]

Id just go ahead and tell Nazr to start talking to other teams about a contract and send him home.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Lots of hate for a guy who will be a key player for us against the Detroit. Y'all were the same fuckers 3 weeks ago down on your knees for Mohammed.

[Buddy Holly]

Yes, for this series only though.

Kinda like Manu and Barry of last year.

Rasho is more mobile and can better defend in the post against Miller/Thomas/SAR.

[ALVAREZ6]

You guys notice that Rasho and Nazr both have hit 3's in the playoffs already?

[Tek_XX]

Lots of hate for a guy who will be a key player for us against the Detroit. Y'all were the same fuckers 3 weeks ago down on your knees for Mohammed.

Did you watch the game? Rashos play was superior tonight, and if Nazr ain't rebounding or scoring then he's just a liability on defense.

[Leetonidas]

Lots of hate for a guy who will be a key player for us against the Detroit. Y'all were the same fuckers 3 weeks ago down on your knees for Mohammed.

I know you ain't talking to me. :rolleyes

[Darkwaters]

My big problem with Nazr right now is he has bad hands a lot of the time. Hes a monster on the boards usually, but sometimes simple passes bounce off for no reason.

Otherwise, I really like Nazr. But Rasho should probably start in the remaining games of this series.

[TDMVPDPOY]

whether its rasho or nazr, these clowns should try n dunk on every attempt, its the fuckn kings frontcourt who are pansies. we should be able to draw every foul against them in the paint. there were certain points in the game where they were in foul trouble with 5mins left end of period, we should just penetrate more and goto ft line.

[ploto]

Where, oh where are all those people who told me I did not know what I was talking about when I told you Rasho would be part of the play-off rotation. Tonight he even came in before Horry.

Rasho ended the season on a high note- it was more than obvious- and Nazr was playing awful.

[ploto]

My big problem with Nazr right now is he has bad hands a lot of the time. Hes a monster on the boards usually, but sometimes simple passes bounce off for no reason.

Nazr has not had double digit rebounds in over 6 weeks! Rasho has off the bench twice in the past week and a half!

[E20]

It was wierd both Horry and Nazr played limited minutes. Kings had a lineup of one big man followed with guards. Pop had to either:
-Follow the same setup
-Follow the normal setup

In this scenario following the normal setup would have given us more advantges for rebounding and more mismatches in our favor in the offensive end.

And people can't say that Nazr should start packing after one game where he didn't get significant minutes. :rolleyes

[ashbeeigh]

Depth. You can switch players. Goodness. No need to ship anyone off.

[boutons_]

"he didn't get significant minutes."

because he was playing bad. the fucker can't finish. he gets his shots blocked into the stands, 3 times tonight? 2 RB, 2 TO, 0 pts.

[Darkwaters]

Nazr has not had double digit rebounds in over 6 weeks! Rasho has off the bench twice in the past week and a half!

The offensive boards were the problem this game. I don't know how it ended, but we were down by like 6 offensive boards last I saw.

[Tigole Bitties]

Yeah, IMO Rasho would be perfect matched up against Brad Miller. Nazr Scissorshands needs to sit this series out and tend to the bush gardens.

[ploto]

It was wierd both Horry and Nazr played limited minutes.

And people can't say that Nazr should start packing after one game where he didn't get significant minutes. :rolleyes
Nazr: 10 minutes, 2 points, 2 turnovers- 0 rebounds!
Horry: 14 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds
Rasho: 18 minutes, 5 points, 2 steals, 10 rebounds

Gee, I just can not figure out why Rasho played more than Nazr and Horry tonight. Can you?

[E20]

"he didn't get significant minutes."

because he was playing bad. the fucker can't finish. he gets his shots blocked into the stands, 3 times tonight? 2 RB, 2 TO, pts
Please watch the game before you say something that will ultimatley make you look bad. Nazr played 9 minutes and this is why.

The Kings had a setup of:
1-Guard
2-Guard
3-Guard
4-Small Forward
5-Power Forward

Pop had the choice of either playing it like he would normally or follow the same style and play small ball. What happend? We got killed on the offensive and defensive boards.

[E20]

Nazr: 10 minutes, 2 points, 2 turnovers- 0 rebounds!
Horry: 14 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds
Rasho: 18 minutes, 5 points, 2 steals, 10 rebounds

Gee, I just can not figure out why Rasho played more than Nazr and Horry tonight. Can you?
It was from the begining. Pop always subs in Horry first for Nazr then Rasho later on. It was the rotations and the lineups of the Kings. Stop getting hard over Rasho already. Please.

[Tek_XX]

It was from the begining. Pop always subs in Horry first for Nazr then Rasho later on. It was the rotations and the lineups of the Kings. Stop getting hard over Rasho already. Please.

Why you gotta hate? Learn to respect a player when they are playing well.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

haha i thought this thread was gonna say "Should Rasho be our new 3 point specialist"

[E20]

Why you gotta hate? Learn to respect a player when they are playing well.
Wow, when did I ever diss Rasho? PUH-LEASE Stop with the hasty generlization.

[T Park]

It was the rotations and the lineups of the Kings. Stop getting hard over Rasho already. Please.

I would say telling someone not to get hard over Rasho would be hating.

The stats proved it, outside of Duncan, Rasho was the man tonight.


Horry was dissapointing.

[E20]

I would say telling someone not to get hard over Rasho would be hating.

The stats proved it, outside of Duncan, Rasho was the man tonight.


Horry was dissapointing.
Do you even know who I'm dissing? I'm dissing Ploto not Rasho.

OK fine we played small ball with one Center/Power Forward at a time (Tim and Rasho). What happend? We got out-rebounded like the Spurs were a high school team.

[Tek_XX]

I would say telling someone not to get hard over Rasho would be hating.

The stats proved it, outside of Duncan, Rasho was the man tonight.


Horry was dissapointing.

I'm starting to like you dude.....sexually JK :lol

[ploto]

When Pop subbed Rasho in the first quarter for Nazr, the Kings still had their entire starting line-up in. Pop sent Rasho to the scorers table when Nazr turned the ball over.

In the third quarter, likewise, Pop pulled Nazr after he turned the ball over twice and committed two fouls. Sacramento had not substituted anyone at that point in the second half either. It was apparent at that point that Nazr's night was over- no matter who Sacramento played.

Also, you do realize that the small line-up is what won us game two in the fourth quarter and overtime, and that same line-up got us back into this game tonight.

[ploto]

Please watch the game before you say something that will ultimatley make you look bad. Nazr played 9 minutes and this is why.

The Kings had a setup of:
1-Guard
2-Guard
3-Guard
4-Small Forward
5-Power Forward

Pop had the choice of either playing it like he would normally or follow the same style and play small ball. What happend? We got killed on the offensive and defensive boards.
Since when is Brad Miller a power forward-- because he played 36 minutes tonight.

[Tek_XX]

yep

[baseline bum]

No. Mohammed's a more complete player and is usually better on the boards.

[Tek_XX]

No. Mohammed's a more complete player and is usually better on the boards.

define complete?

[ploto]

Versus Sacramento:
Nazr
20 minutes per game
4.6 rebounds per game

Rasho
18 minutes per game
6.3 rebounds per game

When Nazr is getting outrebounded by Rasho, it is a no-brainer as to who should be on the court. In the past 10 games, Nazr is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game- for the entire month of April 4.6- when the first, last, and main reason for Nazr's playing is supposedly his rebounding.

[boutons_]

Nazr just flat out sucks, no pts, no RBs, no defense.

Rasho was a mofo on defense last night, covering a lot of ground, in a lot of plays, got 10 RBs, and it was so beautiful that he hit that 3G (typically, he looked tense, tentative, guilty going back to the bench, like he had done something wrong. :lol ).

He didn't get any BS, but he was right in there crowding shooters down low and defending the Spurs' paint like a pro.

I think it was a mistake for Pop to play so much small ball when Rasho was having a great game and Kings were beating the Spurs badly on the boards and in the paint for the second game in a row.

[exstatic]

define complete?
Niether one is complete, nor more complete than the other. Rasho's strengths happen to be on defense, an area where the team has been struggling lately. Nazr's strengths happen to be on offense, at least on the glass. He didn't bring his game last night, played defense like Brad Miller, and was committing turnovers and silly fouls. Expect the same quick hook from Pop if he's fucking up in the future.

[wildbill2u]

replace Nazr? He seems to be playing well recently

Absolutely. Did everyone see the box score stats?

More than the stats, Rasho knows the defense and how to play it in the system. I hadn't seen Nazr play much since I live in Houston, but it is painfully obvious that he still can't play Spur-quality defense and we'll need that to go through the playoffs.

[wildbill2u]

Nazr: 10 minutes, 2 points, 2 turnovers- 0 rebounds!
Horry: 14 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds
Rasho: 18 minutes, 5 points, 2 steals, 10 rebounds

Gee, I just can not figure out why Rasho played more than Nazr and Horry tonight. Can you?

You forgot Rasho's blocked shots. three I think I remember.

[Pero]

I don`t know if starting Rasho again would be a good idea. He is playing well from the bench, starting again might just mess things up. Just give him more minutes.

[ploto]

I don`t know if starting Rasho again would be a good idea. He is playing well from the bench, starting again might just mess things up. Just give him more minutes.
I think that is what is already happening and will continue. He plays well with Finley and Brent, too, and I want them to keep up their play, as well. I think Pop will simply keep havng the quick hook.

The good news is that Nazr is motivated by playing time and often he plays more aggressively after Pop pulls him and cuts his minutes for a game or two.

[zeleni]

Nazr had his best rebounding from the bench.

Rasho was good already as a starter.

[Bruno]

I'm very disapointed by Nazr and Rasho this year. Pop has given them a huge opportunity to prove what they was worth at a moment of the year (first half of the season for Rasho, after the ASG for Nazr) and none has step up.

Right now Nazr is horrible and Rasho is good but it will maybe changed against an other opponent. For the playoff, if one is decent each game, it will be enough. I think that the right thing to do is to continue to start Nazr but if he sucks, play him only 10 min and give playtime to Rasho.

I know it's not the right moment to speak about that, but something must be done with our bigmen for the next season : we will need another quality player and I'm not sure one of our euro will be good enough.

[zeleni]

Rasho is the best... He was given props for starting...and went to the bench when Nazr got outlandish a week or so. Nothing special can be said about Nazr this month.

Rasho deserves his starting spot.

[Trifecta]

NAZR is a turnover machine right now and a defensive liability!!!

If his game 4 performance is jacked, get Rasho in early and go from there!

One thing that has really bugged me though is the Spurs defense that forces the player to the baseline except that it seems this has proven to fare well for the Kings which are quick to the hole!!!!

I'd say force the action to the middle where the help is!

I look for Barry and Finley to play crucial (and productive) roles tomorrow!

[exstatic]

I'd say force the action to the middle where the help is!

Too many options in the middle. The Spurs system has always worked when played properly.

[Trifecta]

Too many options in the middle. The Spurs system has always worked when played properly.

That's the problem thay have not played it properly!

Bonzi Wells has a clear path to the goal going baseline particularly when he is quicker than his defender!

[rasho8]

I like Pops new rotation of Rasho, hes great off the bench and I think he might be better playing a larger role from there.
He works scr4eens better than NAzr and is a beast on defense, with the bench in he seems to work very well.
I expect more minutes for now, but not a starting job.
Nazr has his place, he sucked last game... but Ginobli, my second fav Spur, sucked big time.
I was screaming at the end when Pop gave it to Ginobli.. I looked at my buddy and said..
"Ready for the turn over and game losing shot?"
I shouldnt have said that.
Stupid stupid stupid.

[SoCalGirlMeronKirsHamm]

For the past few weeks it has been obvious that the spurs needed to give him more minutes just as much as TP should have been a go to guy in the last seconds of the game last night.

I think Pop is still making adjustments and it is kind of late to still tweak things.

I'm keeping an opening mind for tommorrow.

[timvp]

Nazr was beyond horrible in Game 3. It was like he never played basketball before. I don't think I've ever seen a playoff performance that bad.

[RashoFan]

You guys notice that Rasho and Nazr both have hit 3's in the playoffs already?
But Rasho's 3 pointer was BEAUTIFUL!!!!
but then again...I am biased...:lol

[samikeyp]

Rasho should do whatever Beckie and Angel tell him to. :)

[ploto]

Remember my thread of three weeks ago. :)

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38155&page=1&pp=26&highlight=rasho%27s+minutes

[zeleni]

:)

[timvp]

Nazr was beyond horrible in Game 3. It was like he never played basketball before. I don't think I've ever seen a playoff performance that bad.

That said, it's too late to make a change in the starting lineup. The Spurs will need Nazr if they have any hope of beating Detroit.

[ploto]

That said, it's too late to make a change in the starting lineup. The Spurs will need Nazr if they have any hope of beating Detroit.
Not that I think it will happen, but...

We changed the starting line-up twice in the play-offs last season, once taking Manu out and then again putting him back in. It's not like Rasho hasn't spent 2 1/2 years starting with those 4 guys. They have played many more minutes together than those 4 and Nazr.

I also see no reason why whom we might play over a month from now has anything to do with this. If Nazr started the whole play-offs and Rasho hardly even played at all, Rasho would still be ready to face Shaq if that happened.

And- it's not like it is just this one game. Nazr has been playing poorly all month, against all kinds of match-ups. Go back and remember: Rasho starting the second half of those games. Pop pulling Nazr about 30 seconds into the second half of another one.

That being said- Nazr will start, but Pop will be more than "happy" to replace him with Rasho at any miscue.

I really do not see how people who watch every game did not see this coming. People fought me and insulted me for pointing out what seemed apparent to me.

[zeleni]

Spurs could mix it up a little. This time around Nazr is as valuable as Oberto sitting. When sitting he would be at least motivated enough. It's all a competition for the 2-headed monster. :)

[GrandeDavid]

Center by committee. Sweet.

[timvp]

Not that I think it will happen, but...

We changed the starting line-up twice in the play-offs last season, once taking Manu out and then again putting him back in. It's not like Rasho hasn't spent 2 1/2 years starting with those 4 guys. They have played many more minutes together than those 4 and Nazr.

I also see no reason why whom we might play over a month from now has anything to do with this. If Nazr started the whole play-offs and Rasho hardly even played at all, Rasho would still be ready to face Shaq if that happened.

And- it's not like it is just this one game. Nazr has been playing poorly all month, against all kinds of match-ups. Go back and remember: Rasho starting the second half of those games. Pop pulling Nazr about 30 seconds into the second half of another one.

That being said- Nazr will start, but Pop will be more than "happy" to replace him with Rasho at any miscue.

I really do not see how people who watch every game did not see this coming. People fought me and insulted me for pointing out what seemed apparent to me.


Don't hurt yourself patting your own back.

A Bench Nazr thread was bound to come up at some point in the playoffs. His role is too large and his overall skill is too small for that not to happen. If Rasho was the starter, you'd see the Bench Rasho thread at some point, too. Hell, we saw Bench David threads in the last 3-4 years of his career.

They'll come another point in the playoffs where Nazr plays well and Rasho sucks and people will wonder how Rasho is in the NBA. It's the nature of the beast ... and a sign that the Spurs have two very inconsistent centers.

[SAGambler]

whether its rasho or nazr, these clowns should try n dunk on every attempt, its the fuckn kings frontcourt who are pansies. we should be able to draw every foul against them in the paint. there were certain points in the game where they were in foul trouble with 5mins left end of period, we should just penetrate more and goto ft line.
Neither of our bigs seemed to be inclined to dunk. And when Nazr tries, it seems like the ball has already been stripped and headed the other direction.

[ploto]

A Bench Nazr thread was bound to come up at some point in the playoffs. His role is too large and his overall skill is too small for that not to happen. If Rasho was the starter, you'd see the Bench Rasho thread at some point, too. Hell, we saw Bench David threads in the last 3-4 years of his career.

They'll come another point in the playoffs where Nazr plays well and Rasho sucks and people will wonder how Rasho is in the NBA. It's the nature of the beast ... and a sign that the Spurs have two very inconsistent centers.
The point is that Nazr was playing poorly BEFORE the play-offs ever hit and for at least a couple of weeks. People refused to admit it THEN and are acting like this is some sudden happening in one game. You, among others, even adamently adhered to the notion that the Spurs would only play an 8-man rotation- or maybe 9. Rasho and Brent were playing too well for the Spurs not to use them, and they have.

And you never addressed the idea that the line-up can't be changed when we did it twice last year.



STARTERS
C Nazr Mohammed -- 20
PF Tim Duncan -- 38
SF Bruce Bowen -- 34
SG Manu Ginobili -- 32
PG Tony Parker -- 38

BENCH
PF Robert Horry -- 28
SF Michael Finley -- 25
SG Brent Barry -- 15
PG Nick Van Exel -- 10

I wouldn't mind something like this. It requires some small ball, but the Spurs have been doing that all season. Kenny Thomas, Dirk Nowitzki and whoever the Suns throw out there can be guarded by Bowen and/or Finley.
You didn't even have Rasho playing. :lol

There is a difference between a prediction and an observation. You predict Nazr will play better and Rasho worse. Given that Nazr is playing downright awful that is pretty easy to guess. Also given the level at which Rasho is playing, that is a pretty safe guess,as well. But the difference is what I had posted at the end of the season was an observation. Rasho was playing well. Nazr was not. Pop was increasing Rasho's minutes as the play-offs got closer. Pop was getting more and more impatient with Nazr and pulling him sooner and sooner. Those were apparent to the eye but people claimed they meant nothing. Well, they did.

[timvp]

The point is that Nazr was playing poorly BEFORE the play-offs ever hit and for at least a couple of weeks.

Nazr was decent in the first two games. 18 points, 8 rebounds and three blocks in the first game and 9-for-10 from the field combined in both games. He just sucked in Game 3.


People refused to admit it THEN and are acting like this is some sudden happening in one game. You, among others, even adamently adhered to the notion that the Spurs would only play an 8-man rotation- or maybe 9.

The Spurs have won three championships with an 8-man rotation. I assumed they would stick to what works.

That said, Pop has coached this series like an extension of the regular season rather than the playoffs.


And you never addressed the idea that the line-up can't be changed when we did it twice last year.

I didn't address it because it's not like that is some profound fact digging you did. Everyone knows the Spurs switched their lineup last season.

You don't put Rasho into the starting lineup now because he only works against certain teams. Pop could do it, but the team needs all the time it can get to get Nazr into some type of a rhythm.


You didn't even have Rasho playing. :lol

And I still don't when the Spurs reach the Finals. Rasho has sucked horribly versus the Pistons. He's too soft and too slow to deal with the Detroit bigs. As I said before the playoffs, Rasho will have a role as long as he can matchup. Against the Kings, he matches up pretty well because he can guard Miller, SARS and Thomas.

Wallaces and McDyess will be a different story. Hell, so would the Suns for that matter.

[SANANTOJAMES]

no nazr needs to play hard, rasho should play but nazr is a key to their success

[T Park]

Rasho gets the majority of the minutes for this series.

If they play in the next round against Dallas, Horry will

if they are lucky to get to the next round against LAL or LAC

it will depend on Matchups

Clippers Nazr
Lakers Rasho

Finals?

Nazr Horry, THATS IT!

[ploto]

I didn't address it because it's not like that is some profound fact digging you did. Everyone knows the Spurs switched their lineup last season.



That said, it's too late to make a change in the starting lineup.

Well, which one???

[ploto]

Rasho gets the majority of the minutes for this series.

If they play in the next round against Dallas, Horry will

if they are lucky to get to the next round against LAL or LAC

it will depend on Matchups

Clippers Nazr
Lakers Rasho

Finals?

Nazr Horry, THATS IT!
Clippers- Nazr?? He can't cover Kaman or Brand.

[ploto]

You don't put Rasho into the starting lineup now because he only works against certain teams. Pop could do it, but the team needs all the time it can get to get Nazr into some type of a rhythm.


Apparently, Nazr only works against certain teams, as well.

And why is Nazr not into a rhythm already? Two months starting was not enough?

[timvp]

I didn't address it because it's not like that is some profound fact digging you did. Everyone knows the Spurs switched their lineup last season.



That said, it's too late to make a change in the starting lineup.


You don't put Rasho into the starting lineup now because he only works against certain teams.

It's too late to get Nazr adjusted to a role off the bench when Rasho won't even be a full-time starter.

Putting Barry into the starting lineup was different because Barry was still going to play no matter what and the minutes were going to be the same. That was just a token move to improve bench production.

Switching Nazr and Rasho would be totally different.

[timvp]

Apparently, Nazr only works against certain teams, as well.

And why is Nazr not into a rhythm already? Two months starting was not enough?

9-for-10 in the first two games was not enough?

[ploto]

It's too late to get Nazr adjusted to a role off the bench when Rasho won't even be a full-time starter.

It was his role for over half the season.

[T Park]

Clippers- Nazr?? He can't cover Kaman or Brand.

He can cover Kaman, and you need rebounding during that series.


Look dude, Im a Rasho fan too, but I know his limits, you gotta know his too.

Slow down......

[ploto]

9-for-10 in the first two games was not enough?
Half of those were in garbage time of game 1.

His defense has been awful, he turns the ball over like crazy, and he is getting totally outrebounded by Rasho-- That should be humiliating enough.

[timvp]

It was his role for over half the season.

Look what happened in 2004.

Look what happened in 2005.

Rasho's +/- has been in the minus over the last two games of the series. Slow your roll.

[Kori Ellis]

Half of those were in garbage time of game 1.

His defense has been awful, he turns the ball over like crazy, and he is getting totally outrebounded by Rasho-- That should be humiliating enough.

I'm not a Nazr fan (because his defense sucks) but he had 8 and 6 rebounds in the first two games. That's pretty good. Game 3 is the only game he really sucked horribly ... and Pop played him accordingly.

[ploto]

He can cover Kaman, and you need rebounding during that series.

Do you remember the last two Clippers games??

[ploto]

I'm not a Nazr fan (because his defense sucks) but he had 8 and 6 rebounds in the first two games. That's pretty good. Game 3 is the only game he really sucked horribly ... and Pop played him accordingly.
I don't consider 6 rebounds to be good enough to warrant his time when he is supposed to be such a great rebounder. To make up for all his defensive lapses and his turnovers, he needs more than 6.

Plus, if Nazr was playing so fine in game 2 why was his ass on the bench in overtime and Rasho's in the game?

[Kori Ellis]

I don't consider 6 rebounds to be good enough to warrant his time when he is supposed to be such a great rebounder. To make up for all his defensive lapses and his turnovers, he needs more than 6.

He'd have to average 20 rpg to make up for his defensive lapses. :lol

[ploto]

Rasho's +/- has been in the minus over the last two games of the series.
Oh, gee, -1 to Nazr's -6. :lol

[zeleni]

I don't know.

Nazr is not a good center unless Duncan needs someone to be athletic around him. Duncan is in his top form and Rasho is hungry to win.

Spurs have Twin Towers and TP AND MANU. And Bowen

AND HORRY!!!!!!!

Why even thinking about Nazr? Make an argument to start Nazr the next game... He was hardly justified even when he played against Detroit with reconvalescent Rasho?!

[timvp]

Oh, gee, -1 to Nazr's -6. :lol

-5 to -1 in the last two games.

And the moral of the story is the Spurs need more Robert Horry.

:smokin

[ata]

Nazr was decent in the first two games. 18 points, 8 rebounds and three blocks in the first game and 9-for-10 from the field combined in both games. He just sucked in Game 3.


Here are your grades:
Game 1

Nazr Mohammed[/B]
Mohammed had an impressive stat line Saturday night. In his team-high 25 minutes, Mohammed scored 18 points, pulled down eight rebounds and had three blocks. He also went 6-for-6 from the field and 5-for-6 from the line. However, Mohammed didn’t play as well as the numbers indicate. He was a little slow rotating on defense and was in the way a lot on offense. Oh, and his late game three-pointer with ten seconds on the shot clock didn’t exactly indear him to Pop.
GRADE: B+

Game 2

Nazr Mohammed
Mohammed played half the game and had six points, six rebounds and three blocks. Those look like decent stats, but his defense was sub par. He needs to step it up in that area to earn more playing time.
GRADE: C+

Should I mentioned, that in both cases he was among worst graded Spurs, by you.



And I still don't when the Spurs reach the Finals. Rasho has sucked horribly versus the Pistons. He's too soft and too slow to deal with the Detroit bigs. As I said before the playoffs, Rasho will have a role as long as he can matchup. Against the Kings, he matches up pretty well because he can guard Miller, SARS and Thomas.

Wallaces and McDyess will be a different story. Hell, so would the Suns for that matter.

So. In first six games of last year's final, Nazr impact was next to nothing. He bounced back in game 7 and showed that he can play. Rasho hardly played with exception of game 3 blowout, when played after all was decided.

In regular season 2005/2006 Rasho showed next to nothing against Detroit and Nazr played well in December and whole 2 minutes in January.

How can you claim, that Nazr will play better, after all poor performances both player had against Detroit?
I don't claim that Rasho will/would be better, however Nazr's chances are same.

[ploto]

Nazr is not a good center unless Duncan needs someone to be athletic around him. Duncan is in his top form and Rasho is hungry to win.

Interesting point-- if Tim is playing more dominant, does what Rasho bring compliment him better than what Nazr brings??

[ploto]

Great find!!


Nazr Mohammed
Mohammed had an impressive stat line Saturday night. In his team-high 25 minutes, Mohammed scored 18 points, pulled down eight rebounds and had three blocks. He also went 6-for-6 from the field and 5-for-6 from the line. However, Mohammed didn’t play as well as the numbers indicate. He was a little slow rotating on defense and was in the way a lot on offense. Oh, and his late game three-pointer with ten seconds on the shot clock didn’t exactly indear him to Pop.
GRADE: B+


Game 2
Nazr Mohammed
Mohammed played half the game and had six points, six rebounds and three blocks. Those look like decent stats, but his defense was sub par. He needs to step it up in that area to earn more playing time.
GRADE: C+


Compare to these:



Rasho Nesterovic
Nesterovic was a defensive monster Saturday. He defended the pick-and-rolls brilliantly and clogged the lane. Offensively, he had his best game in months. For the contest, the Slovenian center had ten points and seven rebounds, while shooting 4-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line.
GRADE: A

Game 2
Rasho Nesterovic
Nesterovic, although he didn’t play many minutes, had one of his best games as a Spur. He had four points and three blocked shots in only 13 minutes. His pick-and-roll defense has been impressive in the first two contests.
GRADE: A-

[timvp]

How can you claim, that Nazr will play better, after all poor performances both player had against Detroit?

Look how the Spurs got destroyed on the boards when Rasho was starting this season. Again, it's a matter of matchups.

[timvp]

Interesting point-- if Tim is playing more dominant, does what Rasho bring compliment him better than what Nazr brings??

Neither.

Robert Horry.

[timvp]

Great find!!

:jack

I've been saying all series that Rasho is playing well. That's no secret.

That doesn't mean that you run out and change the starting lineup and the minute distribution. Rasho is playing well off the bench. He's actually rebounding at a decent clip in that role. As a starter, he was rebounding like a small forward. As a reserve, he's actually holding his own.

It looks like Pop found a good role for him. You can't be satisfied with that?

[ata]

Look how the Spurs got destroyed on the boards when Rasho was starting this season. Again, it's a matter of matchups.

If boards are main reason, than is no brainer:
G1: Rasho 7 (23 min) - Nazr 8 (25)
G2: Rasho 2 (13) - Nazr 6 (24)
G3: Rasho 10 (17) - Nazr 0 (9)
---------------------------------
G1-3: Rasho 19 (53) - Nazr 14 (58)

BTW: I found interesting qoute from last year

Nazr's strengths are surpassed by the Wallaces, and his weaknesses are what they are best at exploiting. His strength is offensive rebounding ... which is hard to do either when you're up against arguably the best rebounder in the NBA. Ben Wallace is also the league's best shot blocker, which exploits Nazr's average-at-best finishing abilities.

It's not a matter of Nazr sucking... it's just a bad matchup for him. Same as Tony Parker. I'm not sure how much more you could reasonably expect from him.

From thread Bench Nazr (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19590&page=1&pp=26)

[SlovenianGuy]

-5 to -1 in the last two games.

And the moral of the story is the Spurs need more Robert Horry.

:smokin

Timvp, I really don't know what you are trying to prove here.

Horry's +/- was -7.

[ploto]

Look how the Spurs got destroyed on the boards when Rasho was starting this season. Again, it's a matter of matchups.

Spurs got just as outrebounded with Nazr starting.

[T Park]

Timvp, I really don't know what you are trying to prove here.


That the Spurs need more Robert Horry.


If you think Rasho is more valuable than Horry.......


I have nothing to say if thats the case, cause that would be................................................ ................

[SlovenianGuy]

That the Spurs need more Robert Horry.


If you think Rasho is more valuable than Horry.......


I have nothing to say if thats the case, cause that would be................................................ ................

Timvp posted the +/- for Rasho and Nazr to demonstrate why it's not good start Rasho (or play him more minutes).

In the next sentence he wrote that Spurs need more Horry.

My point was that you can not compare players by their +/- numbers solely because if you do, the Spurs shouldn't play Horry at all. And I totally agree with you that Horry is more valuable than both of our centers.

[FloppinIsGreat]

we're gonna need both of them to win. Both need to step up on rebounding and on defense. If they do that the paint, game, and series will be ours.

[ploto]

Who is that I see in the starting line-up??

[Kori Ellis]

Good call.

Horrible rebounding.

--timvp

[gameFACE]

Rasho starting is making little difference right now. Spurs are getting outrebounded once again (22-13 per box score). Bonzi with 9 reb.

[zeleni]

We have weak rebounding guards. That's not right!?

[Pero]

I thinki starting Rasho wasn`t such a good idea. I know I didn`t watch the game, and it looks like the entire team sucked. But, he starts and the Spurs lose by 18???? I just wanted to give him more minutes, not start him...
And I think I agree with Zeleni. Spurs guards are weak rebounders. Though that`s no excuse for being outrebounded, Rasho just 2 rebounds? He`s grabbing more from the bench.
I wonder how the next game will go.

[Kori Ellis]

Rasho was playing really well from the bench. I would have just left it that way.

But Game 4, no one played well, so you can't really judge much.

[timvp]

Yeah, great job Pop. Rasho finally gets in a comfort zone where he's rebounding and playing well and Pop puts pressure back on him by starting him. Rasho respondied by playing horribly and getting negative rebounds for the game.

:pctoss

[alamo50]

I don't get it.
I just don't freakin' get it.
We need aggression in this series and Pop comes up with Rasho playing more minutes than Nazr?!?!?!

[leemajors]

I don't get it.
I just don't freakin' get it.
We need aggression in this series and Pop comes up with Rasho playing more minutes than Nazr?!?!?!

nazr passed worthless a few weeks ago.

[boutons_]

Nazr's reliable inclination to get more offensive RBs than defensive RBs doesn't make up for his horrible, soft defense.

He got 4 O RBs in the last 90 seconds last night, including missing and rebounding his own fucking layup, typical for a horrible finisher.

Aggression from Nazr? GMAFB

Rasho's has much better feel for paint defense, takes tons more responsibility for rotating in good time, and on offense, does a much better job screening defenders for our drivers. Rasho is simply a better team player than Nazr.

[TDMVPDPOY]

win or lose, i blame rasho our franchise player.

[alamo50]

[QUOTE=boutons_]Aggression from Nazr? GMAFB [QUOTE]

Have you been watching these last 2 games?
What do we lack?
Who is the only player we got who is most fitting to bring it (I said before the series we miss a Elie/Willis player)?

[Pero]

We don`t have such a player. :lol

[ducks]

free orberta maybe he can provide a SPARK RASHO SUCKS