Should Manu Come Off The Bench?

[timvp]

I think he should. Not because he's done anything wrong or because he isn't a great player, but because the Spurs need it. Honestly, the Spurs' bench right is as bad as I could remember. There are talented players on the bench, but none of them bring much of a spark to the floor.

Manu is the human spark. He'd make the Spurs' bench go from average to the best in the league all by himself. He'd still play the same amount of minutes and get the same amount of touches. Actually, he might be even more productive because he'd be playing against bench players more often.

Another reason I'd do it is Michael Finley has proven to be a good player in the Spurs' system. He played well in the playoffs and deserves consistent minutes. Plus with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker getting most of their points around the rim, having as many shooters on the court as possible makes sense.

To help the Spurs, Manu needs be the sixth man this season.

What say you?

:smokin

[djohn14]

I definantly see your point,but I'd stick with Manu.......4 now

[Manu20]

If that is what would take for the Spurs to win the championship I'm all for it. :tu

BTW, I think everybody knows that Manu would never average more than 30mpg in the regular season with his style of play so like timvp said he would average the same amount of minutes coming off the bench or starting.

Has any player made the all star coming off the bench in the history of the NBA? Mchale? If not Manu could be the first :fro

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

Hasn't he normally done that for the past few seasons at some point?

[Zunni]

Manu isn't a shooter? Career .362 vs Finley's career .372 from downtown.

[RC's Boss]

I think Finley is comfortable enough to be our go to guy off the bench especially once Feb. rolls thru and Jackie Butler becomes our post scorer from the bench. Mark my words mofos...

[Pistons < Spurs]

I agree that it'd be for the betterment of the team.

When I watch the Spurs bench, I never feel like their is a true floor leader that is running the show. Someone needs to be out there that is agressive. Manu would excell in that role.

Also, I often feel that there just isn't enough ball for TD, TP and Manu when they're all on the floor together. Manu needs the ball in his hands to create. Or if nothing else, he needs Parker to pass him the ball to hit his jumpers. But it seemed last year that Pop told TP to go for his. He wanted him to be agressive and attack. He was succesful in it, but I feel it was harmful to Manu's game.

So many times I saw Manu open looking for the pass, and more often than not, TP tried to drive to the hole himslef, or get it into Duncan. End result was Manu not touching the ball.

[ATX Spur]

Has any player made the all star coming off the bench in the history of the NBA? Mchale? If not Manu could be the first :fro

A.C. Green :fro

[Zunni]

A.C. Green :fro
From La La land. Not likely to happen in Hooterville.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I think Finley is comfortable enough to be our go to guy off the bench especially once Feb. rolls thru and Jackie Butler becomes our post scorer from the bench. Mark my words mofos...

...and timvp's and my words. Join the club, pal! :lol

As for Manu off the bench, hat's a great idea as long as it doesn't annoy him. He gets to destroy routinely weaker players off the opposing bench and does't have to share as much ball with Tim and Tony. Of course, they all come together in the 4th to finish the game. I like it but I don't see it happening unless we go into a slump.

[1Parker1]

Ouch, that's our bench? Looking at this vbookie makes it look even worse. Outside of Finley and Barry, I can't see anyone who will be much of a great scorer.

Manu off the bench would be ideal...especially since he could probably also handle more of the PG duties this way as well, when Parker is on the bench.

[Brutalis]

I agree timvp. 100%.

Get Fin starting, get Manu as a big punch as a sub when the opposing team subs.

[ducks]

I agree
however the church of manu disagrees

but if manu is not playing when tp and duncan are resting
he would be the number one option and score more

[aaronstampler]

I think it's fine the way it is now. He starts, plays the first 6 mins, then goes to the bench, and comes back to start the 2nd quarter when TP is on the bench and leads that second unit and has the ball most of the time, and the same thing happens in the second half as well.

If he were to come off the bench and come into the game at the 6 minute mark of the 1st, he'd be wasted because it'd still be Tony's show in the 1st and by the time TP finally came out by the beginning of the 2nd, Manu would already be a little fatigued, playing the last half of the 1st quarter...

[ducks]

do we not have a thread like this every year

[TMTTRIO]

we seem to have one every other month around here. By the way it looked like he sucked coming from the bench tonight :smokin. I don't care about it anymore. Whatever works and is good for the team.

[ca®lo]

didnt the spurs do that last year? only to end up finley asking pop to put manu back in the starting lineup.

although i agree that with manu on our bench.. our bench instantly becomes kickass

[gospursgojas]

I agree. I told you guys a few days ago, that I thought Finley would be starting by the season's end.

I hope it doesn't happen, but I really can see Manu getting injured and Finley stepping up nicely and Pop wanting to leave it that way

[polandprzem]

I think it's fine the way it is now. He starts, plays the first 6 mins, then goes to the bench, and comes back to start the 2nd quarter when TP is on the bench and leads that second unit and has the ball most of the time, and the same thing happens in the second half as well.

If he were to come off the bench and come into the game at the 6 minute mark of the 1st, he'd be wasted because it'd still be Tony's show in the 1st and by the time TP finally came out by the beginning of the 2nd, Manu would already be a little fatigued, playing the last half of the 1st quarter...

More or less what I wanted to post
He is the first man going to the bench. He is almost a reserve

[ShoogarBear]

Manu off the bench is an interesting though. But there's no way that would make the Spurs bench "the best in the league".

[mavsfan1000]

Manu off the bench is an interesting though. But there's no way that would make the Spurs bench "the best in the league".
Yeah that part belongs to the mavs. The spurs need 3 players off the bench to be efficient. Right now it is either Finley or Manu and that's not enough to be considered an elite bench.

[Texas_Ranger]

Why not, it would make Spurs bench stronger. With Manu, Barry, Horry, Butler, Oberto or Elson, Vaughn, Bonner and Beno Spurs bench will be one of the best in the NBA.

[ChumpDumper]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/images/groundhog_day.jpg

[timvp]

Manu off the bench is an interesting though. But there's no way that would make the Spurs bench "the best in the league".

Come playoff time when the Spurs' rotation is like 7 or 8 deep, Manu alone would trump pretty much any bench in the league.

[polandprzem]

Come playoff time when the Spurs' rotation is like 7 or 8 deep, Manu alone would trump pretty much any bench in the league.
Yeah why not, and Tim off the bench would be nice also :drunk

[TDMVPDPOY]

i say no

[spurschick]

Whatever gets us a trophy, I'm in

[diego]

I agree that it'd be for the betterment of the team.

When I watch the Spurs bench, I never feel like their is a true floor leader that is running the show. Someone needs to be out there that is agressive. Manu would excell in that role.

Also, I often feel that there just isn't enough ball for TD, TP and Manu when they're all on the floor together. Manu needs the ball in his hands to create. Or if nothing else, he needs Parker to pass him the ball to hit his jumpers. But it seemed last year that Pop told TP to go for his. He wanted him to be agressive and attack. He was succesful in it, but I feel it was harmful to Manu's game.

So many times I saw Manu open looking for the pass, and more often than not, TP tried to drive to the hole himslef, or get it into Duncan. End result was Manu not touching the ball.

Agreed, and mostly because of the second reason you gave. there just isnt enough ball/space in the paint for tim, tony and manu at the same time, and that just turns manu into a 3pt shooter- we have specialists for that. In fact I can think of maybe 5 games out of nearly 300 that both tony and manu scored over 20, its almost always one or the other, Im willing to bet those games were either OT or manu shooting 60+ from 3, otherwise theres only so many opportunities to drive and it is a zero sum game.
i dont know if sending manu to the bench is going to change that, becuase like we've all said he should play the same minutes. I think pop is pretty strict about keeping either duncan or manu in at all times, i think thats the main logic behind pop's thinking. And I also think that either for injuries or the inconsistent minutes manu was getting midseason he just barely "turned on" all his ability when we got down 3-1. Pop needs to find a way to get manu into the offense before the playoffs, and manu obviously manu needs to come through, because we're not going to win another championship with mediocre D and rebounding, and pick and rolls from parker and duncan on the other end. we have loads of shooters on our bench and i think manu is more than capable of creating shots for them (not to mention that duncan guy). we need to play to their strengths.

[beirmeistr]

It doesnt really matter cuz its not gonna happen. Manu is a top 10 SG in the league. He should not be coming off the bench.
I agree with you. Gino has earned his spot as a starter.

[midgetonadonkey]

I think he is better off of the bench. A great spark. What would it matter if he starts or not as long as he gets starter minutes?

[T Park]

Hopefully the Manu homers swallow their whatever disdain for coming off the bench and let em do it.

Do it and this team improves ten fold.


Alot of the reason for Fin's great production in the playoffs as TIMVP said, was due to Fin starting and getting into a groove and being with Duncan, and Parker out there.


Do it :tu

[SenorSpur]

Yeah that part belongs to the mavs. The spurs need 3 players off the bench to be efficient. Right now it is either Finley or Manu and that's not enough to be considered an elite bench.


You bring up a great point. The Spurs have an average to an above average bench, at best. Age and experience are valuable commodiities, but are highly overrated at times. We can only contributing role players (Oberto, Butler, Udrih) play well.

On the other hand, it's no secret the Mavs have one of the better benches in the league and unquestionably are THE deepest team. Hell, Cuban has invested millions to ensure this so. However, the deepest team doesn't always win - (see last year's NBA Finals).

[ALVAREZ6]

Should Manu Come Off The Bench? Part 7

[sa_butta]

All I will say is that at some point this season Im sure it will come to that, but in the begining, and until it stops working I think he starts. If we start a losing streak or someone gets injured, (knocks on wood) then maybe we could use the spark. Otherwise I dont see why Pop would need to do that.

[smeagol]

I say no just because TPark supports the "yes" camp :spin

[Bruno]

Another reason to put Manu on the bench is that it will more easily to have always 2 of the big 3 on the floor (and 3 at the end of the game).

If puring manu on the bench doesn't hurt is confidence, it can be a good idea.

[Spurminator]

I don't think he needs to come off the bench, but the rotation can be set in a way that he is on the floor with the "bench" unit whenever possible. Why not sub him out between the 4-6 minute mark like usual, bring Finley in, then bring Manu back whenever you sub out Duncan?

I like Manu's spark at the beginning of games as much as his spark off the bench. This way, you have both.

[smeagol]

I don't really care as long as the Spurs win.

I also hope Manu plays like int eh 05 season.

[ATX Spur]

How many insane moments have we seen where Manu grabs the opening tip and then careens toward the basket? I love seeing him start.

[v2freak]

I'd consider it

[TMTTRIO]

I don't really care as long as the Spurs win.

I also hope Manu plays like int eh 05 season.

I agree I just hope he can play well because so far this preseason he's played pretty badly (other than the Orlando game). Hopefully he'll start to get into rhythm soon.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I agree I just hope he can play well because so far this preseason he's played pretty badly (other than the Orlando game). Hopefully he'll start to get into rhythm soon.
Has he been taking more jumpshots or something?

[Samr]

Some of you need to get real. If Manu comes off the bench, how does this in any way dishonor him? The dude is clearly one of the three best players on the team. Some nights, he is the best. The Spurs, the city, and the league have all openly acknowledged his contributions.

If he is a starter, he'll get introduced at the beginning of games. If he comes off the bench, potentially, his stats will increase. And the Spurs will do better as a team.

What is a better Thank You: Being a starter, or getting a ring?

[THE SIXTH MAN]

I think he should come off the bench.