Bowen needs to start

But we aren't living in the past.

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Originally Posted by goodenready

If we are living in the past, well in that case Finley used to be a great scorer, one problem he got old. Matt Bonner used to be a great 12th man, he's a starter now, I'll let you think about that one. :lobt2:

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what does that have to do with Bowen? Finley is in great shape and playing well, if he wasn't he'd be on the bench right next to Bowen.

Lets make one thing clear. The Spurs stand no chance of beating the Lakers if Kobe is being guarded by Mason, Finley, or Hill. None. The idea of bringing Bowen off the bench after Kobe has gotten into a rhythm is laughable.

Finley Scored 25 points against the Lakers-I wonder who won that game.

I agree. Bowen needs to find an offensive rhythm and know how to defend the guy he's up against early in the game.

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Originally Posted by dastrey

lets make one thing clear. The spurs stand no chance of beating the lakers if kobe is being guarded by mason, finley, or hill. None. The idea of bringing bowen off the bench after kobe has gotten into a rhythm is laughable.

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+1

Finley and Bonner really lit it up against Boston - 7pts each

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Originally Posted by Spursfan092120

You must have not been a fan for very long. First off, nobody knows why Pop hasn't played Bruce much this year..that's a mystery. Bruce IS a defensive monster. I would say being up for defensive player of the year every year and when Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady say you're the best perimeter defender in the game is pretty damn good, if you ask me. And you tell me something..I love RMJ, but how many clutch playoff threes has Mason hit, and how many has Bruce hit. Go ahead, I'll wait...................

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+1

I'd change the C in the OP from Gooden to Bonner/Fab/KT. Gooden is too similar in his O game to Tim, he'd get in TDs way. Hope Matt can keep boarding the way he has recently, and hit half of the rest of his 3s. Then I'd be fine with him starting in the POs.

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Originally Posted by Manufan909

+1
Gooden is too similar in his O game to Tim, he'd get in TDs way.

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Just because a post player has a post up game doesn't mean he can't fit in with Duncan on the floor. Gooden has the ability to knock down the midrange just as well as Kurt and Bonner when Duncan is on the low block. Spurs offense has the post players in the same spots offensively except for bonner. So if Kurt and Oberto can play with Duncan, so can Gooden. I think the reason why you put Gooden with the second unit is because he's the only other big man outside of Tim that can create his own offense. Gooden just needs to find his shot selection with this team. With that I would love to see Goodens aggressiveness on the floor 25 plus minutes April 18th.

I think Bowen should start against teams like Boston, Cleveland, etc. -- defensively oriented teams. Against a team like LA though, I think Pop has abandoned the idea of playing 5 v 4 offensively. Of course, Bowen can hit the corner 3 and some other stuff, but we all know he is an offensive liability. Against some teams we can afford that and he gives us an advantage, like with Boston, because if you can take away Pierce or Allen they are going to really struggle for points whereas LA has so many offensive weapons you have to have 5 players with offensive abilities as well or you are going to fail offensively.

I think this is compounded by the way LA plays defense. They like to put Kobe on the team's weakest jump shooter and he will leave that player and help on others, in our case, Timmy and TP. He'll do this until he gets really, really burned by the guy he left. They did this against Rondo in the Finals and its a big reason why Boston had some trouble keeping Rondo on the floor - because the help Kobe was able to give to others caused them more problems.

Now I don't mean to say Bruce shouldn't play at all against LA, but I think Pop is trying to keep a more offensively-oriented rotation out there against them. That being said, I think Bruce is invaluable against Boston and should see serious minutes against everyone but LA, and sometimes even then.

I think Pop is bringing him off the bench because Finley is bad off the bench and Pop believes Bruce is better at coming in cold and being effective.

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Just because a post player has a post up game doesn't mean he can't fit in with Duncan on the floor. Gooden has the ability to knock down the midrange just as well as Kurt and Bonner when Duncan is on the low block. Spurs offense has the post players in the same spots offensively except for bonner. So if Kurt and Oberto can play with Duncan, so can Gooden. I think the reason why you put Gooden with the second unit is because he's the only other big man outside of Tim that can create his own offense. Gooden just needs to find his shot selection with this team. With that I would love to see Goodens aggressiveness on the floor 25 plus minutes April 18th.

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Gooden's not ready to play major minutes yet. He's still kinda lost out there on defense.

If Bowens gonna start any series its gonna have to be against the Lakers.

Popovich and the Spurs have had a long history of making unlikely role players into an important piece of the puzzle. Bowen has been one of these pieces for a long time. With that willingness to give people a chance what makes you think Pop is making a big mistake by benching Bowen...? Don't you think that one of Popovich's stalwarts of the past must be doing something detrimental to the team to be relegated to the bench? Don't you think he might be slipping a bit and be unable to do his task on the court as effectively as in the past for Popovich, the man who gave him a shot despite his obvious offensive limitations to bench him?

I watch a fair amount of Spurs games and indeed i've seen Bowen have many average defensive games where he no longer harrasses an opponent into submission. He's not playing bad defense but he's not playing elite defense more often then now, and that is what we need from him to deserve a starting spot. He had a fantastic game against Boston but that really is the exception to the rule.

Bowen is a player that Popovich has trusted a lot in the past, and due to that I don't think he would bench him without good reason to believe it would help the team. I think that Popovich knows these particulars a little better then message board backseat drivers.

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Originally Posted by __JaG__

A week ago Bowen was supposedly old, washed up, and needed to be benched....now he's supposed to be the Spurs best option as a starter?

The guy had a great game, but he's a huge liability when it comes to the offense. I like that he's being used to come off the bench and harass guys like Pierce, Allen, and possibly Kobe (in the PO)...that's his role right now and that's where he's best.

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Nope Bruce needs more court time. Whether he is starting or coming in off the bench I don't care as long as he gets more court time. I'm seeing some Spurs defense out there and that is great.

What good are those offensive players if they aren't producing on offense or playing solid defense?

If I had it my way my starting 5 for the Playoffs would be TP, Mason, Bowen, TD, and Thomas.

My starting five would be...

Tony Parker
Roger Mason
Michael Finley
Tim Duncan
Kurt Thomas

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Originally Posted by Spursfan092120

You must have not been a fan for very long. First off, nobody knows why Pop hasn't played Bruce much this year..that's a mystery. Bruce IS a defensive monster. I would say being up for defensive player of the year every year and when Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady say you're the best perimeter defender in the game is pretty damn good, if you ask me. And you tell me something..I love RMJ, but how many clutch playoff threes has Mason hit, and how many has Bruce hit. Go ahead, I'll wait...................

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Good post.

I'm trying not to bash Mason Jr too much here, but all Mason has proved at this point is pretty much all Hedo did up to this point when here was here. Hedo started going cold before the playoffs and was totally useless for us when it came to money time in the playoffs.

I think Roger is a bit tougher than Hedo so I hope he can turn it around and get his shot back. He's gotta play better defense though. That is the big thing with Roger. His defense MUST improve and he can't keep reaching in a drawing stupid fouls. That is not good defense.

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Originally Posted by Ice009

Good post.

I'm trying not to bash Mason Jr too much here, but all Mason has proved at this point is pretty much all Hedo did up to this point when here was here. Hedo started going cold before the playoffs and was totally useless for us when it came to money time in the playoffs.

I think Roger is a bit tougher than Hedo so I hope he can turn it around and get his shot back. He's gotta play better defense though. That is the big thing with Roger. His defense MUST improve and he can't keep reaching in a drawing stupid fouls. That is not good defense.

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Roger Mason Jr. is waaaay better than Hedo when he was here...

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Originally Posted by dastrey

Bowen would replace Finley, not Mason. It is funny how Bruce's offense is a liability but yet Udoka gets a free pass for being worse. Bowen is useless on the bench. Starting Bowen will make the Spurs better defensively and will make our bench better with Finley.

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That could work. Bench Michael and start Bruce and Roger. Michael in the second unit would help space the floor for Manu and also give Manu two solid options to pass off to. Manu can pass it off to Gooden inside or Michael outside. I think that would be a deadly combination for a second unit.

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Originally Posted by crc21209

Roger Mason Jr. is waaaay better than Hedo when he was here...

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How is he way better? Mason's 3 point percentage has gone right down. Hedo was near the top in the league and then finished at .419 percent after he went cold at the end of the season. Last time I looked Roger's percentage was pretty close to what Hedo finished at.

Like I said though I think Roger is tougher than Hedo and can turn it around, but offense by itself is not enough. He's gotta get better and play smarter on the defensive end too.

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Originally Posted by VI_Massive

Gooden's not ready to play major minutes yet. He's still kinda lost out there on defense.

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You noticed how i said on April 18th not March 21st, right?

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Originally Posted by crc21209

Roger Mason Jr. is waaaay better than Hedo when he was here...

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I disagree. I actually thought Hedo brought more than just shooting to the table when he was here. Hedo could actually finish around the rim and he played better defense.

Look at the statement in my sig...MORE BRUCE, MORE WINS-PERIOD.

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Originally Posted by Ice009

That could work. Bench Michael and start Bruce and Roger. Michael in the second unit would help space the floor for Manu and also give Manu two solid options to pass off to. Manu can pass it off to Gooden inside or Michael outside. I think that would be a deadly combination for a second unit.

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Very good thought. Michael has shown that he is a professional and would keep the second squad dangerous.

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Originally Posted by silverblackfan

Very good thought. Michael has shown that he is a professional and would keep the second squad dangerous.

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Very dangerous. That gives Manu a good three point shooter and an inside presence. I think that will really open it up for him. If KT stays on the bench too then Manu can hit him for that mid range J. That second unit could be lethal. Let's get everyone back and do it.