McDonald: Matt Bonner cannot be replaced

Matt Bonner cannot be replaced
By Jeff McDonald

When you think of indispensable Spurs players, three leap immediately to mind: Tim Duncan, obviously. Manu Ginobili, certainly. Tony Parker, absolutely.

Matt Bonner? Not so much.

Yet with Bonner set to miss perhaps a month with a fractured shooting hand, it might soon become apparent how integral the pride of Concord, N.H., has become to the Spurs' second unit.

Privately, Spurs coaches are fretting with how to replace Bonner in the rotation. Publicly, the team's point guard is saying it can't be done.

"Nobody can replace Matty," Parker said.

It's an assertion that might have been laughable at this time a year ago. It is not so funny today.

Bonner is in the midst of the best season of his NBA career. He is shooting a team-leading 45.1 percent from the 3-point line, and is scoring and rebounding at a greater rate than he was last season. He is playing with stratosopheric confidence. Even his defense has improved, though he'll never be confused with Bill Russell.

What makes Bonner irreplaceable is his 3-point touch. The Spurs have no other experienced big man who can shoot it like Bonner does. He has a skill that cannot be duplicated.

"He's unique," Parker said. "The way he's playing, the way he shoots the ball. Dyess (Antonio McDyess) is a little like that, but he doesn't have the same range as Matty."

In truth, Gregg Popovich faces a conundrum with Bonner out. Either he can play a more traditional big man with the second unit, or he can use just one big man and play smaller for longer periods of time, or he could throw a few minutes at Marcus Haislip -- the one Spurs big who comes closest to approximating Bonner's range -- and see what happens.

Probably, Popovich opts for some combination of all three. One thing is sure to be certain, however: Popovich's job will be more difficult without Bonner than it was with him.

play the bigs on the bench or cut them. heck if they are that useless then they shouldn't even be on the team bench

I think this is a great opportunity for the Spurs to learn how to pound the ball inside the post instead of relying on the 3-pt shot all the time.

More time for Ratliff, Dyess and Blair. If Pop wants to have a four that can spread the floor. The answer is Jefferson, not Haislip.

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play the bigs on the bench or cut them. heck if they are that useless then they shouldn't even be on the team bench

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yeah I know. why the hell do we even have these never ever play guys. Flushing money down the toilet.

it cracks me up how everyone ignores the fact that matt bonner is one of the handful of worst defenders in the nba. i mean, he's just downright pathetic.

yet somehow, because he makes threes, he's indispensable. nevermind the fact that when he's not making threes, which is anytime the pressure is on, he hurts the spurs much more than he helps.

Nah , Pop will just have an excuse to put even more time in the small ball. All is well with him. lol

Bonner off the bench is actually valuable though, even though he isn't a great defender or interior presence..

when he makes 3 or more three-pointers in a game, the Spurs are 21-4 the last 2 seasons..when he doesn't, the Spurs are 48-38(including playoffs)..he's a very good bench player to have..

the problem is when he plays against other starter bigs..we got McDyess to do that instead, but he doesn't look like he can fill that role IMO..we'll see what happens..right now, the team will miss Bonner IMO, especially if Haislip is the replacement..

omfg....

Bonner is hurt...

It's so over for the Spurs....

:rolleyes

Bonner cannot be replaced yet Popped "doesn't know what to do with" leading rebounder/60% shooting Blair and the other bigs.

Oh how he has screwed Spursworld.

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Originally Posted by fabbs

bonner cannot be replaced yet popped "doesn't know what to do with" leading rebounder/60% shooting blair and the other bigs.

Oh how he has screwed spursworld.

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Originally Posted by init2winit

just saying all the right things, bonners a stand up guy but far from unreplaceable.

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Originally Posted by sequspur

omfg....

Bonner is hurt...

It's so over for the spurs....

:rolleyes

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the trifecta!

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Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Bonner off the bench is actually valuable though, even though he isn't a great defender or interior presence..

when he makes 3 or more three-pointers in a game, the Spurs are 21-4 the last 2 seasons..when he doesn't, the Spurs are 48-38(including playoffs)..he's a very good bench player to have..

the problem is when he plays against other starter bigs..we got McDyess to do that instead, but he doesn't look like he can fill that role IMO..we'll see what happens..right now, the team will miss Bonner IMO, especially if Haislip is the replacement..

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if we need bonner to make 3 or more 3 pointers a game we're in trouble, seeing as (by the stats you gave) he only did that in 25 games out of 111 games

I think the spurs might benefit from playing a more traditional lineup, it will be interesting to see if the other bigs bring it (especially mcdyess- its time for him to see more playing time and earn his paycheck).

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Originally Posted by init2winit

and the idiot!

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Originally Posted by draft87

the trifecta!

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Originally Posted by Fabbs

Bonner cannot be replaced yet Popped "doesn't know what to do with" leading rebounder/60% shooting Blair and the other bigs.

Oh how he has screwed Spursworld.

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Originally Posted by init2winit

Just saying all the right things, Bonners a stand up guy but far from unreplaceable.

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Originally Posted by SequSpur

omfg....

Bonner is hurt...

It's so over for the Spurs....

:rolleyes

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sorry, I should have labeled the conversation between you three, "Nitwit2Nitwit"

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Originally Posted by diego

if we need bonner to make 3 or more 3 pointers a game we're in trouble, seeing as (by the stats you gave) he only did that in 25 games out of 111 games

I think the spurs might benefit from playing a more traditional lineup, it will be interesting to see if the other bigs bring it (especially mcdyess- its time for him to see more playing time and earn his paycheck).

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I don't think we need it, I'm just saying he obviously does help our offense..

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Originally Posted by draft87

the trifecta!

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The Zero Effecta!

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init2winit and the idiot!

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:lol

draft87 aka Zero Effecta trying to support the claim Matt Bonner is irreplaceable. What a sheep.

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Originally Posted by itzsoweezee

it cracks me up how everyone ignores the fact that matt bonner is one of the handful of worst defenders in the nba. i mean, he's just downright pathetic.

yet somehow, because he makes threes, he's indispensable. nevermind the fact that when he's not making threes, which is anytime the pressure is on, he hurts the spurs much more than he helps.

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his no difference to brent barry when he was here, a liability on defense, but other areas of his game benefited us....only problem is a difference in position between the 2 players and whose playin who that night....

only thing bonner has for him is his not afraid to jack up shots when his free....he doesnt believe in the extra pass....

Bonner has been playing great with the 2nd unit and the Spurs are going to miss him. He isn't irreplacable but but this team hasn't anyone with his skill set. They are just going to have to gut this out and play with the combinations to see how best to get by until his return. Haislip may have a chance to prove something but I'm not too hopeful since he hasn't gotten hardly any minutes so far. Almost a sure sign he hasn't impressed much.

Better to get these injuries out of the way now rather than later if that is anything resembling a silver lining.

If Matt Bonner "cannot be replaced" on this squad, it's because the team has consciously made it that way. The biggest thing that can't be replaced is his familiarity with and support from the team. I have no doubt in my mind that Bonner can be replaced though, it's just other bigs with a consistent three point shot generally bring more to the table and therefor earn themselves fat contracts (Murphy, Okur, Jamison). Even still, I'd say Bonner could probably be replaced by a player in the tier of Chase Budinger or Ryan Anderson. His hustle and effort has never lacked, but for a 6-10 player he's not much of a shot blocking or defensive presence (to his credit his man-man defense has gotten much better since 06-07). A player like Robert Horry worked out near flawlessly because he averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.7 steals per game (per 36 min), whereas Bonner is at a meager 0.5 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. The statistics don't tell the whole story, but the point is Horry's defense and clutchness made his large role on our team perfectly logical. Making Bonner "irreplaceable" in our offense is asking for trouble (imo), despite him being a good locker room guy and a decent player. The way he's talked about by the team, you'd think he's got a contract extension in the bag or someshit.

Originally Posted by draft87 http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/imag...s/viewpost.gif
the trifecta!









The Zero Effecta!



init2winit and the idiot!










:lol

draft87 aka Zero Effecta trying to support the claim Matt Bonner is irreplaceable. What a sheep.





Fail.
"The Trifecta" says nothing about 'the claim'
-fart sound of fabbs opening mouth-

I knew once there was a thread about an article titled Matt Bonner cannot be replaced that the three most backward-thinking members of the board-SequSpur, Fabbs, and init2winit- would jump at the opportunity to slander Bonner....

Voila! All three of them posted one after the other! How perfectly predictable!

The part that is REALLY making me laugh is that you guys seem to know how r-tarded you are when it comes to the "We're doomed because Popovich and Buford don't realize what a basketball genius I am. If only they'd listen to my basketball wisdom we could win 82 games! ROLE PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SCORE LESS THAN 20 POINTS PER GAME OR ELSE I'M GONNA ENDLESS THREADS ABOUT TRADING THEM!" crap that you flood the board with because all I wrote was "The Trifecta" and it made you get all defensive and panty-twisty.

HOWEVER, I can't have all this fun at your expense without saying "Thank You"

Thank you for continuing to be so ignorant. It's gotten to the point that it's simply hilarious. You guys just can't let it go. Bonner(and Finley, or whoever is playing mediocre or less during the current week) is the anti-christ to your Spurs fantasy world and it's killing you inside. You've turned into self-hating Spurs freaks having nervous breakdowns in "public". My life is so much more enjoyable knowing that someone like you is having a much worse time than I am. Inconsistent 14-10 seasons are frustrating but at least I know how the game is played.

By all means, please keep canceling your appointments with the psychiatrist and continue writing about Matt Bonner and the Apocalypse.
We're having a great time at your expense.

:lmao:downspin::lmao

Why do people in here say haslip, mahinimi or hairston suck? Hell, we never see them play.

Whether Bonner is indispensible or not, draft 87 is owning people in this thread.

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Originally Posted by TDMVPDPOY

his no difference to brent barry when he was here, a liability on defense, but other areas of his game benefited us....only problem is a difference in position between the 2 players and whose playin who that night....

only thing bonner has for him is his not afraid to jack up shots when his free....he doesnt believe in the extra pass....

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To that end, Bonner is not much different than Barry of Finley. I will give Bonner credit in that he's younger and has the heart and desire of a lion. He's not much on athletic skill and will never even be a good defender, but he will hustle. Finley, on the other hand, was once an athletic freak, and could've been a better defender and rebounder in his prime. Now he has just morphed into a one-trick pony, who add nothing if he's not hitting his outside shot.

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Originally Posted by galvatron3000

play the bigs on the bench or cut them. heck if they are that useless then they shouldn't even be on the team bench

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I agree.

Had this injury happened a week ago, Pop could've possible made a move to resign Anthony Tolliver. Seeing as how Pop is hell-bent on finding the spread-the-floor, shooting big (the next Robert Horry), perhaps this move would've made sense for him again. Of course, the Blazers signed him last week.

Come on SenorSpur are you suggesting that Tolliver is > Haislip? :wow

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Originally Posted by urunobili

Come on SenorSpur are you suggesting that Tolliver is > Haislip? :wow

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Not at all, it's just I think Pop would probably be more inclined to like and trust him a bit more. After all, Tolliver played earned some meaningful minutes early last season for Pop. Haislip hasn't played.

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Originally Posted by draft87

HOWEVER, I can't have all this fun at your expense without saying "Thank You"

Thank you for continuing to be so ignorant. It's gotten to the point that it's simply hilarious. You guys just can't let it go. Bonner(and Finley, or whoever is playing mediocre or less during the current week) is the anti-christ to your Spurs fantasy world and it's killing you inside. You've turned into self-hating Spurs freaks having nervous breakdowns in "public". My life is so much more enjoyable knowing that someone like you is having a much worse time than I am. Inconsistent 14-10 seasons are frustrating but at least I know how the game is played.

By all means, please keep canceling your appointments with the psychiatrist and continue writing about Matt Bonner and the Apocalypse.
We're having a great time at your expense.

:lmao:downspin::lmao

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Maybe you ought to call yours and ask for an adjustment in medications. You live to enjoy the misery of others? Yes, I think you should make an appointment real soon.

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Originally Posted by draft87

HOWEVER, I can't have all this fun at your expense without saying "Thank You"

Thank you for continuing to be so ignorant. It's gotten to the point that it's simply hilarious. You guys just can't let it go. Bonner(and Finley, or whoever is playing mediocre or less during the current week) is the anti-christ to your Spurs fantasy world and it's killing you inside. You've turned into self-hating Spurs freaks having nervous breakdowns in "public". My life is so much more enjoyable knowing that someone like you is having a much worse time than I am. Inconsistent 14-10 seasons are frustrating but at least I know how the game is played.

By all means, please keep canceling your appointments with the psychiatrist and continue writing about Matt Bonner and the Apocalypse.
We're having a great time at your expense.

:lmao:downspin::lmao

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exactly.

he is a big security blanket for that player who wants to pass out of the double team. others are going to have to step up their permiter shooting.

though Bonner has a valuable skill set, I have to question if it is a necessary skill set for this team. We have gotten away from what made us a near dynasty, defense, and Matt Bonner is a liability in this area.

I don't discredit his heart and I love to see him diving for loose balls and playing hard when in the game, but there are guys like that in the league that get paid a lot less and play better defense.

It's great that he spreads the floor and all, but shouldn't Ginobili, Jefferson, Mason, Finley, Hill, Bogans and Parker be enough threats out of a double team to keep a defense honest?

Let's let him get healthy, get this team to gel over the next month and then ship him out while he has value.

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Originally Posted by RiverwalkParade

though Bonner has a valuable skill set, I have to question if it is a necessary skill set for this team. We have gotten away from what made us a near dynasty, defense, and Matt Bonner is a liability in this area.

I don't discredit his heart and I love to see him diving for loose balls and playing hard when in the game, but there are guys like that in the league that get paid a lot less and play better defense.

It's great that he spreads the floor and all, but shouldn't Ginobili, Jefferson, Mason, Finley, Hill, Bogans and Parker be enough threats out of a double team to keep a defense honest?

Let's let him get healthy, get this team to gel over the next month and then ship him out while he has value.

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Matt Bonner's defense isn't as much of a liability now that he's playing in the 2nd unit. And he's improved his rebounding at least. But where he excels is the fact that he's the perfect big-man to pair up with Blair in the 2nd unit. The opposing teams' big can't lay off him on the 3pt line and this just opens the entire middle up for Blair to wreak havoc. It's a devastating duo and presents a nightmare for opposing teams.

He's part of what has made that 2nd unit so deadly this year.

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Originally Posted by TJastal

Matt Bonner's defense isn't as much of a liability now that he's playing in the 2nd unit. And he's improved his rebounding at least. But where he excels is the fact that he's the perfect big-man to pair up with Blair in the 2nd unit. The opposing teams' big can't lay off him on the 3pt line and this just opens the entire middle up for Blair to wreak havoc. It's a devastating duo and presents a nightmare for opposing teams.

He's part of what has made that 2nd unit so deadly this year.

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Excellent point. As one of the best 3pt shooters in the league it has to draw out the other big.

lol red rocket

Isn't this where all that depth that we've been crowing about since Sept is supposed to come into play?

We have some big men on the bench who have to be used.

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Originally Posted by itzsoweezee

it cracks me up how everyone ignores the fact that matt bonner is one of the handful of worst defenders in the nba. i mean, he's just downright pathetic.

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I don't think everyone shares your opinions on Bonner.

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Originally Posted by TJastal

Matt Bonner's defense isn't as much of a liability now that he's playing in the 2nd unit. And he's improved his rebounding at least. But where he excels is the fact that he's the perfect big-man to pair up with Blair in the 2nd unit. The opposing teams' big can't lay off him on the 3pt line and this just opens the entire middle up for Blair to wreak havoc. It's a devastating duo and presents a nightmare for opposing teams.

He's part of what has made that 2nd unit so deadly this year.

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Offensively, yes.

Defensively? Neither man can protect the rim effectively enough for this to be viable for more than short stints.