Why not play Mahinmi and Hairston?

Yep...don't understand it, particularly with Ian. I can't believe he's not getting a decent chance after his play in the NJ game.

Hypothetically speaking, consider this scenario, say the Spurs get a brand new player, Pop plays him in the next game (it could be NJ or anybody) the guy scores 15 points and has 9 rebounds in the guts of the game and looks decent doing it. He even chips in a nice block that excites the home crowd! The Spurs a win!

I don't care who it is...wouldn't you expect this player to get some meaningful time in the next game or at least some of the upcoming games to see if he could possibly duplicate the effort? Would you be disappointed if he didn't get the chance?

8 games later with no meaningful minutes, you ask yourself, what did he do wrong between games? Did he injure himself? Did he skip practice? Did he curse Pop on the team flight? Does Tim not like him and told Pop it's either me or him.

I just don't get it!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jjktkk

Yes Mahimni and Hairston have shown potential, but Pop doesn't play em, so the only logical guess to me is they haven't shown enought consistancy to get minutes from Pop. I seriously doubt Pop is ignorant enough to keep these 2 on the pine without a valid reason.

---

What was the valid reason for putting Duncan, Hill, Parker, Manu and Mason on the floor to try to get a stop on defense with 30 seconds to go in a tie game?

What was the valid reason for not playing Bowen and Hill last year until the Spurs were getting their asses kicked in the playoffs?

What was the valid reason for sitting a healthy Rasho and Nazr in 2006 after the Spurs won 63 regular season games with them?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

What was the valid reason for putting Duncan, Hill, Parker, Manu and Mason on the floor to try to get a stop on defense with 30 seconds to go in a tie game?

What was the valid reason for not playing Bowen and Hill last year until the Spurs were getting their asses kicked in the playoffs?

What was the valid reason for sitting a healthy Rasho and Nazr in 2006 after the Spurs won 63 regular season games with them?

---

Agreed. He's "out geniusing" himself.
Pop's lost it. Next thing you know he's going to tackle an opposing player on a break away dunk ala Woody Hayes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by adam8065

Pop seems to be ignorant enough to keep playing small ball:toast

---

What other option does Pop have? IMO Pop figures he has out score most teams. He knows he can't rely on the defense no more. Besides Duncan and Hill, what current Spur on the roster could make a key defensive play, lock down a player, etc. If you were an opposing player, who on this team scares you definesively? Duncan, Hill, Maybe Ratliff. No more perimeter defender like Bowen, who can lock down the Kobes, Melo's, and Lebron's of the world, or at the very least make ife miserable for em. Hill can play lockdown defense on the perimeter, but at 6'2", asking him to defend the above mentioned players is really unfair. No viable big to put along side Duncan, to defend the paint, board, or block shots. Until Pop trades for some upgrades on defense, the Spurs will continue to struggle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jjktkk

What other option does Pop have?

---

Uh, play a forward and/or a center with Timmy when you need a stop at the end of a game?

Four guards.

On the floor.

To play defense.

Two of whom are terrible defenders.

There was no Kobe, no Carmelo, no LeBron. Joakim Noah beat them. Not because he's great, but because he's tall.

If Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, Matt Bonner and Ian Mahinmi = not viable bigs, then exactly how are you asking the same coach who brought those guys in to trade for replacements?

Sombody needs to light a fire under Pop's ass as much as the players. I can't handle another "it was a tough loss, but I'm really proud of the way our guys kept fighting" post-game interview with Pop. He's lost it. He needs to get after these guys and hold them accountable. He needs to bench players (RJ) if they aren't producing on either end of the court and try a different lineup. He needs to play two bigs at a time.

Pop's making the same mistakes over and over expecting different results. This team is so frustrating. They show signs a brilliance just to tease the fans, then go right back to sucking.

that brings a question IMO.

Is Pop able to coach under those circumstances, i mean in EMERGENCY.

He's great at maintaining a quiet and efficient team, without overreaction, with a solid and consistent gameplan.

but when it really doesn't work, which could be the first time in years, is he able to find new things, new rotations or will he let this team die doing the same thing ?

i don't see Pop trying new player or new gameplan so late in the season, even if we were sure to lose with what we have now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

The question people should ask is why am I so upset about Pop not giving playing time to Mahinmi and Hairston?
Is it because they are truly great prospect?
Is it because Spurs are in nearly desperate situation?

---

Desperation. 95% of Spurs fans didn't really care about Ian or Hairston going into the season after one of the best off-seasons (not 20/20 hindsight). The players in front of them were supposed to just be plain better.

Now? After a hobbling Manu / Tony, an inept Jefferson / Dice, and an injured Fin / Bonner? After dropping a ton of games? After having a chance to miss the playoffs?

Of course they look great. In hindsight giving them early burn would of been the bestest thing ever.

Hindsight is useless. Hindsight doesn't win games, it doesn't stop wars, it doesn't cure disease, it does nothing. You gotta pick up on these things early and the fact is that only a tiny minority did. Even with that, there is still no guarantee that either are rotational NBA players (and we won't know until they get real play time). Its too late for Ian now (thanks to contract situation earlier). Hairston still has a shot.

The other part of it is this: what do we got to lose? If we are already squandering games mid-season, might as well get an idea for your talent (a few lost games from this could cost the Spurs the 8th seed, although I think they make the playoffs above that anyways)

This has been a wild season. Spoiled fans are getting a serving of humble pie. Lay down and take it or fight to the end? As long as we have Timmy D, the choice is obvious.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sabar

Its too late for Ian now (thanks to contract situation earlier). Hairston still has a shot.

---

I disagree completely about Ian. He's on the team now. That's like saying "Manu's going to leave after this season, let's just keep him on the bench." Give the fucking kid a shot at playing now that he's healthy and see if he can contribute.

And just for some perspective, Ian's played three games this season, two of which were garbage minutes, and he's still got better numbers than Antonio McDyess and Matt Bonner.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

If Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, Matt Bonner and Ian Mahinmi = not viable bigs, then exactly how are you asking the same coach who brought those guys in to trade for replacements?

---

Uh, because this group of big men are not getting the job done.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sabar

Desperation. 95% of Spurs fans didn't really care about Ian or Hairston going into the season after one of the best off-seasons (not 20/20 hindsight). The players in front of them were supposed to just be plain better.

---

No hindsight with me, I've been calling for this before this season, hell before free agency.

And it wasn't desperation, there were many objective and factual reasons to call for it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

The question people should ask is why am I so upset about Pop not giving playing time to Mahinmi and Hairston?
Is it because they are truly great prospect?
Is it because Spurs are in nearly desperate situation?

---

bingo

I wouldn't waste my time arguing with this waste of space, OV. If he had his way we'd be playing 4 guards + TD.

play Ian goddam it!!! do we have to be 5+ games out of the playoffs for Pop to start playing him????

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

It's sad because they're the 2 most athletic players on our roster, they've both showed SOME game, they both play with a lot of ENERGY, they can both play defense..it's just fucking annoying to know that you have some young guys that can play, but they can't even get on the floor..

Shit, they don't even have to get rotation minutes right away, why not give them a CHANCE?..just a chance..at least to light a fire under a bunch of guys on this team that can barely move and play with no energy at all..

---

this is the very thing that has driven me to the brink of insanity last couple seasons, tim's last years being SQUANDERED because of pops stubborn ass rotations and senseless benching of quality players that can help.