Start Boris

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Originally Posted by Jenks

Tiago was taken out of the starting lineup because of spacing problems on the offensive end, 2 guys sitting around the block allowed Ibaka to go apeshit and hand back anything the Spurs put up within 10 feet of the rim.

Unless you think Bosh, Lewis, or anyone they put in the starting lineup is going to roam and protect the rim like that, there's no reason to do this. On top of it, Tiago is the best defender on the team (in the league?) against bigs with an outside shot. After what he did to Dirk and LMA this year, putting him on Bosh is a no brainer.

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Exactly. Don't equate what happened in the '13 finals to the OKC series this year. Very different reasons for Tiago to be sitting.

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Originally Posted by Limguogolo

You only put players in the starting linup when they play good in the bad teams. There's only one ball and it's not a all start game. Keep him at the end of the game as he already does. Thinking about the starting linup it's like thinking about the score at the end of the tip-off. Well... what matters is who plays at the end to win the game. The Thunder had solved the issue: all starters needed to play 48m. Yeah, that's not basketball, that's a poster. Not a winning poster, but a linup poster. Therefore a loser issue.

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I agree. Couldn't have said it better myself

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Originally Posted by VBM

Clear move = Ayres in a suit and Daye in a jersey

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That too, tbh.

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You only put players in the starting linup when they play good in the bad teams. There's only one ball and it's not a all start game. Keep him at the end of the game as he already does. Thinking about the starting linup it's like thinking about the score at the end of the tip-off. Well... what matters is who plays at the end to win the game. The Thunder had solved the issue: all starters needed to play 48m. Yeah, that's not basketball, that's a poster. Not a winning poster, but a linup poster. Therefore a loser issue.

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You are absolutely correct, if the linup is poor, don't play with one ball, but at the end game only. Score off jumpball good. The Thunder not smart, but what matters is who has most points at finish. All teams players play long minutes have poor game. If you play to take pictures, not a good linup but a poster. Therefore everyone loses, but take a nice picture.

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Originally Posted by Old School 44

You are absolutely correct, if the linup is poor, don't play with one ball, but at the end game only. Score off jumpball good. The Thunder not smart, but what matters is who has most points at finish. All teams players play long minutes have poor game. If you play to take pictures, not a good linup but a poster. Therefore everyone loses, but take a nice picture.

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:lol

Although I don't mind seeing Splitter start, the problem with him is he coudn't even postup smaller defenders on him. He could play defense, yes, but the Heat will simply clog the lane because they know he can't create shots on his own. I'm thinking POP will start Boris, especially with how successful he was when the Spurs played the Heat last March.

I like starting Diaw as well and attack the paint early either w/ TP penetration or TD/Boris post ups. If they can force Spo to bring in Birdman early to go big then they can sub in Splitter for Diaw.

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Originally Posted by Malik Hairston

As long as Bonner doesn't start anymore, tbh..it was a cute move, but the Spurs were in a hole to begin both games that Bonner started..

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I like the move to start Bonner. If Miami continues to start Lewis then Bonner is a decent choice. Bonner should be able to cancel out Lewis while spacing the floor and keeping them from trapping p&rs while keeping Diaw with Manu, Mills & Splitter coming off the bench.

Diaw is likely going to need to play big minutes. Having Bonner eat up 12 minutes to start each half should all Diaw to only need to play about 30 mpg. Anything more and I'd start to worry about fatigue and possibly foul trouble.

Here is Boris' stat line in the Spurs 111-87 win in SA over Miami on March 6.

Boris started the game and Splitter came off the bench.

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MIN      FGM-A  3PM-A  FTM-A OREB  DREB  REB AST    STL  BLK  TO  PF    +/- PTS

  37        5-5    2-2  4-5  2    6    8  5    1      0      4    1  +23  16

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(Sorry, but I find it impossible to format this -- I think you get the idea.)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400489787

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Originally Posted by Limguogolo

You only put players in the starting linup when they play good in the bad teams. There's only one ball and it's not a all start game. Keep him at the end of the game as he already does. Thinking about the starting linup it's like thinking about the score at the end of the tip-off. Well... what matters is who plays at the end to win the game. The Thunder had solved the issue: all starters needed to play 48m. Yeah, that's not basketball, that's a poster. Not a winning poster, but a linup poster. Therefore a loser issue.

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Thats beautiful.

Bonner shouldn't see a meaningful second in this series tbh.

Spread the talent. It's not a 12-minute game

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Originally Posted by Mugen

Bonner shouldn't see a meaningful second in this series tbh.

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Stretch 4 tbh

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Originally Posted by Venti Quattro

Stretch 4 tbh

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3 big rotation + small ball tbh.

I heard somewhere that Errors might be a good rotation player in this series, chasing Bosh out the the 3!

The Spurs don't need a replacement power forward for Duncan when he retires after this seadon. They can just move Fatty into the starting lineup instead

Diaw is much better off the bench to lead the second unit, we need him off of the bench unless Splitter and Bonner have shown to be worthless in this series.

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Originally Posted by Dex

Negative. Miami struggles with bigs. Make them show that they can do something about the Duncan / Splitter combo. Then attack them with the foreign legion off the bench.

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My thoughts exactly

Nah, start Tim and Splitter until Miami makes the adjustment. Splitter can check Bosh similar to LMA, while Duncan can check Battier. Make the heat prove they can defend Tim with the smaller player first. Splitter is also going to have to man up on offense if Bosh starts checking Tim down low.

Starter or not, Boris is key for this serie. His versatility is gonna be huge for this match up, like Lebron he can play almost all position including PG. If he plays aggressive through the serie near game 6 level, I like Spurs chances tbh.

It's not who starts but who finishes.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

It's not who starts but who finishes.

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Sometimes it is who starts. If not ask Pop for the previous series.

If Miami can't defend Duncan-Splitter in the post, or Duncan-Diaw, they won't last the series. Indiana could have been much better with outside shooting alongside David West.

From the grantland article:
Parker - Manu - Kawhi - Boris - Timmy only 4 minutes in the 2013 finals.

Danny was great but that lineup should be played a lot this year

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Originally Posted by eric365

From the grantland article:
Parker - Manu - Kawhi - Boris - Timmy only 4 minutes in the 2013 finals.

Danny was great but that lineup should be played a lot this year

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Most of that article talks about how the Spurs should start Diaw and play him as much as possible.

I would like to see him sub Duncan to guard Chris Bosh. We can not use Splitter to guard non-offensive minded players like haslem or birdman. He is the reason why we won Dallas and Portland because they have offensive minded big.. Bosh is an offensive minded big. Also, Splitter plays well with Ginobili setting pick and roll.
Diaw should start, that will be beneficial for Spurs because it creates mismatches.