Spurs big men: As it stands now

[lurker23]

Duncan/Bonner/Mahinmi
Oberto/Thomas

Surprisingly, I'm very optimistic about this lineup. Obviously we will see Duncan and Oberto/Thomas in the starting lineup (I suspect we'll see both throughout the year, with Oberto starting opening night), but this also means we'll see solid minutes for Bonner and/or Mahinmi. Here's how I see it breaking down during the regular season:

(There are 96 minutes per game to distribute; for the sake of simplicity, let's distribute 90 minutes, assuming Pop goes to Udoka or Gist at the small ball 4 for an average of 6 minutes a game.)

Duncan - 34 minutes per game
Oberto - 19 mpg
Thomas -19 mpg
Bonner/Mahinmi - 18 mpg

I personally think Oberto/Thomas is the best "two-headed center" we've had since we started using the concept after Robinson's retirement, but I'm also excited about Bonner and Mahinmi getting a chance to prove themselves on the court. I've always been someone who felt that Bonner can be a solid contributor for this team if given decent minutes, and I also feel that Mahinmi needs to be thrown into the fire a bit early in the season.

Obviously many of you are not as optimistic about Bonner as I am, and if Pop agrees with you he will either be benched or traded. How does everyone else see the rotation working out?

[xtremesteven33]

id rather have garbajosa than bonner

[Marcus Bryant]

Oberto's minutes will take a hit next season.

[silk]

It will depen on mahinmi, i feel like he can play a lot better than in summer leagues, he seemed kind of bored at times

[Marcus Bryant]

If all 5 see regular minutes:
Duncan 34 min
Thomas 20 min
Oberto 15 min
Mahinmi 15 min
Bonner 12 min

4 man rotation:
Duncan 35 min
Thomas 21 min
Oberto 20 min
Mahinmi 20 min

[PDXSpursFan]

This is what I expect:

Duncan - 34
Thomas - 20
Oberto - 20
Bonner - garbage time
Mahinmi - back to NBDL (not ready yet)

[bigdog]

I hope Oberto gets the out of here in a trade.

[Marcus Bryant]

This is what I expect:

Duncan - 34
Thomas - 20
Oberto - 20
Bonner - garbage time
Mahinmi - back to NBDL (not ready yet)

22 minutes of "garbage time" a night?

Mahinmi's on the active roster next season.

[mrspurs]

I hope Oberto gets the out of here in a trade.

just dont see it happening but ya never know....fab's gonna do fab stuff,tip the ball, make a good pass here or there, miss an easy layup or put back...if these are the big boys we go with, imo the FO is gonna wear timmy down like the oilers did earl campbell....

[Marcus Bryant]

How is Mahinmi any less ready than any other 21 year old bigman out there? Yes, he's not polished. Few are. Spurs fans seem to think "going young" entails adding 1st pick overall, no doubt, All-NBA 1st team in their rookie year kind of players.

[ducks]

How is Mahinmi any less ready than any other 21 year old bigman out there? Yes, he's not polished. Few are. Spurs fans seem to think "going young" entails adding 1st pick overall, no doubt, All-NBA 1st team in their rookie year kind of players.

I wish spur fans had nash when he was a rookie

[usckk]

How is Mahinmi any less ready than any other 21 year old bigman out there? Yes, he's not polished. Few are. Spurs fans seem to think "going young" entails adding 1st pick overall, no doubt, All-NBA 1st team in their rookie year kind of players.

Haha, true. It's just hard for Spurs fans to realize this because we hardly every play true young players. For the past few years, our "rookies" were like 29 years old players, a la Oberto and Scola.

[kobyz]

Duncan - 32
Thomas - 22
Mahinmi - 22
Oberto - 10
Gist - 10
Bonner - 0

[Solid D]

James Gist!

[Kori Ellis]

Duncan - 32
Thomas - 20
Oberto - 20
Mahinmi - 14-16
Small ball PF - 8-10

[urunobili]

id rather have garbajosa than bonner

+1

[Hemotivo]

so you guys see Ian playin' for the Spurs the next season?

no more Toros?

[DROB4EVER]

so you guys see Ian playin' for the Spurs the next season?

no more Toros?

He will play from game one next year.

[manufor3]

so you guys see Ian playin' for the Spurs the next season?

no more Toros?

i see gist going for a little toro time

[DROB4EVER]

i see gist going for a little toro time

Yes he will likely see alot of toro time. I would like to see him give us 8mpg but the way pops is with young guys I dont see it happening.

[Nbadan]

Giving up on Bonner so soon?

[wildchild]

Duncan - 32
Thomas - 20
Oberto - 20
Mahinmi - 14-16
Small ball PF - 8-10

I don't sure. W/O Horry I think Matt'll play more and more.

fab's gonna do fab stuff,tip the ball, make a good pass here or there, miss an easy layup or put back

Agree but with FG%60 I won't see he miss a lot baskets.

[Solid D]

I see Gist as one of the Bigs, now. It's premature, perhaps, but unless James Gist really flops in training camp in October, I think James makes the Spurs a better team - based on what I saw of him in SL play. There have been times over the past couple of seasons when the Spurs needed to disrupt and pressure their opponents with their bench and the Spurs weren't really able to do it. With G-Hill and Gist, I could see how the Spurs could give their starters a rest, pressure full court and do some things. Both of these guys are ball hawks, they get their hands on a lot of balls, and they get after it defensively. Pop resorted to "hack-a-player" in the playoffs in order to disrupt the flow and it worked to some degree. As immobile as Robert Horry had become laterally, it became difficult for him to be effective in presses after scores. He was also a liability on screen/roll switches. Gist could be an ideal replacement for Robert in these situations (not all situations of course)...much better than Matt Bonner has shown.

In my opinion, the Spurs have just drafted two gems. The Spurs can now potentially get some bench stops and run-stops with the likes of Udoka, Gist and Hill. Now if Mason can play better team D than Brent Barry did, opponents won't be shooting .450, and Spurs fans will see defense return to San Antonio.

[urunobili]

Giving up on Bonner so soon?

he had his chances already... if he was good enough to make this team he would have played last playoffs.... he is trade bait fodder now

[wijayas]

I see Gist as one of the Bigs, now. It's premature, perhaps, but unless James Gist really flops in training camp in October, I think James makes the Spurs a better team - based on what I saw of him in SL play. There have been times over the past couple of seasons when the Spurs needed to disrupt and pressure their opponents with their bench and the Spurs weren't really able to do it. With G-Hill and Gist, I could see how the Spurs could give their starters a rest, pressure full court and do some things. Both of these guys are ball hawks, they get their hands on a lot of balls, and they get after it defensively. Pop resorted to "hack-a-player" in the playoffs in order to disrupt the flow and it worked to some degree. As immobile as Robert Horry had become laterally, it became difficult for him to be effective in presses after scores. He was also a liability on screen/roll switches. Gist could be an ideal replacement for Robert in these situations (not all situations of course)...much better than Matt Bonner has shown.

In my opinion, the Spurs have just drafted two gems. The Spurs can now potentially get some bench stops and run-stops with the likes of Udoka, Gist and Hill. Now if Mason can play better team D than Brent Barry did, opponents won't be shooting .450, and Spurs fans will see defense return to San Antonio.

Amen!