Monroe: Bonner Earns Start, Then Loses His Aim

[duncan228]

Some new here.

Bonner earns start, then loses his aim
By Mike Monroe

About an hour before sending his eighth different starting lineup of the young season out for Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons at AT&T Center, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Matt Bonner’s play — mostly his 3-point shooting accuracy — had earned him additional court time.

In fact, it earned Bonner a spot in the starting lineup, with Fabricio Oberto going to the bench.

“Matt has really taken advantage of the minutes he’s gotten in the absence of Robert Horry,” Popovich said before tipoff. “He’s had a fine year and played very, very well, which was really welcome for us, because he was someone we needed for that shooting (power forward). He’s done a wonderful job.”

After missing 4 of 5 3-point attempts Tuesday, Bonner wonders if he has squandered his coach’s confidence.

“I had good looks, and I took them with confidence,” he said. They were just in and out. I wasn’t alone. We needed one of us to get hot, and nobody could.”

Indeed, the Spurs had one of their worst 3-point shooting games of the season, making only 6 of 24 from beyond the arc. Only a 2-for-17 3-point performance (in a home loss to the Nuggets on Nov. 19) was worse.

Bonner was as disappointed as any of his teammates about the Spurs’ meek response to the Pistons’ physical play in the second half, but retained some perspective about his shooting.

“I’d like to say it’s disappointing, but some nights, the shot just doesn’t go in,” he said. I can’t beat myself up because I had an off shooting night. The important thing is to stay with it, and we’ve got another game in two days.

“You have to remember: They can’t go in if you don’t take them.”

Mahinmi recalled: The Spurs brought second-year big man Ian Mahinmi up from their Austin Toros NBA Development League team, but don’t expect to see him in uniform for a while.

“I don’t even think about working Ian into the lineup,” Popovich said. “He’ll be in street clothes. He’s only here to monitor his rehab.”

Mahinmi missed the entire preseason with a badly sprained right ankle, and was sent to Austin for conditioning. He played in two of the Toros’ preseason games and Friday’s regular-season opener, but rolled his left ankle.

Rookie forward Anthony Tolliver was assigned to the Toros.

Oh, my darling: Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, who holds the NBA record for technical fouls in a season, with 41, earned his fourth technical of this season in the third quarter.

Later, Wallace suggested his technical fired up his teammates, and there seemed to be little question it inspired him. He scored 11 of his 19 points in the final period.

Wallace suggested the referees were feeding the Spurs some “home cooking” with their call of the game.

“I knew how it was going to be,” he said. “I didn’t want our team to fall into that. We know how the game is going to go against the darlings of the league.”

[whottt]

Oh, my darling: Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, who holds the NBA record for technical fouls in a season, with 41, earned his fourth technical of this season in the third quarter.

Later, Wallace suggested his technical fired up his teammates, and there seemed to be little question it inspired him. He scored 11 of his 19 points in the final period.

Wallace suggested the referees were feeding the Spurs some “home cooking” with their call of the game.

“I knew how it was going to be,” he said. “I didn’t want our team to fall into that. We know how the game is going to go against the darlings of the league.”

Asshat.

[Blackjack]

“I knew how it was going to be,” he said. “I didn’t want our team to fall into that. We know how the game is going to go against the darlings of the league.”

Now I know the dude's certifiable.

[SenorSpur]

Live by the 3-ball, die by the three-ball. Have to have a backup plan.

[ShoogarBear]

Live by the 3-ball, die by the three-ball. Have to have a backup plan.

Another low-post option would be a good backup plan.

[SenorSpur]

Another low-post option would be a good backup plan.

Amen

[Blackjack]

Amen

Udoka for Diogu?

[Anti.Hero]

lol darlings ftmfw.

[benefactor]

Looks like shipping away Bonner's motivation to play well wasn't such a great idea after all.

[Brazil]

that's so truth.
The thing is: With TD being the ONLY scoring threath in the paint, there's no plan B.
Mahinmi wont be a plan B,if that's what you're all thinking, so think more.

TP is a threat in the paint : he scores a lot in the paint, same for Manu. We need Ian grab rebounds, blocks some shot, hustle, efforts that's all. We have won les without two bigs scoring in a consistent way in the paint.

[Bender]

last night at the beginning of the game when I saw Bonner was starting, I knew Pop jinxed him...

[SenorSpur]

TP is a threat in the paint : he scores a lot in the paint, same for Manu. We need Ian grab rebounds, blocks some shot, hustle, efforts that's all. We have won les without two bigs scoring in a consistent way in the paint.

I'm talking about a backup player, who can go down on the block, with his back to the basket, turn and score from inside. Or pass out to the perimieter shooters for open looks. The offensive flow was poor, even with Duncan on the court. It's was exceedingly worse when he sat the bench.

[Solid D]

Another low-post option would be a good backup plan.

For some reason, Pop forsook subs uting Timmy out for the first 13 or 14 minutes of the game. Pop could have brought in Kurt Thomas. He didn't...and so Timmy missed his usual 'rest shift" and pulled double duty for a whole quarter plus a couple of minutes. Or should I say Pop skipped it?

Why, I'm not sure, but it made for a nice first half for Duncan.

When the Spurs didn't knock down their shots, it became easy to double Timmy in the second half. As for Kurt, was he injured or being punished?

So, I agree with Shoog that another low-post option would be good, however, Pop has to use him.

[remingtonbo2001]

that's so truth.
The thing is: With TD being the ONLY scoring threath in the paint, there's no plan B.
Mahinmi wont be a plan B,if that's what you're all thinking, so think more.

Plan B was supposed to be Splitter. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. It's not like low post scoring options are just lying around to be picked up on waivers.

[SenorSpur]

Plan B was supposed to be Splitter. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. It's not like low post scoring options are just lying around to be picked up on waivers.

That's true, but this isn't the first season the Spurs have had only 1 low post scoring option. It's almost as though Pop isn't that concerned with having Duncan as the single point of low post offense.

[Brazil]

I'm talking about a backup player, who can go down on the block, with his back to the basket, turn and score from inside. Or pass out to the perimieter shooters for open looks. The offensive flow was poor, even with Duncan on the court. It's was exceedingly worse when he sat the bench.

Well I don't know for me the B plan for another big scoring option is not so crucial. IMO what we need is Ian rebounds, blocks and energy, for the rest we have TP, Manu and Hill that can provide us points in the paint. This the reason why the being aggressive thing for the our guards is so important. Besides one of the other positive thing of this group is that it seems that we are going to shoot more FTs than last years.
The risk of course is when TD has an off night or an injury but it's quite unusual to see TD with two bad straight games and for the injury well I guess that in this case our chances will be anyway near 0 with or without a B plan.

[hater]

so everytime Bonner has a good game he wil be starting for Spurs next game?????

this is ing bull . Bonner is not NBA material, much less starting NBA material. how the he got so many minutes last night????

this team has no chance vs. anyone if Bonner plays that many minutes

[hater]

plan B???

we are on plan F! and now need a plan G

splitter = fail
scola = fail
Ian = fail
Bonner, Udoka, Thomas = fail

[Dex]

Mahinmi missed the entire preseason with a badly sprained right ankle, and was sent to Austin for conditioning. He played in two of the Toros’ preseason games and Friday’s regular-season opener, but rolled his left ankle.

This dude is not a basketball player. He is a 7 foot faberge egg.

[Indazone]

Two Words

SCOLA THREAD!!

[YODA]

Gonna give pop some bad press on this game.

Ok, Im sure Pop new Detroit would be physical or noticed it duruing game.. o..dont we have a physical guy in Thomas???? and he get the DNP.

Some of the lineups at end of game concerned me too. Jacque, bowen, bonner, oberto, manu. Yikes, Saw one play where all 5 werearound basket and only one piston and they still didnt get the rebound.

Im still one to think we need a physical inside presence or will be a short playoffs.
If thomas is hurt, I wish they would post it or something, I just dont understand whats up with him.

Oberto Still has good rotations, but dam, look to score when you get the ball a few times.

I would have liked to seen
Hill more then 6 min. Why not give him Jacques min?? That would have at least givem him 11 min.

One last thought. Spurs basketball isnot jacking up 24 3 point attempts a game. If were over 12 attempts a game, its to much. currently, were jacking up 3's and a crazy pace.

Just Yodas Observations

[Solid D]

One last thought. Spurs basketball isnot jacking up 24 3 point attempts a game. If were over 12 attempts a game, its to much. currently, were jacking up 3's and a crazy pace.

Just Yodas Observations

Twelve 3-point attempts would be extremely low and very non-Spurs.

I'm not sure if you realize this, Yoda, but the Spurs averaged 19.6 3-point attempts in 2007-08. They launched 19 per game in their last championship season.

[T Park]

That's true, but this isn't the first season the Spurs have had only 1 low post scoring option. It's almost as though Pop isn't that concerned with having Duncan as the single point of low post offense.

Find him one thats available and I'm sure he'd get one.

You armchair GMs act like its so goddamn easy to go out and just find these ing players.

[T Park]

so everytime Bonner has a good game he wil be starting for Spurs next game?????

this is ing bull . Bonner is not NBA material, much less starting NBA material. how the he got so many minutes last night????

this team has no chance vs. anyone if Bonner plays that many minutes

So that 17 points he put up against the Rockets wasn't any good?

Have you been paying one ing bit of attention lately to how well Bonner has played?

Dude also pulled down 9 rebounds and played good defense as well last night.


Get a clue.

[benefactor]

So that 17 points he put up against the Rockets wasn't any good?

Have you been paying one ing bit of attention lately to how well Bonner has played?

Dude also pulled down 9 rebounds and played good defense as well last night.


Get a clue.

Except when he missed a critical rotation...leaving a shooter open...late in game when it really matters.