This was a good win for the Spurs. The thing that stood out most to me was a slight change in exactly how the Spurs' defense operated. Usually when watching the Spurs' defense, the word you have to use is "smart." They make rotations and stay in front of their men and do a lot of little things that you have to have a trained eye to even see. Against the Nuggets, when the team played it's most effective defense, the correct word was "swarming." They often double or triple teamed in the post and created a few turnovers due to their aggressiveness. They hounded Denver for extended stretches and didn't let them get comfortable.
I attribute this change to having aggressive defenders like Manu and Hill on the court more often. Both of these guys tend to get their hands on a lot of balls (no innuendos intended), and are good at using anticipation and long arms to get steals. If they can keep this up, the Spurs will have added a very important strategy to break up the monotony of the plodding, efficient defense that they're known for.
29 minutes, 11 points, four rebounds, two turnovers
4-for-14 from the field, 2-for-10 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. had a difficult time putting the ball in the basket, but overall I liked how he played. Mason didn’t hesitate to let it fly when he was open and forced the Nuggets to account for him at all times.
I really had a great time watching Ma$on looking or running around for a perfect open spot while somebody(I am not sure who that was), chasing him everywhere he goes
I'm really surprised that nobody on the broadcast team pointed out how much he looked like Reggie Miller doing that.
It's good to see people are starting to come around to my way of thinking on my boy Bonner.
One thing I didn't like was Pop leaving Tony out on the floor bareass nekkid (sans Manu or Tim) not once, but two separate stretches in the game. He almost never did that the past four years because whenever he tried it the results were predictably disastrous.
I don't think we got hurt too bad doing it against the Nuggets, and with Mason, Hill and Bonner the team is potentially deeper offensively than in the past, but still, I'd prefer to not tempt fate. For now only Manu is the one who has extensive experience playing with scrubs.
I hope this time nobody would laugh at me, when I say Bonner can be another Hedo if given the chance
though a 10ppg; 8 rbd pg in 25 min/pg is fine with me.
P.S.
BTW, that pass to TP (he did it again). Head-scratcher
I thought the Spurs would lose the game but they pulled out a flawless performance for the most part.
Kudos for a real nice flowing team game.
Do you actually like Bonner or do you just pimp him in an attempt to shut up the Scola homers?
Personally, I'd have to go with Duncan. Especially since he was 5-2 while "naked" this year.
I've had the same thought but I don't think Bonner has much more upside. He's not a skilled player. He's a 6-foot-10 guy who can shoot and usually rebound ... but that's about it. He's not like Hedo or Beno who were dripping with unrealized potential.
I think his absolute ceiling is 30 minutes a night with 13 points and 8 rebounds per game. Unlikely he can reach those marks but if he did ...... this team would really be set
That's about what Rasho put up in his contract season in Minnesota. If he were able to do that this season, the Spurs would win 60 games.I think his absolute ceiling is 30 minutes a night with 13 points and 8 rebounds per game. Unlikely he can reach those marks but if he did ...... this team would really be set
Bonner has really come around these last games. I can see now why Pop and RC gave him his contract.
The big problem is that there is no way he is capable to defend the skilled post players in the league and if Tim is going to do that he is likely to be in foul trouble very early in the game.
The ideal scenario is that Thomas find his rythm and Pop can use him when more defense in the low post is needed.
I agree that Bonner will struggle against a combo of Bynum and Gasol defensivley, but his ability to take one of them out of the paint will be huge, so if he can continue to play the way he has, he could really help the team in terms of opening up driving lanes and giving Dunca room to work against teams with two quality bigs.
That's not the ideal scenario, that's the expected scenario. It's why we brought him. Thomas's expected, mostly, to help TD defend some of the skilled bigs, rebounding and hitting a few shots here and there is just a plus.
Maybe I'm wrong but if we count on Bonner contribution to win the thing we are in big trouble
This is true. On the other hand - most championship contenders need contributions where they don't originally expect them in order to win a le.
Remember when the C's made the trade for Garnett last year? It looked like a nice little move that would give them around 50 wins and make them a compe or in the weak east - but on paper they were pretty terrible surrounding their big 3. Nobody realized that they were going to get career years from 5 or 6 different role players.
Even after that gift that some called a 'trade' last season - the Lakers don't go anywhere if Vujacic & Radmanovic don't come out of nowhere. Sasha had never shot even 40% from the floor in his entire career (and isn't this year) - but he hits 44% from 3? Vlad was arguably the laziest player in the entire league when he was in SEA/LAC. But Phil's got him staying with Manu (albeit a wounded one) defensively. If you had told Laker fans before the year that they are going to need big efficient years out of those two - they'd have thought that they were sunk.
As it is, we don't need much out of Bonner. Just high effort on the boards (very doable) and hit enough perimeter shots to keep the defense honest (over the course of the season - we'll see).
He will also struggle guarding a quick Fs, like David West (Hornets), LaMarcus Aldrige (Blazers), and Amare Stoudamire (Suns). Bonner's value will not be as a straight-up defender. However, it will come by way of his rebounding, hustle plays and from spreading the floor on the offensive end with his 3-pt shooting. If he does that consistently, it would be the closest, possible mirror of a Horry-like contribution.
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