It's funny when everyone is ing about Bonner not getting enough minutes when he played almost half an hour. Just goes to show you how far he's come. We all used to dread Bonner starting, now I dread Fab getting back in the starting lineup, because I seriuosly doubt he'll have earned it, and Bonner won't have done anything to lose it, Pop will just wake up one day and realize he is starting Matt. Hope Matt can keep on this role, when he plays like Horry(without the shot blocking or clutchness), he is the missing piece of the puzzle.
Now the Spurs just need Ian for athleticism and shot blocking and they're good. I really hope Pop can get away from small ball once Ian is back, there isn't enough minutes for 4 bigs as is, and the way KT and Fab are playing, I don't want them out of the rotation if it can be helped.
Hey timvp, this isn't related to the post I quoted, but whatever. Out of the next 7 games, how many have a big center/PF that Pop would need more of KT for?^ Interesting post
What do you think of Mason? He plays with an Horry-esque calmness about him. He seems to be that type of low energy player who you claim is clutch. Plus he seems to have swagger.
But from your previous posts it doesn't appear as if you like him for some reason . . . .
Actually none. The closest would be Sacramento but their bigs play on the perimeter. KT probably won't get extended time until Christmas in Phoenix.
Timberwolves - Al Jefferson/Craig Smith
Orlando - Dwight
Toronto - Oneal
Sac - Spencer Hawes, Sheldon Williams and Brad
bonner's trade value will never be this high again. i highly doubt he has the mentality to be part of the lineup that finishes games and therefore he will not be part of the playoff rotation. trade him if he can't demonstrate that he can close out games. pop hasn't given him the chance maybe because he already knows bonner doesn't have the mentality to make clutch plays.
Thanks both of yous guys.
Too bad for KT, he's a good specialist to have, but for the next 2 weeks his return to form will be stunted.
KT can guard Al Jefferson down low for a while, same with JO and and spot time with Dwight Howard and I would not be surprised to see him get more minutes in those games than he normally gets (especially if Oberto is not playing well or bonner)
^ Interesting post
What do you think of Mason? He plays with an Horry-esque calmness about him. He seems to be that type of low energy player who you claim is clutch. Plus he seems to have swagger.
But from your previous posts it doesn't appear as if you like him for some reason . . . .
I just don't know enough about him. I could see him being from the Jack or Kerr school of if you leave him open he will kill you...he's got better handles than Jack and more ability than Kerr...but he does seem to need to be open to hit his 3's. You'd think Barry would have belonged in this group but he really didn't...Barry wasn't always that good when he was left open, and he tended to shoot better under pressure. The problem was he didn't like to shoot under pressure...but he usually made them when he did. Even the people that ripped Barry, at a subconcious level felt similar...Barry was a guy you always wanted to see shooting it, and that's not true of a lot of players.
I think the guy with the most potential out of the new guys to be a clutch shooter is Ime Udoka...problem is he isn't likely to get on the court. But I've seen enough from him to know that he can surprise you and step out from being scrub to really stick a dagger...he's very similar to Horry and Elie in that way. A scrub with a sting....
I am unsure about Hill as well...right now I'm gonna say he's shown the potential to be an uberclutch guy that can do anything...he's got the right energy level for it, and he's got a freak body and skills to go with it. I am really excited about George Hill...
The key to KT playing substantial minutes is the other team has to have two post threats. None of those combos above = two post threats.
Whott, pay attention to recent games - Manu seems to be 100% when open for a 3pt. It's hilarious hearing my wife go COVER YOUR DAMN MAN when Manu comes off a screen and is left open for like 2 seconds to set himself and pops it.
Jermaine Oneal and Bosh don't qualify?
Jefferson and Craig Smith when playing together do not qualify?
You do not think that Finley is capable on any given night of out performing Mason? Mason has been good, but right now Fins defense > Masons defense and shots fallen has been up and down for both (so have bad shot selection.)
It sucks that Mason is being so turnover prone as of late. Hopefully its a lack of chemistry with his teammates, but from what i see it looks like a lack of ballhandling skills cause it looks like he gets ripped pretty easy and gets pick pocketed with some passes he tries to make.
Bosh is more of a perimeter player and O'Neal isn't the same postup threat he used to be.
Oh and Benchednani isn't a interior threat either . . .
Smith is like 6'5. I haven't seen KT used specifically to guard someone shorter than him.
Any given night is different than "most nights" like you said in the post I quoted. Sure Finley can sometimes be Kobe reincarnate some nights. But ask me to pick one of Finley or Mason on any given night and I'll pick Mason no questions asked.
And the defense advantage isn't as notable as you are making it out to be. Finley's defense looks good partly because he was so horrible the last few years on that end of the court. Mason is new and learning at a pretty fast pace.
Ya, but they usually have someone down low, so you need a perimeter big and a down low big to defend. And by the way, the resident SpursTalker from Toronto said that Bargs is having a really good year, so /that discussion so far.
Craig smith is 6'7 and he ways 250lbs. He mostly goes down low.Smith is like 6'5. I haven't seen KT used specifically to guard someone shorter than him.
I clearly said that Fin has a chance to outplay Mason most nights, which is true. That means on most nights that Fin on any given night can outplay Mason because Mason has not established an overall consistency to his game. The reason I said most instead of all, was bc I was acknowledging that Mason is the better player now.Any given night is different than "most nights" like you said in the post I quoted. Sure Finley can sometimes be Kobe reincarnate some nights. But ask me to pick one of Finley or Mason on any given night and I'll pick Mason no questions asked.
And the defense advantage isn't as notable as you are making it out to be. Finley's defense looks good partly because he was so horrible the last few years on that end of the court. Mason is new and learning at a pretty fast pace.
You are doing a huge discredit to Finley by saying he is only good by not sucking on defense. His defense is good compared to many this year.
Kurt more run than usual tonight against the Wolves and Finley outplayed Mason again tonight.
Yeah, like Mason had equal time to prove himself. I will agree that Fin did better tonight. But the arguement is more that Fin will get more time no matter what. I hope Mason and Hill can avg 28 min this year.
Don't act like Mason has not been given time to prove himself. He gets his chances and Finley is playing better ball right now and Pop should go with him. Fact remains, Mason alone is not good enough. Finley alone is not good enough. Spurs need both in order to be successful.
This is not a knock on Mason, it is a defense of Finley.
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