definitely..
I think Pop definitely likes Hill's game..Hill IS a Popovich player..he plays great D, he's tough, he listens to the coaches..
Benophobia, as Ruff says..
I think we can definitely expect him to play significantly next year..
I believe Pop is stunted the rookie's growth. It's not like Hill needs to be on the court in the waning minutes of a tight ball game. However, his 12-15 minutes of solid production and the backup PG spot is crucial. With Manu out, he's the only other player on the team that can breakdown a defense and get to the rim. Of course, he's not the best finisher, but you get my point. I just don't see where it would hurt to re-insert him back into that role.
I'm not sold that Hill is going to be a huge contributor for the playoffs, but I don't think Mason adds much at point. Sadly I think it is getting to be too late to really get Hill into the swing of running this team.
What dumbfounds me about this decision is that last year we had Barry who played unbelievably well as a backup point guard the last few years and Pop refused to play him at that position, opting for Jaque Vaughan. But now he can't stop playing Mason as the backup PG when he doesn't have the same knack for it that George Hill might if given half the chance.
However, really, Hill is probably the second best finisher at the rim after Parker I think !
Sounds like Gooden had a Manu moment.
Gooden ! 20 pts of the bench. With Thunder, but still good result
Good effort overall. We are only going to go as far as our defense will carry us and that was emphasized tonight. It's amazing what 20+ minutes of Bruce Bowen will get you.
Gooden gets the game ball tonight. We were needing a lift offensively and he came in and produced. His defense looks to be improving too. I agree that he could have rebounded better but with the overall contribution he made I am not going to be picky. I think some if it is because he is focusing a lot on his play on both ends of the court and not as much on being in position for the boards. As he gets more and more into the flow of the offense/defense his rebounding will reappear.
It was funny seeing that double come over and Gooden still holding the ball like he was related to it. The other side of that coin is that Gooden actually seems to be a decent passer. He passed a little bit more after that, so maybe he is starting to come around. With his offensive prowess he could easily have 3 or 4 nice assists per game.
If you start Gooden, that basically leaves the Spurs with almost zero offensive punch off the bench now that Ginobili is gone. That is why I think Gooden needs to continue off the bench and Kurt Thomas should start.
I love me some Bowen. The defense just gets so much better and the pressure on the opponents gets so much more intense.
and he's still bad at finishing at the rim. really.
that means that with manu's out, we've got only one slasher. one of the best of the league, but still only one.
who will drive to the rim when tony will be on the bench ? probably no one, and we'll have to run a different offense then (more post up plays or motion offense)
Gooden is a ball hog. So what? He's suppose to shoot thee ball when every one else is clanging iron. The interesting point that is lost on everyone is watching the Spurs morph from a three point team to an inside team as Gooden and Tim learn to play off of one another. This would not have happened has Manu not got hurt. Pop would have kept Bowen on the bench and Bonner would continue to get the majority of minutes. Without Manu Pop is forced to make the adjustments that we all have been screaming for.
sit dncan
Damn, I bet Pop has no idea where to put Gooden. I'd personall go with 6th man, so there is some scoring punch in the 2nd unit. Taking Pops bs into account, the best rotation I can reaonably hope for is:
Tony/Mason (I'd want Tony/Hill)
Finley/Mason (I'd want Mason/Ime)
Bowen/Ime/Finley (I'd want Bowen/Hairston)
Tim/KT
Bonner/Gooden (this big roation is the best possible, cuz Gooden can't be with Bonner in the second unit, neither are great on D, and I don't want Gooden starting to provide scoring punch)
I'd love to see Gooden and Timmy together, but then who is going to score on the 2nd unit? Mason can't create worth , no one except Tim, Tony, and Gooden can truly create on this Spurs team. So Gooden has to be in the 2nd unit, otherwise they'll just be 3pt chuckers(Bowen/Bonner, Mason, Ime) and long jays(KT)... that is just stupid. Pop would just have to pray that they didn't lose the lead, or balloon the other teams lead.
Just play Gooden a crapload, he's 28, and has nowhere near the mileage on his body that Tim at 28 yrs Tim had, so let him go 30+. Have the majority of his time be when one or both of the Big 2 are out, but try to play him with Duncan as much as possible to relieve the pressure. I know Pop can work some magic with the rotations.
I don't think we've seen the last of Bruce Bowen. A lot of people are saying Bruce played based on the matchups that OKC presented last night specifically Durant. I think Pop knows that the bread and butter of this team is defense. Although he's lost a step, Bruce Bowen still has a lot of old tricks up his sleeve that he can use to frustrate opposing perimeter players.
Good win by the Spurs last night. You can tell that they not feel sorry for themselves. You can see that pretty much the whole team has an extra type of motivation. I think they win tonight and start to roll. I could be wrong, but I hope I'm not.
Oh yeah, I did not know that Gooden was capable of blocking a few shots.
Gooden is playing balls out in his contract year. He is out there showing off for the Spurs and anyone else who is watching. With the economy the way it is, he knows he's got to give people as much to see as he can.
He was something of a ballstopper/ballhog before, and I haven't watched a ton of his games, but I don't remember him being as much of a gunner. Maybe Pop sent him out there with the instructions to be aggressive and shoot the ball, and since he's shot pretty well since he's been here, those instructions have stayed the same. But, I think part of it has to be that he's out there gunning for a new deal, and that's great. Its good to have a guy or two (I'm looking at you, Ime) out there trying to get paid for next year in a bad economy.
Start KT, and bring Gooden off the bench. As Gooden improves on defense, and he did last night, let him play with Duncan in 4th qtr.
Having Benophobia with Hill is just plain ing stupid. Who the got inside pops brain and switched the connections the opposite way? He's supposed to let guys see the floor who play D.
If Pop would have thrown Beno had Kobe bryant and then benched him a week later, I'd maybe come a little closer to understanding.
There's no doubt that Hill needs to get some more playing time. Not just garbage minutes neither. He needs to get in there and mix it up. He doesn't have a good jumper, but neither does Vaughn. I'm glad Vaughn didn't see any court time last night, but it would have been nice to see Hill on Westbrook to see what he could have brought to the table.
If last night was an indication of what Bowens role will be in the playoffs, I will be happy with that.
Not to mention that he will be as fresh as ever going into the playoffs. So when he has to defend Melo, Kobe, Roy, DWilliams, etc. he should be ready to go.
If Pop goes with that, then he'll have Hill back where he belongs soon. I really ing hope you are right. Cuz Hill is easily the best guard on D, why not try him out to see if he chokes, then give up on him, don't assume it's a possibility, and decide not to risk it.
Pop simply can't afford to rest Duncan at this point... no ing way.
So long as Gooden continues to demonstrate a superior shooting touch, as well as continued effort and inprovement on defense, I could care less if he's a ball hog. After all, we've all seen how the Spurs still struggle with those inexplicable scoring droughts. For a time, we all thought the problem was solved with the insertion of Bonner and Mason. Yet the problems continued. So, if Gooden can continue to have success by sealing his opponent on the block and either getting to the rim or facing him up, I say GO FOR IT.
When is the last time the Spurs had another low-post, scoring option on this team besides Duncan? That's too long.. (apologies to Wolf Brand Chili)
i dont get hte point of Hill just playin 1 minute in the 4th. I was watching the game last night and it, it ocurred to me where can they get a consistant offense from when you have on the floor Mason, Bowen, Bonner, Kurt thomas, Gooden.
Gooden or Mason is the only players i see that might be able to score w/ any
Consistency. Spurs struggled to beat a bad team.
Just wondering here but does it appear that bonner has been a no show for the last 4-5 games. Does he have an injury that we dont know about, or is it just that he's in a bad shooting slump. Or could it be just that teams are playin better defense on him!!
Whats everyones opinion.
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