McDonald: Popovich shifts to real-game rotation

[SpurNation]

Here's what I want

starters:
PG Parker
SG Mason
SF Jefferson
PF Duncan
C Blair

subs:
PG - Hill
SG - Manu
SF - Finley
PF - McDyess
C - Ratliff

Hairston & Mahinmi playing here and there
Bonner guarding the Gatorade

Other than the "guarding the gatorade" quote...I like to see this too if Blair proves to be a total compliment to Timmy's game. Which I think he would and Blair benefitting as well from the attention given to Duncan during that time.

This "who's listed as center" thing is blown way out of proportion. It doesn't matter what Timmy or his post counterpart is listed as. They will play their roles on the court according to the plan... not their le.

[Manufan909]

Which summer league was he bad in? He dunked on Yao and stuffed Tayshaun Prince last year.

I'm guessing cuz you posted this at 130 am it's ok, but you know preseason is when the actual NBA players play, right? SL is for all the unproven players. And I'm talking about the SL right after he was drafted. He rocked in SL this year.

[#2!]

Does anybody know if our strategy on defense will be 1.) Funnel everyone to baseline or paint for the bigs to take care of them, or 2.) Pack the painted area and rely on the frontcourt to defend well on the perimeter?

[The Truth #6]

I agree Bonner cannot be our 2nd best big if we want another le this year. However, I doubt McDyess isn't up for the challenge. He absolutely wants to fulfill a big role on a le team. That leaves Bonner and Blair to clean up the rest of the minutes.

We're going to need offense from him throughout the season because he's gonna be the only guy they can sag off of sometimes. Eventually he should come off the bench but still filling his time with good things.



Bonner had a pretty good regular season last year. I guess you could call it fool's gold, but I'd rather not bring up last playoffs because its pointless. You don't need Bonner scoring points for you except off wide open shots come playoff time or you aren't doing anyway.



The big man situation is not exactly stacked. We could get some really fine production some nights, while others we're going to be relying on Bonner to nail shots and play D (which is the most underrated aspect of his game).

And Bonner starting if logical because he knows the sets and he knows the system. He's actually one of the returners and he's got some experience. Even if he isn't a huge contributor on the floor, he's definitely doing good things in practice for all these new faces.

I'll respond in general by saying: we've reduced our expectations for Bonner so much that whatever positive he gives us we've been desensitized to somehow praise it. Outside of basketball, I think one might call this a "cycle of abuse". Kidding. But only a little.

I don't see how its pointless to mention the playoffs (when the games actually DO count) but praise him for his regular season accomplishments - which I already suggested were overhyped. Let's assume he actually did do well in the regular season (and then had one of the lowest PERs of anyone in the playoffs), is that not a perfect definition of 'fool's gold'?

I can see how it makes sense to start him in the beginning while others get used to the system. I would say this: start Dice early and let him get acclimated as soon as possible while everyone else is getting settled. It will be chaos for everyone, but better early than later. I never want to see Bonner and Duncan on the floor together. Why? Because if Bonner is with Duncan that means Bonner is in with the best opposing post players, and that means that Tim, once again, is having to do all the heavy lfiting and wearing down his body while Bonner hides out on the the 3 point line. I can see how this opens up the middle for Tony, but I'd prefer for Tim to actually have help while out on the court, not just in the number of minutes he plays. That, to me, is the most important reason we went out and got Dice and Blair.

Anyway, I realize I'm taking a hard stance, partly for fun, but I look at Bonner only as a transitional piece to help the other players and then step aside for 10th man duty.

[ElNono]

I can see how it makes sense to start him in the beginning while others get used to the system. I would say this: start Dice early and let him get acclimated as soon as possible while everyone else is getting settled. It will be chaos for everyone, but better early than later. I never want to see Bonner and Duncan on the floor together. Why? Because if Bonner is with Duncan that means Bonner is in with the best opposing post players, and that means that Tim, once again, is having to do all the heavy lfiting and wearing down his body while Bonner hides out on the the 3 point line. I can see how this opens up the middle for Tony, but I'd prefer for Tim to actually have help while out on the court, not just in the number of minutes he plays. That, to me, is the most important reason we went out and got Dice and Blair.

+1

I don't care at all whatsoever about Bonner's offense.
Manu is back and we added another proven scorer in RJ. We have offense.
What we need is to get back into being a top defensive team, and also helping Duncan and Manu as much as possible to remain fresh.
That means less small ball, and more bigs that have a presence and that can rebound the ball. Be it Mahinmi, Blair, or whoever...

[Manufan909]

I never want to see Bonner and Duncan on the floor together. Why? Because if Bonner is with Duncan that means Bonner is in with the best opposing post players, and that means that Tim, once again, is having to do all the heavy lfiting and wearing down his body while Bonner hides out on the the 3 point line.

If Duncan is on the floor, then the order of bigs playing with him should be

1) Dice
2) Ian or Theo
3) Blair
4) Theo or Ian
5) Bonner
6) Haislip

He needs a center that will be able to defend the paint alongside him, as well as board.

[quentin_compson]

I agree with zOsa that Bonner could see some quality playing time at the beginning of the season while Dice and (to a lesser extent) Ratliff get comfortable with the system.

But after some time, Dice has to be the starting Big alongside Timmy. Ratliff probably will be a situational player, especially during the RS. Blair will get his minutes, if he continues to rebound the way he did in the pre-season - and if he doesn't stink on the defensive end. And I really hope Ian at least provides some additional shot-blocking presence.

Mason Jr. should definitely be starting with Manu coming off the bench. Finley is a veteran and knows the system, so his game shouldn't suffer too much from him getting fewer minutes.

[Obstructed_View]

I'm guessing cuz you posted this at 130 am it's ok, but you know preseason is when the actual NBA players play, right? SL is for all the unproven players. And I'm talking about the SL right after he was drafted. He rocked in SL this year.

Yes you got me. Completely airballed on that for some reason. His play in preseason that year made me forget anything he did wrong in summer league.

[VI_Massive]

I agree with the posters before me who have said Finley will likely start at SG with RJ at the 3. It will cause apoplecticness of all sorts around ST, but I think it will happen.

As far as Bonner vs. McDyess starting, I could see it going either way. Bonner is more experienced in the system and McDyess is coming along but McDyess is a respected veteran who deserves the respect of a starting role. Even if Bonner starts at the beginning of the season, by later in the season when Dice is more acclimated I think he will be starting.

I also be a few different types of lineups. There will be the "TP gets a day off" lineup and the "Duncan gets a day off line up" and the "All the big 3 get a day off" lineup (especially on back to backs). I think Pop will also look upon those situations as coveted opportunities to give new guys (new to the SA system or just completely new) lots of time.

[Manufan909]

Yes you got me. Completely airballed on that for some reason. His play in preseason that year made me forget anything he did wrong in summer league.

No biggie.

And to VI, I don't think Tony will ever get a day off, unless he's hurt. He's still on the good side of 30, he could just go half on the PG minutes with Hill some games.

[senorglory]

I'm pretty much ready for Bonner to start over Duncan and Parker; not in succession or alternately, but at the same time, with Bonner playing both positions simultaneous, and taking the court with only 3 other Spurs, to be selected at random-- not so much because of my admiration for the Red Rocket, but from my frustration with those on this board that do one or both of two things: 1) attack Bonner/Vaughn/Finley/Barry/etc. to no end, and beyond rationality; 2) praise Mensa Bonsu/Mahinmi/Udoka/etc. to no end, and beyond rationality. It's weird, and it's irritating. Cut it out.

[Mel_13]

I agree with the posters before me who have said Finley will likely start at SG with RJ at the 3. It will cause apoplecticness of all sorts around ST, but I think it will happen.

As far as Bonner vs. McDyess starting, I could see it going either way. Bonner is more experienced in the system and McDyess is coming along but McDyess is a respected veteran who deserves the respect of a starting role. Even if Bonner starts at the beginning of the season, by later in the season when Dice is more acclimated I think he will be starting.

I also be a few different types of lineups. There will be the "TP gets a day off" lineup and the "Duncan gets a day off line up" and the "All the big 3 get a day off" lineup (especially on back to backs). I think Pop will also look upon those situations as coveted opportunities to give new guys (new to the SA system or just completely new) lots of time.

McDyess is a respected veteran who came here to have the best chance at the one thing he has not accomplished- an NBA championship. He came off the bench much more often than he started during his five years in Detroit and was successful in both roles. I'm quite sure he will have no problem coming off the bench if it improves the teams' chances of winning. I'm also sure he'll be on the court to close out games and that's what really matters.

[senorglory]

I'm pretty much ready for Bonner to start over Duncan and Parker; not in succession or alternately, but at the same time, with Bonner playing both positions simultaneous, and taking the court with only 3 other Spurs, to be selected at random-- not so much because of my admiration for the Red Rocket, but from my frustration with those on this board that do one or both of two things: 1) attack Bonner/Vaughn/Finley/Barry/etc. to no end, and beyond rationality; 2) praise Mensa Bonsu/Mahinmi/Udoka/etc. to no end, and beyond rationality. It's weird, and it's irritating. Cut it out.

Except, of course, for DeJuan Blair Facts! which is pretty awesome (and done in an entirely different at ude anyway).

[VI_Massive]

McDyess is a respected veteran who came here to have the best chance at the one thing he has not accomplished- an NBA championship. He came off the bench much more often than he started during his five years in Detroit and was successful in both roles. I'm quite sure he will have no problem coming off the bench if it improves the teams' chances of winning. I'm also sure he'll be on the court to close out games and that's what really matters.

True. I think McDyess is the last guy you would find sulking about not starting.

[Manufan909]

I don't think anyone has praised Udoka since Hornets 08 series. How do you even remember that?

[TJastal]

+1

i don't care at all whatsoever about bonner's offense.
Manu is back and we added another proven scorer in rj. We have offense.
What we need is to get back into being a top defensive team, and also helping duncan and manu as much as possible to remain fresh.
That means less small ball, and more bigs that have a presence and that can rebound the ball. Be it mahinmi, blair, or whoever...

+1

[Obstructed_View]

I don't think anyone has praised Udoka since Hornets 08 series. How do you even remember that?

Yeah, I'm scratching my head about that. He ran the point for about ten minutes during last year's preseason and had some nice passes. That's the last time I remember even saying anything nice about him as it relates to basketball.