this is an interesting take, although he is still a defensive liability and gets no rebounds.
blocking shaq one time doesn't undo what ive seen in the past
If he does start when the season begins, I won't start ing until I've had a chance to see Pops rotation. Bonner may start, play 4 mins or so and then sit until situations where his shooting is needed or the lane needs to be kept clear for someone else.
I honestly expect to see McDyess and Blair get way more minutes as the season wears on
Who were the starting centers when the Spurs won championships? David Robinson, David Robinson, Nazr Mohammed, Fabricio Oberto. Now we all of a sudden need a center that hits 3s to win championships?
And if anyone in here thinks that a center should be nowhere near the paint when Duncan goes to work knows nothing about basketball. We are going to need McDyess and Blair to be in the paint when Duncan goes to work to grab rebounds and put the shot back up. Worked with DRob/Rodman, worked with the twin towers.
I've played basketball my entire life and rebounds wins games, rebounds wins championships. this has and always will be true.
Don't worry, I won't, and you hold me to it. If they win a ring this yr with Bonner starting that doesn't make it right! Cause the end result isn't the only thing that matters, it's also how you get there. A Pf/C are suppose to grab rebounds, block shots, and D up on other bigs, I don't care how many 3s he hits, I'll kiss his ass when I see him playing like a real center. Only Laker fans care about short term gains over long-term results.
Last edited by VivaPopovich; 10-21-2009 at 05:18 AM.
See, the difference between me and you is that I play basketball in addition to watching basketball and I understand how important rebounding bigs are, cause I've been there and done that, and I know that it takes a lot of lower body strength to work your way in the post, box out for rebounds on both ends, and man up on other bigs.
He also started Finley, you should quit watching basketball before Pop brings back JV, don't want you to get too stressed and commit suicide.
Finley at SF/SG is not nearly as bad as Bonner at C
In addition to rebounds and shotblocking, strong bigs are just as much about a forceful psychological presence, like Ben/Rasheed in their prime, the bad boy pistons, Dennis Rodman. You want to send a message to the goliaths on the other teams that you're not going to be pushed around, that their going to work for all those points.
There's something very dominant, physically and psychologically about being able to box a big man out. It's very intimidating and Matt Bonner isn't going to intimidate anyone on defense. And if you want a dynasty, it's important to have that intimidation factor, it's important to have strong bigs. Just ask Pau Gasol when KG MANHANDLED him in the Finals.
Last edited by VivaPopovich; 10-21-2009 at 05:08 AM.
The most re ed post i've ever read.
So if we don't win that proves you right, but if we win, that still doesn't prove you wrong because you say so
Bonner is not a C.
It doesn't matter at all who starts.
Deal with it.
God it's full of whiny girls around, and it's only going to get worse when the actual games start.
Well.. maybe that did go overboard. Bonner knocking 3's in the season isn't going to change my mind is what I was trying to say. Not as starting PF/C anyways. But I am seriously willing to bet a lot of money to any takers that the Spurs won't win a ring with Bonner averaging 30 minutes a game as PF/C in the playoffs and nba finals, starting or not.So if we don't win that proves you right, but if we win, that still doesn't prove you wrong because you say so
Bonner is not a C.
It doesn't matter at all who starts.
Deal with it.
God it's full of whiny girls around, and it's only going to get worse when the actual games start.
A lot of you are making valid points about starting being irrelevant if he's not getting PT. And I hope to God you guys are right. The reason why I'm so mad about this is because I want us to win a championship so badly. It's not my intention to put down any of our players.
And quit whining over the whining. It really wasn't that long ago that we got stomped by Dallas, and he was a major reason why.
You people are acting like we made it to the conference finals and lost in a 7 game series and we have no right to criticize him. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble but that's not what happened. We got knocked off in the first round and he just sat there in the bench hopelessly watching. In all the years I've been watching Spurs basketball (which goes back to Rodman and Del Negro) I have NEVER seen us lose a playoff series the way that we did against Dallas. I don't ever want to see that again. Can you blame me?
By the way muser: unfortunately there are probably worse posts out there, by people that aren't retracting it either
Last edited by VivaPopovich; 10-21-2009 at 06:20 AM.
Bonner wasn't a major reason why we lost. While it's true he was awful, along with many others, our loss has nothing to do with him. We lost because our team was lacking quality in many important areas, we lost because Dallas was a bad matchup, we lost because Manu was out, we lost because Duncan wasn't healthy and was throwing the ball to the guards when guarded by Ryan freakin Hollins 1 on 1.We lost because literally none of the role players stepped up, only one of which was Bonner. This puts his contributuin to the loss deep down the pecking order. He could of played the way he played against Boston in the reg season all games against Dallas, and we still wouldn't stand a chance.
Bonner will provide valuable minutes during the season and , hopefully, in the playoffs, he'll help the new guys' transition, allow them a bigger and longer learning curve, especially Mahinmi and Blair, as well as allowing Duncan's and Dyess's minutes to be held in check.No one is expecting him to be a major contributor, but if he plays the same way he did last reg season, albeit in hopefully a bit less minutes, he'd be a huge help to the team.
That was very well-said.
I do want him to succeed, I hope it works out. I feel like I was the only person that noticed this, but when he drove inside and created his own shot he was actually pretty decent. His running jumper is pretty decent. But if he mans the post I do hope he at least puts in an effort to getting stronger the way Pau did after KG handled him.
I can't wait for the season to start, can't wait for Blair to grab some rebounds. Don't remember being this excited to watch rebounds since Rodman, and maybe a flash of it last season with Pops Mensa Bonsu against Cleveland
Bonner's regular season's game means nothing if he plays the post season like he did last year.
As others have said, Bonner is a nice situational role player to have on your team. But I agree that starting him was one of our problems last year and there's no need to repeat that with our newly added depth. Mcdyess can spread the floor just as well with his mid-range and still body up on big men and rebound much better than Bonner.
Bonner is kind of fragile though. Take away his minutes and his 3P% may drop, making him worthless.
I really hope Bonner will not be in in the starting lineup in a week.
I'm fine with him playing 15 minutes of the bench but start him will be a mistake
This is what our starting lineup interior defense looks like right now:
What's fool's gold is to only see what they guy can give you on offense and completely ignore what he gives away on the other end. Even on a hot streaky shooting night like last night he put up 9 points, so it's not that he's really being a difference maker on offense either.
But my biggest beef with the guy is his lack of rebounding. If the idea is to help TD be fresh and cut some slack to his knees, then grabbing two boards is simply unacceptable. Dice had 7. Blair had 10. TD had 10.
As far as starting him, well, my problem is when you play both him and Finley. If they're not hot (unlike last night), you're simply giving up way too much on the defensive end.
The good news is: Last season, outside of Hill, Pop didn't have many alternatives when our D was leaking like a sieve. This season he can turn around and call up a few guys. So I hope that over time he'll see he's got better options now.
That seems weird as to see the Spurs playing on the 'Horns court.
It does matter who starts a game. The beginning of a game sets a tempo that paces the game. If you're giving up a ton of points early cause you're starting inferior players that could put you in a hole and set a bad pace for the game. Sure you can overcome it later, but why put yourself in that position?
I'll care once the season starts... In preseason I don't care who he starts.
People are grossly exaggerating the issue... Bonner was not single-handedly responsible for last year's post-season disappointment.
Manu didn't play at all... (~60% of the reason why the Spurs didn't even have a chance)
Tendonosis rendered Duncan at ~65-70% of his ability...
George Hill did not play enough...
and consequently, Roger Mason was forced into playing out of position at PG...
Bowen didn't play enough...
Lack of quality depth...
Whether Bonner starts this year is irrelevant because this year the Spurs have quality depth... His knowledge of the Spur's system, and his range however, allow Duncan more space on the offensive end, thus making him a valuable weapon to the Spur's playbook.
As for the notion that Bonner is a turnstile on defense, this is simply not true... Bonner led all Spurs last year in +/- (which I know isn't the catch-all statistic... but does soundly refute the claim that the Spurs lost leads or were scored on at will when Bonner was in the game). Besides, having RJ around should also help mask Bonner's rebounding deficiencies considering he is a much better rebounder than Bowen ever was.
Pop is also going to tinker with line ups depending on the match-ups... meaning that teams inclined to clog the paint will see alot of Bonner, while athletic, perimeter oriented teams might see less of him.
Having said that, Bonner will not start after the all-star break nor will he average more than 20 mpg for the season. Pop has options this year unlike last year (the part that the haters don't seem to grasp).
I don't know who's gonna start but I still wanted to post this.
I don't like the idea of Bonner starting either. Yea, he supposedly stretches the floor for Dunan, but I honestly couldn't tell last year. I suppose if he shoots over 50% from 3, that should work, but I'm skeptical. I don't think just putting your arms up qualifies as playing good D. I hope you guys are right in saying that he won't get much minutes this year. I guess the upside is that it saves wear and tear on Dyess and Theo come playoff time. What about starting Ian as C? It seems to me that he has a mental block when playing outside the D league. Baptism by fire?!
Matt Bonner didn't start at Center last night, nor does he ever start at Center. Tim does. Forget what the Public Address person says during introductions. Tim is the Center. Matt is in there for offensive reasons, to spread the floor. When he gets matched up against Jeff Green, who was the starting 4-man last night, Matt gets schooled defensively.
The killer lineup last night was Dice, Blair, Jefferson, Ginobili and Hill. That group looked great defensively, also.
this guy just boned all you bonner haters' mothers right in front of you
You got that ing right!! Has there EVER been a championship team with a 3-shooting Center? Ever?
that. Bonner. Pop for playing Bonner.
I hope to God that Blair breaks Bonner in half in practice and puts him out for the season.
2004 Pistons
2005 Spurs
He's the only Spur I like.
When are you going to quit being a pompous ass? Bonner was the starting center... Matt is in there because Pop is addicted to him. He should've been traded or let go.
Listen to the posters here, Matt Bonner doesn't spread . Nor is he a threat to anything. He is a damn joke.
Quit being a ...
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