Don't tell me Matt Bonner is starting C again

[Mel_13]

I'm back.. Just had to run some errands this afternoon.

Just cutting to the chase

So nobody here besides Portnoy and myself and a few others sees a problem whatsoever with Finley and Bonner as our starting SG and C even though it was both those guys' lack of production that were the main reasons the spurs got steamrolled by the mavericks last year in the playoffs?

Yep, you're the only ones who care, the only ones who can see the truth. The rest are sheep who will mindlessly accept whatever Pop provides.

[Mel_13]

FYI - I'll be doing a booksigning later on today at the local Mcdonalds. Feel free to stop by and say o. Thanx Solid D for spreading the word. I'll see to it you get a cut of the profits.

Now that's funny in a good way

[benefactor]

I'm back.. Just had to run some errands this afternoon.

Just cutting to the chase

So nobody here besides Portnoy and myself and a few others sees a problem whatsoever with Finley and Bonner as our opening day starting SG and C even though it was both those guys' lack of production that were the main reasons the spurs got steamrolled by the mavericks last year in the playoffs?

Wow...the playoffs start on Wednesday?

[portnoy1]

Yep, you're the only ones who care, the only ones who can see the truth. The rest are sheep who will mindlessly accept whatever Pop provides.

Were not coaches , players or anything like that. Were just fans, such as yourself who have opinions on our team. Nothing we do is going to change the way Pop does things.

[Solid D]

FYI - I'll be doing a booksigning later on today at the local Mcdonalds. Feel free to stop by and say o. Thanx Solid D for spreading the word. I'll see to it you get a cut of the profits.

What with all the Bonner-hate, I'm surprised you didn't like my turnstiles gallery earlier in this thread.

[Mel_13]

Were not coaches , players or anything like that. Were just fans, such as yourself who have opinions on our team. Nothing we do is going to change the way Pop does things.

Portnoy begins to understand.

This is good.

[portnoy1]

What with all the Bonner-hate, I'm surprised you didn't like my turnstiles gallery earlier in this thread.

My bad, I probably didnt catch it. I was trying to read up on everyone's post. I sometimes dont check out the other stuff.

[portnoy1]

Portnoy begins to understand.

This is good.

Understood that all along. Just givin' my opinions and I welcome others regardless of if their for or against.

[Kori Ellis]

I'm back.. Just had to run some errands this afternoon.

Just cutting to the chase

So nobody here besides Portnoy and myself and a few others sees a problem whatsoever with Finley and Bonner as our opening day starting SG and C even though it was both those guys' lack of production that were the main reasons the spurs got steamrolled by the mavericks last year in the playoffs?

Do you actually think Finley's lack of production in the playoffs hurt the Spurs more than Mason's lack of production did?

I didn't read the thread (yeah, my bad) but aren't you saying Mason should start? Mason was horrible in the postseason. So if we are picking "who was best in the playoffs" then Pop is right to start Fin over Mase.

As for Bonner ... I expect he might start for 15 games until McDyess gets acclimated.

[Fabbs]

Adjusted FG%
Finley 54%
Mason 48% big difference.
Bonehead 28%

Assists
Finley (doesn't know what one is and ordered by Popped to never attempt so excluded from stats)
Mason 2 per game
Bonner 0 (that's zero. how in the %$#@ do you have zero assists in 100 minutes of play?)

[duhoh]

Starting means nothing.
Just ask Manu about that.

Matt Bonner can start every single regular season game for all I care.
The Win/Loss numbers are all that matter, and right now we stand at 0/0.

the troof!

[SequSpur]

The spurs just sucked balls last year, no one in particular, the whole in team did.

you guys don't know about basketball...do you?

[Solid D]

The spurs just sucked balls last year, no one in particular, the whole ****** team did.

you guys don't know **** about basketball...do you?

Give me the difference between a skip and a flare, Mr. big breeches.

[TJastal]

Do you actually think Finley's lack of production in the playoffs hurt the Spurs more than Mason's lack of production did?

I didn't read the thread (yeah, my bad) but aren't you saying Mason should start? Mason was horrible in the postseason. So if we are picking "who was best in the playoffs" then Pop is right to start Fin over Mase.

As for Bonner ... I expect he might start for 15 games until McDyess gets acclimated.

Mason was off his game defenitely in the playoffs, but it had more to do with Popovich's asinine "mad scientist" experiment of turning him into a point guard in the latter stages of the season.

Once upon a time when Mason was signed people said he would be a decent perimeter defender in addition to being a lethal marksman. We all surmised his offensive game was somewhat 1 dimensional plus plus he couldn't rebound to save his life. He didn't get to the line much if ever. But he could shoot the 3 and defend the perimeter. Which was good enough.

Finley on the other hand can't defend out on the perimeter anymore at his age. It's kind of insane to have him trying to match up with the league's best shooting guards on a nightly basis. He gets tired, quickly. Once that happens its very easy to tell because he starts badly bricking all his shots.

I'd put Manu in the starting lineup and sacrifice his 6th man role before I'd start Finley. I'd try George Hill as a combo guard before I'd start Finley. , I'd even give Hairston a crack at it.

[senorglory]

Dunno.......

HaHa. Point well made. The NBA... Everyone Cries!

[Kori Ellis]

Adjusted FG%
Finley 54%
Mason 48% big difference.
Bonehead 28%

Assists
Finley (doesn't know what one is and ordered by Popped to never attempt so excluded from stats)
Mason 2 per game
Bonner 0 (that's zero. how in the %$#@ do you have zero assists in 100 minutes of play?)

You can adjust all you want but Mason shot 37.5% from the field in the postseason and was embarrassing on D.

I get it -- you hate Finley/Bonner, so you ignore Mason "matadoring" everyone player he was guarding to the basket.

[Kori Ellis]

Mason was off his game defenitely in the playoffs, but it had more to do with Popovich's asinine "mad scientist" experiment of turning him into a point guard in the latter stages of the season.

Once upon a time when Mason was signed people said he would be a decent perimeter defender in addition to being a lethal marksman. We all surmised his offensive game was somewhat 1 dimensional plus plus he couldn't rebound to save his life. He didn't get to the line much if ever. But he could shoot the 3 and defend the perimeter. Which was good enough.

Finley on the other hand can't defend out on the perimeter anymore at his age. It's kind of insane to have him trying to match up with the league's best shooting guards on a nightly basis. He gets tired, quickly. Once that happens its very easy to tell because he starts badly bricking all his shots.

I'd put Manu in the starting lineup and sacrifice his 6th man role before I'd start Finley. I'd try George Hill as a combo guard before I'd start Finley. , I'd even give Hairston a crack at it.

I don't think Mason's atrocious D/all around game in the postseason had anything to do with Pop's point guard experiment. And you can say whatever you want about perimeter defense, Finley was a better defender than Mason was against the Mavericks. (Not that that statement alone means much.)

Don't get me wrong, I think Mason (or Manu) should start and Finley playing time be very limited this year. I just think it's hilarious that people give Mason a pass for his postseason performance.

[TJastal]

I don't think Mason's atrocious D/all around game in the postseason had anything to do with Pop's point guard experiment. And you can say whatever you want about perimeter defense, Finley was a better defender than Mason was against the Mavericks. (Not that that statement alone means much.)

Don't get me wrong, I think Mason (or Manu) should start and Finley playing time be very limited this year. I just think it's hilarious that people give Mason a pass for his postseason performance.

To be honest, I can't remember how well Mason's defense was. If I had game tapes I would go back and watch but I don't. Perhaps someone who remembers better can enlighten.

Just looking at the box scores, it appears he was matched up with Antoine Wright to start the series, and Wright was relatively held in check. It was Josh Howard who went off for 25 in the 1st game. And that would appear to be Finley's guy. And for Finley to go 5-5 from behind the arc and have the worst (+/-) on the team (-20) doesn't speak volumes about his defense. Howard went on to have demolish the spurs in game 4 by going 11-13 with 28pts. Pop started Bruce Bowen along w/ Fin so I'm not sure which one got torched, but I would bet it was Finley again. Howard was a major factor in that series that the spurs could not slow down in any way, shape, or form.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

To be honest, I can't remember how well Mason's defense was. If I had game tapes I would go back and watch but I don't. Perhaps someone who remembers better can enlighten.

Just looking at the box scores, it appears he was matched up with Antoine Wright to start the series, and Wright was relatively held in check. It was Josh Howard who went off for 25 in the 1st game. And that would appear to be Finley's guy. And for Finley to go 5-5 from behind the arc and have the worst (+/-) on the team (-20) doesn't speak volumes about his defense. Howard went on to have demolish the spurs in game 4 by going 11-13 with 28pts. Pop started Bruce Bowen along w/ Fin so I'm not sure which one got torched, but I would bet it was Finley again. Howard was a major factor in that series that the spurs could not slow down in any way, shape, or form.

Mason was significantly worse than either Fin or Bonner in that series, and it had nothing to do with the PG experiment. Bonner actually played decent defense against Dirk, about as good as anyone we've had to put on him the last few years, but he didn't bury wide open shots. Mason got torched on defense by some white midget, didn't shoot well and was stagnating the offense when asked to run it. Fin got torched on defense against Howard but scored much better than the other two.

All in all, if you're giving Mason a pass, and then proceed to only use these 5 games as proof against Fin and Bonner, then you'll inevitable get people to respond, because this is quite ironical and shows it's just blind hatred, not basketball related factual point of view.

[Xevious]

Mason got torched on defense by some white midget...

From what I remember, JJ Barea killed us no matter who we put on him. Moving him to the starting lineup was one of the adjustments they made and we didn't have an answer.

BTW his listed height is 6'0", but I think he's a bit shorter than that.

[EmptyMan]

When you have Ginobili, Hill, & Blair coming in for the 2nd unit...it really doesn't matter.

[Fabbs]

Kori Ellis

You can adjust all you want but Mason shot 37.5% from the field in the postseason and was embarrassing on D.

Do you actually think Finley's lack of production in the playoffs hurt the Spurs more than Mason's lack of production did?

Do you actually think Masons lack of production in the playoffs hurt the Spurs more then Finley's lack of production?
Key game was Game 3, series tied 1-1.
Down 16 at halftime, that deficit increased to 26 midway thru the 3rd.
Mason was pulled, at the end of the 3rd the deficit had become 32.
I don't think Mason did any worse then any of the Spurs starters.
On offense, the 4 other starters, including Findawg, were 8 for 36.
Findawg and Bonehead combined to go 0-7, including 0-5 on treys.
Mase was 3-6.
Mase played a grand total of 16 minutes.

Game 4s loss Mase played a grand total of 17 minutes.
Findawg 36 minutes.

Kori Ellis

I get it -- you hate Finley/Bonner, so you ignore Mason "matadoring" everyone player he was guarding to the basket.

You don't get it. I hate how Pop uses Finley/Bonner. True, i would have neither on the roster post 2007. However, since they are, i would use them in a proper role and only when they are contributing. The 10 Finley minutes per game we have been hearing since summer 2005, and you never did answer me on the other thread why Finley got 47 minutes twice in two playoff game losses to Dallas while you had said when he signed quote "This gives the Spurs 4-5 wings."

[MaNu4Tres]

Mason was significantly worse than either Fin or Bonner in that series, and it had nothing to do with the PG experiment. Bonner actually played decent defense against Dirk, about as good as anyone we've had to put on him the last few years, but he didn't bury wide open shots. Mason got torched on defense by some white midget, didn't shoot well and was stagnating the offense when asked to run it. Fin got torched on defense against Howard but scored much better than the other two.

All in all, if you're giving Mason a pass, and then proceed to only use these 5 games as proof against Fin and Bonner, then you'll inevitable get people to respond, because this is quite ironical and shows it's just blind hatred, not basketball related factual point of view.

I couldn't have said it any better. This! +1...

[Fabbs]

From what I remember, JJ Barea killed us no matter who we put on him. Moving him to the starting lineup was one of the adjustments they made and we didn't have an answer.

BTW his listed height is 6'0", but I think he's a bit shorter than that.

Exactly. And whos idea to put Mason on Barea anyways?

[Mel_13]

Fabbs is nothing if not predictable:

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...6&postcount=16