I don't think Blair has the experience necessary to finish games. I'd say our end of game lineup is Tim/Tony/Manu/RJ/McDyess.
But for the OP, I think Manu still is a bench player and finisher because he can't play starter minutes without breaking down physically. At least until the playoffs unless we want to burn him out before the important games.
I am expecting Pop will be toying with the lineup a lot early on. It is like a kid opening up a toy box full of great toys. It will take a while to find out which toys are better together for the game he wants to play.
I am not giving my answer until Pop answers it for me.
Your not Gregg Popovich? Damnit! .. I bet your Finley aren't you?.. scheming for that starting spot.. I knew it!
Okay, let me explain this one more time.
Its really not about minutes so much. It's about the effort and exertion. Your asking Manu to carry the 2nd unit PLUS close out games. This is going to increase risk of an injury much faster than Manu playing a few minutes more here and there with the starters.
1. Because George Hill, Mason, Blair, McD and Findog won't ever score off the bench.
2. Because every time Manu comes in with the bench he has to carry them, ie dribble around, penetrate and kick or step back for 3.
3. Because every time Manu is in at the end of the game (especially with 4 all stars on the court in RJ, TP, TD and McD), only HE will be responsible for shouldering the entire offensive and defensive load.
Write a book, retire, and live off the royalties.
FOR THIS YEAR
manu = starter
blair = bench
Sorta like this....A friend and I were discussing this a few days ago.
If manu returns to his old self and Blair continues to play consistently the way he has been playing in the preseason, should both of them be coming of the bench ? Pop initially put manu on the bench to ignite the second unit, something that blair has shown is capable of doing.
My first post.
or this...
The Blair block is badass and I love the way Manu just stands there after he makes the 3.
If you scroll down the site, I have a few more videos.
Manu with Blair coming off the bench will be good, they've already showed some chemistry in the game vs Thunder. Manu is a great playmaker, Blair is a beast under the rim, this kind of combination always works.
very cool
Blair is awesome, but lets be realistic about our expectations in term of his playing time.
With that said: Hill, Manu, Fin, Blair/Theo (situational), and Dice is a SICK 2nd unit. Our second unit alone is going to win us 10 games this year.
This. Manu and Blair will be playing together. Blair is not a pussy (under/around the basket) like the past Spurs big men. He has already shown in the pre-season (and summer league with Hill) he will easily be able to capitalize off Manu's exceptional passing.
Last edited by EmptyMan; 10-23-2009 at 10:10 PM.
Well even if he can't capitalize from Manu's passes, its probably a sure bet he's going to capitalize off of all of Manu's missed shots.
(At least till Manu get his conditioning down)
+1. love that play last night, manu to blair in a pick and roll. blair lays it in, he missed but followed it up for two. i think blair intentionally missed it to get more rebounds. damn that beast
Im excited to see Manu, Blair and Hill together. I think if we have learned anything about Manu and his style is that he leads and he doesn't need to dominate the ball to do that. He will get everyone on the floor involved. Manu is still a major force when he is healthy I am so surprised how people look at Manu as a player with eroding skills, he was hurt, Manu IMO is a true superstar, a guy who makes everyone around him better, and guys like him don't come around very often. Any combination the Spurs throw out there will benefit having Manu with them, but the prospect of these 3 together really excites me.
Manu should start until February...
You forgot the
You forgot theIMO he just needs to get used to play with RJ, TP and TD again LOTS of minutes so they all get familiar with each other...
Is that James Howlett in your sig?
I like that up till the part of Blair. He is not proven yet. But if he becomes clutch then why not. McDyess is the other big I would expect to see at the end of the game.
'Dice will finish games for sure.
Allonon doesn't want our best bigs to end the game, I wonder why?
Oh, and Blair starting is much more of a pickle than Manu starting. With Manu, there's already Tony, Mason/Fin, and RJ starting, as well as Hill, Bogans/Mason, Fin/Hairston in the 2nd unit.
But with Blair, it is WAYYYYYY more complex. Assuming Bonner is the 4th big, I think it would be best to start him alongside TD, and if he hasn't made a couple shots or rebounded or gotten lit up, switch in Dyess. And then eventually bring in Blair. But if Dice starts, a Bonner/Blair lineup looks like a disaster. Even if Dice starts, Pop could work some rotation magic so that if one of Blair/Bonner is on the floor, they aren't together. If Ian can show something, I could see him starting on occasion, like against a bigger team. And if Timmy is resting, I want Blair as the starting PF, or Dice and Theo/Ian if it's a big team.
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