All aboard the Theo Ratliff bandwagon

[raspsa]

Blocking shots requires timing so Theo has to get his minutes.. If he's having a good game, keep him in as long as he can keep up and isn't becoming a liability.. this really lessens the load on Timmy and Dice.

[Manufan909]

Ha, after the block, does Blair get credited for a rebound?

[FkLA]

He's a former DPOY and had one of the highest blocks per 48 minutes last year. I dont see why anyone is surprised, if given minutes the man can produce. You dont want to give him too many too early though cause his body will break down and he wont be there when it matters.

[Livedraz]

Ha, after the block, does Blair get credited for a rebound?

No rebound for Blair.
G. Hill get credited for this rebound :

Hawes Dunk Shot: Missed Block: Ratliff (4 BLK) 00:07.9
Hill Rebound (Off:3 Def:2) 00:05.7

[Manufan909]

No rebound for Blair.
G. Hill get credited for this rebound :

Hawes Dunk Shot: Missed Block: Ratliff (4 BLK) 00:07.9
Hill Rebound (Off:3 Def:2) 00:05.7

Cool, thanks.

And if Pop is supposedly going to make sure Theo is going to be available for the POs, why is he playing Theo 24 minutes in a blowout? Give Blair and RJ more time at the 4/5. Or activate Ian is Dyess is feeling sick. But I guess he felt sick too late.

[Dingle Barry]

Willis ... had limbs for arms

[Mel_13]

Ratliff's performance was encouraging. While it is unrealistic to count on him for rotation minutes for the long regular season, the playoffs are another matter. Pop will try to limit minutes for TD, Dice, and Ratliff so that they are healthy and fresh in April. Destroying inferior teams is a big part of that. It wasn't too long ago that Tim, Tony, and Manu routinely were watching 4th quarters from the bench. Last year, too many games against inferior opponents required maximum effort until the end of the game.

So if the key players are in good shape come April, the playoff schedule with no B2Bs, more off days and less travel, allows Ratliff to become the 4th big as the minutes for the top 3 in the rotation increase. A playoff rotation of Duncan, Dice, Blair, and Ratliff can work. Bonner then becomes the 5th big and is only used in special situations or in case of foul trouble.

Barring a trade for a better big, Ratliff as the 4th big for the playoffs is probably the best possible solution.

[ElNono]

Barring a trade for a better big, Ratliff as the 4th big for the playoffs is probably the best possible solution.

What would your ideal bigs rotation for the playoffs be?

[Mel_13]

What would your ideal bigs rotation for the playoffs be?

In terms of minutes, something like:

Duncan 38
Dice 30
Blair 18
Ratliff 10

I'd start and finish with Duncan and Dice. I wouldn't expect to see Tim and Theo on the court together very much, although against LA they might have to if Blair can't guard any of the Laker bigs. Same could be said about Denver and Portland. Outside of health, Blair's level of development into a reliable defender is a critical variable.

[ElNono]

In terms of minutes, something like:

Duncan 38
Dice 30
Blair 18
Ratliff 10

I'd start and finish with Duncan and Dice. I wouldn't expect to see Tim and Theo on the court together very much, although against LA they might have to if Blair can't guard any of the Laker bigs. Same could be said about Denver and Portland. Outside of health, Blair's level of development into a reliable defender is a critical variable.

Well, we do agree on that rotation...

[Agloco]

Cool, thanks.

And if Pop is supposedly going to make sure Theo is going to be available for the POs, why is he playing Theo 24 minutes in a blowout? Give Blair and RJ more time at the 4/5. Or activate Ian is Dyess is feeling sick. But I guess he felt sick too late.

It's a good time to get Theo some touches. It's not like hes going to be out there anywhere near that long once McDyess gets back.

[Agloco]

Ratliff's performance was encouraging. While it is unrealistic to count on him for rotation minutes for the long regular season, the playoffs are another matter. Pop will try to limit minutes for TD, Dice, and Ratliff so that they are healthy and fresh in April. Destroying inferior teams is a big part of that. It wasn't too long ago that Tim, Tony, and Manu routinely were watching 4th quarters from the bench. Last year, too many games against inferior opponents required maximum effort until the end of the game.

So if the key players are in good shape come April, the playoff schedule with no B2Bs, more off days and less travel, allows Ratliff to become the 4th big as the minutes for the top 3 in the rotation increase. A playoff rotation of Duncan, Dice, Blair, and Ratliff can work. Bonner then becomes the 5th big and is only used in special situations or in case of foul trouble.

Barring a trade for a better big, Ratliff as the 4th big for the playoffs is probably the best possible solution.

Good observation. I was telling a few of my friends the exact same thing right before the playoffs last year. It's also another reason why point diff is king among statistical indicators of success in the post season.

[ElNono]

And if Pop is supposedly going to make sure Theo is going to be available for the POs, why is he playing Theo 24 minutes in a blowout?

You have to balance 'keeping fresh' with getting to know the system and teammates. Players do need minutes to get acquainted with one another.
I wouldn't mind making Theo a 15 minute rotation guy off the bench really.
I think he could do that, sit B2B games and still be pretty fresh for the PO.

[sananspursfan21]

i'm on. 15 points from a guy who's not supposed to have any kind of offensive game, i did a quadruple take when i saw the stats.

[Mel_13]

i'm on. 15 points from a guy who's not supposed to have any kind of offensive game, i did a quadruple take when i saw the stats.

Theo scored 3 points.

[Manufan909]

i'm on. 15 points from a guy who's not supposed to have any kind of offensive game, i did a quadruple take when i saw the stats.

He was 1-5, the person who wrote that must've been high to get 15 from 1-5. No Spur even scored 15, did they?

And I know Theo needs to get to know the system, but more than 20 minutes is too much imo, especially hearing what everyone here has said of his past health-wise.

[quentin_compson]

They probably confused him with Hill, who actually did score 15:

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=291031024

[SouthTexasRancher]

Theo is a keeper!!!