Bogans continue as starter?

[itzsoweezee]

i'm a huge fan after tonight. time to give finley and bonner the axe.

a starting lineup of rjeff, tony, tim, mcdyess, and bogans would be straight.

[AFBlue]

I'm a Mason backer, but if Bogans can help keep star perimeters in check to start the game I'd be for bring RMJ off the bench to heat up the offense....unless we're talking about brinking Jefferson off the bench and starting the both Mase AND Bogans.

You won't see me advocating the latter...RJ absolutely needs to be out there on the opposing SF, because he's got the size and athleticism to hang with bigger players (Melo, Deng, etc.). RJ just needs to commit...and I think we saw some of that after he got benched early on.

About Bogans though, again...not the end of the world if he settles in as a starter.

[NewJerSpur]

You won't see me advocating the latter...RJ absolutely needs to be out there on the opposing SF, because he's got the size and athleticism to hang with bigger players (Melo, Deng, etc.). RJ just needs to commit...and I think we saw some of that after he got benched early on.

About Bogans though, again...not the end of the world if he settles in as a starter.

I've still got my concerns with RJ, in terms of him finishing on a defensive play. Seen him shadow guys and be able to stay in front of them all the way up until they reach the rim, then he just fades away/concedes. He's on a decline, but he's too athletic still to let that happen. I was glad Pop got in his ass (although he did it more for lack of rotation than one-on-one defnese)early and make him accountible. He finished better as the team in general picked it up on that end of the floor, but he has to play consistently. I saw effort from RMJ similar to what he displayed the frist half of the season last year tonight.

[AFBlue]

I've still got my concerns with RJ, in terms of him finishing on a defensive play. Seen him shadow guys and be able to stay in front of them all the way up until they reach the rim, then he just fades away/concedes. He's on a decline, but he's too athletic still to let that happen. I was glad Pop got in his ass (although he did it more for lack of rotation than one-on-one defnese)early and make him accountible. He finished better as the team in general picked it up on that end of the floor, but he has to play consistently. I saw effort from RMJ similar to what he displayed the frist half of the season last year tonight.

No doubt Jefferson has a long way to go, but I liked the way he responded. Right now it's about the coach setting expectations and holding him accountable to those expectations.

We all know he's still got the athleticism to perform...now it's just about getting him to do it on a consistent basis. And I think Pop is an excellent motivator.

[Xevious]

I'm fine if he starts and continues to work hard. And I have little doubt that RJ will be more effective as the season rolls on. What we really need to worry about is interior D. Tim looks about 50% and has NO help. I know Ratliff will see few minutes, but I don't know why he was benched for two straight games in which our opponent was outscoring us in the paint. At this point I'd even support starting Mahinmi just to mix things up and give Tim another big man to clog the paint with.

[peacemaker885]

I'm all for Bogans starting. Maybe our new Mario Elie?

[rayray2k8]

The spurs played their best when Bogans was on the floor. His defense might prove vital down the stretch.
This guy can play spurs basketball.

[024]

Spurs should start bogans just to mix things up. His defense is pretty good from what I saw but he needs to consistently make that 3.

[SpurNation]

This team's championship formula has always include a stopper, Bowen, in the lineup, even if it almost meant playing 4-on-5 offensively.

So, while Bogans might not be Bowen, the Spurs also didn't have an offensive player like Jefferson playing alongside Tim and Tony in the starting-5, while keeping Manu on the bench. Bogans is obviously a downgrade from Bowen but RJ's a big enough upgrade over Fin on both ends that it should be doable; I'm not sure they've got a better option currently.

I still have no clue why they haven't given Hairston a shot, given how well he played and the early stage of the season, but at least Bogans is a step in the right direction and a player that resembles Bowen on both ends; hopefully those spot-up 3's will start falling as he builds confidence through playing time.

If they've got Bonner on the floor, their perimeter defense needs to be stout.

If they've got Finley and Jefferson on the perimeter together, their interior defense has to be stout.

Yep.

And at

If they've got Finley and Bonner starting together, shoot me in the face.

[lennyalderette]

one of the things that really excited me today i hope pop rewards bogans for his D, and sits his lover finley for a bit. i thought i had seen it all, but then pop puts finley on a 7 footer!! oh man it was pretty funny, but back to my point we didnt let the team get 100 on us, i know we didnt play great but their were signs of what will be in the future

[SpursFan0728]

Bogans...Mason...w/e u name it.

All I know is that Finley needs to sit next to the towel boy. That old peice of crap is flatout done.

[Chieflion]

Bogans just has to start. I was very impressed with his defense. He set the tone for us and everyone started to hustle when he was on the court. He even knocked down a 3 and had a fast break layup. We had a good stretch when Bogans was on the court and all broke loose when Pop subbed in Finley when we were only down 5.

[Spurs Brazil]

More Bogans and less Finley is a good start.

Now Pop needs to take Bonner out for McDyess and give Malik a chance in place of Mason.

Finley and Mason are terrible on D

[Warlord23]

Since we're losing to the good teams anyway and Parker is going to be out, I'm all for giving Bogans and Hill a lot more minutes. Now if they can get Ian some burn at Bonner's expense, it'd make these losses somewhat tolerable

[Chieflion]

Bonner only played 12 minutes, Finley played 14 minutes. With that said, this is a good start, except Pop made Finley look worthless by playing him at PF. Pop going small again and again is what killed us. Sure, we need someone to play defense against Travis Outlaw, but Pop's rotations is just frustrating. The lead was cut to 9 with 15 seconds left in the 1st half. Pop then subs uted the bigs and we have 5 wings on the court at the same time. This led to Roy having an open lane for a driving layup or a wide open jumper or a floater.

Towards the end of the game, the Spurs had momentum and were only down 5, Pop then subs uted in Finley for Bogans. Bogans was doing well and Pop screwed the defense over and then Manu started to make stupid decisions. No one could make a shot except for Jefferson.

[manu_maniac]

I was pissed off at first that Bogans was even going to suit up instead of Hairston, but he earned it last night. He was only 1 of 2 Spurs with a positive +/-, but in all reality, the +/- system baffles me again because Findog was the other Spur. Now I want Bogans & Hairston to play over Finley, meaning that Finley would have to be inactive, which will unfortunately never happen with Pop.

[ceperez]

Bogans definitely earned that starting spot with the way he was able to cool Roy down. I hope he earns a finishing spot too though.

Unbelievable hype. He showed nothing but denial defense on some occasions. Manu had to take on Roy in the 4th quarter. That just tells you how much trust Pop has in Bogans defense.

The guy is just too small for his position as SG. He's also a liability in offense, he's like Finley, reliable spot up shooter but absolutely no ability to take it to the hoop. Did you not see the couple of times he drove it to the hoop????!

[ceperez]

I was pissed off at first that Bogans was even going to suit up instead of Hairston, but he earned it last night. He was only 1 of 2 Spurs with a positive +/-, but in all reality, the +/- system baffles me again because Findog was the other Spur. Now I want Bogans & Hairston to play over Finley, meaning that Finley would have to be inactive, which will unfortunately never happen with Pop.

Illogical!

Bogans good 'coz positive +/-
Finley not good even with better +/-

[Chieflion]

Unbelievable hype. He showed nothing but denial defense on some occasions. Manu had to take on Roy in the 4th quarter. That just tells you how much trust Pop has in Bogans defense.

The guy is just too small for his position as SG. He's also a liability in offense, he's like Finley, reliable spot up shooter but absolutely no ability to take it to the hoop. Did you not see the couple of times he drove it to the hoop????!

He actually scored. So you want Finley to start, huh? I could say the same for Mason. He is just a smaller Finley with better ballhandling ability.

[easy7]

I support Bogans or Mason starting over Finley.

[Xevious]

The guy is just too small for his position as SG. He's also a liability in offense, he's like Finley, reliable spot up shooter but absolutely no ability to take it to the hoop. Did you not see the couple of times he drove it to the hoop????!

With Tony, Manu, and RJ (or any combination of the three) on the floor, that's all Bogans needs to be is a spot up shooter. If he can do the dirty work on D and shoot the ball at a respectable percentage, he more than earns his place.

Slightly off-topic... now that Tony's hurt and will be out for at least 2-3 games, Hairston will most likely suit up. This is his chance to earn minutes.

[ThaiFanofSpurs]

i'm a huge fan after tonight. time to give finley and bonner the axe.

a starting lineup of rjeff, tony, tim, mcdyess, and bogans would be straight.

I love this starting lineup. We can have a toughness in defense and high ability to score points in the first unit. The second unit will not be bad either when Hill and Manu subs for Tony and Bogan. Hopefully, Pop will read our comments and welcome them.

[Russ]

Bogans or Bruce.

Then see if there's still a chance to make a run at Camby.

[ceperez]

Bogans or Bruce.

Bruce even at 38.

Longer and quicker. Besides if all you do is denial defense, then Bruce is the guy.

[Yogurt210]

You guys HAVE to understand this.

Bogans does WELL when denying the ball.
But ONBALL defense, he is average.