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Two solid outings in a row for the Red Rocket.. dare we hope for a third?
Bonner must be reading these boards.
I swear, the past few games he looks like he has some extra spring and quickness in his step going for rebounds and loose balls.
Still can't play defense to save his life but then again its Bonner...
Two solid outings in a row for the Red Rocket.. dare we hope for a third?
Bonner appears to be a keeper.
Like I've been saying, he's playing much better than last year and he's hitting those 3's without a conscience.
He's the one guy who bailed us out of our atrocious 13 point 4th quarter drought.
Oh, BTW, Finley is also a keeper! ;-)
This is where Bonner belongs, I just hope Pop can recognize this. Bonner probably doesn't realize this but he just increased his trade value, if he keeps it up. Trading Bonner + ? for a legit shot blocker/defender still has a nice ring to it. Think of playoff grind it out type of basketball and having a front court of TD, Dice, Ratliff, Blair +? will mean when going against the Lakers or Celtics. Just saying...
As frustrating as it was last year having Bonner as our starter, there wasn't anyone else who qualified.
This year with the quality of McDyess and the emergence of Blair...hopefully we see Bonner off the bench.
He looks completely comfortable and more confident in that role. A huge plus for him and the team.
For all those that wanted him gone...you'll be glad to change your mind now that he will be contributing from a role he always was meant to play.
He's a huge asset for this team in the right scenario.
Bonner has passed the first test -- he can play off the bench.
The Spurs need to keep challenging him by raising the bar.
This whole thing gets way overblown. Bonner is a role player. Whether or not the minutes in which he's on the court filling that role come at the opening tip or after the game is already underway is irrelevant.
Like him starting!!?? Slow down..
I think you didn't get it.Like him starting!!?? Slow down..
So your saying you don't see any difference whatsoever in how the team is playing (in particular on defense) since Fin and Bonner have been getting more minutes off the bench? Seriously?
Somebody should post a poll and we'll find out how many people REALLY think it makes no difference. I'd love to see how many people think this.
No, that's not what I'm saying at all. What I'm saying is that whatever the happy medium for the number of minutes Matt Bonner should be playing is, it doesn't matter whether he gets some of those minutes as a member of the starting lineup or not. How many minutes he plays is the issue, not when he plays those minutes.
Bonner is just doing what is natural and fitting for his role as a complimentary role player. He's kicking some ass coming off the bench.
Bonner is a role player and a great 3 point shooter. His D sucks and yes we all know he hustles his ass off, but he is physically limited. He looks even worse when he's up against the elite bigs. Last year Pop had no choice but to start him, and it was painfully obvious Bonner had many limitations as a starter.
However, Bonner off the bench is glorious. He is fulfilling that role very well. I hope Pop continues to have him come off the bench, and lets McDyess start with Timmy where Dice truly belongs. Thus, allowing Bonner to flourish as a bench player, and Dice to set the tone of the game teaming with Timmy for some tough D.
Last edited by Spursmania; 11-12-2009 at 01:32 PM.
Well you are an idiot then. It's plain as day to see... look at Bonner's production as a non-starter the past 3 games as opposed to all the games dating back to the last half of last year when the burden of starting really started taking its toll. Is it a coincidence since he's been coming off the bench he looks more comfortable, confident, and his whole game has picked up? I think not.
I dont like Bonner starting but Him coming off the bench may work. Only if he hustles for rebounds like he did the last 2 games. Vs the Raptors he only grabbed 4rbs but he hustled and tipped balls, ala DBlair style. Vs the Mavs he was actually able to grab some of those same balls he tipped against the Raptors. If his shot isnt going he seems to not be able to do mcuh else. If Bonner would hustle every minute regardless of his shot that would be great. His defense is Ok as long as he doesn't play against legitimate threats like Gasol/Dirk(he didnt do to bad on him although Dice did better)Odom/Lewis.
Bonner is a very good player, I think all anyone with any sense ever suggested is that he's not a starting-caliber NBA big. He's actually more valuable to the Spurs off the bench, as he's an excellent energy guy, as evidenced by last night. Being able to throw him in there and say "Go after every rebound, shoot when you're open, don't worry about fouls" is a luxury.
As for the topic at hand, if you go look at Bonner's career splits, there's zero difference in his productivity whether he comes off the bench or starts. All his shooting percentages stay the same. His points and rebounds track the same on a per minute basis as well. He's the same player. And that 300+ games worth of history, not 3.
, if we want to go with just the last 3 games as the trend then you should be lobbying for Bonner to be playing more. I mean look how well he played when he got 30 minutes. Certainly that must be proof that him getting 30 minutes a game off the bench is better than him getting 20 as a starter.
Bonner is a 3pt bomber and thats very nice to have comming from your bench. However his skills is a redundency when you have Finely, and Mason on the floor at the same time.
Mad props to his play lately. I'm not holding my breath untill Tim is back in the line up and we get to see what Pop will do.
Gotta dust off the old sig...
If Bonner keeps bringing that kind of energy, hustle and production off the bench I will lobby to have him play more minutes off the bench.
As for the topic at hand, if you go look at Bonner's career splits, there's zero difference in his productivity whether he comes off the bench or starts. All his shooting percentages stay the same. His points and rebounds track the same on a per minute basis as well. He's the same player. And that 300+ games worth of history, not 3.
, if we want to go with just the last 3 games as the trend then you should be lobbying for Bonner to be playing more. I mean look how well he played when he got 30 minutes. Certainly that must be proof that him getting 30 minutes a game off the bench is better than him getting 20 as a starter.
You can rattle off all the statistics you want but your not going to convince me that his promotion to the starting lineup has been a successful endeavor.
It's just too much to ask for a guy with limited mobility, hops, and athleticism to go toe to toe with the league's best centers on a nightly basis. That's a big responsibility and alot of pressure, and Matt Bonner is simply overmatched most nights.
Was the unsuccessful endeavor Matt Bonner in the starting lineup? Or was it having to rely on Matt Bonner for 24 mpg? If Pop came out and said that Bonner was only going to play 12 minutes a night and he did so between the 9 minute to 6 minute mark every quarter, then most people here would be fine with that. But if Pop decides to play Bonner 12 minutes a night between the 12 minute and the 9 minute mark then all of a sudden people start running for the hills because "Matt Bonner is our starting center". IMO that's irrational, especially considering how some Spurs fans will go ballistic any time someone brings up the notion of the Spurs actually inserting their most qualified shooting guard into the starting lineup.
At the end of the day I don't care whether Bonner starts or not. I don't care because I don't think it matters so long as he's not being overused over the course of the entire game. You do. Fair enough. We disagree.
Last edited by coyotes_geek; 11-12-2009 at 03:15 PM.
Matt Bonner's promotion to the starting lineup was evidence of the lack of depth this team had last year in the frontcourt; he was an upgrade over moving Duncan to center and starting Fin at the 4 full time. His going back to a bench role is evidence that the new bigs are starting to figure out the defense.
Like I've said all along, Bonner will go back to the bench where he can surely play well. You bonner-hating s end up wrong, per the usual, but let me leave you for the cliche "he's a totally liability on defense even though I have no clue about the actual facts and I'm a completely re ed player evaluator".
Now I do! Good one.I think you didn't get it.
So what you're saying is Bonner should go back being a bench player where he can actually have a chance to compete against other bench level talent around the league?
Exactly what us "Bonner hating s" have been saying all along should happen.
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