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playing Mahinmi against the Lakers or anyone else doesn't make Pop 'brilliant' or 'crazy', it just makes him look bad for not playing him one of the other games when Pop was changing starting centers and complaining about pathetic games.
Is Lake Show next for Mahinmi?
By Jeff McDonald
On Sunday night, long after his 15-point, nine-rebound performance against the Nets established him as one of the top two or three French-born centers in the NBA today, Ian Mahinmi began to talk about the future.
He hoped the best day of his season so far would not wind up being the best day of his career.
"I had a good game, and I'm excited about that," Mahinmi said after his first NBA action in 2 1/2 years. "But I really want to build on that. I hope it's just not one game and done."
Any discussion about Mahinmi's immediate future begins with a discussion about his immediate past. It begins with the question: Why now did Gregg Popovich choose the Spurs' 35th game of the season to finally give Mahinmi a uniform?
The first theory, the one advanced by Popovich himself, was that he wanted to make sure Tim Duncan got plenty of rest in between games against Dallas and the Lakers, and he knew of all the reserve bigs on the Spurs' roster, Mahinmi was the one least likely to take a game against lowly New Jersey for granted.
A second, more cynical theory has it that the Spurs were showcasing Mahinmi and his expiring contract for potential trade suitors.
Either of those theories -- or both -- could be correct.
There is a third theory as to why Mahinmi suddenly became a Spurs rotation player, after spening two seasons in a sport coat. Maybe Popovich is just crazy -- er, brilliant -- enough to want to throw Mahinmi at the Lakers on Tuesday.
The defending champs present quite literally the biggest challenge up front of any Spurs opponent this season. If Pau Gasol is healthy -- a signficant "if" at this point -- the Lakers could deploy three players at least 6-foot-10 at once.
A player like Mahinmi, 6-foot-11 and uncommonly athletic for a man his size, could come in handy against one of the Lakers' giants. Perhaps Popovich has such plans for him Tuesday night, but didn't want Mahinmi's first NBA action in two-plus seasons to come against the defending champs.
Maybe Mahinmi's big night against the Nets was a dress rehearsal for a role against the Lakers.
Or maybe we're just crazy. Stay tuned to find out.
playing Mahinmi against the Lakers or anyone else doesn't make Pop 'brilliant' or 'crazy', it just makes him look bad for not playing him one of the other games when Pop was changing starting centers and complaining about pathetic games.
Wouhaha
I hope this is the start of regular playing time for Ian. While I don't expect him to be as productive against a frontline like the Lakers it would be fun to see how a Duncan, Ian, Haislip frontline might match up.
Shoot, Stephen Jackson spent a season or so in a suit before Pop played him and we all know how that turned out.
He could possibly get the minutes against OKC in the back-to-back. Hard to say about this upcoming game though.
I've said it before: I think Pop has turned the corner a bit on playing young guys. I think he realized it after the Dallas series when Hill came in and contributed well after being anchored to the bench by Pop. I think it changed his mindset to a bit more "I'll play whoever plays well". Not a total metamorphosis, but I think there was a change. For example, did any of us think Blair would be starting at ANY point this year, barring injury? I think Pop has gotten a bit more results-oriented.
It was now or never
Two B2B in a week , all the reason's wich have already been posted on ST ..if Ian hadn't got any minutes he won't have ever
Mahinmi - Double Double vs the flake show. book it
Pop is not briliant. Frankly, he looks like an idiot right now. He's trying to cover his tail for sitting a healthy Mahinmi all season long. I think it was a shameless CYA to say that he played him because he thought Ian wouldn't take the Nets lightly. So Ian comes out and plays great, yet all Pop wants to do is take credit for it. What a joke.
Pop, do you think you might have taken Ian's potential a bit lightly?
As with most things like this we'll never know really what happened. Assuming Ian ends up on another team either this year or next, maybe then we'll find out what took him so long to get playing time.
There is another theory that isn't mentioned in this article that I think makes the most sense - Pop is trying to send a message to Dice. If you look at Pop's words, he mentions how Ian wouldn't take the game lightly. It's possible this a comment on Dice not fully exerting himself in many of the games. Anyway, just a theory.
I don't think Pop could conceive of Ian going in and playing this well. I mean, he's not a veteran...
Amen.
Actually, it makes takes away some of his shine as a brilliant coach and GM. Let's not sit here and pretend that "everything" he touches is gold or that he is infallable. Pop's decision to not play this kid before is has resulted in as much of a setback this year, as the kid's injured ankle did last year.
This is strictly some Parcells bull .
It's an interesting theory found in that veiled comment. Pop cannot help be be disappointed with Dice's performance. Outside of a couple of good games early, he's really stunk it up - especially against Dallas. Ian's 15 & 9 line was one we would've expected from Dice.
I'm anxious as to see how this kid performs against the tall frontline of the Fakers. With a couple of consistent outings, I hope it will restore Pop's faith in this kid.
Kinda hard to justify Mahinmi not getting regular PT so far this season. Blair and Mahinmi need the minutes to develop their games and you would want to keep the minutes for TD and McDyess down during the regular season.
I think Pop was looking at the flip side - getting McDyess acclimated to the team and vice versa.
let's see, he posts career highs on both points and rebounds and wonder if the guy is gonna play next game?
Ian had a great game against the Nets but they are one of the worst teams in NBA history and its still just one game.
However with how Ian played I can't see how he wouldn't get some minutes unless Pop focuses on potential playoffs matchups by gauging how well McDyess, Blair, and Theo handle LA's frontcourt.
Once Bonner gets healthy and if Ian continues to capitalize on potential opportunities it'll be interesting to see what happens to the big man rotations. Unless the Spurs face more injuries or if they're willing to give up McDyess/Theo...its going to hard for Ian to grab even garbage minutes.
It also makes me wonder if Ian just doesn't show up during practice or if he gets his ass handed to him by the other Spurs bigs. Or if the Nets game was just a fluke.
That actually makes a lot of sense actually. After not playing in an NBA game for so long and being active for the first time, Ian gave his full effort, contributed and even though he collected fouls (brook is good but the refs were being douchy tbh), he had an amazing effort and was rewarded with a stuffed boxscore.
Hopefully this opens Pop's eye to what Ian can actually do though, instead of just using him as a motivator
Yes the Nets are one of the worst teams in the NBA but Mahinmi did match-up against Brook Lopez, who isnt a joke....and when Ian was on him, he did a pretty good job defending him. Not only that but Ian was altering many of the other Nets players' shots, running the floor, rebounding, and finishing off easy buckets...
If Ian could give you a near double double in 15 minutes with a block or two and six fouls per game, would you take it?
there's just no reason to not see him more.
i'm not saying he will have for sure a major role for us, i don't know, i'm just saying, like i said several times and even more after that game, tha Ian NEVER FAILED since he's in the spurs on official games. NEVER.
He was sent to D League and was one of the very best player there (maybe the best one). He has seen few NBA garbage, and maybe meaningless, minutes two years ago, but still was just amazing in those minutes. Now, he has a full game, and he's a monster (for a young man).
JUST NO REASON TO NOT SEE HIM MORE.
I agree. I'll add to that, there's little excuse not to have seen more of him to this point. Let's hope Ian drove that one home against the Nets.
i really hope popovich knew mahinmi was a monster along and was just holding him back to shock and awe the rest of the league into submission. this would be true cia pop.
+1...The kid deserves a shot to be out there. Especially on nights when any of the bigs- Dice, Blair, or Bonner are struggling...
Just make sure to keep repeating it. That's how the man's kept his job all these years.
Where is "The Savior" picture when you need it ?
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