Reply With Quote
Yeah, it would suck to have two young talented bigs on the cheap. That's too much for Pop though - he'd rather have a couple of veteran 'bigs' in Bonner and Finley to throw out there.
Sure are a lot of folks on this board that are nba experts on talent. These are probably the same folks that said Pop was right for keeping Hill shelved last year. I just think it's hard to make hard statements about someone's talent until you've seen enough evidence to do so. Just making that statement based of a coach's decision seems pretty naive to me.
Yeah, it would suck to have two young talented bigs on the cheap. That's too much for Pop though - he'd rather have a couple of veteran 'bigs' in Bonner and Finley to throw out there.
Hills situation compared to Ian are totally different. Ian has had 3 years of evidence in a spurs uniform.. that includes the coaching staff seeing him every day in practice. Hill had spent a previous 0 years here. pop realized his fault on that but to see a rookie like that step in is pretty rare. not like he would have made a difference anyway.
The only thing we can hope for Ina right now is that he goes on to a nice NBA career, which I think will be the case. Won't be the first time Pop will be eating crow after misjudging a player's potential. But it's ok, cos it's Pop.
Ian had 3 years of evidence? He played well in D-League and then he was injured. If Pop wasn't impressed with his D-League stint, why would he have been upset when Ian was injured?
Hill did make a difference - once Pop was forced to play him. Hill on the shelf didn't help Mason either.
I think most folks that support Ian just want him to get some a bit of playing time - especially when there are opportunities to do so. Most aren't saying he's anything more than a bench player, but does he have enough athleticism to help us - that's the question I'd like to see answered. A game like the Clippers would have been a good opportunity.
The coaches do not have a great history of developing players. They did not teach Tony his speed, Manu his craftiness, Bowen his D, or Duncan his overall game. Even with Blair Pop said he does not know how to coach him. Probably, the best thing to happen to Blair. The only coach who seems to deliver at an actual player improvement level is Chip. The one exception may be George Hill. But, has he gotten better because of coaching, playing time and over development of confidence? Imagine if Pop gave Ian the same amount of screw up time that they have given RJ.
I'm on the "play Ian" side of the fence, but based on what's transpired I think his days are done as a Spur. The NJ game was a showcase game.
This is what I think happened between Pop and Ian before the NJ game.
Pop: Let's just talk plainly, I don't like your at ude. I heard you were really upset we did not pick up your option and complaining to the other players. You don't do that if you want to be on this team. Quite frankly, I still think you have untapped potential and can be a good player in this league, but you have to change your at ude.
Ian: I just want some playing time. I think I deserve a chance.
Pop: You demanding time vs. playing hard in practice and earning time is the problem.
Guys are busting their tails in practice and you feel like you deserve time?
How am I going to look if you are lobbying for time, but not showing it in practice, yet all of sudden you're getting 10-15 minutes a game?
Ian: Ok, then trade me.
Pop: That's what we hope to do. This game is your showcase game. This game is just as much for you as it is for us. You do well and somebody will request you in a trade. Both parties get what they want and we shake hands and move on. Nothing personal, just business.
Remember, you have to be on your best behavior afterwards, no complaining to the media, or others about your playing time in future games before the trade deadline, you do that and you become more difficult to move.
Just be a good teammate. When the camera hits you, smile. Cheer on the team and high five players as they return to the bench. We'll get this done. Got it?
Ian: Got it! (shake hands, leaves the office)
Pop: Damn, I wish Isiah was still with the Knicks. Let me give my bud Larry a call.
Michael chose Kwame, maybe I can convince him and Larry to take Ian.
I don't think most people are unaware that Ian is done as a Spur. We all know he won't be here next season. But come on guys, don't act like Theo Ratliff is coming back next season either, it's not a case of 'play the guy who will be here'.
It's just weird not to see him on active roster for a game against a bad team over Theo considering his one good game and his one decent game. I'm not expecting him to be active over Theo in the playoffs or against elite teams, but for a February regular season game when Pop is actually counting on having Theo healthy for the playoffs . . . it's not like Theo getting 5 minutes every 5th game helps his conditioning.
Decent points but Theo also needs at least some minutes and it was a long while before he got some the other night. Like you said, Ian is likely done so it makes more sense to invest the time in a player you'll later be using in the most important games for the Spurs this year (playoffs).
So while Theo won't be coming back he'll at least be playing this year. Ian is a disappointing D-league project thats just injury insurance/trade fodder nowadays.
Theo doesn't need minutes. In fact, Pop has already said to the media that there would be games where he wouldn't be playing Theo, even when he was on the active roster. Last night he played him sure, but overall, Theo doesn't need minutes. He's a spot player to fill a spot role in the playoffs, 2-3 minute bursts to end quarters or begin them in the playoffs, that's it.
??? You act like there are coaching staffs all over the NBA developing young players into stars? please. and give some credit to the spurs coaching staff for all three of the above mentioned Tony,Manu and Bruce all became better players due to the coaching staff and pop
Even players like Turkoglu have said in the past that he developed most and would have not became the player he is today without his stint here in S.A.
Yeah, why not? I could have used Shaquille O'Neal or Dwight Howard to compare as well because, like almost all young bigs in the NBA, they have problems adjusting to the speed and require time to reduce their fouls. Mahinmi has no less upside than Bynum at this point in his career, and you'll see that proven in July, when the line of NBA suitors throw more money at him than the Spurs can afford.Are you comparing Ian Mahinmi to Andrew Bynum
please son
Damn i like the way you think !
If teams sat all their players that were going to be wearing someone else's jersey next year, a lot of NBA games would be pretty awful to watch.
Mahinmi will be nothing more than serge ibaka, saer sene, pops mensa bonsu, fransisco elson, johan petro etc.... extremely athletic big men who have no idea how to play the game.
Originally Posted by DesignatedT
Mahinmi wont/cant stop fouling... the dude is a foul machine... fouls do not help a team..... fouls can end up hurting a team very much actually. spurs defense tries do defend without fouling.... this is the biggest reason IMO. when did you see him ac ulate all these fouls? what games did he play in to collect all these fouls you talking about?
^^^^ well in this years summer league he averaged over 6 fouls a game in less than 27 minutes per game. Thats against Inferior compe ion and one game he collected 10 personal fouls LMAO. this is because you cant foul out in summer league games.
If you think it gets easier in the NBA then your wrong.
I like DesignatedT's analysis. So, how many regular season games did we see Ian play again?
Six in '07-'08.
Five in '09-'10.
So are you implying that the NBA regular season would be easier for ian than a mere summer league
please.
dude cant play against summer league compe ion i highly doubt he will be able to play against gasol and dirk.
like he couldn't play against Brook Lopez or Zach Randolph?
Lol zach randolph? please go back and look what he did in that game... if i remember correctly he almost fouled out of that game also and probly played 10 minutes LOL
yeah ill give him the nets game, that was a great showing against a highly unmotivated team that will go down as one of the worst teams in NBA HISTORY.
No, YOU go back and watch that game. Unlike you probably, I watched that game a second time solely to scout Ian and take notes.
He had two bogus calls, and two legit fouls against.
AND he DREW FOUR fouls. One of them a charge, and another on Randolph when Zach held Ian to keep him from running the floor.
And enough of this fouling garbage.
His biggest fouling problem was moving screens. He had them in SL, he had them in pre-season, he had them against NJ. It was something he needed to improve.
So against Memhis . . . NO offensive fouls for illegal screens.
Funny how you know that without having seen him get a chance to play. It seems like the Spurs could have made a premature judgment of the guy four years ago and not wasted everyone's time and money.
Yeah, why would you need to see a guy play to know if he can actually play? Besides, all big men have learned everything they're going to learn by age 23.
As often as not, moving screens are the fault of the small guy dribbling the ball for not giving the big a chance to set his feet. Again, something that can be remedied by guys getting a chance to play together.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
