What do you think of the new starting lineup?

[SenorSpur]

Pop is the Alpha and Omega of the Spurs. It just gets me mad that he doesnt own up to his own bull .

...and he's not going to either.

Are you saying that RC is Pop's ?

[poop]

Bonner starting = the other team automatically starts off strong and builds an initial lead.

[Manu20]

Parker-Hill-Jefferson-McDyess-Duncan

This should be the starting lineup until the end of the season.

[xtremesteven33]

...and he's not going to either.

Are you saying that RC is Pop's ?

Pop reminds me of Vince Mcmahon. To put it that way...

[SouthTexasRancher]

Parker-Hill-Jefferson-McDyess-Duncan

This should be the starting lineup until the end of the season.

What??????????? Absolutely not. RJ just flat out doesn't mix with that setup. RJ is more suited for coming off the bench at this point. He could mix well with Manu & Blair in that setting.

[xtremesteven33]

Parker
Hill
Ginobili
Duncan
Bonner

If you wanna play small and not emphasis frontcourt defense than go all out on offense. Stop bringing Manu off the bench if RJ is aleady coming off. RJ can fill that role decently IMO. Manu himself has said that the SF/SG position are basically the same so it wouldnt make a difference X's and O's wise.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Parker
Hill
Ginobili
Duncan
Bonner

If you wanna play small and not emphasis frontcourt defense than go all out on offense. Stop bringing Manu off the bench if RJ is aleady coming off. RJ can fill that role decently IMO. Manu himself has said that the SF/SG position are basically the same so it wouldnt make a difference X's and O's wise.

That'll work.

[VI_Massive]

I haven't read through all these posts so please excuse me if this has been said already:

I don't think Pop will stick with this lineup at all. It failed terribly in the first few minutes of the first half against Indiana and Pop went away from it pretty quickly. Maybe Pop tried this for one or two more games, but I doubt it will last for very long.

Bogans has fallen off so much that he and RJ aren't that different defensively now and RJ brings more size and scoring.

I hate to sound overly hopeful, but I think Pop will move away from the smallball lineup. He went heavily with it against the Pacers because they played Granger at the 4 a lot, but if other teams don't go that way, I think Pop will play Dice and Blair more, depending on matchups. Bonner actually made a bit more sense against Troy Murphy because they're similar players, but against more traditional front lines, I see Blair and Dice playing more.

[SCdac]

It's not even just the lineup itself that's frustrating, it's the fact that starting lineup has changed I believe 14 times now. Yes, we got a bunch of new players, but the way Pop has played them we've never gotten away from that "new", never had a rotation that sticks for more than maybe 5-6 games. Antonio McDyess was a key piece in Detroit and knows the ropes of the NBA, it's mind-boggling why he hasn't been key for us, despite underwhelming play. We've given him Francisco Elson treatment, perhaps for at times looking like Elson out there, but it's completely known what he is capable of, there is no question (IMO), and he's a Spurs kind of guy. With him and Jefferson, we need to play them till they get better, not idly wait and sit them when they're lost, because frankly both these guys are playing significantly less minutes than last season and the season prior, and that has stunted the process (IMO). Matt Bonner is so last season, it's scary that him in the starting lineup is some sort of "answer".

[ElNono]

It's not even just the lineup itself that's frustrating, it's the fact that starting lineup has changed I believe 14 times now. Yes, we got a bunch of new players, but the way Pop has played them we've never gotten away from that "new", never had a rotation that sticks for more than maybe 5-6 games. Antonio McDyess was a key piece in Detroit and knows the ropes of the NBA, it's mind-boggling why he hasn't been key for us, despite underwhelming play. We've given him Francisco Elson treatment, perhaps for at times looking like Elson out there, but it's completely known what he is capable of, there is no question (IMO), and he's a Spurs kind of guy. With him and Jefferson, we need to play them till they get better, not idly wait and sit them when they're lost, because frankly both these guys are playing significantly less minutes than last season and the season prior, and that has stunted the process (IMO). Matt Bonner is so last season, it's scary that him in the starting lineup is some sort of "answer".

It's because nowadays we need to match up with Jim O'Brien team... Dice played 7(!) minutes last night...

You would think he would get playing time and keep on building on the good games he had lately.

And even worse, he got demoted to the bench...

[pjjrfan]

I don't like it, especially having Bonner in the starting lineup, but I'm glad Pop sat RJ's ass down.

[barbacoataco]

The fact that the Spurs didn't make a trade or even try to move Mason tells me that they don't really believe that the team will win a le..which is obvious to everybody..if that's the case, what the is the harm in throwing your young players out and seeing what you have?..there's no point not to..

Give me:

Parker
Hill/Manu/Mason
Jefferson/Hairston
Duncan/Blair/Bonner
Mahinmi/McDyess

Give this rotation a try, you lose nothing from benching Bogans/Finley and only playing Bonner in certain situations..this lineup gives you more versatility and different abilities..more importantly, it gives you an idea of what the Spurs have in the young players..

Hairston's contract isn't fully guaranteed for next year..wouldn't the Spurs playing him in meaningful games give them an idea of whether they want to keep him next year or not?..

With Ian it's more difficult, but there's no harm in it..yes, if he plays well, there's the likelihood that another team will make him a good offer, since teams generally do that with guys with Ian's physical tools..there's also the possibility that he has loyalty to the Spurs..he's good friends with Hairston, he obviously has a relationship with Tony, he obviously has friends in the organization..

If they don't play well, which is obviously very possible, what the changes for the Spurs?..the team ends up in the same position that it was in before giving them a chance..there's just no reason not to do this since the Spurs have NO chance at winning a le..wouldn't it make sense to at least see if you have some long-term pieces?..

This has a 1% chance of happening, but at least it would make for something to watch, like my man objective said..right now, this team is boring as ..I don't mean "boring" in the stupid way that casual fans used to call the Spurs when we were a grind-out defensive team, I loved that ..I mean boring in the sense that there's nothing to watch right now..the success is low, the energy is low and there's no player development going on..

I absolutely loved watching the Spurs with Hairston/Hill/Blair in the preseason..Tony and Manu connected with Hairston for multiple dunks on fast breaks..we saw what happened with Ian vs. the Nets, all the energy and highlights..

Absolutely agree. Players like Bogans are not the future of the Spurs. This season is confusing and I can't figure out if the FO thinks they can win this year, or if they are more or less rebuilding/waiting for Splitter.

[spurtech09]

r you kidding me...bonner in the starting line-up means pop doesn't know what hes doing anymore.....pop needs to retire......o yeah and add Ian to the line- up already

[TD 21]

I haven't read through all these posts so please excuse me if this has been said already:

I don't think Pop will stick with this lineup at all. It failed terribly in the first few minutes of the first half against Indiana and Pop went away from it pretty quickly. Maybe Pop tried this for one or two more games, but I doubt it will last for very long.

Bogans has fallen off so much that he and RJ aren't that different defensively now and RJ brings more size and scoring.

I hate to sound overly hopeful, but I think Pop will move away from the smallball lineup. He went heavily with it against the Pacers because they played Granger at the 4 a lot, but if other teams don't go that way, I think Pop will play Dice and Blair more, depending on matchups. Bonner actually made a bit more sense against Troy Murphy because they're similar players, but against more traditional front lines, I see Blair and Dice playing more.

Of course he won't. He won't stick with any ing lineup because then the team might actually start developing some chemistry and continuity. As much as this team isn't constructed to win a championship, the coaching has been so deplorable that even if they were, it's not giving them a chance.

Only on the Spurs could the second and third best bigs be coming off the bench and at minimum, two of the three best wings. It's ludicrous. You don't have to start your five best players, but why are two guys who don't rank in the top eight on the team in terms of talent starting? It's incomprehensible.

[TDomination]

It's not even just the lineup itself that's frustrating, it's the fact that starting lineup has changed I believe 14 times now. .

I agree

Honestly at this point, I truly wouldn't mind if this was the starting line-up for the rest of the year, as long as he keeps it that way. Let them become comfortable with their roles. Lets set a rotation, every player needs to know what their role is.

It has been a guessing game for these players this whole year, not knowing how much they will play, when they will play and for how long.

Lets have consistency somewhere, and if this is the line-up he chooses to use, so be it. JUST KEEP IT THAT WAY and not change it because we are playing a certain team.

[Obstructed_View]

I'm with you to a point TDom, but I wish it didn't have to come down to "starters give up a large lead, reserves have to dig out of it".

[elbamba]

If Pop wants to address chemistry issues use this lineup the rest of the year, it is the only lineup that will work and solve chemistry while giving the SPurs a shot to contend with LA:
C--Dice
PF--Duncan
SG/SF--Hill
SG/SF--Mason
PG--Parker

First sub is Blair for Dice
Second sub Manu and Jefferson for Hill and Mason
Third Sub Bonner and Hill for Duncan and Parker

We will play nine players deep and use KB as a 3-5 min a game player when we need to rest overworked players. Ian, to my displeasure will be the 12th man.

Pop will have to give 30-32 a game to Jefferson and 25-28 min to Manu. Pop will have to give 15-20 min to Dice and 20 min to Blair (at least) with Bonner getting his minutes when Duncan rests 10-12 min (est.)

If Pop takes Blair out of the picture, Spurs do not stand a chance. Blair is a double digit scorer right now. Neither Dice nor Bonner is a doubtl digit scorer. Blair has good hands and is a double digit rebounder (including offensive) Neither Dice nor Bonner are double digit rebounders.

This team is underperforming because Pop is screwing with the chemistry and rotation. His ridiculous changes throughout the year have cost this team 5-8 games (which is a big deal this year as opposed to years past). He has more talent than this team has seen since 2005. This team has better players than 2007 even though Manu and Tony are not as good as thier 2007 versions.

Finally, Small Ball must end. Pop can use it in stretches against certain teams, but come playoff time, we will get burned by just about any western conference team if we run small ball for more than 3-5 min.

[Brazil]

- Duncan and Parker are Spurs main offensive weapons of the starting lineup. They both can't shoot a 3. Having Bonner to space the floor makes sense.

you forget that TP shot 2 treys against Indiana, he is now a lethal threat at the 3 pts line

[Mhak]

epic fail!!!

[Mhak]

Pops need to play a lot of them more minutes!!! Yes your resting them for the playoff but for the whole year playing less minutes c'mon your body needs to adjust to more minutes as well....

Pop is just plane lost it back circa 2007

[doobs]

Why not start the game with 3 bigs (for 5-6 minutes)?

Parker
Hill
Bonner (basically a perimeter player anyway)
Blair
Duncan

Bring Manu, RJ, and McDyess off the bench. Mason, Bogans, and Finley get spot minutes.

[Pentagruel]

I don't mind Bonner starting at Center. I don't like Bogans in there. He is simply terrible. I understand Pop wants to refocus on defense and put in his best defensive players but Bogans is not a good defender and even worse on the offensive end.

Perhaps bringing Jefferson off the bench was a good decision to settle him down and allow him some more touches to get in a groove without Tony and Duncan ahead of him. Why not move Manu in the starting lineup to replace him? Stick Bogans to the pine where he belongs for the duration of the game save 8-10 minutes.

[doobs]

This is what I see for the second half:

+30 mpg = Parker, Duncan, RJ

25-30 mpg = Manu, Hill, McDyess

20-25 mpg = Blair, Bonner

15-20 mpg = Mason

10-15 mpg = Finley, Bogans

<10 mpg = Mahinmi, Hairston

I have no idea if this adds up.

[easy7]

I wish there could have been a "would rather become a Mavs fan, Lakers fan, etc... than to play that starting line up" option..

[objective]

This whole 'starting lineup' thing is hurting Matt Bonner's plus/minus numbers in a bad way.

If that continues, I'm worried the Spurs might think twice before re-signing him this summer.