Has Pop seen the light?

[Obstructed_View]

I think the Spurs are paying the price now for staying with the vets too long.

They can't realistically have 3 rookies (Blair, Mahinmi and Hairston) in the 9 man rotation and expect to compete for a championship. I doubt that has ever been done. Add in that Jefferson and Mcdyess are 1st year Spurs and you have too many players learning to play together all at one time.

Mahinmi and Hairston aren't rookies. The fact is they know the system far better, and have since camp, than the guys who have this season away.

[gospursgojas]

I highly doubt ian and malik see the floor Sunday.... just the way pop is.

Bogans is a complete waste. He would be on the end of the net's bench if it wasn't for pop. he hardly played last season on the bucks!

I called out ian earlier for sucking and not only do I not mind being wrong, I'm glad I am.

Too bad pop isn't as humble as I or else we would have seen malik and or ian way earlier.

Its gonna suck on Sunday around 3 when we're in here complaining about another spurs lose and ian and malik never sniffin the court, bogans with 30 mins

[all_heart]

I at least hope it's the end of Finley, the guy hasn't been even a shadow of himself since his injury, which wasn't very good to begin with. Tim looked EXTREMELY frustrated in post game interview. Pop looks like he's about to lose his mind sometimes. In all honesty the chances of the Spurs making it to the WCF much less the Finals is a long shot. Even a longer shot with Pop playing Bogans and Finley. So might as well play Hairston and Ian. I do appreciate Bonner getting much fewer minutes overall lately. I've also noticed Bogans plays better at home than on the road. Still isn't good enough.

[Obstructed_View]

Well that was probably the last hurrah for Ian as a Spur and the last time I feel good about the Spurs this season. Glad I got home to listen to it. Had a good time talking about it too.

[barbacoataco]

Mahinmi and Hairston aren't rookies. The fact is they know the system far better, and have since camp, than the guys who have this season away.

I had always thought they would want to show off the Toros' usefulness by integrating mahinmi and/or hairston into the team. I mean, what is the point of the Toros if Mahinmi and Hairston are not put to use?

[ElNono]

Even if we lose, I just hope this encourages Pop to play Hairston and Mahinmi much much more. I think the team relies way too much on "veteran savy" and while it is getting late in the season we already know what our main rotation players can do.

I'm OK with the loss as long as this actually changes something with his terrible subs utions

We'll see Sunday... Although I fully expect nothing to change...

[crc21209]

It's so obvious that Hairston should be getting minutes over Bogans/Finley and Mahinmi getting minutes over Bonner...so why doesnt Pop see it damn it?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The problem is it's hard to tell what the management is trying to do this season. They gave away Theo Ratliff, so clearly they feel they will never compete with the Lakers, yet they didn't even attempt to get young players who can contribute right away or even build on for the future.

So while on one hand it's great to see the young guns get playing time, it kind of feels like Pop wouldn't be willing to try giving them a bigger role this late in the season. The "system" the Spurs use is broken right now because the personnel just sucks.

Sometimes you just gotta do what works, instead of force feeding a flawed method to unwilling participants. The switch isn't going to magically turn on, and it'd be a shame that this is what Duncan's sacificed paycheck has turned in to.

[Doe]

Doubt Pop has "seen the light". After Martin had ass raped Bogans for the last time and he was pulled out of the game, I saw Pop coaching Bogans on the sidelines. That didn't look indicative of player that will be dog housed anytime soon.

The funny thing about all of this is, we won the last game with Bogans and Finley playing. People were joking that Pop might attribute that win to those two and we all know who joined Jacque Bogans in the starting line up tonight.

I somehow doubt any of the young guys responsible for today's near comeback will receive similar treatment. I would love to eat crow for saying this though.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It's too much to ask for as Pop is too stubborn, but he should take the minutes he'd be giving Fin and Bogans and give them to Malik.

[Sean Cagney]

Nope, this fukkin clown will start Bonner or Bogans or Finley next game! He is that dumb now.

I am sick of his fukkin azz, seriously I am sick of Pop and his bullshyt fukkin rotations here! He has lost his damn mind, period.

[Borosai]

Doubt it. Unless Pop's wearing a headlamp, he won't see anything considering where his head is.

He started Bogans and Finley. Right. The guy is stuck in his ways.

[Slippy]

Even if pop sees the light in playing the youngsters , it wont matter too much in the over-all context of the game . When you have Finley starting with regular mins, the spurs will always be playing catch-up.

[Ibanezsr]

Definitely not, he's not that type of player at all..

He doesn't have the size to make up for his lack of a great handle..he's improved his ball-handling a lot, but it's not reliable enough for him to be a big scorer in the NBA..his jump shot has significantly improved too, but it's not good enough for him to be a consistent scorer..

I think he can be a stopper that can mix in some offense though, and that would be a huge plus for the Spurs..he has 38" vertical, he's deceptively quick for his size, he's aggressive and has a good basketball IQ, he's tough..he has all the traits of a potential great role player, nothing more than that..

That's funny... You just described George Hill from last year... And Hill is showing that he can put up the numbers. I don't think Hairston has had consistent enough time for you to say that. I am not saying that he can but I think the man deserves a decent chance before I start knocking his capabilities.

[200 miles]

That's funny... You just described George Hill from last year... And Hill is showing that he can put up the numbers. I don't think Hairston has had consistent enough time for you to say that. I am not saying that he can but I think the man deserves a decent chance before I start knocking his capabilities.

+1

I could see him start at SG next year, provided if Pop gets his head out of his ass.

[spursrocks]

forget it, poopoo wont play hairston and mahinmi..
as long as poopoop is the coach, our starting line will still compose of the bogners and jurassic Fin.

[objective]

I've never been too high on Hairston's ceiling, but people can check the record of my posts and find that I've advocated starting Hairston since before the season even started.

Bogans is just too awful to play regular minutes, let alone start. And Finley . . . dear lord, dear lord.

[Xevious]

I'm gonna laugh (then cry) so hard when the starting lineup of the Phoenix game is:

Parker
Bogans
Finley
Bonner
Duncan

[Bruno]

For years, Pop's speech has been "you get the playing time you deserve". He never promised starting jobs and never guaranteed some playing time to players.

It Malik and Ian are the ones who deserve playing time, they should get it. They will do some "rookie" mistakes at first but it will settle down with some time.

And I continue to be damn surprised to see Bonner being that deep in the doghouse. It could be Ian's chance to get some minutes and it's very important for him. Ian needs to draw the attention of other NBA teams to stay in the NBA after this season.

[easy7]

If by "the light" you mean starting Bogans and Finley, I would say yes.

[Old School 44]

I like Pop, but his decisions this year have been suspect.
I hope he's seen the light. He either needs to change or step down. I'm still hoping for the former. If he keeps going the route he's going, it will diminish his legacy.
And contrary to his outward "get over yourself" mantra, I think it matters to him.

[SenorSpur]

I think the Spurs are paying the price now for staying with the vets too long.

Damn right!

The state of this roster and the fact that, on most nights, the Spurs often fail to match up with the quickness, talent and athleticism of the opposition is the clearly fault of Pop.

With the exception of Manu, both Hill and Blair have consistently given the most effort, energy and production - not the mention they're the only 2 Spurs to have played in every game.

Youth and energy isn't always as bad as Pop seems to think it is. Imagine how much better the Spurs would be if Ian and Malik were regular rotation contributors over the Bonner & Finley/Bogans triumverate.

[venitian navigator]

Damn right!

The state of this roster and the fact that, on most nights, the Spurs often fail to match up with the quickness, talent and athleticism of the opposition is the clearly fault of Pop.

With the exception of Manu, both Hill and Blair have consistently given the most effort, energy and production - not the mention they're the only 2 Spurs to have played in every game.

Youth and energy isn't always as bad as Pop seems to think it is. Imagine how much better the Spurs would be if Ian and Malik were regular rotation contributors over the Bonner & Finley/Bogans triumverate.

I completely agree.
And, given that Hairston is under contract next year (team option) I really see no reason to not let him play more minutes...for Ian, I can understand just because he will be an UFA.
I will never undestand why lest season Ian he was considered a potential rotation player (and didn't play just because of his weird injury) and this season the team didn't exercise the option.
Imho, however, just for the little thinghs we sow of him, he could well deserve a new contract for next year...

[Obstructed_View]

For years, Pop's speech has been "you get the playing time you deserve". He never promised starting jobs and never guaranteed some playing time to players.

It Malik and Ian are the ones who deserve playing time, they should get it. They will do some "rookie" mistakes at first but it will settle down with some time.

And I continue to be damn surprised to see Bonner being that deep in the doghouse. It could be Ian's chance to get some minutes and it's very important for him. Ian needs to draw the attention of other NBA teams to stay in the NBA after this season.

I absolutely guarantee you several teams wrote him on their board after the New Jersey game. Popsuckers might have written it off, but NBA front offices did not. Barring some sort of injury, there's no way Mahinmi isn't on an NBA roster next season.

[SenorSpur]

I absolutely guarantee you several teams wrote him on their board after the New Jersey game. Popsuckers might have written it off, but NBA front offices did not. Barring some sort of injury, there's no way Mahinmi isn't on an NBA roster next season.

The problem is the roster that needs him most is the one that drafted him. Irregardless of what happens next year with Splitter, that should not, in any way, factor into the decision on Ian. The fact remains that, outside of Duncan, the Spurs have very little skill level along the frontline. Duncan's play is suffering because he has to continue to carry the lionshare of rebounding, defense and scoring from game to game. It amazes me the Pop and his crew don't acknowledge this. It's probably no big deal to Pop because of his love affair with small-ball.

That said, the Spurs are in no position to dump a young, athletic frontline center, who can provide that sort of paint presence on both ends of the court. A center, and former first-round pick, that they've invested 5 years in.

There's no question that Ian will be in the NBA next season. Since, they were stupid enough NOT to pickup his option, I'm anxious to see if the Spurs compund that mistake by being stupid enough to allow him to walk.