McDonald: Manu to start vs. Cavs

[Blake]

I'd rather have mason start. Bad move.

you'd rather have a starting back court of Mason and Hill and have RJ and Manu come off the bench?

I like RJ and Manu in there together at the same time too, but with Parker out, I think Manu starting is really the only option.

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't care, I just hope Hairston gets to play..I don't want to see Manu playing 30+ MPG until the end of the season and I don't want to see Hill playing too much(even though he's young and capable)..we need our main weapons for the playoffs, so Pop needs to use our depth during this stretch without TP..

[AFBlue]

you'd rather have a starting back court of Mason and Hill and have RJ and Manu come off the bench?

I like RJ and Manu in there together at the same time too, but with Parker out, I think Manu starting is really the only option.

I think RJ starting is a legitimate option. It allows Manu to still come off the bench with Blair and keeps a scorer on the floor.

[RiverwalkParade]

I like the move, it's the old go to, but do you think Blair might start with Manu? Bring Dyess in off the bench with RJ

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

so who starts the game actually matter to pop?

[AFBlue]

I like the move, it's the old go to, but do you think Blair might start with Manu? Bring Dyess in off the bench with RJ

[Obstructed_View]

I like the move, it's the old go to, but do you think Blair might start with Manu? Bring Dyess in off the bench with RJ

I'd like to see that. , I've gone on record saying I'd be perfectly happy with Blair starting at the three. The best time to try that might be with Manu starting against a LBJ-less Cavs team.

[RiverwalkParade]

PG: Hill
SG: Manu
SF: Bogans
PF: Blair
C: Duncan

[jag]

you'd rather have a starting back court of Mason and Hill and have RJ and Manu come off the bench?

I like RJ and Manu in there together at the same time too, but with Parker out, I think Manu starting is really the only option.

Especially with Bogans out there. The starting lineup would have no one to create with Hill, mason and bogans in the bottom 3 slots.

[ffadicted]

yay

[angelbelow]

Nice

[Dex]

I'd rather see Mason starting as well, but it. This is the one thing the Spurs haven't tried yet. The bench will lose some of its luster, but maybe we can get off to a decent start for once.

Still, this ain't going to do any good for saving Manu's batteries.

[timtonymanu]

I prefer RJ to start. Parker's not playing so I dont think RJ will have a problem getting shots.

[smeagol]

I agree with this. I'd of tried Mason as well. Moving Ginobili to the starting lineup means you've altered the chemistry of both your first and second units. Mason for Parker would have been a step down, but at least the 2nd unit could continue building momentum.

I second the 'bad move' motion.

Agreed.

[Blackjack]

Your starting-5 for tonight:

Hill - Ginobili - Bogans - Duncan - McDyess

[DPG21920]

Lets go Malik. You don't have to worry about scoring, just defend.

[timtonymanu]

anyone gonna start a game thread? im not starting game threads for a while because the two game threads i started, parker got hurt.

[Blackjack]

Pop obviously wants to keep as much of his rotation intact as possible and continuing to play 4 out of the 5 starters you've settled on makes sense, if that's the goal.

I'd be tempted to go with Blair now that Manu's in the starting lineup, but keeping the bench players where they've built some cohesion is a sound decision.

As I mentioned yesterday, I could be swayed with Manu and/or Mason in the starting-5 or going with Blair over 'Dyess ... so I can't say I wouldn't do the same if I were in Pop's shoes.

[DAF86]

Okay, so if the team does extremely well with Manu and Hill starting, when Parker comes back do you bring him off the bench?

I doubt the Spurs will do extremely well with Parker out and the remaining schedule.

[Spurs Brazil]

I just hope Pop won't play him too much. Spurs have a lot of games to come: 30mpg should be the maximum for Manu.

Agree, in 2008 Manu broke in the playoffs after playing heavy minutes in TP absence in regular season

[sa_kid20]

I think starting Manu is the right move here. A Manu-less starting 5 of TD/Dice/Bogans/Mason/Hill would put us in a hole right off the bat a lot of nights. Especially considering the schedule we have to finish the year. If RJ's psyche wasn't so damn fragile I would rather start him instead of Manu, but since RJ finally looks like he's comfortable off the bench I wouldn't mess with it where as Manu is just gonna be Manu no matter what.

[DAF86]

I don't get why so many people say that a Hill/Mason backcourt would suck. Did you forget when both TP and Manu were out last season and the Hill/RJM combo did extremely well to make up for the loss?

[superbigtime]

I don't think I like the move. Who is gonna ball with Blair now that Manu starts? Mason?... He isn't going to find him, he mostly looks for his own shot. I think this really really makes the 2nd unit bad and it may also mess with George Hill's strong play. Should have brought Mason into the starting five. Gonna be an interesting game. hopefully.

[superbigtime]

I think I'd like to see Hairston start instead of Bogans. aka 'the centerpiece.'