Harvey: Parker takes an element with him

[stéphane]

Nothing really surprising there but interesting write up anyway.

The only problem is that Keith is not half the defender Bruce was.

The chemistry thing that has been brought up is pretty clear for a while. Tony and Tim have really good chemistry due to the fact that either Tony can go to the basket or pass to a singled Timmy or pass to 3point shooter due to the fact that we try to space the floor when Tim is in the middle. Manu's passing ability is better than Tony for hitting running players thus working better with a forward's backdoor cut or on a pick'n roll closer to the basket.

[tp2021]

If BOGANS is the "centerpiece" then why the did Pop kick the best centerpiece in the NBA off our team? And no, I'm not talkin bout Fin.

[boutons_deux]

Just fricking WOW

An NBA non-starter is the Spurs' centerpiece?

Memo to Pop: Your stopper's gone, you ain't got no stopper no more. Get over yourself, earn your salary, and coach up something different.

[OrEmuN]

Bogans will continue to start. If he plays like the past 2 games, we will be fine. Otherwise, we are pretty screwed. However, I do understand why Bogans has to defend the most players on the other team - Hill is needed more and more at the offensive end and to run the team (with Parker out). As such, Hill cannot be risked being bogged down with foul troubles

I guess at this point, we have no option but to hope that the Bogans of the last 2 games will continue his form and pray that it will all work out. Failing which, I just wish to see Hairston being given a chance

[Obstructed_View]

Bogans will continue to start. If he plays like the past 2 games, we will be fine. Otherwise, we are pretty screwed. However, I do understand why Bogans has to defend the most players on the other team - Hill is needed more and more at the offensive end and to run the team (with Parker out). As such, Hill cannot be risked being bogged down with foul troubles

I guess at this point, we have no option but to hope that the Bogans of the last 2 games will continue his form and pray that it will all work out. Failing which, I just wish to see Hairston being given a chance

Bogans of the last two games might have earned himself a spot in the rotation. No way he's done anything to justify starting more games than he's ever started before in his entire career.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Are y'all kidding me? Did you see what Bogans did to Rudy Gay, who has torn up the Spurs in the past? Does anyone remember the game he won last year with a buzzer beater 3? Bogans absolutely took him out of his game. He made him take bad shots and therefore others didn't get engaged. Bogans absolutely kept the Spurs in that game.

You gotta respect the game he brings. It's not all about youth, athleticism, and offense.

[Obstructed_View]

Are y'all kidding me? Did you see what Bogans did to Rudy Gay, who has torn up the Spurs in the past? Does anyone remember the game he won last year with a buzzer beater 3? Bogans absolutely took him out of his game. He made him take bad shots and therefore others didn't get engaged. Bogans absolutely kept the Spurs in that game.

You gotta respect the game he brings. It's not all about youth, athleticism, and offense.

Yet Bogans still ended up with a -15 for his time on the floor and scored zero points.

At some point it's about improving the team. Bogans does that by being subbed out.

[Chomag]

Not surprising. Pops got tiered of Fiinley and went on to fresher meat.

[nkdlunch]

I'm with Ducks on this one.

Bogans is the best perimeter defender the Spurs have. Pop loves defense. You figure it out.

[AFBlue]

I think Bogans continues to start, but with Parker out of the lineup the Spurs will need more scoring in the starting unit.

My guess at a settled starting 5 is...

PG Hill
SG Bogans
SF Jefferson
PF Duncan
C McDyess

[The Truth #6]

Wow.

So Pop admits he is still stuck with the same formula, still trying to find the same archetypes, even though the Big 3 aren't as good as they were and the replacement players aren't as good either. It's like he's admitting he has no creativity or ability to adapt.

If you're looking for a player who is content to never score (so that Parker can score, I mean, be a point guard and get the team involved) and only wants to defend you're most likely going to end up with a scrub like Bogans who is happy to play that role because he's happy to be in the NBA, not because he's actually good at it.

We were lucky to have Bowen who embraced and excelled in that role. But he was a very special player. Of course, it would have made sense to actually use Bowen in the "Bowen" role, but that makes too much sense.

Does Pop think calling Bogans the centerpiece is some sort of unconventional, brilliant statement? It's idiotic.

A defensive-minded spot shooter is fine as an idea, but it's not Bogans. Perhaps Hairston doesn't play because he would upset the balance by doing something additonal, like trying to score or drive to the rim?

Everything Pop said is fairly obvious for anyonoe who follows the team. The System isn't going to work with crappy players. It makes lesser players better at the moment, but that shouldn't be the goal.

Ughh.

[Mel_13]

Finally, the whole thing with Bogans being the "centerpiece" is intriguing. I know many fans didn't want to hear it, as it means more and more minutes for Bogans, but it basically shows that Pop is committed to the model that he created when he had Bruce Bowen. Even if he doesn't really have a true Bowen replacement, he's going to go with the next best thing he has. While this is distressing, as it means consistent Bogans minutes this year, there is a silver lining to this situation: when (if) Hairston gets minutes next season, he is going to get A LOT of minutes. It kind of goes back to something I thought of two months ago:

As weird as this may sound only a few months into Keith Bogans tenure as a Spur, perhaps Bogans' current role is a prototype of how they might throw Hairston into the fire next year.


As the contracts set up and with reality setting in that the Spurs need to continue to get younger, perhaps Hairston will be next year's "centerpiece."

Thoughtful and well-reasoned. The Spurs spent 1.5M on Hairston to not use him this year. Everything points to a greater role next year. I hope so as I've been a big Malik fan since the 2008 pre-season.

[GhosTown]

And the bad part about this is Pop really believes this .

He is 3 games out of last place and he still believes he has the players to run his old scheme without Bowen and a legit center.

Somebody better call Jim Boeheim and ask him to teach Pop the 2-3 zone. We are going to need it if Bogans is supposed to be our lock down defender.

[NFO]

if bogans holds james to 10 points
people will be sucking his balls tomorrow

The only way Bogans holds James to under 10 points is if James sits out like he did against Milwuakee the other night.

[Old School 44]

Props to Buck Harvey. That's the closest article I've seen to calling Pop out from the local media, particularly in regards to Bogans. I'm surprised it's taken this long. It explains a lot about what Pop's thinking. I can't say I agree with the direction he's taking. The strength of your key players should dictate your style, not the defensive strength (and I say that lightly) of one of your second tier players. I'm glad Finley's gone, but with this philosophy, I can see why him and RMJ wanted out.

[Death In June]

Props to Buck Harvey. That's the closest article I've seen to calling Pop out from the local media, particularly in regards to Bogans. I'm surprised it's taken this long. It explains a lot about what Pop's thinking. I can't say I agree with the direction he's taking. The strength of your key players should dictate your style, not the defensive strength (and I say that lightly) of one of your second tier players. I'm glad Finley's gone, but with this philosophy, I can see why him and RMJ wanted out.

What're you talking about? Harvey was all over Pops nuts. The guy plays it safe, writes stupid incoherent headlines, and hacky trite articles. He's the epitome of the SA sports "journalism" problem.

[Old School 44]

What're you talking about? Harvey was all over Pops nuts. The guy plays it safe, writes stupid incoherent headlines, and hacky trite articles. He's the epitome of the SA sports "journalism" problem.

Did you read THIS article from the OP? Harvey doesn't rip Pop, but he puts many of the questions out there that many on this board are asking about in regards to Bogans.

I haven't seen any prior local articles that even come close to mentioning any of this, hence my quote the "closest article I've seen to calling Pop out".

[ElNono]

I'm with Ducks on this one.

Bogans is the best perimeter defender the Spurs have. Pop loves defense. You figure it out.

I disagree. I think both Manu and Hill are better perimeter defenders than him.

[Obstructed_View]

I disagree. I think both Manu and Hill are better perimeter defenders than him.

I think Manu and Hill and Mason and Jefferson and Parker and Hairston are better perimiter defenders than Bogans. I'd prefer to see Blair get starts at the three.

[AFBlue]

I disagree. I think both Manu and Hill are better perimeter defenders than him.

I think Manu and Hill and Mason and Jefferson and Parker and Hairston are better perimiter defenders than Bogans. I'd prefer to see Blair get starts at the three.

I think Bogans is the most physical defender the Spurs have. He's the kind of player that gets under the opposing player's skin, which is a very Bowen-esque quality.

Unfortunately that doesn't actually translate into stops.

[Obstructed_View]

I think Bogans is the most physical defender the Spurs have. He's the kind of player that gets under the opposing player's skin, which is a very Bowen-esque quality.

Unfortunately that doesn't actually translate into stops.

I think that sometimes Bogans bodies up on people and waves his arms like a crazy person, and he apparently does it just enough for people to think that makes him a good defender. I notice his inabilty to block out, his inability to time a jump, his inability to rotate, his short arms and his slow feet.

And I have yet to see him get under an opposing player's skin like Bowen did. Guys didn't like Bowen because he kept them from scoring. As I've said before, due to how rarely it happens, it's statistically likely that the guys that Bogans has success against are simply having a bad shooting night.

[HarlemHeat37]

Bogans did play good D against Rudy Gay in the 1st quarter..Rudy Gay also struggled heavily against Richard Jefferson, an average defender, in the 2 previous games against the Spurs this season too..he's just sucked against us and he's one of those players that takes himself out of games with his low IQ..

Unfortunately, that's the only notable player he's played good D against since November..he's usually getting torched.. , I hope Bogans can play good D, he's obviously going to get minutes either way, so I hope he can step up..

The Spurs' defense is actually WORSE with Bogans on the floor..he has the worst +/- on this team and the D is 1 point worse when Bogans is on the floor..how can somebody be a centerpiece for the defense when the D is worse when he's on the floor?..

Bogans has 1 or 2 good games every 3 weeks or so, that's the main problem I have with him..his bad games heavily outweigh the amount of good games he has..I hope he can play well on a consistent basis, but we haven't seen it so far..

[Obstructed_View]

Bogans has 1 or 2 good games every 3 weeks or so, that's the main problem I have with him..his bad games heavily outweigh the amount of good games he has..I hope he can play well on a consistent basis, but we haven't seen it so far..

I'm not sure he's done it in seven years in the league. Why people expect that to suddenly change just boggles the mind.