It's official: Mahinmi is garbage

[Cane]

I never said Mahinmi deserved minutes OVER Blair.
I think Blair is great.

You say that Mahinmi has a lot of turnovers.
Blair was a 3s machine in the start of the season.
Blair was a moving screen machine in the start of the season.
Blair was a loose ball foul machine in the start of the season...

And with the experience, Blair IMPROVES ! Because he's got some playing time.

1st 5 games of Blair this Season :

Oct 28 vs. NOH 23 min (1st game of the season and he played in all games this season !)
Oct 29 @ CHI 13 min
Oct 31 vs. SAC 26 min
Nov 05 @ UTA 21 min
Nov 06 @ POR 10 min

1st 5 games of Mahinmi this Season :

Jan 10 vs. NJN 21 min (35th game of the season) 15 pts 9 reb 1 ast 3/4 FT As a reward, he didn't have a single minute in a back 2 back against the Lakers and the Thunder.
Jan 15 @ CHA 5 min
Jan 16 @ MEM 14 min
Jan 27 vs. ATL 2 min
Jan 31 vs. DEN 1 min

43 min 1 turnover for Ian Mahinmi in his first 5 games.

Blair is totally deserving his playing time, but Pop gave him a chance.
Pop treats Ian like trash.
Again, Blair and Mahinmi are complementary players.
Mahinmi is taller, he protects the rim and rotates fast. He's a good shotblocker.
Blair is a beast and play physically defense. He's a good "stealer".
Mahinmi has a nice 12-15th shoot and good FT shooting.
Blair has some great moves under the rim.
Blair is a great rebounder, Mahinmi is a good rebounder.

What a waste.
It's not like the Spurs had a great chemistry this year.
Pop could have tried Mahinmi AND Malik Hairston a little earlier.

And now, we are supposed to watch that team fight for the 7-8th spot, just to see them be swept by the Lakers or the Mavs.
Welcome to the Spurs fans worst nightmare !

That team has nothing to lose now. So let's give a chance to Ian & Malik !

Thing is though, Blair made improvements quickly and while being a rookie (even his FT shooting form has improved greatly). Ian makes worse mistakes and he's been under the Spurs umbrella for years. He has some promise but his negatives outweigh those few advantages especially in the Spurs frontcourt.

He's had years developing under the Spurs and has been shown up by a rookie; Ian's IQ and game just isn't cut out for the NBA or at least not to the point to get substantial minutes in the Spurs frontcourt. And he doesn't do a good enough job selling himself in the garbage minutes he does get.

As far as "That team has nothing to lose now. So lets give a chance to Ian and Malik" - sorry thats just not the case. They have been getting more time recently but the Spurs are still very much in the playoffs and if the injury bug starts biting other Western teams more...then who knows what can happen after that.

Ian hasn't been resigned by the Spurs, he's played multiple years under NBA rules and systems, and is still making nearly inexcusable mistakes for that experience especially since a rookie has shown much more talent and potential.

Ian had a great night against the Nets but its very easy to take away from that since they're likely the worst team in the history of the NBA and he was played to motivate McDyess.

It says a lot that the Spurs are unwilling to play a guy substantial minutes that they've invested a lot of time into.

But who knows, if Ian starts to one-up the regular rotation players then he might be able to earn a chance but the onus is on him.

[z0sa]

Amen.

This is a critical offseason, and next couple of years, for the Spurs. I don't want to see this guy walk and then he end up as a productive rotation player somewhere else. Giving up on this kid before he's proven would be a terrible, and stupid, blow.

Face it. Dice is probably gone next year or certainly the year after. Ratliff is already gone. Blair is emerging, yet undersized. Splitter's arrival is unknown and unjustified. Duncan needs help badly. The Spurs desparately need to milk this kid's talent for all its worth.

Truth be told, I think Pop just can't handle the mistakes of 3 rookie players (Hairston, Ian, Blair). He chose Blair early, and it was the right decision, because he clearly has the most 'here and now' talent. Things have changed since September though; now that the Spurs season is swirling down the toilet, it's time for a reappraisal of the situation.

Pop will do whatever he wants. He probably believes deep down inside that TP will return to full health sometime this season, RJ/Dyess will not suck in the playoffs, etc

[J Mack]

No matter how many reasons/facts we who want to see Ian play , there are still going to be those with tunnel vision giving the same lame reasons not to play him.

[Cane]

Never understood how a d-league project got so many internet forum fans unless you're all from France.

[Chieflion]

I don't see how Ian goes out there and makes more mistakes than Blair. Ian was playing better defense out there. Unless Pop does not emphasize on defense anymore, Blair is actually making more serious mistakes on defense by leaving his man open for backdoor cuts.

[mystargtr34]

Imagine if the Lakers took the same approach with Bynum when he was putting up 2 points 5 foul 3 turnover games in his first two seasons.

[TJastal]

I don't see how Ian goes out there and makes more mistakes than Blair. Ian was playing better defense out there. Unless Pop does not emphasize on defense anymore, Blair is actually making more serious mistakes on defense by leaving his man open for backdoor cuts.

shhhh....defense doesn't matter anymore. It's all about the bball IQ and looking "smart" out there now even if you can't defend a paraplegic in a straight jacket

[Obstructed_View]

wrong again. been following Ian for 4 years.

Again, four years ago he was helping his team win the French Cup.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't see how Ian goes out there and makes more mistakes than Blair. Ian was playing better defense out there. Unless Pop does not emphasize on defense anymore, Blair is actually making more serious mistakes on defense by leaving his man open for backdoor cuts.

And Blair still struggles with fouls and things, but what he no longer does is make the nervous type mistakes that a player with no floor time makes.

[J Mack]

Never understood how a d-league project got so many internet forum fans unless you're all from France.

dont understand how some of you can be so short sighted.

[SenorSpur]

Imagine if the Lakers took the same approach with Bynum when he was putting up 2 points 5 foul 3 turnover games in his first two seasons.

Exactly. The Fakers stuck with the kid, even when their best player was calling for the FO to offer him up in a trade for J-Kidd.

You can't teach size and raw ability. Ian has an abundance of both and he's extremely coachable. He hasn't even scratched the surface and the Popsuckers want cut the guy loose and allow some other team to harvest hiim.

[jjktkk]

You obviously aren't aware that the Spurs never have scrimmages, where players can show their true worth, during the course of the season. With days off in between games, Popovich has very light practices/shootarounds and prioritizes rest more than anything. So for you to say " Why doesn't Mahinmi impress in practice?" is just plain stupid..

And there are some people within the Spurs organization who are perplexed on how and why Mahinmi and Hairston aren't given a real opportunity.

Really? Okay, lets hear the names of the people in the Spurs orginzation who are perplexed on how and why Mahimni and Hairston aren't given a real opportunity. Towel boys don't count. BTW Hairston is starting to earn playing time, and making the most of his limited playing time.

[The Truth #6]

Great. What's next? Ian gets playing time and does well also?

[Chieflion]

Really? Okay, lets hear the names of the people in the Spurs orginzation who are perplexed on how and why Mahimni and Hairston aren't given a real opportunity. Towel boys don't count. BTW Hairston is starting to earn playing time, and making the most of his limited playing time.

Ya, I know right. Mahinmi is going to impress Pop playing 0 seconds of playing time and when he steps on the court and plays solid defense, detractors will call him out for fouls and turnovers.

[Cane]

dont understand how some of you can be so short sighted.

Short sighted? The Spurs are focusing on playoffs and Blair is a much better investment at this point especially since Ian wasn't resigned. This scrub has been playing under the Spurs since 2005 and still looks lost out there. Ian wasn't even in the 128 player league draft guide.

He was a project from the start that unfortunately hasn't shown much; his progress got sidetracked by that injury.

[jjktkk]

I want him in there for defense. I don't want them feeding him the ball ten times in a row in the post or having him try to set picks while Roger Mason is running from defenders. Considering that he also draws fouls and scores points, I'd say you're the one with tunnel vision where it concerns him.

And what exactly was Mahinmi doing four years ago aside from helping his team win the French Cup?

OMG LAMO @Obstructed_View. Sorry buddy, but when you said Mahimni helped win the French Cup 4 years ago, I couldn't help myself. Winning the French Cup is the equivalent of winning a college DII championship here in the US. LOL, cmon on now OV thats pathetic, you need to try a little harder than that.

[timaios]

short sighted? The spurs are focusing on playoffs and blair is a much better investment at this point especially since ian wasn't resigned. This scrub has been playing under the spurs since 2005 and still looks lost out there. Ian wasn't even in the 128 player league draft guide.

He was a project from the start that unfortunately hasn't shown much; his progress got sidetracked by that injury.

No.

[Cane]

No.

Whoops, got me there. He's still played a few years under the Spurs umbrella though and shown more disappointment than not

[jjktkk]

You know maybe Mahimni has subscribed to the ten year plan to gradually improve enough to get on a NBA court. Year 5 looks eerily similar to years 1,2,3, and 4, albeit without the injuries, maybe by year 10, we can finally see the real Mahimni come shining thru and become a NBA player. One can only hope.

[timaios]

Whoops, got me there. He's still played a few years under the Spurs umbrella though and shown more disappointment than not

Well it's so great to see guys like Mason who doesn't make any mistakes have some playing time... Yeah.

[Cane]

Well it's so great to see guys like Mason who doesn't make any mistakes have some playing time... Yeah.

Yea Mason has been especially offensively since the Rodeo Trip. However he has to take those shots if he gets those looks - that why he's there. Outside of Ginobili and Parker; its just him and Hill that can run that position.

Shame that Ian doesn't really play the same position or role. The Spurs could use a legitimate back-up PG now more than ever.

[timaios]

You know maybe Mahimni has subscribed to the ten year plan to gradually improve enough to get on a NBA court. Year 5 looks eerily similar to years 1,2,3, and 4, albeit without the injuries, maybe by year 10, we can finally see the real Mahimni come shining thru and become a NBA player. One can only hope.

He started to play for the Spurs in 2007 !
He was great in NBDL in 2007-08.
He was injured and was misdiagnosed by the Spurs doctors in 2008-09.
And he doesn't play in 2009-10.

Seriously ?

[HarlemHeat37]

Year 1- Makes the All-NBDL 1st team..he literally did all he possibly could to impress..they put him in the D-League and he responded by making their elite team..yes, it doesn't mean much when it comes to evaluating a player, but it means he did all he possibly could at the level that the Spurs assigned him to..

Year 2- Gets hurt, misdiagnosed as well, out for the season..

Year 3- Hasn't gotten a chance..

Again, the guy might turn out to suck, but the logic some of you are using to argue is terrible..

[Cane]

Year 1- Makes the All-NBDL 1st team..he literally did all he possibly could to impress..they put him in the D-League and he responded by making their elite team..yes, it doesn't mean much when it comes to evaluating a player, but it means he did all he possibly could at the level that the Spurs assigned him to..

Year 2- Gets hurt, misdiagnosed as well, out for the season..

Year 3- Hasn't gotten a chance..

Again, the guy might turn out to suck, but the logic some of you are using to argue is terrible..

Year 3 - Doesn't look the same after injury and still prone to qualities that keep you out of the NBA. Then there was Blair and McDyess which just made it harder to crack into the rotation.

Ian has been a multi-year project for the Spurs - they know what to expect. If Pop, Duncan, or anyone of importance thinks he should log more minutes he'd have 'em. This is an organization renowned for drafting and improving obscure talent and unlike situations like Scola they've invested a lot of time in this guy. He also hasn't sold himself well either and since he wasn't resigned it makes even less sense to give minutes that would be better suited for Blair.

Spurs frontcourt rotation: Bonner was having a great season up until his injury and recently started to return to form, rookie Blair looks like he's on another level than Ian (did Ian ever have 20+ rebounds in the d-league or France? Should it be troubling that Ian only averaged 8 boards in the d-league?), and both McDyess and Duncan are substantially better.

Unfortunately for Ian, the Spurs haven't been regularly blowing out opposing teams. If that were the case he'd get more time. Otherwise its going to Blair and the other guys.

[Obstructed_View]

OMG LAMO @Obstructed_View. Sorry buddy, but when you said Mahimni helped win the French Cup 4 years ago, I couldn't help myself. Winning the French Cup is the equivalent of winning a college DII championship here in the US. LOL, cmon on now OV thats pathetic, you need to try a little harder than that.

Someone said that he's doing the exact same thing he did four years ago when that person clearly had no ing clue what Ian Mahinmi was doing four years ago.

We get it, you don't like him. You're going to downplay everything he does well so you can focus in on that one turnover he had that time. Pop should hire you as a scout. He could certainly use a few more ass-kissers around him.