Parker should be our 6th man when he comes back.

[lefty]

TP as a 7th man makes sense

[dbestpro]

The choice really comes down to bringing TP off the bench or bringing Manu and RJ off the bench. RJ has played really well with Manu in the starting line up. There is no way Pop will start both Manu and TP because he needs that boost on the bench. I prefer TP come off the bench as Manu seems to really be in sync with this starting group. Also, I don't want to mess with what is working right now with RJ.

I think an interesting question is "Will the back court rotation during the playoffs be limited to 3 guards? 96 minutes = 32 minutes each for Hill, Manu and Parker.

We could see all three on the court, where they might average 35 minutes each. If that is the case and RJ sees 35 minutes that would leave just 9 minutes for the backup small forward (Bogans maybe).

The front court will still see the minutes divided between TD, Dice, Blair and Bonner.

So, my bet is Pop goes with a 9 man rotation for the playoffs.

[jjktkk]

If you remember, before Parker went down with the hand injury, Pop was starting him and Hill in the same back court, with good results. My starting linup would be:

1. Parker
2. Hill
3. Bogans
4. Duncan
5. McDyess

This way, you bring Ginoboli and Jefferson, who play really well together off the bench. Blair seems to play alot better with Manu as well. With Manu in his 6th man role, it really makes the Spurs bench more explosive, scoring/playmaking wise.

[TJastal]

If you remember, before Parker went down with the hand injury, Pop was starting him and Hill in the same back court, with good results. My starting linup would be:

1. Parker
2. Hill
3. Bogans
4. Duncan
5. McDyess

This way, you bring Ginoboli and Jefferson, who play really well together off the bench. Blair seems to play alot better with Manu as well. With Manu in his 6th man role, it really makes the Spurs bench more explosive, scoring/playmaking wise.

Say goodbye to the Manu/Hill/Jefferson synergy and also getting early leads, but if Parker can't/won't take a bench role this is the 2nd best option the team has, esp if they face the lakers in the
1st round, Bogans is a physical enough player to mix it up with Artest.

[beachwood]

Agree. I think it's best to have Parker adjust to the team and let him work his way back into game shape. Putting Parker into the starting lineup has the potential to mess up the chemistry that has been built by Manu kicking ass.

[the crimson blur]

It all depends on how healthy Tony is. At the moment though, I'd think it'd be criminal to have him start immediately.

I see Pop's playoff rotation like this, for now:

Hill (35 mpg)-Parker (15-35 mpg, depends on health)
Manu (35 mpg)
Jefferson (30-35 mpg)-Bogans (5-10 mpg)
Dice (20-25 mpg)-Bonner (20-25 mpg)-Blair (10-15 mpg)
Duncan (35-40 mpg)

[jdev82]

GHill is more than capable of destroying Fisher. Coming back, Parker is the one that will have to adjust with the starters playing well.

like him or not, tony parker is one of the best offensive point guards in the league. george hill is a second year player who is just now finding his role on the court. i think ill trust tony parker with the destroying fisher duties for now

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

it's like people forget this is the guy that, when healthy, was a Finals MVP. and he's still capable of that.

i also think he's smart enough and capable of being that same scoring threat if he's asked to, or when the offense needs it, but also not disrupting the chemistry that's going on right now b/w with Manu and RJ specifcally. i think he's capable enough, IOW, of doing exactly what George Hill is doing right now offensively, but better. he just has to be healthy and like he was a year ago. it's unfortunate that Parker isn't a 3-point threat, which helps spacing, but i think he can mold his game to fit RJ's and get a chemistry b/w himself, Man, and RJ.

i'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt; and i'm going to blame the fact that it didn't happen before on him being injured. i hope i'm right.

The difference is that when he's playing, Parker has the ball in his hands a lot.

The starting offense is clicking right now because the ball is in Manu's hands.

I'm all for Parker coming off the bench as it would clearly benefit Manu and RJ the best (and obviously Hill can keep doing his thing). Unfortunately, Pop is a stubborn SOB so when he's healthy Tony will start for us again and RJ will go back to overpaid scrub with Tony's lack of court vision out there with the ball in his hands the majority of the time.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

If you remember, before Parker went down with the hand injury, Pop was starting him and Hill in the same back court, with good results. My starting linup would be:

1. Parker
2. Hill
3. Bogans
4. Duncan
5. McDyess

This way, you bring Ginoboli and Jefferson, who play really well together off the bench. Blair seems to play alot better with Manu as well. With Manu in his 6th man role, it really makes the Spurs bench more explosive, scoring/playmaking wise.

And that way, you ensure teams have two guys in the starting lineup they can double off of (Dice and Bogans). Good way to get your ass handed to you in a playoff series.

[benefactor]

The biggest issue surrounding Parker and the injury is his jumper. It's been little bit up and down this season already, so it's a huge question mark as far as how effective he will be when he returns. As I said in the other thread, teams are one defensive adjustment away from forcing Parker to stand out here and clang jumpers or making him dribble out the shot clock looking for a crease to the basket that's not there.

The next few games should solidify some Parker off the bench arguments if the Spurs continue to play well. The current group is 8-3 together since Parker went down...and if I had to pick a target game for Parker to return it would be next Friday against Memphis. If they go 2-2 and or 3-1 in the 4 games preceding that it's going to be hard for me to support breaking up this starting group...even if it keeps Manu and RJ together by sending them both to the bench.

All in all, I'm pretty worried. I have a gut feeling that Parker will come off the bench for the last few games then will be trotted out in the starting lineup alongside Hill, RJ, McDyess and Duncan when the first round starts. That just has disaster written all over it. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Pop did it as soon as Parker was ready to play. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I dont think parker should come off the bench. Putting Manu back on the bench should be a smooth transition since hes so familiar with coming off the bench in his career.

The more interesting question is who is going to be closing games.... Tony? Hill? RJ? we know Duncan and Manu are. RJ at the 4 again?

You're missing the entire point, which is that the Manu-Hill-Jefferson combo has got our offense humming, and defense has picked up too.

It's not about where Manu is comfortable or familiar playing from. It's the difference in Jefferson being a 15 and 6 guy (which he has been since Manu got plugged into the starting lineup) and being a 10 and 4 guy (which is what he was when he was largely frozen out of the offense playing with Tony).

If Tony is so good, he should be able to produce coming off the bench. He loves drive and kick so you can stick him out there with Bonner and Blair no problem.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Duncan needs to play with Tony.

Yeah, because only Tony can pass him the ball in the low block

Again, this is about who starts the game. I think we can all agree Tony and Tim would be part of our lineup to close out close games.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

No i keep him in the SL. He is going to HAVE to play with Parker.. It's Inevitable... It's going to ing happen... especially if we want any sort of chance to win the championship... If you ask me you start them together 3 or 4 games before the playoffs so they can try to establish some more chemistry together...

That's so re ed and hard headed of a viewpoint. Hey Coach Pop, welcome to Spurstalk!

They've had all year to establish chemistry, it ain't happening. Tony doesn't have the court vision for it.

[Whisky Dog]

How about playing Parker with Ian, Bonner, Hairston, and Temple. So that way he can just do ing everything by himself.

[dbestpro]

How about playing Parker with Ian, Bonner, Hairston, and Temple. So that way he can just do ing everything by himself.

Finally! A line up that will work with Parker!

[TJastal]

lol harsh

[kaji157]

Please, come some sense, Parker is good to start against some matchups and only if he really is 100%.
My points on tony coming off the bench.

Our starting lineup as it is in way more efficient than anyone with Parker on in.

We are not sure about Parker´s health either, he might come back but we have no guarantee his legs will be fine for a long time, to disrupt the chemistry at unsure that he may not be 100% recovered is a huge risk.

Hill fans, take your fan glasses on, Parker is a better playmaker than Hill, limited as he is, he recognizes matchups a lot more better than Hill. I think Parker will be more effective running the second unit, actually he run it at the begining of the year a lot.

3pt specialist, bringing Parker off the bench will have him play around 3 3pt shooters. If you insert him with Manu, then the only 3pt threat on the starting unit willl be Manu. Nonsense there.

Benching Manu, for me, after watching the past games, is not an option. First some mythbusting, HE DOESN´T PLAY BETTER OFF THE BENCH. He averages less points, FG%, Assists... everything. Spurs cannot afford to let Manu play worse than he is. Plus that would mean benchin RJ too, which will leave the centerpiece or Mason as starters along with TP and Hill... really not much sense on havin Manu and RJ to get in the game with the other team ahead by 10 as we used to do .

Hill durability, point to him being the one that can play in both units and that can help Tony carry that second unit, i would start him most of the times given that he will likely play 40 mins.

Planctar Facilitis or whatever is called. As we all learned from TD, the only cure for it is rest. I prefer Tony playing 20-25 effective minutes off the bench, than have him play 30-35 as a starter and loose him after a couple of games.

[TJastal]

Please, come some sense, Parker is good to start against some matchups and only if he really is 100%.
My points on tony coming off the bench.

Our starting lineup as it is in way more efficient than anyone with Parker on in.

We are not sure about Parker´s health either, he might come back but we have no guarantee his legs will be fine for a long time, to disrupt the chemistry at unsure that he may not be 100% recovered is a huge risk.

Hill fans, take your fan glasses on, Parker is a better playmaker than Hill, limited as he is, he recognizes matchups a lot more better than Hill. I think Parker will be more effective running the second unit, actually he run it at the begining of the year a lot.

3pt specialist, bringing Parker off the bench will have him play around 3 3pt shooters. If you insert him with Manu, then the only 3pt threat on the starting unit willl be Manu. Nonsense there.

Benching Manu, for me, after watching the past games, is not an option. First some mythbusting, HE DOESN´T PLAY BETTER OFF THE BENCH. He averages less points, FG%, Assists... everything. Spurs cannot afford to let Manu play worse than he is. Plus that would mean benchin RJ too, which will leave the centerpiece or Mason as starters along with TP and Hill... really not much sense on havin Manu and RJ to get in the game with the other team ahead by 10 as we used to do .

Hill durability, point to him being the one that can play in both units and that can help Tony carry that second unit, i would start him most of the times given that he will likely play 40 mins.

Planctar Facilitis or whatever is called. As we all learned from TD, the only cure for it is rest. I prefer Tony playing 20-25 effective minutes off the bench, than have him play 30-35 as a starter and loose him after a couple of games.

Parker leading the 2nd unit is really the best solution, its just the idea seems so odd after being a starter for so long that people can't seem to grasp onto it.

It's the Popped mindset at work, it was the same reason he kept Finley in the rotation even when it was clear the guy had become a dog turd. If it worked before then by golly it will work again gotta just keep hammering away..

[Brazil]

You call it bashing. I call it living in reality :P I'm looking for ways we can be a more effective team WITH him when he comes back. Would a pure basher still think he can still be an integral piece of the puzzle hmm?

Well actually it is a good question, tell me. You have no respect at all for the guy, I'm sure you were in the group defending the trade parker for biedrins.

Just because the big 3 won championships in the past doesn't really mean squat at the present time. That was then, this is now. We didn't have Jefferson and George Hill as pieces to work with and fit in back then.

Your point was TP and Manu can't play together because we waste Manu talent doing that, why bringing Jeff and Hill on the conversation. Your TP/Manu argument failed you don't win a ring with two guys who don't fit with each other playing them together 30 mn a game.

So you agree that Parker should be a 6th man, and won't blink an eye if Pop actually uses him in that role. We'll see about that. I hope you're right.

Yes I have no problem with that even if I think we should play Manu and TP the most we can.

I won't deny I like Hill in the starting lineup more than Parker. He's not a playmaker either but he spreads the floor better and moves the ball around to find open shooters. When Parker is on the court, ball movement slows down, there is more 1 vs 1 and most of the offense runs through him and Duncan exclusively. This freezes Jefferson out of the offense. You'll probably call me a TD basher too but less touches and 4 down for Duncan might be a good thing. He hasn't been as effective in the low block as he used to be.

When TP was on the floor before his injury the spurs were just fine playing well. Jeff was passive because he was passive, he played well with TP and like without him.

I prefer Hill in the starting unit w/ Jefferson for these reasons. The improved defense doesn't hurt either. But its Manu's playmaking skills that is making the whole thing work. The synergy between Hill, Manu, and Jefferson is undeniable.

Regarding the Defense Hill stepped up the last 3 games, before that he was just awful. Parker has always defended well in the PO.

[kaji157]

Parker leading the 2nd unit is really the best solution, its just the idea seems so odd after being a starter for so long that people can't seem to grasp onto it.

It's the Popped mindset at work, it was the same reason he kept Finley in the rotation even when it was clear the guy had become a dog turd. If it worked before then by golly it will work again gotta just keep hammering away..

I too think pop is stubborn, but i also think he is not in terms of bringing players off the bench.
Manu came off the bench.
Finley came off the bench.
Mason came off the bench.
Jefferson came off the bench.
McDyess came off the bench.
Even Duncan came off the bench a few times.
I think Tony is aware that the best chance the team has is for him to be something they actually don´t have, and that is a secod unit leader.

I think for the first time in few year, we won´t have a go-to closer unit. As the games will be finished on 5 of Hill-Parker-Manu-Jefferson-McDyess-Bonner-Blair-Mason, depending on how they are playing, shooting, and if we are ahead or behind.

[Galileo]

The Spurs have too many good players to start them all.

That's good.

You'd think it was a bad thing from reading this forum.

Starts this season:

Duncan 70
Jefferson 62
Parker 50
Bogans 49
Dice 43
Hill 39
Blair 22
Manu 15
Bonner 7
Mason 4

These a re the player sin the playoff rotation. I say that CIA Pop is smart enought to figure out who to start and how much to play each player.

Mason should get the least minutes. He can come off the bench for 5 minutes and hit a three. He can dribble well enough to play point guard in a pinch, but we don't need that as we have Parker and Hill.

Duncan is the best player. He needs to play about 40 minutes a game.

Blair, Dice, and Bonner can all split time as the other big men, like this:

Duncan 39
Dice 29
Blair 19
Bonner 9

So that leaves 139 minutes for the other players.

Parker 30
Hill 30
Jefferson 35
Bogans 9
Manu 35

[sonic21]

The playoffs and the regular season are not the same. I'm all for Tony as the 6th man(it's the better solution) but we don't know how Hill and RJ will play in the PO.

[jjktkk]

And that way, you ensure teams have two guys in the starting lineup they can double off of (Dice and Bogans). Good way to get your ass handed to you in a playoff series.

No, with my lineup, you only have guy, Bogans, who is a liability offensively. McDyess, although inconsistant, still has the ability to score and defend. So Aggie(), I can't believe I'm asking this, what starting lineup would you like to see?

[dbestpro]

9 man rotation. No RMJ.

Back court rotates with SF for a total of 144 minutes.

Manu 35
Parker 35
Hill 35
RJ 35
Bogans 4

Front court is who ever is hot plus Duncan at 35 minutes.

[DesignatedT]

You really can't see that lineup is just going end up with predictable Parker/Duncan 4 down/pick and roll offense that hasn't been effective for what, going on three years now? Combine that with the fact that Manu's involvement with the offense will be more limited, which will have a negative effect on RJ and he'll go back to sucking.

And your solution is just to play the starters all 48 minutes and everything will be ok.

If anything, bench player minutes for Mason and Bogans will increase more than the starters once Hairston and Temple are not in the rotation. We might see Hairston once every couple games or so but that's it.

WTF please tell me where I said I want to play the starters all game? Is that what you do? Make up other people said to help your argument?

I said our 4 main guys at the front court positions will all see an increase in playing time 35-40 minutes... If you didn't know there is 48 minutes in a basketball game.

What that does is pretty much eliminates a "2nd unit".. In other words we should never have 4 or 5 players on the court that are non-starters. We should always have 2-3 starters on the court at all times which eliminates anybody (hill,manu,tony) whoever it Is carry to much of a load coming off the bench.

If you start Tony and put Manu on the bench we know it will be a smooth transition because Manu is very familiar with coming off the bench, there would
be no transition period. You can't say the same for Tony who has never came off the bench in his career.

As for RJ and Tony not clicking earlier in the year there were many other problems this team had then just them to not gelling which could have prevented the process. With or without Tony/Manu, RJ is not the same player he was in the beginning of this year... It's hard to judge. IMO I feel that Tony and RJ could stickl click together just fine.