This is a good reminder of ...

[EricB]

Manu has to go back to the bench. It's simple math. In order to keep him at 25-30 minutes, but still fresh to play about 8 minutes in the fourth, he can't start.

Agreed. Trade or the first round pick need to be that 3 or two guard....

[NewJerSpur]

I think pop needs the big three to start
and make hill and jefferson come off the bench and gel

rj does not work with duncan
let rj dominate the ball

he can score

RJ needs help to score.....he's not dominating anything on his own.

[Marcus Bryant]

I'm so old, the Suns finally beat the Spurs in the playoffs w/Duncan.

And, yes, a NBA franchise claiming one championship is difficult. Let alone two. Four places you fourth all time in NBA history, IIRC. If the Spurs don't win anymore w/Duncan, sobeit. It's been quite a ride.

[DDS4]

I think the Western Conference Finals was the best case scenario for this team. There was slim chance of getting past the Lakers anyways.

I truly believe if the Spurs won game 2, it would have been a much different series. Instead, losing that game was a huge mental disappointment. Dragic's outburst was the final dagger.

The Suns really exposed the Spurs weaknesses on the perimeter in addition to a small frontline (which we knew already).

It was just weird to see the Spurs get beat by pretty much their own medicine.

[MannyIsGod]

I just don't see any way the Spurs can make it far with Jefferson on the team..he just causes so much trouble..he absolutely must be traded for the Spurs to go anywhere IMO..they can't limit his minutes because of his name and recognition in the NBA, so he really can't be on the roster..

He doesn't play defense, he doesn't rebound on a consistent basis, he can't spread the floor and he's extremely weak-minded..

I don't mind taking away touches from the core players on the team, but not for Jefferson..he can't create his offense consistently enough, thus making him only useful when he catches and finishes..

I gotta agree. The one play tonight that really summed it up was in the 3rd when Tony goes diving from the elbow and kicks it to RJ when his man doubles. Of course Richard is 4-5 feet inside the 3pt line at this point and the defense recovers so easily.

Bowen in that situation would have just lit the Suns up for another 3. RJ's particular skillset is simply not a fit without the shooting.

[ElNono]

Finally, I hope they re-sign Bonner. Yeah, he's not a great player, but I don't think he's the problem. He fits into our system, he generally shoots pretty well, his offensive game is getting better slowly but surely now that he can put it on the floor a bit, and I think he's still a worthwhile 4th or 5th big. Pop's system calls for a big guy who can hit threes and there simply aren't too many of those guys around. I think Bonner showed good character ending the year with two solid games. A lot of guys would've just gone into the tank and sulked and hanged their head. Bonner competed, no matter what the haters think.

He can't spread the floor. People don't guard him anymore. He suddenly passes shots. He can't rebound for . He's been here for 3 seasons. Enough. We need though players out there that play defense, grab boards, and can give Tim a rest during the regular season. I'm tired of hearing about one end of the floor only.

[ElNono]

I just don't see any way the Spurs can make it far with Jefferson on the team..he just causes so much trouble..he absolutely must be traded for the Spurs to go anywhere IMO..they can't limit his minutes because of his name and recognition in the NBA, so he really can't be on the roster..

He doesn't play defense, he doesn't rebound on a consistent basis, he can't spread the floor and he's extremely weak-minded..

I don't mind taking away touches from the core players on the team, but not for Jefferson..he can't create his offense consistently enough, thus making him only useful when he catches and finishes..

We'll see how 'valuable' is his expiring contract... I do think we need to unload him. If we do, we might have some wiggle room to complement the team better.

[MannyIsGod]

Well, he can spread the floor in the regular season. For the vet min and a good chunk of regular seasons minutes I don't see why you don't resign Bonner to be the fifth big. The problem is you can't rely on him in the post season (maybe you can - I know I'll feel like a sucker but he did play well in 3 and 4) but the point is to make a deep enough Spurs bench that you don't have to.

[ShoogarBear]

I still wished they had played the Lakers in the first round. That was the best opportunity for them to get knocked off. Now, I can't see anyone in the West beating them.

[baseline bum]

Jefferson's expiring should give the Spurs the parts to hopefully pry a decent player from a team haemorrhaging money. Like Milwaukee last year.

BTW, anyone remember when Laker fan said this was more lopsided than the Gasol deal?

[EricB]

Well, he can spread the floor in the regular season. For the vet min and a good chunk of regular seasons minutes I don't see why you don't resign Bonner to be the fifth big. The problem is you can't rely on him in the post season (maybe you can - I know I'll feel like a sucker but he did play well in 3 and 4) but the point is to make a deep enough Spurs bench that you don't have to.

Agreed again the bonner hate overshadows what's available. Players like the people want are not available. Splitter is the best big man the spurs can hope to get this offseason. Outside of that the best available is guys like bonner...

[ElNono]

Well, he can spread the floor in the regular season. For the vet min and a good chunk of regular seasons minutes I don't see why you don't resign Bonner to be the fifth big. The problem is you can't rely on him in the post season (maybe you can - I know I'll feel like a sucker but he did play well in 3 and 4) but the point is to make a deep enough Spurs bench that you don't have to.

When Pop trots out Bonner, and Splitter is watching from the bench, you'll remember why we needed to get rid of him...

[NewJerSpur]

I still wished they had played the Lakers in the first round. That was the best opportunity for them to get knocked off. Now, I can't see anyone in the West beating them.

I think Orlando might be able to put up a better fight with a healthy Nelson in the swing of things FT this year and no controversy surrounding him playing like last year......that is, IF they get to the finals. I also like the addition of Matt Barnes and even the way Red has been playing. Vince Carter would be the wildcard.

[ElNono]

Agreed again the bonner hate overshadows what's available. Players like the people want are not available. Splitter is the best big man the spurs can hope to get this offseason. Outside of that the best available is guys like bonner...

What good is a guy that doesn't show up in the playoffs?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I still wished they had played the Lakers in the first round. That was the best opportunity for them to get knocked off. Now, I can't see anyone in the West beating them.

No doubt dude. Instead of being satisfied with beating our 2nd most hated rival we could have slayed the Beast yet again and totally ed this Asterisk Dynasty that Kobe is spearheading.

I wanted to bad to post like a madman how we should purposely tank for the lakers but most of this board was all about avoiding them and getting best seed possible.

[Chieflion]

What good is a guy that doesn't show up in the playoffs?

To tell you the truth, better than guys who don't show up at all.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

CBF's best case scenario for the next season:


-The FO somehow miraculously gets RJ to opt out of his contract, then resigns him for a minimum of money to accept a role as a bench player.

-We draft an athlete that can play 2/3

-Blair and Hill improve

-Splitter comes over

-We sign a FA that has a nutsack

Yes I realize the RJ thing is nearly impossible.

[ElNono]

To tell you the truth, better than guys who don't show up at all.

I can agree with that. Hopefully those guys are gone.

[EricB]

What good is a guy that doesn't show up in the playoffs?

Name a big your gonna get after splitter siigns that's better for the minimum?

[HarlemHeat37]

[EricB]

Did he get a brain transplant?

[ElNono]

Name a big your gonna get after splitter siigns that's better for the minimum?

Do we have the LLE? For the LLE:
Tony Allen
Joe Smith
Hakim Warrick
Darko Milicic
Amundson

We can also resign Ian, or give a shot to some other kid from the D-league, if we're talking about the 4th or 5th big here. When Splitter, if he comes, has some jitters, which he will have, because it would be his first season, Pop will play Bonner if he has him. I just want him off the roster. He had 3 seasons to show what he's got, and he just doesn't have what it takes. Time to move on.

[ElNono]

Agree. We're talking the 4th or 5th big here.

[MmP]

Im no fan of blaming JR but it's undeniable that we expected so much of him. I can't believe this season is over. After all we went thru. Man it's sad.

[silverblk mystix]

No doubt dude. Instead of being satisfied with beating our 2nd most hated rival we could have slayed the Beast yet again and totally ed this Asterisk Dynasty that Kobe is spearheading.

I wanted to bad to post like a madman how we should purposely tank for the lakers but most of this board was all about avoiding them and getting best seed possible.

I said this over and over---good to see the spurs beat the mavs---but I hated it when the spurs avoided the lakers--

I thought that we finally could matchup with the lakers---but that is how it goes---whenever you play that game of avoiding this team or that team---you never know what other team will surprise you...

but, yes I can see how this has really cleared a path for the lakers---and although I hope that the suns beat the lakers---what usually happens is that the suns wilt when they play the lakers