How much Tiago do you think we'll see against Orlando?

[Chomag]

Splitter has to get minutes there is just no way around that. It's great having Bonner red hot to help win games and all but to what extent does it start effecting the development of another player. I agree that if there is a odd-man out it should be more Blair but then again you are stunting Blair's growth as well.

I'm not sure what Pop can do with so many bigs that need to be getting minutes at this point but he has got to find a way to get and keep them in rhythm.

Also People need got to stop referring Bonner as the 4th or 5th big on this team. Thats not how Pop seems to see it and he is more the 2nd, or 3rd in the rotation now.

[jjktkk]

+1

I totally agree here, and its obvious Pop is married to this idea that Matt Bonner is the only answer to the quicker stretch 4's like Lewis, and pretty much everyone else. He didn't even give Tiago a look on Lewis last night, preferring to go with the crotch rocket for a ridiculous 36 minutes.

Would be even more ridiculous for Pop to have a rookie center try to chase around a much quicker Lewis around on screens and on the perimeter.

[jjktkk]

+1

Ultimately, Splitter gets another DNP-CD, loses another chance to gain important experience, and has another layer of confidence chipped away, which will ultimately cost the spurs later on in the season.

So you want to build up Splitter's confidence by having him chase around a muck quicker lewis around the perimeter?

[Bruno]

I truly don't get why Splitter doesn't get more minutes. I hope it's temporary and Splitter will get 15-20mpg every game.

There are no reason at all to be excited with Bonner. He is still the same player except that he is just in a great shooting stretch.

[Obstructed_View]

Also People need got to stop referring Bonner as the 4th or 5th big on this team. Thats not how Pop seems to see it and he is more the 2nd, or 3rd in the rotation now.

I agree. He should be the 4th or 5th big at best. I've said numerous times that he should be considered a taller version of Gary Neal and only be an emergency "big". The problem is when Pop all but starts him and has him in the entire fourth quarter, he's first or second.

[TJastal]

Duncan is averaging 29 mpg after 13 games, do you think this too much? I think as long as Duncan can average less than 32mpg during the season he should be ok come playoff time. I really do not care who backs up TD as long as they produce. Right now Bonner is one of the hottest shooters in the NBA, a good coach like pop is gonna get as much from that as possible. Now if Bonner cools off and is still getting big minutes then I may question the big man rotation.

I think the amount of wear and tear on Duncan's body will be more of a factor of the amount of effort he needs to put forth to control the boards & interior defensively than by the # of minutes next to his name on the box score.

[TJastal]

So you want to build up Splitter's confidence by having him chase around a muck quicker lewis around the perimeter?

Bonner couldn't keep up with him either. He got burned a few times himself. Splitter might be a step slower, but don't forget has length over the guy w/ the t-rex arms.

[jjktkk]

Splitter has to get minutes there is just no way around that. It's great having Bonner red hot to help win games and all but to what extent does it start effecting the development of another player. I agree that if there is a odd-man out it should be more Blair but then again you are stunting Blair's growth as well.

I'm not sure what Pop can do with so many bigs that need to be getting minutes at this point but he has got to find a way to get and keep them in rhythm.

Also People need got to stop referring Bonner as the 4th or 5th big on this team. Thats not how Pop seems to see it and he is more the 2nd, or 3rd in the rotation now.

Theres no easy answer on how Pop gives out minutes too his bigmen. Like you mentioned, Pop has to start developing Splitter, but Blair as well. But right now you can't justify sitting a redhot Bonner.

[Chomag]

I truly don't get why Splitter doesn't get more minutes. I hope it's temporary and Splitter will get 15-20mpg every game.

There are no reason at all to be excited with Bonner. He is still the same player except that he is just in a great shooting stretch.

Agreed, people seem to be acting like thie is a new thing of Bonner. He allways seems to go through a streth of being red hot each season. We have all seen this same thing so many times thats why I don't understand when poeple get on the people that still have doubts on him.

[jjktkk]

Bonner couldn't keep up with him either. He got burned a few times himself. Splitter might be a step slower, but don't forget has length over the guy w/ the t-rex arms.

Lewis is a nightmare matchup for most teams. Thats one of the reasons why Orlando is one the best teams in the NBA. You would take Splitter completely out of his element by having him chase around Lewis on the perimeter. So you counter Lewis with Bonner. In other words, like last night, you counter Lewis's scoring with Bonner's scoring.

[objective]

I'm not really buying the whole 'bad match-up' with Orlando bit.

Splitter played against PHX in his fourth game and at times was matched with McDyess against Frye and Warrick and with Duncan against Siler and Turkoglu. I remember one play where Hedo got away for a layup but other than that my memory is that Splitter had a decent game.

[Leonard Curse]

do you guys think splitter will play against minn?