Bonner gets too many minutes for the Spurs to be successful

[z0sa]

I'm not sold on that. I thought Pop simply didn't feel like going to Dice on Dirk to close the game.

I mostly agree with the rest, but your "gut feeling" doesn't have a logical argument behind it. Bonner is hot overall, and hit a big shot after missing several just last game. With no offense, Pop did the logical move and put his hottest hands out there.

[Borosai]

The Spurs lost because of turnovers. Bonner had 0. Yeah he didn't shoot well, but that happens to everyone. He isn't turning the ball over, he isn't giving his man a free path to the basket, and he's not committing dumb fouls. He's not a spectacular talent, and that's why he's a role player.

I want to see the Spurs play big, like they used to, and like the past two champs play. Duncan and Splitter (once he's ready) would be great starting, with Dice backing up Tim at the 5, and Blair/Bonner backing up the 4 according to need/strategy. But for now Bonner is playing a bigger role, and he's been doing very well.

Haters gonna hate.

[ElNono]

I mostly agree with the rest, but your "gut feeling" doesn't have a logical argument behind it.

I agree it's illogical. But you should ask Pop, not me, why he went with Bonner instead of Dice. I'm not discovering anything telling you that when Bonner guards him we need to gamble with a double-team. Dice is the only player we have that can guard him one-on-one right now.

Bonner is hot overall, and hit a big shot after missing several just last game. With no offense, Pop did the logical move and put his hottest hands out there.

The reason we had no offense was that we had nobody to create it. Tony had a subpar game, and the Mavs took notice and sent all they had towards Ginobili, since he was the only one making stuff happen out there. Bonner gives you nothing different than Dice on the offensive side if you can't create a shot for him. Tonight we simply couldn't.

[TJastal]

The Spurs lost because of turnovers. Bonner had 0. Yeah he didn't shoot well, but that happens to everyone. He isn't turning the ball over, he isn't giving his man a free path to the basket, and he's not committing dumb fouls. He's not a spectacular talent, and that's why he's a role player.

I want to see the Spurs play big, like they used to, and like the past two champs play. Duncan and Splitter (once he's ready) would be great starting, with Dice backing up Tim at the 5, and Blair/Bonner backing up the 4 according to need/strategy. But for now Bonner is playing a bigger role, and he's been doing very well.

Haters gonna hate.

So you want the spurs to play bigger but keep playing Bonner a big role? How does that work?

[ElNono]

And BTW, I see nothing wrong with Pop trying stuff out against Dirk in November. This is when you try different looks. I'm sure that if this was a playoff game, you would see Dice out there.

[ElNono]

One last note, I didn't think Bonner had much to do with the loss overall. I mean, the Spurs had much bigger problems than Matt this game. TP and RJ are two. Careless turnovers is another. It's stuff you can correct. It just sucks because it looked like a game we could have won.

[Borosai]

So you want the spurs to play bigger but keep playing Bonner a big role? How does that work?

It works by reading more carefully.

[Bruno]

Bonner has nothing to do playing significant minutes on a team with championship aspirations. Spurs should either trade him (after December 15th) or put him at the end of the bench.

[JustinJDW]

Tim Duncan - 30
Tiago Splitter - 18
Antonio McDyess - 18
Dejuan Blair - 18
Matt Bonner - 12

That's how it should be. If Bonner is still playing more minutes then Dice and Splitter late in the Season and come Playoff time, then we are in some serious trouble.

[Cessation]

I think its pops fault for overplaying him, bonner sometimes is hitting, and other times he isnt, thats when hes gotta pull him, 1-6, and 1-4 from three, looks like he was licking the sack tonight

[TJastal]

Tim Duncan - 30
Tiago Splitter - 18
Antonio McDyess - 18
Dejuan Blair - 18
Matt Bonner - 12

That's how it should be. If Bonner is still playing more minutes then Dice and Splitter in the next game, then we are in some serious trouble.

Fixed.

[ElNono]

I think its pops fault for overplaying him, bonner sometimes is hitting, and other times he isnt, thats when hes gotta pull him, 1-6, and 1-4 from three, looks like was licking the sack tonight, i dunno, i might be wrong, what do you think?

I think against the Mavs is a special game. Dirk is so far deep inside Matt's psyche it's not even funny. It just kills his confidence, IMO. I think that's the major difference between Dice and Matt against Dallas (besides of Dice obviously being the superior rebounder). Dice understands that nobody can really stop Dirk, all you can do is make him work hard then go play at the other end. Matt on the other hand has gotten burned so bad for so long, you have to start questioning how much it affects his game overall.

[jjktkk]

I think against the Mavs is a special game. Dirk is so far deep inside Matt's psyche it's not even funny. It just kills his confidence, IMO. I think that's the major difference between Dice and Matt against Dallas (besides of Dice obviously being the superior rebounder). Dice understands that nobody can really stop Dirk, all you can do is make him work hard then go play at the other end. Matt on the other hand has gotten burned so bad for so long, you have to start questioning how much it affects his game overall.

Dice didn't look too hot tonight agaisnt Dirk tonight. There really isn't anyone on the Spurs roster that can guard Dirk IMO.

[jjktkk]

I think Jefferson, Neal and Splitter have potential, but to rely on Bonner to do more than shoot 3's is a recipe for failure.

Since when has Pop stated that he expects Bonner to do more than provide 3-point shooting?

[ElNono]

Dice didn't look too hot tonight agaisnt Dirk tonight. There really isn't anyone on the Spurs roster that can guard Dirk IMO.

Nobody can stop Dirk 100%. You just can't, and it's not just the Spurs.
I didn't think Antonio had a good game, but he's the only one that can play physical with Dirk and try to cover him one on one. He can block him if Dirk tries to drive and he can give you boards if Dirk misses. At least, that's what he did last playoffs.

It's not ideal, but it's the closest we have. I thought at the very end it hurts us to double team him. He has turned into a good passer off double teams, and they made us pay.

[ElNono]

Since when has Pop stated that he expects Bonner to do more than provide 3-point shooting?

You would think defense would be part of the job description though, right?

[jjktkk]

No one defended that well tonight, including Bonner. Bonner is a one dimensional player. If he's bricking 3 pointers then Pop needs to make the decision to pull him out of the game. Pop didn't and so we got nothing from his position while he was out there. Bonner played too many minutes tonight. Pop should have tried more of Blair or Splitter. Bad coaching in my opinion.

Somewhat agree if whoever replaces Bonner can provide offense. IMO thats why Pop kept Bonner in, hoping(praying) that Bonner can spark the offense. This is just my theory, but when the Spurs play against the Mavs, the Spurs do not have someone that can defend Dirk, so IMO, Pop wants whoevers guarding Dirk to at least be able to score, to make Dirk work on defense.

[ALVAREZ6]

Tim Duncan - 30
Tiago Splitter - 18
Antonio McDyess - 18
Dejuan Blair - 18
Matt Bonner - 12

That's how it should be. If Bonner is still playing more minutes then Dice and Splitter late in the Season and come Playoff time, then Pop is a mother- ing moron.

fixed

[intlspurshk]

Trade the Bonner while you can!!!

[jjktkk]

You would think defense would be part of the job description though, right?

Not when it involves Bonner. As we know, Bonner is out on the court for 1 reason, and 1 reason only. know I know Pop expects Bonner to compete on defense, but anything Bonner provides besides 3-point shooting, is icing on the cake.

[ElNono]

This is just my theory, but when the Spurs play against the Mavs, the Spurs do not have someone that can defend Dirk, so IMO, Pop wants whoevers guarding Dirk to at least be able to score, to make Dirk work on defense.

Go and re-watch the fourth quarter while Bonner is being guarded by Dirk though. You'll see that Dirk doesn't follow Bonner out to the perimeter, and instead camps in the paint. I noticed that while the game was ongoing. Good teams will dare him to shoot if he's in an off night. We've seen this not just with Dallas, but also with other teams, like the Lakers.

[TJastal]

Not when it involves Bonner. As we know, Bonner is out on the court for 1 reason, and 1 reason only. know I know Pop expects Bonner to compete on defense, but anything Bonner provides besides 3-point shooting, is icing on the cake.

So apologist..

why did Bonner play 23 minutes when he was cold tonight? If he provides absolutely NOTHING else besides 3's why didn't Pop use Splitter?

[ElNono]

Not when it involves Bonner. As we know, Bonner is out on the court for 1 reason, and 1 reason only. know I know Pop expects Bonner to compete on defense, but anything Bonner provides besides 3-point shooting, is icing on the cake.

If Pop expects him to compete on defense, then more than just 3 point shooting is expected of him.

At the very end, I agree with Bruno that such a one dimensional player playing this many minutes has no place on a team with championship aspirations.

[jjktkk]

nobody can stop dirk 100%. You just can't, and it's not just the spurs.
I didn't think antonio had a good game, but he's the only one that can play physical with dirk and try to cover him one on one. He can block him if dirk tries to drive and he can give you boards if dirk misses. At least, that's what he did last playoffs.

It's not ideal, but it's the closest we have. I thought at the very end it hurts us to double team him. He has turned into a good passer off double teams, and they made us pay.

+1.

[jjktkk]

So apologist..

why did Bonner play 23 minutes when he was cold tonight? If he provides absolutely NOTHING else besides 3's why didn't Pop use Splitter?

I don't know, I don't have Pop's phone number? My guess is Pop was hoping that Bonner would of caught fire. I've said in other posts, that if Bonner isn't hitting his 3's he needs to be benched.