Do you guys think Pop will actually make McDyess a starter in the playoffs?

[DaBears]

Does it really matter who starts the game.. I mean if your put in 3 minutes after the tip, and you play more minutes than the starter your replacing, does it really matter???... And if your in the game during crunch time, that is what matters..

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Does it really matter who starts the game.. I mean if your put in 3 minutes after the tip, and you play more minutes than the starter your replacing, does it really matter???... And if your in the game during crunch time, that is what matters..

I think it does matter who starts the game, because that's what sets the tone. Remember when Keith Bogans would start for us last year and the Spurs almost always began games in a 10 point hole because the guy was completely useless?

Obviously Blair is a 100 times better than Bogans, but it would suck to get demolished in the post immediately after tip off, unless, like others have said that Pop is willing to bring in McDyess 3 minutes into the game as oppose to waiting till there is just 4 minutes left in the first quarter or something.

Bonner needs to play no more than 10 MPG. If he isn't hitting his first couple shots, Pop has got to yank him.

Of course, that probably won't happen.

[Sean Cagney]

I think it does matter who starts the game, because that's what sets the tone. Remember when Keith Bogans would start for us last year and the Spurs almost always began games in a 10 point hole because the guy was completely useless?

Obviously Blair is a 100 times better than Bogans, but it would suck to get demolished in the post immediately after tip off, unless, like others have said that Pop is willing to bring in McDyess 3 minutes into the game as oppose to waiting till there is just 4 minutes left in the first quarter or something.

Bonner needs to play no more than 10 MPG. If he isn't hitting his first couple shots, Pop has got to yank him.

Of course, that probably won't happen.

Yep, you know Pop well it seems

[eric365]

I made the exact same thread 2 weeks ago and it was an unanimous NO :
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172871

It's funny how one bad game against the lakers (and that was wayyyy too predictable that Blair could not defend Gasol and Bynum) and it's not so sure that Blair should start

[MinuteByMinuteSports]

Exactly. That's been what I've been preaching for the most part since the start of the season. Blair and Bonner are situational players because Gasol and Bynum are just too big and too physical for them. Splitter and Dice have to play the majority of the rotation mintues against LA.

It was so frustrating watching Blair and Bonner be exploited on Sunday. Not because I didn't expect it would happen if LA decided to hammer it inside, but because Pop has stupidly hung his hat all year on those two guys being able to hold their own on a consistent enough basis against LA's bigs and i finally saw that stupidity manifest itself. And there's Splitter on the bench all year

Agreed

[Obstructed_View]

I keep reading people mention that Nazr got benched for that three. Are people half joking when they say that or do people actually believe that is why Nazr was benched the whole playoffs because he hit one three in garbage time?

Series recap:

Game 1: Nazr starts, leads team in minutes. Spurs win by 34. Nazr hits a wide open three with 10 seconds left on the shot clock with less than a minute left. Kings don't cover him, don't make any attempt to cover him, and Nazr hits the first three of his career and is clearly surprised when it goes in. Pop chews out Nazr, makes a big public display of it, Bowen makes a comment about how inappropriate the shot is after the game. TPark, Chumpdumper and Ploto all defend Popovich for making an example of him for how classless he is. (Barry had two three point attempts and Van Exel 1 in the final minutes of the game while up more than 30 points and get a pass from Spurs nation).

Game 2: Nazr starts, plays fewest minutes of starters, plays the fourth fewest minutes of all Spurs. Spurs win in overtime despite Ron Artest being suspended.

Game 3: Nazr plays nine minutes. Spurs lose by 1; can't stop Bonzi, Artest or Martin inside.

Game 4: Rasho starts. Spurs lose by 18.

Game 5: Horry starts. Spurs shoot 57 percent and win by 9. Fool's gold in full effect. Nazr DNP-CD

Game 6: Artest sprains his ankle, Spurs win going away. Nazr plays 2 minutes.

[ManuBalboa]

Against the Lakers, I don't think DB should start.

[senorglory]

We may have our answer today. Blair came off the bench for 16 minutes; McD started in place of Blair and logged 22 minutes. No Splitter.

[Cessation]

Who is this Splitter?

[JustinJDW]

Does it matter who starts, it matters who finishes. And obviously, who's playing more minutes.

[spurs10]

Who is this Splitter?

this...is that like playing the Red Rocket for half a quarter and the Blair for the other half? Hence...the splitter??

[tdunk21]

http://twitter.com/#!/jmcdonald_saen

Pop says Antonio McDyess' first start wasn't ceremonial. Could be permanent as the playoffs approach. #spurs

Pop: “We’re just trying to look forward to what matchups are going to be and what we need to do, rotation-wise, so we took a look at it."

[bigdog]

I think it depends on the matchup, but if it's against a long team like the Lakers, I wouldn't mind seeing Dice in the starting lineup. Otherwise, I'd keep Blair in there.

[tdunk21]

http://twitter.com/#!/JMcDonald_SAEN

Re: Lineup change. Pop looking at potential playoff matchups. Thinkgs McDyess better counter to Dirk, D-West, etc. than Blair.

Manu had interesting take on Spurs' rebounding woes. Says it's up to guards to pick up slack on boards when team goes smaller up front.

RJ, on Dyess/Blair lineup change: "If you want to question a guy who has won four championships, go right ahead. I'm not." #spurs

[DAF86]

I don't care who starts in the playoffs, what I would like to see is a line-up of Tony, Manu, Neal, Bonner/Dice and Duncan to finish off games.

At the end of games Pop usually uses Tony, Manu, RJ, Duncan and a 4 or Hill. And this is the part of the game where Manu generally has the ball in his hands to attack the basket or kick it to a teamate. And I know RJ has improved a lot this season but he's still not a reliable shooter, same with Tony, Tim and Hill. I would feel a lot comfortable having Neal in there, everytime he rises up for a shot I feel like it's going in, I don't think we're getting the best of him, he should play more and be a closer for our team.

[Cessation]

this...is that like playing the Red Rocket for half a quarter and the Blair for the other half? Hence...the splitter??

cool story bro