Someone should kick Pop in the junk for the Bonner / Splitter situation

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

You're acting like McDyess or Blair played their bigs any better. ALL of our bigs got destroyed, just Duncan to a lesser extent.

No, I'm acting like the only big who plays like a big at the defensive end (Tiago) should have got some run today.

All of our bigs not named Tim sucked ass, which makes Pop's decision to keep Tiago chained to the bench even more idiotic.

[td4mvp21]

This was probably the worst possible way for things to unfold. I'm glad Bonner hit those two threes but he still can't defend Randolph or Gasol. He offers nothing on the defensive end of the floor. Pop will only pay attention to his two clutch three pointers and ignore his defensive liability even more.

[dbreiden83080]

If Splitter doesn't get any min the next game it almost looks like Pop wants to make this more difficult than it has to be. How does Bonner getting min mean Splitter gets Zero? He has played well this year when actually given the chance to play. What is it about Splitter Pop hates so much?

[SenorSpur]

No, I'm acting like the only big who plays like a big at the defensive end (Tiago) should have got some run today.

All of our bigs not named Tim sucked ass, which makes Pop's decision to keep Tiago chained to the bench even more idiotic.

+1

That's the whole point, right there.

[Spurminator]

Off the top of my head, Zach scored at least 12 with Bonner on him.

Unless he scored ten very late in the game, that can't be right. They showed a graphic late that showed Randolph as 1-2 against Bonner.

I didn't think Bonner was that bad in the paint, to be honest. But I would have liked to see him out of the game once we got the lead.

[Manu_Ginobili]

Tim Duncan deserves better in the twilight of his career than to get ed over continually because Pop keeps trotting out the le kryptonite that is Matt Bonner hoping he'll turn into a poor man's Robert Horry.

Meanwhile, Randolph is out there abusing whichever of Bonner (pussy) or Blair (short) is guarding him, while Splitter and his defensive game and height sit glued to the bench.

Pop and his stupid ass corporate knowledge nonsense. You need to put your best players on the floor, and you refuse to do it. Give it up and go hang out with your mentor Larry Brown somewhere you two can be happy going with corporate knowledge over talent and let someone else give Tim the shot at one last ring he deserves.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING SAID ABOVE!!! Even if we go 7 games (worse case) with Memphis and beat them, we are NOT going to win a le without BIGS helping Timmy!!!

WHY Splitter did NOT play??? Pop was [again] playing a FOOL!!!

WHY Novak did not play at least 5 minutes - while Bonner, Neal, and Hill were struggling from 3s, Novak could've hit couple of 3s - Pop, here is YOUR ball game right there, you f. MORRON [excuse my French!]; again, STUPID Popovich played damn [excuse my French!]!!! AGAIN and AGAIN he is f*****g us UP[excuse my French!]!!! We are getting killed inside - Gasol and Randolph killed us under the basket - With this ROSTER, if Pop DOES NOT play Splitter, he has ZERO chance beating L.A. and OKC, PERIOD!!! I am sick and tired of this a*****e [excuse my French!] being SO CONSERVATIVE - if Manu does NOT play, and Memphis BIGS are f*****g us in the a**[excuse my French!], WHY NOT TRYING WITH SPLITTER to help Dyes and Timmy??? "F. MORRON" to call Pop in THIS GAME, NOTHING more TO BE SAID...Pop completely outplayed by Memphis' coaches in this one...Very sad!!!

[coachmac87]

You guys really can't be this dense. You think Bonner gave up all those points to Gasol and Randolph? Seriously? Get a clue.

The only defensive presence the Spurs have inside is Duncan. That's it. Maybe Splitter helps, maybe he doesn't. This team isn't very good defensively. As a whole. But if blaming one or two people makes your day better, have fun.

Good point. But what pisses me off and I'm sure everybody else...It didnt have to be this way. I blame Horry for the Bonner love. Pop got spoiled with Horry and Duncan playing together and Horry "spreading" the floor. Except Horry played D! Then when we traded Bowen, it was a wrap. We decided to go with shooters, and not defesnvie minded players.

Becasue Pop got spoiled because Horry and Bowen can both shoot. Pop chose shooting over defesne, something I thought he would never do.

[ElNono]

Bonner has been in the system for 4 seasons, including spending one getting over himself. We also just upped him for 3 more seasons... it just wouldn't be fair to the team to play Tiago instead...

lol matchups

[Brazil]

ing POP yeah right D is important

[LongtimeSpursFan]

You guys really can't be this dense. You think Bonner gave up all those points to Gasol and Randolph? Seriously? Get a clue.

The only defensive presence the Spurs have inside is Duncan. That's it. Maybe Splitter helps, maybe he doesn't. This team isn't very good defensively. As a whole. But if blaming one or two people makes your day better, have fun.

This.

[Chomag]

I'm happy for Bonner hitting those 2 3's but I would much rather spurs had more defence where those 2 3's werent needed.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Even with those two threes, Bonner still came out with the second worst +/- of anyone on the team, and it wasn't close.

[LongtimeSpursFan]

This was probably the worst possible way for things to unfold. I'm glad Bonner hit those two threes but he still can't defend Randolph or Gasol. He offers nothing on the defensive end of the floor. Pop will only pay attention to his two clutch three pointers and ignore his defensive liability even more.

In reallity no one can stop Zach Randolph. The dude is a 20-12 guy. Bonner was forced to play more minutes because Dice had such a bad game. Dice is more to blame for inablity to stop Randolph than Bonner should be.

[SenorSpur]

In that graphic TNT showed, Randolph got at least 5 baskets against McDyess alone.

Even though Randolph is listed @ 6'9", I hear Randolph he is actually around 6'6". If so, one would think Blair could give him trouble.

[jjktkk]

Off the top of my head, Zach scored at least 12 with Bonner on him. And the crowning moment was Bonner falling down trying to box out Gasol at the end and giving up an offensive rebound and putback for Marc while Bonner laid on the court sucking his thumb.

But yeah, he had nothing to do with that mess today...

Call out Bonner, but don't forget to add Dyess's name as well.

[temujin]

In that graphic TNT showed, Randolph got at least 5 baskets against McDyess alone.

Even though Randolph is listed @ 6'9", I hear Randolph he is actually around 6'6". If so, one would think Blair could give him trouble.

If randolph is 6'6'' then Blair is 6'3''.

[Obstructed_View]

To add to the problem, AH, Dice was worse than Bonner and Blair on both ends and the Spurs completely abandoned their running offense. If you can't play defense and can't get easy baskets, expect to get beat up and lose a lot.

[SenorSpur]

Tim Duncan deserves better in the twilight of his career than to get ed over continually because Pop keeps trotting out the le kryptonite that is Matt Bonner hoping he'll turn into a poor man's Robert Horry.

Meanwhile, Randolph is out there abusing whichever of Bonner (pussy) or Blair (short) is guarding him, while Splitter and his defensive game and height sit glued to the bench.

Pop and his stupid ass corporate knowledge nonsense. You need to put your best players on the floor, and you refuse to do it. Give it up and go hang out with your mentor Larry Brown somewhere you two can be happy going with corporate knowledge over talent and let someone else give Tim the shot at one last ring he deserves.

Couldn't agree more. Were it not for Duncan's greatness,this franchise would be the Mavericks - all playoff appearances and nothing to show for it.

Were it not for Duncan, Pop would just be considered, amnog NBA circles, as a competent coach and not a great coach. He'd probably be viewed even less than say Jerry Sloan.

Now that he's nearing the end of his career, Pop is doing his future HOF center a grave disservice by compromising the team's chances by his refusal to put his best players on the floor, and by not providing Tim with better frontcourt size and support.

Whatever happens, this is all on Pop.

[Obstructed_View]

Why does Pop refuse to play Rasho/Nazr/Oberto/Mahinmi/Splitter? It's a mystery.

[ChumpDumper]

Whatever happens, this is all on Pop.

Except if they win, of course.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

To add to the problem, AH, Dice was worse than Bonner and Blair on both ends and the Spurs completely abandoned their running offense. If you can't play defense and can't get easy baskets, expect to get beat up and lose a lot.

Agreed. Dice struggled as well, and it was disappointing to say the least. I expect him to bounce back though. I expect Zach and Gasol to continue to use Bonner as a turnstile.

[ChumpDumper]

Splitter has no offensive game. Popovich wants an offensive team. The Spurs are now the old Phoenix Suns so Splitter is out of Pop's favor.

It is that simple.

You're stupid and no one likes you.

[Dingle Barry]

Bonner Blair and Dice all got raped viciously.

[dbestpro]

You guys really can't be this dense. You think Bonner gave up all those points to Gasol and Randolph? Seriously? Get a clue.

The only defensive presence the Spurs have inside is Duncan. That's it. Maybe Splitter helps, maybe he doesn't. This team isn't very good defensively. As a whole. But if blaming one or two people makes your day better, have fun.

Your right. It's gotta be Tony Parker's fault that Gasol and Randolf went off.

[SPURS50]

I can't stomach Pop no more.. I can't, WTF is he thinking? Sometimes I think he just doesn't care... Why should we then? Watching the Lakers lose makes me feel a little better though. LOL