Who sits @ Utah?

[JR3]

Spurs can rest whoever, I will still be there tomorrow cheering and expecting whoever is on the floor to win the game. Tough place to play, but I like our depth.

[crellis]

With the blowout wins that the Spurs have enjoyed recently I expect Parker to play (and although he played over 30mins they were pretty evenly spaced throughout the game). Also I wouldn't be surprised if Tim puts in 20 minutes in Utah - he will have to play B2B in the playoffs. Obviously we expect Blair to play minutes in Utah, and if Pop is keen to limit or keep Duncan out all together then hopefully Splitter will be afforded the opportunity to pick up the slack.

And obviously Cpt Jack will get extended minutes with Manu out and I hope that tigger happy Mr Anderson will get an extended opportuntiy whilst Green rests his shoudler.

[Dunc n Dave]

the hits that manu took tonight int he paint make me think it will be Manu and Duncan sitting out. I say they don't even make the flight.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

With the blowout wins that the Spurs have enjoyed recently I expect Parker to play (and although he played over 30mins they were pretty evenly spaced throughout the game). Also I wouldn't be surprised if Tim puts in 20 minutes in Utah - he will have to play B2B in the playoffs. Obviously we expect Blair to play minutes in Utah, and if Pop is keen to limit or keep Duncan out all together then hopefully Splitter will be afforded the opportunity to pick up the slack.

And obviously Cpt Jack will get extended minutes with Manu out and I hope that tigger happy Mr Anderson will get an extended opportuntiy whilst Green rests his shoudler.

We have a home b2b coming up this Wed and Th that he can play in. We also have a road b2b2b next week Mon-Wed. He'll get his chances to play multiple consecutive games. Spurs have almost nothing BUT b2bs left. I think there are only like 2 singleton games left on the schedule.

Pop won't even put Manu and Tim on the plane so that he isn't tempted to use them for that 20 minutes. We'll need them fresh for the LAL/Mem b2b.

[ducks]

sj will play manu minutes tomorrow

[TMTTRIO]

I'm not worried about TP. He's still pretty young and can handle the minutes. He's not on the verge of retiring like Manu or Tim. I can see Manu and possibly Tim not making the trip tomorrow.

[crellis]

We have a home b2b coming up this Wed and Th that he can play in. We also have a road b2b2b next week Mon-Wed. He'll get his chances to play multiple consecutive games. Spurs have almost nothing BUT b2bs left. I think there are only like 2 singleton games left on the schedule.

Pop won't even put Manu and Tim on the plane so that he isn't tempted to use them for that 20 minutes. We'll need them fresh for the LAL/Mem b2b.

I can see where you are coming from and thought about how most of the games left are part of B2B/B2B2B. However I would not be surprised to see Duncan in Utah as Pop probably sees this game as more winnable that some of the other games remaining on the schedule - if the Spurs are seriously chasing HCA for the West then maybe Duncan suits up for this one as opposed to other games away from Texas.

[crc21209]

JMcDonald_SAEN
Danny Green, on the other hand, is in tomorrow. "They told me to get my ass on the plane."

JMcDonald_SAEN
Asked if he was flying with team to SLC, Tim Duncan offered a wordless shrug. As if to say, "I don't know."
about 1 hour ago

JMcDonald_SAEN
Stephen Jackson to Manu, upon exiting arena tonight: "See you when we get back."
about 1 hour ago

JMcDonald_SAEN
Spurs playing coy, but wouldn't be surprised if none of Big 3 board flight to Utah
about 1 hour ago

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

[Ice009]

Jeff McDonald is clueless. I don't know if you can take anything from what he says.

[Robz4000]

Betting Tim and Manu are staying in town. If Parker goes with everyone else, I'd give them a solid chance of pulling a win out. Splitter should get extended minutes and hopefully Blair has a monster game to fight for his starting spot.

Also, calling it now: SJax goes off for 30.

[TheSkeptic]

Betting Tim and Manu are staying in town. If Parker goes with everyone else, I'd give them a solid chance of pulling a win out. Splitter should get extended minutes and hopefully Blair has a monster game to fight for his starting spot.

Also, calling it now: SJax goes off for 30.

He doesn't need to start. He needs to handle coming off the bench like an adult.

I like his game but he's not a starting quality big. He'll extend his career and likely perform better off the bench while also giving way for more talented/polished contributors who Tim and the rest of the starters don't have to compensate for.

Just saying...

[SpursFan0728]

Betting Tim and Manu are staying in town. If Parker goes with everyone else, I'd give them a solid chance of pulling a win out. Splitter should get extended minutes and hopefully Blair has a monster game to fight for his starting spot.

Also, calling it now: SJax goes off for 30.

Pretty much what I think as well

[crellis]

Offence wins attendance, Defence wins championships

Can't we have both?

[therealtruth]

Betting Tim and Manu are staying in town. If Parker goes with everyone else, I'd give them a solid chance of pulling a win out. Splitter should get extended minutes and hopefully Blair has a monster game to fight for his starting spot.

Also, calling it now: SJax goes off for 30.

CIA Pop

[Manu-20]

He doesn't need to start. He needs to handle coming off the bench like an adult.

I like his game but he's not a starting quality big. He'll extend his career and likely perform better off the bench while also giving way for more talented/polished contributors who Tim and the rest of the starters don't have to compensate for.

Just saying...

pretty much agree I think he should be a off the bench big and the fifth big in our rotation come playoff time. Pop starting Diaw tonight tells me he has plans on using Diaw and not just letting him rot on the bench when you think about it a big rotation of Duncan,Diaw,Splitter, and Bonner is pretty decent front court and it would be deadly if bonner hits his shots in the playoffs.

[crellis]

a big rotation of Duncan,Diaw,Splitter, and Bonner is pretty decent front court and it would be deadly if bonner hits his shots in the playoffs.

Thats the key - if Bonner is hitting the 3 Ball then the Spurs are going to make some serious noise in the playoffs.

[therealtruth]

Looks like Portland all over again. The Jazz will blow them out by 40. The Spurs will come back and win the next game then sputter along for a little bit.

[TheSkeptic]

@ Manu-20 & crellis

I think that it'll depend on who we play more than anything else. Against a team like say Houston or perhaps the Clippers, I would expect Bonner to make his shots.

Memphis or Chicago? Not a chance.

What concerns me is whether or not Pop will insist on playing Bonner even when he's not making his shots.

Sure his defense and rebounding have gotten better this year, but not to the point where the team can afford to have him out there when he's not really spreading the floor and a guy like Diaw or Tiago is able to score/defend/rebound/help Tim out better.

[Robz4000]

Looks like Portland all over again. The Jazz will blow them out by 40. The Spurs will come back and win the next game then sputter along for a little bit.

Next game would be against the Lakers, so I'd be 100% ok with that.

[crellis]

@ Manu-20 & crellis

I think that it'll depend on who we play more than anything else. Against a team like say Houston or perhaps the Clippers, I would expect Bonner to make his shots.

Memphis or Chicago? Not a chance.

What concerns me is whether or not Pop will insist on playing Bonner even when he's not making his shots.

Sure his defense and rebounding have gotten better this year, but not to the point where the team can afford to have him out there when he's not really spreading the floor and a guy like Diaw or Tiago is able to score/defend/rebound/help Tim out better.

Totally agree with your points above. You're right when you say it comes down to whether or not Pop will presevere with Bonner even when he is not performing against the better defensive teams such as the Grizz & Bulls. I hope that Pop is willing to bite the bullet and recognise when things aren't working as they should and change his method of attack.

[jiggy_55]

It's probably Manu for sure, it seems obvious Jack will be playing his minutes tomorrow in Utah. Maybe Tim as well if Pop finds it necessary, cuz lots will be expected of Duncan against LAL and UTH in 2 days time.

[Slomo]

I don't know why Pop didn't try and sit players like Tim and Manu tonight if he's looking to rest them. Why would you not do it at the home game? I'd rather they be available to play for the road game.

I would argue that although unpredictable, injuries are more likely to happen playing on the road against a physical team like the Jazz in front of a loud crowd.

My guess: Tim, Manu and Tony will not play tonight.

[timvp]

^ @ avatar. That's Tiago's secret code for Manu to cut backdoor.



With Blair and Jackson sitting out, that tells me that Duncan and Manu are the two Spurs most likely not to make the trip. Since Manu took a beating and looked so bad last time on the second night of a back-to-back, I hope he doesn't play. Not playing Duncan tonight will probably allow him to play against both the Lakers and Grizzlies ... which is preferred, tbh.

As for TP, it's tough to say. Pop played him fewer than normal minutes, which could be an indication that he was prepping him for a back-to-back. But if he plays, TP probably has to sit out against either the Lakers or Grizzlies.

It's tough to say but resting the Big 3 tonight and then letting them play both games against the Lakers and Grizzlies could be what Pop's thinking.

[timvp]

Another consideration: If Pop is going to forfeit a game by not playing the Big 3, the Jazz is the perfect team to do it against. If the Spurs were to beat Utah again, they'd probably get knocked out of playoff contention. But if the Jazz win tonight, they are still in the thick of things and it will cause teams like the Mavs and Nuggets to try harder down the stretch.

And honestly, keeping the Jazz alive isn't a bad thing since they don't appear to be capable of beating the Spurs in a playoff series.

[TJastal]

Another consideration: If Pop is going to forfeit a game by not playing the Big 3, the Jazz is the perfect team to do it against. If the Spurs were to beat Utah again, they'd probably get knocked out of playoff contention. But if the Jazz win tonight, they are still in the thick of things and it will cause teams like the Mavs and Nuggets to try harder down the stretch.

And honestly, keeping the Jazz alive isn't a bad thing since they don't appear to be capable of beating the Spurs in a playoff series.

Keeping the jazz on life support isn't worth risking the #1 seed IMHO.