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As for blowing confidence, I'm not sure if Green's confidence can be blown at this point. Even on off nights, his testicles are clearly visible.
First of all. I wanted to make this thread after a win. Not right after the Lakers collapse on Wednesday because it's so easy to throw cheap shots at a team that has just lost an important game and people usually pop desperate changes. While I do believe the Lakers game was key and important to the team's confidence. I don't believe it's a point of no-return game. Luckly our Spurs have more games against Los Angeles and other good playoff teams. As the say: better now than when it matters.
I hope last night epic struggle puts us on the right path to fix team's deficits.
Wednesday night punch was a heavy one, made the average Spurs fan re-think the idea that this team can win it all and unfortunately the Spurs seem to have few answers when falling into holes: stretches where the other teams guards us better, has a good pace and good team chemestry to score. That, combined with the inefficency of not scoring at will or move the ball well (both major seasons strenghts) makes us pay big time.
Overall, I still believe this team can work them out.
That being said, Im starting to believe that bringing Manu off the bench is no longer an advantage for this team. Manu has a great amount of energy while he is on the court, last night the Spurs could have used that energy much more while our team found them selves in deep hesitation. I think the Spurs might fall in this situation more often that not against most of the playoffs teams. But If Manu is on the court right at the start of the game we can click faster and avoid bad stretches.
As well as I think this move can work there's the opposite side of it: who has to pay the inevitable price of confidence blower?. A growing rookie K. Leonard?. Or the good year of D. Green?
Well, I do believe that if get Manu in the starting line up any of those guy who go back to the bench will drop the mayority of his confidence. Espeacially being young guys as they are. Same situation 'suffered' to Manu in his first year as a starter: 2004. It wasn't actually a matter of him not playing good but mostly because he brought more off the bench at that time.
So if a player like Ginobili that has been in and out of the starting group went-through a loss of self-confidence, why even more inexperienced players like Leonard or Green should avoid that situation?
Above all, I still believe that having Ginobili from the start is the best choice for this team today. It's either that or keep hitting the same wall of stretches where nothing works. A team first type of player like Ginobili can fix those holes and put this team right back on track.
Believe.
edit: I wrote this before the grizz game ended. After 3rd quarter I guess Im more eager to see him in the first line up, and Tiago as well...but that's a whole new thread.
As for blowing confidence, I'm not sure if Green's confidence can be blown at this point. Even on off nights, his testicles are clearly visible.
would prefer splitter tbh
No, he has to be on the floor when Tp is on the bench.
The wings are fairly interchangeable as long as Manu's getting enough minutes it should be okay. Though at the same time he's capable of going on huge scoring runs...I can see both sides.
It's a good point but with the stretches Tony is having in big games this move might actually compensates for Parker's struggles.
That's pretty much as I saw it up to Wed night. I think that in a huge game like the Lakers one Manu right out of the gates would have helped to avoid initial struggles and hesitation.
Spurs just won 11 in a row. How many games did Ginobili start during that run? I think Pop has a solid rotation with the wings and bringing Manu off the bench allows him to run the second team when TP sits. When the playoffs roll around Manu will be getting 30+ minutes a night so start or off the bench won't matter. Its no coincidence that Manu got 30 minutes tonight, his most this season since before his injury. Pop treated tonight like a playoff game.
No he doesn't. He's been doing wonders coming off the bench, and Green blends in well with the starting lineup. Just keep having Manu close games and you're solid.
We simply can't start him without a reliable backup PG. Neal is not a PG and Mills is a 3rd string PG.
unproven if Green won't be affected from losing his starting position ,far too late in the game to mess around with that now.
Tony struggles against LAL and Grizz, if we do seem them in the playoffs, we need Manu off the bench for another surge.
Manu doesn't need to start. It won't change his game. Just give him enough minutes, and he will play. He's been playing like sub 30 min per game, trust me, come playoffs he'll be good to go. It's not like he's playing that bad either. Despite the storm from LAL and that horrible Celtics win, he's been very efficient.
He's not looking to score because he doesn't need to, but in the playoffs when he is required to be supermanu, he will get it done.
I agree Manu's got to start. You can't go into the playoffs with 2 rookies starting.
Who's the other rookie besides Kawhi?
Playoff rookies. Green barely played against the Grizzlies.
This. But Pop can bring him anytime he wants as long as he is with tiago tbh. PnR is unstopable.
Keep Manu on the bench. Parker could run 12 minutes, half on them with second unit. But Gino and/or Duncan couldnt. To diversify offense, Manu should stay on the bench. Get in after 5-6 minutes. Play with Duncan and Parker for 2 or 3, and then after warm up, run with second unit.
This is what's needed in the playoffs:
Duncan - 33 mins.
Splitter - 33 mins.
Diaw - 15 mins.
Bonner - 15 mins.
Blair - never set foot on the court
It's not a matter of Manu tbh, it's actually for the team to improve. With wins, the starting Ginobili issue won't come around much. Otherwise the move will nature surge: as it's happened before (2005, 2007).
It's a matter of energy, and that's the key word. As in the past not having Manu starting was a case of having a more energy off the bench, now it seems natural to have Ginobili in the starting group to avoid energy-less stretches.
Last edited by MmP; 04-13-2012 at 07:31 AM.
Why even bother ? Splitter wont get 33 mins. Did he even play so much in single game this season ?
The Rockets game maybe?
It's a shame too because with the way he's been playing the Spurs won't be able to afford him when he becomes a free agent next summer. Ugh.
For now Manu can come off the bench but when the playoffs start Manu needs to start. Its crucial the Spurs start off on the right foot in the beginning of the game in the playoffs he will add to the energy right from the get-go and have a good flow for the beginning of the games
I think there's certain members of the coaching staff that would agree with this along with me.
Manu and Jack are better than Green and Kawhi... obviously... but I like those two coming in together off the bench. I wish Manu would get over the facilitator over scorer mindset though.
The guard rotations aren't what we should be concerned about anyways. It's the big men. It's the game plan for MEM and LAL in particular... hopefully these games against the Lakers become a blessing in disguise and get the coaching staff ready for bigger teams in the playoffs.
Regardless of performance... everyone seemed to man up after the Laker rape fest.
I'm reminded of Pop going with George Hill against Steve Nash in '10. I think if he had gone with Parker, a guy who had the experience against Nash, the series might have been different.
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