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In other words, we're ED.
So, no more drama for the lack of Duncan-Splitter together, or Splitter's minutes.
Good.
Parker.
Not worried, he is probably a bit tired overall, he has played way way too many minutes.
Games.
I disagree with the @Lakers game. What did winning that close game @LAL do last year? The one game to win is the final Lakers game @SA. I wouldn't be surprised if Pop is playing mind games with the Lakers coaching staff (Brown and Messina, both know the SA system quite well), and should continue to do so. All other games are winnable without playing anyone >28'.
Ginobili's minutes.
I agree he should be playing a couple of >30' games, just to feel it, but never on btb and, in general, he should never never do again what he did with Memphis, going for loose balls and rebounds amid flying elbows. Keep that for PO, Manu.
Starting lineup.
Never obsessed by starting lineups. Other than Blair really really looks out of place against teams with big lineups.
Bonner.
Stats need controls. I don't see any. What are Bonner stats in the other months? Incidentally, I see a lot of variation over the years, is this true for the other months as well? Honestly, stating Bonner's % in April is like stating % on Thursday nights. Bonner is less important this year, in general, come PO time.
I see two defensive issues.
1) Full court press. We saw some in the Memphis game, and I think it payed off late in the game, with Conley making mistakes down the stretch. The Spurs have now the players to do so, even in PO games. Go for it.
2) Zone defense. That's what gave the Mavs their le in the end. The Spurs have lineups with smart, agile, mobile players that could really be playing a deadly zone. Against teams with no great outside shooters, and there will be some in PO, that could be a weapon. But I realize this is a lost cause because Popovich, for whatever reason, never really did that, unless desperate.
In other words, we're ED.
Whether he is or not, Tony Parker has to show up with the at ude that he is the best player on the floor...absolutely has to be agressive from jump and in attack mode. The Spurs can get away with subpar games from him against bad teams, but not against playoff compe ion. The last trip to OKC is a perfect example..he took over that game early and the Spurs rolled. If he's going to have a bad game, it cannot be from lack of aggression. It's a superstar mindset...he needs to accept that responsibility for this team to go anywhere.
I also agree with you about Manu...there are many reasons to keep him coming off the bench, but maybe none more right now then the pick and roll combination he has going on with Splitter. It's deadly, and should continue to be a focal point of the 2nd unit offense when in the halfcourt. Seeing two guys with off the chart basketball IQ's run that thing to perfection is a thing of beauty, and a strength that most other teams won't be able to match with their bench, much less starters. No reason to change that.
Of course one major difference is that in the playoffs the defense actually stays home on our shooters instead of giving them wide open looks. Bonner's makes nearly always come when he's shooting without defensive pressure, imo.Yeah, the guy has been a beast this year. Especially over the last couple months. He looked horrible as a rookie but turned it up this year.
(Damn, just looked it up and the Celtics allow only 85 points per 48 minutes that he's in the game.)
Like it or not, Bonner is going to close games in the playoffs. If he can't at least hit around 38% on threes, the Spurs are doomed.
38% shouldn't be a high bar for him ... but unfortunately it probably is.
I still think had they won game 1 last year Bonner wouldve finally shaken off the bugs.
Those 3's he made were clutch no matter who shot em.
That said, of he struggles Pop at least now has Diaw to go to.
The "resting" thing is great during the regular season to protect guys from injury, but I wonder sometimes how it affects player's endurance in the playoffs. Our depth is the best in the league, but if we're not going to use that depth and push the big three's minutes to 35+ per game this really concerns me.
It concerns me more for Duncan than Ginobili, and moreso on defense than offense. What other big is going to step up and help TD defend the paint? Blair, who will probably see his minutes dramatically reduced. Splitter, who hasn't seen any time with Duncan and will probably be sucking wind, if his minutes go past 25. (no fault of his). Bonner, who's 3-pt shot is affected not only by the playoff defense applied to him, but the defense he's expected to play against opposing bigs who salivate over this matchup. Diaw, maybe... but he hasn't seen enough court time either.
And if none of the other bigs are effective, can we expect a heavy dose of small ball?
Good thoughts. I pretty much agree with everything.
Like ElNono...I'm trying to block the Bonner situation out of my mind. I long for the days when Bonner used to screw up and Pop would doghouse him. Now when he sees Bonner all he sees is a mixture of Robert Horry and Michael Finley.
It didn't seem to work last year in the Memphis series. Parker is a very frustrating player, sometimes he comes out with a chip on his shoulder like in the OKC game where he dismantled Westbrook and then there other times where he seems disinterested.
I've never figured out Parker in terms of what really motivates him at the end of the day. Let's hope we see more of the OKC Parker in the playoffs.
frog face vs frog face
If it is true that Parker can 'turn it on' for the all-star game (I don't honestly believe that - I think he was genuinely trying to carry the team in Manu's absence), wouldn't the logical corollary be that Tim Duncan has turned it on this season because he is negotiating a new contract at the end of the season?
He showed up in better shape and has played better this year than in the last three years. His contract is up and he wants a new one for X number of years at Y million per year. At a similar point in his career, David Robinson threatened to leave the spurs if he didn't get X number of years at 12M or so per year. What do you think Duncan is looking for?
Isn't he making about $22M per year now? Shouldn't he be carrying the team for that amount of money?
So if Duncan has played better and looked better this season than any in the past several, given your logic, wouldn't the same motivational concerns accrue to Tim and his play that do to Parker's?
I disagree on how to handle the b2b2b. I play all my guys against GSW and SAC and give LA the middle game. By doing this you assure yourself to win 2 out of the 3 which would be a good stand. If we sit the guys out (and lose) and then lose to LAL full strength that would be even worse for this teams confidence going forward.
The reason I do this is because we play LAL 2 nights later at home in which the Spurs should treat as a must win. Going 1-2 against LAL is fine and this scenario makes sure we are getting as many wins as possible as well.
seems to me that even with bonner shooting poorly of late, spurs still doing the most damage while he's in the game, so, he's vital even when shooting 33%. also, people seem to forget that bonner's shooting is dependant in part on the offense, the big 3, getting him OPEN looks rather than kinda open looks. if TP and manu are getting shut down by playoff level D, that's gonna make bonner look bad, comparetively. Mostly TP, I think Bonner plays best when TP is getting him the open looks, one more reason we need TP to be at his best.
Mario Chalmers is a damn good defensive point as well
1. Parker may be a little tired after carrying the team on his back all year. Now that the playoffs are looming he may have lost some focus.
2. Pop forfeiting the wrong game? Pop has been an absolute wizard all year and may even be COTY as he is getting lots of respect and kudos for his coaching, including managing the minutes of the Big 3. TIMVP's choices for 'team management' ( I hate even the implication using the word "forfeit") are a pretty good analysis, but whatever Pop does will be carefully thought out in his craft mind.
2. Starting group and starting minutes may not be so important since Pop has used his bench so much this year and has confidence in at least 10 players. He might continue to start Blair just to use up some minutes when he is fresh and moving well. I sense that TimVp loves Jax so much he'd like to see him start--but Jax hasn't earned it so far. Young Guns Leonard and Green earned the spot, but again, Pop has shown he's got a quick hook to take these guys out if they don't produce or have a bad matchup.
4. Manu. He's Manu Ginobilli. As long as he's healthy. he is the heart of this team because of his will to win. Doesn't matter where he plays or how many minutes as long as he is our closer. Other teams have to fear--and our players have to feel confidence--when they see #20 checking into the game in the closing minutes.
5. Bonner. Interesting stats on Bonner in April. We always talk about other players getting tired and hitting the wall, mentally and physically, at the end of the season or at the end of a game, but most of us never consider Bonner in that regard. When you think about it, he's a big, kinda blocky guy, and not what you'd consider a natural athlete.
It is what it is. He's helped win a couple of close games lately at the end with a timely block, rebound or 3. Players react differently to criticism by coaches and fans, so as fans, let's just pray for him to do better this year instead of getting down on him. Can't hurt if you believe in the power of prayer or good karma from positive thinking.
.
Kinda open in the NBA means your wide open.
I just hope that after another year of choking in the playoffs, he's gone in the offseason.
I'd have to agree with your plan here. Giving our bench a go against a full LA team will hopefully boost their confidence, then put a full squad against them next time we face them in a must win.
Yeah, #1 is troublesome. Tony is unpredictable and has played with his head up his backside these last two games. He loses focus and just plays scared.
If you look at the Memphis game, Bonner hit two shots in the 4th quarter where his foot was on the 3 pt line.
Give him those several inches and Bonner's April 2012 numbers become 12 of 32 or 37.5%.
Just sayin.
I'm not sure what logic, if any, you are using. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are two different people and act individually of each other.
If you take umbrage that I suggested Tony gets motivated for personal achievements, like stepping up his game against other top point guards, or, yes, turning up his game in the weeks preceding the All Star game, and then cooling off right after the All Star game, then I guess we'll have to disagree.
I don't think Parker has to be the dominant scorer but he has to stay in attack mode playmaking-wise. When he's constantly looking to make things happen, that's when he's helping the team the most.
Good point. Can't really argue with it.
There have been times in the playoffs where teams have figured out they didn't need to guard him closely since he was in full-choke mode (the Mavs, for one, stopped guarding him too closely in the playoffs).
If Bonner can remain enough of a threat to remain guarded closely, then he'd be doing his job. Unfortunately, that too is far from given.
Yeah, avoiding the Lakers is probably more of a key than having HCA over OKC, tbh.
What sucks is that if the Spurs beat the Lakers, they make a 1 seed vs. 4 seed matchup more likely. If the Spurs lose to the Lakers, they make a 2 seed vs. 3 seed matchup more likely. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation
I'm fine with Diaw starting but I'd probably prefer to keep Leonard in the starting lineup.
1. If he's going to be the lead perimeter defender, he's best utilized as a starter.
2. He needs stable minutes and starting is the best way to get that.
3. The bench unit, more than the starting unit, needs shooting and floor spacing. SJax provides that better.
But, yeah, it's a difficult decision because all four wings have legit cases to start.
If the Spurs get the 1 and knock down LA to 4 by doing it that would most likely set up an LAL/MEM first round. I'm not so sure LAL is a for sure to get out of that. Even if LAL finishes 3 and Dallas gets the 6, that should be an interesting series as well.
Worrying about the inevitable is pointless, tbh.
Career splits:
Bonner Three-Point Percentage
November: 46.3%
December: 42.5%
January: 41.4%
February: 45.3%
March: 40.4%
April: 34.7%
The only year Bonner shot over 40% on three-pointers in April was in 2006 with the Raptors ... the only season in which the team he was on had no chance of making the playoffs. Coincidence? Let's hope so.
Extremely disagree. The last few years, Pop had McDyess to end games. Now it's up to Bonner. His minutes may be similar but his role is more vital.
If I'm not mistaken the Clippers own the tiebreaker with the Lakers. OKC has a very good shot at keeping the first seed no matter what. I think chances are we are staying at the 2 seed and the Lakers could drop to 4, especially if we beat them.
We won't have hca against the Thunder, but they very likely will have their hands full in the second round. We can win OKC either way.
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