Bonner by the numbers. Reg season and playoffs

[Fabbs]

Want to get it all on one thread for easy future reference.
Extracted from timvp thread "Five Things I'm Worried About".
Thanks to timvp, angelbelow? and anyone else who tallied up the stats.

Playoffs
32.3% (20-for-62) on three-pointers.
Reg Season
42.7% (443-for-1038).

Three-Point Shooting in Aprils
April 2012: 32.1% (17-for-53)
April 2011: 33.3% (8-for-24)
April 2010: 36.8% (14-for-38)
April 2009: 37.9% (11-for-29)
April 2008: 25.0% (3-for-12)
April 2007: 25.0% (4-for-16)

As a Spur, Bonner is 50-for-149 (33.6%) on three-pointers in April during the regular season. In the playoffs, he's 20-for-62 (32.3%) on three-pointers. The rest of the time, Bonner shoots 42.7% (443-for-1038).

Career splits:
Bonner Three-Point Percentage
November: 46.3%
December: 42.5%
January: 41.4%
February: 45.3%
March: 40.4%
April: 34.7%

^ timvp notes: 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.

Fabbs here. True to the point, in the disgraceful Phoenix 0-4 sweep in 2010, Bonner was pathetic in games 1 and 2 and came to life and started hitting treys once game 3 came about and Phx lead by a dozen.

[slick'81]

even the sun shines on a dogs ass once in a while

[smaka]

That's why we have Gary Neal.... to nail some clutch 3's! because we know Bonner won't probably..

[Splits]

That's why we have Gary Neal.... to nail some clutch 3's! because we know Bonner won't probably..

Neal was 5/19 in the playoffs last year for a clutch 26%

[smaka]

Neal was 5/19 in the playoffs last year for a clutch 26%

but that 3 against Memphis....

[itzsoweezee]

It's mind boggling that a supposed coach of the year would make such a guttless worm such a huge part of the offense.

Hopefully boner's limited minutes in the suns game is a picture of things to come, but I'm sure popovich simply didn't want to risk his centerpiece in a blowout.

[Arc]

is april and beyond when his anti-clutch gene activates, or is it because defense picks up and he sucks when people start to close out on him?

[chazley]

Love how people fail to mention Bonner almost won us Game 1. Also, almost every Spur was terrible last year, and Bonner's 3-pt percentage was one of the best on the team.

It's easy to make Bonner the scapegoat, but at least give his numbers some perspective.

[Leetonidas]

Imagine though, if he finally didn't choke we could probably win the le

[angelbelow]

I did post a few statistics in some of timvp's game grade threads. My original intent was just to show that Bonner was struggling from the field lately and included statistics that dated back to a few games in march as well. Before long, I noticed that Bonner has historically struggled in April and posted some of the statistics as well.

All things considered, I think Bonner should keep shooting because the majority of his shots are open to wide open. And lets face it, Pop won't stop playing him. Therefore, I hope that he doesn't lose his confidence in his shooting because of his recent mini-slump. And hopefully, he catches fire in the playoffs to offset his poor shooting in April.

[Keepin' it real]

The Spurs are a fraud as long as Bonner remains a significant contributor. He's the main reason no one in the league takes the Spurs seriously. Heck, I don't take them seriously as a le contender. I'll still cheer my ass off for them, but I keep it real. Therefore, I know to expect playoff failure.

[LkrFan]

I saw an interesting take by a Laker fan about Bonner on ClubLakers. Check this out:

Some of the Spurs fans are so stupid. Duncan/Splitter would make for a terrific front court duo defensively, but both guys are centers, have similar games and because the offense is now run through Parker/Ginobili as opposed to Timmy D, the lane would get clogged up and TP wouldn't be able to get to the rim. It sucks to admit if you're a Spurs fan, but Blair or Bonner have to be out there with one of those two in order to open up the lane (Blair from mid-range, Bonner from three).

Maybe this explains why Pop always play him. Thoughts?

[objective]

Blair hitting from mid-range?

good to see Lakers fans as clueless as the media people who cover the Spurs

[TheSkeptic]

I saw an interesting take by a Laker fan about Bonner on ClubLakers. Check this out:


Maybe this explains why Pop always play him. Thoughts?

...A Laker fan saying you can't play two centers at the same time?

And anyway, Duncan can shoot the midrange (Blair ) and has been scoring most of his points that way this year so I'm not sure how the floor is clogged up if you add another floor spacer (Gino, Green, Parker, etc.) who's likely going to be playing anyway.

[LkrFan]

...A Laker fan saying you can't play two centers at the same time?

And anyway, Duncan can shoot the midrange (Blair ) and has been scoring most of his points that way this year so I'm not sure how the floor is clogged up if you add another floor spacer (Gino, Green, Parker, etc.) who's likely going to be playing anyway.

I hear ya. Something has to explain why Pop plays Bonner so much. It sure is not for his defense or rebounding.

[therealtruth]

The Spurs are a fraud as long as Bonner remains a significant contributor. He's the main reason no one in the league takes the Spurs seriously. Heck, I don't take them seriously as a le contender. I'll still cheer my ass off for them, but I keep it real. Therefore, I know to expect playoff failure.

I agree. It would be hard to find any other coach or basketball pundit that would agree it makes sense to play Bonner or Blair instead of Splitter.

[roycrikside]

For the umpteenth time, Spurs fans have to stop looking at Bonner's stats in a vacuum and judging his worth solely based on his 3-pt shooting percentage in a given game. To see his value, you have to look at how the 5-man unit functions as a whole with him on the floor.

The reason he averages the third-highest points-per-100 possessions and Ginobili averages the highest is because Bonner opens the lane up for Manu and Splitter to work the pick and roll, for Manu to drive, for defenders to pay less attention to Neal and Jackson, all of these things.

You guys have to stop looking at the game like it's baseball, a series of individual match-ups and look at the relationships of multiple players and how they work together. It's a team game.

[DAF86]

For the umpteenth time, Spurs fans have to stop looking at Bonner's stats in a vacuum and judging his worth solely based on his 3-pt shooting percentage in a given game. To see his value, you have to look at how the 5-man unit functions as a whole with him on the floor.

The reason he averages the third-highest points-per-100 possessions and Ginobili averages the highest is because Bonner opens the lane up for Manu and Splitter to work the pick and roll, for Manu to drive, for defenders to pay less attention to Neal and Jackson, all of these things.

You guys have to stop looking at the game like it's baseball, a series of individual match-ups and look at the relationships of multiple players and how they work together. It's a team game.

Still, it would be of great help if for once he shoots a decent % in the PO.

[DMC]

Matt doesn't need a playoff type atmosphere to choke. He just needs the shot to mean something, anything, and he likely bricks it.

Not sure he will ever get over it. He's the most predictable person in the game imo. Gary is close with his clutchness, you almost know he's going to hit that last second shot, but you have no doubt Bonner will miss it or just refuse to shoot it.

[Johnny RIngo]

Some of the Spurs fans are so stupid. Duncan/Splitter would make for a terrific front court duo defensively, but both guys are centers, have similar games and because the offense is now run through Parker/Ginobili as opposed to Timmy D, the lane would get clogged up and TP wouldn't be able to get to the rim. It sucks to admit if you're a Spurs fan, but Blair or Bonner have to be out there with one of those two in order to open up the lane (Blair from mid-range, Bonner from three).

Blair has a mid-range game?

In all honesty, I think we'd probably see more of Duncan/Splitter if we had a half-decent third big to come off the bench(Bonner's too one-dimensional and Blair's a flawed player from a physical standpoint). Too bad the front office is keen on giving away useful assets like Scola and Mahinimi to division rivals.

[silverblackfan]

Matt doesn't need a playoff type atmosphere to choke. He just needs the shot to mean something, anything, and he likely bricks it.

Not sure he will ever get over it. He's the most predictable person in the game imo. Gary is close with his clutchness, you almost know he's going to hit that last second shot, but you have no doubt Bonner will miss it or just refuse to shoot it.

Well there you go. Play Bonner until you need a clutch shot and bring in Neal.
Honestly hoping, once more, that the Red Rocket finds his touch in the play offs. Sad hope, given the history, but everyone is playing well this year.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

For the umpteenth time, Spurs fans have to stop looking at Bonner's stats in a vacuum and judging his worth solely based on his 3-pt shooting percentage in a given game. To see his value, you have to look at how the 5-man unit functions as a whole with him on the floor.

The reason he averages the third-highest points-per-100 possessions and Ginobili averages the highest is because Bonner opens the lane up for Manu and Splitter to work the pick and roll, for Manu to drive, for defenders to pay less attention to Neal and Jackson, all of these things.

You guys have to stop looking at the game like it's baseball, a series of individual match-ups and look at the relationships of multiple players and how they work together. It's a team game.

I agree with this in theory. It is a team game and how the players work together is crucial. That said, if Bonner can't do his one task of making 3 pointers in the playoffs then all his benefit becomes a hindrance and his ability to make everyone better works in the opposite direction.

[Fabbs]

Update after 11 playoff games in 2012.
32% fg
35% treys*

*3-13 (23%) vs Clips and OKC
1-7 vs OKC with the one make coming in the Game 2 Spurs blowout win.

Since the opening playoff win vs Utah where Bonny went a non pressure 3-4, he is:
5-19, a Bonbon playofflike 24%

Oh and to finish off BonBons traditionally scorching Aprils, in 2012 he dropped from post date of April 15 33% to 32% over the remaining 1/2 of the month.

[silverblk mystix]

Update after 11 playoff games in 2012.
32% fg
35% treys*

*3-13 (23%) vs Clips and OKC
1-7 vs OKC with the one make coming in the Game 2 Spurs blowout win.

Since the opening playoff win vs Utah where Bonny went a non pressure 3-4, he is:
5-19, a Bonbon playofflike 24%

Oh and to finish off BonBons traditionally scorching Aprils, in 2012 he dropped from post date of April 15 33% to 32% over the remaining 1/2 of the month.

...he spreads the floor...blah-blah

He's better than Blair, etc...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

For the umpteenth time, Spurs fans have to stop looking at Bonner's stats in a vacuum and judging his worth solely based on his 3-pt shooting percentage in a given game. To see his value, you have to look at how the 5-man unit functions as a whole with him on the floor.

The reason he averages the third-highest points-per-100 possessions and Ginobili averages the highest is because Bonner opens the lane up for Manu and Splitter to work the pick and roll, for Manu to drive, for defenders to pay less attention to Neal and Jackson, all of these things.

You guys have to stop looking at the game like it's baseball, a series of individual match-ups and look at the relationships of multiple players and how they work together. It's a team game.

You need to start watching the games.

Teams are taking the guy guarding Bonner and dropping him down to near the paint, clogging the lane. His release is so slow that they can make up the ground they give by sagging off, particularly the Thunder.

And given he's shooting even worse, Thunder are all too happy to sag and make him beat them. Lately, he's developed a bad habit of putting it on the floor after a pump fake. Basically playing perfectly into their hands on defense.

The guy sucks, is a playoff choke, and isn't doing jack to space the floor in this series.