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Simmons will be placed in the doghouse later due to a dunk, and he will trot out Fathead when it matters. You know it's coming
Durant won't see that 0.47MPH slomo-shake-pass-out-to-a-contested-guy move coming
Though still a ways off, I'm always thinking big picture. The stock answer is no, but I think we might actually see it because they're extreme underdogs, so the pressure it not what it usually is . . .
- Pop's loyalty is overstated. While true that he had more experienced players to turn to, he slashed Duncan's and Parker's minutes and started to go away from the big 3 as sure fire close game closers last season, dropped Diaw to fourth big and finally fringe rotation status by season's end and buried Bonner on the deep bench
- This year, to a certain extent, he'll have to rely on inexperience more, as that's all they have past the top 8 and given his micromanaging of minutes, he's not sticking to a strict 8 man rotation
- The game has evolved the past few years to the point where low or no volume three-point shooting, slow footed bigs like Gasol, have become marginalized, especially against teams like the Rockets, Warriors and Cavaliers, which is probably going to be their exact path
- Ginobili has dropped another level to the point where, in the games where he doesn't have it, he's no longer being force fed 20-25 minutes
- Unlike recent seasons, they haven't had a weapon like Bertans on the deep bench. If the defense can't slow the Rockets and Warriors enough to give the methodical offense a chance (a virtual certainty against the latter), he's the natural counter
Simmons will be placed in the doghouse later due to a dunk, and he will trot out Fathead when it matters. You know it's coming
Durant won't see that 0.47MPH slomo-shake-pass-out-to-a-contested-guy move coming
No, he'll stick to his guns until the end. The main reasons we saw some differentiation last year was because of the presence of West and Duncan's rapid decline. This year he'll feel obligated to give Gasol 30+ minutes even if he is a massive negative just like he did West, and we won't see Bertans until it's far too late. I've seen this song and dance way too much to assume otherwise.
Juding from this year's sometimes unexplainable rotation, i think pop is more than ready and willing to allow "inexperienced players" play a role depending on matchups and specific needs based on that specific series.
However, he's not going to play simmons extended minutes or anderson extended minutes.
Playing the "inexperienced" player largely depends on specific skillsets and Dedmon and Bertans are the only two guys that have specific talents that is absent from the more experienced players (Gasol-Lee-Aldridge)
Yes or No ansswer...he won't do anything if its between simmons/Anderson vs Ginobili/Green.
Tim lost minutes last playoffs to West... and due to injury... doesn't really strike me as inexperience....
He'll go to war with the guys that brought him there. Manu nowadays, plays 25 mins on good nights, and as low as 10-15 mins on bad nights. That should stay the same (provided Simms keeps looking like an average player).
The rest of the rotation shouldn't change much, barring injury. I do expect him to go more to Dedmon against big frontlines (like today), but he's been doing that anyways.
I expect experimentation through the season bc if there's a guy injured you need your young guys to be serviceable.
In the playoffs Pop will stick to his 10 guys and shorten that rotation, or minutes, if needed. With the vets he has being inconsistent and capable of TOSB looking nights, maybe others Get more minutes but these others should be guys already in the rotation.
I only see Davis or any other youngster making a playoff appearance if there's foul trouble, injuries or a blowout.. maybe like the CoJo of 2014, Baynes, etc.
If he has to go against the likes of Doc Rivers* and Billy Donovan again i don't see how you can expect so much from Pop.
The likely hood that he will overplay Parker Pau and GNob -even when they are getting killed and Manu is having an Alzheimers attack? Huge. Book it Dano.
*Throw in Austin Rivers and i cmon.
I remember Gary Neal firing freaking bullets vs Miami in Giveaway Finals. I think it got him benched.
Too bad Manu's 8 turnovers and clutch missed FT didn't get him benched...
What does this even mean? Will he play the rookies? Not much. Look at the last 5 times to win a le. How many had rookies playing huge minutes in the playoffs?
If Pop doesn't think he can get by with his main guys, he'll probably look for a vet wing/guard for the last spot. I don't think he's particularly worried about having to play Simmons or Anderson in big games at this point, but he's likely not going to be forced into it. With the way this post-season is looking, there will be a lot of guys who might be looking to ring-chase. While I hope they use the slot on a prospect unless someone like Evans wants to come to SA, they will have options.
Dedmon isn't a rookie...in the strict sense of the word. I'd be happy if at least Pop put him there in the last 2 minutes if the other team is killing Pau with their guards in P&Rs
Pretty much this
He should, thats what saved tonight´s game and not Porker playing 30 minutes when he is not the answer (sometimes he is but its the coach job to figure out the best lineups against every team)
Danny wasnt the answer either... Gasol brrrrrrrrr, David Lee Dedmon Patty were the saviors and thats a fart on Pop´s face I dont know why.
pop should be experimenting NOW.
No. Kawhi and LMA 1-2 punch but we will still go as far as manu and tony take us. For better or for worse.
He'll see minutes. Pop has never completely benched solid bigs off the bench that have some NBA experience. Maybe Dedmon will have to prove in the minutes he gets in the playoffs that he is ready so that he can get an increase in minutes. That said, green guys like Betrans and Murray won't see the light of day unless something goes horribly wrong or the Spurs are up by 30 in the 4th.
Nope
I see Bertans being kinda similar to how Belinelli was for us in '14. Comes in, hits some big 3s, only Bertans has better size and defense.
Will Pop rely on inexperience more in the playoffs? Well let's see. Duncan had 18 years of experience, Diaw and West both had 12. They're all gone, and have been replaced with less-experienced players.
Simmons has 1 year of NBA experience, KA has 2 years, and Dedmon has 3 years. None of the three of them got a of a lot of minutes in those seasons. In addition to that, the Spurs have 3 NBA rookies on the roster.
So, yeah, I'm pretty sure that Pop will have to rely more in inexperienced players in the playoffs. I'm not trying to be a smartass. (It just comes naturally.) I'm just saying that it's pretty much unavoidable.
This is all wishful thinking. Teams don't go through training camp, practices, and 80+ games playing one way and then completely change up their style of play. Only a completely desperate team would do that.
Teams do shorten their rotations in the playoffs and guys play heavier minutes. The Spurs will go 11 deep during the regular season, but I could see them going 9 deep in the playoffs.
Pop treats reg season as an extended training camp. I am sure he will give the youngsters time and plenty of opportunities to grow both inside and outside the court. I am really excited to see Dejounte develop, Danny and others have spoken highly of him and Timmy has taken him under his wing so to speak. Davis is also another intriguing young player. I think Pop would play him in round 1 against the right opponent to see what they have got to offer.
I think he will keep playing Dedmon, Simmons, and Lee like he has all season. Not so sure about Kyle, however I could see him getting minutes against the warriors, he did a good job guarding KD last year.
I understand that, and that is consistent with what I'm saying. But other people are expecting bench guys to supplant Spurs' starters. That's definitely not going to happen. Pau and Parker are going to get major minutes in any playoff series. On the other hand, Bertrans will probably only get minutes if there's a blowout.
Yeah, that didn't take long..
How the does Murray go from producing +10 PT/+20MPG for an entire week to 2 straight DNPs?
Last edited by spursistan; 01-30-2017 at 07:02 AM.
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