Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Grizzlies - Jan. 2

[Tully365]

Thanks for the stat backup, I didn't know all of that, but I knew Courtney was producing more in most areas than Toll.

And to T Park, do you always haver to be in condescending asshole mode, or is there an off switch, as in beer or some type of drug? If so, make sure to drink up, sniff, snort, smoke, whatever you need to do to be bearable.

Don't like it?

Scroll on by. I aint got a gun to your head.

I like how #1) you don't refute the fact that you were wrong about Sims and #2) you don't refute the fact that you are a condescending asshole.

At least you are right about some things.

[T Park]

Eh, that's overboard. He did a commendable job turning Gay into a jumpshooter but the other areas of his defense weren't too impressive. He had some good rotations but a couple others were a half step late. He wasn't that good against Warrick and whenever he was matched up against Gasol, he let Gasol toss him around. Combine that with a poor rebounding game and I've definitely seen Bonner defend better than what he did last night.

Gasol is a beast for anyone to handle, even Duncan. I witnessed Gasol take DUncan down in the post and back him down pretty easily.

Warrick to Bonner's defense made a few tough shots and Bonner was right with him.

Granted Bonner wasn't Bruce Bowen out there, but he wasn't Michael Finley either.

[T Park]

I like how #1) you don't refute the fact that you were wrong about Sims and #2) you don't refute the fact that you are a condescending asshole.

At least you are right about some things.

I'm not, I was just stating an opinion, and the opinion was that Sims is no better than Tolliver, it was based on seeing both play, not on numbers alone.

I'm sorry if chuckling at the notion that someone "demanding" a D Leaguer be brought in, makes me an asshole.


Assuming people's iden ies around here is a national past time so go right ahead and keep it up.

[z0sa]

Eh, that's overboard. He did a commendable job turning Gay into a jumpshooter but the other areas of his defense weren't too impressive. He had some good rotations but a couple others were a half step late. He wasn't that good against Warrick and whenever he was matched up against Gasol, he let Gasol toss him around. Combine that with a poor rebounding game and I've definitely seen Bonner defend better than what he did last night.

It isn't overboard at all. He did excellent in just about every aspect of his game, on both ends. The rebounding has been up and down, but his defense on the man, weak side, and rotations were all great. After this stretch of tough games he had, this was the polar opposite and essentially, all that you could want from Bonner besides a few more boards.

If you're actually expecting much more than last night's efforts against the good teams, you're obviously going to be disappointed.

[Tully365]

I'm not, I was just stating an opinion, and the opinion was that Sims is no better than Tolliver, it was based on seeing both play, not on numbers alone.

I'm sorry if chuckling at the notion that someone "demanding" a D Leaguer be brought in, makes me an asshole.


Assuming people's iden ies around here is a national past time so go right ahead and keep it up.

No matter how smart your mom told you that you are, it's not true. I hate to break it to you, but you are as dumb as a bag of rocks.

[T Park]

It isn't overboard at all. He did excellent in just about every aspect of his game, on both ends. The rebounding has been up and down, but his defense on the man, weak side, and rotations were all great. After this stretch of tough games he had, this was the polar opposite and essentially, all that you could want from Bonner besides a few more boards.

If you're actually expecting much more than last night's efforts against the good teams, you're obviously going to be disappointed.

Agreed, and after watching the game again this morning, I stand by the notion the numbers didn't reflect his effort nor positioning for his rebounds, which to me, with Bonner has been 90% of the fight was his positioning.

[T Park]

No matter how smart your mom told you that you are, it's not true. I hate to break it to you, but you are as dumb as a bag of rocks.

A plagerist too.

Congrats.

[timvp]

It isn't overboard at all. He did excellent in just about every aspect of his game, on both ends. The rebounding has been up and down, but his defense on the man, weak side, and rotations were all great. After this stretch of tough games he had, this was the polar opposite and essentially, all that you could want from Bonner besides a few more boards.

If you're actually expecting much more than last night's efforts against the good teams, you're obviously going to be disappointed.

If all Spurs fans can expect from their starting center is forcing the opponent to shoot jumpers, semi-late rotations, getting pushed around on the low block and two rebounds ... it's going to be a long season.

I know Bonner fans are itching to say He's Back but last night wasn't the slump buster.

Agreed, and after watching the game again this morning, I stand by the notion the numbers didn't reflect his effort nor positioning for his rebounds, which to me, with Bonner has been 90% of the fight was his positioning.

That sounds like what that Silver Stars coach was saying on TV but the "positioning" was mostly Bonner getting pushed, the rebound bouncing off his hands and going to someone else. I've seen him have a good boxing out game but trying to stretch last night's performance into that is just trying to wish away Bonner's recent struggles.

[T Park]

If all Spurs fans can expect from their starting center is forcing the opponent to shoot jumpers, semi-late rotations, getting pushed around on the low block and two rebounds ... it's going to be a long season.

I know Bonner fans are itching to say He's Back but last night wasn't the slump buster.

That sounds like what that Silver Stars coach was saying on TV but the "positioning" was mostly Bonner getting pushed, the rebound bouncing off his hands and going to someone else. I've seen him have a good boxing out game but trying to stretch last night's performance into that is just trying to wish away Bonner's recent struggles.

I don't think its wishing away struggles what so ever.

Its acknowledging that last night the numbers didn't reflect the effort nor positioning.

Bonner was getting pushed and was victim of alot of over the backs that didn't get called either.

Agreed 100% that 2 rebounds from your starting center is Rasho like unacceptable, but again, its not like he was out of position, and just generally not going after rebounds or giving effort.

[z0sa]

If all Spurs fans can expect from their starting center is forcing the opponent to shoot jumpers, semi-late rotations, getting pushed around on the low block and two rebounds ... it's going to be a long season.

I know Bonner fans are itching to say He's Back but last night wasn't the slump buster.

I have no itch to say he's back. I'd be much happier with a semi- Bonner now than in the playoffs. It's a long season and I'm still hoping for more improvement. That said, he isn't going to play a much better game than last night. His rotations were generally spot on. He got dunked on by Gasol but it was not a late rotations. That was more of a "Put him on his ass" time, which I'd have wholeheartedly approve of opposed to the dunk.

Still, a great scoring night (17 points on 7-9 shooting), very tough pick n roll defense, and IMO he was not being pushed around on the block. I think most spurs fans love getting 17 points on 7-9 shooting from their starting center, thank you very much.

That sounds like what that Silver Stars coach was saying on TV but the "positioning" was mostly Bonner getting pushed, the rebound bouncing off his hands and going to someone else. I've seen him have a good boxing out game but trying to stretch last night's performance into that is just trying to wish away Bonner's recent struggles.

No one wished away anything? Bonner is going to have his ups and downs. I want him peaking in the playoffs, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he had a great game last night.

[T Park]

The thing that has suprised me about Bonner is how well he recieves those low post whip passes from Duncan and converts them. He's so akward handling the ball on drives and other plays that you would think he'd screw em up but damn near 8 out of 10 times he converts the lay in, and his little drive up fake and lay in last night on Arthur looked good as well. You could see his confidence reemerging last night as the game went on.

[z0sa]

The thing that has suprised me about Bonner is how well he recieves those low post whip passes from Duncan and converts them. He's so akward handling the ball on drives and other plays that you would think he'd screw em up but damn near 8 out of 10 times he converts the lay in, and his little drive up fake and lay in last night on Arthur looked good as well. You could see his confidence reemerging last night as the game went on.

+1

Another thing, he had two really good hi-lo passes to Tim, one resulting in a Dunk. If he can continue to improve his passing, he could be very useful. Bonner is also great at making the extra pass and is getting better. I've seen multiple games, even in the tough stretch, where he was constantly hitting the open man on a kickout.

[T Park]

The guy whos passing is impressive is Anthony Tolliver. If he can just convert those open jumpers he would be a fantastic addition. His energy and defense are valuable commodities.

[timvp]

I think Bonner cured AIDS last night too . . .

[boutons_]

"ya gotta luv" Tolliver's energy, hustle, up-and-down-the-floor-ness. It looks like he REALLY wants to play ball, maybe even like his job.

We don't need him to score. He should quit trying to shoot jumpers and 3Gs, he's tarnishing his otherwise attractive brand, he's playing so far out, inviting his main to sag off, inviting passes and jumpers.

Defense, rebounding, putbacks, blocking open the lanes for our drivers.

[T Park]

I think Bonner cured AIDS last night too . . .

Heaven forbid there be a middle ground.

[T Park]

"ya gotta luv" Tolliver's energy, hustle, up-and-down-the-floor-ness. It looks like he REALLY wants to play ball, maybe even like his job.

We don't need him to score. He should quit trying to shoot jumpers and 3Gs, he's tarnishing his otherwise attractive brand, he's playing so far out, inviting his main to sag off, inviting passes and jumpers.

Defense, rebounding, putbacks, blocking open the lanes for our drivers.

While I agree on Tolliver's energy, what got him on the team to begin with was his three point shooting.

Unfortunately it seems he has to make his 3s for him to stick.