Matt Bonner and Michael Finley Talk

[ginobilized]

Bonner and Finley are starting for a couple of reasons: 1. They each know the system and are there to help ensure proper spacing 2. They are returning vets and Pop always gives the starting job to these types of players. The starting job is theirs to lose. That's fair I think.

It's a long season and I'd be surprised to see this starting lineup in May or even February. I must say when I saw the Spurs in preseason Bonner and Finley looked sharp, esp. Bonner.

[ceperez]

I must say when I saw the Spurs in preseason Bonner and Finley looked sharp, esp. Bonner.

Agree.

The guy is playing with a lot of confidence.

[Mel_13]

Now teams know that to get an easy point against the spurs, you alley hoop it to the rim when Duncan plays help defense on you. Nobody on the other side is going to be tall enough to stop you big from an easy layup.

So the 2008 Hornets are the model to beat the Spurs

And speaking about 3 point shooting, we can only make them well if we aren't covered. Athletic quick teams that aggressively pursue our shooters tend to shut them down. That's the recipe for shutting the spurs down, just get a whole bunch of 6'7" athletic type guys to shut down 3 point shooting.

Or is the 2007 Warriors.

I've never been too thrilled with the Spurs changes ever since we lost to the Mavs in 2006.

Oh, right. It was the 2006 Mavs

It's a pathetic situation and we've had it for the last couple of seasons.

Well, we're doomed. I'm sending in my season ticket refund request today.

[ElNono]

So far, judging form the preseason games and the last two games that:

(1) Bonner shooting percentages are up and he's become better at driving to the basket.
(2) Finley is as good in shape as last season and his 3point shot that he displayed last season is still there.

So these two guys are playing beyond expectations.

I would rather have Bonner or Finley take an open 3 point shot than Parker or Manu. The percentages are just so much higher.

The Spurs play the percentages and will always look for that open 3 point shot. The only two guys however who can make a contested 3 point shot with a high percentage are Mason and RJ. However, rarely should this be attempted unless you need to at the end of the game.

This is great and all, but do you ever look at the OTHER end of the court?

[SpurNation]

It's definately the kink in the cogs.

Finley and Bonner have their positive attributes to make for the team. And while both in the game at the same time is tasking our defense too much. How does one account for the possibility of not playing them both at the same time?

Spacing the floor could be done just as effectively with a unit of Parker, Finley, Jefferson, RATLIFF and Duncan but produce a far more effective defensive unit.

I say Ratliff because...this will also contend with the development of Blair. As it stands now, Blair in the game neccissitates either McDyess or Duncan to play at the same time. If Blair improves his defensive abilities it just might be beneficial to even have Blair start and relegate McDyess and Bonner/Ratliff as a second unit depending on the situation of the game.

To start Duncan and McDyess would also provide a better defensive unit with socring abilities...but then your second unit would consist of Bonner/Ratliff and Blair? That scenerio would almost always negate any lead the starting unit might surmise. Scratch that.

As you can see...it's not that easy to decide even for a coach with the experience and knowledge Pop has in these situations.

So what's the lesser of the two situations...replacing the starting unit with unknown commodities at this time?...or leaving the situation as is until the development of said players improve?

[SamoanTD]

u cant have bonner and blair in the second unit they will have 0 interior defence it would be a lane the size of texas with those guys playing D on the inside at the same time thats y u gta have dyess come out with blair and bonner with duncan. Both dyess and duncan at least one of them gta be on the court at all times so we can have a presence on the inside. So rite nw I like the line up finley he could be interchangable depending on the lineups bt roger should start as SG and finley should be back up SF.

[SamoanTD]

and we should really use ratliff more. He proally doesnt knw the system well enough to play meaningfull minutes though. So I guess I trust pop knws wat hes doing though I mean he does have 4 rings lol

[Bruno]

Bonner and Finley aren't that bad players, they just don't fit with the team.

Spurs have 4 great offensive players (Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Jefferson). Behind them they have some competent offensive players (Hill, Mason, Mcdyess and Blair). There is only one ball on the court and there aren't room for offensive minded players besides these 8 players. The rest of the bench should be filled with defensive minded players. Finley is likely a better player than Bogans but given Spurs roster, I rather see Bogans getting minutes.

[TJastal]

Bonner and Finley aren't that bad players, they just don't fit with the team.

Spurs have 4 great offensive players (Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Jefferson). Behind them they have some competent offensive players (Hill, Mason, Mcdyess and Blair). There is only one ball on the court and there aren't room for offensive minded players besides these 8 players. The rest of the bench should be filled with defensive minded players. Finley is likely a better player than Bogans but given Spurs roster, I rather see Bogans getting minutes.

Exactly, Bruno.

I don't think its any coincidence that every time Bonner starts, RJ never gets any offensive rhythym. The ONE preseason game where Bonner didn't start RJ had his best game where he got his offense going.

[Mel_13]

Bonner and Finley aren't that bad players, they just don't fit with the team.

Spurs have 4 great offensive players (Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Jefferson). Behind them they have some competent offensive players (Hill, Mason, Mcdyess and Blair). There is only one ball on the court and there aren't room for offensive minded players besides these 8 players. The rest of the bench should be filled with defensive minded players. Finley is likely a better player than Bogans but given Spurs roster, I rather see Bogans getting minutes.

Subtle as always. Interesting for what is left unsaid.

The Finley and Bonner situations are often lumped together, but they are different in one very significant way.

Finley:

Finley can be put in a suit behind the bench and be replaced with Malik on the active list. In that case, his minutes are easily distributed among Bogans, Hairston, Mason, and Hill. In three cases, the minutes are utilized by a player who is better defensively and does not need to shoot in order to contribute. Mason not so much, but he doesn't necessarily have to see an increase in minutes in a Finley-free scenario.


Bonner:

If you put Bonner in a suit behind the bench, you must replace him with one of Haislip/Mahinmi. Now your five active bigs are Duncan, McDyess, Blair, Ratliff, and Mahinmi/Haislip. The fourth big will get 15-20mpg in the regular season. Ratliff's recent history says he can't do that and giving Bonner's minutes to Haislip/Mahinmi would seem to make the team worse on both sides of the ball.

In short, I believe a reasonable solution to the Finley problem exists on the current roster. I don't see a similar solution to the Bonner problem. A solution to that problem, IMO, requires a trade.

[J Mack]

"Hopefully the defense will improve with the new additions and Pop won't feel compelled to give major minutes to Bonner and Fin.

The defense would improve immediately if Popovich simply chose not to play either one, much less give them starting jobs.

That would be a good start.

Finley couldn't keep up with Deng or anyone to save his life the other day, and Bonner offers ZERO help defense and ZERO interior presence.

Combine that with the fact that Duncan can barely jump anymore and its easy to see how an athletic young team like the bulls can beat the spurs all day long on hustle and athleticism alone. Popovich needs to stop relying on all the old goats and start using his younger players, not only because they are more effective against teams like the bulls, but they represent the future and the present. All they lack is the experience to get better.

Its time to put Finley to pasture and Bonner on a seriously short leash. Guys like Blair and Hill need to get WAY more minutes than 17 and 13. Haislip, Mahinmi, and Hairston were recruited and given spots on the team to match up with athletic teams.. what's the point of having them on IR or getting DNP's against those kind of teams.

This is getting old, and tiring fast.

damn ! couldnt have said it better myself !!!

[EmptyMan]

, our championship aspirations rest on Bonner's interior defense.


Oh well.

[ceperez]

, our championship aspirations rest on Bonner's interior defense.


Oh well.

My sentiments entirely.

If Mahinmi and Haislip can't contribute their length and athleticism then we definitely aren't going to win the championship.

The Spurs have to play them to see what they got. Now if we've already given up on them this season, then I really don't like our chances going forward with Finley and Bonner as our forwards.

[JustinJDW]

i'm okay with bonner starting. But finley? No. Not okay.

+1.

[easy7]

I am still waiting to see about what they had to say when they talked...

[SamoanTD]

i wanna see fin and bonner produce aganist the kings lol

[HarlemHeat37]

TBH, I think you guys would be really surprised with Bonner's defense if he had stronger perimeter D up front, and quicker players that will rotate in time if we have to double Bonner's man at some points..

[booonkers]

Bonner and Finley aren't that bad players, they just don't fit with the team.

Spurs have 4 great offensive players (Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Jefferson). Behind them they have some competent offensive players (Hill, Mason, Mcdyess and Blair). There is only one ball on the court and there aren't room for offensive minded players besides these 8 players. The rest of the bench should be filled with defensive minded players. Finley is likely a better player than Bogans but given Spurs roster, I rather see Bogans getting minutes.

This is exactly what I think as well. I mean we have a potent offense this season we honestly do not need Bonner's and Finley's offense. We have three prolific scorers in the starting line up with Timmy, RJ and Tony. I'd take d over o anytime.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

My sentiments entirely.

If Mahinmi and Haislip can't contribute their length and athleticism then we definitely aren't going to win the championship.

The Spurs have to play them to see what they got. Now if we've already given up on them this season, then I really don't like our chances going forward with Finley and Bonner as our forwards.

Are you seriosly implying that our le chances depend on Haislip and Mahinmi? Dude...

Bonner has been a much better defender than Blair and McDyess during the first 3 games, too early, I know, but you can't justify throwing Bonner out of the rotation as long as the guys who are behind him are worse.

Ditto for Fin, who would you give his minutes to? Mason? Surely he's not shooting better and he hasn't shown to be a better defender. Bogans is not ready yet and who knows how long it'd take him, deffinitely hasn't shown enough to warrant a place.

I'm very pleased with what I've seen from both Fin and Bonner so far this season.

[ceperez]

Are you seriosly implying that our le chances depend on Haislip and Mahinmi? Dude...

...

I'm very pleased with what I've seen from both Fin and Bonner so far this season.

Nothing really disappointing about Bonner and Finley's performance so far. Definitely much improved.

However... no chance winning the championship relying on their current and future potential in providing defense against the elite teams in the league. Just no chance... the weakness in the armor is just too easy to exploit.

The only way we may win is to outscore the opponent with high percentage 3 point shots... unfortunately that's not how the Spurs win.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Nothing really disappointing about Bonner and Finley's performance so far. Definitely much improved.

However... no chance winning the championship relying on their current and future potential in providing defense against the elite teams in the league. Just no chance... the weakness in the armor is just too easy to exploit.

The only way we may win is to outscore the opponent with high percentage 3 point shots... unfortunately that's not how the Spurs win.

I disagree, their roles are different and do not improve our defense as a whole, however, we expect from McDyess and RJ to step up in this department by the time the playoffs come. There's nothing wrong with starting and playing both for 15-20 minutes, they're good enough to hold their own, but how good our defense will be will not depend on their roles, it's not like we have great defenders on the bench waiting to take over.

Our defense this year is not going to be as good as it has been before, I think this is fairly obvious, however our offensive potential, and I don't only mean 3 pointers, is far greater than we've ever had. Good enough to live with having a good, albeit not great defense.

[mystargtr34]

TBH, I think you guys would be really surprised with Bonner's defense if he had stronger perimeter D up front, and quicker players that will rotate in time if we have to double Bonner's man at some points..

I dont know man... mentally i think he is fine, good defensive instincts, good anticipation and tenacty/willingness - but at the end of the day defense comes down to what you have physically, and he just doesn have the size, length or athleticism to be anything more than below average to average.

He fights for position well, and most of the time he stays with his man to be within contesting range, but when it comes to the most crucial part, getting a hand up in the shooters face, or near the ball to affect the shot - he just doesn't have it.

[ElNono]

There's nothing wrong with starting and playing both for 15-20 minutes, they're good enough to hold their own

Defensively? No way. The only way they can 'hold their own' is if their shots are falling... then they would be basically offsetting what they're giving up on the defensive end.

Our defense this year is not going to be as good as it has been before, I think this is fairly obvious, however our offensive potential, and I don't only mean 3 pointers, is far greater than we've ever had. Good enough to live with having a good, albeit not great defense.

This is where you and I completely disagree. The way you win championships is being able to make stops when it matters. In order to do that you need to be very solid defensively. I can't think of a NBA champion in recent memory that did not have solid defense overall. Especially in the paint.

[Mel_13]

Defensively? No way. The only way they can 'hold their own' is if their shots are falling... then they would be basically offsetting what they're giving up on the defensive end.



This is where you and I completely disagree. The way you win championships is being able to make stops when it matters. In order to do that you need to be very solid defensively. I can't think of a NBA champion in recent memory that did not have solid defense overall. Especially in the paint.

Good morning

[ElNono]

Good morning