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Matt isn't taking minutes from anybody. If anybody has qualms about Matt playing, then write a letter to Pop and the coaching staff. CC Tim while your at it.
Bonner isn't half as bad as most people make him out to be.
He actually developed a semi-reliable floater in the lane (not nearly as reliable as Tony's, of course, but good enough for his position) the past 2 years and it seems like hardly anyone noticed.
Yeah, it was pretty reliable despite what your biased memory might tell you.
Maybe you can make a case that overall Bonner is terrible due to lack of defense, but when he does markedly improve in certain areas (FG%, 3P%), nobody seems to give him any credit.
Bonner's success at the 3 point range is absolutely critical for spacing on the spur's offense. Without a truly reliable 40% 3 point threat in the likes of Bonner, the spurs would falter a lot more than simply losing Bonner's offensive production. One of his primary contributions to the spurs offense is the ability to demand favorable spacing. Most people just seem to ignore this incredibly important asset.
Matt isn't taking minutes from anybody. If anybody has qualms about Matt playing, then write a letter to Pop and the coaching staff. CC Tim while your at it.
You said, "Until Bonner contributes something in the playoffs, a notion that I find highly unlikely, the hate will likely continue."
That's a wonderfully large sample size because the Spurs have only played in one playoff series since the post-Horry, Bonner era. If that's all you got, you should give up.
I can easily prove he has solid contributions (within his role, of course - you do understand the meaning of the term "role player", right?) in the playoffs.
Moving the goalposts is pretty lame.
Of course not. You're just gonna keep ing and moaning and asserting things like you said earlier, which simply aren't true.I'm not going to get into a lengthy Bonner debate.
No one should expect a player to play above his means. Everyone who hates on Bonner should be hating on Pop and the FO, period. Bonner comes out and gives 110% and yet still gets on because you're bitter about his skillset.
Grow the up.
To Bonner's defense, he's only really played significantly in 15 playoff games. That my friend is not a large enough sample size to really judge a player. Even if it was, in the last 10 playoff games he's managed to shoot 37% from 3.
To say he's a known playoff choker is pretty foolish considering these facts and considering the limited role player he is.
Don't get it twisted, I still don't think this warrants Bonner playing time over Splitter, McDyess, or Blair. I just don't agree with people's assessment that he is a playoff choker considering the small sample size and his 37% shooting from the 3 point line the last 10 games.
I "hate" Bonner because his shortcomings have caused the excessive wear and tear we have seen on Tim the past couple of seasons. The main blame is on Pop, not on Matt. He does what he can.
Bonner has been a hotly debated topic in many threads, for a long time. I've chimed in my critical thoughts along the way. For purposes of this thread, I was providing reasons that the Bonner hate continues to exist.
You seem to be the one that is sensitive to any opinion that differs from your own. If actually you read the post, you'd know that I didn't mention anything about his skillset -only his production - or lack thereof.
Like others, I had high hopes for Bonner after Horry retired. However as I said before, I've watched that movie and know how it turns out. Frankly, seeing the end result and debating his failings or merits have become very tiresome - just like your attempts to defend him. Bonner is what he is. I've gotten over it. You're barking up the wrong tree, son.
I'm barking up everyone's tree who asserts the non-sense we have in this thread. I've seen the "critical thoughts" you've made before, as well - and critical is all they were. You never give Bonner any benefit of the doubt, and blame him for simply being himself.
Your lack of approval for his skillset won't change the way he plays.
Others have already pointed out, in this very thread, why your assertions are inaccurate and biased.
But, you're right, I digress. The hate will continue on as long as posters like you, voted one of the best here, call him a playoff choker and fuel the fires. Then you can call posters like me "sensitive" because I get tired of seeing the same exaggerations and even lies thrown around.
I see Bonner for the player he is - nothing special, but with the potential to be one of the best bench bigmen in the League. Let's RALLY around this guy and prop him up for this season, instead of taking any chance to bring him down and entertain useless past hypotheticals.
C'mon now.
I don't think that's stretching it too far tbh, but it is only my opinion. And it has everything to do with his skillset - most teams don't bring an at least somewhat traditional big off the bench who also shoots lights out from 3.
This. Bonner's talent level is nothing more than a role player. Play him as an end of the bench type role player and nothing more.
Pop and the spurs did not do a good job in finding starting quality frontline players.
no way can Bonner be one of the best bigs off the bench this year. , Blair (who i think will come of the bench eventually) is better than him.
other bigs who are better than him off the bench:
Lamar Odom
Mehmet Okur
Bird Man
Tyson Chandler
Baby Davis
Shaq (when Perkins back)
ZaZa Pachulia
Chuck Hayes
Marcus Camby (if everybody weren't injured)
Marcin Gortat
Samuel Dalembert
Taj Gibson
Al Harrington
Verajao (when Jameson comes back)
arguably better:
Ilgaskus
Jeff Foster
Eric Dampier
Channing Frye
Ryan Anderson (or Bass... whichever one is coming off the bench this year).
Brad Miller
Dampier is not even an NBA player at the moment. I'd like to think Bonner is better than that.
Oh, and Dampier was a $12 million dollar player last year. We pay Bonner closer to $3 million.
Dampier made more than Ginobili last year. What a joke. No wonder nobody wants him. Talk about underperforming.
he just signed with houston
this isn't about the money though. it's just who the best bigs off the bench are.
Did he? Interesting. How much is his contract worth?
Bonner>All of them.
Don't you know? Bonner stretches the floor!!!!!!!!11
Silver lining?
I said one of them. I didn't quantify that number. I think, in terms of his shooting especially, he could be top 10-15. I cited potential. You are making excuses for the injured guys, too. Bonner is generally healthy which would be another reason why he's a nice big to have on the bench.
Leave bonner alone!
lol
Seriously in the minutes he got in preseason and vs Pacers he played well and showed improvement on skills from last yr on the whole.
This is only a negative for the team, Tiago's development into the system shouldn't be affected whatsoever, he can't shoot 3's and has no NBA experience. How is this a gain for Tiago, I would say gain for Simmons and Dice much more.
Weak attempt at sarcasm given that it's...actually true and actually useful.
I also think money is a very relevant aspect to the discussion. We're paying Bonner $3 million. It's only fair to compare him to other $3 million players.
Bonner isn't really a "big man" at heart. He's a guy who can shoot 3s and spread the floor. He's not a Lamar Odom and he never will be.
I'd take Bonner over Dampier, given that we have acquired Splitter. Bonner and Dampier aren't even the same type of player. Forget the salary disparity, they bring very different things to the table.
Bonner is one of the best bigs off the bench excluding the roughly 2/3 that he isn't better than. is that what you meant?
making excuses for the injured guys? Oden and Prizbilla aren't healthy. i'm not making excuses for Camby. Jameson is out iirc. not making excuses for the guys i listed, which btw were off the top of my head. i'm sure there are more names that can be inlcuded.
potential? i'd like to know what else you think he has left in his game.
i'd trade Bonner for Yi Jianlian or Anthony Randolph or Jordan Hill. those guys can be potentially better than him this year and i didn't include them. oh and another guy i forgot to mention was Udonis Haslem, who is def. better than him.
You think you listed 2/3 of the NBA's bigs off the bench?
You listed roughly 15, and had about 5 of them arguable. That's well within what I meant. I'm also factoring the financial profile - Bonner helps this team by playing for decently cheap.
I meant, those guys who starters now yet you count them as bench players.making excuses for the injured guys? Oden and Prizbilla aren't healthy. i'm not making excuses for Camby. Jameson is out iirc. not making excuses for the guys i listed, which btw were off the top of my head. i'm sure there are more names that can be inlcuded.
Bonner is a bench player no matter what. Those guys aren't, that's all I was saying.
Could you rephrase?potential? i'd like to know what else you think he has left in his game.
Jason Thomson i another guy.
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