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Amen to that !
The Blair/Bonner pairing shouldn't even be on the court together during garbage time.
Last edited by SenorSpur; 03-15-2011 at 12:12 AM.
Amen to that !
I like both of these guys, but I agree: they have no business being the Spurs' frontcourt. Pop is one stubborn sum .
At all costs, Pop has to avoid playing Bonner and Blair at the same time. There is no ing way this team will be successful with those two playing major minutes together. One of TD or Dice has to be out on the floor with either Bonner or Blair....
The problem is: now you're shorthanded. You're not going to make Tiago into an NBA player in 10 games. And I agree it's unrealistic to pretend that Dice will have the fitness all of a sudden to go for 30 mins a night on a deep playoff run.
We're obviously rolling with what we have...
Yep. They're forced to roll with what they have now.
I just hope Pop realizes how he's compromised the team's le hopes by burying Splitter on the bench. It's not as though Duncan is the Duncan of five years ago. The man needs help. And he doesn't have very much.
Obviously he sees them everyday and supposedly knows best, but I can't begin to understand how Pop came to the conclusion that a supporting cast of Blair, Dice and Bonner gives the Spurs the best chance against the likes of the top-tier compe ion in the NBA - regular season record notwithstanding.
As others have stated, I love Pop as a strategist, motivator and leader, but his stubborness hurts the team. Integrating Tiago should've been THE top priority - not an afterthought. Anderson should've been second. Now, both will have to wait until next year.
Agreed. Pop's had more than enough time to work in Splitter. It's not like Splitter's a complete rookie. Even James Anderson (since he's come back) seems like he gets more minutes than Splitter.
This game was the exact opposite of last Heat game. Heat's great interior defense = Manu + TP not getting to the rim and Heat defenders staying home on the 3pt shooters. This renders Bonner (especially) and RJ useless. This is just a preview of the playoffs against elite contenders.
What's with Manu guarding Lebron? Lebron's a handful for RJ much less Manu who seemed like he was bouncing off Lebron.
BTW, American Arena was rocking tonight. Not an empty seat in the section behind the visitors' bench. The atmosphere was awesome - first time in about 5 years since I've been going. Quite a few wearing Duncan jerseys. Lots of Lebron jerseys - much more than Wade's. Can't say I like the ticket prices - about 3-4 times face value unlike in past years when they were lots of empty seats and tickets could be had for face value.
Splitter minutes thread!
You people are intolerable. The dude sucks, plain and simple.
You do realize Bonner logged 7 minutes tonight, right? And Gary Neal was 2-13?
Post of the year IMO. As much fun as this season has been, it's disappointing to know we're heading into the playoffs without having done our very best to help Duncan out in the middle.
Let's call the decision to not integrate Splitter what it is: Incompetent.
The clincher for me is Pop's recent move to showcase Novak. WTF?
I miss the pace of the game when Blair started. While I agree that the team is short when up against big teams, it's a question of just playing your style to the best of it's ability and see where it falls. It can't just be when McDyess starts against elite teams, the Spurs lose, but that's how it's played out thus far.
He passed away in May of '06.Agree with Benefactor and TD 21..
at Pop going with Novak over Splitter at the 4/5 in recent games.
Pop may be the best X's and O's coach in the league, but when it comes to rotations/playing the right combination's of players, Pop doesn't give his team the best chance to win games. Yes I said it.
Splitter needs to play, just like Hill needed to in 08-09' over Vaughn; Just like Stephen Jackson in 02' when he sat the whole year; Just like Kurt Thomas needed to play against LA in Conference Finals in 08' when Pop elected to go small with Finley/Udoka on Odom and Spurs wounded up being dominated on the offensive glass giving Lakers 2-3-4 shots per possession; Same goes for 06' series with Dallas when Pop sat Nazr for no damn reason and Spurs ended up giving away possessions by Josh Howard going Rodman on the offensive glass ( Duncan was being taken out on the perimeter in pick and rolls on the defensive end).
But most importantly, the past 3-4 years this team has been in dire need of quality length inside to compliment Duncan on the defensive end. And once Pop finally gets it (Splitter), he refuses to actually give it a ing try because he has a hard on for any player that can spread the floor. Who cares if they can't defend when it matters. Who cares if they are undersized in the interior. bring back Greg Sutton or Dale Ellis to come play the five might as well Pop.
I just want our defensive minded coach back. You know the one who used to prioritize interior defense.
Is that too much to ask?
/End rant
He stresses defense, then plays a bench that has no chance to adequately defend, let alone against a team with three scorers the caliber of the Heat's big three. What a hypocrite.
It's clear what needs to happen. Duncan needs to tell him to play Splitter. That's the only way he might insert him into the rotation, other than injury. Even then, he'd probably go down to three bigs, insert Novak into the rotation or play Jefferson as a four more often.
These kinds of things happen on other teams. Wouldn't mind seeing it here.
Bonner logged 7 damn mins because he let his man score at will on hims in layup drills, Bosh was killing that dude and he logged 7 mins for a reason! If he is not defending and not shooting well then why play him? He did not shoot and did not defend worth a damn, so what is he good for then? I saw him out there I saw some stupid fouls and some blowing by him don't try to sugar coat that there. Neal sucked yeah, BUT he has more heart than Bonner IMO and is not a black hole. Bonner is just shyt late in the year, neal that is to be determined.
Yeah because even Pop realized he was an incredible liability on the court. He was put in and the Heat not only took the lead but went up double digits in the blink of an eye. That's what prompted this thread.
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