One change I'd like to see.

[SouthernFried]

I don't wanna take Tony outta the game...he has been driving hard, and he has been playing defense...its just he's mismatched. But, I still like his driving and offensive threat going to the hole.

I think TONY should guard RIP...I think he can if he uses his body to compensate for lack of height. RIPS not gonna muscle him as bad as Chauncy does. And TONY can keep up with him running around.

And yes, play Barry more. Make him earn that 5-6 Million dollar salary.

Do NOT put MANU on RIP. We need Manu's offense, and running around after RIP is ing exhausting.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

We Southern that was one of the non-four letter word based suggestions I was yelling at my TV last night. Rip was having one of those nights anyways where Bowen was on him like stink on a monkey and Hamilton was still hitting his J. Why not at least switch up the looks on things? Rip and Chauncey were looking a little too comfortable against that set up. Frankly I think that Barry should see some more minutes at the point. With his length and the Spurs help defense he can effectively guard Prince in the post, and Manu and Bruce have been pretty effective against Rip and Chauncey.

[kskonn]

And yes, play Barry more. Make him earn that 5-6 Million dollar salary.

Do NOT put MANU on RIP. We need Manu's offense, and running around after RIP is ing exhausting.

yes I agree , I almost would like to see Barry on Rip, Barry is in incredible shape and can run around with him, and once again he has the length to get a hand up.

[kskonn]

barry also spreads the floor really well when he is at the point, he force the guard(that keeps swiping at Duncan) to stay with him.

[SouthernFried]

Another idea...Don't put BOWEN on Billups right away. Switch it up. Make them uncertain what's happening. Have Bowen guard Billups most of the game...but, not right at the outset where Brown see's the change right away and adjusts to it.

Do it gradually, so Brown isn't sure that's its a major adjustment. Hopefully, by the time Brown really see's it's a major adjustment, we'll be well into the game.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I don't know that Brent could really keep up with Rip. I don't question his conditioning but his foot speed and lateral movement. Lindsey Hunter has been torching Brent this series, despite his length.

[dn0]

barry also spreads the floor really well when he is at the point, he force the guard(that keeps swiping at Duncan) to stay with him.

Totally agree, now we need somebody to print this thread and hand it to pop.

[kskonn]

I don't know that Brent could really keep up with Rip. I don't question his conditioning but his foot speed and lateral movement. Lindsey Hunter has been torching Brent this series, despite his length.

No I agree he can't keep up with him if he is taking him off the dribble, i do think he could chase him around the floor. barry would have to force Rip into the Bigs. Barry would have to commit to stopping jumpers and hope that the help D is there when rip get to the rim.

[kskonn]

Totally agree, now we need somebody to print this thread and hand it to pop.

Lol!!!

[rwb]

I think at this point I'd like to see Pop just make some kind of adjustments. Anything. Why not let Massenberg do some dirty work? Where's Big Dog? And I don't think starting Barry is that far fetched since the changeup with him and Manu worked earlier this season, giving Barry confidence and Manu a chance to be rested and full of energy for the fourth period. He admitted himself that he ran out of energy...and although he seems like the Energizer Bunny, he's got his limits. Our team just looks so small compared to Detroit, and Tony is getting abused by Billups. Why not keep changing his defenders? We seem to get beaten because of our predictability. Let's face it...we've got only one more shot Thursday...let's throw anything we can at them to surprise them for a change.

[SouthernFried]

CHAUNCY is the MVP of the series so far. He's the one we have to stop...he's the most likely one to win it tomorrow.

with the other matchups all u want...but, for godsakes...put Bowen on Billups.

[kskonn]

CHAUNCY is the MVP of the series so far. He's the one we have to stop...he's the most likely one to win it tomorrow.

with the other matchups all u want...but, for godsakes...put Bowen on Billups.

Yes yes yes... Even a pistons fan in another thread said that his biggest fear was the spurs putting Bowen on Billups.

[Alchal]

I think thats a good idea for you guys to start Tony on the bench, put Bowen on Billups, Manu on Rip, and Barry on Prince.

[SouthernFried]

I do not want Manu on Rip. We need Manu's legs on offense. Give Parker some minutes on RIP. I think he can do better there than on Chauncey. Parker must play starting PG tho.

[spur219]

I would put Bowen on Billups but then Parker would have to guard RIP who is about 4-5 inches taller. But just make RIP dribble the ball. He can't shoot worth a off the dribble.

[rr2418]

He's been like that the whole season...

That's just how the er shoots...

Quickly releases, sprints back down.

ing moron...

I change my mind, start Horry on Prince. We also need size.

It could be that Pop told his guards to go back on "D" as soon as they shoot!

[Deeeeeetroit Basketball!]

You guys forget that RIP, and not Chauncey, is our leading scorer. Bowen is doing an excellent job containing Hamilton and taking RIP out of his game.

I contend that it would be suicide for the Spurs to use anyone else on RIP for two reasons:

1) RIP would have an obvious mismatch against anyone else on offense. He is taller than Parker, Ginobili doesn't have the defensive instincts Bowen has, and Barry is...well he's Barry. When I say Ginobili doesn't have the instincts, I am talking about screen avoidance. 90% of playing RIP is manuevering around screens, and most players in the NBA inevitably pick incorrectly when faced by a screen many times during the game. This gives RIP tons of open looks. Bowen does a remarkable job staying glued to Hamilton.

2) You can't put a player who's expected to perform on offense on RIP. The dude runs around in circles for 48 minutes straight, and there's nobody in the league who can contain RIP for the whole game and score 20+ points. So if you want to see a big game from Parker or Ginobili, you have to keep them off of RIP.

MAYBE you could switch up and put Bowen on Billups at the end of the game, but again you are forcing whoever is guarding RIP to run constantly at the end of a game where they will undoubtedly be tired. It's just a bad idea. The Spurs have to pick their poison, and putting Parker on Billups is the best matchup available for them.

[theMUHMEshow]

I wouldnt switch Bowen either...Especially since RIP had a big game last game. Bowen is a GAMER! He is going to come out and shut RIP down. I think 99% of Pistons fans know that. We are all just hoping that Sheed just comes out and plays!

[SouthernFried]

It's Chauncey that's owning this series...not RIP.

Yeah, yeah...Rip might go off against someone else like Parker. He might. But we KNOW Chauncey is going off against Parker. We KNOW Chauncy was last years Finals MVP...Let's deal with what we know, and what's happening right now.

RIP might become the scorer with someone else on him...but, he might not.

Deal with Chauncy now...and if RIP takes over game, then deal with him at that time.

"IF" Rip takes over game.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Look, Tony can match up with Rip. He's quick enough and the Spurs have been good about helping out on the screens set for Rip.

Chauncey HAS to have Bowen on him.

Billups is playing with a ton of confidence right now because he has figured out Tony can't guard him.

For a defensive guru like Pop, it's pretty dumbfounding that the guy doesn't apparently have the balls or the brains to figure it out.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I do not want Manu on Rip.

Manu played against Rip for several minutes of game 2, and had him so pissed the guy threw his mask and got a technical.

Manu is in Rip's head, but Pop's stuck with his ing stupid matchups that have gotten us beat 3 out of the last 4 games.

[Deeeeeetroit Basketball!]

Look, Tony can match up with Rip. He's quick enough and the Spurs have been good about helping out on the screens set for Rip.

Chauncey HAS to have Bowen on him.

Billups is playing with a ton of confidence right now because he has figured out Tony can't guard him.

For a defensive guru like Pop, it's pretty dumbfounding that the guy doesn't apparently have the balls or the brains to figure it out.

Has it occurred to you that he DID think about it? RIP is much more difficult to play than Billups. So if Parker can't handle Billups, he will get torched against RIP. Do you really want to figure this out in Game 7 of the Finals?

[T Park]

Start Manu on Hamilton and Bowen on Billups.


How about playing some zone too???

I think Zone would throw these guys off a little and would help out.

WOuld also force them to shoot outside shots with a guy in their face.

[T Park]

If you want to make Manu the focal point of the offense, or run it through him heres a lineup

Manu
Bowen
Robinson
Horry
Duncan


Robinson is long enough stay in front of prince and contest him.

Bowen on Billups


Manu on Hamilton


But, it, were gonna keep ramming our heads in the wall with Parker on Billups.

[MadDog73]

I don't know, Parker did a pretty good job against Rip in the last shot of Game 5.

Could he keep it up for 30+ minutes? I doubt it, but it seems smarter to take your chances with Rip (who scored 23 pts last night anyway) then to get continually torched by Billups.

Look, for the Spurs to have a better chance at winning, they need to force some Piston turnovers. Billups had 6 assists, 0 Tos last night. I'm damn sure Bowen wouldn't allow that.