What happened to giving Tim/Manu second legs of back2backs off ?

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Exactly. I would rather have them play more minutes and get possibly a #5 and #6. You can't always guarantee you will have a chance to compete for a championship and you have to use every opportunity you get. The Spurs fans have been spoiled by being at consistently good for so long.

Fixed it.

[therealtruth]

Fixed it.

I was including Pop and RC. How else can you explain their reluctance to get TD quality help in the frontcourt since '07. A washed up Dice and Splitter, who Pop refused to play initially, are all they have to show. Many teams have gone through three times or more bigs in the same period.

[spurraider21]

Last year we saw a lot more benchings because of the condensed schedule and the back to back to backs followed by back to backs, etc. I'm sure later in the season, maybe the last month or month and a half of the regular season we will see rest games. But this early in the year Pop is trying to rack up wins so we can afford to rest some later. Also, if any of the big 3 are below 95% health, Pop WILL give them the precautionary DNP. I wouldn't worry about Pop overworking our guys

[Obstructed_View]

This has always been my opinion too. The past few years in the playoffs, Duncan performance late in playoff games was more about being conditioned to play 35+ minutes versus just being old. That, and not having a defensive big beside him. Much has been made about "conserving" Duncan for the playoffs. The best way to conserve him is to get him some interior help, particularly on the defensive end.

This. Nothing wears down Tim Duncan faster than having to guard the lane all by himself.

[timvp]

huh? the OP was talking about limiting minutes

My reply was in response to the le. Suggesting Manu needs less minutes is ridiculous. He already plays less than any star player in NBA history.

No one is saying manu is playing too much

That's exactly what the le of the thread implies.

I remember in previous discussions you have always been a proponent of pop's extreme minute management

I've been in favor of limiting Manu's minutes in order to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Playing him 28-29 MPG has always been my preference with Manu ... and historically that has worked out rather well. The two years he averaged more than 30 MPG in the regular season, he didn't last the full season.

, but IMO it doesn't work because the players cant flip the switch and just play more minutes in the PO.

I've always been a proponent of upping the MPG levels late in the regular season to prepare for the playoffs. Pop doesn't do that ... but it's impossible to tell if that has had any impact.

I'll always wonder what would have happened if he was less cautious 08, 10, 11 and 12... if it meant one more championship and the wheels falling off sooner, wouldn't everyone prefer that to consistently coming up short in the PO?

First of all, yes, if a championship could have been had, you take that over longevity.

However, I don't really see how a case can be made that a lack of regular season minutes lost the Spurs a championship. In 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, Manu wasn't 100% healthy in the playoffs. Over that same time period, Duncan's knee progressively got more painful and restrictive as the season progressed. Less than 100% Manu and TD for those four years is what killed any championship hopes and playing more minutes in the regular season wouldn't have helped.

In fact, a case could be made that the Spurs would have been better off if Manu and TD played even less minutes than they ended up playing before you can make a case for more.

As for last year, I don't see how regular season minutes made an impact. The difference in the series was basically the Thunder shooting amazingly on midrange jumpers. The Spurs just got straight up beat last year by a hot team.

Now they are so old that pop's logic makes more sense, but I don't think that was the case 2+ years ago... and I'm not sure its the right strategy now either.

I agree that Manu is playing too few minutes right now. He needs to get up to at least in the 27-28 MPG range. However, I believe that'll probably be where he ends up. Pop's probably just taken it easy on him due to the back issues.

As for TP, he hasn't yet showed the stamina this season top play much more than 32 MPG. A few times he has run out of gas in the fourth quarter. Hypothetically, I'd probably like him closer to 33 or 34.

Asking TD to play at an MVP level for 31 MPG is probably already asking too much over the course of 82 games. Getting him back below 30 is probably the smartest way to conserve someone at 36.