If Pop wants Manu to come off the bench ...

[slayermin]

I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Spurs bring out an all black starting five!!!

I don't get this statement. We are not Boston or Utah.

[greens]

I like Manu starting. But I think Pop said Manu will come off the bench for the rest of the season.

It's just that it's already a second game in the past three days when Spurs had the lead going into halftime, then lost it in the third quarter. I think Pop should have kept Manu in the starting line up today in the third so that the Spurs could have built on their lead, they could have started off really strong and just got a comfortable lead. Instead, while Manu is on the bench, their lead yet again evaporates...Once he comes back, it seems as though the Suns were already on the roll...

I know Pop likes to have Manu come off the bench, but right now, the compe ion is really too tough, the seeding is so close, and huge trades have been made...plus Finley is struggling in the starting line up. I think Fin had a really good stretch recently coming off the bench...

Did Pop say for sure he'll keep Manu coming off the bench?

[Kori Ellis]

Did Pop say for sure he'll keep Manu coming off the bench?

I believe today he said that he plans on keeping Manu coming off the bench for the rest of the season... which really means nothing coming from Pop

For the record, I prefer Manu in the starting lineup. I think you should start your best five -- that's Duncan, Manu, Tony, Bowen and someone else. But, I understand Pop's reasoning of placing Manu on the bench - he gives the second unit the scoring they need. I also think Pop wants to start KT. And if Oberto is on the bench, he plays better in the unit with Manu.

I'm sick of watching Finley just completely miss rotations. He'll have one good shooting game and then everyone will love him again, but I'm not sure he's the answer as a starter anymore. (hopefully he steps up though)

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

If Finley can't adjust to playing off the bench, then f' him. The Spurs need to shorten their rotation soon anyway. He can be relegated to spot minutes.

He doesn't need to be coddled.

[ploto]

Manu needs to stay on the bench and the rotations need to get shortened. Which brings up a question where does Horry fit in the rotation?

I wonder that, too. Does Manu coming off the bench with Oberto mean that Pop intends to keep Thomas in the starting line up? Then how much will Horry even play?

[easjer]

I think Manu off the bench is better.

But, damn, Finley is killing me.

I say two more games with Fin starting, and then bring in Udoka. It's hard to believe Fin is making a case for Barry to get solid minutes when he returns.

[easjer]

I wonder that, too. Does Manu coming off the bench with Oberto mean that Pop intends to keep Thomas in the starting line up? Then how much will Horry even play?

Given that he's been hurting more than helping recently, none is fine by me.

[batboy]

I didn't realize this was a Mike Fin thread or I wouldn't have posted another, sorry Kori.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I'd rather Manu start than come off the bench at this point.
I feel a lot more comfortable seeing Manu Tony and Tim on the court at the same time, it can only get easier for all three of them to get a good lead early in these last regular season games.

Too bad Barry isn't here right now for our bench.

[Bruno]

Finley will continue to start. If he sucks too much, maybe Barry will start.
I don't see Pop starting both Udoka and Bowen : not enough shooting and it's nice to have a strong defender like Udoka on the bench.

[The Truth #6]

Uh yeah except for last year when he was in the doghouse until Barry got hurt.

Really? I don't remember Finley ever being in the doghouse. I always thought he got equal to slightly more minutes than Barry. What was the cir stance of his doghouse residency?

I've always thought Finley was in the reverse-Doghouse. No matter how bad he played, the more Pop would play him.

[Kori Ellis]

Finley will continue to start. If he sucks too much, maybe Barry will start.
I don't see Pop starting both Udoka and Bowen : not enough shooting and it's nice to have a strong defender like Udoka on the bench.

I don't get the "not enough shooting" comment from people anymore about Udoka.

Last Five Games ...

Udoka - 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and D (25.4 mpg)
Finley - 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and no D (24.7 mpg)

I'll take my chances with Udoka's offense.

[Kori Ellis]

Those stats I just posted were prior today. Also Fin is shooting .295 in that timespan, add today's 0-for-6 and it doesn't seem like there's much drop off from Finley to Udoka on offense.

[mVp]

Start Udoka... NOW!

[dropstep4421]

start Ime

[Bruno]

I don't get the "not enough shooting" comment from people anymore about Udoka.

Last Five Games ...

Udoka - 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and D (25.4 mpg)
Finley - 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and no D (24.7 mpg)

I'll take my chances with Udoka's offense.

Udoka and Finley aren't playing in the same zone. Udoka is mainly shooting corner 3's like Bruce.
Do you see Pop having a lineup with nobody able to shoot a top of the key three ?

[Kori Ellis]

Udoka and Finley aren't playing in the same zone. Udoka is mainly shooting corner 3's like Bruce.
Do you see Pop having a lineup with nobody able to shoot a top of the key three ?

They are using one right now. Finley's not hitting .

Like I said, I'd rather he start Manu. But since Pop says he is not going to do so, I'd rather have a guy who can rebound, hit some shots and not miss every single defensive rotation in the lineup.

[temujin]

What matters is who finishes games, not who starts.
No game is decided in the first quarter.

[Kori Ellis]

What matters is who finishes games, not who starts.
No game is decided in the first quarter.

If that's the case, then the Spurs should start Vaughn, Stoudemire, Bonner, Horry and Oberto.

[The Truth #6]

Finley, unlike, Ime is able to take a few dribbles and pull up for a jumpshot. However, Finley almost never makes that shot these days so it's difficult to find an advantage. Also, because Finley needs to use his YMCA moves to get open (and by open I mean having a guy right in his face) makes me wonder if the problem isn't somewhere else.

Tony and Tim need to lead the offense whenever they are out there. At the beginning of the season Tony began in "attack mode" and that was a main reason for our early dominance. He hasn't done that recently which makes me wonder what is up. Is it his ankle? I hope not.

If Tony can't penetrate and dominate, then debating on whether Ime is better right now then Finley might be missing the point.

Having said that, Pop needs to start Ime until Tony can return to form.

[timvp]

Luckily the Nuggets are on the way. That's the one team Finley always lights up ....... not two days ago, of course.

[Bruno]

They are using one right now. Finley's not hitting .

I'm quite sure that Pop doesn't care about a shooting slump.

And even if Fin currently can't shoot at all, he remains a shooter for Pop and a lineup with Finley is a lineup with a true shooter.

[Kori Ellis]

Luckily the Nuggets are on the way. That's the one team Finley always lights up ....... not two days ago, of course.

Like I said, I don't care if he lights a team up once every 10 days or so. That doesn't mean he's the best option as a starter.

[temujin]

If that's the case, then the Spurs should start Vaughn, Stoudemire, Bonner, Horry and Oberto.

They should start Duncan and Parker and have Manu come in after.

The remaining three can be choosen by flipping the coin.

However, they need to finish with Parker Duncan Manu, Thomas and Udoka.

[ChumpDumper]

No need to give out welfare minutes any more.

If you suck, you sit.