Chuck Norris couldnt have stopped the Red Rocket tonight....

[DesignatedT]

he just cant play defense. thats all anyone has ever said. damn. we all know he can shoot the 3. he lead the team and was like top 3 in the league last year in 3 pt %... but FACT is when it comes down to lakers celtics cavs nuggets. physical playoff games... the dude is a straight up non factor and a HUGE liability on DEFENSE. and all 4 of our championships were with the at ude that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. of course the guy can shoot... hes still soft as toilet paper. but again... hes going to be apart of the rotation whether anyone likes it or not. so hopefully he keeps shooting like this... cuz those games he goes 0-3.. hes totally useless

[FkLA]

Bonner is not an atrocious defender at all. He doesnt provide a shot-blocking prescence or grab double digit boards, but his man to man defense and rotations are decent. Better than numerous players on the team. I dont understand why people get outraged when Bonner gets lits up by guys like Bosh, Dirk, or even Okur. Those guys are pretty good players in case yall havent noticed, they light up guys on a daily basis. Plus the red rocket gets no love from the refs, Ive seen tons of plays already where he puts his hands straight up on defense and he gets a foul called on him.

[Cherry]

i'm just wondering, where are all the dudes here that said tread Bonner now?

[TJastal]

Haha, everyone hated the red rocket for no reason. Pop actually helped build his confidence to a high level and like I told everyone, he can go back to the bench and still produce now. His rebounding has improved. Idiots

So your saying Pop sacrificed the pre-season and the first 10 games of the year getting off to a start, throwing team chemistry into the dumpster when everybody including Manu Ginobili was saying how important it was to start off good because the schedule is easy now

.. in order for Matt Bonner to feel a little more confident out there in his reserve role? Ha.. that's funny.

[coyotes_geek]

i'm just wondering, where are all the dudes here that said tread Bonner now?

Don't worry. They'll be back the next time Bonner shoots 1-4 and the Spurs lose.

[ElNono]

Yep, silly you. Couldn't restrain yourself once you saw a positive Bonner thread for a change. Maybe it just pisses you off. Or you feel like an asshole or an idiot.

I don't know why do you think I have an axe to grind with Matt. You keep on attacking me, but you do absolutely nothing to counter my point. Is Bonner a great defender? No, and he never will be. Is that hate? Not at all, just reality.
Can you prove otherwise? So far you haven't.

[z0sa]

I don't know why do you think I have an axe to grind with Matt. You keep on attacking me, but you do absolutely nothing to counter my point. Is Bonner a great defender? No, and he never will be. Is that hate? Not at all, just reality.
Can you prove otherwise? So far you haven't.

Well, if you're gonna deny you have an axe to grind with Bonner, then maybe it is best I stay quiet.

[ElNono]

Well, if you're gonna deny you have an axe to grind with Bonner, then maybe it is best I stay quiet.

I do not have an axe to grind with Bonner. And I'm still waiting for your counter argument explaining how Matt is a great defender...

[z0sa]

I do not have an axe to grind with Bonner. And I'm still waiting for your counter argument explaining how Matt is a great defender...

I never said he was a great defender. Just denied he's a "liability."

[ElNono]

I never said he was a great defender. Just denied he's a "liability."

See, that's where we differ. I do think he's a liability on defense. It's a matter of opinion, not hate.

[z0sa]

See, that's where we differ. I do think he's a liability on defense. It's a matter of opinion, not hate.

Yeah, but that's not my point.

We've heard you say it plenty of times before. You don't have to repeat it in every Bonner thread ... it can be perceived as "hating" or having "an axe to grind"

[Mel_13]

See, that's where we differ. I do think he's a liability on defense. It's a matter of opinion, not hate.

You've come a long way.

Now for the real question. Do his offensive advantages outweigh his defensive disadvantages? To this point you have clearly been among those who believe the answer to that question is no. Yet there is statistical data that indicates the answer is yes and I have yet to see anyone here provide any objective evidence to the contrary.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

You've come a long way.

Now for the real question. Do his offensive advantages outweigh his defensive disadvantages? To this point you have clearly been among those who believe the answer to that question is no. Yet there is statistical data that indicates the answer is yes and I have yet to see anyone here provide any objective evidence to the contrary.

True, stats also indicate he's not a bad rebounder as well, but it's not like facts will change biased opinions.

[ElNono]

You've come a long way.

Now for the real question. Do his offensive advantages outweigh his defensive disadvantages? To this point you have clearly been among those who believe the answer to that question is no. Yet there is statistical data that indicates the answer is yes and I have yet to see anyone here provide any objective evidence to the contrary.

http://www.nba.com/playoffs2009/seriesWest3/

My opinion is that he works for certain matchups. For others, he's really not useful. Some people think that it's "hate" to say that. It's not. If he had to guard Bogut last night, maybe we would have been looking at something else. And for all his great shooting, his defensive assignment scored 20 points.

[ElNono]

Yeah, but that's not my point.

We've heard you say it plenty of times before. You don't have to repeat it in every Bonner thread ... it can be perceived as "hating" or having "an axe to grind"

If you don't want to read it, just put me on ignore.

[TJastal]

You've come a long way.

Now for the real question. Do his offensive advantages outweigh his defensive disadvantages? To this point you have clearly been among those who believe the answer to that question is no. Yet there is statistical data that indicates the answer is yes and I have yet to see anyone here provide any objective evidence to the contrary.

Bonner is a decent reserve in this league when he's hitting 50% of his 3's and not missing bunny shots and blowing people's assists (like last night Dejuan Blair).

As a starter however, he is physically overmatched by most other starting center's out there. Popovich finally figured this out 10 games into the season, have you finally figured it out, Mel?

[z0sa]

http://www.nba.com/playoffs2009/seriesWest3/

In case you didn't notice, Bonner had 11pts/7reb(4off)/1blk and 3/4 3FG in our only win.

[ElNono]

In case you didn't notice, Bonner had 11pts/7reb(4off)/1blk and 3/4 3FG in our only win.

Did you watch that game? Do you remember when Bonner started to hit shots in that game?

I mean, if you're bringing up 1 out of 5 games he played well, who's being a homer?

Selective memory is neat and all. It's just not objective.

[z0sa]

If you don't want to read it, just put me on ignore.

Why do you hate Bonner?

[ElNono]

Why do you hate Bonner?

I don't.

[z0sa]

I don't.

[ElNono]

[z0sa]

Did you watch that game? Do you remember when Bonner started to hit shots in that game?

I mean, if you're bringing up 1 out of 5 games he played well, who's being a homer?

Selective memory is neat and all. It's just not objective.

Selective memory? Tim even had a horribly ty game in that series. We were outmatched and unhealthy. Bonner is just a roleplayer.

Why do you hate Bonner?

[ElNono]

I have another question for the Bonner lovers like z0sa in this thread... Are you comfortable with the prospect of Bonner being the difference between winning and losing games? Be honest now...

[Mel_13]

http://www.nba.com/playoffs2009/seriesWest3/

My opinion is that he works for certain matchups. For others, he's really not useful. Some people think that it's "hate" to say that. It's not. If he had to guard Bogut last night, maybe we would have been looking at something else.
And for all his great shooting, his defensive assignment scored 20 points.

The Dallas series was a team failure. Bonner came up very small in that series, as did many others.

Role players, by the limited nature of their games, are going to be more useful against some teams than others. Bonner's numbers indicate that he is useful more often than he's not. Relegating him to the end of the bench, as you have often suggested, would not appear to be the most productive use of available talent.

Btw, Ilyasova only scored 8 of his 20 points when Bonner was in the game.