Free the Beast !!!

[Bruno]

Don't disagree with that. However, this is the roster we have right now. With this roster, right now, do you agree he's the 2nd best big in the team?

If McDyess continues to play like he did lately, he is better than Blair.

I agree that with Spurs' current roster, Blair deserves more than 15mpg but I also think that with Spurs current crop of bigmen, Spurs aren't contender.

Now, If Spurs do nothing at the trade deadline, I will have nothing against giving 25-30mpg to Blair. It likely won't work but it's not like giving more minutes to Ratliff or Bonner has a better chance to work.

[SpurNation]

Offensively, yes. On the defensive side of the ball, not even close. Horry could bang up with bigs, experienced enough to poke balls all the time, and occasionally soar to block a shot.

Now, I fully expect zosa to show up and claim I'm a Bonner hater, but the reality is that the FO has been trying to find somebody to play next to Duncan since last season (Gooden, Dice). Matt should be serviceable coming from the bench, and that's about it. At this point, I also think Blair should be an energy guy off the bench and I agree that we should keep on looking for another big on the market.

I agree with you. What I was eluding to was that Bonner on defense in the post...though not even close to Horry...is still better than Blair.

It's a catch 22 situation. Blair can rebound like no other on the team except for maybe Duncan. But he is horrific in defending the post.

Does Blair's rebound ratio make up for his lack of defensive ability? I'm not sure. But Bonner's defense in the low post is better than Blair's...so do less points allowed in the paint outweigh the rebounds Blair might garnish?

If Bonner is hitting his shots...I would say yes.

[ElNono]

If McDyess continues to play like he did lately, he is better than Blair.

No doubt. Agree with the rest of your post.

[z0sa]

Blair is simply getting the Pop rookie treatment. Look at what situation it took for Hill to get a spot in the rotation come playoffs.. Blair's minutes dropping off must be expected.

[ElNono]

I agree with you. What I was eluding to was that Bonner on defense in the post...though not even close to Horry...is still better than Blair.

It's a catch 22 situation. Blair can rebound like no other on the team except for maybe Duncan. But he is horrific in defending the post.

Does Blair's rebound ratio make up for his lack of defensive ability? I'm not sure. But Bonner's defense in the low post is better than Blair's...so do less points allowed in the paint outweigh the rebounds Blair might garnish?

If Bonner is hitting his shots...I would say yes.

I'm not sold in that Bonner's defense in the post is really that much better than Blair. I think they're both pretty catastrophic. They both play hard, but neither can really contain the bigger guys. Also, as already pointed out, Blair is starting to show a knack for blocking shots, which is a good sign. He flat out can rebound misses and prevent second chance points, which to me is much more important than whatever points Bonner is going to give you (around 8 ppg?).

Plus you still don't know what Blair's ceiling is... on the other hand, Matt is not going to give you more than what he has so far.

In the end, we're not contenders if either has to start. But I still take Blair off the bench ahead of Matt...

[all_heart]

I agree with you. What I was eluding to was that Bonner on defense in the post...though not even close to Horry...is still better than Blair.

It's a catch 22 situation. Blair can rebound like no other on the team except for maybe Duncan. But he is horrific in defending the post.

Does Blair's rebound ratio make up for his lack of defensive ability? I'm not sure. But Bonner's defense in the low post is better than Blair's...so do less points allowed in the paint outweigh the rebounds Blair might garnish?

If Bonner is hitting his shots...I would say yes.

Bonner sticking his hands straight up in the air isn't exactly playing "good" D. He's taller than Blair, that's about it. He's got no fire in his gut, that's the biggest difference. Bonner has more range than Blair on the offensive side, that's his advantage, unless he's bricking those shots of course.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Bonner is nowhere the rebounder Blair is, but I think the Spurs need his ability to shoot from the outside. If Bonner is hitting his shots he becomes a pretty important piece to the puzzle. If I'm Pop I'm distributing the 96 minutes of center/pf time with 36 minutes to Tim, 20 minutes each to Bonner, Blair, McDyess.

Of course I'd of loved to see what Ian could do too, but it appears Pop isn't willing to try to work him into the fold.

[Chomag]

Blair is simply getting the Pop rookie treatment. Look at what situation it took for Hill to get a spot in the rotation come playoffs.. Blair's minutes dropping off must be expected.

Yep, I would not be surpised to see Blair gets DNP's towards the last half of the season such as with Hill last season. Pop is still in control here after all...

I don't think we will ever know what Pop's hang ups are with rookies.

[silverblk mystix]

IMO , I think somewhere along the line...maybe the `06 Mavs series...Pop became obsessed with ``Matching Up''...

since then, I believe Pop has lost sight of who the spurs are..and became worried about what the other team is running...

used to be the spurs imposed their will and ---win or lose-- the game usually came down to a few possessions of lockdown defense to decide games---with the spurs playing their best PLAYERS---

now..it is not the best players on the floor---it is the best MATCHUPS---but by matchups--it is matching up to what the other team is doing.

Blair, Hill, are players (Hairston could be one-but will never get a chance)...and players need to play...they have done this their whole lives and excelled...
if they are thrown out there and allowed to play,to make mistakes, to get comfortable---they will begin to play as they always have...

Bonner is a possible bench energy guy, and every minute he is on the floor ---he is robbing a player of a chance...

but Pop is in charge ---we aren't..so if Pop does not prove us all wrong and is still a genius--and the Spurs win the le...

then i guess this season is gonna be really (more) frustrating to endure...

my two cents...