Grades: Spurs vs. Suns - Jan. 15

[ChumpDumper]

Why are people still talking about Neal's playing point guard?

[dbestpro]

This is a bad idea. Pop should keep Bonner and Blair separated at all times.

The only way this happens is through injury or trade.

[Bender]

Why are people still talking about Neal's playing point guard?

yes, pop put the kibosh on that.

Too bad cory j didn't play in the early games, so he would have more experience by now.

[Brazil]

I like the starting unit with 2 SF it gives us size and rebound to start the game and Leonard is surprisingly good at taking advantage of his size.

I'm really looking forward seeing him on top SG like wade / kobe, it will also be interesting to see him against guys like Allen.

[TMTTRIO]

Once Manu comes back maybe we should just not even play him until the fourth quarter of games since we have enough scoring power and we don't want to mess up with the chemistry the player's have been gaining without him. Also that he'll be fresh when the playoffs arrive.

[ManuTastic]

No way Timmy gets an A. Sure the offense was there, but defensively he made the otherwise underwhelming Gortat look like the second coming of Wilt the Stilt. C+ at best for the game.

[TJastal]

A strong starting lineup is important, but often times can be a little moot. The real answers come when you consider who is closing out games and how many rotation minutes players are getting while the end is still in doubt. Still, theres a degree of strategy to the starting lineup that allows you to manage minutes well and put a competent second team on the floor.

When everyone is healthy I'd like a starting five like this:

Tony Parker
Kawhi Leonard
Richard Jefferson
DeJuan Blair
Tim Duncan

See any changes? Nope. It's a good lineup. Why?

With Kawhi coming into his own I think Manu's return to the starting lineup may be in doubt. With tons of depth on the wings we'll be able to conserve Manu and play him fewer minutes. Bringing him off the bench helps assure this. If Pop wants Manu as a starter then I think I'm in favor of dumping RJ out of the linup. Basically, Leonard needs to stay and match up against the other team's elite.

Keeping Blair in the lineup might not make sense as Tiago is clearly the better choice. But I think this is a tactful way of minimizing the chances of Blair and Bonner ever playing together. And because of this one reason, I think I'm in favor of keeping him there. Blair is definitely at his best with Manu, and having Manu on the second team made me consider putting Blair there too.

That gives you a second unit something like this:

TJ Ford
Manu Ginobili
Danny Green/Gary Neal
Matt Bonner
Tiago Splitter

The thing I hate most about the second team is having Bonner on the list. I'd prefer to work it so that Blair could log big minutes with this team instead. Hes shown a lot of chemistry with both Ginobili but also Danny Green. Blair as a part of the second team just makes more sense on every level except that Bonner gets in the way. If the Spurs are able to sign a player like Przybilla then a lot can change. Until then the bigman rotation is very constraining.

It all comes down to priorities IMO. Blair/Bonner isn't normally what you would pencil in but that's all the spurs have atm. You take your chances that they can get stay even with the other teams' 2nd unit.

And I ask you, what's more important to closing out games... a 100% Tim Duncan who has done very little heavy lifting all game? Or a Tim Duncan who has been run ragged trying to guard two 7fters in the paint for extended minutes? Blair is too undersized to deal with guys like Nowitzki, Gasol, & Randolph. You saw Timvp's write up about his rebounding % declining already, his mobility and hops are in serious decline IMO (despite the other extenuating factors).

That's my take on it, you don't keep hanging Timmy out to dry year after year. Play your best two bigs together to minimize the wear and tear on each and give em big minutes together.

I'm sure Poppy feels the same way as you however. He's been expecting Tim to do all the heavy lifting for 4-5 years why stop now? I'm sure he'll keep the same philosophy until the team actually faces a dominant frontline in the playoffs that will chew up the spurs' gimped starting fronline. Then suddenly a light bulb will fire off his head.

[SenorSpur]

Neal's shooting woes are not because he's trying to play the point guard position in the nba for the 1st time in his life, c'mon that's silly to think. He allegedly played some point guard over in Europe that should be plenty of experience.

Neal's just got to Neal with it.

Whatever.

Neal having played part-time point guard in Europe isn't the same as playing it at a high level in the NBA. I don't care how ever much or little time he's ever spent playing the position, the fact is he's a shooting guard - in mentality and instincts. That much is very obvious. That's why this is a dumb idea and a failed experiment.

[TJastal]

Whatever.

Neal having played part-time point guard in Europe isn't the same as playing it at a high level in the NBA. I don't care how ever much or little time he's ever spent playing the position, the fact is he's a shooting guard - in mentality and instincts. That much is very obvious. That's why this is a dumb idea and a failed experiment.

Sorry Senor I think I left out something in the last post

[cheguevara]

surprise of the night:
Corey Joseph

thing to note:
Steve Nash is horribly washed up. looks like an old scrub. Even his body looks deformed at this point.

[Killakobe81]

Nobody will ever get it tbh.

Although its pretty extreme, i would move RJ to the bench when Manu comes back and start Kawhi. I would also start Tiago for Blair for obvous reasons but lets not beat that horse anymore. Its much easier to bring offense off the bench.. so the Spurs should really be trying to put their best defensive foot forward and try and contain the starting units best scorers from the opening tip.

If Kawhi moves back to the bench when Manu comes back.. that means with Tiago and Kawhi you have two of your top 3 defensive players coming off the bench and playing most of their minutes against the opposition bench. Its a waste really, while Blair and RJ are getting torched and letting guys get into a scoring rhythm.

Though Kawhi shows promise ... RJ finally gets his shot together and you bench him? Plus although Gortat deflected the lob, RJ showed he has some spring left on the failed alley oop. To win in May you will need RJ ... I say it would be dangerous to mess with his confidence. he found his stroke, now he just needs to work on defense ...

Kawhi loses no confidence by returning to the bench ...

[Muser]

If Kawhi keeps it up i'd put Manu back into his 6th man role when he comes back.

[acoelho1]

I like Blair but just feel his defense will hurt us in the playoffs like it did last year. Tiago should be starting and getting 30 plus mins a night. He is still figuring out the NBA game and I would rather him learn it now than in the midst of a playoff run. Also, Manu should absolutely start when he gets back. We have enough fire power off the bench with Neal, once he is 100% back.

Also, there will have to be an odd man out in the playoffs between Neal, Green and Jefferson when the bench is usually shortened. For me, it's Jefferson even though he is shooting well from the 3, he is soft minded and can't be trusted in crucial situations.

My starting lineup would be as follows with Neal, Green, Ford & Blair as the first ones off the bench.

Parker
Ginobili
Duncan
Splitter
Leonard

[TJastal]

I like Blair but just feel his defense will hurt us in the playoffs like it did last year. Tiago should be starting and getting 30 plus mins a night. He is still figuring out the NBA game and I would rather him learn it now than in the midst of a playoff run. Also, Manu should absolutely start when he gets back. We have enough fire power off the bench with Neal, once he is 100% back.

Also, there will have to be an odd man out in the playoffs between Neal, Green and Jefferson when the bench is usually shortened. For me, it's Jefferson even though he is shooting well from the 3, he is soft minded and can't be trusted in crucial situations.

My starting lineup would be as follows with Neal, Green, Ford & Blair as the first ones off the bench.

Parker
Ginobili
Duncan
Splitter
Leonard

You do realize that Manu will be coming back sometime right before the playoffs start and will most likely be really rusty right? Not to mention the fact that any chemistry the starting unit develops over the year will be tossed out the window.

[acoelho1]

Well.. if he is out 8 weeks than he would be back around mid March and have about 25 games to get back in the groove so I don't consider that right b4 the playoffs. Secondly, we are not going anywhere in the playoffs without Manu playing heavy minutes and he should be starting on his return.

[Nathan89]

Tiago doesn't need to start but he does need to get 30+min per night. This will allow Tim and Tiago to play quality minutes in every game. Experience that will be much needed when Pop figures out that he needs to play Tim and Tiago together in the playoffs. 30mpg also eliminates any the combo of Blair and Bonner.

Can't wait to see Kawhi vs James

[TJastal]

Well.. if he is out 8 weeks than he would be back around mid March and have about 25 games to get back in the groove so I don't consider that right b4 the playoffs. Secondly, we are not going anywhere in the playoffs without Manu playing heavy minutes and he should be starting on his return.

Knowing Manu, it will be 12 weeks for a full recovery and he'll probably reinjure that same hand trying to come back any sooner.

[acoelho1]

I doubt it will be 12 weeks and it's not like a knee or ankle injury where he would need to be careful coming back. Plus, it's 6 to 8 weeks so he could be back even sooner. So there would be enough games for him to get back in shape and acclimated with the starting line up.

[TJastal]

I doubt it will be 12 weeks and it's not like a knee or ankle injury where he would need to be careful coming back. Plus, it's 6 to 8 weeks so he could be back even sooner. So there would be enough games for him to get back in shape and acclimated with the starting line up.

I gotta admit, I've been very impressed with Leonard's impact in the starting lineup .. the stats of how much he has improved the defense (since his insertion) are irrefutable. Granted its only been 3-4 games so far but if he keeps having that kind of impact on the defensive side I really think keeping him there is the best solution. TD/TP/RJ is enough offense for the starting unit, and good defenders are sorely needed as compliments IMO.

Manu can still be a spark for that 2nd unit. He has done it before in years' past and is a mature professional and should do what is best for the team.

[SpurNation]

If the trend continues as the Spurs being one of the worst teams defending the paint and transition baskets...
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...paint-per-game
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...eak-efficiency

could they still be considered legit for going to the finals if they have to play a team with superior post talent?

Not taking anything away from this win...but the Suns are one of the worst teams in the league scoring in the paint yet Gortat looked like an all star while the rookie Morris scored all too easily.

How do the Spurs compensate that glaring disparity compared to other playoff teams they might face who'll have better offensive and defensive talent in the paint?

[TJastal]

If the trend continues as the Spurs being one of the worst teams defending the paint and transition baskets...
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...paint-per-game
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...eak-efficiency

could they still be considered legit for going to the finals if they have to play a team with superior post talent?

Not taking anything away from this win...but the Suns are one of the worst teams in the league scoring in the paint yet Gortat looked like an all star while the rookie Morris scored all too easily.

How do the Spurs compensate that glaring disparity compared to other playoff teams they might face who'll have better offensive and defensive talent in the paint?

I would slowly work Splitter's minutes up to 30 a game then put him in the starting lineup. Put whataburger boy back on the bench. Then try to trade any combination of Blair, Bonner & James Anderson & pick(s) for a serviceable big.

[Mugen]

You have to leave room for the possibility that Tiago looks extremely good because of the situations he's being used in. I don't know. But if you're even remotely suggesting that his basketball IQ is superior to Tim's? Well, that's beyond silly. I won't even bother to discuss all the reasons why.

I was suggesting that Tiago had superior BBIQ to DeJuan which is pretty obvious from watching the games.

Btw, I'm fine with Tiago being the first big off the bench. Tiago starting means increased minutes for Blair/Bonner which automatically becomes the worst lineup Pop can field.

I just want Tiago to be finishing games alongside Tim.

[TJastal]

I was suggesting that Tiago had superior BBIQ to DeJuan which is pretty obvious from watching the games.

Btw, I'm fine with Tiago being the first big off the bench. Tiago starting means increased minutes for Blair/Bonner which automatically becomes the worst lineup Pop can field.

I just want Tiago to be finishing games alongside Tim.

This seems to be the new trendy idea I keep hearing lately... that it doesn't matter who starts but who finishes. Now only if the league would agree to let the spurs only have to play final 5 minutes of every game with the game starting at a tied score this would be fk'ing awesome.

I'm all for this idea if the league agrees.

[rascal]

Exactly what I was thinking. Last year, we shoot like this from behind the arc and we're blown out of the building. This year, with Tiago figuring the system out, Kawhi playing like a young veteran, and a few others picking up the slack, we still pulled it out. Hope we can keep this up...let Manu rest as long as he needs.

The Spurs were hardly ever blown out last year, especially at home.

[Brazil]

lol@acting as if Gorcat is kind of a scrub that our D let shine during that game.

Gorcat is legit and he is playing well since the beginning of the season leading the nba in FG% or not far from leading.

Tim D has not been very good it's true, I thought he has disrespected a little Gorcat JS, but once again he has been solid against all the big in the league so far.