Spurs Have Legit Shot w/This Ginobili

[Keepin' it real]

Who's going to be the starting bigmen in the playoffs, Tim and Diaw or Tim and Tiago?

Duncan and Blair. Why mess with something that is working?

[TheSkeptic]

Duncan and Blair. Why mess with something that is working?

I...uh...I...

I really admire your optimism.

[spurs10]

With all the scorers we have on this team there are only 4 that can create their own shot. This is Jackson, Parker, Neal, and Ginobili. I believe that Ginobili should end up coming off the bench with Jackson taking Green's spot in the playoffs. Along with Ginobili, I would like to see Neal come in with him at the 2. This is just my opinion, but I believe that Neal is the best pure shooter on the team and would like him to spot up on the wings and let Manu man the second unit.

For the second unit, I would like to see:
Ginobili
Neal
Leonard
Bonner/Diaw
Splitter

It's a perfect mix of offense and defense and Manu works well with these guys. Sadly this would mean reduced minutes for Green, but he is just too much of a streaky shooter for my tastes. If Neal is too much of a liability on the defense end, then Pop should stick Green in, but even he can be sketchy.

If you have Kawhi playing the 3 in the second unit and Jack playing 2 for Green, who plays the 3 on the starting unit?

[Obstructed_View]

If you have Kawhi playing the 3 in the second unit and Jack playing 2 for Green, who plays the 3 on the starting unit?

Might be moot, as the Spurs probably won't be running a 10 man rotation for the playoffs.

[spurs10]

Might be moot, as the Spurs probably won't be running a 10 man rotation for the playoffs.

You're right and it's got me thinking. Who's out? I am very curious as to which of the bigs will sit.

[MaNu4Tres]

Might be moot, as the Spurs probably won't be running a 10 man rotation for the playoffs.

I think they have to utilize their depth.

The past few playoff runs, Spurs have been terrible at executing down the stretch which could be because of Tim, Manu and Tony being gassed (playing more minutes than their bodies have grown accustomed to). I think in order to get the most out of the big 3, Pop will have to manage their minutes (especially Tim and Manu) to a slight extent.

In other words, I rather have Tim and Manu play a highly efficient 32-34 minutes and be sharp in crunch time, than have them play a sloppy/inefficient 38-42 minutes where they're not as sharp in crunch time-- which has been the case in recent years.

[pgardn]

I...uh...I...

I really admire your optimism.

Well I will try to justify Blair in the first part of games.

Blair is a very good junk man. He cleans up messes. Where he gets into trouble is trying to do too much. Defense. He is bad. So Pop might just have him waste a few fouls, while beating on the opposition on the offensive boards ( he will actually always keep the ball alive or even rebound).

He also can get himself open. Tony and Manu seem to find him for uncontested layups if the opposition goes to sleep. He has does have some usefullness. Diaw is the one I am really interested to see the contributions. He could really help us, or not. Tiago gets that back together, and all of the sudden we are not overwhelmed like last year with the Bonner Blair pair as bigs. It is quite a contrast to last year.

[jjktkk]

I think they have to utilize their depth.

The past few playoff runs, Spurs have been terrible at executing down the stretch which could be because of Tim, Manu and Tony being gassed (playing more minutes than their bodies have grown accustomed to). I think in order to get the most out of the big 3, Pop will have to manage their minutes (especially Tim and Manu) to a slight extent.

In other words, I rather have Tim and Manu play a highly efficient 32-34 minutes and be sharp in crunch time, than have them play a sloppy/inefficient 38-42 minutes where they're not as sharp in crunch time-- which has been the case in recent years.

This. IMO, the Spur's greatest strength, so its up to Pop to make sure the big 3 don't get gassed. I also see Pop giving quick hokks in the playoffs, for players underperforming, and yes that includes Bonner.(Hope).

[jestersmash]

I think they have to utilize their depth.

The past few playoff runs, Spurs have been terrible at executing down the stretch which could be because of Tim, Manu and Tony being gassed (playing more minutes than their bodies have grown accustomed to). I think in order to get the most out of the big 3, Pop will have to manage their minutes (especially Tim and Manu) to a slight extent.

In other words, I rather have Tim and Manu play a highly efficient 32-34 minutes and be sharp in crunch time, than have them play a sloppy/inefficient 38-42 minutes where they're not as sharp in crunch time-- which has been the case in recent years.

Wait, what? Why are you making it sound like Pop is considering playing Manu 38-42 minutes in the playoffs?

Manu has averaged 31.4 MPG game through the playoffs in his career. For '10 and '11, he averaged 35.2 and 34.8 MPG, respectively - the highest playoff MPG numbers of his career. He's never been even close to seeing 38-42 MPG in the playoffs, so no it hasn't been the case in recent years that Manu's been gassed near the end of games as a result of playing 38-42 MPG. He's never played anything close to 38-42 MPG in the playoffs.

Edit: Upon looking at the individual game logs, it seems like you're right. Pop has played Manu 38-42 minutes in various playoff games (certainly in the '10 playoff season). My bad, you were right. Carry on

His average is deceptively low because he'll have an outlier game or two where he doesn't play many (or any) minutes at all due to injuries, Pop throwing the white flag, etc.

[MaNu4Tres]

Wait, what? Why are you making it sound like Pop is considering playing Manu 38-42 minutes in the playoffs?

Manu has averaged 31.4 MPG game through the playoffs in his career. For '10 and '11, he averaged 35.2 and 34.8 MPG, respectively - the highest playoff MPG numbers of his career. He's never been even close to seeing 38-42 MPG in the playoffs, so no it hasn't been the case in recent years that Manu's been gassed near the end of games as a result of playing 38-42 MPG. He's never played anything close to 38-42 MPG in the playoffs.

You can't look at averages because blow-out games (on either side) bring the average down considerably. You have to look at the minutes in compe ive/close games.

For instance, go look at the Suns series in 2010-- where every game was close going into the 4th quarter.

If you're too lazy.

Here are the box scores.

Game 1: http://www.basketball-reference.com/...005030PHO.html

Game 2:http://www.basketball-reference.com/...005050PHO.html

Game 3:http://www.basketball-reference.com/...005070SAS.html

Game 4: http://www.basketball-reference.com/...005090SAS.html

[jestersmash]

^ Already sniped you with the edit, sorry bro

[MaNu4Tres]

^ Already sniped you with the edit, sorry bro

All good.

[TheSkeptic]

Well I will try to justify Blair in the first part of games.

Blair is a very good junk man. He cleans up messes. Where he gets into trouble is trying to do too much. Defense. He is bad. So Pop might just have him waste a few fouls, while beating on the opposition on the offensive boards ( he will actually always keep the ball alive or even rebound).

He also can get himself open. Tony and Manu seem to find him for uncontested layups if the opposition goes to sleep. He has does have some usefullness. Diaw is the one I am really interested to see the contributions. He could really help us, or not. Tiago gets that back together, and all of the sudden we are not overwhelmed like last year with the Bonner Blair pair as bigs. It is quite a contrast to last year.

Hi,

I don't dispute that he's a good junk man. If anything else I think that his strengths and his weaknesses are what ultimately make him a better asset off the bench. It doesn't matter how many other bigs we have if the coach is going to keep playing Tim and Blair together like last time.

Although I will admit that Tim has been looking good as of late we can't afford another repeat of last year where Duncan had to do it all by himself. We can't afford to be spotting the other team points by keeping Blair in the starting line-up. That would be inexcusable in light of the fact that Tiago is better than advertised and Diaw's available as well. Blair needs to be the 4th big if he plays at all.

Bonner, for all intents and purposes, is simply not a big imo.

[therealtruth]

I think there is a lot of good analysis here, but once the PO kicks in and teams start packing the paint and closing the lines for the 3, goodbye to open 3´s and goodbye to the fast break (defense not set) penetration.
And balls will be going back to ginobili because he is the only one who really has all 4 offensive options polished, 3, midrange, penetration and assist.
TP´s game slows a bit in the PO because he cannot take a 3 off the dribble like Manu can, so teams can close out on him or pack for his penetrations, that happened last year en this year will be similar, Ginobili offensive production will be increased a lot once teams take away the most basic offensive schemes.

Good point. In the playoffs teams are going to force you to beat them from midrange. They will try to take away paint points and 3's. A couple of ways to counter that is by being able to hit from midrange (taking what they're giving you) and with a dominant low post scorer who forces the defense to collapse to open up 3's.

[MannyIsGod]

I think they have to utilize their depth.

The past few playoff runs, Spurs have been terrible at executing down the stretch which could be because of Tim, Manu and Tony being gassed (playing more minutes than their bodies have grown accustomed to). I think in order to get the most out of the big 3, Pop will have to manage their minutes (especially Tim and Manu) to a slight extent.

In other words, I rather have Tim and Manu play a highly efficient 32-34 minutes and be sharp in crunch time, than have them play a sloppy/inefficient 38-42 minutes where they're not as sharp in crunch time-- which has been the case in recent years.

The Goods

[Keepin' it real]

Hi,

Bonner, for all intents and purposes, is simply not a big imo.

I agree; I laugh when Bonner is referred to as a "big." The truth is he's a 6 foot 10 shooting guard.

[TheSkeptic]

I agree; I laugh when Bonner is referred to as a "big." The truth is he's a 6 foot 10 shooting guard.

Yeah, but sadly without the handles of a guard.

Why does he play so much exactly?

[TMTTRIO]

Still concerned about Manu not getting to the line or getting any calls from the refs. There were a few times where he was hacked when he drove the lane and still no calls. It looks like he's going to have to rely on making his 3 point shots and passing. Fortunately his 3 point shot right now looks pretty good.