McDyess, Spurs finally capitalize on mutual admiration

[Agloco]

So did every other player not named Duncan or Parker. Why isn't everyone calling for their heads?

Fail. They are.....

Pop and RC took care of most issues during the off season. Or, perhaps you didn't notice that Mason and Finley are the only ones left of that crew?

It's no small coincidence that everyone is calling for a Bonner/Finley/Mason trade now is it?

[Agloco]

Wrong. Many people on this board are still all over Mason's . Despite Bonner playing better than him last year.

Simply due to the perception that Mason was played out of position and it destroyed his game. More experienced ST posters swayed opinons, and rightfully so. Still many want him traded along with Fin-Bo.

[The Truth #6]

...except that his inadequacies aren't as magnified as Bonner's. I'd say he fills his role better than Bonner who can't guard opposing post players or get a rebound to save his life. I agree that Mason is quite limited, but he's a better fit for his natural position than Bonner. Bonner's inadequacies just mean Tim has to do more of the heavy lifting. I think Tim needs all the help he can get this year. Bonner is fine on the second unit but he doesn't complement Tim very well in my opinion.

I don't think Mason is a great player but his weaknesses are better covered up than Bonner's.

[ThaiFanofSpurs]

My basketball knowledge might not be great but I think I would not mind Bonner starting as long as they have the game plan to solve the problems they had last season.

Back to the article, I have always liked McDyess. I am glad he is a Spur now. Go get the rings with us, McDyess! Go Spurs Go!

[TJastal]

For me, its all about setting a tone. You want that to be a tough, rebounding, hard defense tone that makes the opponent look at the lineup and think , no easy baskets, or no easy rebounds here from the get go. By starting Bonner you almost get the exact opposite. For a lot of the better scorers in the league, it only takes one or two makes early to get them going and get their confidence up for the rest of the night, making them almost ungaurdable. I realise he wont be playing starters minutes, but i think the team would be better served starting McDyess and establishing that hard-nosed style from the opening tip.

I agree, however I think we're the minority on this board.

Either Finley and Bonner in the starting lineup (and especially both) is going to cause problems sooner or later.

[SenorSpur]

I doubt Bonner lasts the season in SA.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings at all. He a terrific shooter, and all. However, for the last 2 seasons, we've watched Bonner meltdown against playoff compe ion. Enough already.

[Rummpd]

Sadly Ian is becoming Mr Irrelevant when it might make sense to start a player with limited offensive abliities but a great defensive upside who might pick up fouls - what a shame this guy is not consistently playing up to his potential.

[Agloco]

Has nothing to do with him playing out of position. While people criticize Bonner for not being able to do anything but shoot, that REALLY is ALL Mason can do. He can't defend. He can't score inside. He can't beat people off the dribble. He can't pass. I could go on...

That's all he was brought here to do.......

So you see, him playing out of position is quite relevant.

[sammy]

That's great about McDyess! Bonner needs to go! When I heard he started at Center I can't believe they would put that unathletic worthless one starting after he sucked last year. He's a liability, cannot rebound and basically worthless and leaving Timmy out to dry! Why did we get McDyess and Ratliff only to not use them! WTF! Bonner should be on the bench until they can unload his worthless ass!

[Agloco]

So him playing out of position made him miss shots?

Proof is in the pudding as they say. I don't suppose confidence is a word you're familiar with.

Confidence is like money, hard to get........easy to lose.

[ElNono]

Please review the +/- numbers from last season.

Please review RPG...
Please review Opponent FG%...
Please review Opponent Points in the Paint...

You're too easy...

[EricB]

Proof is in the pudding as they say. I don't suppose confidence is a word you're familiar with.

Confidence is like money, hard to get........easy to lose.

So Mason's confidence can go to but not Bonner's.

Got it.

[MaNu4Tres]

That's all he was brought here to do.......

So you see, him playing out of position is quite relevant.

So I guess he doesn't have to play defense, rebound, create off the dribble and score inside when teams rotate out to him hard since he was just brought here to shoot?

We should just bring back Steve Kerr then since shooting is the only thing you obviously have to do as a guard. I guess there's no other aspects to the game of basketball that could possibly negate great shooting.

[NFGIII]

no, bad coaching would be to start dyess and have him log too many minutes in a starters role during meaningless early season games. Bonner has proven he can contribute in that lineup getting looks off of TD and Parker. and as stated here a hundred times who cares who starts...its who finishes that really matters.

and IMO its our second unit thats really going to break games open, as long as the starters keep it close the active bunch of gino, hill, mason and blair are gonna stomp on everyones second squads

Agreed. I wouldn't want Dice to be worn out come playoff time. Use Bonner to give him and others the rest they need during the regular season so as to keep them from being tired in the POs.

Dice will finish most games IMHO. Even Blair later in the season I think has a chance to finish games more than Bonner.

His role will be to spread the floor and give others rest time. Thogh he will be "Bonner" most of the time he will occasionally come through with good games now and then. Too bad we can't play Boston more. Unless MB is correct we are stuck with him for now so might as well use him as best we can.

I love it how everyone seems to think that Bonner starting means 30 mpg of Bonner.

Agreed. Most likely 10 - 20 mpg unless he's actually playing well.

Anyone ever think that McDyess will start in the latter part of the year after he gets the system down and is rested up?

Nah.

Would you guys rather see Dice start and have Bonner team up with Blair? The interior defense would blow. Duncan and Dice are the 2best interior defenders (I don't count Ratillf because he is not durable...same with Ian). Bonner and Blair are the 2 weakest. It only makes sense to have Bonner and Blair split up. Crunch time Bonner won't be on the court anyways so who cares???

Our D would suck and any lead will most likely be given back when the starters sit.

My only wish, regarding McDyess, is that we could've gotten him five years ago.

+10

I've thought the same thing for years. I was disappointed when he choose Detroit over us years ago. Serves him right when we beat them in '05. If he had come on board back then just imagine what the Spurs could have done.

I don't want to state what I think would have happened - too depressing.

i would rather ginobili and rj slashing than camping out on the 3point line. Thats what bonner is for. Plus why do y'all keep ignoring the fact that this will cause matchup problems for spurs opponents?

My thoughts exactly. Those two are slashers that can get to the rim causings tons of problems for the other team. And his strength is the 3 ball so with RJ and Manu in he can camp out on the 3 pt line and shoot away. He was in the top 5 most of last year and finished in the top ten didn't he? IIRC

Anyway having Bonner start and play limited minutes isn't a huge problem for me. Playing Dice too many minutes is. We'll see what Pop wants to do and have to live with that decision. He nevers listens to any of us here anyway.

[portnoy1]

It might create matchup problems one way. And thats only if Bonner is hitting. However he cant guard the lakers bigs. Something I found out last night watching the lakers vs nuggets game is that Lamar Odom ran the point alot. I ask Yall, do you want Lamar Odom bringing up the ball while Matt Bonner is trying to guard him? Its always good to have to people near the paint to block shots. If Bonner is at the Top of the key trying to guard Odom off the dribble, then that creates problems that Matts 3pt shooting wont cover.

[thispego]

Has nothing to do with him playing out of position. While people criticize Bonner for not being able to do anything but shoot, that REALLY is ALL Mason can do. He can't defend. He can't score inside. He can't beat people off the dribble. He can't pass. I could go on...

the difference? bonner is white and red headed.

[Agloco]

So Mason's confidence can go to but not Bonner's.

Got it.

Judging from your logic, the only thing you've got is a case of neurosyphilis. If you chose to follow the conversation you'd realize that I'd tied Mason's lack of confidence to forces out of his control (read: Pop playing him out of position).

Bonner? Well he played at his natural position and still lost his mojo, much more problematic IMO.

So I guess he doesn't have to play defense, rebound, create off the dribble and score inside when teams rotate out to him hard since he was just brought here to shoot?

We should just bring back Steve Kerr then since shooting is the only thing you obviously have to do as a guard. I guess there's no other aspects to the game of basketball that could possibly negate great shooting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum

Quite obviously shooting isn't his only function. The point was that our prime motivation for bringing him in wasn't for any of the reasons you mentioned. Playing out of position simply makes doing any of those other things a bit trickier for him.

What I'm saying is play him at the 2 like you brought him in to do. Everything else is bull .