OK. It was Toronto. But in the scheme of things to look forward to...it was a chance to see rotations that might have never been used if Parker and Duncan were not injured.
Hill played solid as a starter. And though chemistry is still being developed he has shown to be able to handle the PG position with confidence. Compared to last year at this time, the Spurs have a distinct b/u PG that can play both the 2 and 1.
Bogans getting more playing time is helping his cause as well. Though not an offensive jugernault...his tenacity and defensive skills are just what the Spurs needed to help sure up what the team lost sans Bowen. I'm in favor of his continued starting role since Jefferson is becoming that viable second option on offense.
Jefferson is coming around more and more. You can see his comfort level grow every game and this game should have solidified his role on this team as the best off season acqusition in years. If he keeps improving on the defensive end...along with Bogans... I think we will start seeing the opposing team's FG%'s decline.
After a brief start...Ratliff gave way to McDyess. McDyess paired with a healthy Duncan should be the starting bigs. I believe a starting role might be, at first, a little shaky, but with consistant time together I'm confident that Duncan and McDyess would provide a more productive post tandum than Duncan/Bonner to start games.
If anything proved itself more in the Toronto game is that Bonner should come off the bench. It appears his comfort level, as well as over all ability rose. That along with an apparent cohesiveness and compliment to playing while Ginobili is playing should lend itself to this trend more often. Bonner is a benefit to the team...putting him in the best rotation would benefit him and the team more.
Speaking of Ginobili...WOW! His importance to sparking this team was never made even more clear than last night. Lets just hope he should never be needed as a starter though if needed to start we know the team has a bonefide starter available. I pray he can play injury free this year.
As far as Blair. He still has a way to go in his learning curve. He's unfortunately becoming a foul magnet. But that is to be expected. What is encouraging though is his inate ability to produce in the short amount of time he actually plays. Managing his minutes will be crucial. But having his energy on the floor during those times in a game when all others are exhausted will be key to helping Spurs maintain leads as well as help them climb back into games. I believe his role will be better defined not neccessarily as a typical bench player but more so as an insertion player whenever other post players might be struggling in a game.
Anyway..those are some thoughts from what I gathered to be a blessing that Duncan and Parker happened to both be injured for that game. Hopefully they will return soon and that the injuries are not serious or linguring. Parker and Duncan are key players to this team. Without them this team goes nowhere. But it was great to see the confidence and hidden abilities if placed in the right situations that the rest of the team presented last night.
I wouldn't call it a blessing more so than a silver lining. Tim and Tony being out with injuries is never a good thing, but it is a fair point that there is some good to come out of having other guys put in positions to where they have to step up instead of relying on T&T to do all the work.
Absolutely helped. Allowed GHill to play without any fear of Dipstick looking over his shoulder and sending him to the *doghouse*.
Also got RJ to taking the ball to the rack. Something he needs to do regularly.
FInley !
TP needs to learn how to play with jefferson
Injuries are never blessings, but it is nice to see other rotations working out and could be used in the future to experiment with, even when TP and TD are healthy. You know what you have and what you're capable of.
But please, let them be back soon
I thought it was good to Manu and Jefferson come around and Bogans get some time. McDyees will be a starter I think by the time the playoffs role around.
And I am in love with the girl in Lefty's post!
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