BleacherReport ranks Spurs players of importance before begin of playoffs

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...ns-end/page/10

10) Aaron Baynes
T8) Marco Belinelli
T8) Danny Green
7) Patty Mills
6) Tiago Splitter
5) Boris Diaw
4) Manu Ginobili
3) Kawhi Leonard
T2) Tim Duncan
T2) Tony Parker
1) Austin Daye

Updated

[MeloHype]

Bleacher Report

[NickiRasgo]

Everyone is important except Errors.

[MeloHype]

6) Thiago Splitter

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

6) Thiago Splitter

, I was watching an old UFC fight card today and one of the fighters name was Thiago

[Robz4000]

Patty Mills above Green
Splitter not in the top 5

At least they got the 1a/b, 3, and 4 right imo.

[ElNono]

Garrett Jochnau

[CitizenDwayne]

dat depth

[RD2191]

Patty Mills ahead of Green

[Darius Bieber]

Bleacher Report is definitely something I tend to skip in terms of Sports news. An awful source in my opinion..

[Boomersgold]

Patty Mills above Green
Splitter not in the top 5

At least they got the 1a/b, 3, and 4 right imo.

They'll need Mills' scoring off the bench more than they'll need Green's defense.

[Wiz]

Patty Mills ahead of Green

[Robz4000]

They'll need Mills' scoring off the bench more than they'll need Green's defense.

no they won't. No Green = no elite D. No Mills = Joseph, which while unfavorable still has some upside.

[Sean Cagney]

Bleacher Report is definitely something I tend to skip in terms of Sports news. An awful source in my opinion..

When I heard bleacher report I laugh immediately and then read half assed or just skip the thread.

[Boomersgold]

no they won't. No Green = no elite D. No Mills = Joseph, which while unfavorable still has some upside.

No Mills means 10 points less from our bench squad, which means should our starters play like crap, we'd probably lose. Plus, factor in Mills' chemistry with Diaw, Manu and Bellineli and you could easily say that Mills is the more important player.

No Green means Bellineli replaces him in the starting lineup, which = less D but more offense, the ability to hit tough layups and better court vision. Pop's done it before, and the Spurs still won.

[Robz4000]

No Mills means 10 points less from our bench squad, which means should our starters play like crap, we'd probably lose. Plus, factor in Mills' chemistry with Diaw, Manu and Bellineli and you could easily say that Mills is the more important player.

You could easily insert Bellineli into Green's spot, and get less D but more offense, the ability to hit tough layups and better court vision. Pop's done it before, and the Spurs still won.

Not against teams that matter. The Spurs don't have the offensive firepower to keep up with the likes of OKC and Houston (or even Miami for that matter) on scoring alone, so having an elite defense to make up for it is key. Having Beli as an option off the bench is great, but him starting will lower the Spurs' ceiling significantly. Meanwhile, the Spurs were a rebound away from ringing last year with Mills out of the rotation. Don't get me wrong, I like Mills, but thinking he's more important than Green and what he offers on both ends is ridiculous.

[Kidd K]

Danny Green is way too low on that list. I think he's proven last Finals just how much of an impact he's capable of making.

I don't entirely disagree with the whole list, but Mills is too high, Green is too low, and Baynes shouldn't even be mentioned tbh. Tiago could be listed above Diaw too, but that requires some arguing.

[RD2191]

The Spurs were on defense when Marco started. That experiment failed.

[#2!]

To me Tony is at 1 by himself. He is the guy that gets the tough baskets when we need them. Perfectly drawn plays can be broken up, and at that moment you need a guy who is irrationally good. Someone who'll make the most important basket at the most desperate time. Tony did 2 or 3 times during the finals last year. We didn't win every game he did it, but he put us in position to each time. After that:
Tim
Kiwi
Manu-simply b/c when he plays well everyone plays well
Danny- having a second elite wing defender is huge for this team, especially b/c neither are an offensive liability
Tiago- and adding Split next to Tim makes a starting five that includes Tony Parker an elite defensive unit. Pretty miraculous.
Boris- for the flexibility he brings
Patty and Beli tied- both these guys swing huge nuts Sam Cassell style

[Seventyniner]

It seems obvious that Pop will play a 9-man rotation with perhaps a sprinkling of Joseph.

[timtonymanu]

No Mills means 10 points less from our bench squad, which means should our starters play like crap, we'd probably lose. Plus, factor in Mills' chemistry with Diaw, Manu and Bellineli and you could easily say that Mills is the more important player.

No Green means Bellineli replaces him in the starting lineup, which = less D but more offense, the ability to hit tough layups and better court vision. Pop's done it before, and the Spurs still won.

Have to disagree on this one too though Mills' value should not be ignored. We saw how much the defense suffered when Green was out. It leaves Kawhi as the only legit defender which hurts his game. Plus Green is the best at guarding opposing PGs. Marco starting was bad because he can easily be exposed on defense. We can win games in the regular season starting Marco, but the playoffs is where adjustments are made and teams will notice Belinelli's weak defense.

[Prime Time]

Danny Green is the second most valuable defender for the Spurs just behind Leonard, IMO the dude should be higher than Ginobili himself.

No offense to Manu, he's still the man. Just, Manu is basically a rich man's Belinelli at this point. Green can go out and actually shut-down superstars.

[Dex]

They'll need Mills' scoring off the bench more than they'll need Green's defense.

You apparently don't remember this team's defense looking like the Jr. Varsity when Kawhi and Green were out.

[wildchild]

To me Tony is at 1 by himself. He is the guy that gets the tough baskets when we need them. Perfectly drawn plays can be broken up, and at that moment you need a guy who is irrationally good. Someone who'll make the most important basket at the most desperate time. Tony did 2 or 3 times during the finals last year. We didn't win every game he did it, but he put us in position to each time. After that:
Tim
Kiwi
Manu-simply b/c when he plays well everyone plays well
Danny- having a second elite wing defender is huge for this team, especially b/c neither are an offensive liability
Tiago- and adding Split next to Tim makes a starting five that includes Tony Parker an elite defensive unit. Pretty miraculous.
Boris- for the flexibility he brings
Patty and Beli tied- both these guys swing huge nuts Sam Cassell style

Have to disagree on this one too though Mills' value should not be ignored. We saw how much the defense suffered when Green was out. It leaves Kawhi as the only legit defender which hurts his game. Plus Green is the best at guarding opposing PGs. Marco starting was bad because he can easily be exposed on defense. We can win games in the regular season starting Marco, but the playoffs is where adjustments are made and teams will notice Belinelli's weak defense.

Couldn't agree more.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Danny Green is the second most valuable defender for the Spurs just behind Leonard, IMO the dude should be higher than Ginobili himself.