McDonald: Bonner works for more minutes

[timvp]

Spurs' Bonner works for more minutes
Forward begins his second season hoping to fill in for Horry often
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer

Early in the first half of the Spurs' preseason-opening defeat at Dallas, forward Matt Bonner did something most NBA observers had never seen him do.

He rose up high among a crowd of Mavericks, corralled an offensive rebound and put it back in for a score.

Renowned for his smooth 3-point shooting and easygoing wit — but never much for his leaping ability — Bonner was at first at a loss to explain how he had suddenly soared so high for the putback.

Maybe it was his offseason workout regimen kicking in. Maybe, as fictional former sneaker pitchman Mars Blackmon once opined, "it's gotta to be the shoes." Or maybe it was something else entirely.

"I think it was the beard," Bonner said, fingering the fire-red tuft of whiskers he's been tending since the start of training camp. "It's scientifically proven that a beard increases your vertical leap. It's simple aerodynamics, like the feathers on a bird's wings."

Another fact that has been scientifically proven: Performing well for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich can cause a noticeable increase in one's minutes.

Bonner hopes that tenet remains true, as he fights for more playing time in his second season with the Spurs than he earned in his first.

That push got off to a ringing start Tuesday, as Bonner came off the bench to score 14 points and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds while playing a hefty 25 minutes against the Mavericks. A good chunk of Bonner's best work came in the first half against Dallas' regulars.

"He looked pretty good," Popovich said, "and showed what he can do with some minutes on the court."

That's the thing with Bonner. It's always been difficult for him to contribute because he's often on the bench.

A 6-foot-10 shooting forward, Bonner was considered a throw-in on the back end of the trade that sent Rasho Nesterovic to Toronto in June 2006.

He played in just 57 games last season, his first in San Antonio, and averaged less than 12 minutes in those appearances. Like many players coming to the Spurs for the first time, he struggled to grasp the team's offensive and defensive systems.

"It was hard to get comfortable," Bonner said.

By the postseason, Bonner had found a comfortable spot on the end of the Spurs' bench. He dropped completely out of the regular rotation, as Popovich leaned harder on playoff-proven veteran Robert Horry.

But the Spurs made it a priority to re-sign Bonner in the offseason, awarding him a three-year deal worth nearly $9 million in order to keep him. Eventually, they plan on putting him to use.

With Horry starting what will likely be his last season, Bonner remains an important part of the Spurs' future plans. And, given Popovich's penchant for sporadically resting Horry throughout the season, he is also poised to play a more vital role in their rotation right now.

Consider Bonner to be Robert Horry Light.

Like Horry, Bonner can work well in an inside-out game with Tim Duncan, spreading the floor with his 3-point range. Like Horry, Bonner also has a tendency to be around the ball on offense, keeping rebounds alive if he isn't collecting them himself. Like Horry, Bonner can provide a spark off the bench.

Now, he just has to prove it.

In many ways, this is an important preseason for Bonner. He will be given ample opportunity to justify the Spurs' faith in him.

"The coaches know what I'm capable of," Bonner said. "The preseason and all throughout the season — that's when I have to earn my minutes."

Bonner's quest for minutes is sure to be long and arduous. And it is just beginning.

He might just have to keep the beard for good luck.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.3840ccf.html

[timvp]

The key to Bonner is he just needs to become a capable defender. He's strong enough and has the energy, he just needs to understand his role. It's tough for him having to compete with Horry because Horry has one of the highest basketball IQ's in NBA history. Bonner has more of a normal basketball IQ so anything he does wrong is magnified when compared with Horry.

That said, I have high hopes for Bonner this year ... even though I don't think his true coming out party will be until the 2008-09 season after Horry retires.

[raspsa]

Bonner was playing pretty good ball lat season just before he got injured. Just hope he canpick up from where he left off. I think he has a lot more upside. He demonstrated a nice hookshot to go with his long-range shot. And the Spurs really need his crazy white boy energy.

[T Park]

this was the Spurs best big until he hurt his knee and was never the same.

IMO, Bonner is gonna be very good this year. He understands the rotations, he understands what to do.

to more Bonner.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I can't see why Pop wouldn't give most of Horry's role to Bonner to start the season. We all know that Horry doesn't get going until April, so why not play lots of Bonner in November and December and see how he handles it, and if you want Horry in the lineup by the playoffs, slowly ease him in during the new year.

Pop never settles on his rotation until after the AS break, so why not play lots of Bonner as long as he's not losing games for us?

[Samr]

Another fact that has been scientifically proven: Performing well for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich can cause a noticeable increase in one's minutes.

McDonald is hilarious. Every article it seems like he says something the above. I hope he can keep this up. If he does, and earns a bit of Spurs "trust" (I am not sure this really exists), he could make everyone forget about Ludden by the end of the season.

[thousandth]

this was the Spurs best big until he hurt his knee and was never the same.

IMO, Bonner is gonna be very good this year. He understands the rotations, he understands what to do.

to more Bonner.

I don't know. The Spurs best big? He understands the rotations? he understands what to do?
Bro,you' re wrong. Just Matt must to learn to do defensive rotations and the Spurs teamgame. I was thinking about what you say and i remember when Pop put him in the playoffs, Matt wasn't look good.

[SenorSpur]

Many people forget that part of Bonner's contribution is hustle plays. He contributed some very timely offensive rebounds during his time on the court last season. That fact was evident again during the preseason game with the Mavs.

[smeagol]

If Bonner does well, it'll be another reason to pick a fight with sequ

[Holt's Cat]

Ultimately you'd like for Bonner to turn into Malik Rose with a 3 point shot. I'm not sure that Bonner will be able to step out on the floor and defend his man as well as Rose did with the Spurs.

[MoSpur]

I like Bonner's hustle. I think he will be great off of the bench this year.

[SenorSpur]

Ultimately you'd like for Bonner to turn into Malik Rose with a 3 point shot. I'm not sure that Bonner will be able to step out on the floor and defend his man as well as Rose did with the Spurs.

Yeah, unfortunately that's is the one rub against him.

[leemajors]

i would be disappointed if the shaved.

[Holt's Cat]

Yeah, unfortunately that's is the one rub against him.

If he can get to say, 80% of what Rose was able to do defensively along with similiar points and boards per minute then he will be a nice reserve big.

[picnroll]

Ultimately you'd like for Bonner to turn into Malik Rose with a 3 point shot. I'm not sure that Bonner will be able to step out on the floor and defend his man as well as Rose did with the Spurs.

He'll alos need to drop passes and pump fake 10 times on a shot then swallow the ball.

[Holt's Cat]

He'll alos need to drop passes and pump fake 10 times on a shot then swallow the ball.

I'll take that if it means the Spurs don't have to start Finley at the 4 again.

[SenorSpur]

If he can get to say, 80% of what Rose was able to do defensively along with similiar points and boards per minute then he will be a nice reserve big.

That would be a dream. However, that's asking a lot. He doesn't appear very fleet-a-foot. Therefore, he seems lost defensively when further away from the basket. May have better success guarding post players.

[wildchild]

I'll take that if it means the Spurs don't have to start Finley at the 4 again.

Maybe, if the Spurs want playing smallballs. Tony,Manu,Bruce,Mike and Tim again.

[Holt's Cat]

Maybe, if the Spurs want playing smallballs. Tony,Manu,Bruce,Mike and Tim again.

Nah, you need the 4 man to be someone who can rebound well and defend his man out on the floor. Small ball kills the Spurs due to the drop off in rebounding.

[Reggie Miller]

McDonald is hilarious. Every article it seems like he says something the above. I hope he can keep this up. If he does, and earns a bit of Spurs "trust" (I am not sure this really exists), he could make everyone forget about Ludden by the end of the season.

I have to agree. McDonald hasn't written anything life or mind altering, but he's pretty consistent. He avoids most of the current sportswriting cliches, except for the one sentence paragraphs. (The worst offenders like Plasche use sentence fragments as paragraphs, so perhaps I am nitpicking.) He doesn't conflate fact and opinion, which automatically puts him in the top 5 percentile for sportswriters...

[SAGambler]

There are times when you have to give up a little to get a little.

While Bonner may not be quite up to a Bowen or Duncan or Ginobili on defense, he will certainly cause the opponent problems on the other end, since he can score close or he can score beyond the arc with consistency. He will certainly help to spread the floor on offense. And with his hustle plays, maybe he makes up for the lack of a perfect defense we would all love to see from him.

I like Bonner and think he will be a big part of the rotation this year. He was showing signs of being huge last year, when he got injured and never seemed to quite recover before the year was over. Should be a fresh start for him now.

[wildchild]

I have to agree. McDonald hasn't written anything life or mind altering, but he's pretty consistent. He avoids most of the current sportswriting cliches, except for the one sentence paragraphs. (The worst offenders like Plasche use sentence fragments as paragraphs, so perhaps I am nitpicking.) He doesn't conflate fact and opinion, which automatically puts him in the top 5 percentile for sportswriters...

Sure? I still miss Johnny Ludden.

[SenorSpur]

There are times when you have to give up a little to get a little.

While Bonner may not be quite up to a Bowen or Duncan or Ginobili on defense, he will certainly cause the opponent problems on the other end, since he can score close or he can score beyond the arc with consistency. He will certainly help to spread the floor on offense. And with his hustle plays, maybe he makes up for the lack of a perfect defense we would all love to see from him.

I like Bonner and think he will be a big part of the rotation this year. He was showing signs of being huge last year, when he got injured and never seemed to quite recover before the year was over. Should be a fresh start for him now.

I like him too. I'm looking forward to seeing him part of the regular rotation and perhaps a role in the playoff rotation too.

[TDMVPDPOY]

wat is his ceiling?

rik smits?

sean marks? no pun mate

[Reggie Miller]

Sure? I still miss Johnny Ludden.

I'm not saying he's better than Ludden. For one thing, I am quickly approaching the point where my number of McDonald articles will pass my total of Ludden articles read. I'd have to catch up with his colums on the Express online to make any sort of judgment.

I'm saying McDonald is pretty good on his own terms. He is certainly a better writer than any of the Indianapolis Star columnists.