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Agree 100%
I know this will probably show up in the "game thoughts" thread, but it is a pattern that has stretched over multiple games.
For whatever reason, Finley has lost complete confidence in his shot from everywhere on the court. And that's not good, when your best (some would say "only") attribute is shooting.
Barry, conversely, has been on fire from behind the arc and in general. He is familiar with the offense and while he's still not a great defender, he has improved in that regard.
So it bares the question...should the Spurs start Barry and make Finley battle for backup G/F minutes with Udoka?
IMO, I think it's time for just that....
Agree 100%
No. I've seen enough arguments to convince me that it's not a good idea.
Whottt, of all people, convinced me with his thoughts on this in the Minnesota game thread. Basically boils down to Barry playing well where he is and providing extra oomph off the bench and not needing the wear and tear of starting.
I think I'm ok with leaving Fin in as a starter, but I wish that Barry (or Udoka) coming in a little sooner if he's not hitting.
But I don't think you want to make any confidence issues worse by pulling him for not making it - that will not help at all, I think.
with duncan out, barry should be starting along with finley.
I thought about how sitting him would affect his confidence, but at some point you just have to put the best squad on the floor and commit to winning despite the struggles of one player.
I would tend to agree with you if the Spurs didn't have other options, but in fact they do. One option playing considerably better (Barry) and another at least deserving of the opportunity to play more than garbage minutes in blowouts.
I agree, but I don't think early December is the cut off point. I also don't think you have to start Barry to put the best squad out (well, it might not hurt while Duncan is out, but not as a long term solution).
I do think that some of Fin's minutes can be sacrificed to Barry and/or Udoka if he's sucking though.
I don't care who "starts" but Barry > Finley.
My main thought for keeping him in the starting rotation is somewhat counterintuitive...
If a guy is struggling, what better way to hide his struggles than to put him out on the court with two of your three best players. Take the pressure off of him and let him and let him work through his issues when his scoring is not necessarily needed.
However, I would play Udoka with the second unit guys and bring Finley in when two of the big 3 are on the court.
Regardless, I really think Pop needs to open up the rotation and give Udoka a shot to prove he can be a regular contributor to this team sooner rather than later.
Barry>Finley
Agreed.
If Barry starts where is the scoring going to come from off the bench besides Ginobli? At this point Barry deserves the shot to start but Finley won't bring the scoring off the bench nor the energy Barry's been bringing.
Barry has gotten real good at coming off the bench and contributing.
Finley coming off the bench? Man, I just dunno.
at this point Finley is not contributing. Find someone off the bench who will. I've been thinking about Barry starting for several games and I'm down with it.
Barry has gotten good at letting the offense come to him and not forcing up shots out of the flow of the game.
I think with his at ude, it doesn't matter whether he starts or comes off the bench.
It's Finley that you have to worry about. And I understand the calls for patience and the concerns about further damaging his psyche if the starting job is taken away....but at some point you have to say that he's hurting this team more than he's helping it with his 10-12 wasted possesions a night.
Maybe Easjer is right that he doesn't necessarily have to be deprived of "starting", but that Pop bring Barry off the bench sooner and give Udoka a chance to earn some of the minutes that might otherwise go to Finley.
Bottom Line: If Finley HAS to start, make him a "starter" only in name and make him earn his minutes through compe ion with Barry & Udoka.
I still hold firm that the Spurs cannot keep the status quo and must give opportunity to the other capable players.
If anything you move Manu to the starting rotation where he belongs...you know Manu is not going to struggle. Barry might, and he's at the age now where his minutes need to be monitored...I wouldn't move him the way he is playing right now. Plus, Manu is pretty much a starter anyway.
I just don't know what result you are aiming for by jacking with the rotation...
Making Finley accountable for his poor play on the offensive end.
I've read the articles, as I'm sure so have you, about how Finley is his toughest critic and so on...but it's clear that something is wrong and it needs to be fixed external to Finley's self-motivation.
Moving him to the bench and/or giving some of his minutes to Udoka will make him work to earn his minutes on the court. Finley is a clutch guy that doesn't shy away from compe ion. I'm confident that he would step up, play well, and reassert himself as a rotation regular and "starter".
Bottom Line: If Pop keeps giving Finley the go-ahead to shoot at will and is not limiting his minutes or role it is to the detriment of this team and at some point it will come back to bite them. Something needs to be done.
Yeah but he starts over Barry because he plays better D....
Pop will never go against that mindset...and after 4 les...I'm sold.
Bottom Line: If Pop keeps giving Finley the go-ahead to shoot at will and is not limiting his minutes or role it is to the detriment of this team and at some point it will come back to bite them. Something needs to be done
So in other words, you know more than Pop.
Got it.
So you're on record as saying Barry won't ever start if Finley is availabe then?
You're also on record as saying the Spurs staff won't do anything to mix it up with regards to Finley?
We'll see....
And regardless of what they WILL do, this was a thought on what they SHOULD do. Finley is in a BAD slump, Barry is playing well, and Udoka is just sitting there waiting for more than garbage minutes to prove he can play.
The Spurs SHOULD consider reducing Finley's role and minutes...that's my point.
Exactly! He may be in a pretty bad slump offensively. But on the defensive end he's doing a pretty decent job. And in pops mind defense > offense.
IMO, if it ain't broke don't break it. At 15-3 there shouldn't be a need to tinker with the rotations.
If nothing changes with regard to roles or minutes played and Finley gets out of this extended slump with a significant hot streak...I'll start an apology thread.
Does that suffice?
BTW, Pop is not immune to making poor decisions or sticking with veterans far past their effective use....just thought I'd throw out that little tidbit as a side note.
We need production from that position in order to repeat. Right now I don't feel very comfortable betting the farm on Finley.
He was a valuable contributor in last year's run. Does he have anything left? I hope so, but he has a tendency to fall into terrible slumps. We really can't afford that, and we should explore other options.
After all, isn't Pop the "no guaranteed minutes" guy?
i say we trade him seriously....
he got what he wanted, now time to moved on..
WTF?
Seriously, I know Finley is sucking ass right now. But those 3 losses weren't due to Finley's play or lack there of.
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