I am torn on this subject. On one hand, Tony is on fire and I think Manu returning to the starting lineup would bring Tonys level of play down to earth.
On the other hand, other than Tony, (and recently Duncan) the starting lineup has not exactly been lighting things up on offense.
In addition, the only reason Manu has ever came off the benchi in San Antonio…?
When Manu began coming off the bench years ago, someone asked Pop why. I can clearly remember Popovich being quoted as saying " I am trying to build a bench" In other words, the Spurs used to have a horrible bench and Manu HAD to come off it. This is no longer the case, we have a good bench.
I don’t think Pop will start Tiago/Tim. I hope he learned from his mistake of starting Tim/Dice last year. Tim/Blair and Tiago/Bonner pairs work much better than Tim/Tiago and Blair/Bonner. Pop may play Tim and Tiago together a little bit in the right moment, but they are not going to start together this season IMO.
I expect Manu to come from the bench in his first game back and may be before TJ is back, but not after that. Manu will start at the end of regular season and in the postseason if it will be one.
I also expect RJ to continue starting for most games though Pop may experiment with other starting 5s depending on the matchups.
It seems the Blair/Bonner combo negativity gets overplayed. During the regular season last year, the played together 350 minutes and finished a +8. During the playoffs, the played together 30 minutes and finished a 1. Duncan/Tiago only played together 30 minutes last regular season and finished +8. They played less than 7 minutes together in the playoffs for a -9, but that simply isn’t a large enough sample. They’ve not played together much yet this season, and apparently don’t figure in the top 50 2 man units from not having a positive +/, but I’d expect they would with more time together.
Blair/Duncan are a +21, but after 425 minutes together. Bonner/Duncan are a +38 in 145 minutes, and Bonner/Tiago a +95 in 347 minutes together. Obviously Blair/Duncan play against starters and the others reserves, but that’s because Blair has been given the starting job for all 27 games. I think it’s about time to try either Tiago or Bonner in place of Blair. Last season Tim with either Manu, Tony or RJ resulted in over a +300 points, but with Blair only a +175 in 929 minutes. The only player matched with Duncan with a number of starts having a lower + per minutes was McDyess. The Spurs should either try Tiago (better defense) or Bonner (better offense) and not worry about needing to hide Blair in the starting lineup with Duncan. He’d do better playing a role off the bench and the starting lineup should do better without him.
Correct. There’s no lineup that works with Blair coming off the bench. Blair starts because he doesn’t fit anywhere else. If McDyess was still around, Bonner could start.
I am torn on this subject. On one hand, Tony is on fire and I think Manu returning to the starting lineup would bring Tonys level of play down to earth.
On the other hand, other than Tony, (and recently Duncan) the starting lineup has not exactly been lighting things up on offense.
I bet Manu will eventually be starting again.
alamobro - February 10, 2012
In addition, the only reason Manu has ever came off the benchi in San Antonio…?
When Manu began coming off the bench years ago, someone asked Pop why. I can clearly remember Popovich being quoted as saying " I am trying to build a bench" In other words, the Spurs used to have a horrible bench and Manu HAD to come off it. This is no longer the case, we have a good bench.
alamobro - February 10, 2012
Until TJ is back, I think the answer is simple. Neal looks very happy that Manu is back. Lets keep it that way.
grego21 - February 13, 2012
Great article.
Sh!fty - February 10, 2012
I don’t think Pop will start Tiago/Tim. I hope he learned from his mistake of starting Tim/Dice last year. Tim/Blair and Tiago/Bonner pairs work much better than Tim/Tiago and Blair/Bonner. Pop may play Tim and Tiago together a little bit in the right moment, but they are not going to start together this season IMO.
I expect Manu to come from the bench in his first game back and may be before TJ is back, but not after that. Manu will start at the end of regular season and in the postseason if it will be one.
I also expect RJ to continue starting for most games though Pop may experiment with other starting 5s depending on the matchups.
Kondor - February 11, 2012
It seems the Blair/Bonner combo negativity gets overplayed. During the regular season last year, the played together 350 minutes and finished a +8. During the playoffs, the played together 30 minutes and finished a
1. Duncan/Tiago only played together 30 minutes last regular season and finished +8. They played less than 7 minutes together in the playoffs for a -9, but that simply isn’t a large enough sample. They’ve not played together much yet this season, and apparently don’t figure in the top 50 2 man units from not having a positive +/, but I’d expect they would with more time together.Alamo - February 11, 2012
Hmmm. That strike out began with a minus in front of the 1 and ended behind the slash but was unintentional.
Alamo - February 11, 2012
Blair/Duncan are a +21, but after 425 minutes together. Bonner/Duncan are a +38 in 145 minutes, and Bonner/Tiago a +95 in 347 minutes together. Obviously Blair/Duncan play against starters and the others reserves, but that’s because Blair has been given the starting job for all 27 games. I think it’s about time to try either Tiago or Bonner in place of Blair. Last season Tim with either Manu, Tony or RJ resulted in over a +300 points, but with Blair only a +175 in 929 minutes. The only player matched with Duncan with a number of starts having a lower + per minutes was McDyess. The Spurs should either try Tiago (better defense) or Bonner (better offense) and not worry about needing to hide Blair in the starting lineup with Duncan. He’d do better playing a role off the bench and the starting lineup should do better without him.
Alamo - February 11, 2012
I still believe that moving Blair to the bench screwed our last season. I say, it’s not broken now, and we shouldn’t try to fix it.
Kondor - February 12, 2012
Correct. There’s no lineup that works with Blair coming off the bench. Blair starts because he doesn’t fit anywhere else. If McDyess was still around, Bonner could start.
grego21 - February 13, 2012
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