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Hey fellas,

Raps fan here but I have found myself completely enthralled with how Blair has been a complete beast for you guys in pre season.

Reason being, he was really high on the Raptors board (was their 10th pick at one point) and then he fell like a rock to you guys (great pick). It sounds increasingly likely that our first round pick DeRozan will be starting at SG for us game 1.

My question is with a glut of veteran presence on your team, is there any rumblings out there to putting him into the starting lineup with the vets or will they look to use him more off the bench? I guess I'm just thinking that a starting lineup of Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, Blair and Duncan looks really nicely balanced.

What is the starting lineup looking like going into the season anyhow?

It sounds like Blair is going to be coming off the bench and I think thats the perfect role for him. Our starting line up is going to more than likely look like this:

PG Parker
SG Mason Jr.
SF Jefferson
PF McDyess
C Duncan

Blair is going to come off the bench and give us some instant energy, grit and rebounding.

Agreed with Nolan that it will by Dyess starting, with Blair as the 7th or 8th man (behind Manu and George Hill).

Nolan wrote:It sounds like Blair is going to be coming off the bench and I think thats the perfect role for him. Our starting line up is going to more than likely look like this:

PG Parker
SG Mason Jr.
SF Jefferson
PF McDyess
C Duncan

Blair is going to come off the bench and give us some instant energy, grit and rebounding.

Yeah I figured that Blair would get infused in the second unit and bring the energy and inside presence off the bench.

McDyess and Duncan up front I think makes you guys real formidable in there. Duncan moving to C will be really effective especially with a second unit with guys like Ginobili and Bonner coming in for the starters guys.

Plus Duncan moving to C helps my fantasy team

DBMethos wrote:Agreed with Nolan that it will by Dyess starting, with Blair as the 7th or 8th man (behind Manu and George Hill).

I'm really excited about our bench this and the first time i've been able to say that in a while. Hill, Manu and Blair are all guys that can come in and make a serious impact on the game. I just can't wait for the season to start.

George Hill, Manu, Blair, Ratliff etc. off the bench? I've been a Spurs fan for 20 years, I can't recall having a bench this deep with talent.

I must agree. Before the preseason started, I had a whole lot of concern about our bench. Specifically backup PG and big man.

Blair and Bonner looks really good. Ratliff still looks solid enough if we're only asking for 10 minutes a game. He's not spectacular thou... Looks like Duncan, Dice, Blair, and Bonner will round out the big men rotation.

Hill has looked very good too running the point looking very steady and knows what he should do. Unlike last year ofcourse when it doesn't look like he knows the plays enough to run the team.

I'm really impressed by Hill and Blair.

As for starting lineup, I'd want Parker, Manu, Jefferson, Dice, and Duncan together. I think it's time Manu be a starter. He deserves it.

Yeah, I want Manu starting as well. He only came off the bench in recent years because we needed that spark. I think Pop will start him at some point in the season, maybe not initially because of his recent health issues.

Turnover King wrote:George Hill, Manu, Blair, Ratliff etc. off the bench? I've been a Spurs fan for 20 years, I can't recall having a bench this deep with talent.

I always thought the 2003 team was the deepest I have seen.

Rose, Ginobili, Jackson, Claxton, Willis, Kerr, Brown, and Smith.

I can't remember who started Bowen or Jackson... either way I think that bench was strong.

I have a feeling that the opening night lineup will be:

pg: Tony Parker
sg: Roger Mason
sf: Richard Jefferson
pf: Matt Bonner
c: Tim Duncan

ginobilli hurt?

I have a feeling we are going to see a whole bunch of different starting lineups. Not because we will struggle but because Pop has so many options this year.

Well, judging by the preseason, it looks like Manu will come off the bench again atleast when the season tips off.

Parker, Mason Jr, Jefferson, Duncan, Dice.

The bench looks pretty set too. Hill, Manu, Finley, Blair, and Bonner looks like who we're counting on for the 2nd unit. Ratliff will probably play in certain matchups and stuff and very limited minutes.

Paeds wrote:ginobilli hurt?

Nope, he's healthy.

Blair and Bonner will be the "bigs" (Blair is short for his position, the other plays small) coming off the bench. Ratliff will get situational pt. a lot of variety there.

the starting line-up will be:
TP
RMJ
RJ
McD
TD

no sense in putting Manu in there when there's only one ball to go 'round and that line-up is very capable of staying with anybody in the league.

a bench of:
Hill
Manu
Fin/Hairston/Bogans (this seems to me to be the only spot on the roster where players will have to battle to for minutes; everything else seems established)
Bonner
Blair

a Bonner/Blair frontcourt shouldn't be too much of a liability if any since they'll be going up against bench players. and with Ratliff being as old and injury-prone as he is, it might not matter if it is. he fills the Kevin Willis role on this team.

Blair and Manu coming off the bench is music to my ears. that's a double whammy of energy. there isn't a team in the league that can match what Manu brings off the bench; add to that Blair and Hill and you have a bench that will be able to extend or cut into leads against any team's bench in the league. it's the best bench in the league by far. the next best is Orlando, and they're pretty far.

amazing. two years ago there was a paucity of talent on this team, the year after it was worse, and everybody thought we flatlined.

Michael Finley is the 'Big Weak Link' for the Spurs this year.

AydinOrs wrote:Michael Finley is the 'Big Weak Link' for the Spurs this year.

I really don't think he's a weak link, he can hold his own out there. He can still hit his jumpshot and play somewhat decent defense.

Well I like our line up... TD and Parker getting most of the shots early on and the rest are spot up shooters. Jefferson can be the 3rd guy if he can find his shot and niche.

Honestly, I'm not liking how Jefferson fits in so far and it's nothing to do with his numbers.

What Jefferson is doing right now IMO is he's trying to fit in. That's not wrong at all. But I don't feel we're maximizing his talents. He's taking shots within the offense and a lot of that are jumpers. It doesn't look like he's getting to his sweet spots and that's probably because he's the one trying to fit into the offense instead of the other way around. He's not that aggresive taking the ball to the basket and asking for the ball IMO.

We don't want Jefferson to turn into a role player. I don't want him to simply be a bigger and more athletic version of Bruce Bowen. I want him to be Richard Jefferson. I don't believe that's what I'm looking at right now.

There is definately going to be an adjustment time period. He has to get used to the other spurs. Its not like he can just come in here and automatically demand the ball. You have Tony, Tim, and Manu on this team. He is very fortunate that these guys aren't about numbers....they are about winning. They are conciously trying to get him involved and he wants to contribute. I agree I dont like seeing the jumper as much as driving to the whole but what do you do when tony or manu drives and then kicks it out to you for a wide open shot. Give it a little time he will find his role in the system sooner than most but dont expect 19pts per game. Not with the offensive firepower the spurs have. Remember most new spurs contribute most during that second season after they understand the spurs philosophy and pop's coaching system. Just look at George Hill and Roger Mason they have incredible confidence and know there role on the team. Soon enough RJ will too.