Minutes

[countrybama24]

Manu is playing 34 minutes a game. Duncan is playing 31. Do you all think this is too much? It seems this team doesn't have the depth to keep Manu out of the game, is pop just starting them off strong (manu more than timmy) to reduce their minutes later? (I haven't watched enough regular season games in the past to know how pop fluctuates this).

James Anderson coming back will help, but manu was logging big minutes before that too. What do you think?

[Nolan]

No I don't think that's too many minutes for Manu and Duncan, really I think its just right.

Manu's probably going to start seeing more minutes now that Anderson's out but I think he can handle it.

Also Pop's will sit out Duncan from time to time down the stretch to keep him fresh and I assume he'll probably do the same with Manu this year.

[TAI8]

Record's important this year. I remember R.C. Buford saying so in an NBA.com interview during the offseason. And the result? We're 6-1, our best start since the '07-'08 season. Manu's looking great and we really need Duncan to focus most of his energy on the defensive side and let guys like RJ, Manu, Parker, and Hill do their damage on offense.

[Frankie23]

Maybe Manu and Tim are playing bigger minutes now, but they are making more jump shots than points in the paint. I mean they are shooting more than they used to.
If we keep winning and start playing good defense maybe the team has a better shape so that Manu and Tim can rest more..
We can't start playing ok in March..not only because of the record..

[co_laper]

Honestly, I didn't notice anything.

I think 32 minutes is the ideal number for players even at their age. Duncan is averaging 30, lower than last year. Manu is averaging 32, higher than ever before but like I said, 32 is a good number. Anything under 34 IMO is still a good amount of minutes. Parker is averaging 34 but not counting last year, he's always played 34 minutes even during his career year.

So no, this isn't too much minutes. I'd like to see Duncan average 31, Manu 31, Parker 34. They're not that far off.

[countrybama24]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't want to start a new threat, but what do people think Tiago will likely contribute near the end of the year, when he's more adjusted etc. Y'all are rollin without him (awesome that pop got jefferson on track), but there was some hype surrounding him, so I was just wondering if he can substantially improve this team or if he's just gonna help the bench out... I haven't watched him play at all, but Ive read draft stuff / seen videos of him in europe....

Such a solid franchise though, congrats on the quick start.

[co_laper]

Right now, Splitter can't beat out any of the bigs. Blair is locked in as a starter at the moment. McDyess and Bonner are playing really really well and figures to get regular rotation minutes as we get closer to the playoffs. The team isn't likely to play 5 bigs come playoff time. I think the competition for those 16 minutes backup Center is between Blair and Splitter. I'd like to see Bonner or Dice get back into the starting lineup and have Blair be that energy guy off the bench. He's much more useful in that role. I don't know where Splitter fits in right now. He didn't even get off the bench againts Chicago. Not a good sign early if he can't get minutes againts Utah tomorrow either.

[Frankie23]

I think Splitter would have more time against bigger teams to anchor defense. Against the Jazz is an example. He's also catching up with the system and with his body fit, so it's not that important the fact that he missed a game or two..
Of course, if you have a guy like Matt Bonner who has shooted 9-9 3pts in the last 2 games, it would be hard not to see Bonner..

[Nolan]

Right now, Splitter can't beat out any of the bigs. Blair is locked in as a starter at the moment. McDyess and Bonner are playing really really well and figures to get regular rotation minutes as we get closer to the playoffs. The team isn't likely to play 5 bigs come playoff time. I think the competition for those 16 minutes backup Center is between Blair and Splitter. I'd like to see Bonner or Dice get back into the starting lineup and have Blair be that energy guy off the bench. He's much more useful in that role. I don't know where Splitter fits in right now. He didn't even get off the bench againts Chicago. Not a good sign early if he can't get minutes againts Utah tomorrow either.

Splitter not playing against the Bulls had more to do with Bonner's hot streak and Dice has been a rebounding machine of late as well. It's not that Splitter's been playing badly its that everyone else has playing been great.

I still like Blair as a starter. He's a beast on the boards and he create a ton of 2nd chances for us on offense and his defense has gotten a million times better. But his offense is still coming around. It seems like he's lost confidence in his low post game this year. He needs to go back to working on the low block instead of trying to face up and drive.

[co_laper]

I don't know about that. I think if Pop trust Splitter enough in close and important games like againts Chicago or tonight againts Utah, Splitter could atleast get some of Dice's minutes. I didn't say anything about Splitter playing badly. Blair himself played very well in the minutes he get last year but that still didn't stop Pop from NOT playing Blair in some close games that I think is because Pop's afraid could cost them the game. I think it's either that, or he has some minor injury that Pop hoped to have heal before he get back on the court.

[Nolan]

I don't know about that. I think if Pop trust Splitter enough in close and important games like againts Chicago or tonight againts Utah, Splitter could atleast get some of Dice's minutes. I didn't say anything about Splitter playing badly. Blair himself played very well in the minutes he get last year but that still didn't stop Pop from NOT playing Blair in some close games that I think is because Pop's afraid could cost them the game. I think it's either that, or he has some minor injury that Pop hoped to have heal before he get back on the court.

You do have a point there. Pop's has always had trust issues with rookie and considering all the time Tiago missed in preseason and at the begining of the season that could be the reason he isn't playing major minutes.