Spotlight: Matt Bonner
The difference could be his confidence. Last year Bonner would stop shooting the ball if he was missing and this year he just shoots the ball and lets it fly.
Aside from shooting the ball well, Bonner has been pretty good at rebounding the basketball averaging 4.7 rebounds in just 21 minutes of action. His hustle on the boards has been helpful for the Spurs at times.
Bonner's play has certainly improved, but he still has a lot of work to do specially on the defensive end of the floor. Also, he needs to prove that he can continue playing consistent basketball. The game against Utah was a reminder he can put points up.
However, if we looked at last year's playoff performance against the Dallas Mavericks, he just averaged 3 points per game on 22% field goal shooting and 23% from 3 point range. This should speak volumes. For no matter what Bonner does in the regular season, will he be there for the Spurs when the playoffs roll around?
No disrespect towards Bonner but I'm just reminding everyone that although he has been playing well right now, he has disappeared for the Spurs when it mattered most -- the playoffs.
Bonner's play has been encouraging and I'm sure Spurs fans would be more than happy to see him continue playing well. For now, let's just hope that he keeps playing well to boost his confidence. Hopefully Spurs fans will see Bonner's steady play come playoff time.
What are your thoughts on Bonner's improved play? Will he be able take his game to the next level? Or will he start shooting bricks when it count the most? Send us your opinions and comments.
