Who is a perfect fit to play alongside TD? Oberto, with an offensive mindset or Nazr who exists on the court to play D, protect the basket and garner rebounds?
Nazr played limited minutes due to recovering from an injury and having missed a great deal of time in the last week or 2 due to personal issues.
However, Nazr is the perfect duo alongside of TD -- TD is ALWAYS going to be the focal point of the offense -- it's stupid not to make him that (keeping him as the focal point of the offense is what makes Manu and Parker look so good). However, if you can provide defensive help -- a stopper in the middle to HELP TD on the defensive end, you can keep him a lot fresher and save him from foul trouble.
Nazr is a perfect fit for the Spurs -- and Pop has already stated that he is the center of choice once he is healthy. Getting Rasho some minutes (what did he play, 10?) just helps them shop him a little better -- my suggestion is trading him to some REALLY awful team who is going to get some GREAT top draft picks in the future (see Knicks or Toronto).
Nazr isn't a great player -- he's just a very good defensive team player, very good shotblocker and very good rebounder. Which is exactly what the Spurs want -- oh, yeah, he likes to run the rim as well and since the opposing teams big men are usually doubling TD, that's an easy shot for Nazr, Oberto or anyone else that plays alongside TD.
I didn't see last nights game and I've never stated that Nazr is going to be anything other than a very good center to play alongside TD. Oberto is better as a back-up to TD -- of course, as long as Horry is on the bench, you'd be stupid to not play him when you need a win. Horry is an underrated defender and he's definately a guy you want out there to shoot the ball with the game on the line.
When the Spurs netted Finley, the reaped the world (why is it that it's only a "gift" when a player like that signs with the Lakers? hmmm) -- and he will be getting a great deal of Bowen's minutes -- unfortunately, he will pretty much take all of Barry's minutes as well. The Spurs are DEFINATELY going to be well rested come playoff time -- and that may be all the break that the Spurs need against the Heat (who I see as their biggest obstacle assuming they are healthy to another ring).