Tiago Splitter Preview - Part 1

[timvp]

Before ever stepping onto an NBA court, Brazilian bigman Tiago Splitter is already a man, myth and legend. For many, the San Antonio Spurs will sink or swim this summer based on whether the franchise is able to get his autograph on a contract.

On the NBA radar for nearly a decade, Splitter likely would have been a top five pick in the 2004 draft. However, due to contractual issues with his Spanish club, he decided to stay out of the draft. It was the same song and dance the next few years as Splitter was unable to get a lottery promise due to his ironclad deal in Spain.

By 2007, Splitter's age made him automatically eligible for the draft. The Spurs drafted him with the 28th overall selection in the first round. Originally, San Antonio hoped to bring Splitter to town for the 2008-09 season. Unfortunately, the Spurs weren't able to compete financially with what Splitter could get overseas and the Brazilian decided to sign a two-year extension in Spain.

This summer, things are different. The Spurs are now able to pay Splitter up to approximately $6 million per season. Additionally, Splitter has been quoted numerous times saying he's ready to make the jump to the NBA. Now it appears as if it's simply a matter of the two sides reaching an agreement.

For Splitter, the negotiations couldn't come at a better time. A few weeks ago, his Caja Laboral team stunned heavily favored FC Barcelona to win the championship of the Spanish league. Splitter was named the MVP of the regular season and the MVP of the finals. Most scouts agree that Splitter is the best bigman outside of the NBA. In fact, some scouts say he's the best overall player in Europe.

What will the Spurs be getting if they are able to sign Splitter? Recently, I've been watching complete games Splitter has played in spanning the last five years to get a better idea.

Physically, Splitter is a bigman with a good amount of length. In 2004, he measured out as 7-feet and 233 pounds with a wingspan of 7-foot-2. Today, Splitter is listed at 245 pounds.

Offensively, Splitter's two best attributes are his hands and his passing ability. Off of pick-and-rolls, Splitter is great at diving to the hoop and catching any type of pass -- whether it be a bounce pass, a hard pass in close quarters or a lob over the defense.

His passing is an area where he has really improved over the last two seasons. When he catches the ball at the high post, Splitter can hit cutters in the lane with ease. When he's double-teamed on the block, he quickly finds the open man -- even if it requires a pinpoint cross-court pass. Most impressive is Splitter's interior passing. His ability to make short, quick passes around the rim is elite.

Due to his hands and passing being his biggest strengths on offense, it's no surprise that Splitter's bread and butter is the pick-and-roll. Caja Laboral ran countless pick-and-rolls on the way to their championship. When Splitter catches the ball off the roll, he's a threat to finish at the rim, shoot a floater or make the smart pass to the open man.

The other go-to offensive play for Caja Laboral was posting Splitter up on the low block. Splitter's game on the low block is quite unique. If he doesn't have good position, he likes to deliberately back his man down (a la Charles Barkley) to get closer to the rim. Once he's within about five or six feet of the rim, Splitter almost always utilizes one of two maneuvers: a hook shot or an up-and-under move.

Statistically, Splitter is coming off of a successful offensive season in Europe. In the Spanish league, he averaged 15.7 points in 28 minutes per game on 58.3% shooting from the field. In 16 Euroleague games in which he played 26.6 minutes per contest, Splitter averaged 13 points with a shooting percentage of 53.5%.

Despite those numbers, there are a number of areas on the offensive end where I question Splitter's ability to translate that success to the NBA. His jump hook is releaed with almost no lift and he doesn't get good extension, which makes it much more defendable than a traditional hook shot. Physical post defense has also given Splitter trouble. Not only because his post moves depend on backing his opponent closer to the rim but also because his up-and-under move requires a bit of space to unleash.

The fact that he even attempts floaters on the offensive end is odd for a seven-footer. When he's driving to the bucket, he's not opposed to utilizing a Tony Parker-esque tear drop. Honestly, I'm not sure what to make out of this habit. While it's almost always preferable for a bigman to finish strong near the rim, Splitter has good touch and may avoid offensive fouls by being able to pull up from five feet rather than going all the way. That said, the Spurs could very well urge him to take the floater out of his repertoire so that he can draw more fouls and improve his conversion rate in the paint.

While Splitter is fully capable of authoring thunderous dunks, he does tend to use softer shots whenever possible. He's good at moving the ball around in the air to get good angles on layups. He also likes to shoot quick flip shots to catch the defense flatfooted. Though those softer tactics in the NBA can work, it usually comes with a transitional period to adjust to the superior athletes.

In Spain, Splitter rarely shot jumpers. When he did, he was usually off the mark. His jumpers don't have much arc and come with a relatively long windup. Having a non-shooter next to Tim Duncan hasn't worked out well in recent years, so Splitter's lack of a jumper is a concern. However, oddly enough, Splitter shoots jumpers with much more frequency and accuracy when playing for the Brazil national team. With his Spanish team, he rarely shoots outside of 15 feet. When in the Brazilian uniform, he connects rather consistently from 18-to-20 feet. Obviously, the Spurs will hope that the jumper he shows in international play is the one he'd bring to the NBA.

Off the ball on the offensive end, Splitter is constantly setting screens. Technically, those screens he sets in Europe would be called moving screens in the NBA -- so that's another area of adjustment he'll have to make. Since he doesn't have a wide body, Splitter's screens are only average. But what he lacks in quality he can make up with quantity. His back picks and weakside screens are very useful in halfcourt situations.

Though I would rank his end-to-end speed as only slightly above average, his willingness to run both ways is an asset. He won't make a living on the fast break but he'll run enough to get some fullcourt buckets from time to time.

His running of the court is more obvious on the defensive end. Splitter is a conscientious defender who picks up his man early. He bodies his man and rarely lets the opponent get good post position on him. When his man does get the ball on the post, Splitter does a good job of being physical without fouling -- he keeps his arms up and only contests shots outside of the paint after the shooter has committed to his shot.

Where Splitter shines on the defensive end is defending the pick-and-roll. He hedges very well and is able to pester point guards and then quickly return to his man. While I said he's not fast, Splitter is quick on his feet. That quickness is most apparent when he's switched onto a smaller defender on the perimeter. He wouldn't be able to defend small forwards on a full-time basis but he can do the necessary job when rotating out of the paint. Since Europe has a lot of bigmen who can shoot, Splitter has experience defending bigmen who like to hang out around the arc. He's not great at doing so but he's certainly far above average for a seven-footer.

Flopping is another strength for Splitter. Although not quite the master of flopping like his countryman Anderson Varejao, he's not too far away. When either setting a pick or trying to get through a pick, Splitter is good at flailing and drawing fouls. He is willing and able to sacrifice his body under the rim to draw offensive fouls. To the future chagrin of NBA fans, Splitter is also good at taking a World Cup quality dive and fooling referees after pretending to get hit with an arrant elbow or forearm.

Rebounding-wise, I think he'll crash the boards at a respectable rate on the NBA level. He's good at getting rebounds in his area due to his length, timing and good hands. However, Splitter doesn't have much a natural instinct to hunt down rebounds. If the ball doesn't come toward him, Splitter rarely is the one to come down with the carom. In other words, he doesn't have that innate rebounding ability that someone like DeJuan Blair possesses.

When playing for Caja Laboral, Splitter didn't block too many shots (0.8 blocks per game in the Spanish league this season, 0.5 blocks in Euroleague). The shots that he did block were usually when opponents attacked his body in an attempt to draw fouls. Splitter doesn't show much of a desire for blocking shots from the weakside. That said, Splitter won't have to worry as much about foul trouble when playing for the Spurs so he may become more aggressive in this regard. He definitely has all the necessary tools to be at least a decent shot blocker.

Overall, Splitter has good fundamentals on the defensive end but, again, there are concerns. His team defense needs work. When he's not involved in a play, he has a tendency of becoming a spectator. Splitter rarely hustles to protect the rim or help teammates who have lost their man. To put it bluntly, he needs to bust his ass a lot more on the defensive end if he's going to earn consistent minutes under Popovich. As is, Splitter only gives maximum effort when he's in the mix.

The inability to hold his ground hurts him on the defensive end of the court as well. Splitter can get pushed around when facing stronger opponents, which could lead to foul trouble and a sub par defensive rebounding rate. To play center in the NBA, he probably has to gain another 20 pounds or so to balance out his body. Right now, I'd classify him as top heavy with a skinny lower half. The good news is that Splitter doesn't back down from physical play and routinely returns the punishment when he can. And since he'll be joining Duncan and the Spurs, his inability to play center isn't a huge worry because Duncan is the team's center -- despite what you may hear from the PA announcer. Splitter should have no problem playing power forward … and that may actually end up being a better long-term fit for him.

Since the Spurs drafted Splitter in 2007, the biggest difference between then and now is his basketball IQ. He's gone from making bonehead plays in clutch situations to becoming a steely-eyed winner. He understands the game on both ends and is great at knowing when he needs to impose his will and when he needs to give his teammates the needed space to produce. Will his basketball IQ translate successfully to the NBA? Spurs fans should hope.

One thing that should be noted is Splitter's injury history. He has had a number of injuries through the years. Though most of the injuries were minor, the fact that Splitter is at least somewhat injury prone should factor into his projections to the NBA level.

Speaking of his NBA projection, part two will take a statistical look at what we can expect from Splitter next season if he signs with the Spurs.

[PDXSpursFan]

Excellent analysis as usual. Thanks timvp

[Jlowd21]

Nice post, I feel like I know a lot more about Splitter's game now. Thanks

[Thompson]

Thanks for the writeup. There's been a lack of any solid Spurs info recently, and I needed a fix.

Okay I'm Jonesing again, come on part 2...

[Vic Petro]

please sign this guy already :hungry:

[PDXSpursFan]

timvp,
I think that his floater is a good thing for 2 reasons:

1) Avoid offensive fouls- since being a rookie he won't get many calls his way
2) Even if he get calls, he's not a good free-throw shooter.

[Slydragon]

:tu

[Blackjack]

He's actually improved quite a bit on his free-throws but that should revert back to form once in SA . . .

Pretty on point, timvp. :tu

I think the passing has been one of the more impressive things to stand out and I think your assessment about his defense is almost to a T what I believe -- especially the effort or activity level when he's away or out of the play. I've called him white-collar to Varejao's blue and that's about the best I can explain it with words. More talented and his play seems to show that he knows it in those facets of the game.

And, yes, he's a power-forward. I don't think there's any way of getting around Tim's status of being a center anymore and I think we could even see it on the All-Star ballot this year. Tiago's light in the ass and mobile, Tim's now the anchor physically and in team standing.

[Kori Ellis]

Ahh... this answers my question of "Why are you watching Splitter AGAIN?" for the last week.

[Juanobili]

Ahh... this answers my question of "Why are you watching Splitter AGAIN?" for the last week.

haha

[jag]

Haven't really had a chance to watch his old games so this was a solid read.

Sign him up already!

[SenorSpur]

Another excellent write-up.

I feel like I actually know much more about the guy now - even though I've never seen him play.

Very much appreciated.

[completely deck]

Great writeup, timvp

[polandprzem]

Ahh... this answers my question of "Why are you watching Splitter AGAIN?" for the last week.

It would be a devastating punch for timvp if Splitter would not signed with the spurs then, I assume

GJ btw

[EricB]

In short, hes a more offensively talented, quicker, longer Fabricio Oberto.

[Vic Petro]

It would be a devastating punch to all spurs fans.

[Cane]

Great stuff like usual :toast

I've only seen a handful of his games but even in that small sample size, Tiago's NBA-ready passing and unique post game was on display. I too am not sure on how his signature moves will translate to the NBA, especially that awkward hook shot. Seems like if you scout him out you can get an easy block in the NBA on that move. Still during the regular season a competent and young 7 footer like Tiago should be a huge asset for the Spurs especially when paired with Duncan. Teams that don't have competent 7 footers can find themselves in a world of hurt against the Spurs with Tiago.

Hopefully his defense and quickness will help handle the likes of David West, Dirk, and Lamar Odom since they have been significant mismatch problems in the past but thats a lot to ask for anyone in the NBA. Now that Amar'e is out of the West the Spurs thankfully don't have to worry about defending that kind of crazy athleticism.

And while Duncan has declined athletically to defend younger PF's, on offense I think thats still going to be his role in the sense that he can help space the floor with his midrange shot especially if he's paired with Tiago. Spurs have tried to deter Duncan from sacrificing his body in the post game during the regular season by asking for more jumpshots IIRC.

Here's hoping that Tiago and Blair will help keep Duncan healthy and rested.

[EricB]

Agreed.

While not coming in 08 hurt, i wasn't a damn that sucks. it was a f'ing Splitter oh well he's got his reasons I suppose.

This would be nonsensical. He's said he's coming, CL said he's coming, everyone in the league is expecting it.

[EricB]

The thinking the hook shot wouldn't translate is like saying Ginobili's jumper wouldn't translate.

Smart bball players like Splitter, Ginobili, Horry figure ways out to get their shots off in efficient ways.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Thanks timvp, great analysis as always. :tu

[objective]

He throws up a lot of junk that I don't think will translate well at all. That's how I would describe his offense: junk shots. And it's a shame that he doesn't really play above the rim. Yes, he'll get occasional dunks, but he's barely clearing rim on those. Lots of Oberto-esque layups too.

His passing is awesome. Him and Blair together should be a treat.

I've always thought he was a PJ Brown type defender, and there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, it's a great thing.

I'm not concerned at all with how a non-shooting big man plays next to Duncan. I feel that's been the most overrated supposed flaw of the Spurs. Oberto played a lot of crunch time minutes in 07 without being a shooter, and guys like Robinson, Nazr, and Malik won titles with the Spurs being inconsistent shooters. But recently the Spurs have basically had nothing but shooters when the playoffs were around. They've been so-so results wise playing heavy with mid-range guys like Kurt Thomas and Antonio McDyess, and had their biggest disaster when making Matt Bonner the big man next to TD.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Edit:

Damn, the days of summer kinda melt together so you're not sure what the date is.

[jcrod]

Nice! If your right on his offense and defense with the picnroll he is everything the Spurs need. He just needs to work on his jump shoot and help defense and he'll be perfect fit.

[jcrod]

He throws up a lot of junk that I don't think will translate well at all. That's how I would describe his offense: junk shots. And it's a shame that he doesn't really play above the rim. Yes, he'll get occasional dunks, but he's barely clearing rim on those. Lots of Oberto-esque layups too.

His passing is awesome. Him and Blair together should be a treat.

I've always thought he was a PJ Brown type defender, and there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, it's a great thing.

I'm not concerned at all with how a non-shooting big man plays next to Duncan. I feel that's been the most overrated supposed flaw of the Spurs. Oberto played a lot of crunch time minutes in 07 without being a shooter, and guys like Robinson, Nazr, and Malik won titles with the Spurs being inconsistent shooters. But recently the Spurs have basically had nothing but shooters when the playoffs were around. They've been so-so results wise playing heavy with mid-range guys like Kurt Thomas and Antonio McDyess, and had their biggest disaster when making Matt Bonner the big man next to TD.

You had me till here. Robinson was a very good jump shooter.

[DrSteffo]

Thank you timvp :toast

I'm a euro-guy myself and have watched him play a bit. I must say I agree with everything you wrote. Just to add another very importan positive thing about him: his great character and "team spirit". It's apparent he is popular among his team mates and doesn't seem to have a big ego (it's no coincidence he is such a good passer since he has practised it so much).

[team-work]

Very nice analysis. While still waiting for the big news to come, this preview offers great insight into this guy's ability. Really appreciated timvp's effort in watching so many of Splitter's past games.

[team-work]

You had me till here. Robinson was a very good jump shooter.

Robinson was a good jump shooter even in his final year as a pro player.

[objective]

Robinson wasn't an effective jumpshooter at the end of his career. Re-watch the entire 2003 playoff run and find out for yourself.

[EricB]

I remember Robinson being successful with the jumper, but, not a "great" jump shooter.

[objective]

I probably went through 25-30 games on tape in their entirity from the 01-02 to 02-03 seasons when I made a highlight vid of Robinson a few years back, his jumpshot was not dependable. I remember being slightly surprised by that. Those last two years is when he was basically reduced to finishing around the basket.

[team-work]

I probably went through 25-30 games on tape in their entirity from the 01-02 to 02-03 seasons when I made a highlight vid of Robinson a few years back, his jumpshot was not dependable. I remember being slightly surprised by that. Those last two years is when he was basically reduced to finishing around the basket.

Thanks for correcting. I did not have too much database, but just had the Spurs "2002-2003 NBA Championship" DVD. From what I saw, most of his offensive ability which required athleticity has declined. Also he had to make way for Duncan and concentrate on D. As for his jumper, he didn't hit a high percentage but his shooting skills and form was decent, not much different from his early years.

[timvp]

I've called him white-collar to Varejao's blue and that's about the best I can explain it with words.

Well said.


Tiago's light in the ass and mobile, Tim's now the anchor

Exactly.


He throws up a lot of junk that I don't think will translate well at all. That's how I would describe his offense: junk shots.

That's a good way to put it. A lot of his shots are the type of shots you'd expect out of the 50-year-old crafty veteran at the Y ... not a NBA level seven-footer. I did a lot of rewinding and asking myself "did Splitter really just shoot a two-foot no-look flip shot with a clear lane to the rim?" His shot selection will leave Spurs fans frustrated at times, guaranteed. (Well, assuming his signs, of course.)


And it's a shame that he doesn't really play above the rim. Yes, he'll get occasional dunks, but he's barely clearing rim on those. Lots of Oberto-esque layups too.Yeah, his athleticism is tough to measure. He's not fast. He doesn't jump that high. He's not that strong. However, he has quick feet, good flexibility and he looks like he should be athletic :lol


I've always thought he was a PJ Brown type defender, and there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, it's a great thing.

The one big difference between the two is PJ was like an ox. Once he put his body on you, there was no moving him. Splitter doesn't have nearly as strong of a base ... but he's longer and more mobile so the potential to be a good defender is there.

[timvp]

timvp,
I think that his floater is a good thing for 2 reasons:

1) Avoid offensive fouls- since being a rookie he won't get many calls his way
2) Even if he get calls, he's not a good free-throw shooter.

Yeah his free throw shooting can get ugly.

Perfect Spur :tu


Just to add another very importan positive thing about him: his great character and "team spirit". It's apparent he is popular among his team mates and doesn't seem to have a big ego

Very good point. His teammates all seem to love him. He seems to play with winning as his only goal. When things go wrong, his teammates turn to him to bail the team out. His intangibles, at least on film, appear to be very good.

[Juanobili]

So he can sign after July 8th? Im guessing the draft picks getting signed this week are the only ones allowed. Not draft picks from 3 years ago?

[objective]

So he can sign after July 8th? Im guessing the draft picks getting signed this week are the only ones allowed. Not draft picks from 3 years ago?

good question. Maybe because he would have to be signed with the MLE and the MLE can't be used until the 8th?

[outmap]

While Splitter is fully capable of authoring thunderous dunks, he does tend to use softer shots whenever possible. He's good at moving the ball around in the air to get good angles on layups. He also likes to shoot quick flip shots to catch the defense flatfooted. Though those softer tactics in the NBA can work, it usually comes with a transitional period to adjust to the superior athletes.

Limited dunks? Pop will love him! :)


Flopping is another strength for Splitter. Although not quite the master of flopping like his countryman Anderson Varejao, he's not too far away. When either setting a pick or trying to get through a pick, Splitter is good at flailing and drawing fouls. He is willing and able to sacrifice his body under the rim to draw offensive fouls. To the future chagrin of NBA fans, Splitter is also good at taking a World Cup quality dive and fooling referees after pretending to get hit with an arrant elbow or forearm

Manu and Tiago in one team! :toast


Where Splitter shines on the defensive end is defending the pick-and-roll. He hedges very well and is able to pester point guards and then quickly return to his man. While I said he's not fast, Splitter is quick on his feet. That quickness is most apparent when he's switched onto a smaller defender on the perimeter. He wouldn't be able to defend small forwards on a full-time basis but he can do the necessary job when rotating out of the paint. Since Europe has a lot of bigmen who can shoot, Splitter has experience defending bigmen who like to hang out around the arc. He's not great at doing so but he's certainly far above average for a seven-footer.


Now this is what we need! We always get burned by Nash. :lobt2:

[boutons_deux]

Lots of weeping and gnashing of teeth if Sant Iago doesn't descend from the heavens this time and leaves the Spurs yet again bawling at the altar.

[mikeb2016]

timvp, a couple of questions, if you don't mind:

1) Perhaps this has been addressed elsewhere on ST, but how would you rate Splitter if he were a free agent big man, instead of someone the Spurs had rights to? Would he be the #1 target for what you could get with the MLE?

2) In a room filled with carbon dioxide, with the proverbial championship window being our only source of oxygen, the Spurs would be lucky to get enough quality air to escape with minimal brain damage. With that perhaps unfortunate analogy in mind, and Splitter's presumed need for time for his game to translate to the NBA, would you say that adding him, while a good step for future teams, will not immediately upgrade the Spurs to the championship level, and if so, would trading his rights (while not something that I have heard bandied about) for someone with a more immediate impact be a wiser move (if for the forthcoming season only)?

3) If Splitter were not or does not come over this year, is it possible that in the short run the Spurs could be better, considering what else they could do with the MLE, or is Splitter rightly consider our best upgrade option this offseason?

Thank you for the analysis and insight.

[Chieflion]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CqDk4jAv_Y4/TDJWjWLOsvI/AAAAAAAAEoM/Kpnufetj9oM/s1600/12.jpg

[tdunk21]

update: Splitter's camp want the Spurs to make an offer quickly



Written by Jeff Garcia
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 07:45
According to noticiasdealva.com, Tiago Splitter's camp has urged the San Antonio Spurs to move quickly to make him an offer as his July 15 2010, deadline approaches which grants Splitter an exit from his contract with Caja Laboral:

A poco más de una semana de plazo para que expire la fecha límite (15 de julio) que le permite acogerse a una cláusula de salida y rescindir su contrato con el Baskonia para las dos próximas temporadas, los agentes del pívot brasileño ya han apremiado a los Spurs para que trasladen en el menor tiempo posible una oferta satisfactoria que haga realidad el sueño del todavía integrante azulgrana de cruzar este verano el charco.

A little over a week to expiry of the deadline (July 15) that allows you to benefit from an exit clause and terminate his contract with Baskonia for the next two seasons, officials of the Brazilian power forward and have urged Spurs to move as quickly as possible a satisfactory offer to make the dream of Barca integral still crossing the pond this summer. (translated using Google Translate)

I hope the mid-level exception (MLE) is satisfactory for Splitter as the Spurs have the MLE which more than likely will be offered to Splitter.



http://projectspurs.com/2010-articles/july/splitters-camp-want-the-spurs-to-make-an-offer.html

[Lebowski Brickowski]

Written by Jeff Garcia
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 07:45
According to noticiasdealva.com, Tiago Splitter's camp has urged the San Antonio Spurs to move quickly to make him an offer as his July 15 2010, deadline approaches which grants Splitter an exit from his contract with Caja Laboral:

A poco más de una semana de plazo para que expire la fecha límite (15 de julio) que le permite acogerse a una cláusula de salida y rescindir su contrato con el Baskonia para las dos próximas temporadas, los agentes del pívot brasileño ya han apremiado a los Spurs para que trasladen en el menor tiempo posible una oferta satisfactoria que haga realidad el sueño del todavía integrante azulgrana de cruzar este verano el charco.

A little over a week to expiry of the deadline (July 15) that allows you to benefit from an exit clause and terminate his contract with Baskonia for the next two seasons, officials of the Brazilian power forward and have urged Spurs to move as quickly as possible a satisfactory offer to make the dream of Barca integral still crossing the pond this summer. (translated using Google Translate)

I hope the mid-level exception (MLE) is satisfactory for Splitter as the Spurs have the MLE which more than likely will be offered to Splitter

Looks like there's no time to efffffaround here.

[temujin]

I largely agree with Timvp's analysis.
As usual, as the guy knows about basketball.

With two caveats.

1) It's Quantitative, rather than Qualitative.
In reality, until the last series against Farsa, which Splitter dominated a-la Duncan03, one was left with some doubt about Splitter's capacity to come up big in big games.
Yes, the stats were there, but he was unable to be THE MAN for his team, expecially when he was needed the most. Witness a number of Euroleague games, finals etch.

2) It's more than questionable that he is the best center outside the NBA, let alone the best basketball player. Some would prefer Pekovic or Bouroussis, among centers.

Having said that, my anticipation is that if Manu is the post-ASG-pre-broken-nose Manu, the high PnR with Splitter will be absolutely devastating.

[Obstructed_View]

I hope his camp isn't expecting an offer before the tenth. I don't see it happening.

[dbestpro]

The only was Splitter does not sign is if the front office gets Sarveritis.

[elbamba]

Any clue on when we will know whether or not Splitter is coming to our team?

[E-RockWill]

Top notch, timvp, as usual.....

[velik_m]

Since the Spurs drafted Splitter in 2007, the biggest difference between then and now is his basketball IQ.

This is what i noticed during the last couple of seasons - he's really matured as a basketball player since being promoted from Scola's sidekick to central piece of his team.

[team-work]

While realizing Splitter cannot totally replace Duncan, it seems he can be at least a solid starter. Hope the FO can bring him over and the coaches finds a way to let him mesh with the team, (expectation on Pop).

[team-work]

How Duncan adjusts to his role this season is interesting. He no longer needs to carry the team like he did during the first half of the previous season while being worn out, and this is good for him.

[ohmwrecker]

I remember Robinson being successful with the jumper, but, not a "great" jump shooter.

He was consistent enough to draw his defender out of the post and quick enough to put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim. He was pretty much money from the right corner of the key.

The Spurs will be fortunate if Splitter is half the player Robinson was.

[ohmwrecker]

I hope his camp isn't expecting an offer before the tenth. I don't see it happening.

I hope your wrong. I would hope that the offer is already on the table and we are just waiting for the 8th.

[lefty]

Wow Great stuff

Thanks timvp :tu

[clubalien]

I thought the delay was because splitter wanted to take some time off being married and all. handle persoinal before professional. however, it looks like spurs are being dicks again and pulling a scola.

[timvp]

Ahh... this answers my question of "Why are you watching Splitter AGAIN?" for the last week.

You have to admit that the Spanish commentators are awesome. I only understand like one out of every ten words and it's still some of the best announcing I've ever heard.

[Spur-Addict]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CqDk4jAv_Y4/TDJWjWLOsvI/AAAAAAAAEoM/Kpnufetj9oM/s1600/12.jpg

:lol

[Brazil]

You have to admit that the Spanish commentators are awesome. I only understand like one out of every ten words and it's still some of the best announcing I've ever heard.

it's because you never watched a soccer game in Brazil. Brazilian commentators >>>>>>> Spanish commentators.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dr. Gonzo]

Holy shit . You know your hoops. prahps brah

[TJastal]

I thought the delay was because splitter wanted to take some time off being married and all. handle persoinal before professional. however, it looks like spurs are being dicks again and pulling a scola.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. He is obviously on the fence with this decision to come to the nba as is.... all it would take is feeling a bit offended at a low-ball offer and *poof* back he goes to Europe..

[Spurs Brazil]

GREAT read timvp

[Blackjack]

You have to admit that the Spanish commentators are awesome. I only understand like one out of every ten words and it's still some of the best announcing I've ever heard.

This is what ESPN and TNT's Reggie Miller has done to the English-speaking world . . .

[jason1301]

Nice work timvp!

One objection, his body being able to sustain the wear and tear off an NBA season is more of a concern, than his overall game and skill-set.

[iManu]

Who can we say his game translates to in history?

Wes Unsled, Patrick Ewing, Felipe Lopez....

[4RINGS]

I hope we can sign this guy.

[4RINGS]

I thought the delay was because splitter wanted to take some time off being married and all. handle persoinal before professional. however, it looks like spurs are being dicks again and pulling a scola.


Please don't pull a Scola on this one. Not AGAIN?!?!:bang

[Lebowski Brickowski]

You have to admit that the Spanish commentators are awesome. I only understand like one out of every ten words and it's still some of the best announcing I've ever heard.

You sure that's not van gundy/mark jackson? :lol

[Ginnoobbllee]

So, am I correct in assuming Splitter is an upgrade to McDyess? Of course, an obvious upgrade to Bonner (without the 3 pt. threat).

Can Splitter stop the endless parade of layups opponents have been able to put up against the Spurs, with the lack of anyone not named Duncan able to protect the rim?
:downspin:

[Manufan909]

Mad props timvp. I can't get off my ass to watch the last few series Splitter just played in, yet you have a baby and you STILL went 5 yrs back. Holy sweet goat nipples, Batman. I hope he is as willing to work on his faults as Blair has been. Being the 5th/6th option should give him way easier chances to score, and hopefully he can gain 20 lbs before the 1st half of the season is over. Idk if that is a realistic goal, or if anyone has brought up the idea to him of getting heavier, but make it happen Pop! Put him on the Beno diet.

And ericb, why was there doubt concerning Manu's jay before he came over?

[Man Mountain]

Welcome Mr. T!

[EduRiker]

Salivating for Part 2 now. Come on.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

it's because you never watched a soccer game in Brazil. Brazilian commentators >>>>>>> Spanish commentators.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can turn on Telemundo for that shit.

[ohmwrecker]

Not sure if this has already been posted:

http://www.altaspulsaciones.com/2010/07/10-tiago-splitter-huele-san-antonio-spur.html

[YODA]

What will the Spurs be getting if they are able to sign Splitter? Recently, I've been watching complete games Splitter has played in spanning the last five years to get a better idea.





Always a great read. Where were you able to get the complete games to see? I would love to be able to watch him.

[Galileo]

Before ever stepping onto an NBA court, Brazilian bigman Tiago Splitter is already a man, myth and legend. For many, the San Antonio Spurs will sink or swim this summer based on whether the franchise is able to get his autograph on a contract.

On the NBA radar for nearly a decade, Splitter likely would have been a top five pick in the 2004 draft. However, due to contractual issues with his Spanish club, he decided to stay out of the draft. It was the same song and dance the next few years as Splitter was unable to get a lottery promise due to his ironclad deal in Spain.

By 2007, Splitter's age made him automatically eligible for the draft. The Spurs drafted him with the 28th overall selection in the first round. Originally, San Antonio hoped to bring Splitter to town for the 2008-09 season. Unfortunately, the Spurs weren't able to compete financially with what Splitter could get overseas and the Brazilian decided to sign a two-year extension in Spain.

This summer, things are different. The Spurs are now able to pay Splitter up to approximately $6 million per season. Additionally, Splitter has been quoted numerous times saying he's ready to make the jump to the NBA. Now it appears as if it's simply a matter of the two sides reaching an agreement.

For Splitter, the negotiations couldn't come at a better time. A few weeks ago, his Caja Laboral team stunned heavily favored FC Barcelona to win the championship of the Spanish league. Splitter was named the MVP of the regular season and the MVP of the finals. Most scouts agree that Splitter is the best bigman outside of the NBA. In fact, some scouts say he's the best overall player in Europe.

What will the Spurs be getting if they are able to sign Splitter? Recently, I've been watching complete games Splitter has played in spanning the last five years to get a better idea.

Physically, Splitter is a bigman with a good amount of length. In 2004, he measured out as 7-feet and 233 pounds with a wingspan of 7-foot-2. Today, Splitter is listed at 245 pounds.

Offensively, Splitter's two best attributes are his hands and his passing ability. Off of pick-and-rolls, Splitter is great at diving to the hoop and catching any type of pass -- whether it be a bounce pass, a hard pass in close quarters or a lob over the defense.

His passing is an area where he has really improved over the last two seasons. When he catches the ball at the high post, Splitter can hit cutters in the lane with ease. When he's double-teamed on the block, he quickly finds the open man -- even if it requires a pinpoint cross-court pass. Most impressive is Splitter's interior passing. His ability to make short, quick passes around the rim is elite.

Due to his hands and passing being his biggest strengths on offense, it's no surprise that Splitter's bread and butter is the pick-and-roll. Caja Laboral ran countless pick-and-rolls on the way to their championship. When Splitter catches the ball off the roll, he's a threat to finish at the rim, shoot a floater or make the smart pass to the open man.

The other go-to offensive play for Caja Laboral was posting Splitter up on the low block. Splitter's game on the low block is quite unique. If he doesn't have good position, he likes to deliberately back his man down (a la Charles Barkley) to get closer to the rim. Once he's within about five or six feet of the rim, Splitter almost always utilizes one of two maneuvers: a hook shot or an up-and-under move.

Statistically, Splitter is coming off of a successful offensive season in Europe. In the Spanish league, he averaged 15.7 points in 28 minutes per game on 58.3% shooting from the field. In 16 Euroleague games in which he played 26.6 minutes per contest, Splitter averaged 13 points with a shooting percentage of 53.5%.

Despite those numbers, there are a number of areas on the offensive end where I question Splitter's ability to translate that success to the NBA. His jump hook is releaed with almost no lift and he doesn't get good extension, which makes it much more defendable than a traditional hook shot. Physical post defense has also given Splitter trouble. Not only because his post moves depend on backing his opponent closer to the rim but also because his up-and-under move requires a bit of space to unleash.

The fact that he even attempts floaters on the offensive end is odd for a seven-footer. When he's driving to the bucket, he's not opposed to utilizing a Tony Parker-esque tear drop. Honestly, I'm not sure what to make out of this habit. While it's almost always preferable for a bigman to finish strong near the rim, Splitter has good touch and may avoid offensive fouls by being able to pull up from five feet rather than going all the way. That said, the Spurs could very well urge him to take the floater out of his repertoire so that he can draw more fouls and improve his conversion rate in the paint.

While Splitter is fully capable of authoring thunderous dunks, he does tend to use softer shots whenever possible. He's good at moving the ball around in the air to get good angles on layups. He also likes to shoot quick flip shots to catch the defense flatfooted. Though those softer tactics in the NBA can work, it usually comes with a transitional period to adjust to the superior athletes.

In Spain, Splitter rarely shot jumpers. When he did, he was usually off the mark. His jumpers don't have much arc and come with a relatively long windup. Having a non-shooter next to Tim Duncan hasn't worked out well in recent years, so Splitter's lack of a jumper is a concern. However, oddly enough, Splitter shoots jumpers with much more frequency and accuracy when playing for the Brazil national team. With his Spanish team, he rarely shoots outside of 15 feet. When in the Brazilian uniform, he connects rather consistently from 18-to-20 feet. Obviously, the Spurs will hope that the jumper he shows in international play is the one he'd bring to the NBA.

Off the ball on the offensive end, Splitter is constantly setting screens. Technically, those screens he sets in Europe would be called moving screens in the NBA -- so that's another area of adjustment he'll have to make. Since he doesn't have a wide body, Splitter's screens are only average. But what he lacks in quality he can make up with quantity. His back picks and weakside screens are very useful in halfcourt situations.

Though I would rank his end-to-end speed as only slightly above average, his willingness to run both ways is an asset. He won't make a living on the fast break but he'll run enough to get some fullcourt buckets from time to time.

His running of the court is more obvious on the defensive end. Splitter is a conscientious defender who picks up his man early. He bodies his man and rarely lets the opponent get good post position on him. When his man does get the ball on the post, Splitter does a good job of being physical without fouling -- he keeps his arms up and only contests shots outside of the paint after the shooter has committed to his shot.

Where Splitter shines on the defensive end is defending the pick-and-roll. He hedges very well and is able to pester point guards and then quickly return to his man. While I said he's not fast, Splitter is quick on his feet. That quickness is most apparent when he's switched onto a smaller defender on the perimeter. He wouldn't be able to defend small forwards on a full-time basis but he can do the necessary job when rotating out of the paint. Since Europe has a lot of bigmen who can shoot, Splitter has experience defending bigmen who like to hang out around the arc. He's not great at doing so but he's certainly far above average for a seven-footer.

Flopping is another strength for Splitter. Although not quite the master of flopping like his countryman Anderson Varejao, he's not too far away. When either setting a pick or trying to get through a pick, Splitter is good at flailing and drawing fouls. He is willing and able to sacrifice his body under the rim to draw offensive fouls. To the future chagrin of NBA fans, Splitter is also good at taking a World Cup quality dive and fooling referees after pretending to get hit with an arrant elbow or forearm.

Rebounding-wise, I think he'll crash the boards at a respectable rate on the NBA level. He's good at getting rebounds in his area due to his length, timing and good hands. However, Splitter doesn't have much a natural instinct to hunt down rebounds. If the ball doesn't come toward him, Splitter rarely is the one to come down with the carom. In other words, he doesn't have that innate rebounding ability that someone like DeJuan Blair possesses.

When playing for Caja Laboral, Splitter didn't block too many shots (0.8 blocks per game in the Spanish league this season, 0.5 blocks in Euroleague). The shots that he did block were usually when opponents attacked his body in an attempt to draw fouls. Splitter doesn't show much of a desire for blocking shots from the weakside. That said, Splitter won't have to worry as much about foul trouble when playing for the Spurs so he may become more aggressive in this regard. He definitely has all the necessary tools to be at least a decent shot blocker.

Overall, Splitter has good fundamentals on the defensive end but, again, there are concerns. His team defense needs work. When he's not involved in a play, he has a tendency of becoming a spectator. Splitter rarely hustles to protect the rim or help teammates who have lost their man. To put it bluntly, he needs to bust his ass a lot more on the defensive end if he's going to earn consistent minutes under Popovich. As is, Splitter only gives maximum effort when he's in the mix.

The inability to hold his ground hurts him on the defensive end of the court as well. Splitter can get pushed around when facing stronger opponents, which could lead to foul trouble and a sub par defensive rebounding rate. To play center in the NBA, he probably has to gain another 20 pounds or so to balance out his body. Right now, I'd classify him as top heavy with a skinny lower half. The good news is that Splitter doesn't back down from physical play and routinely returns the punishment when he can. And since he'll be joining Duncan and the Spurs, his inability to play center isn't a huge worry because Duncan is the team's center -- despite what you may hear from the PA announcer. Splitter should have no problem playing power forward … and that may actually end up being a better long-term fit for him.

Since the Spurs drafted Splitter in 2007, the biggest difference between then and now is his basketball IQ. He's gone from making bonehead plays in clutch situations to becoming a steely-eyed winner. He understands the game on both ends and is great at knowing when he needs to impose his will and when he needs to give his teammates the needed space to produce. Will his basketball IQ translate successfully to the NBA? Spurs fans should hope.

One thing that should be noted is Splitter's injury history. He has had a number of injuries through the years. Though most of the injuries were minor, the fact that Splitter is at least somewhat injury prone should factor into his projections to the NBA level.

Speaking of his NBA projection, part two will take a statistical look at what we can expect from Splitter next season if he signs with the Spurs.

Splitter will probably print this page out and bring it in to Pop for contract negotiations.

:lmao