SB Nation has Splitter in Sixth Man Top 5

[BillMc]

Sixth Man of the Year Top 5 (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/3/20/2887086/nba-backyard-treasures-sixth-men-louis-williams-james-harden?sct=nba_t11_a4)

Didn't see this elsewhere.

[will_spurs]

To be honest this isn't stupid. But then again it's pretty much like Manu winning this award: on any other team, run by a sane coach, Splitter would be starting.

[Splits]

Splitter isn't even a 6th man. He's usually 7th - 9th off the bench.

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

Just shows how good he really is. Hes as productive as a 6th man while playing far less minutes.

Harden pretty much has 6th man of the year locked but splitter should finish top 3 for most improved player.

[DesignatedT]

on any other team, run by a sane coach, Splitter would be starting.

This isn't anywhere near being true.

[freetiago]

only thing holding splitter back is pop
we all know hes an elite center and one of the most productive players in the nba
the defense and offense is better with him in the game

i think the only other reason cant play huge minutes is because he plays so hard
always setting screens or boxing out/fighting for position/diving for lose balls

big men dont move as much as splitter and in the nba he should be easily tire out pretty quick doing what he does

[Mugen]

This isn't anywhere near being true.

Splitter would start for the majority of teams in the league

[DesignatedT]

Splitter would start for the majority of teams in the league

That's not what he said.............................

[will_spurs]

That's not what he said.............................

Any center of Splitter quality currently sitting on the bench anywhere?

[DesignatedT]

There are plenty of teams he wouldn't start for. Including contenders like the Lakers, Grizz, Bulls, Magic, Clippers, etc..

[freetiago]

so basically any team that doesnt have an all star center he would start for
he would start for clipper also
jordan is garbage
all he does is block shots, get in foul trouble, not grab rebounds, and miss more free throws then he makes
hes also made like what 2 shots outside the paint in his 4 year career

[DesignatedT]

He said he would start for any other team run by a sane coach...............

[spursince#99]

[QUOTE=DesignatedT;5731873]There are plenty of teams he wouldn't start for. Including contenders like the Lakers, Grizz, Bulls, Magic, Clippers, etc..[/QUOTE

Duh you dumb ass cause they have better quality bigs. He's saying if he was one of the better bigs, which he could be on most teams, he'd start. Shit is not hard homie.

[spursince#99]

He said he would start for any other team run by a sane coach...............

Duh you dumb ass cause they have better quality bigs. He's saying if he was one of the better bigs, which he could be on most teams, he'd start. Shit is not hard homie.

[DesignatedT]

Duh you dumb ass cause they have better quality bigs. He's saying if he was one of the better bigs, which he could be on most teams, he'd start. Shit is not hard homie.

That's not what he said homie.

[Proxy]

only thing holding splitter back is pop


and injuries

[spursince#99]

That's not what he said homie.

That's what he meant then homie. Stop being so technical.

[T Park]

To be honest this isn't stupid. But then again it's pretty much like Manu winning this award: on any other team, run by a sane coach, Splitter would be starting.

Yeah bob hill would have him startin!!!!

[TheSkeptic]

only thing holding splitter back is pop
we all know hes an elite center and one of the most productive players in the nba
the defense and offense is better with him in the game

i think the only other reason cant play huge minutes is because he plays so hard
always setting screens or boxing out/fighting for position/diving for lose balls

big men dont move as much as splitter and in the nba he should be easily tire out pretty quick doing what he does

When that's taken into account I really don't think him missing 6 games is all that big of a deal tbh. Frustrating but still within reason so far.

I said this earlier but it's mostly muscle strains he's coming down with. That happens when the body is doing too much for too long.

Rather than playing him less minutes to protect him it should be possible to play him more minutes in smaller intervals. Like in the Houston game. That way he doesn't have to push himself when he's clearly tired towards the end.

Say 5 or 6 4 minute shifts as opposed to the current ones that see him playing two or three longer shifts. That keeps him in peak physical condition and gives him a chance to rest while hopefully reducing the likelihood of an injury.

Edit: And also, I think what will was getting at is that there probably isn't a team in the league that would have a player like Splitter coming off the bench while starting Blair.

[therealtruth]

There are plenty of teams he wouldn't start for. Including contenders like the Lakers, Grizz, Bulls, Magic, Clippers, etc..

For any team in desperate need for some frontcourt size and defense he would have to start. The Spurs probably have the smallest frontcourt in the NBA.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

It sounds more like: any other coach on THIS team would start him. I think that's true. Pop is the mad scientist. His ways sometimes elude obvious logic.

[sinok]

Bringing both at the same time will clog the lane with the opposing team bigs. Splitter + Duncan pose no big theat from the outside (well, the problem beeing the same with blair starting, and that's probably why offence isn't that effective when he is on the team).
Thus penetration will be way harder for the guards: more people -> less space.
Then the team will become a damn p&r/jump shooting team, and I dont think you will like it...

Spacing is fucking hard to balance. It depends most of the time on who you're facing...

[TheSkeptic]

Bringing both at the same time will clog the lane with the opposing team bigs. Splitter + Duncan pose no big theat from the outside (well, the problem beeing the same with blair starting, and that's probably why offence isn't that effective when he is on the team).
Thus penetration will be way harder for the guards: more people -> less space.
Then the team will become a damn p&r/jump shooting team, and I dont think you will like it...

Spacing is fucking hard to balance. It depends most of the time on who you're facing...

You know what? You're right.

I can't think of any championship teams in recent or past history that have won it all while starting their most talented bigs.

Especially not in cases where one could shoot from midrange and thus space the floor somewhat and the other was quick enough to defend power forwards. I mean, the Spurs have *never* used this strategy successfully.

Seriously, such a frontcourt could never work when it's paired with wings who can shoot and a point guard that doesn't have a bad midrange shot either. The team just can't win that way. It's never been done.

Besides, the ability to lock down the paint has become overrated by this fanbase and those of other teams around the league. That's why nobody's interested in finding and playing their productive 7 footers any more.

Let's just count on Bonner to make enough 3s for the Spurs to outscore the others on the way to the Finals. Because it's really just a continuation of the regular season.

[Muser]

To be honest this isn't stupid. But then again it's pretty much like Manu winning this award: on any other team, run by a sane coach, Splitter would be starting.

Or the coach is smart and understands that having 2 players who operate in the post clogs up the offense.

[100%duncan]

^that sig is sick