Addition of Splitter breathes new life into Spurs

I'm not sure if you guys think Blair was joking or what, but I actually believe he's going to start. I think Tim's officially a center.

Everything they're telling DeJuan to work on has been with the intentions of making him a PF and given he's their most talented Big outside of Tim, Splitter will be eased into it to start, 'Dyess needs his minutes managed and is a late starter and because Bonner is Bonner (not even Pop could start him over theses options in the front court), Blair makes a lot of sense -- Blair should eat up quite a few minutes this year with the preservation of Tim and 'Dyess.

Bonner will still get minutes Blair is good but he can't keep up with teams like that like to run like the Suns, Lakers, OK...

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Originally Posted by Killakobe81

I wish the Spurs luck this season and good health ...

I think the NBA is better whenthe Spurs are good. I have had some debates with Spur fans here and the good ones (posters) deserve a good team. Now that I no longer live in S.A. and only see the Lakerhaters (online and here in Dallas) Im back to giving the Spurs my admiration, they have ALWAYs had my respect ...

Now Dallas is on my shit list ...

They some cheeky bastards for never having won anything in basketball ...

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You're one of the ery few Laker fan posters that I enoy reading. You're a proud supporter & fan of your team w/o being overly obnoxious about it. And I like that you give the Spurs love & respect as well. :toast

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Originally Posted by rascal

Too much hype on this role player.

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i would say not enough!!! this is the first article as far as NBA news, i agree it getrs crazy in san antonio i admit im one of those guys, this guy has gotten better every year and is the exact type of player we need and hes freaking 6'11" hard worker, humble, quick,tough, and adores timmy and is coming when we were about to rebuild and people were asking for trades soo yes of course theres alot of hype

whats awesome is we have no idea how good he can become so there is alot of upside & mystery of course hes not going to be tim duncan but hey maybe a more defensive gasol, less offensive as pau but splitter looks as if he can guard almost any PF. And hes a heck of alot tougher than gasol. theres reason for the hype

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Originally Posted by liltex2010

Pretty much the truth. Good addition but not saviour. I know alot of people disagree but i think Shaq would help out alot. I big body to help in the paint would really do us justice, you can rest TD and play Tiago and Shaq.

:flag:

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i agree i think his presence even if for 15-20min would help this team out defensively and we need a for sure thing, i believe splitter will be a star but will gradually get there, with the addition of shaq we can get quick results and intimidate inside the paint

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Originally Posted by Killakobe81

I wish the Spurs luck this season and good health ...

I think the NBA is better whenthe Spurs are good. I have had some debates with Spur fans here and the good ones (posters) deserve a good team. Now that I no longer live in S.A. and only see the Lakerhaters (online and here in Dallas) Im back to giving the Spurs my admiration, they have ALWAYs had my respect ...

Now Dallas is on my shit list ...

They some cheeky bastards for never having won anything in basketball ...

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why cant all laker fans be this normal??... thanks man i heard kobe had knee surgery i was actually shocked cause if my SPURS dont end up well (staying healthy) i sure hope kobe has enough gas to smash the C-heat.
i have never rooted for the lakers, but i thought about the miami situation and if anyone can take em down its yall, i hate the lakers but i respect them i hate the heat and i have no respect for those guys they havent earned shit. i wish no team or player injuries except our centerpiece of small ball Matt Bonner :lol jk guys

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Originally Posted by Agloco

4 million a season for our 5th big...... :depressed

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I'm convinced they're grooming Bonner to eventually replace Duncan and become the franchise player. Hes clearly that good.

Anyone that thought the Rasho trade was about Erik Williams clearly never met the Red Rocket! :king

I see Splitter as the leader of a second unit that will include Manu, Hill, Anderson and Bonner/Dice. Unit would be competitive. Bonner got his big contract because a] the Spurs knew Dallas wanted him b] the FO knew Tiago would sign and Bonner's game complements his game.
Against the Suns the entire Spurs' team was outplayed, not just Bonner. Everyone seems to need a scapegoat. Whatever happened to we win as a team etc., etc., etc.1
The Big 3 get most of the money and the adulation. It's asinine to blame role players for failure. Sounds like Prince James syndrome to me. " I didn't fail, the rest of the team failed me". Man up! Jordan did it! Bird did! Magic did! Tired of this weepee whining about why their team lost.
Most to the best playes in history have never complained like these wimps in Miami. Malone, Stockton, Brarkley, Maravich. Posters go on with a list of great players who have never complained about not winning a championship because their teammates failed them.
Finally, Phil Jackson was was very similar to Bonner with the legendary championship Knicks teams. Action Jackson provided defensive skill and not much else. One dimentional. Without him the Knicks don't win championships. Or Mike Roirdan. {sic]

It makes more sense to start Splitter with TD. Blair comes off the bench first to sub for Splitter, and then McDyess for TD. Bonner will come in as needed to improve spacing for TD.

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Originally Posted by beachwood

From what I've seen he's not very athletic.

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What have you seen? He is pretty grounded, but he seems to have good speed and lateral quickness. People can be good athletes and not be great leapers.

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Originally Posted by LongtimeSpursFan

Bit of homerism: But I believe this is the most talented, athletic team since the 2003 team. I cant see how any Spurs fan is not excited. There were glimpses last year of this team becoming a fast break, more energy ball club and now with the additions of Splitter and Anderson the transformation is complete.

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Now they need the coach to let the team run a fast break.

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Originally Posted by lotr1trekkie

I see Splitter as the leader of a second unit that will include Manu, Hill, Anderson and Bonner/Dice.

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Who starts at SG if both Manu and Hill are on the 2nd unit?

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Originally Posted by ohmwrecker

Who starts at SG if both Manu and Hill are on the 2nd unit?

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Take your pick

Gee, Hairston, Temple, Neal

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But maybe only Freddy Kreuger has raised a hand and climbed out of the dirt more than the Spurs.

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Cool line

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Originally Posted by ohmwrecker

Who starts at SG if both Manu and Hill are on the 2nd unit?

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Gary Neal Baby!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Marcus Bryant

It makes more sense to start Splitter with TD. Blair comes off the bench first to sub for Splitter, and then McDyess for TD. Bonner will come in as needed to improve spacing for TD.

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That doesn't make sense, actually. If they run with that line-up it will hurt the second-unit's ability to defend the paint. Plus, Tiago needs to be worked into the starting line-up later down the road (possibly February or March). I'm hopeful that Pop's rotation looks similar to this:

Starters
PG: Tony Parker - SG: James Anderson - SF: Richard Jefferson - PF: DeJuan Blair - C: Tim Duncan

Bench
6th: Manu Ginobili - 7th: George Hill - 8th: Tiago Splitter - 9th: Antonio McDyess - 10th: Malik Hairston - 11th: Matt Bonner - 12: Garrett Temple

Austin Toros/Inactive List
Gary Neal
Alonzo Gee

They then stash Richards in Europe until next season when McDyess is gone.

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Who starts at SG if both Manu and Hill are on the 2nd unit?

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I think they give Anderson every opportunity to pick up the offense during pre-season and see if he can be the starter. He brings better size than Hill and can play off of Timmy and Tony. Hairston could be the de-facto back-up SF to Jefferson anyway, IMO.

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Originally Posted by TJastal

Take your pick

Gee, Hairston, Temple, Neal

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Pass. Pass. Pass. Pass.

I wonder if the Spurs will use MLE on another SF

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Originally Posted by J_Paco

That doesn't make sense, actually. If they run with that line-up it will hurt the second-unit's ability to defend the paint. Plus, Tiago needs to be worked into the starting line-up later down the road (possibly February or March). I'm hopeful that Pop's rotation looks similar to this:

Starters
PG: Tony Parker - SG: James Anderson - SF: Richard Jefferson - PF: DeJuan Blair - C: Tim Duncan

Bench
6th: Manu Ginobili - 7th: George Hill - 8th: Tiago Splitter - 9th: Antonio McDyess - 10th: Malik Hairston - 11th: Matt Bonner - 12: Garrett Temple

Austin Toros/Inactive List
Gary Neal
Alonzo Gee

They then stash Richards in Europe until next season when McDyess is gone.



I think they give Anderson every opportunity to pick up the offense during pre-season and see if he can be the starter. He brings better size than Hill and can play off of Timmy and Tony. Hairston could be the de-facto back-up SF to Jefferson anyway, IMO.

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I'm not too comfortable with you playing around in my dome. It's rather unsettling.

Needless to say, :tu.

That is the most reasonable rotation that I've seen so far. Good lookin' out!

How well would Splitter be able to defend the quicker, more athletic forwards? Because if he starts with Duncan, that's going to be his assignment. They'll essentially be starting two centers. McDyess is most likely going to continue starting, or possibly Blair depending on his development.

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Originally Posted by ohmwrecker

That is the most reasonable rotation that I've seen so far. Good lookin' out!

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I've been talking about Anderson starting with a friend and touched on it a bit here and there, but it makes a lot of since -- skill set, size, youth and the fact that it's early in the season gives you the time to really see what you've got.

The Spurs should play the youth as much as humanly possible this regular season. They need to steal minutes for their vets and the only chance they have at fulfilling the potential of this roster is to have the young guns come through -- better to let them go through the growing pains early to be ready down the stretch or to find out if they're going to be capable. If not, then you make a move knowing exactly what you need to acquire; there's no doubt that it might be on the roster at that point.

Many of the posters have Manu coming off the bench as our energy guy. I think Pop is going to start Manu because when he comes off the bench he tends to try and do too much and at his age may be a quicker cause for injury. Hill, Anderson, and Neal coming off of the bench should be able to provide the skill and energy we need from the bench.

I also would prefer Splitter play along side Duncan, but it would cause Blair to have to play along side Bonner, which is simply frightening. Manu's play with Blair too gives us one more reason to start Blair at the PF. Run with it until a he is over matched by big and then bring in Dice and Splitter.

The only issue with Ginobili is stating is that our bench would turn to crap. He was the biggest reason the Spurs had one of the best benches last year in terms of PPG.

I would be shocked to see the Spurs start a rookie so early in the season, and I hope Blair did bring a consistent 10 foot jumpshot this year or else he'll get eaten alive on D by the other team's starters.

Having said all that, it is a rotation I wouldn't mind seeing Pop try.

As long as Splitter can carry the scoring load a bit, (8-12 ppg) run the pick-n-roll with Parker, Hill and Ginobili well and of course defend the pick-n-roll, then I am perfectly happy with him.

Splitter executes and defends the pick-n-roll while Timmy is our Defensive Anchor and Fundamental Big Man in the paint. :)

PS: Ginobili should come off the Bench. No way Parker isn't Starting this year, RJ will probably start and Splitter will start eventually this season, so it would be stupid to have all our scorers in the Starting Lineup.

I thought it was pretty clear that Ginobili is the perfect player to come off our Bench. Nobody controls the Bench like Manu.