Interesting quote from Pop on Tiago

Always seemed to me like Splitter's lack of playing time was a)injury, b)out of shape due to injury c) pop not wanting to put him in a game where he would be out of his depth. I remember we ran him in the pick and roll like every play of the 2nd half (exaggeration, but we did it a lot) against the cavs. He was great. Then a few nights later he played one play at the end of a quarter against the magic. I just assumed pop wasn't going to throw him out there in a game we wanted to win where one mistake could cost us. Seemed like a good decision.

I've been really satisfied and impressed with splitter whenever he has played. If he's a diva, that's one thing; otherwise, i can't see what pop wouldn't like about Splitter's game and potential contributions to this team.

Pop is adopting the Phil Jackson M.O. of humiliating a player in the press to motivate him. He is basically calling Splitter a sissy in the hopes of turning him into a warrior. Splitter has shown a natural ability of post presence, but he is obviously still struggling with NBA post-play. Pop, like all of us, isn't sure if Splitter is the going to be the player the Spurs need him to be. Let's hope it works.

[QUOTE=DPG21920;4831820]CROFL Pop. Tiago has been perfectly healthy and Pop hasn't played him.[/QUOT
This.

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Originally Posted by ezau

We waited all these years for this guy and we fucking benched him.

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Better to bench ... rather to send him to HOU, right?

Everything I read this summer and during preseason said that the big three, manu in particular, went to Pop and said they wanted to win more early in the season.

Pop has respected that request, while still managing to rest Tim some. But Manu is playing more, and Pop has stuck with the same starting lineup and really tried to win games this year instead of treating the first half of the season as an extended preseason.

Overall, I'm really happy with that strategy. But I think it also includes not taking risks on an unproven guy like Splitter when he's missed training camp and the current guys are winning. I think if we start losing some games, then Pop will play with things a bit. But if he's trying to respect the veteran players' request to win more games early, he's not going to mess with the lineup in the name of integrating someone to be ready 55 games from now when the team is humming along.

Pregame tonight.

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Originally Posted by JMcDonald_SAEN

Pop says Tiago Splitter healthy enough to play, and wants to. "He's dying to," Pop said. "He's going out of his mind, basically."

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