Here is an excerpt from the DraftExpress Blog about Tiago Splitter:
http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jon...rt-Three--3120
Tiago Splitter (the longest player profile in DraftExpress history, at over 16,000 words and counting) continues to improve his game year by year, clearly emerging as one of the best players in European basketball this season, and maybe the top center around. His production is pretty astounding, ranking 3rd and 4th in PER in the Euroleague and ACB respectively, 8th in scoring in both categories, and amongst the league leaders in blocks, steals, free throw attempts and shooting percentage.
Offensively, Splitter continues to evolve his game, emerging as a real force for Tau Vitoria, to the tune of 16 points per game, on phenomenal percentages. He shoulders a big offensive load for them, and it’s clear that that’s something that is important for him in the way you see him calling for the ball on the left block. Splitter is primarily a low post player, showing an excellent assortment of footwork and spin-moves with his back to the basket, and a very effective jump-hook he can shoot with either hand. He is a little bit old school in that aspect, really putting pressure on his defender to hold his ground as he backs him down aggressively, which draws him quite a few fouls.
Splitter is extremely aggressive putting the ball on the floor and creating, showing excellent coordination and fluidity, and emerging as a terrific finisher thanks to his great hands and touch. He’s not incredibly explosive around the basket, which may emerge as more of an issue in the NBA (if and when), but with his excellent skill-level and high basketball IQ, he’s about as effective a low-post scorer as you’ll find at the European level. On top of that, he manages to find plenty of scoring opportunities with his ability to run the floor, play pick and roll with the likes of Pablo Prigioni and Igor Rakocevic, and just find open spots around the basket to catch and finish.
Splitter is finally becoming a more consistent free throw shooter, now making about 66% of his attempts—nearly 10 per-40 minutes pace adjusted. He’s not really showing any kind of mid-range jumper, but probably doesn’t really have to for Tau considering that he’s shooting over 64% from the field.
Still not a great rebounder, Splitter has become even less prolific in this department on the offensive end this year, which is a relative concern and probably his biggest weakness. He is showing much better awareness in his ability to pass the ball, though, sporting an impressive 1/1 assist to turnover ratio for the first time in his career.
Defensively, Splitter is obviously a huge asset as we’ve discussed many times, as he has the size, strength and length to be very effective in the low post, but is coordinated and mobile enough to step out and hedge screens with great accuracy. The intensity he displays on this end of the floor tends to get him in foul trouble at times, but this is something that his coach will obviously live with. Splitter is seeing better productivity in the shot-blocking department than in years past, particularly in the Euroleague, where he currently ranks second in blocks per game.
Obviously a high-level rotation player and likely starter whenever he decides to step foot in the NBA, Splitter has a very difficult decision coming up when his current contract expires in the summer of 2010. The paltry $836,000 he’s slotted to earn from the Spurs on the very bersome first round rookie scale can’t compete with the 2.3 million dollars net he currently earns, meaning he’d have to take something in the neighborhood of a 75% paycut for the honor of playing in the NBA.
Talking to Splitter after the final, he seemed non-committal at best when the topic was broached, although it’s pretty clear that he would love to play in the NBA. “Right now it’s the middle of the season and I’m only thinking about Tau. The Spurs have some good players and we’ll have to see what happens.” In response to my question about whether his slot on the Rookie scale might impact his decision, Splitter obviously didn’t seem too happy with his predicament, jokingly asking me if I could “talk to David Stern about that.” He reiterated that “it’s a dream to play in the NBA,” stating “I’m still young, and for sure I want to play there”, but said that “we’ll see what happens when my contract is up in two years.”
I think I'll take Splitter at his word. Don't expect to see him in the NBA for another 2 years.
I cant help but get excited reading that.
Alot will come down to the new CBA which is due for renegotiation in 2010. I think everyone expects a change in the rookie scale.
current cba runs through the 2011 season (with an option to extent another year after that).
with the dollar rebounding against the euro, he likely would have made more a lot more money in the long run if he had come over this year and gotten through his rookie deal ASAP.
of course, if he's happy there, he's got the bird in the hand money + that situation with his family, so it's not necessarily apples and apples.
Like I say they should just get Bourousis. he has NBA opt out this summer for zero dollars. Maybe is debatable that Pekovic and Splitter is better than him but is also debatable that he is better than them also.
Spurs should just go after him since they can actually sign him.
Is this a joke? NBA is in much worse financial situation than biggest clubs in Europe from Spain and Greece. Only big ones having any issues are the Russian clubs. You do realize NBA is already talking about 1/3 pay cuts for players?
If they did change CBA he might get even less in the new one. I am sure big clubs in Europe will far outbid Spurs once his contract is up. Spurs need to use some sense and try to get Bourousis who is available.
Really? I need to check my facts i think. That makes things 10 times for difficult.
It does not matter. There is so many articles and statements from NBA, players, and agents that there will be huge cut in next CBA in player salaries. The only way to get Splitter is if he takes huge pay cut. Some players like Scola and Fernandez do this.
Some like Spanoulis and Navarro do this and after 1 year have had enough.
yeah.. try not to trade him spurs.
James Gist is #20 on the NBA Rights Held List.
These lists are good and helpful but try to understand Draftexpress only really knows players that plays in Spain. Outside of players that play in Spain they usually get everything wrong. They are base in Spain and do not have much knowledge outside of there. The rankings lists have some very crazy things in them.
"Tiago Splitter was unstoppable in his first game back from injury setting the tone early as Tau took a double-digit lead in the opening period and never looked back.
Milano lost its second straight to Tau as it fell to 2-2 before traveling to Olympiacos next week. Splitter had 13 points and 2 assists to Will McDonald in the first period alone as Tau took a 16-31 advantage after 10 minutes and Milano never mounted a serious charge after that. Splitter finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks to lead six Tau scorers in double figures – none of whom played more than 21 minutes."
I talked to my daugher's coach that went to the game yesterday.
This Splitter guy is a real treat.
Two pretty big strikes against him...especially the lack of a mid-range game. It's a primary requirement for bigs that are scorers for this team.He’s not really showing any kind of mid-range jumper, but probably doesn’t really have to for Tau considering that he’s shooting over 64% from the field.
Still not a great rebounder, Splitter has become even less prolific in this department on the offensive end this year, which is a relative concern and probably his biggest weakness.
Bourousis is too slow-footed to be on the same tier of Splitter as a NBA prospect. He can play there, but I don't see him as starter material. Pekovic... I don't know, he has a NBA game, but let's see if he can put it on the floor when matched up against guys even bigger than him and how much of a defensive liability he'll become.
Splitter won't be a big offensive option. His scoring in the NBA will primarily come from the pick'n'roll and guard play. He's not such a weak rebounder as they make him look: Coach Ivanovic is a maniac of transition defence, that's probably why his OR numbers are down and Tau rounitely outrebounds their opponents, he plays along plenty of strong rebounders.
The Spurs run just as much(if not more) pick and pop as they do pick an roll. Our two biggest rotation bigs are Matt Bonner and Kurt Thomas...and both of them are above average outside shooters. Splitter will have to develop some type of mid-range game if he plans to make this team. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you are a big that can't shoot you aren't going to make it as a Spur. See Tolliver, Anthony.
Well, if you're only going to compare it to the biggest clubs, the biggest clubs over here are doing just as well as the biggest ones over there - in fact, our top revenue gainers turn MUCH larger profits.
There may be some individual teams in ESP and GRE that are in better shape than some individual teams over here - but with the recession hitting Europe just as hard as its hitting us, that'll trickle down there eventually as well (as we've already seen with the Russians - their unlimited spending money hasn't been talked about since the price of oil dropped).
He sounds like he is improving, but the fact that he doesn't have much of a mid-range shot kind of worries me, but he can obviously develop that. Taking a 75% cut in pay is asking a lot. Lets see here, take $836, 000 or $2.3 million?
he'd make over a million I believe, not just 836 grand.
BUT, he has the potential after a couple years, to make over 8 to 10, as opposed to 2 or 3.
I still think we can get this guy someday so whatever we do, hang onto his NBA rights, dont give them away like Scola. Sounds like he'd like to play for the Spurs but who can blame a guy for wanting to make more money.?
the recession has already arrived here in Europe and we will struggle as much as the states. there is kind of a hit list, which countries will fold first and many predictions go like Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain....
however, either Greece and Spain will be hit badly and rather sooner than later.
how much this effects the teams will be seen and depends also much on the business of the owners.
look at Tau, the team of Splitter. the company of Tau ceramica is one of the largest producers of all kinds of ceramic products for bathrooms and kitchens and ceramic tiles for floors. the break down of the real estate market in Spain will very likely hit them hard. for sure this will affect the team. point is, even if they still could somehow afford to run the team, it is almost impossible to see the management fire hundreds or thousands of employees and still run one of the most expensive basketball teams in Europe.
and we must not forget that the self-financing rate (don't know if this is the right term) of European basketball teams are much lower than for example the case with soccer teams. (talking about tickets and TV payments). there has to be much more money coming from owners and sponsors. and this pool will dry out quickly in times of recession.
How come anytime Splitter comes up the thread devolves into Kill Bill and someone arguing over European basketball?
wtf are you talking about. You know jack about economy. The Euro is tanking big time relative to the dollar. European banks are in worse trouble than US banks, they are MORE leveraged, have exposure not only to the overinflated US real estate market and the overinflated European market but they've also made massive loans to Eastern European countries and Ireland which are now defaulting, and to top that the socialist worker state unions give no room for labor adjustments. European owners are in a world of hurt.
Last edited by picnroll; 02-27-2009 at 09:59 AM.
dude... thanks but no thanks... we have The Gist, The Bonsu and The Savior (Mahimni) as our future bigs... When Splitter is ready to come... Oberto and Thomas will have retired so... we can wait...
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