My reply wasn't based on any implication you made or didn't make. It was a seperate statement. I do think that starting Splitter increases the chances that you'll see more minutes of a rotation without either Splitter or Duncan on the floor, but I do think there are ways around that.
No matter how good splitter is he needs to come off the bench. The spurs always need either duncan or splitter on the court for size. The rotations work better this way.
Starting: C-Duncan, PF-Mcdice
Backup: C-Splitter, PF-Bonner or Blair dependent on match-up
C Splitter/Bonner
PF Duncan/McDyess/Blair
You can have Duncan play center some though, it's not like you have to give Bonner a lot of minutes with that rotation.
Tim Duncan
Just because they start alongside one another doesn't mean either can't be on the court most of the time. Spurs are used to bringing Manu off the bench for Parker as an early sub. Same could be applied to the frontcourt...Blair comes off the bench for Duncan as an early sub.
The rotation works better with splitter coming off the bench. Just because he does not start doesnt mean he never going to play with td.
1stQ-duncan-dice start
6:00left1stQ-dice benched-splitter in
3:00left1stQ-duncan benched- blair in
I bet this is how the start of the game is going to look like. To me it just makes much more sense.
Makes sense to me too...I was just saying that it would be possible for Splitter to start alongside Duncan and still not have long periods of time where neither was on the court.
Like I said to begin with, however they want to work out the starting situation is fine with me. I'm just glad the Spurs have more options than ever before.
Unless Blair develops a midrange J, I don't know if playing him and Duncan together for extended minutes makes sense offensively.
I'd actually like to see a bit of Blair and Splitter together, since Splitter seems to have a decent high-post game, and Blair would still have some size behind him on defense.
Agreed. Blair's best fit on this team is to sub in for Tim, not to play alongside him.
This has pretty much been the focus of Blair's entire off-season. He supposedly showed up to the practice facility less than a week after the Spurs were eliminated to start working with Chip and the other assistants.
Whether or not the off-season efforts will translate to in-game success is yet to be seen, but the Spurs have clearly identified it as a key to him getting more minutes in the system.
I have another question. Will the Spurs have a center that can draw a double team next year?
If you're asking about one other than Duncan, no.
I'm wondering about anyone, including Duncan.
Ouch.I'm wondering about anyone, including Duncan.
Not saying you don't have a point, but still, ouch..........
He won't be an automatic double-team, but if Duncan gets rolling early I could definitely see opposing teams employ the double-team.I'm wondering about anyone, including Duncan.
If it's not Tiago then we're in trouble.
Sadly, I agree. If Tiago is only good for 20 mpg and not worthy of starting, I don't think that's enough for the Spurs to contend for a championship.
Since when has it become a pre-requisite for a starting-calibur player to start for the Spurs?. Manu Ginobili didn't start a lot of games, but that says nothing about whether or not he was "worthy".
If the Spurs decide Tiago is best alongside TD at the start of the game, then they'll go that way. But, if they decide to start Dice or Blair and bring in Splitter off the bench, it doesn't mean the Spurs are in trouble.
I would like to see Splitter's minutes up above 20 though.
Call the positions whatever you like, but the Spurs generally have one big who plays close to the basket and one who plays closer to the perimeter.
CTB (close to basket): Duncan/Blair
CTP (close to perimeter): McDyess/Bonner [McDyess with his midrange jumper, Bonner with his 3pt shooting]
Generally speaking, Duncan and Blair shouldn't be on the floor at the same time. Ditto for McDyess and Bonner.
It remains to be seen whether Splitter can play both. I think he probably can, which makes him a really versatile and useful piece to the rotation. He'll play high and closer to the perimeter when he's playing with Duncan or Blair. He'll play low and close to the basket when he's playing with McDyess or Bonner.
Last edited by doobs; 07-14-2010 at 03:17 PM.
Just start Splitter right away. He needs to learn asap. By playing Bonner/Dice were the same team we are last year who wont be good enough. So we have nothing to lose by starting Splitter right away.. in fact, the faster splitter clicks the better chance we have to win.
So the question is, who starts alongside Duncan?
Probably McDyess at first, then Splitter. Not Blair. Sometimes Bonner.
Start Tiago and TD with Blair and Dice off the bench
For what its worth, the paper said that Splitter will be playing behind Duncan and not with him. That seems the most likely scenario anyways, with Dice starting.
Splitter should get the job from day one, but we all know that is not how this team works.
Well, he also needs time to adjust to the NBA rules and stuff. No reason to shove him out there from the tip-off of his first game. I think watching the game get started from the bench let's you visualize what you would do out there if you were in the starting person's shoes. Then you jump out there and do it. I don't know, that's just me.
But as for the team, it takes most veterans, smart ones with lots of NBA time in NBA systems, usually a good year before feeling comfortable out there. A rookie foreign guy to the U.S. needs time to adjust to rules, new environment, and a whole lot more. I think it's a little much to ask him to start.
People, Tiago is not a force on offense whatsoever, therefore, he will not command a double team. The only big that the Spurs have that will draw double teams is Duncan, and even now teams are starting to shy away from that.
Some of you think Splitter is some amazing offensive talent. Most of his points come from weird shots and layups. No one is going to double team him.
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