Splitter MUST Start

[EricB]

He has scored against a small forward way undersized, I'm not sure how much we can take out of that. He also got blocked twice when he tried that quick hook of his and he has zero elevation.
On the other end of the floor he does look much better at the pick and roll and taking a charge than any big for a long time but when Parker was on Richardson he was supposed to go help. Shows that he has still to learn the system.

I like his instincts and the potential, just don't see him getting big minutes before the ASG

Afraid to tell you but Warrick is 6'10. You can take alot out of his game tonight.

Get a grip

[BanditHiro]

Afraid to tell you but Warrick is 6'10. You can take alot out of his game tonight.

Get a grip

yeah seriously, we should present him with all of blair's miss assignments

[Doe]

Yeah I don't get the criticism either. He's looked fantastic on defense, really amazing how quickly he's picked things up. His rust on offense is to be expected, he did show some nice moves though. I'm mostly interested in seeing how well he rebounds once he gets in better shape/used to the NBA game.

[Quiet Strength]

I think splitter has a chance to be a starter sometime this season.. not yet though. I think dice should be starting now. Blair is playing way too bad.

[Frenchise player]

Afraid to tell you but Warrick is 6'10. You can take alot out of his game tonight.

Warrick is listed at 6-9, 219 and Splitter is 6-11, 232 pounds, that's a big mismatch in the low post.

[EricB]

I think leave things the way they are. No reason to change anything honestly. Your 4 games in, too early to start making knee jerk decisions.

[EricB]

Warrick is listed at 6-9, 219 and Splitter is 6-11, 232 pounds, that's a big mismatch in the low post.

Sure thing chief. Its a huge mismatch. He should've scored everytime down low cause he's horrible.

Whatever.

[angelbelow]

Warrick is listed at 6-9, 219 and Splitter is 6-11, 232 pounds, that's a big mismatch in the low post.

Lol wow. I can't tell if this is a troll or not.

[Ice009]

I prefer the tempered approach that Frenchise_player is taking. Splitter does look pretty good to me though so far, but yes Tiago has to earn a starting spot and he has a ways to go, but I think he's doing great for someone who only just played his second game.

I also agree with Eric that the starting lineup should stay and give Blair some more time with it.

[DJB]

Not sure about Splitter yet, he looks slow, doesn't have much athleticism and looks completely lost on both ends of the floor (understandable at the beginning of the season). He will need at least till the ASG to get more confortable.

Are you ing kidding me????

[crc21209]

I'll be happy with either Splitter or Dice starting, but one thing is for sure...I want Bonner to be the 5th big or "emergency" 3-pt shooter/floor-stretcher out there...nothing more.

[AlleyOopNazi]

Don't freak out, its a stretch to believe a 6'7" player can start at center. I love the dude mentality and aggresion, but his raw skills dont make up for his lack of size when he plays against teams' starting centers. This isn't news to me though, the second we aquired Splitter this year I knew he would eventually take over the starting spot. I guess Pop put wants Blair to get as much experience as possible even if it results negatively overall, because he will be that much better coming off the bench with poorer defensive players against him, plus Dice isn't getting any better anytime soon. He, like many other developed big-man role players that have played for Greg are constants on the team for an open J or getting dirty down low. Suns coverage was funny tonight, they had no clue what happened lol

[Cane]

Splitter still needs to get in shape and get some corporate knowledge under his belt through practices and getting eased in the system. I can see him starting around midway in the season though if Blair's weaknesses continue to get exploited.

[BanditHiro]

I prefer the tempered approach that Frenchise_player is taking. Splitter does look pretty good to me though so far, but yes Tiago has to earn a starting spot and he has a ways to go, but I think he's doing great for someone who only just played his second game.

I also agree with Eric that the starting lineup should stay and give Blair some more time with it.

He is playing better defense than Blair therefore should start...or Dice.

[Frenchise player]

Lol wow. I can't tell if this is a troll or not.

Not a troll, just giving my honest opinion. If Blair continues to stink he needs to take a sit but McDyess is the big man who has the most familiarity with the system.
I like Splitter, I am half brazilian and would like to see him succeed in a Spurs uniform but to me he looked like he lacked conditioning and didn't know where he was supposed to be on several possessions.

[duncan228]

Solid 4Q tonight for Splitter, made more impressive by fact he doesn't have legs yet or really know what he's doing

[SplitterHook]

I think there are two approaches to this...

As Pop said some people thought he was a center who could score 3-pointers, while being super athletic, with crazy hoops and etc. Those people are obviously disappointed. Splittler is a a 6-11 center with great bball IQ, nice passing abilities, great PnR, average post-up game, some other offensive moves and an ugly baby hook . Also he'll be great defensively. Especially in a team that the PnR defense is criticized after almost every game. Once he gets acclimated he'll defend the PnR much better. His rotations are ok right now and will be great after a couple of months.

I think he should start in the near future, even if he doesn't play starting minutes because I think he can make a good duo with duncan be the C and relieve the load off Duncan a bit... and I think pop will eventually start him just because of his defense. Splitter will provide good/great defense on daily bases, I'm sure.

But as I said, those people that were expecting a complete different player have their reasons to be disappointed.

[Leonard Curse]

splitter should start ONCE! he learns the system! and gets it,which will be soon gentlemen i gotta feeling hes a quick learner. for now dice should start and let splitter and blair have time to see the game off the bench and come in with a purpose.

after tiago catches up it will be amazing to see tim and splitter starting then have blair/dice off the bench

[angelbelow]

Imagine when Blair snaps out of this funk... this is a deep team.

[GSH]

Blair is wound up like a rubber band right now. Last year he was money around the basket, especially on put-backs. That was one of the things I was impressed with. Rookies tend to miss a huge percentage of put-backs - nerves, adrenelin, whatever. But Blair was very good about finishing around the rim, even with bigger guys around him.

He just got moved into a starting role, and he's pressing. Give him a couple of games, and he'll remember who he is, and that he belongs in that spot. At least I'm hopeful that he will. There's a reason they call him Grizzly, and there's a reason Pop put him into the starting lineup. It's way too early for the fans to turn on this bad young man.

[phyzik]

blair off the bench is a better option...dude brings the energy..he just doesn't fit starting..

Was saying this to my friends all game long.

[phyzik]

Blair is wound up like a rubber band right now. Last year he was money around the basket, especially on put-backs. That was one of the things I was impressed with. Rookies tend to miss a huge percentage of put-backs - nerves, adrenelin, whatever. But Blair was very good about finishing around the rim, even with bigger guys around him.

He just got moved into a starting role, and he's pressing. Give him a couple of games, and he'll remember who he is, and that he belongs in that spot. At least I'm hopeful that he will. There's a reason they call him Grizzly, and there's a reason Pop put him into the starting lineup. It's way too early for the fans to turn on this bad young man.

I'll give him a few more games, he has earned my patients from last year, but I just honestly think he works better as a bench player.

If we are 15 games into the season and its the same output though......

As Culburn would say downstairs..... Tree of Woe and all that towards Pop....

[spursfan4ever]

Just a observation note, I noticed Tiago during the timeout shots on TV stretching the leg and favoring his left leg while walking. It would really delay his progress if POP sits him out another 2-3 because of a re-injury. Anyone know of any news regarding Splitter and his health after tonights game?

[cutewizard]

Splitter was the best center in europe......

that means a lot....

europeans know how to play team basketball......

[JustinJDW]

splitter should start ONCE! he learns the system! and gets it,which will be soon gentlemen i gotta feeling hes a quick learner. for now dice should start and let splitter and blair have time to see the game off the bench and come in with a purpose.

after tiago catches up it will be amazing to see tim and splitter starting then have blair/dice off the bench

This pretty much sums it up.