How much Tiago do you think we'll see against Orlando?

[angelbelow]

I was so worried about over playing Bonner and falling behind in rebounds that I forgot that Lewis might be even worse than the red rocket. With that said, I would rather not have a repeat of a game where we get out maned on rebounds against any other team. I think our team as a whole did a great job rebounding in the 2nd half, but the first half was ugly.

Boston and LA eat those types of teams up for breakfast.

[Leonard Curse]

i mean there was the whole "he must have sucked at practice myth busted" when he played his last game, so its not any of that, i dont know whats going through pops mind, but i read somewhere he didnt get much time off so i think pop is doing that for him, well thats what im telling myself to stay sane at least. honestly i think its a dumb move tiago has had plenty rest. hes just in love with bonner

[Leonard Curse]

i'd take splitter over bonner anyday even if bonner scores 15, you guys need to pay close attention to switchoffs and help defense THEN you will see where bonner is messing up left and right

[silverblk mystix]

those 9 seconds were just to help Tiago stay in shape.

Masterful move by Pop.

[SplitterHook]

What about trading Splitter? I think its obvious Pop wont give him playing time against good teams.

blair+duncan
duncan+bonner
McDyess+bonner
Blair+Bonner/McDyess (splitter would play here)
(..)

What can we get for Splitter? I bet we could get a good trade from contending teams that lacks an interior presence. Miami would love to have a defensive center like him...

Btw, I'm not criticizing Pop. I think the Spurs play better without splitter packing the paint... Bonner looking really great out there, he's hot from the 3 and I don't think he's slowing down anytime soon...


So why not trade him?

[ElNono]

None of that changes the fact Bonner is a big.

You can tell me he is a big body, but he plays small. At least on the offensive end, he's literally a perimeter player.

[Trill Clinton]

What about trading Splitter? I think its obvious Pop wont give him playing time against good teams.

blair+duncan
duncan+bonner
McDyess+bonner
Blair+Bonner/McDyess (splitter would play here)
(..)

What can we get for Splitter? I bet we could get a good trade from contending teams that lacks an interior presence. Miami would love to have a defensive center like him...

Btw, I'm not criticizing Pop. I think the Spurs play better without splitter packing the paint... Bonner looking really great out there, he's hot from the 3 and I don't think he's slowing down anytime soon...


So why not trade him?

Why trade him when Timmy and Dice are close to retiring?

[mountainballer]

bad news if people didn't like the minutes share in the Magics game, things might not be much different vs. Wolves. (or will Pop even try to play RJ against Beasley?).
well, if hopefully the Wolves turns into a garbage time game from start of 2nd half, Pop can rest Tim and Dice for the Mavs game. in that case we should see some Splitter minutes.

[Rummpd]

12 and 1 is the answer - I believe Pop is determined to get a decent start this year then will loosen the reins and he will begin watching Duncan's and Dice's minutes. Splitter will be playing more by the middle of the year but I do not seem him moving into a starting role this year at least.

[yavozerb]

There are plenty of back to backs still to come and amazingly none of our bigs have been in any foul trouble through 13 games so far this season which would free up more minutes for splitter. His time will come and I feel very confident that he well perform very well when called on by pop.

[Mel_13]

bad news if people didn't like the minutes share in the Magics game, things might not be much different vs. Wolves. (or will Pop even try to play RJ against Beasley?).
well, if hopefully the Wolves turns into a garbage time game from start of 2nd half, Pop can rest Tim and Dice for the Mavs game. in that case we should see some Splitter minutes.

Beasley is their starting SF, so RJ will be matched up with him.

[boutons_deux]

Splitter being buried on the bench is weirdo Pop.

[Agloco]

It'd be a great game to give Tiago a strong amount of minutes to match Orlando's Howard and Gortat.

They might even start Tiago on Howard so Tim doesn't pick up too many fouls early.

Even looking in the rear view mirror, this would have been a bad idea. If Tiago even looked at Howard funny he's getting hit with a foul. He'd last all of 5 minutes out there.

[Agloco]

bad news if people didn't like the minutes share in the Magics game, things might not be much different vs. Wolves. (or will Pop even try to play RJ against Beasley?).
well, if hopefully the Wolves turns into a garbage time game from start of 2nd half, Pop can rest Tim and Dice for the Mavs game. in that case we should see some Splitter minutes.

I think Dice and Blairs minutes need to be lowered considerably, with Dice being the first option should Timmy, Tiago or Boner get into foul trouble. Dice should be the spot minutes guy or the guy we go to if some toughness and elbow grease is needed (like last night).

Blair needs some time to think things over. He's clearly distracted by something (To be fair, I can see how Ashley could do that ).

[mountainballer]

Beasley is their starting SF, so RJ will be matched up with him.

ok, right.
I had Johnson in mind as their starting SF but didn't check that they play him at SG.

[Madhops]

im going to guess 10 seconds

[TJastal]

Nah, the Timberwolves game is a no brainer for him to play extended minutes. But I agree, I don't think he plays against the Magic, barring foul trouble to either Duncan or McDyess or the game turning into a blowout.

I expect Blair to struggle guarding Lewis and give way to Bonner playing extended minutes. McDyess will probably play a lot too, because he sat out last night and he could sit out the following game.

Nice call TD_21

[TJastal]

There are plenty of back to backs still to come and amazingly none of our bigs have been in any foul trouble through 13 games so far this season which would free up more minutes for splitter. His time will come and I feel very confident that he well perform very well when called on by pop.

LMAO, reality setting in finally, that the crotch rocket is Pop's favorite.

Tilll January, this is it for B2B's:

clippers Dec 1st
nuggets Dec 15th

LMAO "plenty"

[Obstructed_View]

Even looking in the rear view mirror, this would have been a bad idea. If Tiago even looked at Howard funny he's getting hit with a foul. He'd last all of 5 minutes out there.

Four minutes and 51 seconds longer than he actually lasted.

[yavozerb]

LMAO, reality setting in finally, that the crotch rocket is Pop's favorite.

Tilll January, this is it for B2B's:

clippers Dec 1st
nuggets Dec 15th

LMAO "plenty"

I have no problem with Bonner playing the way he currently is. Pop is going with the hot hand right now and I hope Bonner stays hot all season. Tiago is a great reserve to have in case of an injury or foul trouble. Not sure why I explain this to you since you are the same poster who seems jump on the hater bandwagon every season. First it was Euro splitter, then RJ, and then Bonner you hated on. I know its probable eating you alive since you have no other player to hate on currently so I guess you settled for splitters PT. Now thats funny, and sad at the same time.

[TJastal]

I don't know where you guys came up with this idea that Splitter has no post game. He's not going to make anybody forget about prime Duncan down there any time soon, but he's polished enough to where, if he has an advantageous match-up like Lewis, I'm confident he could make the opposition pay.

But Pop doesn't think that way. He see's a tough match-up with a guy like Lewis and his immediate thought is "let's play smaller", as opposed to let's play bigger and punish this team in the paint and on the glass. Force them to adjust.

+1

I totally agree here, and its obvious Pop is married to this idea that Matt Bonner is the only answer to the quicker stretch 4's like Lewis, and pretty much everyone else. He didn't even give Tiago a look on Lewis last night, preferring to go with the crotch rocket for a ridiculous 36 minutes.

Ultimately, Splitter gets another DNP-CD, loses another chance to gain important experience, and has another layer of confidence chipped away, which will ultimately cost the spurs later on in the season.

[TJastal]

I have no problem with Bonner playing the way he currently is. Pop is going with the hot hand right now and I hope Bonner stays hot all season. Tiago is a great reserve to have in case of an injury or foul trouble. Not sure why I explain this to you since you are the same poster who seems jump on the hater bandwagon every season. First it was Euro splitter, then RJ, and then Bonner you hated on. I know its probable eating you alive since you have no other player to hate on currently so I guess you settled for splitters PT. Now thats funny, and sad at the same time.

Props to being right about Splitter, he's much better than I realized. I know alot of people were just getting fed up wondering if he was going to make the jump or not, me included.

Props on RJ as well. So far he has made a complete turnaround. Can't hate on that.

You called em both, and I gotta give credit where its due. You're delusional however if you think Bonner is the answer and that Splitter should be playing as his 'backup'. This is only going to result in Tim Duncan being worn completely to the nub come playoff time and a simultaneous Matt Bonner choke job = certain doom for the spurs.

[ChumpDumper]

Looks like Pop doesn't want to overplay Splitter in games when the Spurs are already winning. It's not like this hasn't happened before with players who played all summer.

[yavozerb]

Props to being right about Splitter, he's much better than I realized. I know alot of people were just getting fed up wondering if he was going to make the jump or not, me included.

Props on RJ as well. So far he has made a complete turnaround. Can't hate on that.

You called em both, and I gotta give credit where its due. You're delusional however if you think Bonner is the answer and that Splitter should be playing as his 'backup'. This is only going to result in Tim Duncan being worn completely to the nub come playoff time and a simultaneous Matt Bonner choke job = certain doom for the spurs.

Duncan is averaging 29 mpg after 13 games, do you think this too much? I think as long as Duncan can average less than 32mpg during the season he should be ok come playoff time. I really do not care who backs up TD as long as they produce. Right now Bonner is one of the hottest shooters in the NBA, a good coach like pop is gonna get as much from that as possible. Now if Bonner cools off and is still getting big minutes then I may question the big man rotation.

[jjktkk]

Splitter being buried on the bench is weirdo Pop.

Since Bonner and McDyess are playing well, Splitter should be getting Blair's minutes. Have a feeling that Pop wants Blair to come out of his funk, which, along with Splitter's still learning the Spurs system, might be a couple of reasons Splitter isn't getting more burn IMO. This won't go on forever, as I feel that Splitter will be a regular and solid contributer as the season goes along, eventually surpassing Blair on the depth chart.