What the is Popovich doing?

[ChumpDumper]

Best solution is to play an injury prone player who has been injured several times this calendar full of basketball compe ions year 48 minutes a game and just see what happens, I guess.

[jimo2305]

i know this thread also has a lot to do with bonner too.. i'll explain what i believe is pop's philosophy.. i mean.. afterall i have him in my avatar lol..

when you put a player like bonner on the floor.. you have an edge because what you're doing is putting a lineup that will stretch the defense.. now this is granted of course if bonner is actually consistent and making his wide open shots or even slightly contested shots.. that's the problem.. if bonner actually produced.. you'd have games like that one where he went 7 for 7 against oklahoma city.. if you have bonner playing the C position.. Ibaka's going to have to pick him up on D.. instead of sticking to his comfort zone on D which is in the paint.. bonner is a longer range threat than most centers.. so instead of biting in and exposing your D.. what you tend to do rather is get your players to play zone D.. now 9 times out of 10.. u have a player guarding bonner who is actually shorter than he is.. so much for contesting his shot now.. espeically during zone D.. you've got players switching from one to another that a late switch might just leave someone open for the shot.. bonner or not.. pop's not being stupid by playing bonner instead of tiago.. it's more of 'personnel package' situation

as far tiago's case.. who knows for sure? one can make speculations here or there about whether he's not as healthy or doesn't understand the game well or this or that.. but basically for whichever reason tiago's minutes are limited.. i'm pretty damn sure it has nothing to do with his production.. he's already produced..

this isn't pickup basketball where you just throw your best players out there and score points.. sometimes it's a game of chess and if pop isn't putting a lineup to score more points.. it could possibly be for other things like 'experience' or 'show me you understand the playbook' or 'how do you handle this situation' or 'do you understand the 3 second in the paint rule'.

[SA210]

There is no coach I would rather have than Pop.........but the dude drives me insane sometimes! Udoka, Bogans, Mason, Bonner.....Pop really?

[lefty]

[ElNono]

^^^ this

[DrSteffo]

Yes basically this, or drinking too much wine I dont know.

[Trill Clinton]

You're questioning Pop, really?

[SpursDynasty85]

You're questioning Pop, really?

Whats wrong with questioning him? Its a simple debate. Play Tiago more than Bonner, or Play Bonner more than Tiago. So I guess we all know you have blind faith in the man. I wonder how you felt when he traded Luis Scola for a spanoulis.

[DrSteffo]

After the two last games of course! You think he made the right decisions? He is a good coach, just incredibly stubborn and would need a real spanking.

[jjktkk]

Whats wrong with questioning him? Its a simple debate. Play Tiago more than Bonner, or Play Bonner more than Tiago. So I guess we all know you have blind faith in the man. I wonder how you felt when he traded Luis Scola for a spanoulis.

You wonder if that trade was ordered by the owner, trying to save money?

[ChumpDumper]

Whats wrong with questioning him? Its a simple debate. Play Tiago more than Bonner, or Play Bonner more than Tiago. So I guess we all know you have blind faith in the man. I wonder how you felt when he traded Luis Scola for a spanoulis.

I felt like the owner was trying to avoid the luxury tax.

[Trill Clinton]

Whats wrong with questioning him? Its a simple debate. Play Tiago more than Bonner, or Play Bonner more than Tiago. So I guess we all know you have blind faith in the man. I wonder how you felt when he traded Luis Scola for a spanoulis.

I think the Scola fiasco is way overblown, doesn't really bother me.

Just looking at the teams record it's obvious Pop knows what he's doing.

As far as the Tiago/Bonner debate goes, there are about 20,000 threads for your posting pleasure if you feel like going there.

@ blind faith...the man is the BEST coach in the league.

[SpursDynasty85]

Damn. Well, you can't argue with saving money, especially for the Spurs but quite honestly there were tons of hardcore spurs fan waiting 3 years to see this guy play. To trade this guy for nothing was sort of a slap in the face imo.

I'm still hoping Popovich will prove me wrong and eventually give splitter his immediate 15mpg now, and hopefully up it to 25, but quite honestly, does anyone really know?

[jimo2305]

btw didnt we win a championship that same year we let scola go?

[SpursDynasty85]

btw didnt we win a championship that same year we let scola go?

No he was traded away after the spurs won in 2007.

[DrSteffo]

@ blind faith...the man is the BEST coach in the league.

Hmmm?

I'm a Spurs fan. I want us to maximise our possibility to win another championship, blind faith in Pop is not a priority.

[Trill Clinton]

I was never that impressed with Splitter's play in Europe. He is a good defender but not a whole lot more than that other than what you would call an efficient offensive player.

He was never among the better players in Europe to be honest about it. He just played on a team that dumped the ball in the post on literally every possession. He is a good player but he was massively overrated. A good player in Europe, never a great one.

I am not surprised at all that Popovich is taking it slow with him. Splitter will be a big help IMO for the Spurs but the expectations really need to be lowered. He was always a role player in Europe and not a star. I know, he was "ACB MVP" but that award is bogus and always has been, as is just about every award that league gives out.

I do think Splitter will be a good player for the Spurs and his defense will be a big help, as will his size, but he isn't this great star in the making as has been advertised by "expert analysts" like Sean E. that greatly exaggerated about him and now because of it the fans are expecting too much from him.

The adjustment to the NBA is hard for these Euroleague big men because the NBA refs allow so much less contact. It's not easy to make that adjustment.

With all of this being said, Splitter, if he is indeed healthy right now, should definitely be playing more than he is.

Elegant post

[BRs.Ganso]

I was never that impressed with Splitter's play in Europe. He is a good defender but not a whole lot more than that other than what you would call an efficient offensive player.

He was never among the better players in Europe to be honest about it. He just played on a team that dumped the ball in the post on literally every possession. He is a good player but he was massively overrated. A good player in Europe, never a great one.

I am not surprised at all that Popovich is taking it slow with him. Splitter will be a big help IMO for the Spurs but the expectations really need to be lowered. He was always a role player in Europe and not a star. I know, he was "ACB MVP" but that award is bogus and always has been, as is just about every award that league gives out.

I do think Splitter will be a good player for the Spurs and his defense will be a big help, as will his size, but he isn't this great star in the making as has been advertised by "expert analysts" like Sean E. that greatly exaggerated about him and now because of it the fans are expecting too much from him.

The adjustment to the NBA is hard for these Euroleague big men because the NBA refs allow so much less contact. It's not easy to make that adjustment.

With all of this being said, Splitter, if he is indeed healthy right now, should definitely be playing more than he is.

OK, he not will be a all-star, not now and not for next 3 years, maybe never, if you read this, not is true, he have a nice potential, he can be a good player, like i spoke.

in last 2 years Splitter was one of best player in Europe, his 2009-2010 season was amazing, I watched he playing many times... He was MVP of regular and Finals on Spanish League (best national league without NBA)...

now he need improve his game, training more medium shot and FT's, increase your muscle mass without losing mobility, adaptate to the NBA rules, refs and pace of the game... its not easy.

[DrSteffo]

[QUOTE=Manu_Forever;4795498]I was never that impressed with Splitter's play in Europe. He is a good defender but not a whole lot more than that other than what you would call an efficient offensive player.

He was never among the better players in Europe to be honest about it.
QUOTE]

I guess he was among the worst players in Europe then, like the Finnish or Albanian scrubs. Come on

[BRs.Ganso]

[QUOTE][QUOTE=Manu_Forever;4795498]I was never that impressed with Splitter's play in Europe. He is a good defender but not a whole lot more than that other than what you would call an efficient offensive player.

He was never among the better players in Europe to be honest about it.
sorry but youre not right in this commentary...

[Leonard Curse]

Yeah 15-3 starts suck.

ill tell you what ! that start has nothing to do with pop and everything to do with manu and the teams drive this year theyre the ones who play the game and win. pop thought he was going to win a championship last year with his AMAZING LINEUPS and genius rotations and we were total . wht happend this year?

MANU TOLD POP TO GET OUR ASS IN GEAR FOR THE SEASON. MANU I REPEAT IS THE REAL PERSON YOU SHOULD BE THANKING WHEN U LOOK AT THIS RECORD. POP HASNT DONE ! (if so tell me what hes done to win games?) he calls timeout and says nothing!BUT PLAY BONNER AND MAKE RETARTED ROSTER ACQUISITIONS!

when the team was losing manu saved our ass along with the team NOT POPS AMAZING ROTATIONS IF ANYTHING POPS HURT THIS TEAM with his rotations i cant imagine what our record would be if this was vintage pop not powertrip stubborn pop

[SpursDynasty85]

ill tell you what ! That start has nothing to do with pop and everything to do with manu and the teams drive this year theyre the ones who play the game and win. Pop thought he was going to win a championship last year with his amazing lineups and genius rotations and we were total . Wht happend this this year?

Manu told pop to get our ass in gear for the season. Manu i repeat is the real person you should be thanking when u look at this record. Pop hasnt done ! (if so tell me what hes done to win games?) he calls timeout and says nothing!but play bonner and make retarted roster acquisitions!

When the team was losing manu saved our ass along with the team not pops amazing rotations if anything pops hurt this team with his rotations i cant imagine what our record would be if this was vintage pop not powertrip stubborn pop

+1

[jjktkk]

+1

-2

[rascal]

I think the Scola fiasco is way overblown, doesn't really bother me.

Just looking at the teams record it's obvious Pop knows what he's doing.

As far as the Tiago/Bonner debate goes, there are about 20,000 threads for your posting pleasure if you feel like going there.

@ blind faith...the man is the BEST coach in the league.

No he is not.

[rascal]

ill tell you what ! that start has nothing to do with pop and everything to do with manu and the teams drive this year theyre the ones who play the game and win. pop thought he was going to win a championship last year with his AMAZING LINEUPS and genius rotations and we were total . wht happend this year?

MANU TOLD POP TO GET OUR ASS IN GEAR FOR THE SEASON. MANU I REPEAT IS THE REAL PERSON YOU SHOULD BE THANKING WHEN U LOOK AT THIS RECORD. POP HASNT DONE ! (if so tell me what hes done to win games?) he calls timeout and says nothing!BUT PLAY BONNER AND MAKE RETARTED ROSTER ACQUISITIONS!

when the team was losing manu saved our ass along with the team NOT POPS AMAZING ROTATIONS IF ANYTHING POPS HURT THIS TEAM with his rotations i cant imagine what our record would be if this was vintage pop not powertrip stubborn pop

Don't forget about parker. He got off to a great start and now is struggling as the team is.