Is Pop doing the Right Thing with Splitter?

[ChumpDumper]

Spreading the floor is the reason Blair starts alongside Duncan.

Coach Spurtalk says so.

[rmt]

But If the Spurs are winning then Splitter's PT is where it needs to be, regardless of what that number is.

Those regular season wins really did the Cavs a lot of good last year. God forbid the Spurs prepare for the real contenders - LAL (Gasol, Bynum, Odom) and BOS (KG, Perkins, Shaq, J O'Neal, Big Baby Davis). Spurs will get killed playing Duncan, Dice, and Bonner while Blair gets spot mins. and Splitter sits on the bench.

[chazley]

So how did the spurs manage to win with Fabricio Oberto as their starting center?

First off, they aren't the same player, which you imply.

Second, Fab had a better mid-range game than Splitter (which doesn't say much for Fab).

Third, that 2007 team wasn't nearly as talented at the 4/5 as this Spurs team. Fab didn't have the compe ion at the center spot that Tiago does now.

Fourth, in 2007 Horry was our only floor-spacing big man, and he was on his last legs. Changing our system to fit Fab instead of a floor-spacing 4/5 type was a necessity, unlike now.

[Ginobilly]

First off, they aren't the same player, which you imply.

Second, Fab had a better mid-range game than Splitter (which doesn't say much for Fab).

Third, that 2007 team wasn't nearly as talented at the 4/5 as this Spurs team. Fab didn't have the compe ion at the center spot that Tiago does now.

Fourth, in 2007 Horry was our only floor-spacing big man, and he was on his last legs. Changing our system to fit Fab instead of a floor-spacing 4/5 type was a necessity, unlike now.

We don't need Splitter to spread the floor because Duncan could play the stretch 4 role. We need Splitter to provide defense, rebounding, garbage points, screens, cuts, hard fouls, etc or in other words, a traditional center.

[TJastal]

We don't need Splitter to spread the floor because Duncan could play the stretch 4 role. We need Splitter to provide defense, rebounding, garbage points, screens, cuts, hard fouls, etc or in other words, a traditional center.

Yup a traditional center that is young and reasonably athletic playing alongside Timmy would do so much good for him, not just physically but mentally as well.

Pop's such a blind idiot not to see this.

[ChumpDumper]

Mentally?

Dr. Coach Spurstalk is also a psychiatrist.

[rmt]

Tiago is basically only good against one team in the league for us: The Lakers. Tiago will do a great job guarding Pau, since they have played against each other in the international game and Tiago I'm sure is familiar with his game. Plus, Tiago can play next to Tim against the Lakers.

All the more reason for Splitter to get minutes instead of Bonner since the championship goes through LA.

Against every other team in the league, his skills are redundant because everything he is good at right now, someone on this team is better than him. The only thing he is better at than everyone else is pick and roll defense, but he becomes a liability on offense because when we put him in there to guard the pick-n-roll, Pop likes to have another floor-spacing big which means Tiago has to play with either McDyess or Bonner, neither of whom are good at protecting the rim, and it means we can't play Blair or Duncan, our two best big men.

Until Pop changes his philosophy (he won't) of having a floor-spacing big man on the floor at all times, Splitter simply doesn't have alot of minutes to play until he develops a mid-range game.

I don't see Blair as one of our 2 best big men. Duncan and Dice will close the games in the playoffs. I don't think it's necessary for Splitter to develop a mid-range game. He does everything better than Bonner except for (3pt) shooting.

There's that all too familiar phrase that "Defense wins Championships." If that statement is true, then Splitter should be playing instead of Bonner. In the playoffs, IMO the big man rotation should be Duncan, Dice, Splitter with Bonner and Blair splitting spot minutes depending on situation/team.

[DesignatedT]

Mentally?

Dr. Coach Spurstalk is also a psychiatrist.

[TJastal]

Mentally?

Dr. Coach Spurstalk is also a psychiatrist.

It's pretty simple, really. Duncan has always insisted on being labeled a 'power forward'. Can you infer anything from this? That is, if you can take Pop's out of your mouth long enough..

[Ginobilly]

Yup a traditional center that is young and reasonably athletic playing alongside Timmy would do so much good for him, not just physically but mentally as well.

Pop's such a blind idiot not to see this.

According to some here, players like Chandler, Perkins, Noah, Shaq, would probably be a bad fit on the Spurs because they have no jumpshot and would clog up the lanes for Parker, Manu, and Jefferson to penetrate. When is Channing Fyre(Sean Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Lu ck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_'s brother) contract expiring? It would be so awesome for him to take Matt Bonner's role after Matt retires.

[ChumpDumper]

It's pretty simple, really. Duncan has always insisted on being labeled a 'power forward'. Can you infer anything from this?

No. I can't. Dr. Coach Spurstalk insists Richard Jefferson was playing center in the fourth last night.

That is, if you can take Pop's out of your mouth long enough..

Dr. Coach Spurstalk repeatedly posts his explicit sexual fantasies about me. Can you infer anything from that?

[ChumpDumper]

According to some here, players like Chandler, Perkins, Noah, Shaq, would probably be a bad fit on the Spurs because they have no jumpshot and would clog up the lanes for Parker, Manu, and Jefferson to penetrate. When is Channing Fyre(Sean Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Lu ck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_'s brother) contract expiring? It would be so awesome for him to take Matt Bonner's role after Matt retires.

Dr. Coach Spurstalk knows the real way to spell Sean's name.

[jjktkk]

No. I can't. Dr. Coach Spurstalk insists Richard Jefferson was playing center in the fourth last night.

Dr. Coach Spurstalk repeatedly posts his explicit sexual fantasies about me. Can you infer anything from that?

Another ST topic, another Tjastal beatdown.

[ulosturedge]

Wouldn't it be smarter to not hold off on the 2nd most talented big, who is arguably already the best overall on defense, even though he has by far the least amount of chemistry, and knowledge of the NBA players/game/refs?

In Pop I do not trust when it comes to playing better players over his mancrushes.

So you are saying you would rather have started the season by letting Blair,Dice, and Bonner rot on the bench and played Tiago heavy minutes? Force the team to re-establish their chemistry from scratch? In the process probably getting less out of a rusty Dice and Bonner ect., and more then likely not have had the best record at this point in the season.

We have the best record in the league right now, our team is deep as (because we are allowing everyone to contribute), and Tiago is already getting more minutes then Mahinmi ever did. And it's still really ing early in the season! What more do you want?!

[biskvito]

ChumpDumper, I can infer something about your endless one-liners and your 50000+ post count, but I'll just say:

"Pollyanna Poppers Bonku reading group."

[ChumpDumper]

ChumpDumper, I can infer something about your endless one-liners and your 50000+ post count, but I'll just say:

"Pollyanna Poppers Bonku reading group."

I'm sure that's easier than actually thinking of something yourself.

[DPG21920]

I am still in wait and see mode with regards to Tiago's game/role. Maybe due to the injury and long Summer combined with the fact the NBA season is much longer than what Tiago is used to, Pop is really holding off.

That still doesn't explain Tiago getting DNPs. I have yet to hear an explanation on how that makes sense?

[ChumpDumper]

I am still in wait and see mode with regards to Tiago's game/role. Maybe due to the injury and long Summer combined with the fact the NBA season is much longer than what Tiago is used to, Pop is really holding off.

That still doesn't explain Tiago getting DNPs. I have yet to hear an explanation on how that makes sense?

Haven't other Spurs gotten nights off when their minutes are being monitored?

[jjktkk]

and has CONSISTENTLY NOT made the rotational adjustments clamored for year after year by the spurs faithful )

Why would Pop want coaching advice from the "spurs faithful"? Are we more qualified to coach than Pop?

What still gives people this image of Pop as a basketball genius that can do no wrong season after season?

Well, just off the top of my head, I'd say his overall winning record of 752-365, his 4 championships, his 13 consecutive playoff appearances, his ability to evaluate NBA talent in the later rounds of the draft, like Ginoboli, Parker, and Hill, to name a few. Is Pop a "basketball genius that can do no wrong season after season"? Only a dufus would think that. He makes mistakes and some boneheaded decisions like anyone else. But if you think Pop isn't a good coach, your a fool.

[DPG21920]

His minutes aren't being monitored in the sense you are implying. That is like saying Quinn's minutes are being monitored. Monitoring minutes means you have a player that needs to play an important role on a nightly basis and they have to watch minutes to try and prevent wear & tear.

The Spurs getting nights off when their minutes are being monitored are usually giving DNP's on back-to-backs; like Tim Duncan.

Tiago is not in that situation. Tiago is getting multiple DNP's that have nothing to do with playing too many minutes the night before.

Tiago should never have a DNP in my opinion.

[ChumpDumper]

His minutes aren't being monitored in the sense you are implying. That is like saying Quinn's minutes are being monitored. Monitoring minutes means you have a player that needs to play an important role on a nightly basis and they have to watch minutes to try and prevent wear & tear.

That is specious reasoning. The Quinn comparison is false. The important role Splitter is to play is in the future.

The Spurs getting nights off when their minutes are being monitored are usually giving DNP's on back-to-backs; like Tim Duncan.

Tiago is not in that situation. Tiago is getting multiple DNP's that have nothing to do with playing too many minutes the night before.

Tiago played basketball the full calendar year, only taking time off for multiple injuries. His DNPs could easily be coming from an acknowledgment of all the ulative toll this has taken on Splitter. It's not like the Spurs have never experienced a flame-out of a player after a summer of international compe ion.

Tiago should never have a DNP in my opinion.

Great.

It's nice to have an opinion.

[jjktkk]

Tiago should never have a DNP in my opinion.

+1. IMO I think we will be seeing fewer and fewer DNPs for Splitter as the season rolls along.

[DPG21920]

So what is your opinion Chump? Why is it that Tiago is getting DNPs?

Also, comparing Tiago's minutes and DNP's to Tim/Manu/TP's is specious at best. Unless you can explain how they are similar.

[ChumpDumper]

So what is your opinion Chump? Why is it that Tiago is getting DNPs?

Dunno. I'm just saying what it might be.

Pop also might think that Splitter is horrible.

[TD 21]

You're getting into it with people non stop because they're not all apologists like you? Stupid them for having an opinion on a message board. What were they thinking?

But I don't want to take up too much of your time, I'm sure you've got some more thread policing to get to . . .