Splitter, by the numbers..

[Spurs Brazil]

Great post Harlem

I think Tiago is doing fine, he missed the whole training camp because of injury so he'll have more difficult getting playing time now. But I believe he'll be in rotation around the All Star Game

[quentin_compson]

Great stat work, Harlem. I enjoyed reading this very much.

On defense, Splitter easily has been the most impressive Spurs big not named Tim Duncan in quite some time. He has the length and the skills to potentially hold his own against most NBA bigs.
His offense has been very shaky, but I'm not really surprised about that. As others have already mentioned, he struggles to create his own shot and his shots lack confidence. Also, although moving his feet very well, he has problems getting into a good position.
I really, really hope Pop will play him more, the sooner the better.

[MannyIsGod]

Horrible Post, Harlem.










































Ok I just wanted to be different. Great work.

[nkdlunch]

Tiago is doing fine so far. Anybody saying otherwise was delusional to start with.

[DBMethos]

Tiago the Savior isn't doing so great. Tiago the Basketball Player with Realistic Expectations is coming along nicely.

[angelbelow]

Although his B2B has yielded poor results, hes shown that hes got some moves, esp against the shorter/weaker defenders. That tells me that he at least has a decent feel for b2b type moves. With that said, hes still got room to grow in that area. Splitter has no doubt been the most impressive on PnR situation and a few offense rebounding situations.

The more he plays I think the more hes going to impress.. he has a little bit of that Ginobili swagger and hes obviously got great BBIQ and game sense, these type of players usually turn out to be pretty special.

[DMC]

Stats are strange creatures: They can show you something different based on just a tad bit more information.

For example: When Tiago is on the floor, are the opponent's starters on the floor? How much is garbage time when no one is defending the pick and roll?

These kind of things make all the difference in the world. Not saying anything about Tiago, but those stats need to be viewed in their proper context.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Great OP, HarlemHeat.

I think the criticism of Splitter so far seen on the board is a symptom of a much broader societal problem - the instant gratification complex. that . The guy has been playing fine and is looking better every game, all the while dealing with bull rookie calls.

[ChuckD]

Simple truth of the matter is the refs aren't going to respect a guy playing sporadic minutes behind Matt Bonner. The longer Splitter stays out of Pop's rotation, the less familarity and respect he will recieve from nba refs.

Meanwhile, I'm sure Matt Bonner will continue to get all kinds of attention for his hot shooting games against the leagues' scrub teams and yet still won't be able to buy a call come playoff time. Again, just a a simple truth of the matter.

Simple truth of the matter is that Tiago sabotages his own respect when his first instinct when he sees a driving guard is to stand straight up with his arms upraised and try to draw a charge. That's a move by a big facing up a guard.

[wildbill2u]

If Splitter was acknowledged as the best big man in Europe--and the game over there is acknowledged to be more physical than the wussy NBA these days--then I think Tiago will be able to hold his own in the paint once he learns how the refs call the game.

From what I've seen he has picked up some offensive fouls for being too physical against the defender.

[DrSteffo]

Great OP, HarlemHeat.

I think the criticism of Splitter so far seen on the board is a symptom of a much broader societal problem - the instant gratification complex. that . The guy has been playing fine and is looking better every game, all the while dealing with bull rookie calls.

This. I don't understand the recent ing about Splitter at all. I guess some people here just need to find something negative to about regardless of us being 19-3, playing great and having more depth than ever. Splitter has played very well in limited minutes, especially on D.

[Russ]

Euro bigmen usually excel on offense and struggle with D.

If Splitter is holding up on D, and people worry about his O -- that's best case scenario.

Splitter has great offensive skills and will adjust his game. Pop just doesn't want him to become a sloppy offensive player so he will make us all (Splitter included) wait.

The sky is the limit.

[TJastal]

Simple truth of the matter is that Tiago sabotages his own respect when his first instinct when he sees a driving guard is to stand straight up with his arms upraised and try to draw a charge. That's a move by a big facing up a guard.

Seems to be working for Big Baby Davis.

[ChuckD]

Seems to be working for Big Baby Davis.

We're not a league-beloved franchise like Boston. There are two sets of rules/calls: BOS/LAL and everyone else.

[TJastal]

We're not a league-beloved franchise like Boston. There are two sets of rules/calls: BOS/LAL and everyone else.

You mean BOS/LA/Miami and everyone else. Soon to be BOS/LA/Miami/NY in a few years.

[Chomag]

Does this guy play on the Spurs?

[TDMVPDPOY]

up 17 with 4mins to play in the 4th

duncan was bench

still no signs off splitter

so pop puts in duncan

still 17pt lead...

FAIL

[rascal]

This. I don't understand the recent ing about Splitter at all. I guess some people here just need to find something negative to about regardless of us being 19-3, playing great and having more depth than ever. Splitter has played very well in limited minutes, especially on D.

19-3 does not mean there are no needs of improvement and the team is championship bound.

Until the Spurs can prove they can get an upper hand on the Lakers the early impressive start is nothing more than that.

[ducks]

yeah because lakers are just blowing everyone away right
and gasol is already gased

[spurs1990]

Splitter is pretty much a not good nba player.

[Hoops Czar]

Splitter is pretty much a not good nba player.

He's playing like his contract...CHEAP!

[jag]

He's playing like his contract...CHEAP!

We get it, you don't like Splitter.

[DMC]

Simple truth of the matter is that Tiago sabotages his own respect when his first instinct when he sees a driving guard is to stand straight up with his arms upraised and try to draw a charge. That's a move by a big facing up a guard.

I agree with most of that.

I don't think the Spurs' coaches think in terms of moves. The team will benefit more if Tiago challenges at the rim though instead of doing what any guard on the floor could do, which is to act like a barrier instead of a force. The Spurs need a force down low, not just a barrier.

[DMC]

I don't believe anyone in the NBA is playing for cheap. 1 million a year isn't cheap. I would play for less than half that.

[Hoops Czar]

I don't believe anyone in the NBA is playing for cheap. 1 million a year isn't cheap. I would play for less than half that.

Considering what an average NBA player pockets, one million dollars for a Euroleague mvp touted as being Duncan's successor is dirt cheap.

On the other hand, it is quite expensive for a garbage time replacement who struggles to grasp the concept "ball in hoop".