d league time for splitter

[Mel_13]

He's pretty much stuck right now. Too good for the D-League, yet not able to crack a solid spot in the rotation in the big leagues yet. Much like Mahinmi last year. Not looking good for him, as he's the last guy in the bigman rotation. His best bet is to beat out McDyess since he's the player most similar to and Bonner and Blair bring the shooting and rebounding he can't deliver, but we know that's not gonna happen. What's probably best for him is hoping McDyess goes through with his retirement plan.

More like Oberto in 05-06. By the time last season started, the Spurs had already given up on Mahinmi. He was beaten out by Blair for the 4th Big spot during camp and preseason. When the Spurs didn't pick up Ian's option, he became a lame duck.

Oberto (in the first year of a three year contract like Tiago) didn't play much in 05-06 because there were 4 bigs with Spurs experience ahead of him in the rotation. An injury in the first preseason game that year didn't help his chances. Splitter likewise started off as the 5th of 5 bigs, missed camp and preseason, and there hasn't been much in his performance or those ahead of him to necessitate a change in the rotation.

[honestfool84]

The Spurs play badly enough against subpar teams as it is.

Spurs aren't playing too bad right now, if you look at their record.

[Seventyniner]

More like Oberto in 05-06. By the time last season started, the Spurs had already given up on Mahinmi. He was beaten out by Blair for the 4th Big spot during camp and preseason. When the Spurs didn't pick up Ian's option, he became a lame duck.

Oberto (in the first year of a three year contract like Tiago) didn't play much in 05-06 because there were 4 bigs with Spurs experience ahead of him in the rotation. An injury in the first preseason game that year didn't help his chances. Splitter likewise started off as the 5th of 5 bigs, missed camp and preseason, and there hasn't been much in his performance or those ahead of him to necessitate a change in the rotation.

A very apt comparison. This team, even without Splitter, appears to be capable of winning a le, like the 05-06 Spurs. And who could blame Pop for sticking with what's gotten the team this far?

[UnWantedTheory]

He already played in the d league, its called euroball though

[UnWantedTheory]

To answer the OP...No, it doesn't make sense.

[DMC]

I doubt a 3M a year player who's healthy is going to the D league. If that was in the cards, he would be trade bait.

[DMC]

Spurs aren't playing too bad right now, if you look at their record.

Unfortunately there's more to a story than the ending.

[Fabbs]

So you can't or are afraid to back up your own position.

Sounds about right.

My position was and is that Splitters playing 8-24 minutes in wins, especially convincing wins is good.

The condition that he HAS to have these minutes with the 1st unit is not mine.
Is it yours?
I realize i was responding to the poster who was suggesting he go in with the 1st unit. Sorry if that confused you. I know you love to jump on any chance to attempt to prove me wrong. And you fail.

I never advocated his being sent to Austin.

Then we're in agreement about that.

I don't know how many of his minutes were with all or some of the 1st unit. But i know his minutes are certainly not all with an entire 2nd unit.

Hey maybe CIA Pops is playing it right and knows about an ongoing injury that Splitts has and thus rests him entire or nearly entire games often???

[ChumpDumper]

My position was and is that Splitters playing 8-24 minutes in wins, especially convincing wins is good.

The condition that he HAS to have these minutes with the 1st unit is not mine.
Is it yours?
I realize i was responding to the poster who was suggesting he go in with the 1st unit. Sorry if that confused you. I know you love to jump on any chance to attempt to prove me wrong. And you fail.

Hey, you failed to make the distinction, and then you tried to make the argument that he did play with the first unit -- which you did later again in your post without any actual evidence.

You were wrong.

Then we're in agreement about that.

I don't know how many of his minutes were with all or some of the 1st unit. But i know his minutes are certainly not all with an entire 2nd unit.

See what I mean?

Hey maybe CIA Pops is playing it right and knows about an ongoing injury that Splitts has and thus rests him entire or nearly entire games often???

I think it mostly stems from Splitter's being injured right out of the gate after playing an entire calendar year of basketball.

[ChumpDumper]

Ultimately I'd like Splitter to play more, but I'm not gnashing my teeth over it. Mel's comparison to Oberto reinforces my decision to not get that worked up.

[kaji157]

I am not entirely in favor of splitter HAVING to play with starters but i do think, and every match i am more convinced of this, that playing him with Hill at the point is exasperating for Splitter and almost any big in the league.
Hill averages 2 assist per game, and most of them are inside out to 3pt shooters, the guy is virtually blind when playing the pick n roll and i guess that would be very frustrating for a player like Splitter when his main offensive weapong is the pick n roll game.
I think i never seen Hill pass a ball to the roller succesfully in the last 10 games.

That said, i would like Splitter to share some court time with either Tony or Manu, not all the starters, but one of those two at least. (And let them handle the ball and not Hill of course).

[UnWantedTheory]

I am not entirely in favor of splitter HAVING to play with starters but i do think, and every match i am more convinced of this, that playing him with Hill at the point is exasperating for Splitter and almost any big in the league.
Hill averages 2 assist per game, and most of them are inside out to 3pt shooters, the guy is virtually blind when playing the pick n roll and i guess that would be very frustrating for a player like Splitter when his main offensive weapon is the pick n roll game.
I think i never seen Hill pass a ball to the roller successfully in the last 10 games.

That said, i would like Splitter to share some court time with either Tony or Manu, not all the starters, but one of those two at least. (And let them handle the ball and not Hill of course).

Very true. Every time Splitter slips, GHill will always miss him. Other times Hill seems to just want to take it himself. It's very frustrating to watch.

[BlairForceDejuan]

What happens if Blair completely stinks against the Lakers in the playoffs? Splitter will not be ready.

[Capt Bringdown]

I am not entirely in favor of splitter HAVING to play with starters but i do think, and every match i am more convinced of this, that playing him with Hill at the point is exasperating for Splitter and almost any big in the league.
Hill averages 2 assist per game, and most of them are inside out to 3pt shooters, the guy is virtually blind when playing the pick n roll and i guess that would be very frustrating for a player like Splitter when his main offensive weapong is the pick n roll game.
I think i never seen Hill pass a ball to the roller succesfully in the last 10 games.

That said, i would like Splitter to share some court time with either Tony or Manu, not all the starters, but one of those two at least. (And let them handle the ball and not Hill of course).

Very good point. Hill is not much of a passer at all, and Splitter suffers for it.

I think my favorite game of Splitter's so far was the 12/9 he put in vs Denver on Dec 23. In that game he helped the Spurs battle back from a deficit, and wasn't just getting meaningless garbage minutes. I think we saw a glimpse of what he could do that night.

Obviously he's not ready or able to play at this level every night, but with the DNP-CDs and garbage time minutes in which he's paired with guards who refuse to pass him the ball, I guess we'll never know.