Do We Need Another Big?

[Texas_Ranger]

We should sign Cousin.

[YODA]

Master Yoda,

I also think Splitter can still help

tho i dunno how they can still integrate him at this late stage

perhaps Pop is holding him back and then unleash him later on??



Warm regards

Lets really think about this. there is no way Pop would try to interegrate him at this point in the season. Most likely would be used ifthe others bigs are in foul trouble in playoffs or blow out games.

Why would Pop hold him back? Only way for him to learn is to play and he giving him limited minutes as it is. Its obvious his Basketball IQ is high, as seen in his rotations on D and how he uses the pick and roll, but there is something missing. The other players on team seem to have lost confidence in him. On pick and rolls, while done correctly, he doesnt seem to expect the ball or even call for it. I see hesistance to throw him the ball at all. Untill then, expect more of the same

Maybe the language barrier is causing him to not get to know alot of players on the team. Communication is the key in any sport or business and even with his knowledge, I find it hard that he could easily fit it.Maybe when he can talk fluently, he will be able to know his team mates better( just wild guesses here). Maybe its just me, but he seems to have lost some confidence in his play. Given time to develop, Im sure he can find that swagger again. IT wont be this year, but we got time.

The person I think Pop is really holding back is Dice. Correct me if Im wrong, but I dont think he even played(DNP) in the first Lakers game. (something to mull over as far as holding back)

On another note, I wonder if Bonners continued injury Might cause for a trade of some sort in the front court. when ever we hear nothing from Spurs is when I feel something is up, but its the SPURS, so who knows.

[BackHome]

All this bad talk here about Splitter just makes me laugh at the stupidity of some people!
It reminds me of all the bad talk here about Manu when he first came into the league.
He ended up making a lot of fans eat major crow.
I have no doubt Tiago will do the same.

He sure did and their was a lot of hate against Hill when Nash made him his last year. People just love to hate which I don't understand since they are playing for us and like we have the best record in the league? Why ?

Every player has things they do good and things they do bad that is why we have a team. That is where the Spurs do well in putting all the parts together to make a good team. As far as Splitter he is a rookie who is playing on the best team in the NBA he is not going to get minutes which impacts how fast he can learn our system. That it is no suprise that almost all new first year players on our team do much better their second year "Blair, Hill, Jefferson" etc.........

[Big P]

Spurs will go after Murphy as soon as he gets bought out. AJ is gonna do us a solid. Murphy is bigger, more skilled bonner who and rebound and post every now and then.

Spurs could look to develop splitter and tell guys to pass him the ball when hes on the court.

Spurs may look at Prince or Hamilton if they get released.

AJ ain't got to do with it....he is the coach..remember how he wanted GM/ coach...it didn't happen...he call's the plays, no say in personnel.

[Old School 44]

You beat size with speed. We are a fast team. This is how we have succeeded all year. Going big will slow us down. Instead of trying to match up with teams with inferior records we should stand pat and let them try to catch up with us.

I agree 100%. While there's no doubt their front line is better, our speed and our shooters on the perimeter will be the difference...not to mention our overall depth. Let them try to match up with us. Their bigs will get tired trying to stop the penetration and closing out on the three point shooters.

Parker-Ginobili-Hill-Neal >>>>>>> Fisher-Blake-Bryant-Brown

[Hoops Czar]

The Spurs FO has cold feet to trade Splitter because of the Scola burn. If they were smart, they would dish him to WAS for Blatche since he is on the block, and Splitter is going to end up a 12th man journeyman or otherwise go back to euroball and dominate teenagers again. Dude is worthless.

Scola burn? Scola isn't playing for the Spurs because they were to cheap to pay the buy out. Then, to cover it up, someone in management made the comment that he wasn't sure if Scola would be able to make the transition from Euroball to the NBA. The bigger crime was trading him within the division. Scola has more talent in his pinky finger than Splitter has in his entire body.

This sugar coated excuse that Tiago just needs more time to develop is bullsh!t. Splitter is pretty much developed. What you see is what you get. He still may need to make a transition from Euroball to the NBA but he isn't going to gain in athleticism or become a reliable staple in the Spurs offense for years to come. He's a third string center with very little upside as far as I can tell. If a trade presents itself, the Spurs should be all in.

On a scale of Mahimni to Scola, he is much closer to that of Mahimni.

[Darkwaters]

If Murphy or Prince get bought out they'd be great pick ups for the Spurs. Hamilton would as well to a lesser extent as well as McGrady. But the either of Murphy/Prince would be excellent.

I would like to see the Spurs pick up another developmental big out of the D League too as training camp fodder for next year. Marcus Cousin would be as good as anyone. But whatever they prefer.

Everyone thats talking smack about Splitter clearly is not remembering the story that is Fabricio Oberto. Dude did nothing his rookie year and just sat and watched making 2.5M per. People were screaming to trade him or cut him. But he spent the season sitting, watching and learning. The next year he came back with a vengeance. Splitter is very much the same player except younger and more athletic. The writing is on the wall.

[awktalk]

Scola burn? Scola isn't playing for the Spurs because they were to cheap to pay the buy out. Then, to cover it up, someone in management made the comment that he wasn't sure if Scola would be able to make the transition from Euroball to the NBA. The bigger crime was trading him within the division. Scola has more talent in his pinky finger than Splitter has in his entire body.

This sugar coated excuse that Tiago just needs more time to develop is bullsh!t. Splitter is pretty much developed. What you see is what you get. He still may need to make a transition from Euroball to the NBA but he isn't going to gain in athleticism or become a reliable staple in the Spurs offense for years to come. He's a third string center with very little upside as far as I can tell. If a trade presents itself, the Spurs should be all in.

On a scale of Mahimni to Scola, he is much closer to that of Mahimni.

I agree with all of this. I wasn't comparing Splitter to Scola, he is much more comparable to Mahimni. By "Scola burn" I mean the Spurs FO let him get away because they didn't grasp his potential, and they don't want to repeat that mistake with Splitter so they will be overly cautious to move him, which is a shame because he's worthless.

[Giuseppe]

We can hear you downstairs. o!!!!!!!!

[TD 21]

The answer is no. This team has among the best big depth in the league, 1-5. Yeah, it would be nice if Blair were about a half a foot taller and to have a sixth body lying around just in case two of the five are injured simultaneously, but they can always bring someone in on a ten-day if that occurs.

Also, there's no readily available quality big that the Spurs could acquire without sacrificing quality assets and in the process limiting their depth or flat out gutting their team.

Why would you do that when this team has a good thing going?

And why would this team need Murphy? He'd expect minutes anywhere he goes and rightfully so, he's easily a legit rotation player. But this team can't offer that up. They're already not playing Splitter, what are they supposed to do, not play Bonner, too? Murphy would be redundant. I know he's a little taller and he's a better rebounder, but he's not quite as good a shooter as Bonner, is an even worse defender, doesn't know the system and can't be in game shape, considering how little he's played this season. Not worth the trouble.

No disrespect to guys like Murphy, Collison (not that he's available, but they were rumored to have interest a couple of seasons ago), or people of that ilk, but this team is passed the decent third big types at this stage. Unless it's a no-brainer type trade, they should stand pat. This group has earned the right to stay together.

[dbestpro]

Splitter is getting paid Millions of dollars.

hahaha what a ed up system we live in.

Splitter gets 3.4 mil.
Darius Songalia gets 4.8 mil
Nick Collison 13.2 mil
Eddie Curry 11.2 mil
Johan Petro 3.2 mil
Hashem Thabeet 4.8 mil
Dan Gadzurek 7.2 mil
Brendan Haywood 6.9 mil
Nazr Mohammed 6.8 mil
DeSagana Diop 6.4 mil

For the price Splitter remains a good deal in today's NBA.

[Capt Bringdown]

Splitter gets 3.4 mil.
Darius Songalia gets 4.8 mil
Nick Collison 13.2 mil
Eddie Curry 11.2 mil
Johan Petro 3.2 mil
Hashem Thabeet 4.8 mil
Dan Gadzurek 7.2 mil
Brendan Haywood 6.9 mil
Nazr Mohammed 6.8 mil
DeSagana Diop 6.4 mil

For the price Splitter remains a good deal in today's NBA.

Wow, that's stunning. I'll bet guys like Billy Paultz are thinking they were born too soon.
13.2 mill for Collison? The mind boggles.

[Wolverine83]

You beat size with speed. We are a fast team. This is how we have succeeded all year. Going big will slow us down. Instead of trying to match up with teams with inferior records we should stand pat and let them try to catch up with us.

I agree with this.

I'm actually excited to see Blair vs. anyone this playoffs. He will fight hard and use his bulk, plus I love how he has added steals to his game.

Blair > Luc Longley

[Va Spur]

Is camby a possibility (more of the big we need if we need one). I know he is coming back from injury-- but due back in Feb. What would we have to give up to get him?

[mingus]

i know this is a really simplified way of looking at it, but just on paper, the Spurs lack not neccessarily size, but overall production from their bigs in relation to the two top dogs of the league.

Spurs
Bonner: 7 ppg
Blair: 8 ppg
McDyess: 5 ppg
Timmy D: 16 ppg

Celtic
KG: 16
Perkins: 6 ppg
O'neal: 10
Davis: 12

Lakers
Odom: 15 ppg
Bynum: 15
Gasol: 20 ppg

point differential b/w Spurs big and Celtics: 8
point differential b/w Laker's bigs and Spurs: 14

like i said, really simple way of looking at the "big" issue. there are other factors. but unless Tim Duncan plays like Tim Duncan of old and puts up 23-15-4-4 and holds fort in the paint for an entire series like he used to, the Spurs will not win "the paint" in a series against LA or Boston. i thought at the start of the season, Splitter would provide something significant, but it hasn't happened. it's the weakest point of the team, not horrible though.

where teams will have trouble matching the Spurs is on the perimiter, in terms of depth and overall talent. Ginobili, Parker, RJ, Hill, Neal and possibly even Anderson further down the road.

[Hoops Czar]

Bonner is not a big. He gets next to zero points in the paint so he doesn't really qualify.

[Russo21]

And a decent wing....

TMAC and Ben Wallace for Bonner

or

TMAC and Ben Wallace for Splitter

In Big Ben's last two games he averaged 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in just 20 minutes. We could sure use that on this team.

In TMAC'S last 4 he has averaged 15 points and 6.5 assists.

Sounds allright to me

[cutewizard]

whos sean williams?

any data?

how about sheed?

[cutewizard]

yeah

can we get ben wallace??

i like that guy

[Russo21]

Numbers work out. Who knows? Would sure help us out i reckon, i wouldn't mind a deal like that going down :-)

[smrattler]

Ok, just get two or three tutors to work with Tiago over and over and over, during, before, and AFTER practice on defensive rotations and assignments. Come on, we still have 3 full months of basketball for him to learn this.

If Splitter is so smart, if he has this great "Basketball IQ" like people say, then he should be able to figure this ONE thing out. Forget offense, just focus on defense. That's all we need, another interior defender with decent size.

[SequSpur]

yes!!!!!!!!!

[cutewizard]

i heard the rumor Oberto may "unretire"

perhaps the vet minimum for him

Let Oberto tutor Splitter

what do you think guys?

[duncan228]

Just the quote, hit the link for the whole piece.

Clippers put Chris Kaman on the trade block
Kurt Helin

...There had been whispers around Staples Center that Kaman was available and Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro basically confirmed that in comments reported by Los Angeles Daily News.

“It depends on what is out there, if there is someone we feel makes us a better team,” Coach Vinny Del Negro of the 7-footer, whose contract (he makes something just short of $12 million annually) is due to expire after next season. “We’re not in a position not to take a look at everything. It’s nothing against Chris. He has tremendous skills. I love him and we need him. But if there is something that would help improve the L.A. Clippers, we would look at anything. The cornerstones of this team, obviously, are Blake (Griffin) and Eric Gordon. And as we move forward we want to have the best pieces around them. And Chris is a very good piece but we’ve not seen a lot of him because he’s been injured.”

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...e-trade-block/

[galvatron3000]

Playing the Celtics in the Finals with Bonner on offense is a matchup I like, having Bonner on defense is the problem. Bonner guarantees Shaq, Garnett, Perkins or Oneal will not be in the paint with Tim or else get burned from beyond the arc. That being said, defensively having Bonner guard any of those guys will require superb rotation on the part of ALL Spurs players, it can be done by the Spurs and the Celtics are beatable yet I'd like the Spurs to add some help before the deadline IF possible