Tiago Shows Promise

[Blackjack]

back on Splitter

I've wanted Splitter to start just about all season so Blair could come off the bench and wreak havoc against tired starters and bench bigs. And to get Splitter adjusted by the playoffs. Splitter is missing all the junkshots he vomited up overseas that I worried about before the season, but aside from that he's been mostly delivering on his defensive potential.

Let us all be thankful for the Bonner injury forcing Pop to go with Splitter a little more than he probably would have. He still was stubborn over it with some garbage time and DNP-CDs for Splitter even without Bonner, but this is for the best.

I considered starting a thread a week before the Bonner injury asking if a non-severe injury to a big would be the best thing for them. Injuries save Pop from himself.

Injuries freed Stephen Jackson, not Pop. Rasho going down freed Nazr, who had zero experience in the system, but that didn't keep him from contributing as the starting center on a le team. If Rasho never went down, how well would things have gone for that team?

Hopefully Splitter will continue to experience some of that freedom, though I'm sure he'd be farther along without so much time in DNP-CD lock-up.

Muccas, this guy's got a clue too. And the injury aspect has been something I've been discussing with my mucca from another mother ad nauseam. The coach rarely promotes the unentrenced (probably just made up a word) over the entrenched without injury or just utter inep ude -- but mostly injury.

lol all the gnsf's taking rascal seriously.

Just one of the many simple joys a regular finds here at SpursTalk.

[bigfan]

Splitter looks like he needs to hit the weights a bit. His arms look skinny, he needs to follow the David Robinson example.

[Blackjack]

Splitter looks like he needs to hit the weights a bit. His arms look skinny, he needs to follow the David Robinson example.

Can't bench-press genetics.

[Mel_13]

the unentrenced (probably just made up a word)

Made up and misspelled.

[Cessation]

gnsf getting trolled? Impossible!

[Blackjack]

Made up and misspelled.

You can't misspell what you make up, Obi!

[kaji157]

It was not for the betterment of the team that Manu was not getting minutes. It was because he was wearing down with the minutes that the true all stars were getting and he went through some injuries. It is hard to argue that a player is better when he doesn't get the stats that the others put up and doesn't log the minutes. Put wade, Kobe, Monta Ellis, Joe Johnson, Jennings, T. Evans, Roy, Paul Pierce, Iguodala all as good if not better than Manu. Manu is closer to 10 for sg then top 3. if you have him as the 3rd best you are overrating him.

Also there many better pgs in the league that are better than sgs so more pgs make the all star team than sgs. Manu is a borderline all star that has gotten one gift apperance the first time he got selected when others had better stats, then the long drought of non all star appearances, then this year he gets selected because the spurs are off to such a great regular seaon start and his numbers are slightly better than Parkers.

I might remember you that 2 years ago Manu was seriously robbed of a all star nod because coaches thought Roy and West were better than him, even when their stats were similar with both west and roy playing 5 more minutes than Manu.
Roy had exactly the same Stats as manu with 4 more mins a game, and worse shooting % yet he got the nod over Manu. West was given the nod because the game was held in NO and he was Paul's sidekick.

[Mel_13]

You can't misspell what you make up, Obi!

Let me get back to you on that one.

[SpurAddict561]

He's got the best offensive game of a Spurs center since the Admiral

HANDS DOWN

[SpurAddict561]

I firmly believe if he can get to where he can come off the bench and give us 8-10 pts and 8 rebounds and stand down low on defense we will win it all.

[Cessation]

Can't bench-press genetics.

You don't bench press to work out your arms, lol.

[xtremesteven33]

Hard to say Tiago is showing promise after his first big game. The jury is still out on Splitter IMO...

But I think Mdcyess is going to start sometime soon. Pop has shown trust and admiration towards him and Antonio has delivered. Blair off the bench would be a better fit for him.

[eric365]

In 12 games of seeing 16 minutes or more this season, Splitter is averaging 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 21.3 mpg.

In 4 games of seeing 24 minutes or more this season, Splitter is averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 25.8 mpg.

In 17 games of seeing 8 minutes or less this season, Splitter is averaging 1 point and .8 rebounds in 4.8 mpg. (Not including his 11 DNP's this season)

The guy simply needs time.

I don't understand how critical some of you all have been, especially after the games where he gets garbage minutes at best. It's not fair and it's stupid to analyze a players performance based on such very limited outings.


Unfortunately, it just so happened Splitter was set back due to injury out of the gate this year, where he missed the entire training camp. And while trying to get back in the mix of things, his main compe ion for minutes (Bonner and Blair) progressively improved their production and have played their best ball of their careers the past several months.

All in all, the reason for lack of minutes is not because he sucks. It's because his compe ion for minutes has performed damn well and on top of that, they had already earned the minutes by gaining Pop's trust even before Splitter signed with the Spurs. Add these facts to the fact that Splitter missed the entire training camp and you get Splitter fighting a hard uphill battle for minutes so far this season.

I repeat-- the guy does not suck-- He just needs the time. /rant

It was the same thing with Mahinmi and you can find the same kind of stats with other role player.

There is a reason when a role player who play usually 5mpg plays 20 or 30 minutes for a specific game

It's either a good matchup, a weak oponent or garbage time.
The games with 20+ minutes for Splitter are in garbage time (Hornets, Magic) or against weak front court (Warriors twice, Kings, Cavs).

The only 2 times he played 20+ minutes against legit bigs are the wolves (6pts, 4reb in 22 minutes....) and the nuggets (he had a good game and Pop played him because he is used to Nene)

So basicaly, the impressive stats you show are against garbage level...

Do you remember last year when Mahinmi had a big game against the Nets and in some garbage time ? It's exactly the same. And we have learned that even with all the minutes in the world, Mahinmi can't compete against legit bigs

For now, Splitter is not impressive at all each time he played against legit bigs. But I'm sure that next year he will be wayyyy better.

[Mel_13]

It was the same thing with Mahinmi and you can find the same kind of stats with other role player.

There is a reason when a role player who play usually 5mpg plays 20 or 30 minutes for a specific game

It's either a good matchup, a weak oponent or garbage time.
The games with 20+ minutes for Splitter are in garbage time (Hornets, Magic) or against weak front court (Warriors twice, Kings, Cavs).

The only 2 times he played 20+ minutes against legit bigs are the wolves (6pts, 4reb in 22 minutes....) and the nuggets (he had a good game and Pop played him because he is used to Nene)

So basicaly, the impressive stats you show are against garbage level...

Do you remember last year when Mahinmi had a big game against the Nets and in some garbage time ? It's exactly the same. And we have learned that even with all the minutes in the world, Mahinmi can't compete against legit bigs

For now, Splitter is not impressive at all each time he played against legit bigs. But I'm sure that next year he will be wayyyy better.

Cousins/Dalembert/Landry combined for 57 points and 25 rebounds in a victory over the Lakers in LA last week and then 46/21 in a home win over New Orleans with Okafor. Pretty good for garbage.

[eric365]

Cousins/Dalembert/Landry combined for 57 points and 25 rebounds in a victory over the Lakers in LA last week and then 46/21 in a home win over New Orleans with Okafor. Pretty good for garbage.

Cousins is a rookie. He has very good games and some other very bad.
Yesterday the kings's bigs were not specially impressive. Duncan and Blair didn't have much trouble before Splitter got in...

And on the 8 games where Splitter has got 20+ minutes, it's the only one you found to contest. I think it proves my point : garbage time and weak oponents

[Mel_13]

Cousins is a rookie. He has very good games and some other very bad.
Yesterday the kings's bigs were not specially impressive. Duncan and Blair didn't have much trouble before Splitter got in...

And on the 8 games where Splitter has got 20+ minutes, it's the only one you found to contest. I think it proves my point : garbage time and weak oponents

I don't really care. You seem to be particularly invested in making the case that any good performance by Splitter can be discounted for one reason or another. This most recent good performance was against a front line that has had success, within the last week or so, against the defending champs and the best defensive team in the Western Conference.

You wish to ignore that so that you can "prove your point", fine with me. The facts still exist.

[eric365]

I don't really care. You seem to be particularly invested in making the case that any good performance by Splitter can be discounted for one reason or another. This most recent good performance was against a front line that has had success, within the last week or so, against the defending champs and the best defensive team in the Western Conference.

You wish to ignore that so that you can "prove your point", fine with me. The facts still exist.

I would be happy to think that Spitter is great and spurstalk is not making it a Mahinmi 2.0. But right now it's not the case and I just wanted to tell that the stats that MaNu4Tres made were msileading

There is nothing to expect this year from Splitter. Even if pop gives him tons of minutes
Next year is another story

[BackHome]

I don't think most of us were expecting him to be giving us David Robinsons numbers or to be our best Cener of PF ever. I think most of us were just looking at someone who would be better than Nazz, Elson, Oberto, or Ian.......So on that point he has meet my expectations.

[Mel_13]

I would be happy to think that Spitter is great and spurstalk is not making it a Mahinmi 2.0.

IMO, the cases of Splitter and Mahinmi are barely comparable, if at all.

But right now it's not the case and I just wanted to tell that the stats that MaNu4Tres made were msileading

There is nothing to expect this year from Splitter. Even if pop gives him tons of minutes
Next year is another story

Perhaps you're right. I'd even say it's more likely that you're right, but that story still has a few chapters to be written.

[Blackjack]

You don't bench press to work out your arms, lol.

Yes I do.

[DMC]

That was after he had DeMarcus Cousins give up. The hookshot in his face, the charges drawn and stellar defense had Cousins giving up and benched by the third.

The finger injury played a part. When your coach allows a what, 12-2 run to start the game without calling a timeout, he's not really in it to win anyhow.

[rascal]

Yes I do.

Better to do bicep curls/tricep- kickbacks/ extensions for arms.

[Blackjack]

Better to do bicep and tricep curls for arms.

I do squats for my triceps and biceps.

[analyzed]

Like it or not , Splitter has to play a critical role to neutralize the size advantage of Bynum ,
Quote from Pop:

As he insisted to reporters, Popovich was not “blowing smoke” about the Lakers’ pre-eminence in the West. Watching Andrew Bynum in Thursday’s game was a reminder. The Lakers’ long-armed 7-foot center frequently snatched rebounds from the grasp of shorter Spurs who had established position in front of him.
The Spurs, Popovich said, have to improve defensively if they want to be “the last team standing.” He gave Tiago Splitter, his rookie center, a short stint against Bynum on Thursday night, a possible preview of coming playoff attractions.
He liked what he saw, even as he insisted Splitter wasn’t on the court long enough to form an opinion.
It is clear that in the last 32 regular-season games, Popovich must discover if Splitter and other young Spurs — DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal — have the skills and knowledge to bring the defense up to playoff level.
“I’m not sure about a couple of the young guys, if they can catch on that quickly and get it done right,” he said. “… These last 30 games, or whatever we’ve got left, are very important in that respect.

[trollt]

^ (analyzed's post)

I'm guessing "a couple of the young guys" means specifically Anderson and Splitter. We've talked Tiago and it's obvious why we need him against the contending PO frontcourts.
If Anderson returns to Nov 2010 form can he also contribute like Manu does on the boards? "No rebounds, no rings."