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first
I have a bad feeling going forward about the next 2-3 weeks, not because I think the Spurs willl crash to a 2nd seed, but Splitter needs the time to develop for the playoffs.
Foremost, I absolutely do not want Pop to go back to starting either Bonner (especially) or Blair (who is still potentially nursing a mild wrist injury) after two reasonably effective performances in a row by Splitter and several more during the season when during erratic playing time he at least played with some "stones," taking charges and filling the paint. Furthermore, in the playoffs Blair, Bonner, and Splitter will all be reserves but the first big off the bench in many situations (depending on matchups) should absolutely be Splitter - so he needs substantial time on the floor with the first unit during the last 12 games.
Splitter may have some ups and downs but is the only reasonable choice IMO to start going forward till Duncan comes back; and needs to also get as much, if not more minutes than Blair did in his previous roll. Even if it was agaist the GS 10 and 14 is better than some centers ever due in the NBA career. Moreover, despite some limitations, his overall savy defense has led to about 15 offensive charges and his pick and roll game with Manu and passes to the three shooters showed he can at least bring something the Spurs miss sans Duncan, that Blair and Bonner cannot and will not going forward.
Somehow I am not confident though that Pop will not pull some kind of switch and the worst case would be starting Bonnner, if he goes away from Splitter for any reason I could plausubily live with Blair, as long as Splitter gets at least 15-20 minutes on a regular basis.
(How confident are you Pop will play the last 12 games, at least on a reasonable basis, Mr. Splitter?)
first
Starting Splitter would be the safer bet. Cause if he sucks just sit his ass down. But if you bring him off the bench and need to sit him right away you already ed up your rotations.
Splitter vs. Nene Brazilian duel will be nice to watch.
If any thing...he needs a chance. Give tiago a chance!!!
Let me ask you this spur fans... how much time do you give tiago to "get ready" before you pull the plug? Lets say tiago is out on the court just sucking...how long before you say...screw this tiago sucks. Few min a game? A few games? What..
but let's get real McDyess/Blair is starting. Book it
Tiago will produce as long as he does not get into foul trouble. To me that is the biggest concern over the next few weeks.
We're not going to lose HCA, so don't waste your time agonizing over that. I definitely do agree that Tiago ought to start now given the absence of Duncan and his improved performances in recent games — as somebody else said if he sucks, Pop can just pull him, but the potential for him to be good may make up somewhat for Duncan's absence if Splitter proves he can consistently perform.
Well we really don't want Blair/Bonner together for a long period of time so you either start any combination of Splitter/McDyess with Blair/Bonner.
I say the primary thing is to give Tiago as many minutes as he can handle before fouling out...
It is absolutely imperative that Tiago gets his wind in time for the playoffs--only then will he be able to help the spurs in the playoffs...
But-knowing Pop---Pop will this up and play Tiago very FEW minutes in favor of in' Matt " chokejob" Bonner...
then when Tiago gets garbage minutes and looks gassed--then Pop can just say Tiago's not ready and bench him again when TD returns.
I fear the above nightmare scenario will be proven all too true.
Actually may not be bad to start Bonner or Blair with Dice or if Blair is healthy move Dice back to bench for now and start Splitter/Blair - like the other posts said the Bonner/Blair combo just doesn't work at all as far as defense is concerned. Splitter is your only true center now and Dice is only other big capable of decent defense against post big (we have Nene, Aldridge, and M Gasol /Randolph all before TD returns)
I feel one (and preferrably two!) of Blair, Splitter or Dice need to be on the floor at all times - the biggest weakness of Spurs is rebounding, and at this point, Novak (who at least tries hard on both sides and battles inside and out) is outplaying Bonner so I would rather ride that horse more than Bonner but knowing Pop the exact opposite will occur.
If I see Bonner and four players under 6'7 out there (which is basicaly Blair/Bonner for more than spot minutes); I might throw a remote through my relatively new plasma screen in absolute disgust.
A good lineup might well be Splitter, and Blair or Novak for spot minutes rather than Bonner as well, but again, probably not going to happen with Pop when the game is on the line.
I think you are overrating Splitter. Often times Splitter gets completely lost and often times is not much of an improvement defensively over Bonner. But I agree rarely he looks pretty decent.
Minutes should be shared in the following priority:
1. McDyess
2. Blair
3. Bonner/Splitter (depending on how bad they up their assignments)
Respect your opinion highly but Splitter actually has been fairly effective when given a chance = which is the problem. You bring a Spanish MVP over here and an accomplished international player and he rides the pine. Now that the Spurs basically have seeding wrapped up to not play him would be sublime IMO.
Bonner does deserve some time but not a lot until he finds his shot and mojo again, I would rather play out the hand of Novak whom I have seen in person 2x and who plays harder on defense than I have ever seen Bonner play and IMO is also (seemingly) quicker and more skilled, at least in terms of a quicker release and a better mid-range jumper. Bonner at his best is a valuable asset but he is not there right now and Pop indirectly blasted him and the bench. IMO if Bonner takes more than 5 threes without hitting more than 2 put him on the bench and leave him there for the rest of the game unless other bigs in foul trouble.
Pop tends to start the guy who won't mess up the rotation. In other words, he doesn't start the back up, he starts the benchwarmer (Tiago).
Hopefully, this will continue and Tiago will thrive. Then even Pop won't be able to deny Tiago his minutes once Tim comes back.
Pop will start Splinter so he doesn't have to mess with his normal rotations.
Splitter and Dice will start. Book it.
this. He wants blair and bonner to get comfortable coming off the bench.
"C" sakes?
The reason I would prefer Splitter to start is so he can learn when to be aggressive and when not to.. We know he can perform but he gets into foul trouble so soon that he has to sit. He needs to know when to foul and when he needs to let his opponent get the easy basket. Sometimes I think he gets dumb fouls because he is trying to do more than he needs to like reaching in.He has never been known for steals so why try now.
I'd love to see Splitter consistently get 30 minutes a game the rest of the way if for nothing else, conditioning.
He looked like he was going to keel over at the end of the GS game the other night.
Jesus H. Christ
They seem quite comfortable playing together - of course so is our opponent as they waltz to the basket for layup/dunk parade or just throw it in to any average post player who feels completely comfortable tossing the ball into the basket
Idiocy.
As someone said above. A Dice.Blair starting lineup would actually be good since it would prevent the Bonner/Blair 2nd unit that we all loathe.
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