Pop is such a stubborn SOB
I hope the rotation we saw in the 1st half today is the one we'll see in the playoffs.
I don't know who should play, Blair or Bonner, the only thing I know is Tiago has to be in rotation and Blair and Bonner can't play together.
Five quick thoughts: Why Hill shooting isn’t a bad thing for Spurs...Tiago Splitter got an early call Sunday — earlier than he has in most games this season as he appears to have supplanted DeJuan Blair in the rotation for at least one game. Splitter got the call when Duncan went out with 3:45 left in the first quarter. Blair didn’t enter until the second half. Splitter provides more of a defensive presence than Blair and their offensive production has been similar. One concern playing Splitter into the fourth quarter because of his foul-shooting woes. But considering Marcin Gortat, Hakim Warrick, Garret Siler and Channing Frye were on the other side made it an ideal chance for Popovich to allow Splitter to stretch his wings. The Spurs hope that his work Sunday will help him get into a groove with the playoffs approaching.
Tim Griffin
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...ing-for-spurs/
Pop's a stubborn SOB, but that could also be seen as being loyal to your players who have bled for you. It's really hard to earn his trust, but once you get it, you're given a long leash--even if that leash ends up strangling the team (Finley, I'm looking at you. And, yes, it wasn't hard for Finley to earn his trust for whatever reason.)
WAKE UP, POP! We're not going anywhere with Bonner playing and Splitter sitting. Time to get over your rookie fear and give the guy minutes. We will need him in the playoffs.
Get it done!
I love how Tim Griffin seems to have a new excuse for why Splitter doesn't play in the 4th (didn't apply today). At least the poor foul shooting has some merit. Much better than that fragile confidence bull .
no freaking way with this coach.
i think the poor free throw shooting thing can get overblown...it's still another foul on the other team, and closer to penalty.
Since Blair plays the same position as Splitter he has to be the third center on the team, or the fifth big. Sorry DeJuan, but Matt gets the not, although the Spurs still need you to play your heart out.
His stroke isn't even the same as it was at the beginning of the season. It's obvious the Spurs staff have been tweaking that thing throughout the season. I think we could end up seeing Splitter as a decent, 70% FT shooter within the next couple seasons, but for now it's going to be a very up-and-down process. The best thing we can hope for is for Splitter to get comfortable, not over-think and hit a hot streak from the line, because at this point it isn't going to be pure mechanics or natural rhythm that get him success.
JMcDonald_SAEN Jeff McDonald
Pop praised Splitter postgame. Would have liked to have seen what 2nd-half rotation would have looked like had score not been so lopsided.
Exactly, every time someone mentions his FT form being bad I will post this: http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...04#post5090804
Blame the coaching staff, not Splitter.
Splitter isn't a good free throw shooter.That's what I could say from him in Spain and I watched him in a lot of games.That's the first impression he gives to you
But looking his stats last year he had an amazing 79% from the line in 30 games.He's one of those kind of guys who can made 6 in a row after an airball /brick but the missed ones are what you can remember because they are really ugly so you think he sucks from the FT line.
He was between 65-70 all his career.Of course Spurs can work with him to improve.All the players can improve.Duncan is working on his FT and he's shooting better every year.The FT% can be the same but the shots are better in my opinion.
Anyway Tiago had been playing pro-basketball a lot of years.It's not like the Spurs has magic that we don't have in Spain.
In fact some techniques of the game like shot or passing are worked as good if not better in Europe since players are very young.For example Gasol improved his game in the NBA but not his JS at all.I would say it was even better before he came to the NBA when he was 20 .
He's not playing and that's the main reason why he miss the free throws and why he miss some easy lay ups.Playing time.
I am really rooting for Tiago.
He seems a bit green at times, but I appreciate his effort and look forward to his development on the Spurs.
I like the rotation too. Splitter can come in for either Tim or Antonio. That is the rotation Pop should always go with so Splitter is in with either Bonner or Blair.
If Splitter does well then you play him in the second half too. I really would have liked to have seen the second half rotation if the score wasn't so lopsided.
Exactly. Who cares if he misses his free throws as he probably won't be in at the end of the game. If Splitter gets them into the bonus early you can sub him out and bring the regulars in and they can be more aggressive taking it to the rack and getting free throws. If Splitter can hit 50% I would be happy with that, and in general if he can keep drawing fouls at the rate he does when he gets inside that would help a lot.
It's wishful thinking to expect pop to drop Bonner out of the playoff rotation. he definetly will be Dice main sub when he comes out in the first.
Realistically the best we can hope from Pop is have Splitter as TD's main sub, as he was in the Pheonix game , coming in with 3 minutes in the 1st. Hopefully he comes in at the same time at the 3rd quarter as well and starts the 4th, with TD finishing the game. This is all we can expect from Pop.
This means Blair will be the odd man out in the playoffs.
I'm actually impressed with his performance even though his playing time is limited, he can still contribute for the team.
Splitter enters the game at Spurs +4.
Exits at Spurs +24 and game over.
In those 10', can anyone remember points scored by the Suns in the paint, at all?
Enough said.
SpursBrazil, eu concordo com voce. Alias, nos nao temos chance nenhum contra Los Angeles sem Tiago. Precisamos do tamanho e velocidade dele na quadra, mas nos ja sabemos disso. Eu tenho certeza que ele vai ser um "starter" em 2011-12, mas neste ano e playoffs eu espero que ele jogasse um minimo de 8-12 minutos. Quero mais, mas teria que ter pessimo desempenhos de outros jogadores nos playoffs, o qual e bem possivel!!
Gortat and Lopez are three point shooters?
at you complaining about Splitter's offensive game.
Gortat and Lopez are three point shooters?
Sorry about that I was actually speaking of Blair and the way he has been finishing his shots.
There you go, let's say it in another language, in case Popovich speaks any portughese.
When pop didn't put splitter in the third, and instead went with bonner/blair, suns went on a run, taking it to the paint, like it was a layup drill. Damn, that lineup is so consistently bad, why does he keep going with it? Whats wrong with Splitter subbing in for Duncan and playing with Bonner/Blair. I noticed he plays well with both of them.
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