Tiago must stay in the rotation

[Ice009]

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.

It just doesn't look like Pop has learned much at all. He cannot play the Bonner/Blair lineup 1 minute in the playoffs. It's so horrible of a lineup. People were right about it when he first used it.

[ace3g]

More Tiago could be on the docket

Popovich would not say whether the rotation tweak would be permanent or if it would carry over to tonight’s game against Atlanta. Pairing the 6-foot-11 Splitter with Matt Bonner, however, would give the Spurs the size they’ve been lacking off the bench since Antonio McDyess’ elevation to the starting lineup 14 games ago.

Before Sunday’s game, Popovich said he had been satisfied with the Blair-Bonner combination. Afterward, he praised Splitter’s handling of the early call.

“He did a good job in battling,” Popovich said of Splitter.

“He’s a tough customer, and he does a good job with that."

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...on-the-docket/

[DBMethos]

Before Sunday’s game, Popovich said he had been satisfied with the Blair-Bonner combination.

How can anyone be satisfied with it? Seriously!!!!!

[Mugen]

More Tiago could be on the docket



http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...on-the-docket/

Pop has said the same all year long praising Tiago whenever he gets significant playing time but then relegates him to the end of the bench the next game.

Pop knows the Blair/Bonner combo is horrible but he'll never admit it because it means admitting he was wrong for making the Dice switch in the first place. He will not admit to that until after we get knocked out of the playoffs.

How's that for being fair to the team....

[Obstructed_View]

Pop complimenting Splitter in the media is the equivalent of an owner giving a reassuring statement about a coach to the media. Expect Splitter to get garbage minutes against Atlanta.

[Obstructed_View]

So tired of being right all the time...

[SplitterHook]

So tired of being right all the time...

damn, so effin true.

[WeNeedLength]

If we have to deal with this in the playoffs, it's going to be one sad way to end a season.

[MaNu4Tres]

Ignorance is expensive...

Too expensive for this team.

Thanks Pop

[Thomas82]

if we have to deal with this in the playoffs, it's going to be one sad way to end a season.

ignorance is expensive...

Too expensive for this team.

Thanks pop

+1

[HarlemHeat37]

What happened to "earning minutes"?..

That excuse was valid when Splitter was up and down earlier in the season(not IMO, he still should have played, but it's understandable, I suppose)..

Duncan gets injured, Splitter comes in, plays nearly double-double basketball when he's out there, including very good individual and help D..

His reward? a benching..

Pop randomly gives him minutes vs. Phoenix, Splitter plays very well, as usual..his reward in the next game? 0 minutes in the 2nd half vs. Phoenix, 0 minutes in the 1st half vs. Atlanta..

Shouldn't playing time be "earned"?..that's what Pop defenders had been saying for years..

[mingus]

I stopped holding my breath a while ago and I think everyone should to. Popovoch's coaching will be the downfall to this team, as it was ing the 6 game losing streak. He's gone full re . Let's all just accept it.

[timtonymanu]

It's like Pop is really trying to throw the season away.

What more proof does he need that this lineup doesnt work?

[TD 21]

What's most perplexing is the fact that it's not like Blair is a veteran, who's helped this team win a championship(s), to where you could understand if there were a loyalty factor at work here. He's a second year player, with less overall pro experience than Splitter. On top of that, the main skill Blair has on Splitter (rebounding), Blair's been progressively worse, while Splitter has progressively been better at. So if the disparity in that area is minimized, what possible reason could there be to play Blair over him? Other than the fact that this coach is ignorant and stubborn.

[MaNu4Tres]

What happened to "earning minutes"?..

That excuse was valid when Splitter was up and down earlier in the season(not IMO, he still should have played, but it's understandable, I suppose)..

Duncan gets injured, Splitter comes in, plays nearly double-double basketball when he's out there, including very good individual and help D..

His reward? a benching..

Pop randomly gives him minutes vs. Phoenix, Splitter plays very well, as usual..his reward in the next game? 0 minutes in the 2nd half vs. Phoenix, 0 minutes in the 1st half vs. Atlanta..

Shouldn't playing time be "earned"?..that's what Pop defenders had been saying for years..

We have the most stubborn coach in the NBA. Nothing new here. Pop will over-think and over analyze strategy, instead of noticing and going with the obvious. He's done it the past 5 seasons-- which has cost the team much more than the obvious Pop homers want to believe-- fortunately for us the compe ion was very weak in 2007 (compared to 2008-now) and we won the championship in the WCSF against the championship favored Phoenix Suns ().

[mingus]

Taiga holds Aldridge to 14 points, which was unbelievable, and he's reward by getting benches. Full re .

[timtonymanu]

Taiga holds Aldridge to 14 points, which was unbelievable, and he's reward by getting benches. Full re .

Yeah remember when Tiago didnt play against Portland and Aldridge got 40.

[Obstructed_View]

Splitter must have been really bad in practice.

[Mugen]

Splitter must have been really bad in practice.

or the Turd Towers must be absolutely dominating Dice/Timmy.

[thOOdee]

dude...is there really a secret relationship between bonner and pop....im dead serious..or some blackmail .....great win....but jeez what does pop see in him

[Chomag]

What happened to "earning minutes"?..

That excuse was valid when Splitter was up and down earlier in the season(not IMO, he still should have played, but it's understandable, I suppose)..

Duncan gets injured, Splitter comes in, plays nearly double-double basketball when he's out there, including very good individual and help D..

His reward? a benching..

Pop randomly gives him minutes vs. Phoenix, Splitter plays very well, as usual..his reward in the next game? 0 minutes in the 2nd half vs. Phoenix, 0 minutes in the 1st half vs. Atlanta..

Shouldn't playing time be "earned"?..that's what Pop defenders had been saying for years..

Playing Splitter would not be fair to the team. Or at least thats what Pop said

[Capt Bringdown]

This season's getting a whole lot less interesting. Does anyone truly believe in Bonner/Blair?
1st round flameout possible
2nd round dismissal likely
3rd round highly improbable
Finals: laughable

[MaNu4Tres]

Splitter must have been really bad in practice.

Sad thing is they hardly ever (or never) have full all-out practices during the season.

95% of their "practices" consist of shoot arounds-- briefly implementing new wrinkles (walk throughs) on the defensive and offensive end (mostly this) for the upcoming opponent-- and film-- hardly ever do they scrimmage or go 100% simulating live game scenarios.

The end of practice is when the players, that hardly get any playing time, work individually with a coach or play 2 on 2 with the other bench warmers.

Don't forget the great interviews at the end as well.

[carina_gino20]

Pop's already said that the defense is as good (or bad?) as it's gonna be. If you believe that, then it should tell you that Splitter, to him, doesn't make a difference one way or the other.

Splitter obviously needs to get over himself...

[Obstructed_View]

Sad thing is they hardly ever (or never) have full all-out practices during the season.

95% of their "practices" consist of shoot arounds-- briefly implementing new wrinkles (walk throughs) on the defensive and offensive end (mostly this) for the upcoming opponent-- and film-- hardly ever do they scrimmage or go 100% simulating live game scenarios.

The end of practice is when the players, that hardly get any playing time, work individually with a coach or play 2 on 2 with the other bench warmers.

Don't forget the great interviews at the end as well.

"Practice" is what the fans don't see and Pop does, which is why Pop makes the decisions that he does, because Pop is smart and fans are not, because 4 rings got.