The Spurs need to have one true big man if they are to have Bonner out there. Blair is undersized. That phase in the third quarter when a true big man had to be out there should have been Splitter's time. Putting Blair back in the lineup with Bonner allowed Memphis to get back into the game by playing an inside-outside game.
I hate to say it, but Pop is losing his damn mind if he thinks that abominable front-line will provide any mode of long-term success.
I took the numbers from the most recent game since that was the most recent example where I remember Splitter getting outworked by bigger players on the glass; he didn't log very many minutes in the other games versus the Lakers .
Gray and Mbenga were good against the Lakers in Game 1 but they are also significantly bigger than Splitter and CP3 is back to his MVP-worthy self especially against Derek Fisher. I give Duncan a free pass since he coasts in the regular season but there's no doubt that the Lakers frontcourt are going to give him problems as well.
Unless I'm looking at the wrong stuff, Tiago's never posted a double-double against the Lakers. I want him to get minutes but imo it seems like posters are forgetting how easily bullied he can be against bigger and stronger post players which the Grizzlies have. People need to temper their expectations of Splitter since I fully expect Randolph and Gasol to abuse him; those guys can even abuse Duncan and Dice.
Pretty hard to deny Pop's desire to put Don Nelson's thumbprint on the Spurs. Glad this version of Pop wasn't around in '97 or the Spurs might have traded down to get Chauncey Billups.
Lol
So we aren't better than Memphis.The game was close,("it wasn't like we got beat by 25") so we played well.They hit big threes at the end and we can't do anything.
Maybe you have to change your philosophy to be up by 10 points at the end.Maybe we don't have to pray they don't hit big shots.Maybe we have to win the games at home.Maybe.Just maybe.
Pop has lost 5 straight playoff games and has said the same after each loss.
4 rings tho!
WTF do you suggest replace Pop?
No I stupidly looked at his splits instead of his game stats. Sorry about that.
That said, the reason posters are "forgetting how easily builled he can be by bigger and stronger post players" is because he is not at all easily bullied by bigger and stronger post players and hasn't been at any point this season. There's almost nobody bigger or stronger than Bynum and Splitter held his own against him.
Besides, bringing up any deficiency of size, length, athletecism, or defensive ability is pretty silly since each and every big in the Spurs' rotation is behind Splitter in three of those.four categories.
Preferably, a coach who's gotten over himself.
I'll give Pop the benefit of the doubt more than most posters, but this "the other team just made shots" is just getting out of control.
Earth to Pop: that's what defense is supposed to be there for.
well there you go. all you do is complain about Pop, yet if given the chance, you wouldn't even know of a plausible solution.
available, there is no better coach out there.
Most high school basketball coaches don't walk away from a game in which the opposing front line scores 49 points on 76 percent shooting and grabs 23 rebounds and says that the only problem is that they missed a couple of baskets.
oh, so you're suggesting most high school basketball coaches would be a better fit?
come on OV... i usually respect your opinion, but... come on......
For me the Splitter discussion is about "known" vs. "unknown". The known is what the Spurs get from Bonner/Blair/Dice. The unknown is how Splitter will play with Duncan on the big stage. He's not a typical rookie. He's played in big international games, give him a few minutes just to humor us, let's see how he does.
This is all pretty rich. I think you could take one of the playoff meltdown threads from seven or so years ago, chance the dates and name of the opponent, and it would be exactly the same. , even many of the characters are still the same.
I do think that unless Duncan can play 38 minutes of focused, engaged, productive, physical basketball every night in the playoffs, the Spurs are in trouble. Memphis may not have the talent to win the series, but even if San Antonio advances, some big and tough front lines await them. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give Tiago some burn. None of the other frontline compliments to Duncan are a lock to be any better.
IMO, The lack of defense and toughness up front is the second biggest concern after health.
Probably not during the 1st round of the playoffs, no. You got me there.
I just don't feel like sucking him off after every dumbass move he's made in the 2nd half of this season. That's why we have you.
not during the 1st round? there isn't any coach for any round, better than Pop, available.
show me where i've sucked off Pop at all. i'm just as disappointed in the loss, and i would love for Splitter to be played, even if just a bit....
Pop's dismissive comments prove that he's full of . Hey, there's no disputing he's a great coach. However, this is possibly yet another example of his out-and-out stubborness. He chained George Hill to the bench during the 2009 playoffs, when it was obvious to everyone the kid could play. He did the same with Blair, at some points, last year.
Is Pop simply going to keep Tiago on the bench because he feels the guys in front of him are more productive? Or does Pop want to demonstrate that HE is the smartest guy in the room, and not give into public pressure? I don't know which, but you've got to know that he's seen the "Free Tiago" placards at the games. He's heard the clamor from both fans and perhaps even his assistants on why Tiago needs to play.
Pop likes to preach the importance of players "getting over themselves". Sounds to me like he needs to take his own advice.
What about my post was incorrect? The Spurs gave up 76 percent shooting to Randolph and Gasol, and Pop thinks the answer is a shooting guard.oh, so you're suggesting most high school basketball coaches would be a better fit?
come on OV... i usually respect your opinion, but... come on......
If an NFL coach has the quarterback punt on third down to try to catch the defense off guard and get some extra field position, and does it four times a game against every opponent, you start wondering what the he's doing.
No quote in the history of ST has been more true.
Don't forget declining productivity. We all saw last year, in the playoff series versus the Suns, just how far TD has fallen defensively. That All-NBA power forward isn't coming back. WHile he can conjure up moments, he can no longer move his feet well. Therefore, he very susceptible defensively. Yet he's STILL the Spurs best interior defender. What's wrong with that picture?
Duncan can no longer save the day by himself. He needs more support. Splitter is the best answer.
I love how some fans think that just because a coach has a good track record with great players, he's infallible...Pop has done many things well, but his failure to develop another big (be it trading Scola, ignoring Splitter, etc) since the Admiral's retirement has hurt the Spurs. He's probably the best PF of all-time and you gotta make the most of his remaining productive years.
Phil's won 11 rings but it's pretty evident that he doesn't give a anymore, and his indifference is contagious to the rest of the team (outside of Kobe).
Sometimes good coaches are either too proud or too lazy to make the proper adjustments.
I agree, but I also believe it is too late because Pop never prepared the team to play with Duncan and Splitter on the floor at the same time. It is not fair to expect Splitter and company to learn how to play together after the playoffs had already started.
Funny, how this was one of Pops best season records and at the same time one of his worse playoff preps.
I agree, there isn't. That doesn't mean I have to agree with all the dumbass things he's done the last 2 months.
Good, me too. At least i'm not starting a million threads about it. i felt my "F*** You, Pop" thread was sufficient.
Didn't Pop decide to switch on the pick and roll and had Duncan trying to guard Grant Hill, Steve Nash and Goran Dragic for four games with no adjustments? Was there ever a time that Duncan was useful checking guards 20 feet from the basket with no legitimate bigs behind him?
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