Q&A: What does Pop do now?

[TJastal]

If Splitter were to start next year we will need him to improve his offense. We were not only lacking interior D but interior offense as well. We need Splitter to be able to at least be respected away from the basket & be semi capable of creating more of his own offense eventually. I do not know why that is difficult to understand.

Yah, it would be nice if Tiago can develop a few solid post moves, but its not an absolute necessity. With Manu and TP running P&R Splitter will thrive just like Blair has. Spurs can run P&R all day long with TD/TP & Manu/Tiago or vice versa.

If it worked good with Blair (whos post game isn't any better) it will work with Splitter. And the spurs will get a huge boost in defense with Tiago out on the court rather than Blair. How is this a problem, again?

Popsuckers favorite pasttime:

[Fabbs]

We cannot win a Championship if Splitter plays at the same time as Duncan and if Splitter does not have an outside shot.

[DirkISaCocLuvinPuSSy]

wasn't fate pop it was a dumb decision with Manu.

[eric365]

Manu’s not old

34 year old for a SG is not old ???

We’re playing with minimum (salary) people off the bench. If somebody gets hurt, Danny Green’s going to play, that kind of thing.

Danny Green should feel good right now

[jjktkk]

Yah, it would be nice if Tiago can develop a few solid post moves, but its not an absolute necessity. With Manu and TP running P&R Splitter will thrive just like Blair has. Spurs can run P&R all day long with TD/TP & Manu/Tiago or vice versa.

If it worked good with Blair (whos post game isn't any better) it will work with Splitter. And the spurs will get a huge boost in defense with Tiago out on the court rather than Blair. How is this a problem, again?

Popsuckers favorite pasttime:

When exactly did Blair "thrive"?

[wildbill2u]

There are so many opinions of the possible positioning of Splitter that I disagree with.

Some say Splitter has to have an outside shot from the perimeter to complement Timmy and spread the floor. Why? Why move height outside?. Do we want to put short guys inside to rebound?

Anyway, like virtually every NBA team, we've never had that system working in a center, certainly not during Timmys years here. Not Rasho, not Oberto, not NASR, not Blair and not even Robinson were outside shooters.

Inthe history of the NBA there were only a very few guys that big that can shoot from outside (Rik Smits, that blond guy from Seattle, Sabonis, Dirk and Rasheed) and all of them are freaks of nature.

What about Timmy shooting his banker from outside and leaving Splitter inside to pick up the misses? What about using both of them as a double post in a Pick & Roll. Of course Tim has lost his ability to drive for the most part.

By the way, Splitter's first coach in Europe put him out high on the arc and Splitter was pretty good at the Pick& Roll from there by driving the lane. He showed good hands here when he got the chance. But he wasn't a shooter.

You have to put players into postions where their skills fit. Not try to shoehorn them into skill sets which they don't have in order to set up positioning in an offense.

[jjktkk]

There are so many opinions of the possible positioning of Splitter that I disagree with.

Some say Splitter has to have an outside shot from the perimeter to complement Timmy and spread the floor. Why? Why move height outside?. Do we want to put short guys inside to rebound?

Anyway, like virtually every NBA team, we've never had that system working in a center, certainly not during Timmys years here. Not Rasho, not Oberto, not NASR, not Blair and not even Robinson were outside shooters.

Inthe history of the NBA there were only a very few guys that big that can shoot from outside (Rik Smits, that blond guy from Seattle, Sabonis, Dirk and Rasheed) and all of them are freaks of nature.

What about Timmy shooting his banker from outside and leaving Splitter inside to pick up the misses? What about using both of them as a double post in a Pick & Roll. Of course Tim has lost his ability to drive for the most part.

By the way, Splitter's first coach in Europe put him out high on the arc and Splitter was pretty good at the Pick& Roll from there by driving the lane. He showed good hands here when he got the chance. But he wasn't a shooter.

You have to put players into postions where their skills fit. Not try to shoehorn them into skill sets which they don't have in order to set up positioning in an offense.

Thats not entirely correct. DROB did have a reliable15 foot jumper. What the onus is on Splitter to do is be able to develop a mid range jumper, as well as improve his post game. The footwork is there, its just a matter of Splitter getting stronger and continuing to work with the Spur's coaches. We've already seen Splitter's solid pick & roll game, next year I expect to see a significant improvement in his overall around game.

[SenorSpur]

Anybody remember how successful Tim and D-Rob were at playing the high-low action, between the two of them. They ruled the paint defensively and were more than adequate complement to one another offensively.

It's a shame Pop has amensia and acts as though those days never existed.

[TJastal]

Anybody remember how successful Tim and D-Rob were at playing the high-low action, between the two of them. They ruled the paint defensively and were more than adequate complement to one another offensively.

It's a shame Pop has amensia and acts as though those days never existed.

But..but.. Splitter is like Blair.... and doesn't have a reliable 15 footer. So if Pop started him we might expect to win only 61 games. Like jjktkk alluded to, that would totally suck.

[jjktkk]

But..but.. Splitter is like Blair.... and doesn't have a reliable 15 footer. So if Pop started him we might expect to win only 61 games. Like jjktkk alluded to, that would totally suck.

Lol, comparing Splitter and/or Blair to the Admiral.

[jjktkk]

Anybody remember how successful Tim and D-Rob were at playing the high-low action, between the two of them. They ruled the paint defensively and were more than adequate complement to one another offensively.

It's a shame Pop has amensia and acts as though those days never existed.

And I remember that Duncan and DROB are HOFers and Splitter is still developing.

[TJastal]

And I remember that Duncan and DROB are HOFers and Splitter is still developing.

And Blair is a seasoned pro right?

[jjktkk]

And Blair is a seasoned pro right?

So your calling Blair a seasoned pro? I would say that after a couple more years, if Blair continues to improve.

[SenorSpur]

And I remember that Duncan and DROB are HOFers and Splitter is still developing.

You got me there. Besides, Duncan was an all-world, consensus #1 pixk, coming out of college.

[jjktkk]

You got me there. Besides, Duncan was an all-world, consensus #1 pixk, coming out of college.

Wasn't trying to Senor. I know how you feel about Pop's getting away from what made the championships teams of the past. I too wish we could go back to a dominating defense, pound it in the paint, style of play. And I honestly believe Popwould prefer that as well, regardless of his overuse of his illegitimate stepson Bonner. But looking at this roster, he played to its strength imo. I hope Pop can make the moves necessary to achieve a more defensive oriented unit next year.

[rmt]

This ridiculous notion that the bigs have to have jump shots is BS. After watching Collision put on a magnificent game this afternoon - what jump shot did he need? Just play some hard nosed defense and clean up the boards. All Splitter needs to do is play defense, pick and roll with Manu/TP, draw some offensive fouls, clean up the boards and improve his free throw. He already does 4 of these 5 things - just concentrate on his free throws.

[SenorSpur]

Wasn't trying to Senor. I know how you feel about Pop's getting away from what made the championships teams of the past. I too wish we could go back to a dominating defense, pound it in the paint, style of play. And I honestly believe Popwould prefer that as well, regardless of his overuse of his illegitimate stepson Bonner. But looking at this roster, he played to its strength imo. I hope Pop can make the moves necessary to achieve a more defensive oriented unit next year.

The only problem is it is HE who built the roster. The beautiful thing about him being both head coach and Grand Poobah of all things Spurs, is that he has final say, so the bullseye is on him. All apologies to RC, of course.

[Cessation]

The FO has been trying to build this roster for last 4 years, and all we got are bargain bin scrubs, like bogans, mason, bonner, blair...clearly it was duncan, best pf in history, that was responsible for all those championship, with the fo not ing up to much in the process. Now that he's pretty much done, we see how mediocre their moves are, trading scola, upping ginger and ..etc.

[rmt]

Pop has reaped what he sowed. After watching the OKC/MEM game where a player that Pop discarded (Nazr) and another that has little offensive game (Collision) played significant roles in the game 7 win, I have little pity for Pop for choosing offense over defense. And he's still continuing with it as seen:

Blair's future with the Spurs, the coach said, ... It's not defense.”

“It's personal discipline, responsibility and maturity,” Popovich said.

and his having Splitter work on moving his game further from the basket. Other than his atrocious free throws, why have him move his game further from the basket all for the sake of spreading the floor for the offense? Instead have him work closer to the basket, go up strong and clean up the boards.

[ElNono]

Tiago needs to work on the 15 footer jumpshot that guys like Ibaka, Perkins, Chandler, Bynum or Noah have, otherwise he won't be a good NBA big...

[TJastal]

Pop has reaped what he sowed. After watching the OKC/MEM game where a player that Pop discarded (Nazr) and another that has little offensive game (Collision) played significant roles in the game 7 win, I have little pity for Pop for choosing offense over defense. And he's still continuing with it as seen:

Blair's future with the Spurs, the coach said, ... It's not defense.”

“It's personal discipline, responsibility and maturity,” Popovich said.

and his having Splitter work on moving his game further from the basket. Other than his atrocious free throws, why have him move his game further from the basket all for the sake of spreading the floor for the offense? Instead have him work closer to the basket, go up strong and clean up the boards.

Agree. Splitter should keep working on his post game, baby hooks, footwork in the paint. When he gets that down 110% then start working on the increasing his range.

Collison has 15-20 foot jumper, but he doesn't use it much. Splitter should be able to become a similar player if he can match Collison's effort.

[Cessation]

Tiago needs to work on the 15 footer jumpshot that guys like Ibaka, Perkins, Chandler, Bynum or Noah have, otherwise he won't be a good NBA big...

Pop has brainwashed spurfan with his bonner ball, to such an extent, that they actually "need" to have their centers shoot the ball. Otherwise, oh noes, they might get a dunk once in a while.

[jjktkk]

Tiago needs to work on the 15 footer jumpshot that guys like Ibaka, Perkins, Chandler, Bynum or Noah have, otherwise he won't be a good NBA big...

The difference imo is Splitter is not where those above bigs you mentioned are currently. Hes got a great shot to get there starting this fall.

[jjktkk]

Agree. Splitter should keep working on his post game, baby hooks, footwork in the paint. When he gets that down 110% then start working on the increasing his range.

Collison has 15-20 foot jumper, but he doesn't use it much. Splitter should be able to become a similar player if he can match Collison's effort.

+1. We can argue all day about Splitter not getting enough playing time this year, but Splitter was not ready for a substanial role. You can blame that on Pop, meh. Hes got alot of potential and next year I expect him to play a huge role with this team.

[Cessation]

The difference imo is Splitter is not where those above bigs you mentioned are currently. Hes got a great shot to get there starting this fall.

Serious question. Would you rather have splitter start, and leave the bench to the mercy of the Turd Towers? Or, have him hold down the fort with the 2nd stringers?