Q&A: What does Pop do now?

[jjktkk]

Splitter is a defencive big, what spurs needed most, I thought. Why does he need to shoot when he has 4 shooters around him? Let them ing score. Aren't his responsibilities enough? I mean, he's already playing 1 on 2 on the defencive end when bonner/blair is out there with him. Besides, spurs use pnr heavily, and thats how splitter gets most of his points. You don't need to shoot when you roll hard to the basket or post up.

Seriously, this is just pop paying lip service, d is not his prority when night in and night out he rolls out defencive midgets like bonner/blair, and leaves bigs that actually play d, rotting on the bench. I think the fo realize that money is tight, and a small market team can't go over the luxury tax for consecutive years. They still gotta sell tickets, so they feed to the masses this, "we're contenders" shtick. Their new found focus on offence makes it rather apparent, that they've become a regular season team these days.

The problem you run into with a defensive specialist, is that when that guy is not respected on the offensive end that leads to oppenents throwing more double teams. Like other posters have stated, it would help Splitter if he can develop a jumper and improve his overall offense.

[ElNono]

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.

I'll be real happy if he gets there in a few seasons, especially defensively... bringing up 'having a 15 foot jumper' is re ed though. Heck, 4/5 of those guys don't even have a post game to speak of.

[jjktkk]

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?

I would want Splitter starting. Regardless, the turd towers are still a problem , and as a coach, you still have to find a way(somehow) make the turd towers effective. Another thing to consider is Duncan is not the same force on offense, due to age. Duncan needs to have a another big who can be the offensive post player. Can Splitter be that guy, or do the Spurs need to find someone?

[ElNono]

The problem you run into with a defensive specialist, is that when that guy is not respected on the offensive end that leads to oppenents throwing more double teams. Like other posters have stated, it would help Splitter if he can develop a jumper and improve his overall offense.

Double teams on who? TD doesn't require double teams anymore. And that is really the big elephant in the room. We don't have guys that are a huge mismatch anymore. That's why getting it back on the other end, with defense, is imperative.

[jjktkk]

I'll be real happy if he gets there in a few seasons, especially defensively... bringing up 'having a 15 foot jumper' is re ed though. Heck, 4/5 of those guys don't even have a post game to speak of.

True, Splitter just needs have some offensive game, be it a post game or jumper. Hes got some nice footwork in the post, and I expect him to improve in that area significantly.

[ElNono]

You can't make the turd towers work in this NBA... The only team severely undersized and soft left is the Heat, and they barely manage because they have Wade + James, which is ridiculous talent...

[Cessation]

The problem you run into with a defensive specialist, is that when that guy is not respected on the offensive end that leads to oppenents throwing more double teams. Like other posters have stated, it would help Splitter if he can develop a jumper and improve his overall offense.

If splitters man doubles, then roll to the basket. Duncan played with centers that have little to no jumper ex. blair, oberto, nazr.. I'm all for Splitter getting some range, but I think it's unrealistic to expect it in his second year. Big men take longer to develop.

[TJastal]

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.

Excuses, excuses.

Splitter was already close or at Nick Collison's level, which should have garnered him at least 20 minutes a game, esp considering the spurs current frontcourt rotation.

And speaking of starting centers that have no jumpshot, 3 are still playing, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, & Joel Anthony. Imagine that.

[ElNono]

True, Splitter just needs have some offensive game, be it a post game or jumper. Hes got some nice footwork in the post, and I expect him to improve in that area significantly.

A modest post game shouldn't be that difficult for him. He can back his guy down no problem. It's the feet shuffling and underhand layups that are weak. Bad habits from overseas. Tiago needs to work on the bank angles. He has size to drop it over almost anybody.

[jjktkk]

Double teams on who? TD doesn't require double teams anymore. And that is really the big elephant in the room. We don't have guys that are a huge mismatch anymore. That's why getting it back on the other end, with defense, is imperative.

Nail on the head. IMO that was the biggest reason we lost to Memphis. Tim just couldn't get off against Memphis's size. Although the Spurs aren't the defesive juggernaut of yesteryear, they still played well enough to win against Memphis. Pop and RC need to find a big to help Tim on the offensive end, as well as defense. Splitter has shown enough on the defensive side of the ball, but the Spurs still need a post player that score down low. Can Splitter be that guy? I hope so.

[jjktkk]

A modest post game shouldn't be that difficult for him. He can back his guy down no problem. It's the feet shuffling and underhand layups that are weak. Bad habits from overseas. Tiago needs to work on the bank angles. He has size to drop it over almost anybody.

Agree. A summer in the weight room and working with the Spurs coaching staff should help him big time. Hes got the moves, the spacing, etc..., he just needs to learn how to "bring it".

[jjktkk]

If splitters man doubles, then roll to the basket. Duncan played with centers that have little to no jumper ex. blair, oberto, nazr.. I'm all for Splitter getting some range, but I think it's unrealistic to expect it in his second year. Big men take longer to develop.

Yes, which might be the reason we didn't see Splitter as much as fans wanted. Splitter is still a work in progress. Hes got alot of potential.

[ElNono]

Nail on the head. IMO that was the biggest reason we lost to Memphis. Tim just couldn't get off against Memphis's size. Although the Spurs aren't the defesive juggernaut of yesteryear, they still played well enough to win against Memphis. Pop and RC need to find a big to help Tim on the offensive end, as well as defense. Splitter has shown enough on the defensive side of the ball, but the Spurs still need a post player that score down low. Can Splitter be that guy? I hope so.

It took Bynum 4+ seasons to develop a consistent post game, and the guy has 3x the bulk size of Tiago. Expecting Tiago to get double-teamed next season is as unrealistic as expecting Tim to have a 5th gear these days.

But drawing double teams isn't the only way to win games. We rolled with Bruce Bowen for many seasons who was handicapped as on offense and allowed whoever was guarding him to roam and double, and we still pulled it off because we could stop them on the other end. Granted, it was a different team since Tim was also in his prime, but for argument's sake about double teams, I think it's valid.

Bottom line is that it needs to start from a solid defensive foundation, and then move on to making it work on offense, IMO. When you do it backwards you see what we saw this season: Once the offense stagnated and we needed a stop, we couldn't buy one.

[Cessation]

Thunder didn't need to shut down randolph, just contain him. 16 and 10 for zbo, with collison guarding him one on one, did it. You telling me spurs couldn't find a big with similar defensive skills as him? Give me a break. If pop put the effort to develop splitter through out the offseason, instead of settling for regular season fools gold, I'm pretty sure splitter would be up for the challenge. As it is, splitter did as good of a job as you can in the series, considering the cir stance.

[ElNono]

Yes, which might be the reason we didn't see Splitter as much as fans wanted. Splitter is still a work in progress. Hes got alot of potential.

tbh, this is crap, and it was never more clear when Pop panicked and threw him into the fire for the last few games against Memphis.

[jjktkk]

Excuses, excuses.

Splitter was already close or at Nick Collison's level, which should have garnered him at least 20 minutes a game, esp considering the spurs current frontcourt rotation.

And speaking of starting centers that have no jumpshot, 3 are still playing, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, & Joel Anthony. Imagine that.

Noah has Rose, Chandler has the ideal(best) sidekick in Nowitski, a big that consistantly draws double teams out on the perimeter. Collison doesn't start, has more strength, and has more of an offensive game than Splitter. Anthony has King James and Wade, and to a lesser extent, Bosh, nuff said. You seemed to think that Splitter was ready to be a significant player from day one. None of those bigs you mentioned were significant players their rookie year. Splitter will eventually be that guy, he just was not ready this year.

[Cessation]

It took Bynum 4+ seasons to develop a consistent post game, and the guy has 3x the bulk size of Tiago. Expecting Tiago to get double-teamed next season is as unrealistic as expecting Tim to have a 5th gear these days.

But drawing double teams isn't the only way to win games. We rolled with Bruce Bowen for many seasons who was handicapped as on offense and allowed whoever was guarding him to roam and double, and we still pulled it off because we could stop them on the other end. Granted, it was a different team since Tim was also in his prime, but for argument's sake about double teams, I think it's valid.

Bottom line is that it needs to start from a solid defensive foundation, and then move on to making it work on offense, IMO. When you do it backwards you see what we saw this season: Once the offense stagnated and we needed a stop, we couldn't buy one.

Thats it.

[ElNono]

Collison doesn't start, has more strength, and has more of an offensive game than Splitter.

Uh?

[ElNono]

I like Collison (heck, I even pointed out a few seasons ago that it would've been a good pickup for the Spurs, and was laughed at), but his 'offense' is no different than the same garbage stuff Blair gets, and he's nowhere near as strong and Tiago, IMO. He's a blue collar worker and he's a smart, experienced player. The latest is the only thing he has on Splitter. Obviously, if the Spurs would have actually worked on developing Splitter throughout the season, then that gap would be closer too.

[TJastal]

tbh, this is crap, and it was never more clear when Pop panicked and threw him into the fire for the last few games against Memphis.

Tom Thibodeau has been playing a rook 7' all year long (Asik). And getting good contributions. Not to mention building the kid's confidence and experience. And Asik doesn't shoot the 15 footer either, how bout that!

Pop and his rook? Not so much.

[jjktkk]

tbh, this is crap, and it was never more clear when Pop panicked and threw him into the fire for the last few games against Memphis.

Why is it crap? Splitter did alot of things well, the few spot minutes he got in the Memphis series, but he also got abused, along with all of the Spur's frontline, against Randoph and Gasol. Once Memphis realized the Spurs couldn't score down low, they completely shut down the Spurs offense. Would starting Splitter had made a difference in that series? If Duncan could of scored more, or Ginoboli could of been 100% healthy, or TP living in the paint scoring or dishing off, etc.... Lack of playing time for Splitter, was not the reason the Spurs lost.

[Cessation]

Before the season started, pop said splitter will contribute right away. He must have seen something to give him that opinion. After spliters injury, he didn't bother giving him any minutes, it's obvious he overestimated blair/bonner/dice, and went with offence rest of the season, thinking his regular season record would translate into playoffs success.

lol bonner 26 3pt% in playoffs, and last 2 months of regular season
lol blair hitting the drive threw, and eating his way out of the rotation down the stretch
lol dice running on fumes in the starting lineup

[jjktkk]

Tom Thibodeau has been playing a rook 7' all year long (Asik). And getting good contributions. Not to mention building the kid's confidence and experience. And Asik doesn't shoot the 15 footer either, how bout that!

Pop and his rook? Not so much.

Asik played the same amount of minutes Splitter did. He received his share of DNPCD, just like Splitter did.

[TJastal]

Noah has Rose, Chandler has the ideal(best) sidekick in Nowitski, a big that consistantly draws double teams out on the perimeter. Collison doesn't start, has more strength, and has more of an offensive game than Splitter. Anthony has King James and Wade, and to a lesser extent, Bosh, nuff said. You seemed to think that Splitter was ready to be a significant player from day one. None of those bigs you mentioned were significant players their rookie year. Splitter will eventually be that guy, he just was not ready this year.

Are you kidding? Splitter would have had the big 3 and more P&R than he could ever dream of in Europe.

You're like the energizer bunny of excuses around here.

[ElNono]

Comparing these Spurs with Chicago is silly though... for a number of different reasons.

The Spurs are who they are. We're not going to have a Rose on the offensive end, and I agree with Pop we don't have the personnel to be a top 3 defensive team. But being somewhere between 5-8 I think it's attainable, provided we stop rolling with the turds and the softies.