Pop: "Splitter's getting as much time as I can play him."

[Brazil]

If Pop cant play Tiago more... sit Tim and give the starting job to Tiago.

Tim coming off the bench is maybe the right thing to do

[TheSpurglar]

Logic would hold up more if guys like Bonner who have regressed in addition to showing no improvement didn't get minutes.

But then who do you pull Bonner for when you're teaching a lesson to Splitter and/or Blair? Everybody else is playing pretty awful too. Maybe Pop simply thinks Bonner is what he is at this point and he'll be where he's supposed to be offensively and defensively, even if he stinks.

Another thing to consider... Pop started Blair nearly all of last year, and then plugged Dice in for the last 12-15 games to get him warmed up for the playoffs, correct? Is it possible Pop fears Splitter's conditioning/health, and is going to make a similar move late this year?

[DPG21920]

Why would he think that?

[TheSpurglar]

He's mentioned Splitter's various injuries last year a few times this season already when speaking as to why Splitter didn't get much time last year. Maybe he's afraid it could happen again? And doesn't want to call Tiago soft or injury-prone in the media?

tbh, I have no clue why Splitter shouldn't be getting 30+ minutes a game, and a majority of those next to Duncan, given the evidence. But Pop ain't saying, so all we can do is speculate.

[DPG21920]

That's the point. Pop saying Tiago was injury prone was flat out wrong. Doesn't hold water.

[silverblk mystix]

I seriously lost faith/confidence in Pop a couple of seasons ago when the Spurs had a back to back...the 2nd game was in Denver....

Pop sat the "big 3"....but not exactly.... he actually sat the "big 4"....(in Pop's mind)

TD,TP, Manu.....and Michael Finley sat out this game....then he actually played the rest of the team...the indignity of playing in a game that your coach was purposely tanking...Bowen included if my memory serves me right...

Back then it was all you needed to know about the respect and the disrespect he felt for Finley and Bowen...

Pretty in' sad after all that Bowen did for this franchise...some here will forgive this....I can't....

Pop....time to get rid of him or time for Pop to step down if he has any integrity left...

[Ice009]

No

He was a very good player.Same Splitter. They have to adapt their game to the NBA and they need to play to do it. It's not like they weren't great and they have improved because they play. It's a matter of confidence and adaptation.

What I meant was Marc Gasol wasn't playing as good as he is now when he first came to the NBA. I should have worded it differently.

He's better now, either because of the court time he got to adapt and/or he has also improved his game a little. Surely you would say he has had some improvement since he's been in the NBA? His body weight is one big improvement.

[TheSpurglar]

So then is it possible Tim is resisting the move to "perimeter big" when Tiago is on the floor?

It's either that, Tiago is more injury-prone and/or unintelligent than he appears, or Pop is making up lies about Tiago for grins.

[Blake]

I'm not playing this game. You sound like chump. We lost that year because of Pop. He should have played Rasho, as he did all year long. He changed his philosophy right in the middle of the damn playoffs, and not for good. That's all I'm going to say about this to you because obviously you play the chump game, and your mind is made up regardless anyway. Pop screwed the Spurs that year, we should have a three peat.

Damn sneaky Raptors getting over on the Spurs by getting Rasho and getting rid of Bonner!

[Blake]

So since you whined when I explained this to you, you've now moved on to asking the same question of other people?

You haven't explained .

Why do you care if I ask someone else for their opinion on a messageboard? Jealous?

You don't really need this explained again, you're just mad that someone is bad-mouthing the coach, right?

You never explained it the first time.

I find the year in, year out bashing of Pop hilarious.

You don't really have any tangible evidence that it was Pop's fault for the Spurs not winning a le in 2006, do you?

[Blake]

I seriously lost faith/confidence in Pop a couple of seasons ago when the Spurs had a back to back...the 2nd game was in Denver....

What was the Spurs record at the end of that year?

[DPG21920]

Regular season champs!!!

[jjktkk]

Regular season champs!!!

If you stop and think about, don't all dynasties end somewhat like this? Aging stars, FO trying keep it going, fans with high expectations use to ringing, etc... In the Spurs case limited finances, low draft picks, their inability to lure marquee free agents, etc...?

[DPG21920]

Sure, that doesn't mean they dont mistakes. It's not about a guarantee of a ring but putting the best team out there. It's also about practicing what you preach and having a clear vision; at least that is what's expected out of a front office such as this one.

[jag]

Holy Blake is irritating.

[Blake]

Holy Blake is irritating.

rofl Pop/Bonner haters are ing hilarious.

[DPG21920]

Holy Blake is irritating.

He's worse than Chump but I at least believe that if Chump wanted to, he could have good takes.

[mystargtr34]

I get a kick out of Chump though ..some of the one line comebacks are hilarious.. but I would be pissed if he pulled that on me

[jag]

rofl Pop/Bonner haters are ing hilarious.

lol you do realize i'm not a "Pop hater" right?

lol you thinking someone has to disagree with you to think you're irritating.

[jag]

He's worse than Chump but I at least believe that if Chump wanted to, he could have good takes.

CD can let his nonsense drag on and on, but at least he's funny. Blake tries to be CD but he just ends up being unfunny and unclever. He's like a blind homeless man's version of a poor man's chumpdumper.

[Blake]

He's worse than Chump but I at least believe that if Chump wanted to, he could have good takes.

shh girl!

[jag]

shh girl!

Blake tries to be CD but he just ends up being unfunny and unclever.

[Blake]

lol you do realize i'm not a "Pop hater" right?

lol lol I don't know anything about you

lol you thinking someone has to disagree with you to think you're irritating.

lol lol you being irritated for no reason

[jjktkk]

Sure, that doesn't mean they dont mistakes. It's not about a guarantee of a ring but putting the best team out there. It's also about practicing what you preach and having a clear vision; at least that is what's expected out of a front office such as this one.

True, but the FO's vision was alot more clearer, when you had a prime big 3, and Bowen. As the big 3 have aged, and key role players, like Bruce, Horry, etc. retiring, the margin of error for the FO has pretty much disappeared. As for mistakes, the FO definitely have had their share. Now the FO is in the inevitable position of trying to contend with a aging big 3, while trying to rebuild on the fly.

[Obstructed_View]

Because Nazr, Rasho and Oberto were such awesome bigs?

Yes, actually. The Spurs won 63 games with the first two and won an NBA le with the third. None of them were factors by the time the Spurs were getting scored on at will and drummed out of the playoffs. That's due to minutes, not effectiveness, not matchups.

I recall that when they played during the series that they sucked, notably game 2.

Not sure what series you're referring to, but Horry had been made the starter by the Dallas series. Rasho and Nazr combined for 10 points, 8 rebounds 6 blocks and 2 steals on 83% shooting in game 2 against Sacramento. Nazr started the series with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in game one and was a DNP-CD by game 5. That stupid three pointer...

I think it's easier to argue that Pop put them in as good a position to win it all that year by playing a heavy dose of his 5 or 6 best players.... much like Pat Riley was known to do during playoff time.

lol. Michael Finley at power forward is why a 63 win team went 7-6 in the playoffs and suddenly couldn't stop giving up points in the paint.