Splitter: "I Want The Ball. I Need The Ball."

[lefty]

That's what Tony Parker said Tiago Splitter was telling him during the Rockets game.

Gotta love how his confidence is skyrocketing.

yeah

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Mahinmi is a foul maching on defense still, but his offensive game is really coming around.

I would still take Splitter over him.

In either case, what we have is more evidence that Gregg Popovich just does not understand how to develop non-SuperHuman bigmen.

Rasho = already developed when he got here
Nazr = what he was when he got here
Horry = you know the story
Burg = " "
Dice = " "

Look at the development of pipeline bigmen Spurs

It's abysmal, Pop either trades his ass cuz they are too good for us to consider them (scola) or Pop sits them because they're too good (splitter), or Pop throws every conceivable Spurs resource to develop the player only to let them walk for overall cheap money to your major division rival (mahinmi)

Aaaand of course theres always just drafting them for the sake of watching them play in Europe (everyone else)

[DPG21920]

You know what Hedo said?

"Ball"

Much more succinct.

[ElNono]

Surprised nobody brought RJ into this conversation yet

[Brazil]

Mahinmi with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks in 25 minutes. Damn.

I hope chump is not reading you he is going to be mad

[angelbelow]

They were both fouls. He got hit in the arms and body both times.

Yeah I know, I said one was called for a foul and one wasn't. Maybe I worded it badly but I meant to imply that both were fouls and 1 didn't get called.

Regardless, I liked both plays even though he was blocked/fouled. As he gets more burn he'll get more calls too.

[jag]

I would still take Splitter over him.

This is pretty much all it comes down to. The Spurs weren't going to keep both and they chose Splitter. There are only so many bigmen you can develop at once, and Blair and Splitter were the ones they went with. Mahinmi is better than neither.

ing about Scola is warranted, but at this point it's just pointless. ing about Mahinmi is illogical, based on the decisions the Spurs had to make with who to keep and who to let walk. They made the right decision with Mahnmi.

[TD 21]

Mahinmi with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks in 25 minutes. Damn.

Before the Popologists come to the rescue, I'll preface this by saying I realize this is much easier said with the benefit of hindsight. But hear me out: Two off seasons ago, they could have let Jefferson play out the final season of his contract, tried to talk Splitter into staying in Europe for one more season (doubtful; he probably would have either asked that they trade his rights or threatened to sign a long term contract in Europe, with either a big buyout or none at all) and re-signed Mahinmi.

That would have meant this: Leonard and Splitter would be the starting forwards and Mahinmi potentially would be the third big. I realize this would be dependent on Pop playing Mahinmi ahead of Blair, which was unlikely, but still. Think how much be off they'd be cap wise and defensively.

[ElNono]

Before the Popologists come to the rescue, I'll preface this by saying I realize this is much easier said with the benefit of hindsight. But hear me out: Two off seasons ago, they could have let Jefferson play out the final season of his contract, tried to talk Splitter into staying in Europe for one more season (doubtful; he probably would have either asked that they trade his rights or threatened to sign a long term contract in Europe, with either a big buyout or none at all) and re-signed Mahinmi.

That would have meant this: Leonard and Splitter would be the starting forwards and Mahinmi potentially would be the third big. I realize this would be dependent on Pop playing Mahinmi ahead of Blair, which was unlikely, but still. Think how much be off they'd be cap wise and defensively.

You think Bonner would be at the end of the bench now? Think again.

[Brazil]

This is pretty much all it comes down to. The Spurs weren't going to keep both and they chose Splitter. There are only so many bigmen you can develop at once, and Blair and Splitter were the ones they went with. Mahinmi is better than neither.

ing about Scola is warranted, but at this point it's just pointless. ing about Mahinmi is illogical, based on the decisions the Spurs had to make with who to keep and who to let walk. They made the right decision with Mahnmi.

they obviously took the wrong decision no matter how you see things

[jag]

tried to talk Splitter into staying in Europe for one more season (doubtful; he probably would have either asked that they trade his rights or threatened to sign a long term contract in Europe, with either a big buyout or none at all) and re-signed Mahinmi.

...and that would have been worth it to you because in your eyes Mahinmi is better??

[angelbelow]

Mahinmi is a foul maching on defense still, but his offensive game is really coming around.

I would still take Splitter over him.

In either case, what we have is more evidence that Gregg Popovich just does not understand how to develop non-SuperHuman bigmen.

Rasho = already developed when he got here
Nazr = what he was when he got here
Horry = you know the story
Burg = " "
Dice = " "

Look at the development of pipeline bigmen Spurs

It's abysmal, Pop either trades his ass cuz they are too good for us to consider them (scola) or Pop sits them because they're too good (splitter), or Pop throws every conceivable Spurs resource to develop the player only to let them walk for overall cheap money to your major division rival (mahinmi)

Aaaand of course theres always just drafting them for the sake of watching them play in Europe (everyone else)

Agreed, Splitter is a lot more skilled right now. Ian's main appeal is his size, athleticism, and his developing offense. At under 1 million a year, hes a nice 4/5th big type of player to have.

[jag]

they obviously took the wrong decision no matter how you see things

How so?

[jag]

Agreed, Splitter is a lot more skilled right now. Ian's main appeal is his size, athleticism, and his developing offense. At under 1 million a year, hes a nice 4/5th big type of player to have.

He would have been the 6th big on the bench last year. How were the Spurs supposed to carry 6 bigs? This is of course taking into account that Bonner wasn't going anywhere. I would trade bonner for Ian in a heartbeat, but he was here to stay so you have to remove someone else from the equation. Ian wasn't better than anyone else.

[mercos]

I was disappointed with what I saw of Splitter last year, even though we didn't get to see much. He has blown away my expectations this year. Splitter and Parker running the pick and roll is just fun to watch. Those two along with Duncan's recent resurgence have been the bright spots on an otherwise disappointing season thus far.

[DMC]

"Deep down in places you don't like to talk about at Pop's parties, you want me on that ball. You NEED me on that ball."

"you use words like "perimeter", "coverage", "penetration".

[jjktkk]

Before the Popologists come to the rescue, I'll preface this by saying I realize this is much easier said with the benefit of hindsight. But hear me out: Two off seasons ago, they could have let Jefferson play out the final season of his contract, tried to talk Splitter into staying in Europe for one more season (doubtful; he probably would have either asked that they trade his rights or threatened to sign a long term contract in Europe, with either a big buyout or none at all) and re-signed Mahinmi.

That would have meant this: Leonard and Splitter would be the starting forwards and Mahinmi potentially would be the third big. I realize this would be dependent on Pop playing Mahinmi ahead of Blair, which was unlikely, but still. Think how much be off they'd be cap wise and defensively.

Mahimni would never get consistant minutes. Sometimes its better if a player moves on like Mahimni did.

[TD 21]

You think Bonner would be at the end of the bench now? Think again.

I meant Blair. With the way he fizzled out last season and has played this season, it's possible.

...and that would have been worth it to you because in your eyes Mahinmi is better??

No, it would have been worth it to me because not only would they not have Jefferson signed to a ridiculous contract, but they wouldn't have him signed at all right now.

It's not as if Splitter helped the team last season anyway (through no fault of his own). Mahinmi could have sat on the bench and been the fifth big just the same.

Splitter is a starting center; Mahinmi will most likely max out as a quality backup center. The point is, the Spurs could have had both.

[ElNono]

I meant Blair. With the way he fizzled out last season and has played this season, it's possible.

Well, Dice would've been the 2nd big and Bonner the 3rd last season. This season is more debatable. As much has Blair has fizzled, he's still starting and he's been playing more minutes than Bonner this season (who is the 3rd big).
Frankly, the extra minutes for Tiago tonight came at the expense of Matt and small ball.

[angelbelow]

He would have been the 6th big on the bench last year. How were the Spurs supposed to carry 6 bigs? This is of course taking into account that Bonner wasn't going anywhere. I would trade bonner for Ian in a heartbeat, but he was here to stay so you have to remove someone else from the equation. Ian wasn't better than anyone else.

Good points, would have been tough given the luxury tax and all to signing such an expensive 6th big. We eventually had 6 bigs but in the form of an inexpensive Steve Novak. So a big difference in salary and expectations forsure. And Ian said that the main thing he was looking for was playing time. Spurs definitely weren't going to be able to provide that.

To play devil's advocate, it would have been nice to sign him to a 2/3 year deal starting at 700k a year (what he took with Dallas) given that Dice's future was uncertain. But ofcourse, Ian would have to agree to be buried on the bench for another year (which he kind of was with Dallas. 56 games 9mpg.)

[ElNono]

Obviously, you can always argue that if Mahinmi pans out from the get go, maybe they don't draft Blair. I'm pretty sure they were not going to pass up on Dice.

[Brazil]

How so?

how so ? blair, bonner and thomas nuff said

[jag]

Ian obviously needs minutes to develop. The Spurs couldn't give him that. The people complaining about not having him right now, seem to just want him so he could sit on the end of the bench and be as unproductive as he always was. Just so we can say we have Ian Mahinmi.

[Brazil]

Ian obviously needs minutes to develop. The Spurs couldn't give him that. The people complaining about not having him right now, seem to just want him so he could sit on the end of the bench and be as unproductive as he always was. Just so we can say we have Ian Mahinmi.

Don't tell me that this year spurs have no minutes to give him... wtf?

We have 2 true bigs and 2 bigs with SF size... also do you expect we will finish the year with 0 injury ?

[SenorSpur]

If they make a trade for a big in season, more and more I'm coming to believe it's going to be for a third big, one that would enable Splitter to start in perpetuity, without the fear of having no rim protection off the bench.

That would be fine, because Splitter is clearly a second big. I always felt Splitter would be a nice fit next to Duncan anyway, but with Duncan playing less in the low post and with his improved mid range jumper, there's no doubt in my mind they can excel together offensively. Basically, Splitter can be the center the majority of the time offensively and defensively, he can be the full time power forward.

Even if they'd prefer a starting big, it's going to be extremely difficult to trade for one better than Splitter. If they found a way to acquire Thompson or Davis or whoever, I wouldn't start either. I'd have them be the backup center.

If nothing else, I hope Pop will start using Duncan and Splitter together in crunch time. There are enough shooters on this team to make it work.

As for making a trade for a 3rd big, that would be a dream. Either Thompson or Davis would fit the bill nicely. However, the inevitable question is always, "who do you give up?" I'm still against them giving up on Anderson so soon and so early into his career.

I just wish Pop would get over his hard-on for the floor-spreading big.

Did anyone notice that the Hornets start two traditional bigs on their frontline. Coach Williams doesn't seem at all fascinated by incorporting a big, who masquerades as a SF.