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

[ChumpDumper]

Sure it would have been nice, but they didn't.

Now what?

[jjktkk]

When he was a rookie, Emmitt Smith told the media that they'd have won a game if Jimmy Johnson had given him the ball more. Instead of benching him or trading him (like Pop would have done), JJ fed Emmitt the ball the next game. They won, and just kept winning. Splitter did the same thing but handled it right by telling the right person.

Jesus, can you imagine what would have happened if Splitter had told Jeff McDonald that? We'd all be wondering why Splitter was suddenly traded for Kirk Heinrich.

Comparing Emmitt Smith's situation to Splitters is extremely hilarious and a massive fail.

[SenorSpur]

Well, it just so happens that Ian will be an UFA this offseason. With the Mavs lusting after D-Howard, and rightfully so, perhaps the Spurs can explore the possibility of bringing him back into the fold. It's not like they couldn't use him.

[ChumpDumper]

Well, it just so happens that Ian will be an UFA this offseason. With the Mavs lusting after D-Howard, and rightfully so, perhaps the Spurs can explore the possibility of bringing him back into the fold. It's not like they couldn't use him.

Sure. Until then....

[jjktkk]

Sure it would have been nice, but they didn't.

Now what?

More whining about Mahimni?

[SenorSpur]

I've seen him with the Mavs. And he's not as polished as people are making him sound right now. He's still extremely inconsistent. Either way, he would have never received the minutes to develop in SA. So it's a moot point.

The only point that is rendered moot is all this discussion about the Spurs being "thin" on the frontline. The fact is it didn't have to happen. Had Ian still been with the Spurs, we wouldn't be talking about the Turd Towers or what players the Spurs could or should target at the trade deadline. We also wouldn't be witnessing teams like the Rockets, Hornets and Kings continously overwhelm the Spurs with the frontline athleticism.

Watching the manner in which Ian has developed, it's clear he would've provided the Spurs EXACTLY what they've been missing from a reserve big man. All they needed to have done was invest some continuous PT in him. After all, the frontline, has been the Spurs biggest need, yet they arrogantly acted, at the time, as though it was no big deal. It's not as though this organization was "knee deep" in young bigs. And to allow one to simply walk away without proper development is both arrogant and short-sighted.

Fast forward two years, and the Spurs STILL have a glaring hole, that has gotten worse, when it didn't really have to.

[jjktkk]

Isn't there a "we should of kept Stephen Jackson" thread we could bump??

Actually read some one complaining about the Spurs getting rid of Beno too.

[024]

Sure it would have been nice, but they didn't.

Now what?

by your logic, no spurs decisions should ever be criticized because they already happened. people are reopening the mahinmi thing because mahinmi has been proving that he can earn a large chunk of minutes on a playoff team. it was clear that pop wasn't going to ever play mahinmi but this just shows that he was wrong not to give him another chance and reinforces everyone's criticism of popovich not playing splitter enough.

[jjktkk]

The only point that is rendered moot is all this discussion about the Spurs being "thin" on the frontline. The fact is it didn't have to happen. Had Ian still been with the Spurs, we wouldn't be talking about the Turd Towers or what players the Spurs could or should target at the trade deadline. We also wouldn't be witnessing teams like the Rockets, Hornets and Kings continously overwhelm the Spurs with the frontline athleticism.

Watching the manner in which Ian has developed, it's clear he would've provided the Spurs EXACTLY what they've been missing from a reserve big man. All they needed to have done was invest some continuous PT in him. After all, the frontline, has been the Spurs biggest need, yet they arrogantly acted, at the time, as though it was no big deal. It's not as though this organization was "knee deep" in young bigs. And to allow one to simply walk away without proper development is both arrogant and short-sighted.

Fast forward two years, and the Spurs STILL have a glaring hole, that has gotten worse, when it didn't really have to.

Bolded your key phrase two years, as Mahmni left 2 years ago when the Spurs still had Dice. With Dice out of the picture, maybe the Spurs would of kept Mahimni.

[ChumpDumper]

by your logic, no spurs decisions should ever be criticized because they already happened.

That's a load of .

people are reopening the mahinmi thing because mahinmi has been proving that he can earn a large chunk of minutes on a playoff team. it was clear that pop wasn't going to ever play mahinmi but this just shows that he was wrong not to give him another chance and reinforces everyone's criticism of popovich not playing splitter enough.

People have said they should have kept Ian hundreds of times here. It's been done. You just did it again.

Now what?

[024]

That's a load of .People have said they should have kept Ian hundreds of times here. It's been done. You just did it again.

Now what?

play splitter more and don't make the same mistake with him that the spurs did with mahinmi. do you follow that argument?

[jjktkk]

WOW, it's been awhile since I have been on here, but are there really?

I'd much rather they not pick it up than do what they did with Beno and Mahinmi and pick up the guy's option then grind him into the ground with their heel for an extra year.

[ChumpDumper]

play splitter more and don't make the same mistake with him that the spurs did with mahinmi. do you follow that argument?

That has also been said hundreds of times.

Now what?

[jag]

Ian is playing the way he always has and is healthy.

Good for him.

Posting his stats doesn't put him on this team any more than it has with Scola or Jackson. Sorry, I learned a long time ago I have no influence on the team whatsoever so it's no use continuing to cry over spilled milk. I would have been fine keeping any of these players of course, but it didn't happen. I also have ideas about how much and where a guy like Splitter should play -- I've posted them a time or two. I simply don't feel the need to whine about it in every thread.

Post of the thread, tbh.

[ace3g]

johnschuhmann John Schuhmann

LeBron James leads the league in FG% from inside 5 feet. He's 81-for-108 (75.0%). Next is Tiago Splitter: 52-for-70 (74.3%).

33 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Retweeted by JMcDonald_SAEN

[mystargtr34]

I still remember that 15 and 9 game Ian had against the Nets.. i though that would be the coming out party. The next 5 games after that.

DNP-CD
DNP-CD
5:28 (blowout loss)
13.59
DNP-CD

Theres no way it was ever going to work out playing for a coach like Pop. You give Pop a team full of vets where you know what your going to get.. he'll squeeze everything out of them. But if your trying to rebuild or develop a young team, i dont know if many people would want Pop around for that.

[angelbelow]

Ian is playing the way he always has and is healthy.

Good for him.

Posting his stats doesn't put him on this team any more than it has with Scola or Jackson. Sorry, I learned a long time ago I have no influence on the team whatsoever so it's no use continuing to cry over spilled milk. I would have been fine keeping any of these players of course, but it didn't happen. I also have ideas about how much and where a guy like Splitter should play -- I've posted them a time or two. I simply don't feel the need to whine about it in every thread.

Biggest reason why I don't want to drag out this Ian thing. It just didn't happen..

All i was trying to say is that it stings that hes hitting that 15 footer more consistently and hes becoming a productive player at the salary hes getting paid.

Btw, I don't think he'll sign here. His market value is probably 3 million right now but might get overpaid MLE or higher.

[jag]

Biggest reason why I don't want to drag out this Ian thing. It just didn't happen..

All i was trying to say is that it stings that hes hitting that 15 footer more consistently and hes becoming a productive player at the salary hes getting paid.

Btw, I don't think he'll sign here. His market value is probably 3 million right now but might get overpaid MLE or higher.

But why focus on Ian? Scola is much better than Ian.

[Blake]

Btw, I don't think he'll sign here. His market value is probably 3 million right now but might get overpaid MLE or higher.

Higher than the MLE? For Ian?

someone please make that happen so we can rofl

[angelbelow]

But why focus on Ian? Scola is much better than Ian.

I guess its a case of the "here and now." I think he fits incredibly well with our team this year. Not to exaggerate but I think hes a nice 3rd/4th to have. Athletic, has size, competent on offense, good rebounder and he has a really friendly salary.

But like I said before, I don't really want to focus on Ian because it simply didn't happen. I'm not sure I would have re-signed him if I was the decision maker because paying a 6th big 700K with luxury tax (1.4 /yr) would have been hard to justify. (But as a sidelining fan ofcousre I would have re-signed him.) Occasionally, it'll sting when we look at box scores and such and worth a fun discussion (like this thread.)

[jjktkk]

I guess its a case of the "here and now."

You know the saying.... "hindsight is a ...."?

[angelbelow]

Higher than the MLE? For Ian?

someone please make that happen so we can rofl

There's never a shortage of hilariously overpaid contracts

If Ian continues to be productive the MLE might be easy for his agent to spin.

[angelbelow]

You know the saying.... "hindsight is a ...."?

Well.. like I said, I'm not sure if I would have re-signed him with I were Pop/Rc or anyone else in the circle of trust. So hindsight doesn't really help. Its only fun when magically transferring Ian from the Mavericks to our team.

[TD 21]

Mahinmi signed with Dallas the day before they traded for Chandler.

I'm aware of this. But everyone knew the Mavs were poised to add either a second or third big with Dampier's massive partially guaranteed contract. There were rumors about Jefferson, but ultimately they felt Chandler was the better fit (of course, it didn't hurt that they didn't have to give up any real value for him, either). It was obvious whoever they got, along with Nowitzki, Haywood and Marion playing some at the four, were going to receive virtually all of the meaningful minutes at the big positions.

[Obstructed_View]

Comparing Emmitt Smith's situation to Splitters is extremely hilarious and a massive fail.

Coming from you, that's a compliment.

Because you're a moron.

Thanks.