Tiago is playing the least amount of minutes of all the bigs right now...

[Bill_Brasky]

It also possible that Tim is going to sit next game and that pop limited his minutes tonite to be ready to play a bunch next one

This is my thought. I expect another 30+ min, 20+ pts, 10+ rebs game from Tiago tomorrow night with Tim surely resting.

[ducks]

hopefully spurs will not need duncan tomorrow and will rest him

[spectator]

This is my thought. I expect another 30+ min, 20+ pts, 10+ rebs game from Tiago tomorrow night with Tim surely resting.

exactly - this was pop's intention all along; both teams' SGs and Cs will be out tomorrow. spurs should win on account of better PG, coach, bench and home game.

[Ditty]

Did anybody even notice that Luis Scola had 4 points tonight? Thank Blair for a lot of that. He worked his ass of on Scola, and it was good work.

I thought it was odd when Pop brought Tiago in, and he looked like a continuation of the beasting Timmy had been doing - then he pulled him after just a few minutes. I keep looking for some kind of logic. Like maybe Tiago is going to have to play the Timmy role tomorrow night, so he was saving him. If Tiago gets short minutes tomorrow, then I'll officially start pulling hair.

+1

Props to Blair for fronting Scola alot tonight...I like that matchup now, I'm just tired of Blair being a blackhole, and taking too many shots. If we get Martin, then of course I think Blair will be the odd man out.

[Obstructed_View]

When Bonner's hitting shots and fighting for rebounds, I have no real problem with how man minutes he gets, particularly if there's another game tomorrow night and Splitter's likely going to start.

[silverblk mystix]

Lol ...people falling for this Pop senility again...

LOL falling for "Bonner is not that bad" again....

LOL falling for that "Tiago didn't play that much because Pop is________ & ________ & bull- in'- ....

You guys never learn....

Wait til Pop & Boner break your hearts again in the playoffs and then you will be ...."Tiago will really get playing time in his third year....

Pop will really play Tiago next season......

Dumb s.

[jjktkk]

I hate Pop, when he proves me wrong again and again and...

[silverblk mystix]

No, I hate Pop. Period.

[Blake]

No, I hate Pop. Period.

quick, name a coach you would rather have that would also be willing to coach in SA.

[mystargtr34]

Ive said this before.. Come playoff time I can envision the Spurs getting regularly torched by front lines being guarded by Blair and Bonner and even guards having a field day at the rim with Tiago on the bench. The Spurs fall in a 2-1 or 3-1 series hole like they did against the Grizz and Pop panicking again and thrusting Tiago into the lineup when it's too late.

I was damn sure he learned his lesson after benching Blair and playin Tiago heavy minutes after the Spurs were in a hole against the Grizz... but it's obvious now that he hasn't learned a thing.

Which teams are the Spurs going to have any success against in the playoffs playing small ball.. Because honestly the Spurs only have 2 big men on the roster.. I don't know how you would categorize Blair and Bonner but they certaintly aren't NBA bigmen. Each potential playoff opponent has a all star caliber big man. Even Tim can't guard these guys anymore let alone Blair and Bonner.

Unbelievable tbh

[jjktkk]

Ive said this before.. Come playoff time I can envision the Spurs getting regularly torched by front lines being guarded by Blair and Bonner and even guards having a field day at the rim with Tiago on the bench. The Spurs fall in a 2-1 or 3-1 series hole like they did against the Grizz and Pop panicking again and thrusting Tiago into the lineup when it's too late.

I was damn sure he learned his lesson after benching Blair and playin Tiago heavy minutes after the Spurs were in a hole against the Grizz... but it's obvious now that he hasn't learned a thing.

Which teams are the Spurs going to have any success against in the playoffs playing small ball.. Because honestly the Spurs only have 2 big men on the roster.. I don't know how you would categorize Blair and Bonner but they certaintly aren't NBA bigmen. Each potential playoff opponent has a all star caliber big man. Even Tim can't guard these guys anymore let alone Blair and Bonner.

Unbelievable tbh

Different cir stances. Splitter has proven himself this year. Now if the same thing happens in regards to Splitter riding the pine in the playoffs, then yes, that will be a really stupid, decision by Pop.

[SpurNation]

Did anybody even notice that Luis Scola had 4 points tonight? Thank Blair for a lot of that. He worked his ass of on Scola, and it was good work.

I thought it was odd when Pop brought Tiago in, and he looked like a continuation of the beasting Timmy had been doing - then he pulled him after just a few minutes. I keep looking for some kind of logic. Like maybe Tiago is going to have to play the Timmy role tomorrow night, so he was saving him. If Tiago gets short minutes tomorrow, then I'll officially start pulling hair.

This for now. As you said...if Tiago doesn't get more time tonight or the team quits trying to find Tiago like they find Duncan...(perhaps a "99%" demonstration at Spurs HQ should be in order?) <(joke)

[Amuseddaysleeper]

In fairness I guess it does make more sense that Pop could be "saving" Splitter for the 2nd night of the back to back assuming TD doesn't play, or plays very limited minutes.

Guess we'll find out tonight.

[TJastal]

I'm as high on Tiago as the next guy and am generally pissed when Bonner gets twice the playing time, but Bonner did play very well tonight. The Spurs were +19 when he was on the floor, second only to Neal's +20.

And guess what? Part of the reason Bonner is beasting is because of the emergence of Neal, Green & especially Splitter taking the opposing teams attentions away from him. If Bonner was the focus of the defense he'd be putting up his usual playoff numbers or worse.

Now imagine putting a guy like, say, Ryan Anderson next to Splitter. A guy who can pull down 20 boards on any given night and still knock down 6-7 from downtown. A guy who defenses will have to account for every night or pay a steep price. Imagine how much MORE effective the other guys playing next to Bonner would be.

[TJastal]

Ive said this before.. Come playoff time I can envision the Spurs getting regularly torched by front lines being guarded by Blair and Bonner and even guards having a field day at the rim with Tiago on the bench. The Spurs fall in a 2-1 or 3-1 series hole like they did against the Grizz and Pop panicking again and thrusting Tiago into the lineup when it's too late.

I was damn sure he learned his lesson after benching Blair and playin Tiago heavy minutes after the Spurs were in a hole against the Grizz... but it's obvious now that he hasn't learned a thing.

Which teams are the Spurs going to have any success against in the playoffs playing small ball.. Because honestly the Spurs only have 2 big men on the roster.. I don't know how you would categorize Blair and Bonner but they certaintly aren't NBA bigmen. Each potential playoff opponent has a all star caliber big man. Even Tim can't guard these guys anymore let alone Blair and Bonner.

Unbelievable tbh

This guy gets it ^

[Amuseddaysleeper]

And guess what? Part of the reason Bonner is beasting is because of the emergence of Neal, Green & especially Splitter taking the opposing teams attentions away from him. If Bonner was the focus of the defense he'd be putting up his usual playoff numbers or worse.

Now imagine putting a guy like, say, Ryan Anderson next to Splitter. A guy who can pull down 20 boards on any given night and still knock down 6-7 from downtown. A guy who defenses will have to account for every night or pay a steep price. Imagine how much MORE effective the other guys playing next to Bonner would be.

Ryan Anderson would be a dream come true. , I'd even take Chase Buddinger over Bonner, despite Bonner picking up the slack lately.

[TJastal]

quick, name a coach you would rather have that would also be willing to coach in SA.

I'd love Scott Skiles tbh. This guy is doing a uva coaching job over in Milwaukee so far. That team is down its best player (Bogut) is filled with journeymen from every walk of the nba, is riddled with a team cancer (Stephen Jackson) yet Skiles is still somehow winning games he shouldn't be even dreaming of winning. At home AND on the road. Give him the reigns in SA and I bet you by the end of the year he would have Splitter getting 30-35 a night and putting up damn near all-star numbers along with directing the spurs into the best record in the western conference. And I
guarandamntee you no team would ever think of tanking games in order to face his club.

[5in10]

So I have Tiago on my fantasy team and was looking at his stats. One thing I just noticed is that in the past 12 games (thats all I can see) when Tiago gets over 25 minutes we have not won one single game. Does anyone else find that kind of weird?

[5in10]

So I have Tiago on my fantasy team and was looking at his stats. One thing I just noticed is that in the past 12 games (thats all I can see) when Tiago gets over 25 minutes we have not won one single game. Does anyone else find that kind of weird?

Ok I just looked it up. It has been a trend all season not just the past 12 games except for the season opener. He played 33 minutes in that game and we won.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

So I have Tiago on my fantasy team and was looking at his stats. One thing I just noticed is that in the past 12 games (thats all I can see) when Tiago gets over 25 minutes we have not won one single game. Does anyone else find that kind of weird?

Probably cuz the Spurs got blown out so Pop gave him garbage time minutes

[5in10]

Probably cuz the Spurs got blown out so Pop gave him garbage time minutes

haha not a bad explanation.

[Fireball]

haha not a bad explanation.

thats not true either ... Pop does not leave Splitter on the court in real garbage time ... Blair has to do this job most of the time

[acoelho1]

I'd love Scott Skiles tbh. This guy is doing a uva coaching job over in Milwaukee so far. That team is down its best player (Bogut) is filled with journeymen from every walk of the nba, is riddled with a team cancer (Stephen Jackson) yet Skiles is still somehow winning games he shouldn't be even dreaming of winning. At home AND on the road. Give him the reigns in SA and I bet you by the end of the year he would have Splitter getting 30-35 a night and putting up damn near all-star numbers along with directing the spurs into the best record in the western conference. And I
guarandamntee you no team would ever think of tanking games in order to face his club.

Scott Skiles? I'll pass and it's not like the Bucks are setting the world on fire. They are below .500 and in 8th place in the conference. Also, let me remind you that we are also missing our best player and are still in the mix to be a top tier team in the west. However, I do share your frustration over Pops line ups but I can't really see anyone doing a better job overall. If I was pressed to bring someone in, it would probably be Larry Brown.

[thispego]

And what moron? He's the 2nd best big only getting 17 minutes tonight despite shooting 75% from the floor and grabbing 6 boards.

You're an idiot, if you think otherwise

I haven't been able to see all the games this year but even I know pop has been playing splitter less minutes in the first half of back to backs so he can take the heavier workload the next night.

You really think it's necessary for you to start threads for every game? Keep this in the game blog.