Injury Thread: Tiago Splitter's Calf and Manu Ginobili's Oblique

[angelbelow]

A lot of doubling, rotating and scrambling like the end of the Clipper game defensively... then gang rebound, P&R on offense & a lot of Tony Parker on offense. We must be consistent if we're going to beat the Bulls.

Griffin is a different kind of beast though. He doesn't really score well off isolation and individual post up situations. So doubling him is super effective. Griffin's problem is also compounded his lack of midrange and play making. The Clippers also have no shooters. They have a gassed Randy Foye but hes more of a scorer, someone who needs the ball and a lot of shots to get going. On that note, Bulter is similar.

Even then, I felt like we won that game because we got lucky. Why would you put in Ryan Gomes who hasn't played all game in that situation? It must mean hes a reliable inbound passer but he proceeded to botch that play. We probably should have lost that game.

We shouldn't have too much of a problem with Utah as long as Tony plays well. Portland still has a lot of talent and weapons but seem to be imploding. I don't think we can beat the bulls so you probably won't get your statement win.

[ace3g]

Missing Orlando: Splitter said his strained right calf muscle responded well to treatment he has received while remaining with the team and its athletic training staff for the final three games of the rodeo road trip. His leg feels better than he anticipated a week after the injury occurred during the Spurs’ win over the Clippers in Los Angeles.

He had been selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge, the first event of All-Star Weekend in Orlando.

“I will miss it,” he said, “but it is very important I continue to receive treatment on my injury. (Head athletic trainer) Will (Sevening) has done a great job, and it is improving a lot.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...ng-stars-game/

[WeNeedLength]

Great news.

[benefactor]

Great news. Need him back on that front line asap.

[superbigtime]

This is good news. Tiago needs to keep rollin. Manu's oblique injury hopefully is healing and may have been a blessing, in that it gave his hand fracture additional healing time. Hopefully everyone will be healthy very soon.

[Manufan909]

This is good news. Tiago needs to keep rollin. Manu's oblique injury hopefully is healing and may have been a blessing, in that it gave his hand fracture additional healing time. Hopefully everyone will be healthy very soon.

Idk if you can go that far, I would assume the hand fracture was fully healed before Manu played again. What I guess you meant to say is that Manu has more time to get used to the screws in his hand (anyone know how many he has, and also know anyone else who went through that surgery?). It's sad that Spurs fans have so many opportunities to think of new silver linings for Manu being out.

But the continued silver lining is that Green and Leonard are getting additional PT, which will be vital to the Spurs playoff hopes. Hopefully they both earn (and are rewarded) with more PT in the POs than RJ. But does anyone really think that will happen? If RJ is starting in the first round, I don't even believe anyone could realistically assume that one of Green or Leonard would average more PT than RJ... Unless Manu ends up being the Spurs' official 6th man again (Blair is the big that needs him most so I hope Manu starts, cuz even Neal can feed Splitter, and Ford should be back), or Leonard lowers his 3pt % discrepancy with RJ from 9% to 4-6% (right now they're 35% and 44%, respectively).

Sadly, RJ was shooting almost 48% from 3 last season, so Leonard will have to really step it up over the 2nd half of the season. I wish Pop would realize that Kawhi's obvious superiority to RJ when it comes to defense/effort/rebounding/cutting/poker face to the basket outweighs RJ's obvious superiority when it comes to 3pt shooting/age/hairlessness. Semi-serious question here, which player is worse about taking 3s over the past month? Iirc, Leonard has been on a tear from deep lately. I think he is 10-15on his last ten 3s or something. After submitting this post I'll try to get basketball-reference.com work for me, but the last time I checked that site I couldn't even find him.

EDIT: That was too damn easy. Anyone understand why it took me less than a minute to find what I wanted about Leonard today? A month ago bball-reference refused to acknowledge Kawhi existed. Oh, and Kawhi is 9 of 19 or 47% this month, which is a huge increase from his first month: 7 of 27 or 26%. Gottdamn!!! I didn't know he doubled his percentage month by month!!!!!!!! Time to break out the breakdance smiley.

[Mel_13]

Semi-serious question here, which player is worse about taking 3s over the past month?

Feb numbers:

RJ: 17-40 42.5%

KL: 9-19 47.4%

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...1/splits/2012/

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...1/splits/2012/

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Griffin is a different kind of beast though. He doesn't really score well off isolation and individual post up situations. So doubling him is super effective. Griffin's problem is also compounded his lack of midrange and play making. The Clippers also have no shooters. They have a gassed Randy Foye but hes more of a scorer, someone who needs the ball and a lot of shots to get going. On that note, Bulter is similar.

Even then, I felt like we won that game because we got lucky. Why would you put in Ryan Gomes who hasn't played all game in that situation? It must mean hes a reliable inbound passer but he proceeded to botch that play. We probably should have lost that game.

We shouldn't have too much of a problem with Utah as long as Tony plays well. Portland still has a lot of talent and weapons but seem to be imploding. I don't think we can beat the bulls so you probably won't get your statement win.

Griffin cannot score on post ups? Thats not what I see when I watch him. He has a spin move and a drop step. He can bang and get position and that with his speed makes defenders lose their feet. If you stumble its a dunk. He certainly favors the right hand but hes explosive in his moves so you cannot get at the shot when he goes to it.

You don't score over 20 points a game on lobs, putbacks and transition buckets.

[5in10]

Griffin has the moves of a guard, except he can't shoot. That spin move is all he has, his arms are to short for post moves, and he's not finesse. He gets his points from transition, pick n roll, slipping the defense. He's not someone you throw the ball to and say go to work to. Maybe one day he will but not yet.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

i have seen him plenty of times from the left block take a drop step to the middle of the paint and elevate to a right handed shot. i fail to see how arm length is really a factor when he has a 3 ft vertical leap at 6'9". If you cannot play above the rim then you are not getting at that shot. He gets away with it due to sheer athleticism but they do toss it to him into the post and that shot does go down at a high percentage.

Additionally, when he gets post position and is fed the ball he can back defenders further into the paint. He uses the spin move to the baseline when you overplay that but because he is so damn athletic where most guys settle for a jumper, he is within 5 feet of the basket.


He is a big guy and knows how to use his power. He likes to bang and that is not an attribute of a guard.

[kaji157]

Griffin cannot score on post ups? Thats not what I see when I watch him. He has a spin move and a drop step. He can bang and get position and that with his speed makes defenders lose their feet. If you stumble its a dunk. He certainly favors the right hand but hes explosive in his moves so you cannot get at the shot when he goes to it.

You don't score over 20 points a game on lobs, putbacks and transition buckets.

Ask RJ...

[Dex]

Not sure if this has been posted yet:

“We're hoping we'll get T.J. back after the All-Star break, or maybe one or two games after the break,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We think somewhere in there he'll be ready to go.”

- -

“I've got to get my legs back under me,” he said while lacing up his sneakers for a one-on-one session with Joseph after a morning practice at the Pepsi Center. “I've got to work back to doing stop moves and taking contact.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...end-at-home-2/

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

So, Splitter and TJ back, when is Manu due?

[ace3g]

Jeff McDonald ‏ @JMcDonald_SAEN

Pop says Manu has a chance to play FRI vs. Bobcats. Officially a "game time decision."

Jeff McDonald ‏ @JMcDonald_SAEN

Pop says Kawhi Leonard (calf) is "probably out" for Bobcats. Danny Green suffered a stinger vs. CHI but plans to try and play.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Ask RJ...

RJ had a post game and was known as one of the better dribble penetrators. Wiuldn't know that by looking at him now but it is what it is.

[ace3g]

Jeff McDonald ‏ @JMcDonald_SAEN

James Anderson had to leave 3-on-3 run early after apparently aggravating something in his back. No clue on severity.

[hater]

this is ing pathetic. howcome RJ and Bonner stay healthy

[Cant_Be_Faded]

This season is taking a turn for the worse. Can't go on like this, need to get healthy

[DesignatedT]

Better now than later I guess.

[manufan10]

Better now than later I guess.

Way to stay positive.

[ElNono]

There's a high probability everyone will be hurt by the playoffs... I mean, they've all been hurt before

[urunobili]

Manu likely back tomorrow:

http://www.ole.com.ar/basquet/rapido...655734740.html

[MaNu4Tres]

There's a high probability everyone will be hurt by the playoffs... I mean, they've all been hurt before

Which is why Pop should take precautionary measures and only play the big three 15 minutes a night. He's done it with Splitter the past year, so why not them too?

[sehui]

Ginobili just posted something on twitter/fb about being excited to play at home in 2012. Possible return tomorrow?

[Borosai]

No humps, no camel.

No camel, no championship.