Is Pop Souring on Tiago Splitter?

[therealtruth]

There was this rookie I seem to remember coming in right after Pop became head coach, I think he got MVP a couple of times or something like that.....

Duncan was already good and had a polished game when he got to the Spurs. He had the footwork and post moves and could pass out of the post. He could defend and rebound. I don't think Pop can take credit for that.

[Ice009]

Duncan was already good and had a polished game when he got to the Spurs. He had the footwork and post moves and could pass out of the post. He could defend and rebound. I don't think Pop can take credit for that.

David Robinson also said something along the lines of Tim was already better than him the first time they worked out. I think he said Tim had every move in the book.

Pop cannot take much credit at all for Tim, sure he probably helped Tim a little, but Tim was pretty much ready to go.

[dylankerouac]

What coach does develop bigs well? I would assume this coaches team would make the playoffs every year, even have the flexibility to trade away some of their bigs for stars and just be unstoppable year in and year out.

I dont think this coach or team exists. Michael, Kobe and Lebron all had to put their own time into developing a post game and some (non coat-tailers) only won championships after post up play was part of their game. Luckily Tim knew the importance of this when he entered the league. TBH I would be excited to hear that Kahwi is working on his post up game, at least he'd be working on it earlier than M,K and L. He has time to make it a major strength and it's a skill that is extremely valuable in the playoffs.

[therealtruth]

There are definitely coaches that develop bigs. Look at the Rockets with Omer Asik. And they haven't even had him that long.

[rmt]

If Pop had played Splitter 25-30 mins per game in his rookie year, he would be much further along in his development than he is now. But no, he decided to treat him like Oberto, plant him on the bench, learn the language and NBA and play that choker Bonner instead. Pop's at ude toward him and his "blue-collar" comments make him seem like some scrub whose job it is is to do the "dirty work" when Splitter has more talent (offensive ability, good hands, pick and roll ability, etc) than an Oberto. It's no wonder he seems to lack confidence since he's been treated so. Some of you guys need to look around the NBA and see the lack of quality big men there are out there. Most of them have terrible hands, no b-ball iq and all they can do is jump out of the gym.

Just because Splitter is not exactly what the Spurs need (a defensive big) doesn't mean that he doesn't have value. It seems the Spurs now have 2 backup big men with some semblance of offensive game but not the defensive skills that the Spurs need. Doesn't mean that Splitter can't learn them - he's young and MOBILE enough. Spurs' fans have been spoiled by DRob and Duncan. Trade or bury Bonner on the bench and play Splitter at least 25 minutes. It's way past time to see what he's got - he'll be gone next year and I wouldn't blame him.

[Ice009]

Well I have actually soured on Splitter. I thought he was better than what he has shown.

I don't like that he seems to get nagging little injuries and sits out games because of them. He's also playing too soft for my liking. I don't think he is soft, but he plays soft at times and that really ruins his game. He needs to be more aggressive and stay aggressive all the time. That's how he will get on the court more, that and not sitting out with minor injuries. It's in his control.

[DapDaGenius]

Well I have actually soured on Splitter. I thought he was better than what he has shown.

I don't like that he seems to get nagging little injuries and sits out games because of them. He's also playing too soft for my liking. I don't think he is soft, but he plays soft at times and that really ruins his game. He needs to be more aggressive and stay aggressive all the time. That's how he will get on the court more, that and not sitting out with minor injuries. It's in his control.

Agreed 100%.

[timvp]

Unfortunately, it looks there is a strong possibility that Splitter will be the fifth bigman going into the season.

[TD 21]

Unfortunately, it looks there is a strong possibility that Splitter will be the fifth bigman going into the season.

Hopefully, him barely playing is just to give him a kick in the ass and show him that he's not going to just be handed 15-20 minutes every game on the count of him being one of only two centers on the team and that he'll have to play tougher and play through the occasional hang nail to get those minutes.

If not and Pop is seriously contemplating this (or has made a final decision altogether), then he needs to be fired. Seriously. Not only would that be insane, but it would also be hypocritical. Four straight training camps he's pretended as if defense is the focus and going on four straight years, we've seen nothing but evidence to the contrary.

[therealtruth]

Hopefully, him barely playing is just to give him a kick in the ass and show him that he's not going to just be handed 15-20 minutes every game on the count of him being one of only two centers on the team and that he'll have to play tougher and play through the occasional hang nail to get those minutes.

If not and Pop is seriously contemplating this (or has made a final decision altogether), then he needs to be fired. Seriously. Not only would that be insane, but it would also be hypocritical. Four straight training camps he's pretended as if defense is the focus and going on four straight years, we've seen nothing but evidence to the contrary.

Splitter has to be the first big of the bench for the Spurs to improve and get better defensively. It's that simple.