Spurs To Increase Usage Of Duncan-Splitter Combo

[ChumpDumper]

Pop should have given Tiago more minutes, but it's hard to say any one was right because of the injuries Tiago suffered and because of his inconsistent play. He's damn good though and the only thing that I remember Chump say about Tiago that I don't agree with is this:

I certainly overrated him.

lol SBM ankle biting per par.

[silverblk mystix]

I certainly overrated him.

lol SBM ankle biting per par.

How is your defense of Pop overplaying Bonner going?

[DPG21920]

I certainly overrated him.

lol SBM ankle biting per par.

I mean, I don't really remember what you said you thought he would be/was, but right now he's shown the ability to be a damn near All-Star level player (albeit not over a long amount of time to date). It's hard to say that you could overrate a guy playing at that level when on the court.

[ChumpDumper]

How is your defense of Pop overplaying Bonner going?

I said he overplayed him.

I mean, I don't really remember what you said you thought he would be/was, but right now he's shown the ability to be a damn near All-Star level player (albeit not over a long amount of time to date). It's hard to say that you could overrate a guy playing at that level when on the court.

I don't know about "damn near" anything -- especially since he's inconsistent. We'll see.

[DPG21920]

I said he overplayed him.

I don't know about "damn near" anything -- especially since he's inconsistent. We'll see.

By most major statistics (especially per minute/advanced) he's right there with All Star Center level production and it's not just offensively. He's definitely been inconsistent, but as of late he's getting more and more consistent. I agree, there is a difference in actual consistent all star play and flashes, but for a guy that gets the minutes he gets he is doing pretty well.

[ChumpDumper]

By most major statistics (especially per minute/advanced) he's right there with All Star Center level production and it's not just offensively. He's definitely been inconsistent, but as of late he's getting more and more consistent. I agree, there is a difference in actual consistent all star play and flashes, but for a guy that gets the minutes he gets he is doing pretty well.

I don't disagree.

[Paranoid Pop]

He's a great back up center, maybe the best coming off the bench in the league. But he's not great for a starter. I haven't forgotten what a 100 years old Rasheed did to him...

Bottom line, he's fine both at PF and Center, I think the deciding factor is who the spurs plan on bringing in (by trade or free agency). If they it's easier to get a back up center than a starting PF, Tiago starting might be the best solution when we play big... I think Boris scrubing epicly has a big part in this move, they at least question if he's fit to start so they have to find a solution.

[outmap]

OT: I have to say, Bonner is the best fifth big in the NBA. As long as Pop limits his minutes, I'd rather they trade Blair for a legit big.

[200 miles]

OT: I have to say, Bonner is the best fifth big in the NBA. As long as Pop limits his minutes, I'd rather they trade Blair for a legit big.

Yeah, like every other team is lining up to give us "a legit big" for the much sought-after Blair.

[ploto]

I think this has more to do with Diaw not playing well than with Pop seeing any light.

[TDMVPDPOY]

dont need legit big, as long fkn 7ft tall is all it matters....

[SA210]

twin towers baby!

Should have always stayed that way, Spurs would have a few more les

[Manufan909]

I think this has more to do with Diaw not playing well than with Pop seeing any light.

qft, sadly.

[Fireball]

I think this has more to do with Diaw not playing well than with Pop seeing any light.

Agree with this ... Splitter showed the last 10 games that he competes every night ... and I just do not think Diaw has a switch come playoff time ... he seems bored and uninterested like a child that came used to his toys ... with the Spurs this toy is called "winning"

[007nites]

Does this mean that Timmy is back to PF?

[Johnny RIngo]

and I just do not think Diaw has a switch come playoff time ... he seems bored and uninterested like a child that came used to his toys ... with the Spurs this toy is called "winning"

He's been like that his whole career though. Any Suns fans will tell you this. Spurs knew what they were getting into when they resigned him.

[spurraider21]

Tbh, Splitter should play ~30 MPG whenever possible. That alone will solve a lot of bigman troubles.

Yes. I've always wondered if he has had some sort of serious conditioning issue. His offensive efficiency is nuts, his defense has been much improved, and he's not particularly finding himself in foul trouble, and yet he is playing under 20 minutes a game. He got 28 minutes against Boston and it worked out just fine. Unless Blair's game reverts to 2010 form, he should be getting the DNP's. Bonner is rebounding better than Blair at this point

[dunkman]

Does this mean that Timmy is back to PF?

On offense yes, since Splitter doesn't have any range. On defense, Timmy will be center since he lacks mobility.

[Horse]

Finally, Tiago has been great and he moves as good as any big man I've ever seen without the ball.

[will_spurs]

I don't really see the issue with having a 3 big rotation. That's 32 minutes each, actually a bit less since Bonner is always going to get 10 minutes no matter what. Right now Diaw is horrid but since he doesn't seem to be injured I'd say this is just a phase. Many of the Spurs problems with bigs are self-inflicted by artificially limiting Splitter to 18-20 minutes, which means 10+ minutes for a scrub.

The 2 issues with such a short rotation are a) foul trouble, in which case Pop can still unleash Blair, who tends to seize the opportunities he gets and b) injuries, for which there's no right answer anyway.

Sometimes I have the impression that Pop treats Splitter as if he was as old as Duncan. There's some sense to limiting minutes after age 30, but before that just ride the players ffs. Or is there something in the air or the water in San Antonio that makes players less resilient. A lot of players average 35+ mpg this season (41 of them, in fact, and none of them Spurs).