San Antonio New Twin Towers

[TheSkeptic]

is this the same clown that didnt play ghill in the playoffs rookie season when he showed h2h matches he held his own in the regular season against the top players he was asign to defend...we all know what happen the following year when pop decided to play him in the playoffs

the same clown who didnt play rookie splitter in the playoffs, then the following year he plays him we advance to next round...

overrated yeh

Pop is overrated? You can't be serious...

[Man In Black]

Truth is that Splitter didn't show any of the confidence he now shows. While we saw glimpses of potential, we all saw that with the good came the bad, the hookshot from the hip, allowing himself to be boxed out by swingmen, and unsteady post play like he didn't know what to do when he was on the court. Tiago's situation gives us polarizing opinions because Pop's handling of him had been more doghouse time than court time. We all though that because he is almost 7 feet tall with long arms and when combined with TD, he should give the Spurs a formidable frontline. But when he was in there, we all saw how unsteady he played. We all saw Pop put out Blair and Bonner contingency plan and roll the dice on O winning the day. We all hoped that that plan would hide a small frontline. We all knew that Blair is too small and possibly less athletic and that playoff Bonner play like the 3point line isn't as make-able then.

This year, even early on Tiago showed us glimpses of good play but there were still some signs of backsliding. But more good than bad definitely. It wasn't until the Boston game where he took a hard shot to the chest...That's when it all clicked for Splitter. From then on, he's been everything we have hoped for, all of us, both the Spurs organization and us Spurs fans. Is it Pop's fault or did it take that kind of treatment for Tiago? Is this not a contract year for Splitter as well?

Anyways, we all can't change a damn thing about the past. All we can do is hope that Splitter's play is all that we hoped for and that the end result is a 5th le.

[Capt Bringdown]

That said, Pop made a mistake with Splitter. It's not a crime to admit that imo. He doesn't need defending because his overall resume speaks for itself quite frankly.

Even great ones can make monumental errors. Trying to make a 6/5 player with no ACLs and limited bball IQ into a starting NBA big, when you've got a capable 7-footer on the roster...like I said, it was not a basketball decision.
I understand how fans can swept up in Blair's Cinderella story and make some hasty and grandiose conclusions from the spare handful of "beast" games that Blair produced. But for an NBA coaching staff to make such an error, it's a bit shocking.
Sometimes success can lead to failure when folks aren't called on their BS, maybe that's what happened in this case.

[td4mvp21]

+1

Pop is one of the best in the business. He has a great system, he's a first ballot hall of fame coach, he has won championships, and he has been instrumental in making basketball an international affair by scouting guys like Manu and stashing European players before most teams were doing it. I'm not even being sarcastic. Pop is an amazing coach and a great person to have in the FO.

That said, Pop made a mistake with Splitter. It's not a crime to admit that imo. He doesn't need defending because his overall resume speaks for itself quite frankly.

Perfectly said.

[silverblk mystix]

Even great ones can make monumental errors. Trying to make a 6/5 player with no ACLs and limited bball IQ into a starting NBA big, when you've got a capable 7-footer on the roster...like I said, it was not a basketball decision.
I understand how fans can swept up in Blair's Cinderella story and make some hasty and grandiose conclusions from the spare handful of "beast" games that Blair produced. But for an NBA coaching staff to make such an error, it's a bit shocking.
Sometimes success can lead to failure when folks aren't called on their BS, maybe that's what happened in this case.

Absolutely.

Pop's success (or any successful coach, manager, leader,etc) is also a detriment at times.

If Pop was a nobody - he would have thrown his biggest most formidable players on the court and just hoped that playing time would help those players develop quickly.

Pop has been so successful that he didn't feel that he "needed" Splitter and even downplayed Splitters' game in the media and tried to knock down Splitter and tried to knock down people's high expectations. His arrogance and success made him feel that his "system" was more important that good players. Apparently he didn't realize that having talent was the main reason for his success. So Pop trudges out Bonner and Blair and gives those two a LOOOOOT of playing time and a LOOOOT of opportunities to make mistakes and develop.

Splitter is not given the same opportunities for two years. Two in years!


For those saying that the Spurs wouldn't have beaten this team or that team....how the do you know? How do you know that Splitter and Timmy wouldn't have developed a winning chemistry?

For those who say Splitter wasn't developed....no .

Playing time is what has helped him recently.

Pop was and is a big reason for the Spurs success. Pop is also a very big reason for the Spurs failures and playoff flameouts. Can't have it both ways.

Spurs win = Great Coach!

Spurs lose/get eliminated = Coach has to be held responsible.

[BackHome]

Pop is a great coach but he had no idea how to coach and develop big men. You had to sign a coach to get your team to hit free throws I think they need to spend the money on a coach who can help young big men.

[TJastal]

Tiago couldn't make free throws to save his life either. That was one of the biggest flaw of his game and why he was a liability last year against the Thunder. And lol at people thinking we even had a hope in 2011 against the Mavs, the two time defending champion Lakers or the Thunder even if we had gone passed the Grizz.

Free throws are 50% mental / 50% good mechanics. Shortly into his rookie season, Pop started jacking with Splitter's confidence. Then he sent Chip over to with his mechanics. If Splitter had a girlfriend, I'm sure Pop probably would have tried to screw with her, too.

And people wonder why Tiago FT% went all to ... lmao..

[therealtruth]

shoots enough midrange shots here
coaching staff probably doesnt want him doing it though
if someone shoots 70% from the free throw line they could probably hit 40% from midrange

When you see Splitter's overseas highlights you can't help but think his game has regressed under Pop. Pop's comments from a while ago that the only jumpers Tiago takes are layups and dunks shows he's clueless. If Tiago could somehow morph back into that confident player who had no problem posting and taking outside shots it would really help the upside of the team.

[justinandimcool]

It's been what, 2 weeks starting together and the Timmy/Tiago hi-low is already 10x better than Dwight/Gasol's ty offensive attack

[pgardn]

So the Tiago we see now is the Tiago we could have seen his rookie year...

Sure thing. Does anyone remember when Tony was subs uted for by Claxton because Tony had no idea how to finish games? This held Tony back for many years I guess...

Free Tiago to let him get tangled in his own lips...

When is Tiago going to actually shove an opponent and give him the Frankensteinian stare?

I love the guy, but honestly I dont see how anyone thinks Pop purposely thwarted his progression. Thats just paranoid ignorance. Pop is a stubborn old geezer, but some of these posts are absolutely without merit and silly.

[pgardn]

When you see Splitter's overseas highlights you can't help but think his game has regressed under Pop. Pop's comments from a while ago that the only jumpers Tiago takes are layups and dunks shows he's clueless. If Tiago could somehow morph back into that confident player who had no problem posting and taking outside shots it would really help the upside of the team.

Yeah. With all the Dwight Howard's roaming the Euro floors and all... Remember the big Brit we drafted, Richards. Go back and look at his highlights. He looks better than Tiago. It does not matter he is playing against slow midgets.

[SA210]

It only took Gregg Popovich two-plus seasons, but it appears as if he’s finally overcome his aversion to deploying Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter side-by-side.
The two bigs have gone from never playing together, to rarely playing together, to starting the past nine games next to one another.
Little more than a third of the way into the season, Duncan and Splitter have already shared more minutes on the court this year (222) than the past two combined (159). Indeed, in Splitter’s rookie campaign the two played in a paltry eight games together.





The VINDICATION Pop thread is misplaced...this is why Pop needs vindication ....for in up the past two seasons le hopes.


Like I said before;

Can the Spurs win a le IN SPITE OF POP?


So far....umm no.


Genius coach, 4 rings, blah-blah....who would you get to replace him blah-blah....

We've only said this for more than 2 years, start Splitter next to Duncan. Took over 2 years for Pop to do it. What's next though, abandoning it in the playoffs? We shall see.

[SA210]

Pop preaches aw-shucks, "get over yourself" selflessness, but he certainly didn't practice what he preaches with regards to keeping Splitter locked up until now. Splitter should have been thrown into the mix from jump street, and I believe Pop's ego is the culprit.
Ignoring Splitter was not a basketball decision.

Exactly

[Brunodf]

When you see Splitter's overseas highlights you can't help but think his game has regressed under Pop. Pop's comments from a while ago that the only jumpers Tiago takes are layups and dunks shows he's clueless. If Tiago could somehow morph back into that confident player who had no problem posting and taking outside shots it would really help the upside of the team.

Chip changed his shooting mechanics, that's why he was so bad FT shooter in his rookie year.

[SA210]

Even great ones can make monumental errors. Trying to make a 6/5 player with no ACLs and limited bball IQ into a starting NBA big, when you've got a capable 7-footer on the roster...like I said, it was not a basketball decision.
I understand how fans can swept up in Blair's Cinderella story and make some hasty and grandiose conclusions from the spare handful of "beast" games that Blair produced. But for an NBA coaching staff to make such an error, it's a bit shocking.
Sometimes success can lead to failure when folks aren't called on their BS, maybe that's what happened in this case.

Capt with the goods.

This is true. And Splitter isn't the first "personal" decision pop has made either

[DrSteffo]

Yeah. With all the Dwight Howard's roaming the Euro floors and all... Remember the big Brit we drafted, Richards. Go back and look at his highlights. He looks better than Tiago. It does not matter he is playing against slow midgets.

You and Pop were wrong. Just admit it, no need to be angry.

[SA210]

Pop was and is a big reason for the Spurs success. Pop is also a very big reason for the Spurs failures and playoff flameouts. Can't have it both ways.

Truth hurts

[TJastal]

Yeah. With all the Dwight Howard's roaming the Euro floors and all... Remember the big Brit we drafted, Richards. Go back and look at his highlights. He looks better than Tiago. It does not matter he is playing against slow midgets.

So let's get this straight.. according to you a legion of Dwight Howards roaming the Euro floors would turn everyone in Europe into cowering mice who can't shoot jumpers from the outside? Doubtful... if anything it would influence most to become more proficient at outside shooting since no one would want to try to take the ball to the basket. Your argument has no merit.... whatsoever. Rumphumper and Blake need to start sending you tools to the advanced popsucking class. This is too easy.

[Slippy]

Im just greatful to see POp finally coming around to making a serious effort with Tiago. Still agree with the chorus of people posting Pop held him back and it was a non-sensical to. Not much to add to it except you can tell to this day that when Pop talks Tiago he's in defensive mode when commenting. I mean by the "we all knew how good Splitter is " or " what he doing know he did it in Europe " talk. The main reason coach puts out there on why Tiago was a non-factor for 2 seasons was injury and missing pre-season. Like others i don't buy it. Im guessing it had more to do with Pop showing faith and favour with players who had been here longer. I also think our illustrious coach went away from a philosophy he's gone back to this season. Allowing players to earn and fight for their mins and then a place in the rotation, going away projects as in Blair and Bonner.

Last but certainly not least, Splitter also plays surprisingly solid defense according to the numbers compiled by Synergy. Even better than Duncan in some spots, in fact, including post-ups (0.62 points per play, 12th) and pick-and-rolls (0.97 ppp, 25th). With Duncan anchoring the defense as well as he has in years, the tandem would seem to be an ideal matchup for bigger teams like Memphis and the Lakers.

well thanks Dan , i guess the stats confirm what seemed clear as day, that even coach Pop couldn't ignore. Out of Spurs' bigs Splitter is best at defending the pick and roll and making rotations on team D. If you want acticipation, positioning and mobility. All combined, the Tiago of this season has gotten really good at it.

Just hope Pop sticks to it. We are still seeing him experimenting with line-ups.

[PingPong]

Pop is a competent coach who had the lucky to have a player called Tim Duncan in his rooster. Rebuilding the team without Duncam should expose his real capacity. But probably it will never happen.

[DMC]

It only took Gregg Popovich two-plus seasons, but it appears as if he’s finally overcome his aversion to deploying Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter side-by-side.
The two bigs have gone from never playing together, to rarely playing together, to starting the past nine games next to one another.
Little more than a third of the way into the season, Duncan and Splitter have already shared more minutes on the court this year (222) than the past two combined (159). Indeed, in Splitter’s rookie campaign the two played in a paltry eight games together.





The VINDICATION Pop thread is misplaced...this is why Pop needs vindication ....for in up the past two seasons le hopes.


Like I said before;

Can the Spurs win a le IN SPITE OF POP?


So far....umm no.


Genius coach, 4 rings, blah-blah....who would you get to replace him blah-blah....

It's very easy to look only at one facet of a game and say what you would do to improve it, then say the coach must be an idiot. You're not being tasked with every facet of the game, the franchise and whatever his personal life entails. You also don't know what his goals are. If you think a team is trying to win a ring every single year, you're missing something. A coach does what he can with what he has, and any other coach in the NBA wouldn't even make the playoffs with this roster. No way this bench in any other city does anything close to what they do in SA. Danny Green couldn't get playing time in Cleveland. George Hill still cannot get much in Indiana (and he sucks there as well, a testament to how they use him). Who the is Gary Neal? I don't know, but other teams in the league sure as know who he is now, and if we dumped him they would pick him up. James Anderson even found a job.

Say what you like about Pop, his last two rings were without overwhelming talent, just solid basketball. Duncan is good but he's not going to win on a team with a couple of mid to upper level players and a roster filled with foreign players, D leaguers and some washed up, about to retire sub stars.

You really have no clue about coaching if you think Pop is overrated.

The Lakers would sacrifice Kareem mid court on Christmas day to get Pop.

[DMC]

Pop is a competent coach who had the lucky to have a player called Tim Duncan in his rooster. Rebuilding the team without Duncam should expose his real capacity. But probably it will never happen.

I didn't know Pop has a rooster and why is Tim ing it?

[PingPong]

I didn't know Pop has a rooster and why is Tim ing it?

My question is: Pop would reach the same success without Timmy?

[Ice009]

George Hill still cannot get much in Indiana (and he sucks there as well, a testament to how they use him).

Has George Hill been benched or something? The last time I looked, he was starting for the Pacers and getting plenty of court time. He also signed a pretty decent sized contract in the off season, so I doubt the Pacers would be sitting him on the bench. Are you sure that you know what you are talking about?

Pop is a pretty darn good coach, but he has definitely made some mistakes along the way with certain personnel.

[JonNOKC]

My question is: Pop would reach the same success without Timmy?

Same could be said of almost any HOF coach - good players make good coaches for the most part - you could ask the same question with Phil Jackson or Pat Riley - how good a coach is Eric Spoelstra or Scotty Brooks (in another 5-7 years one or maybe both of these guys will probably have at least two championship rings)

The bottom line is once a coach gets a player like Duncan - that coach will usually ride that player till the end and have enough success doing so that they can pick their next destination should they continue coaching - so very few of the "great" coaches will be in a siutation void of talent or in rebuild mode

Pop certainly deserves alot of credit even with TD in the equation - to have such sustained success in a small market with limited resources and nothing to attract Free agents, bottom line -the Spurs run has been pretty impressive and alot of people share in that success and Pop is one

As many have said Spur's fans are spoiled - I think Pop is the best coach currently in the NBA, but even an overrated Pop is in the top 5