Boban is better than Splitter

[ceperez]

Boban is an absolute joy to watch. His game is so different from Splitter's, I'm not sure you can say one or the other is better because you'd have to use them so differently. Splitter is a fleet footed big who can switch on pick and rolls, and is also great at rolling to the basket for a layup. Boban uses his strength and size, and is often pushing around other centers like dolls or just turning and shooting over them.

Boban has a solid jumper where Splitter had no shot. Boban can also hit his free throws.

Boban finishes easily on contested shots, where Splitter would frequently throw up a weak layup or get stuffed. Last night Boban stuffed it over two of Philly's bigs under heavy contact (which I thought looked like frustration fouls that could have been considered flagrants) like it was nothing.

I think Boban is a fine defensive rebounder, and also a great offensive rebounder--even while out of position. He reaches over the head of his defender and just tips the ball back out.

Splitter fouls a lot less.

Against a team like the Warriors, Splitter might be better, but I could see situations where Boban could cause some havoc and force the Warriors to change their lineup. I could also see situations where Boban is destroyed by good ball movement and picks.

Referees weren't calling fouls on Boban's defenders. He was getting mauled in the paint and that's the main reason he couldn't get to his spots. Despite that, he still shot 8-10!!!

There's a lot of promise here because he's shown that he can pass. Spurs just need to tweak plays so that he can improve his scoring opportunities (actually 8-10 in 17 minutes isn't bad at all!)

[TheGreatYacht]

Aldridge is a better defender than Splitter, like it or not hipsters. Heat and Thunder were beating our ass until Splitter got his soft ass in the bench, and Boris saved the day.

Also, I see people calling out Boban's lack of blocks as if Tiago ever averaged over 0.8BPG Tiago's defensive contribution gets overrated around these parts because of how much the team improved after ditching DEJUAN BLAIR & RICHARD JEFFERSON.... Doesn't take a genius to know that those players are bottom of the barrel defenders.

[SpursIndonesia]

In the 90's, he will be at least a Rik Smith level of player, perhaps even better. Too bad in the current NBA, his ceiling would be as a back up center with a true superstar C playing in front of him, basically a 10-15 minutes player off the bench. Well, perhaps if Robin Lopez can be a starter, he might have a chance, just not in a contending team.

[manufan10]

As long as Pop doesn't play him against the Clippers... I think Boban would get destroyed like Baynes did.

[lefty]

Also better than Porker

[ceperez]

As long as Pop doesn't play him against the Clippers... I think Boban would get destroyed like Baynes did.

I disagree here. Boban will do well against the Clippers because he can matchup well defensively against a player like Jordan that can't score from the outside.

[SPURt]

I disagree here. Boban will do well against the Clippers because he can matchup well defensively against a player like Jordan that can't score from the outside.

If he gets yammed on by Blake or DeAndre it will be everywhere on a never ending loop. Every time there is an NBA commercial or promotional material it will be there, it will never die... It's going to be like Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant...

[bic50]

If he gets yammed on by Blake or DeAndre it will be everywhere on a never ending loop. Every time there is an NBA commercial or promotional material it will be there, it will never die... It's going to be like Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant...

Similar to when lebron blocked splitter. That was everywhere

[DJR210]

Does Boban's enormous vagina bruise as easily as Tiago's?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

No.

Why not? Splitter might have quicker feet but Boban has intimidating size. Boban also has the hips, bend and footwork to deal with penetration either in help but more importantly against guys like Okafor like last night. Once he stops going for shot fakes he could be very very good there. He looks competent when switching onto guards.

Unlike Splitter Boban has the footwork, release point and touch that Splitter simply doesn't have in the post. Boban's hands were suspect but so were Splitter's particularly early.

Ultimately on defense Splitter is faster on the perimeter chasing todays NBA game but Boban's intimidation due to size is obvious. I love matching him up against opposing bench bigs. Watching hansborough and the guys in the league react to the Bobanator is fun to watch if nothing else. Whether he can deal with Griffin and the like remains to be seen. It's also a work in progress getting his angles and spacing right with the speed of the NBA game. He is already setting much better picks.

If he does those things though he will be better than Splitter by virtue of that jump shot and post game.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Does Boban's enormous vagina bruise as easily as Tiago's?

That fact that he played in the Serbian League Finals and was the best player despite having a Fractured Ankle, I would say NO.

[Old School 44]

His offense is way better, but on defense he just can't move as well as Tiago.

Yep...offense is way better and more versatile. I don't think I've ever seen Splitter successfully shoot an in-game 10-12 footer.
Defense, I think there's still room for improvement, but I think he's a lot faster/quicker than some people realize.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yep...offense is way better and more versatile. I don't think I've ever seen Splitter successfully shoot an in-game 10-12 footer.
Defense, I think there's still room for improvement, but I think he's a lot faster/quicker than some people realize.

Yup watching him beat Noel and Okafor down the court, bury them, and score over and over again was hilarious.

[SsKSpurs21]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hayfEqXHKk

[DJR210]

That fact that he played in the Serbian League Finals and was the best player despite having a Fractured Ankle, I would say NO.

Tiago

DNP - fingernail

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Why not? Splitter might have quicker feet but Boban has intimidating size. Boban also has the hips, bend and footwork to deal with penetration either in help but more importantly against guys like Okafor like last night. Once he stops going for shot fakes he could be very very good there. He looks competent when switching onto guards.

Unlike Splitter Boban has the footwork, release point and touch that Splitter simply doesn't have in the post. Boban's hands were suspect but so were Splitter's particularly early.

Ultimately on defense Splitter is faster on the perimeter chasing todays NBA game but Boban's intimidation due to size is obvious. I love matching him up against opposing bench bigs. Watching hansborough and the guys in the league react to the Bobanator is fun to watch if nothing else. Whether he can deal with Griffin and the like remains to be seen. It's also a work in progress getting his angles and spacing right with the speed of the NBA game. He is already setting much better picks.

If he does those things though he will be better than Splitter by virtue of that jump shot and post game.

You seem to have a really great opinion of him. I've no idea what it's based on. Have you watched him in Europe? Cause he couldn't do half of what you're describing defensively against european compe ion. I'd be thrilled if he turns out better against NBA players, but I find it incredibly unlikely.

I also don't agree with this perception that has suddenly appeared that his offense is better than Splitter's, but after last night's game I can see why it'd be difficult to argue at his moment.

[lilbthebasedgod]

Why not? Splitter might have quicker feet but Boban has intimidating size. Boban also has the hips, bend and footwork to deal with penetration either in help but more importantly against guys like Okafor like last night. Once he stops going for shot fakes he could be very very good there. He looks competent when switching onto guards.

Unlike Splitter Boban has the footwork, release point and touch that Splitter simply doesn't have in the post. Boban's hands were suspect but so were Splitter's particularly early.

Ultimately on defense Splitter is faster on the perimeter chasing todays NBA game but Boban's intimidation due to size is obvious. I love matching him up against opposing bench bigs. Watching hansborough and the guys in the league react to the Bobanator is fun to watch if nothing else. Whether he can deal with Griffin and the like remains to be seen. It's also a work in progress getting his angles and spacing right with the speed of the NBA game. He is already setting much better picks.

If he does those things though he will be better than Splitter by virtue of that jump shot and post game.

Splitter had bad footwork? Compared to Boban? I think he has a way higher ceiling than splitter but really, Boban needs to work on his footwork badly.

[ceperez]

Why not? Splitter might have quicker feet but Boban has intimidating size. Boban also has the hips, bend and footwork to deal with penetration either in help but more importantly against guys like Okafor like last night. Once he stops going for shot fakes he could be very very good there. He looks competent when switching onto guards.

Unlike Splitter Boban has the footwork, release point and touch that Splitter simply doesn't have in the post. Boban's hands were suspect but so were Splitter's particularly early.

Ultimately on defense Splitter is faster on the perimeter chasing todays NBA game but Boban's intimidation due to size is obvious. I love matching him up against opposing bench bigs. Watching hansborough and the guys in the league react to the Bobanator is fun to watch if nothing else. Whether he can deal with Griffin and the like remains to be seen. It's also a work in progress getting his angles and spacing right with the speed of the NBA game. He is already setting much better picks.

If he does those things though he will be better than Splitter by virtue of that jump shot and post game.

Splitter absolutely had better footwork, if anything that Splitter had, it was his footwork! He had no offensive skills but he had great footwork.

I kind of expect Boban to have good hands considering how big they are. Its like his has baseball mitts on. Players are just not passing to Boban at the right spots.

Unlike Splitter, Boban definitely has an intimidation factor in the paint. You can see people changing their shots and he's just standing there. All Boban needs to do is make like a tree... that's intimidating enough.

[urunobili]

We'll see after he gets the (if ever) the kind of minutes and feature Splitter did... As it stands DWest is looking each time better and has the potential of being an enforcer type of player for this team and for Marjanovic to get that spot will take an injury or simply will only happen once TD and Manu are gone. It's looking good though it'll take him 2 years to get consistent minutes if he sticks with the team.

[bigfan]

I like the guy a lot but he doesn't even come close to Splitters talent level. Maybe some day he will but right now, no way.

[bic50]

I like the guy a lot but he doesn't even come close to Splitters talent level. Maybe some day he will but right now, no way.

Doesn't come close to splitter in talent? I disagree.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

You seem to have a really great opinion of him. I've no idea what it's based on. Have you watched him in Europe? Cause he couldn't do half of what you're describing defensively against european compe ion. I'd be thrilled if he turns out better against NBA players, but I find it incredibly unlikely.

I also don't agree with this perception that has suddenly appeared that his offense is better than Splitter's, but after last night's game I can see why it'd be difficult to argue at his moment.

I've watched several entire games of him overseas when we signed him. It's not lost on me that I actually include basketball as it is played on the court in my posts.

The comments about him bending his knees and moving laterally were against Harsborough and Okafur. Him being able to keep up with all the moves and junk Okafur threw at him was pretty impressive. The 76ers guards and wings are godawful but Okafur isn't. He did beat Noel and Okafur down the floor. Sure they were demoralized and all that but he outweighs them by 50+ pounds.

I even qualified it saying that for him to be able to talk about Splitter defensively then he needs to be able to matchup with Blake Griffin and the NBA elite. Of course it's ceiling but for now in his first year his compe ion is going to be bench players and he is farther along in his transition compared to similar bigs we've brought in. He's farther along than Splitter who remains made of glass.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Splitter absolutely had better footwork, if anything that Splitter had, it was his footwork! He had no offensive skills but he had great footwork.

I kind of expect Boban to have good hands considering how big they are. Its like his has baseball mitts on. Players are just not passing to Boban at the right spots.

Unlike Splitter, Boban definitely has an intimidation factor in the paint. You can see people changing their shots and he's just standing there. All Boban needs to do is make like a tree... that's intimidating enough.

Splitter had the up and under on the left block. He could finish with either hand but his accuracy outside a few feet was awful. Boban is interesting in that he likes to work out of both blocks and prefers the right which is new territory. Boban also has the size advantage and is getting better and better at exploiting it as he learns the NBA. I have yet to see Boban lose his pivot as he buries guys in the paint.

I get that Splitter was on another level when it came to angles and spacing for Tony and Manu but that didn't really start coming about until his third year here. Recall Splitter had leg injuries and could not play on arrival.

[Silver&Black]

that, get it now. Next day delivery.

Good call....

[Kawhitstorm]

In the 90's, he will be at least a Rik Smith level of player, perhaps even better. Too bad in the current NBA, his ceiling would be as a back up center with a true superstar C playing in front of him, basically a 10-15 minutes player off the bench. Well, perhaps if Robin Lopez can be a starter, he might have a chance, just not in a contending team.

Brook Lopez is actually slower than Robin. Bogut isn't the most nimble guy is the league although he an elite rim protector; Hibbert might be done playing for a contender.