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The Spurs have never lost a game that Splitter has played in.
yall wont be thinking its funny when april comes around and duncans averaging 4 rebounds a game and can barely get off the ground b/c hes freaking playing 33 minutes a game oh just wait.. youll laugh at us then
The Spurs have never lost a game that Splitter has played in.
Why mess with a good thing. I think splitter hasnt played, cause bulls and jazz are playoff teams, and he hasnt shown he can play in big games, eg. thunder game, 3 fouls in 2 minutes. Cavs arent that great so good chance splitter will get some minutes. It wil be nice to see.
You've said this more than once. Are you implying that Tiago Splitter is a scrub who doesn't practice well? Because that's what you said about Mahinmi when you were defending Pop for not playing him. I guess you guys all think that Bonner and Splitter are interchangable pieces on the Spurs team. Either that or you think that starting the season 10-1 means the Spurs get to duck the Lakers in the playoffs.
Seriously, guys. When's the "First Two Thirds of November" banner ceremony?
And I'd like to see Splitter get some minutes, but I'd question starting a guy after giving him two straight DNPs. "Haphazard" is the word that comes to mind.
BTW, what the is with AP calling him "George Popovich"?
Splitter played better than expected in his minutes. That's really all Pop could ask for. I think Pop isn't liking his conditioning and wants him to get his legs back underneath him again. He's seen all he needs to see type of idea, will integrate him a bit further down the line.
Here's to hoping. I agree Splitter must be big defensively if we're getting past LA in May.
I've heard this argument, but how does sitting on the bench improve a guy's conditioning? It's also a rather huge coincidence that Bonner comes back from injury and suddenly Splitter's too out of shape to play.
Maybe Tiago is not 100%. Calf injuries are strange, and muscle tweaks in that area tend to reoccur. If Pop is playing both Neal and Anderson (both rookies) minutes this early, then he should be playing Tigo as well - if he's actually healthy.
If he's 100%, he needs to be on the court.
I agree benching someone won't improve his conditioning, but conversely, how much can one improve his conditioning during a handful of gametime minutes? That's done during practice and the off season. I'm on your side, but I also recognize the existence of that opposing argument.
As for the Bonner parallel, it's an interesting observation, but not one I'm worried about just yet. Splitter is set to make more dough IIRC and he's clearly skilled enough to warrant playing time. IMO if anyone is the odd man out come April, it will be Blair.
I think Bonner's making quite a bit more money, but that shouldn't be relevant. Every player ever interviewed on the subject has said that there's nothing in the world that can simulate game time. Sean Elliott says it a hundred times a season. You can't get your game legs on an exercise bike or in practice, especially as infrequently as the team practices in the regular season.
In April, when we're fighting for 1-4 instead of 7-8 playoff seeds.
I think Pop has changed strategy. He's decided to kill it while the schedule is soft, and work players in as he can, instead of teaching with early losses as he has in the past. That really hasn't worked in 2-3 years. The Spurs are just left gasping as they fight for a playoff spot.
I only mention the $$ aspect because both have just been signed to their deals. Also, I think you're overlooking the fact that Splitter played while Bonner was out despite just coming off an injury - if Bonner had been healthy all along, it's plausible we would never have seen much Splitter at all anyway, at least to this point and/or until he got in better shape. Maybe Bonner's injury threw off Pop's game plan a bit, but now it's back on track.
Let's just hope his "plan" doesn't involve a benched Splitter in April and beyond.
Or maybe his compe ion for the 4th big spot had a career night in his second game back?
Got to remember, Tiago was the 2nd big off the bench against the Thunder, he picked up 3 fouls in less than two minutes (two fouls were crap calls) and Bonner took full advantage going 7 for 7 from downtown.
That being said, Pop is riding the "hot-hand" and going with the players who are "playing well".
My problem with that is, Splitter hasn't received a real opportunity to prove anything the past 2 games and hasn't had a significant chance to prove his real worth in games prior to that with barely playing 10-15 minutes a night. Pop has totally ignored him because Bonner had a career night and Pop believes Bonner's ability to spread the floor is the reason for the Spurs' gaudy offensive output this year. Which isn't really the case, the talent is the reason and the internal improvement with most players on the team is the reason.
Spurs PPG w/ Bonner - 104 (5 games)
Spurs PPG w/out Bonner- 107 (6 games)
Don't get me wrong, I understand how Bonner spreads the floor and creates more space for Tony and Manu's pick and roll opportunities, but is it really an essential piece for the Spurs being 2nd in the NBA in scoring? No it's not. Spurs don't need Bonner on the floor in order to put up 105+ a night.
That being said I'm a firm believer that Pop is shooting this team in the foot (in grand scheme of things) with what is transpiring ( even though it is early). Don't get me wrong, Spurs are 10-1 and that's great and all but he's not playing the one piece that gives the Spurs the ability to reach their optimal level on the defensive end. In the grand scheme of things, that matters if a championship is the goal PERIOD.
I doubt we'll see Splitter start (highly) but I do believe Duncan should be donning a sports coat tonight, possibly Manu as well -- he clearly didn't have his legs last night and the second night of a back-to-back could leave him more susceptible to injury.
As it pertains to Tiago, the guy needs to play. Period. The biggest problem he's really had has been with the officials and conditioning. How do you address that? You play him.
Bottom line, the Spurs aren't winning a championship if Splitter's utilized like a first-year Fabricio Oberto. Matt Bonner must be their fifth big by year's end and a well/timely-used situational player.
When you look at this team and the defensive strides they needed to make during the offseason, one has to look at how they could improve: better knowledge, better health, and most important of all, better players.
Who has this team added to the roster that can improve their defense?
Splitter and Anderson -- they both will have to be key parts to the Spurs' rotation when it's all said and done.
Anderson may be on the shelf, but Splitter isn't. The Spurs are off to a 10-1 start and the team really looks great considering the time of year and the fact they're playing nowhere near their best team ball, but this team's success is all about the big picture.
The Spurs need to get the most of their youth. Blair, Splitter and, yes, Bonner, need to steal minutes in the front court to keep Duncan and 'Dyess as fresh as possible for the playoffs. Bonner needs to play, just not at the expense of Splitter -- Splitter's success is of greater value to the team and its championship aspirations.
Like others have said, I doubt Splitter gets a start versus the Cavs, but he certainly should get some burn. This will not be a practice game, but it should provide Pop to give the big Brazilian center some key, non-mop-up, minutes.
I agree.
And I'll add there should have been a sense of urgency from the very beginning of the season in getting Splitter integrated into the rotation, because as we've seen in years past, Duncan's body wears down significantly faster when paired with Matt Bonner. That Pop can't see this after 4 years of Bonner, is alarming to say the least.
+1
Great take man. I was just commenting on this to a few friends. Looks like the Spurs are subs uting SPAM with SPIN (Spurs Push in November).
+1. Don't forget Obstructed View.makes them look pretty ing stupid tbh.
Exactly, Then it's the same guys who complained that we "lost to many early games" last season, and now since we are actually winning the early games they all of a sudden don't mean anything.
For us to win a tle Splitter and Anderson are the bench guys who need to be ready and able to play. I think the only reason Splitter hasn't played is that he was out the pre season with an injury and the Spurs might just want his conditioning to get better before playing major minutes. As an athlete the more out of shape you are the higher chances of getting an injury.
The Spur will have to watch Timmy, Manu, and also Blairs minutes to make sure they are not over using them and that they will be fresh for when it counts. But we are only a few games into the season and we have a ton of home games in the first 30 games and our schedule is pretty easy. That is the reason for putting such importance on starting with a good record is that these games are the ones we should win and need to win in order to have a good record at the end of the year.
The Spurs have struggled with health and/or the incorporation of new talent for the past two years. The health issues and lack of a real front court mate for Duncan has seemingly pushed him too hard early and netted diminishing returns late.
So I don't believe them starting slow was by design as much as it was an understanding of the cir stance and dealing with it accordingly -- had they had the health and talent for those two years from the jump, they never would have been put behind the 8-ball and Pop wouldn't have felt the need or desire to play mad scientist with his line-ups.
There's no doubt the players have gotten into Pop's ear about not wanting to lose ground early -- namely Manu and Tim. But I believe that's a concern borne from two years of frustration.
Sometimes you can forget how and why something came to be and start dictating choices and decisions from a distorted premise. Some would argue that's exactly what happened to Pop starting back as early as 2004-05 (when they found success going small against Phoenix) and that maybe the fact that Pop got used to starting slow became what he expected and how he coached early? Maybe the players just wanted to make sure he hadn't forgotten their ultimate success didn't come from some predetermined early season slow-burn?
Whatever the case, I find it a pretty tough argument to make that the playing of Splitter early is a bad thing for the Spurs short or long-term.
The Spurs are going to need him in the end -- his development is crucial -- and his minute-eating serves a very different purpose than that of Bonner's -- he helps with the heavy lifting, easing the burden of responsibility that falls on the likes of Duncan and 'Dyess.
Couldn't agree more. Can't risk an injury at this point due to bad conditioning. That's why I think we should chip in and get Tiago this book:
I'm sure this statement will certainly rile up the pro-Bonner faction on the board, but there is much truth in it. Of course, no one can or should quarrel with the successful start the Spurs are having. However, I do find it very peculiar that Spiltter suddenly went from developing at a good pace and providing immediate contributions, including some much-needed pick-and-roll defense, to several games of DNP-CDs? There's no other explanation than that which OV provided.
Whatever the case, I just want Splitter ready to go when the Spurs face the top teams in the West - particularly the Fakers. Splitter has the potential to make a far greater impact in those games.
Great point.
The Spurs should be able to sit Tim and still win this game easily. Splitter needs the reps. Sitting on the bench isn't doing him any good. It's hard to complain when they are 10-1, but Bonner has really thrown a wrench in Splitter's development. I can't see that it makes the Spurs a better team to have Bonner soak up all of Splitter's minutes.
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