Coach Pop post game - right now

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Tiago would have been a foul machine, especially how they called this game.

You mean, like get five fouls like Blair and 'Dice did?

Spurs lost by one basket. Tiago usually is good for 2-3 charges drawn each game. Just sayin'.

[Harry Callahan]

I hate the way thay play on D.

Even if Splitter can't shoot like Bonner, he would not be a damn sieve on D like Bonner and Blair (at times). Bonner offsets his one main skill (shooting threes) by playing like crap on defense.

I'm also not sure Duncan can play a quality 38-40 minute game. He needs help.

The FG percentage by the two Memphis bigs was totally unacceptable.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Not so sure why everyone is so confident on Tiago guarding Gasol. He seems to do better against more agile bigs, which Gasol is not. Gasol is a big dude and pretty slow. Although, I'd definitely prefer to see it over Blair or Bonner guarding him. I just wouldn't expect some sort of miracle.

tiago is a smart defender man, even though he gets calls against him, but he usually plays nice defense when we know the outcome, but he makes them work for those points...

[J_Paco]

People have gotten angry at Barkley's comments, and him predicting that "the Spurs will not survive this first round series" may indeed be hyperbole. However, the one thing he is absolutely correct on is that the Spurs frontline IS smallish. There's no getting around that.

We all know Pop isn't going to play Splitter, which further underscores how smallish that frontline rotation really is around Duncan. So all they really have is Duncan and 2 6'9" PFs, (one of which is red-haired, finesse, stetch-4), and an undersized 6'7" center. It's just not enough.

+1

Completely agree with your assessment, Senor. The Pop of 5 or 6 years ago would never had trotted out such a short front-line during the season/playoffs. Yet, it's been going on three seasons now and he has his much coveted 6'11'' first-round pick rotting on the bench. And we all thought it was Ian who was too raw, injury-prone and under developed to "earn" minutes. Come to find out Pop prefers a shooting-guard sized center and a non-rebounding, "stretch" power forward that can't defend.

[HarlemHeat37]

Not so sure why everyone is so confident on Tiago guarding Gasol. He seems to do better against more agile bigs, which Gasol is not. Gasol is a big dude and pretty slow. Although, I'd definitely prefer to see it over Blair or Bonner guarding him. I just wouldn't expect some sort of miracle.

Gasol can't create his own offense..

Most of his points came off of catches today..if you put a mobile, 6'11 guy on him, he'll have a harder time scoring than when he's going up against 6'9 and 6'6 players..

He did make some shots over Duncan, too, but I doubt he's going to be making some of those fluky shots again..

Limited sample size, but Gasol was 2-6 vs. Splitter, this season, IIRC..

[ElNono]

+1

Completely agree with your assessment, Senor. The Pop of 5 or 6 years ago would never had trotted out such a short front-line during the season/playoffs. Yet, it's been going on three seasons now and he has his much coveted 6'11'' first-round pick rotting on the bench.

I think the results for the last three seasons speak for themselves...

[Mugen]

Add having Hill and Jefferson over Neal on the last play to the list of the dumb moves Pop has made in the last 2 months...

[polandprzem]

I hate the way thay play on D.

Even if Splitter can't shoot like Bonner, he would not be a damn sieve on D like Bonner and Blair (at times). Bonner offsets his one main skill (shooting threes) by playing like crap on defense.

I'm also not sure Duncan can play a quality 38-40 minute game. He needs help.

The FG percentage by the two Memphis bigs was totally unacceptable.

Yup

You can't front then all the time.

[++SaiNt TiAg0++]

to some of you who dont think tiago can defend gasol, look it up and see what he did to him, if i tell you you wont believe me so take a look, and this is when splitter was younger and didnt know ! tiago will straight up change this team if hes played with the big three instead of ing novak!! or bonner!

i think the spurs are alright for game 2 but pop is not as smart as people think. in fact i challenge pop to an IQ test!! his brain is saturated with wine and his execution is a joke

[++SaiNt TiAg0++]

^ when i refer to novak i know he didnt play today. but it seems like tiago is played with the biggest scrubs. its really stupid to say but i have no other conclusion other than pop having a vendetta against splitter.

we need everything this guy brings. if you hate his offense tell him not to shoot but let the man defend our paint you fool!

[J_Paco]

I think the results for the last three seasons speak for themselves...

Yeah, but it's always a different excuse. Let's see.............

'08: Tiago doesn't come over and leaves Spurs blowing in the wind. Fabricio has heart condition and plays limited minutes in a greatly reduced role. Kurt Thomas is old and plays part-time starter. Matt Bonner is given an increased role do to the varying cir stances of the other players. Ian has season-ending injury that was initially misdiagnosed. Duncan is overused and fades in the playoffs.

'09: Under-sized rookie DeJuan Blair plays well during regular season, but has his role reduced during the playoffs. He also struggles against the longer Phoenix front-court. McDyess comes from Detroit, but struggles early-on in the season. He picks up his play against Dallas but struggles against Phoenix as well. Matt Bonner is given the role of starter throughout a significant part of the season, but loses it to McDyess and struggles in the playoffs. Ian Mahinmi is never given a legitimate chance to crack the (small) big man rotation because he's either too raw, injury-prone or something. Duncan is overused and fades in the playoffs.

'10: Much coveted Tiago Splitter is finally in a Spurs jersey, but he suffers an injury in training camp and never learns to get over himself. So, he plays a limited role throughout the season and sporadic playing time. Bonner shots a career high from three-point range, so that justifies him defending LaMarcus Aldridge, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph and Lamar Odom. DeJuan Blair has a disappointing sop re year since his game didn't improve in any significant way (IMO). Yet, his 6'7'' frame still deserves to play over Splitter because he learned to get over himself last season. Antonio McDyess has an average season in San Antonio, his play was better in the first-half of the season (again, IMO). Duncan minutes are monitored and lowered to a career low of 28.4 per game, but he's the Spurs only consistent/good post defender and rebounder.

'11: Splitter must get over himself during the lockout.....