Splitters weakness...

[biskvito]

Gasol had 11 points and 8 rebounds in the game Splitter started, and 4 points and 3 rebounds in the other Memphis game where Splitter played 15 minutes.

Promising numbers... I thought at the time Gasol used his lenght very well against Splitter.

I'm not sold Pop will play Splitter though. That is unless someone's hurt or the team is 15+ above.

[xellos88330]

Man you people are sensitive tonight.

Why do people think that I made this thread to bash Splitter? His major weakness is indeed his free throw shooting is it not? I am simply asking if people think his defensive presence is enough to overcome possible situations with Tiago being sent to the line often.

It is a theoretical scenario given the cir stance that he gets playing time. I WANT him to play. I think his defensive presence is a huge help naturally. That is why I am only really talking about offense.

Let me rephrase my original question. If Splitter were to get playing time and get sent to the line often (should the Grizzlies continue fouling with such impunity) shooting with a FT% of 50%, do you think his value defensively is good enough to offset the 1 pt difference?

[DPG21920]

Splitter positives, from what we have seen of him, have definitely outweighed his negatives. Not only that, he positives would seemingly help out in this series and his negatives shouldn't be too big of a problem.

[rascal]

If Game 2 is called similar to game 1, I think it would be wise to not play Splitter. The man could help defensively sure, but the issue is his free throw shooting. If the Grizzlies are in fact using a foul first at ude defensively, I do not think that Splitter will be much of a help. He is atrocious at the free throw line and it would just end up being mostly empty possessions. I am not sure if his defensive presence would be enough to overcome this.

Thoughts???

He would foul out quickly. People are only hanging onto any little hope for the frontline that they could find, Splitter won't help any. He isn't playing not because he is good.

[rascal]

Splitter positives, from what we have seen of him, have definitely outweighed his negatives. Not only that, he positives would seemingly help out in this series and his negatives shouldn't be too big of a problem.

Not according to Pop.

[slick'81]

until duncan gets a legit big next to him i dont feel sa gets a ring.The closest thing spurs have to that is tiago.

Might as well see what duncan and splitter can do together for some stretches

[Obstructed_View]

He would foul out quickly.

Whoops, you accidentally left the Mahinmi broken record on. Splitter doesn't get into foul trouble.

[jjktkk]

Look, we don't know how Tiago will perform, but he has shown enough to warrant a look. If he sucks, you can pull him. But don't keep riding things that don't work.

This. When Blair, Bonner, and Dyess are struggling, it would be nice for Splitter to get in there, to see what he can do.

[TDMVPDPOY]

some fkn clowns in here should watch fkn games instead of relying on box scores, it doesnt help also with limited action from splitter due to pops manlove for the ginger bread man

[Splits]

The question that nobody on this board has answered is this: when is the last time a team has run a 5-big rotation in a playoff series?

If the answer is never, do you prefer:

a) for the Spurs to run a 5-big rotation

b) move Bonner, Blair or Dice to the 5th spot (only plays if injury or massive foul trouble)

That is the system you have to work within. So what is your choice?

[Arc]

everyone continues to jump on the bonner hate train, but the real problem is mcdyess. it's his fault that pop was forced to play bonner/blair so many minutes. i think the old man just can't cut it anymore. i've been noticing it all season. sure, he has some decent games every once in a while against soft bigs like gasoft and softwitzki, but he got worked like a cheap hooker by zbo today. we need young energy in the post to match these guys.

maybe mcdyess just wasn't ready for the playoffs, maybe his ty performance was a fluke. iunno. but what i do know is if he continues to play like this, we're boned.

[mingus]

what infuriates me is that Splitter can play GREAT defense. we saw it against Aldridge for example. he was forcing Aldridge into tough shots all night. i'm not sure he's ready to bang with guys who carry a lot of weight and throw it around like Randolph or Gasol. he could have been ready had he played enough in the regular season. but we all know how that went. i hope i'm wrong. i'm still an advocate of him playing because nothing else is working against their frontline. it's stupid to go with the same strategy, but it think he'll continue to go with it. like i've said, Pop's decisions the last couple of years have been detrimental to the team. i don't know what his deal is.

[Obstructed_View]

Bonner is a role player whose specialty is three pointers. He's also not a first, second or third string NBA center and he's getting starter's minutes.

[Obstructed_View]

everyone continues to jump on the bonner hate train, but the real problem is mcdyess. it's his fault that pop was forced to play bonner/blair so many minutes. i think the old man just can't cut it anymore. i've been noticing it all season. sure, he has some decent games every once in a while against soft bigs like gasoft and softwitzki, but he got worked like a cheap hooker by zbo today. we need young energy in the post to match these guys.

maybe mcdyess just wasn't ready for the playoffs, maybe his ty performance was a fluke. iunno. but what i do know is if he continues to play like this, we're boned.

You don't have to blame Bonner for Dice sucking, but at some point you have to blame Pop for Bonner sucking while Splitter sits on the bench.

[TDMVPDPOY]

what infuriates me is that Splitter can play GREAT defense. we saw it against Aldridge for example. he was forcing Aldridge into tough shots all night. i'm not sure he's ready to bang with guys who carry a lot of weight and throw it around like Randolph or Gasol. he could have been ready had he played enough in the regular season. but we all know how that went. i hope i'm wrong. i'm still an advocate of him playing because nothing else is working against their frontline. it's stupid to go with the same strategy, but it think he'll continue to go with it. like i've said, Pop's decisions the last couple of years have been detrimental to the team. i don't know what his deal is.

splitter did well against bynum in there first meeting, i see why not he cant keep his feet against the grizz frontline...heck the grizz even chuck in that haddedi player just for laughs

[Mugen]

The question that nobody on this board has answered is this: when is the last time a team has run a 5-big rotation in a playoff series?

If the answer is never, do you prefer:

a) for the Spurs to run a 5-big rotation

b) move Bonner, Blair or Dice to the 5th spot (only plays if injury or massive foul trouble)

That is the system you have to work within. So what is your choice?

Before the season, I thought the rotation should have been:

TD/Tiago Starting
Dice as the 1st big off the bench
Blair or Bonner as the 4th big depending on the matchups.

I still think that's the best way to match up with the Grizz. Obviously, it won't happen because Tiago won't be getting minutes this series but that could really even the size disparity between the two teams.

IMO, this is not a good series for DeJuan. His limited height is really exposed against this MEM frontline. Bonner will never be benched for Tiago so the only hope is that Tiago gets mins. in favor of DeJuan. Sadly, it won't happen this year unless the Spurs go down 3-1 or 3-0....

[Arc]

You don't have to blame Bonner for Dice sucking, but at some point you have to blame Pop for Bonner sucking while Splitter sits on the bench.

no argument here. splitter is clearly our second best big and should definitely be playing huge minutes alongside duncan. however, pop is determined to win the hardest way possible for some reason i can't figure out.

[mingus]

splitter did well against bynum in there first meeting, i see why not he cant keep his feet against the grizz frontline...heck the grizz even chuck in that haddedi player just for laughs

like i said, i don't know what Pop's deal is. he's got a couple screws loose. i don't expect him to re-gain his sanity over the the next couple of days either. i don't expect a different gameplan because the guy even said himself that the gameplan was fine because they "didn't lose by 25," or something to that effect. yeah, they didn't lose buy 25 but Gasol and Randolph put up numbers that looked like what the twin towers used to put up. a combined 49 points and 23 rebounds. the best part? they shot 19/25, right at 80% .

nope. don't need to fix anything.

[Splits]

no argument here. splitter is clearly our second best big and should definitely be playing huge minutes alongside duncan. however, pop is determined to win the hardest way possible for some reason i can't figure out.

Who should not be playing: Blair, Bonner, or Dice? The 5th big spot only plays in emergency situations. Nobody runs a 5-big rotation. So who gets 0 minutes if Splitter plays?

[Mugen]

Not sure why people don't understand why Tiago still isn't playing.

the short answer is Pop's arrogance.

He's always preached system over talent so what does it mean when a guy who missed training camp plays better than a guy who's been here for 4 years and who Pop considers the "best shooter" he's ever seen....

Pop is a good coach but all coaches have their downfalls. Pop's arrogance has cost us a le in the past and it's costing this team once again.

Tiago has done everything asked for him this season even when the odds have been stacked against him by his coach. Yet Pop's stubbornness still holds this team back because for whatever reason Tiago still hasn't "gotten over himself yet" or these playoffs just aren't for him.....

I've said it before and it holds true now. The failure of this coach and the front office to find a suitable running partner for TD is a slap in the face to Duncan after all he's given them. They finally have a guy that can ease the defensive load for Timmy and Pop sits him next to Chris ing Quinn.

[Spursfan 87]

splitter did well against bynum in there first meeting, i see why not he cant keep his feet against the grizz frontline...heck the grizz even chuck in that haddedi player just for laughs

This

He also did great job on Nene in last game against Denver. He can hold his own against bigger players, and he can get them in foul trouble. I dont care if he cant make a FT, he can play defense and that all that matters.

Pop is just stupid for not playing him.

[xellos88330]

I was just thinking something. I know, I know.... RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

Tiago was known as a banger/physical presence in Europe. In the Euro game, the refs seem to swallow their whistles when there is some good physicality under the basket. That is why more and more Euros are flopping. Now to my point.

It seems to be the consensus that in NBA playoff basketball, the players can get away with physical play more often than in the regular season. Tiago is used to playing those types of games already. If the refs are indeed letting the physicality of the game run free, then maybe Tiago wouldn't be called for those touch fouls.

[Arc]

Who should not be playing: Blair, Bonner, or Dice? The 5th big spot only plays in emergency situations. Nobody runs a 5-big rotation. So who gets 0 minutes if Splitter plays?

it would either be dice or blair. people like to hate on the bonnerman, but he spreads the floor which allows our guards to penetrate easier.

[Splits]

I was just thinking something. I know, I know.... RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

Tiago was known as a banger/physical presence in Europe. In the Euro game, the refs seem to swallow their whistles when there is some good physicality under the basket. That is why more and more Euros are flopping. Now to my point.

It seems to be the consensus that in NBA playoff basketball, the players can get away with physical play more often than in the regular season. Tiago is used to playing those types of games already. If the refs are indeed letting the physicality of the game run free, then maybe Tiago wouldn't be called for those touch fouls.

There were 80 combined FTA in the game today. 80. So your supposition that "if the refs are indeed letting the physicality of the game run free" is based on a fantasy. But then again, so are the dreams of all of the posters who agree with you...

[Splits]

it would either be dice or blair. people like to hate on the bonnerman, but he spreads the floor which allows our guards to penetrate easier.

Finally, some progress. Someone finally answers the question, despite my disagreeing with the answer. +1 Arc.