Pop's Subs ution pattern for the Bigs was a step in the right direction

[angelbelow]

Plenty of people. Read the game thread or all the other threads.

You mean the Duncan is thread? I didn't bother opening it. Its a troll thread.

I find it hard to believe that the serious posters are asking for an overnight overhaul of the offense.

[DesignatedT]

Comparing the Duncan/DROB days to Tiago/Tim just doesn't correlate to me and that's what everyone keeps going off of. Tiago isn't anywhere near the player Tim was when he came into the league. Saying that, Tiago needs to touch the ball ALOT more and I understand this but that doesn't mean Duncan doesn't get the same amount of touches if not more some nights (depending on the hot hand between the two). Duncan can still be the man down the stretch in some games (not all) but Pop has to see if he has it that night or if Tiago will be a better hand to ride that night.

I disagree that Tiago should be getting the touches down the stretch every game and that Duncan is done or isn't capable anymore. I'm not convinced Splitter is the better player every night they suit out.

[MaNu4Tres]

I find it hard to believe that the serious posters are asking for an overnight overhaul of the offense.

Going to another option in the 4th, whenever Tim and Tony aren't mustering any good looks for themselves or others, is an overnight overhaul of the entire offense?

News to me.

[Findog's Ex Fiancee]

Also, it's frustrating that the guards on the team constantly ignore Splitter.

Green and Neal, in paticular. They try to do too much, instead of dumping it in to Splitter, it's as if they don't realize that they are irrelevant players.

[jjktkk]

Going to another option in the 4th, whenever Tim and Tony aren't mustering any good looks for themselves or others is an overnight overhaul of the entire offense?

News to me.

[ElNono]

Comparing the Duncan/DROB days to Tiago/Tim just doesn't correlate to me and that's what everyone keeps going off of. Tiago isn't anywhere near the player Tim was when he came into the league. Saying that, Tiago needs to touch the ball ALOT more and I understand this but that doesn't mean Duncan doesn't get the same amount of touches if not more some nights (depending on the hot hand between the two). Duncan can still be the man down the stretch in some games (not all) but Pop has to see if he has it that night or if Tiago will be a better hand to ride that night.

I disagree that Tiago should be getting the touches down the stretch every game and that Duncan should not.

Tiago isn't and likely will never be the post player Tim was. But Tiago right now can actually put the physical work on the post that Tim no longer can.

We stopped going to him there when he basically had back to back baskets, and a kickout to a free Neal for a wide open 3. When you have somebody dominating like that, the double teams are going to come sooner or later. That's when Tim can make them pay.

You could even argue that we should've run a couple of plays for Tim (we did) and then go back to what was working if Tim isn't working. But we went completely away from what was working. Perhaps it's just Pop easing Splitter in towards a more prominent role. Perhaps he doesn't trust him. We'll see in the next couple of games.

[DesignatedT]

I agree Splitter should have touched the ball more tonight. And I agree that he should get more minutes. I also agree that him and Tim have to play together.

Hopefully they get more comfortable together and can work out well. Tonight it didn't..

[MaNu4Tres]

Tiago isn't and likely will never be the post player Tim was. But Tiago right now can actually put the physical work on the post that Tim no longer can.

We stopped going to him there when he basically had back to back baskets, and a kickout to a free Neal for a wide open 3. When you have somebody dominating like that, the double teams are going to come sooner or later. That's when Tim can make them pay.

You could even argue that we should've run a couple of plays for Tim (we did) and then go back to what was working if Tim isn't working. But we went completely away from what was working.

Exactly..

[Findog's Ex Fiancee]

It should also be noted that Pekovic is a better defender than Kevin Love, one of the worst in the NBA.

So, not only has Splitter been having more success, as of late, but he was going against Minnesota's inferior post defender. It made sense to throw it to him, in clutch time.

[Caeman]

Another mistake in the comparison is the David actually aged gracefully. The TOSB get sodomized by no-name bench player in Pekovic.

Additionally, Timmy's jumpers sucks balls compared to the Admiral's j.

Edit: Sidenote, does anyone else get annoyed by Timmy when he clanks a jumper, but continues to hold his release? At first it was funny (in a cruel way), but now it just ing annoys me.

[angelbelow]

Comparing the Duncan/DROB days to Tiago/Tim just doesn't correlate to me and that's what everyone keeps going off of. Tiago isn't anywhere near the player Tim was when he came into the league. Saying that, Tiago needs to touch the ball ALOT more and I understand this but that doesn't mean Duncan doesn't get the same amount of touches if not more some nights (depending on the hot hand between the two). Duncan can still be the man down the stretch in some games (not all) but Pop has to see if he has it that night or if Tiago will be a better hand to ride that night.

I disagree that Tiago should be getting the touches down the stretch every game and that Duncan is done or isn't capable anymore. I'm not convinced Splitter is the better player every night they suit out.

That goes without saying, and comparing something based on principle is different than duplicating something and expecting the same result. Splitter is effective in the post, and Duncan has proven to have an effective jumper. Thats the core of the comparison.

With Duncan and Robinson, we expected multiple championships. With Splitter and Duncan, we're expecting to get to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Expectations are completely different between the 2 pairs.

Having Splitter play the post and Duncan play the high post gives us more versatility of offense. Especially while Splitter is shooting a ridiculous percentage. Does it have to be every game? No. Is it worth a look because it makes sense strategically? Yes. But I don't think we disagree much here.

[Findog's Ex Fiancee]

Another mistake in the comparison is the David actually aged gracefully. The TOSB get sodomized by no-name bench player in Pekovic.

Additionally, Timmy's jumpers sucks balls compared to the Admiral's j.

Edit: Sidenote, does anyone else get annoyed by Timmy when he clanks a jumper, but continues to hold his release? At first it was funny (in a cruel way), but now it just ing annoys me.

Duncan is shooting 47% on jump shots, which is extremely efficient, for a big man.

[MaNu4Tres]

Hopefully they get more comfortable together and can work out well. Tonight it didn't..

Why?

[ElNono]

Tim having a lot of trouble with physical guys like Pekovic today spells trouble. That's exactly how Memphis played Tim and unfortunately he just doesn't have the physical tools or stamina to really play that rough game anymore.

The good news is that it seems Tiago doesn't have much of a problem toughing it out there. But we really need another big that can bang down low. Not to run offense, but to actually help on defense.

[DesignatedT]

Why?

Too early to tell tbh. Tonight was the first time the both really got substantial minutes together virtually the whole 4th quarter of a tight game.

[MaNu4Tres]

Too early to tell tbh.

Not really.

[DesignatedT]

First we have to see what works when they are out there together. Not what people think will work. They have proven nothing together because they haven't had the court time to show it yet.

[MaNu4Tres]

First we have to see what works when they are out there together. Not what people think will work.

It's easy to see what is and what isn't working throughout the course of a game.

Like those few touches Splitter converted while he was on the floor with Blair (not much different cir stance if it's Tim on the floor not Blair).

Like how Tim's legs were dead, which was a reason for his off night offensively from the 1st quarter onward.

These things are easily noticeable and should be taken into account going into crunch time.

This "I don't know what will work" nonsense when Tim and Splitter are on the floor together is laughable. We know both of their strengths. We know where they like the ball. We know who is on and who is off throughout the course of the game.

It's not rocket science as much as you're implying it to be.

[SpurNation]

Makes sense that if a player is not having an efficient game to differ to a player who is having a more efficient game if the goal is to win the game.

But what does logic have to do with it?

[Caeman]

Duncan is shooting 47% on jump shots, which is extremely efficient, for a big man.

Going 6/8 in one game, then 2/12 in another is not the recipe to success.....

[DesignatedT]

It's easy to see what is and what isn't working throughout the course of a game.

Like those few touches Splitter converted while he was on the floor with Blair (not much different cir stance if it's Tim on the floor not Blair).

Like how Tim's legs were dead, which was a reason for his off night offensively from the 1st quarter onward.

These things are easily noticeable and should be taken into account going into crunch time.

This "I don't know what will work" nonsense when Tim and Splitter are on the floor together is laughable. We know both of their strengths. We know where they like the ball. We know who is on and who is off throughout the course of the game.

It's not rocket science as much as you're implying it to be.

You said "4 down belongs to Splitter now"

That's what I don't agree with. I have already stated 1000 times that Tiago should have gotten the ball tonight when it was obvious Duncan just didn't have it. What else do you want me to say here?


Tiago should get the ball more in nights like those but that doesn't mean Duncan can't shoulder the load some nights or you cant run the offense through him at the end of certain games (See NOH 4 nights ago). Pop will have to watch the type of games they are having and make that decision in the 4th but by no shape or form do I believe that "4 down belongs to Tiago now" and I also don't think you would be very successful doing that. He is not Tim Duncan.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Tiago right now is playing better than Duncan offensively.

And maybe even defensively as well.

Tiago has been on absolute fire lately. Especially with Ginobili out, why wear Duncan down?

Let Tiago play through this and the Spurs really would have automatically added a near all star caliber player which no one knew would be this good this quickly into the season.

[DesignatedT]

I agree. Tiago should play a lot more minutes and get a lot more touches going forward. How can anyone disagree with that at this point.

[mercos]

Splitter and Duncan together will work, but like others have said Splitter needs the low block position. Duncan has not been at his best this year with his back to the basket. He has looked much better shooting jumpers and driving from the high post. Splitter has looked fantastic in the low post. It is almost automatic at this point that he is going to put up a high percentage shot or find an open teammate.

The Spurs were very successful going to Splitter and letting him work in the fourth but they went away from it. In crunch time one of two things should happen right now. Pick and roll with Parker and Splitter, or go to Splitter in the low post and let him go to work. Those two options are the Spurs best chance to break down a defense until Manu gets back.

[DesignatedT]

Splitter and Duncan together will work, but like others have said Splitter needs the low block position. Duncan has not been at his best this year with his back to the basket. He has looked much better shooting jumpers and driving from the high post. Splitter has looked fantastic in the low post. It is almost automatic at this point that he is going to put up a high percentage shot or find an open teammate.

The Spurs were very successful going to Splitter and letting him work in the fourth but they went away from it. In crunch time one of two things should happen right now. Pick and roll with Parker and Splitter, or go to Splitter in the low post and let him go to work. Those two options are the Spurs best chance to break down a defense until Manu gets back.

Giving the ball to Duncan and watching him put up 28 on New Orleans gave us a pretty good chance if you ask me.