Splitter with 18/9/4 as Caja Laboral wins Game 5 by a score of 64-56. They will now face Barcelona in the Spanish League Finals.
The official start of Splitter Watch 2010 will have to wait until the Finals are over.
Replay video should be available soon here:
http://acb360.orange.es/partidos/LACB/54/328
Splitter was great again.
IMO, he is the best player in Europe this year.
Game 5 video:
http://acb360.orange.es/partidos/LACB/54/328
I didn't see the game but Brazilian websites are saying great things about Tiago in this game.
I hope he can win the tle and then come to San Antonio
He is a long term investment for the Spurs if they sign him. I imagine it will take 4-5 years and a big chunk of the Mid-Level to get him here. However, if he is a bit worn down at some point next year (if he comes to SA) I imagine the front office would just consider it a cost of doing business. It's a real priority to get him here because he will be (unless something weird happens) the best new player on the roster next year.
Looking forward to seeing Splitter against Rubio... See what all the hype is all about.
Referring to Rubio of course.
Splitter vs. Fran Vasquez is gonna be fun to watch..Vasquez is one of the best shot blockers (so I have read, but have not seen him play yet) in europe.Looking forward to seeing Splitter against Rubio... See what all the hype is all about.
Referring to Rubio of course.
Barcelona has a couple of good defensive 7 footer with NDong and Vasquez. Splitter will face quality defenders.
BTW, schedule of the finale (San Antonio time):
Game 1: @Barcelona June 10th 1:30pm
Game 2: @ Barcelona June 12th 11:00am
Game 3: @Caja June 15th 1:30pm
Game 4*: @Caja June 17th 1:30pm
Game 5*: @Barcelona June 19th 11:00am
*: if necessary
From CBS.com Spurs report...
--The player the Spurs hope to lure to San Antonio next season, 2007 draft pick Tiago Splitter, was named the MVP of ACB for the 2009-10 season. Splitter averaged 21.2 points. Selected 28th overall, the 7-footer has dominated in Europe, and there are rumors that Splitter's agent is already talking with Spurs management.
I feel like there is a silver lining to both options, whether we get Tiago Splitter or Derrick Favors. I would be happy with either one of them. Either way, the Spurs would have another big to pair with Tim Duncan.
Tiago Splitter: If nothing else, we wouldn't be able to say it was a wasted draft pick if he comes over. He would have an immediate impact on the team, giving Tim Duncan the best center he has played with since David Robinson, and the Spurs the much-needed interior presence to go along with TD. No need to go into details about the tools Splitter would bring to the team, because there are enough threads about him on here that already do that.
Derrick Favors: If the Spurs can somehow get Favors, that would also be a huge plus. With me living in Alabama, I got a chance to see a pretty good bit of his games at Georgia Tech, and liked what I saw. He has a nice combination of length, athleticism, quickness, good awareness for somebody as young as he is, and is a pretty good defender and should be one of the best in the league with some polishing. From what I heard from the announcers, he also has a good work ethic, and that's a neccesity for being a Spur. He supposedly fits the profile of what the Spurs have been looking for since David Robinson retired, and could potentially take over for Tim Duncan as the franchise player one day.
I'm well aware that Derrick Favors is a project, but I like his chances of becoming a dominant big man one day if he comes to the Spurs mainly for 2 reasons:
1.) He would be mentored by the G.O.A.T. power forward; a top 10 all-time great regardless of position.
2.) Since he wouldn't be going to a losing team, there wouldn't be any ridiculous expectations for him. He could be a difference maker without the pressure of carrying the team. I believe that's a major factor in why the success rate for high draft picks is so low.
Like I said, I would be happy with either move if for no other reason than Tim Duncan having a legit big man next to him. But the more I read and hear about the possibilty of the Spurs trading up to get Derrick Favors, no matter how big or small that possibility might be, the more I'm in favor of that happening. The big question, and the key to making that happen obviously is what they would have to give up to make that happen. I do rememember several years back either Peter Holt or R.C. Buford saying that the Spurs planned on using TD in the David Robinson role toward the end of his career.
I strongly believe that if you have any kind of chance to get a potential franchise big man, you at least have to look into it. The more things change, the more they stay the same. In other words, as much as the game has changed over the years, one thing has remained constant: The way to build your team is from the inside out. The league might be a guard-driven league and all that, but you won't win a championship without a dominant (or highly skilled) big man. Here are a couple of stats as proof:
-56 out of the 64 NBA champions (including the current NBA Finals teams) have had a dominant/high skill big man- either a center or power forward.
-35 out the 55 league MVPs have went to either a center or power forward.
One other thing, I know I'm preaching to the chior on this one, but obviously the workload on Tim Duncan is way to much. It's making him look older than what he is. I feel like even at 34 years old, with a dependable center next to him, he could still be dominant. Here is the way I see it:
The lack of another dependable big has led to TD playing most of the game these days as the sole big on the floor. Which means that in addition to the normal 20/10 he puts up, he also has to help make up for the 10 rebounds a game they lose from not having that other big next to him. He also has to guard the best big on the floor for the other team, and block all the shots.
With him being the only big on the floor most of the time, that means the Spurs are going small. When they go small, that means Richard Jefferson moves over to power forward. As a result, you are asking him not only to get the normal 6 rebounds expected from a small forward, but split the center's rebounds with Tim Duncan. It's unrealistic to expect that to happen every night. So in essence, TD is having to give production for both post positions which again, at his age and miles he has, is too much for him, and that's why he wears down after the All-Star break.
The Spurs need to go back to the Twin Tower approach, that's what got them the championships in the first place. Whether they get Tiago Splitter or Derrick Favors, they need another big in there with TD in the worst way, along with a peremeter defender. This is just how I see it.
Great post, Thomas82.
Definitely agreed that the Spurs need to go back to a defensive and bigger approach to the game. Looking at the NBA Finals both teams got there though their size advantages with the edge towards LA. Gasol and Bynum seem to be able to score at will against Boston and they had a monster 14 blocks although ultimately losing Game 2 (they didn't seem to go through their bigs at the 4th though).
I wonder if the Spurs have also considered picking up both Tiago and Favors. Since imo even with Tiago the Spurs seem to lack a legitimate option defending against explosive athletic bigs such as Amar'e end even Lamar Odom. Favors could fill that role and more rest for McDyess and TD, the better. Duncan usually plays better in the first half of the season which leads me to believe that fatigue gets to him when the playoffs roll around moreso than we like to believe.
Last edited by Cane; 06-08-2010 at 12:54 PM.
The difference between Splitter and Favors at this point is the fact that the Spurs have a legitimate chance of getting Tiago Splitter. IMO Favors is a longshot pipe dream. Obviously getting Favors would involve giving up Parker and probably more.
Splitter would come over without compensation and be a long-term piece of the Spurs future.
I was wondering to all those who have seen splitter play for sometime, can he regularly hit that 10-15 ft jumpshot? It seems as though in this pick and roll offense that he really does not need to take many jumpshots since he is either going to the basket or sitting a pick. From watching most of his games over this season he seems to have good form on his shot and seems to hit most of the few he does take. Just wondering if this is in his bag of tricks that he can go to in the NBA, cause it would be a great weapon since he is very good in the post and seems to be able to take many big men off the dribble.
The Favors theory does not presume he will fall to #20. This would happen by trading Parker to NJ for a package including the #3 pick.
The Favors possibility could have no legs whatsoever. Or it could be a very legitimate. Only the SA and NJ front offices know.
Fair enough.
Still this will be a busy summer.
After last season's Jefferson dud, I wonder how conservative the Spurs will act this offseason.
Great post, Thomas82.
Hope someone post a link to the game later on. Not sure where to look. :P
Much appreciated
no problem
game is about to start
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