tiago?

[stéphane]

Can anyone who has watched Splitter tell me how fast he gets up and down the court? I'm worried about him playing with Duncan who has looked positively Artis Gilmorish at times this year. Would the two of them be too slow to play together against a lot of the stretch fours and hybrid 3/4s spreading the league now (Odom, Rashard, Jamison, Jeff Green etc.)?

Tiago is a 7'' Center no way he can match the example you gave in terms of speed. None of these guys are centers anyway, they are SF playing the PF position. It's like asking RJ to be as qucik rack to rack as Tony. But he runs the floor really well for his size.

[Booharv]

Tiago is a 7'' Center no way he can match the example you gave in terms of speed. None of these guys are centers anyway, they are SF playing the PF position. It's like asking RJ to be as qucik rack to rack as Tony. But he runs the floor really well for his size.

So he would sit most of the game against teams like Cleveland, Orlando, OKC, and LAL? That sucks.

[Manu-of-steel]

Tiago is a 7'' Center no way he can match the example you gave in terms of speed. None of these guys are centers anyway, they are SF playing the PF position. It's like asking RJ to be as qucik rack to rack as Tony. But he runs the floor really well for his size.

I compare Tiago with Hakim Warrick in terms of speed. But Tiago's stronger and he plays tough defense.

[Booharv]

Sounds like matchups would determine how much he plays, like he would be very useful versus teams who play two true bigs and less useful versus teams that play quick perimeter 4s. Am I getting that right?

[lennyalderette]

you know whats weird? in o7' you saw all these videos for tiago, and right now if you go to youtube you cant find your average tiago 2010 mix!!!i wonder whats the reason behind that?? maybe the euro fans are hating cause hes coming over??

[Grundle]

The thing with Mahimni is that Pop and the coaching staff do not appear to trust him. He does have impressive physical skills, but it looks like Mahimni will have to prove himself with another team. I don't see the Spurs bringing him back.

Exactly. There are players Pop just won't play. Mahinmi seems to be one of them. With Pop running the ship, what makes you think Ian will ever see the floor outside of garbage time in the first place?

[TJastal]

I have some serious doubts about this, I don't care how reliable Bufords' word is. Why isn't Splitters' camp saying anything about this? Sounds like they aren't entirely sure themselves.

[TJastal]

And let's not forget....

It's TWITTER. (Twits-With-Infinite-Time-To-Escalate-Rumors)

Love how they word it too..

Spurs hope/plan to have Tiago Splitter

[TimmehC]

And let's not forget....

It's TWITTER. (Twits-With-Infinite-Time-To-Escalate-Rumors)

Love how they word it too..

Spurs hope/plan to have Tiago Splitter

RC said during the Houston game that "the plan is for him to be here next year". That's his plan obviously, not neccessarily Tiago's plan, but you get the point.

[TJastal]

RC said during the Houston game that "the plan is for him to be here next year". That's his plan obviously, not neccessarily Tiago's plan, but you get the point.

lol exactly.

I wouldn't doubt Splitter's agent gave him a call as soon as he heard about it and the conversation went something like

"Tiago congrats on your decision to join nba next year, I just wish you would have informed me before I read about it in internet today"

Splitter: <pause> What the ?

[dbestpro]

Tiago is an interesting player not just because of his size and ability but because he continues to improve. This past year he has focused more on defense and has become a significant shot blocking threat. He has a variety of low post moves that he can go to with either hand. He also can get by most bigs on a drive from the top of the key. He also is a pretty good passer. He probably won't be an allstar, but for the Spurs, he will seem like ice water to a dying man when we add him to our bigs rotation.

[TJastal]

Tiago is an interesting player not just because of his size and ability but because he continues to improve. This past year he has focused more on defense and has become a significant shot blocking threat. He has a variety of low post moves that he can go to with either hand. He also can get by most bigs on a drive from the top of the key. He also is a pretty good passer. He probably won't be an allstar, but for the Spurs, he will seem like ice water to a dying man when we add him to our bigs rotation.

Don't be surprised when that ice water turns out to be a mirage.

[JoshO501]

DraftExpress: Depends whether they're willing to spend. He's worthy of the full mid-level. RT @Josho501 Chances Tiago Splitter is a Spur next year?

[Spurs Brazil]

When Tiago and Anderson started playing for Brazil NT, Tiago was a much better player but Anderson game translated well from Europe to NBA. Lets see how Tiago will do on this aspect.

I have no doubt Tiago has more talent than ANderson but I don't know how his game will translate in the NBA. I didn't see much Tiago games lately but he must improve his post game. On D I think he won't have much problems

[Whisky Dog]

If only Splitty was here now

[gsmith78]

Exactly. There are players Pop just won't play. Mahinmi seems to be one of them. With Pop running the ship, what makes you think Ian will ever see the floor outside of garbage time in the first place?

If you need any extra proof that the team just does not see Ian in their future: In the interview with RC that is referenced at the beginning of this post RC was talking about the teams young core. He mentioned every one of the new guys, including Temple. No mention of Ian though and neither Elliott nor Bill Land so much as blinked at the omission. It was a glaring enough omission I expected them to ask about Ian, but the interview just kept moving.

I would have loved to see Ian develop into a solid player for SA, he was fun to watch here in Austin, but he absolutely does not seem to be part of the long term plan.

[Whisky Dog]

I hope Ian goes anywhere but LA or Dallas/Phoenix and absolutely tears it up. I hope he makes Pop and RC eat it the way Scola has.

[Dr. Gonzo]

I hope Ian goes anywhere but LA or Dallas/Phoenix and absolutely tears it up. I hope he makes Pop and RC eat it the way Scola has.

You are a great fan.

[TD 21]

Sounds like matchups would determine how much he plays, like he would be very useful versus teams who play two true bigs and less useful versus teams that play quick perimeter 4s. Am I getting that right?

I assume he'll be useful in both scenarios. Because he's a legit 6-11, he has the requisite size/length to match up with centers (at least more so than McDyess, Blair and Bonner, though if Splitter signs I'm convinced McDyess will be traded), but he's also mobile, nimble and relatively quick for a big man, so he'd more than likely serve as the Spurs answer to the types of mobile, face-up four's that have killed them in recent years.

If he's the type of defender he's reported to be, I could see him playing roughly 25 mpg next season, so long as he learns the Spurs playbook, rotations and terminology quickly.

[jesterbobman]

If you ever come to watch some Euroleague or ACB matches, it's pretty hard not to like what Tiago brings to the table. He's a legit 7 footer with great wingspan and a really interesting quickness for his size. His defense is top notch for a euro center thanks to his size and will to play D. His rebounding is so so. On offense, he displays awesome hands and his decision making and ability to pass or finish around the rim makes him the most sound and intelligent euro center on the offensive block. On a side note he can really run the floor, has tremendous experience of big games despite his relatively young age and can still improve the way he has done every year.

I've only seen a few of Splitter's games, but I'd say that pretty accurate. He has some speed to cover the stretch 4 type guys, but is really a centre. His rebounding isn't great, but rebounding isn't the biggest problem for us (Timmy and Blair are exceptional, gang rebounding from everyone else). He could probably play on Bynum or Gasol, and cover some of the slower stretch 4's decently(Dirk for example). He'd have problems with Odom, but everybody does and he'd probably be our best bet. Offensively, He's a little limited in terms of range, but he's very effective in at the basket, and has a pretty decent post game. I'd say a realistic expectation for him is somewhere around 12 and 5 in 25 minutes, and pretty good man defense. Not knowing the vaunted system yet may be a problem, but he probably fits the idea of a twin towers style, though he won't be Duncan 2.0

[bigdog]

I won't believe anything about Splitter until I see him on the court during an actual game, wearing a Spurs jersey.

[Whisky Dog]

You are a great fan.

I hate seeing mistakes like wasting this kid on the bench when defensively alone he could greatly help this season. If Pop isn't going to play him I hope somebody does and shows Pop that he ed up with this kid.

[santymrc]

you know whats weird? in o7' you saw all these videos for tiago, and right now if you go to youtube you cant find your average tiago 2010 mix!!!i wonder whats the reason behind that?? maybe the euro fans are hating cause hes coming over??

He's not having his best season overall. His stats are ok tho, but overall, you can ask any euro guy and he'll tell you that this is not his best performance. He had some injuries that prevented him for playing at his best too.

Maybe couse all this NBA talk and such.