Is Pop doing the Right Thing with Splitter?

[ChumpDumper]

preBonner era, yes. PostBonner era, a big fattttttttttttttttttttt nooooooooooooo!

You think Spurstalk is infallible.

That is hilarious.

[ElNono]

There are certainly a small handful of posters who will defend every move of the coach and the FO. OTHO, the Pop-hating lunatic fringe i will plaster the label "apologist" on anyone that doesn't buy into their entire agenda. It is possible, after all, to view Pop as something between an infallible genius and a drunken idiot. It makes it virtually impossible to have any sort of nuanced, adult conversation on some of these issues.

I agree that the apologist card has been overused.
Realistically, Pop isn't going anywhere. He's certainly not infallible either, but then, who is?

[GabeIsGone]

That's exactly what you are saying.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. Of course I'm not asking for him to just do whatever the fans want, that would be ridiculous. More to the point that he should make the changes based on the observations of these team failings. The same observations that almost every knowledgeable fan on the has made, analysed, and come up with a simple, clear solution for. And are now waiting for, clamoring impatiently.

[ChumpDumper]

I agree that the apologist card has been overused.
Realistically, Pop isn't going anywhere. He's certainly not infallible either, but then, who is?

Spurstalk.

[ElNono]

Spurstalk.

[TJastal]

That about sums up Spurstalk's opinion on your posts

So now you speak for all of spurstalk? I don't think so.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm sorry, Coach Spurstalk.

[ChumpDumper]

So now you speak for all of spurstalk? I don't think so.

You could make a poll if that's important to you.

[Cane]

So now you speak for all of spurstalk? I don't think so.

Weren't you the guy that couldn't start threads? I do think so.

[Mel_13]

Not really saying he should make line up changes based upon this, more like... if concerned fan after concerned fan (someone who should know less than a HOF coach) notices a consistent problem that is persistent year after year. It shouldn't take a genius HOF coach to notice it and at least ATTEMPT to fix it. And yet our HOF coach has consistently not noticed, or ignored, this problem.

1. It is what you said. It may not be what you meant, but it is what you said. Moving on..

2. You assume that the solutions presented by these "concerned fans" would work. Just as now there is growing POV here on ST that starting Splitter and playing him around 25 minutes would improve the fortunes of the team. There really isn't much basis in fact to support this view. It could just as easily be right as wrong.

3. You have to realize that posters on a message board don't really represent the "faithful" in the eyes of the franchise. So there is little chance that they are aware of the opinions expressed here and even less that they would act upon it.

4. The "faithful", in the eyes of the franchise, are the people who spend their money to purchase tickets. How much they would respond to an organized effort of that group isn't known, although they were aware of a group of season ticket holders who refused to renew their subscription until Manu was extended. For now, there are no chants of "we want Splitter" in the arena.

[rmt]

People, Splitter is here cause of the lakers of the world who actually still play a traditional brand of basketball with 2 bigs on the floor, not this small ball stuff that most teams play. He will get his chance, whats the hurry as long as the spurs are winning games.

If Splitter is only getting 8 mins a game against the bottom dwellers like LAC and MIN, what's the chance that Pop is going to play him in big games against LAL and BOS? The Spurs are going to go after those games, and Splitter probably won't even see the court - much less get meaningful minutes against the traditional 2 big lineups.

[Manufan909]

He isn't going to forsake Dice, Bonner, and Blair just for the sake of making Splitter a big minutes guy. He is doing it right, he is going to need all those guys playing their best basketball by the time the playoffs start. All those guys play substantial roles depending on the teams we are playing and the match ups. I want Splitter in there soaking up more minutes just as much as the next guy, but it's gonna happen as we get deeper and deeper into the season.

I have to think that part of the Splitter neglect is because CIA Pop doesn't want to give away anything. Is that the best thing? I don't know. I don't think the Lakers or Mavs are oblivious about Splitter. I almost rather him try the different court combinations and matchups on the floor so that Splitter gets more experience by the time the playoffs roll in. But then again maybe it's a good strategy to tuck away Splitter from certain teams and match ups and then unleash him later and hope that he wreaks havoc on opposing teams when it matters.

In Pop I trust

Wouldn't it be smarter to not hold off on the 2nd most talented big, who is arguably already the best overall on defense, even though he has by far the least amount of chemistry, and knowledge of the NBA players/game/refs?

In Pop I do not trust when it comes to playing better players over his mancrushes.

[BOHOLANO#21]

popovich!!! I feel sorry for splitter...I guess scola is lucky he didn't have to go through the that splitter is having now.....

[Chomag]

It's starting to look more and more that Splitter's intended roll for this season is to just be Duncan's back up. Of course thats only based of a current observation and might not be the case but I think thats how it's starting to look like.

[Manufan909]

So far I've been much more impressed with Neal than Splitter but thats another topic.

The Spurs also don't have the right passers to really utilize Splitter; like RJ he's open so many times but doesn't get the ball. Splitter seems to only really be utilized if Manu's on the court much like Blair last season and Oberto the years before.

That's a little unfair, considering Neal has played a hundred minutes more than Splitter so far. Plus, Neal actually gets the ball when he's open. You yourself pointed out Splitter doesn't get the same treatment.

Both Tony and Manu know how to pass to Splitter, so it'll be amazing when Splitter finally starts, with McDyess and Blair as the backups.

[Ginobilly]

1. It is what you said. It may not be what you meant, but it is what you said. Moving on..

2. You assume that the solutions presented by these "concerned fans" would work. Just as now there is growing POV here on ST that starting Splitter and playing him around 25 minutes would improve the fortunes of the team. There really isn't much basis in fact to support this view. It could just as easily be right as wrong. Yes, but when the same approach has failed for the past 3 years, why not try something different? I'm willing to go down with Tim, Splitter, Jefferson, Ginobili, Parker, and Hill(our six best players) during crunch time in the playoffs.

3. You have to realize that posters on a message board don't really represent the "faithful" in the eyes of the franchise. So there is little chance that they are aware of the opinions expressed here and even less that they would act upon it.

If they would of listen more to us, we could easily won 2 more championships.

4. The "faithful", in the eyes of the franchise, are the people who spend their money to purchase tickets. How much they would respond to an organized effort of that group isn't known, although they were aware of a group of season ticket holders who refused to renew their subscription until Manu was extended. For now, there are no chants of "we want Splitter" in the arena.
The majority of the people(clueless fat mexicans, and upper-class white people) who attend the games don't understand the science of basketball like we basketball geeks do.

[ChumpDumper]

The majority of the people(clueless fat mexicans, and upper-class white people) who attend the games don't understand the science of basketball like we basketball geeks do.

Coach Spurstalk is infallible and a little racist too.

[Manufan909]

1. It is what you said. It may not be what you meant, but it is what you said. Moving on..

2. You assume that the solutions presented by these "concerned fans" would work. Just as now there is growing POV here on ST that starting Splitter and playing him around 25 minutes would improve the fortunes of the team. There really isn't much basis in fact to support this view. It could just as easily be right as wrong.

3. You have to realize that posters on a message board don't really represent the "faithful" in the eyes of the franchise. So there is little chance that they are aware of the opinions expressed here and even less that they would act upon it.

4. The "faithful", in the eyes of the franchise, are the people who spend their money to purchase tickets. How much they would respond to an organized effort of that group isn't known, although they were aware of a group of season ticket holders who refused to renew their subscription until Manu was extended. For now, there are no chants of "we want Splitter" in the arena.

That's because the average fan isn't as informed of Splitter's potential, and past accomplishments. At least the Cavaliers game was here, Splitter's lone offensive dream game so far.

[ChumpDumper]

That's because the average fan isn't as informed of Splitter's potential, and past accomplishments.

Or his injuries.

[jag]

The majority of the people(clueless fat mexicans, and upper-class white people) who attend the games don't understand the science of basketball like we basketball geeks do.

I keep forgetting that having access to the internets and posting on a basketball forum makes you smarter.

[Ginobilly]

I keep forgetting that having access to the internets and posting on a basketball forum makes you smarter.

well, now you know for sure.

[jag]

That's because the average fan isn't as informed of Splitter's potential, and past accomplishments. At least the Cavaliers game was here, Splitter's lone offensive dream game so far.

The average fan just wants to see star players or their favorite players. If the team wins then it's an added bonus.

I want to see Splitter play just as much as I wanted to see Hill play in his rookie year, and just as much as i wanted to see Mahinmi play during his first two rookie seasons. But If the Spurs are winning then Splitter's PT is where it needs to be, regardless of what that number is.

[Man In Black]

Come February...I have a feeling you'll see I'm right. Where's that ol skool Kluby Back Patter?

[chazley]

Sorry, but in the limited minutes Splitter has played, he has overall looked fatigued and below-average on offense. I've seen glimpses of him being a potentially great pick-n-roll player, but Blair and Tim are better than he is at the PnR at this point in his career, plus McDyess is one of the better pick-n-pop players in the league. Plus, Pop is obviously a fan of the pre-historic ages when dinosaurs roamed the earth, because he puts Bonner out there so he can do his best t-rex impersonation while running around the court, which further cuts into Splitter's time. We all know Pop likes floor spacing, and it's obvious that Splitter J isn't up to par, which means he's only gonna be paired with McDyess or Bonner 90% of the time.

Not only does Splitter not have a mid-range game, he also is an average at best rebounder. Until Tiago gives Pop a reason to play him, I don't see why he is en led to get minutes because he has 'potential'.

Tiago is basically only good against one team in the league for us: The Lakers. Tiago will do a great job guarding Pau, since they have played against each other in the international game and Tiago I'm sure is familiar with his game. Plus, Tiago can play next to Tim against the Lakers. Against every other team in the league, his skills are redundant because everything he is good at right now, someone on this team is better than him. The only thing he is better at than everyone else is pick and roll defense, but he becomes a liability on offense because when we put him in there to guard the pick-n-roll, Pop likes to have another floor-spacing big which means Tiago has to play with either McDyess or Bonner, neither of whom are good at protecting the rim, and it means we can't play Blair or Duncan, our two best big men.

Until Pop changes his philosophy (he won't) of having a floor-spacing big man on the floor at all times, Splitter simply doesn't have alot of minutes to play until he develops a mid-range game.

[TJastal]

Sorry, but in the limited minutes Splitter has played, he has overall looked fatigued and below-average on offense. I've seen glimpses of him being a potentially great pick-n-roll player, but Blair and Tim are better than he is at the PnR at this point in his career, plus McDyess is one of the better pick-n-pop players in the league. Plus, Pop is obviously a fan of the pre-historic ages when dinosaurs roamed the earth, because he puts Bonner out there so he can do his best t-rex impersonation while running around the court, which further cuts into Splitter's time. We all know Pop likes floor spacing, and it's obvious that Splitter J isn't up to par, which means he's only gonna be paired with McDyess or Bonner 90% of the time.

Not only does Splitter not have a mid-range game, he also is an average at best rebounder. Until Tiago gives Pop a reason to play him, I don't see why he is en led to get minutes because he has 'potential'.

Tiago is basically only good against one team in the league for us: The Lakers. Tiago will do a great job guarding Pau, since they have played against each other in the international game and Tiago I'm sure is familiar with his game. Plus, Tiago can play next to Tim against the Lakers. Against every other team in the league, his skills are redundant because everything he is good at right now, someone on this team is better than him. The only thing he is better at than everyone else is pick and roll defense, but he becomes a liability on offense because when we put him in there to guard the pick-n-roll, Pop likes to have another floor-spacing big which means Tiago has to play with either McDyess or Bonner, neither of whom are good at protecting the rim, and it means we can't play Blair or Duncan, our two best big men.

Until Pop changes his philosophy (he won't) of having a floor-spacing big man on the floor at all times, Splitter simply doesn't have alot of minutes to play until he develops a mid-range game.

So how did the spurs manage to win with Fabricio Oberto as their starting center?