Defense wins championship

[TD 21]

He views them both as strictly centers.

I agree, but it's nonsense. As I've explained many a time, if one of the bigs can defend power forwards (Splitter), shoot from mid range (Duncan) and pass (Duncan and Splitter), then you can absolutely play two centers together. Also, if the players are high IQ types (which both are), then that makes it all the more likely that it'll work.

I'm not suggesting Duncan and Splitter are Duncan and Robinson or Gasol and Bynum, but those were/are the same scenario and those duos thrived, for the reasons I stated. Lesser skilled bigs, such as Mohammed and Oberto, also worked with Duncan, but apparently that's been forgotten.

Unfortunately, no one that covers the team has the balls to ask him these questions. It's probably going to be the single biggest reason for their demise at some point, outside of maybe health. Splitter is the fourth best player on the team and by far the second best big, yet he plays only 20 mpg and rarely with the best big. It defies logic.

[therealtruth]

With Splitter and Duncan at C and PF there are several lineups could be elite defensively with Parker, Leonard, Jackson, Green, and Ginobili in the mix for the other two spots.

We get a full dose of Bonner instead.

We also have the makings of an elite smallball defensive lineup.

Only thing that i can think of is that Splitter doesn't know how to play sets where he is not the primary bigman but how ing hard can it be to stand outside the piant under the basket? I wish he would at least allow Splitter to try and defend people on the perimeter. He has Blair do it.

It doesn't make sense. Splitter is quick on his feet. There's no reason he can't defend on the perimeter. TD/Robinson used to play against small ball lineups. Splitter's quicker than Bonner and because of his length doesn't have to play that close to the other player to bother their shot.

[ElNono]

IIRC, 75% of TD's points this season come from jumpers... I mean, it's obviously OK to give him his time on the low block. But nowadays, there should be no issue for Tiago playing the post and Tim drilling the jumpers...

[Cow Eye]

IIRC, 75% of TD's points this season come from jumpers... I mean, it's obviously OK to give him his time on the low block. But nowadays, there should be no issue for Tiago playing the post and Tim drilling the jumpers...

If anything, that would be preferred. Considering banging on the low block night in and night out would just put even more strain on TD's already weakening knees.

[TJastal]

But he does think Duncan and Bonner can coexist.

A playoff opponents dream come true coach.

Now that the cat is out of the bag thanks to Hollins, should be interesting to see the frenzy of jockeying to see who can secure the seed that plays against the Pop coached team in the 1st round.