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Splitter right now is way better than Elson.
More fundamental, better rebounder, better shotblocker.
From what I've seen of his games online, hes just a better player.
Also being way younger and potentially a 10 and 10 guy.
His basketball IQ isn't that high and at 31, he's probably at his zenith in that regard. I love his athleticism and the way he runs. He runs like a deer.
I know he's smart and it seems like he cares about his play. Hopefully something will click with him during the regular season.
Splitter right now is way better than Elson.
More fundamental, better rebounder, better shotblocker.
From what I've seen of his games online, hes just a better player.
Also being way younger and potentially a 10 and 10 guy.
@ timvp turning into the Elson apologist. I've been as historically anti-Elson as anyone but let's not go overboard. When he's right, he's still an above average backup center. That's not saying much but he's not absolute garbage.
Splitter is a good talent but let's not pretend that if he were on the Spurs he'd be playing more minutes than Udoka is playing. If Elson and Splitter were both on the team, I'd say that this season Elson would average more minutes. Of course, Splitter would pass him down the road (probably beginning in his second season) but Splitter is still a role player at the center spot who'd need a full year of indoctrination to produce.
P.S.
Where the heck are the Elson supporters? I get hated on for bashing Elson and now when I'm trying to defend Elson, those Elson-backers are no where to be found
whottt, Bruno, Aggie Hoopsfan, T Park version 2006, 50 Cent, anyone?
timvp actually calling out his conjoined twin T Park?
I like Elson but he is what he is.
A mediocre bench center, I fully admitted that going into the playoffs last year.
Now with him this year obviously not having improved any, he is what he is.
I've put all my eggs into the Splitter basket no question
WTF?timvp actually calling out his conjoined twin T Park?
unfortunately we could copy and past that statement directly from last season to now.I know he's smart and it seems like he cares about his play. Hopefully something will click with him during the regular season.
I won't disagree with that.Splitter is a good talent but let's not pretend that if he were on the Spurs he'd be playing more minutes than Udoka is playing. I
HOWEVER!
In a game like tonight, someone like Splitter, to rest Oberto and team with Duncan would've been nice.
just a little joke...
about not remembering a time I saw you disagree with timvp.
I don't have the need to go after every poster on Spurstalk who says something bad on Elson.Where the heck are the Elson supporters? I get hated on for bashing Elson and now when I'm trying to defend Elson, those Elson-backers are no where to be found
whottt, Bruno, Aggie Hoopsfan, T Park version 2006, 50 Cent, anyone?
When Spurs signed Elson, I've said, unlike most posters here saying that Elson was horrible, "Elson isn't a good player but he is still a serviceable seven footer.". One year after, it seems that I was quite right on that. Elson is an inconsistent player but I'm not sure he is way more inconsistent than other recent Spurs bigmen (Oberto, Bonner, Nazr, Rasho..).
And we could've got Scola for about the same money most of our scrubs bigs make.
And I called it a year ago.
Oberto is an inconsistent player? I don't understand why you saying that. He played pretty well last playoffs, he was playing so hard this regular season.
Your hatred knows no bounds?Oberto excelled. He cemented his place as center. You (Bruno) know, Oberto, the player you said should be traded last summer
However if you hate Oberto, I love him.
if Sequ hates Bonner, I like him?
Sequtrans:Il y a trop de haine dans ce monde.
Bonner sucks,all he does is hit a 3 every once in a while,and that's it. He is a choker,so you can't count on him to hit a key 3 in a playoff game. ty Difense, below average rebounder and no low post moves at all.
With so many 3 pts Specialist the spurs have in the perimeter,we don't need a ing PF hiting a 3 at 0.300 % on garbage time.
Surry guys,but you're gonna have to open your eyes.
Bonner SUCKS.
sarcasm, dude. Sarcasm
got it.
I say that Oberto is inconsistent because he is inconsistent.
He has been very good last playoffs especially against Utah last year but he has never been able to play at a high level during a whole season.
Seems you like to seek timvp's quote, you should be able to find some quotes of him saying the same thing.
And I don't hate Oberto, I really like how he plays. I just thought after his first year that he couldn't become a good nba player and I was wrong about that.
How often is Elson "right"?
Doesn't he need to be "right" more often than not, when the starting Center averages 20-25MPG?
Shouldn't Elson be giving more consistent production, seeing as how this is the magical second year where players just seem to get it?
Could Splitter fill the backup role just as effectively?
Most importantly...Is Elson the "above average" Center enough of the time to justify giving him a contract extension when two potential replacements are coming in the door right behind him?
These aren't just questions for timvp.
My thoughts, if you haven't picked up on them already, are that Elson is very seldom "right" and I disagree that Elson is "above average" at any time.
Given his inconsistency and general lack of talent, I'd suggest letting him walk at the end of the season and bringing in the Splitter/Mahinmi combo to fight for regular backup minutes.
I don't see Mahinmi being any better tham Elson, at the most he can be just like Elson.
But Splitter has more chances to become a decent NBA PF/C though.
Mahinmi is very raw, this is true. But, he definitely suprised me with his early season play on the big club.
Granted, he was playing garbage time minutes, but he showed good BBIQ and the fluid athleticism was VERY encouraging.
I expect Pop and co. to give Mahinmi some decent court time in the Spring, especially if the Spurs have clinched playoff berth. At that time, I think they'll make a realistic evaluation about what he can bring to the table in the near future.
Not that often. Then again, I have a low standard for him. If he can catch the ball without fumbling it, stay out of the way and pull down a few rebounds, I'm happy.
There was no one more against the signing than me. I knew this was Elson when we got him. I'm not surprised at all. He's shown glimpses of being a little less inept than I thought so perhaps my standards are low.
My "compliment" was he can sometimes be an above average backup center. Do you realize how horrible the average backup center in the NBA is? Heck, the average starting center in the league is pretty bad. That's not much of a compliment headed Elson's way.
There was that hope.
Eventually? Absolutely. Off the boat? I'm not 100% sure.
I said above average BACKUP center. Big difference.
And to answer the question: no, not how he's playing right now. If he continues to play at this level he'll be on the first bus out of town after the season.
Bottomline is Elson is playing exactly how I imagined he would when the Spurs signed him. Yeah, in the grand scheme of things he sucks but it's hard for me to be too upset since I wasn't expecting more.
I'm just thankful that Oberto blossomed last year or else the Spurs would have been dead in the water and the Elson signing would have gone down as one of the worst in team history. If Oberto doesn't play well and the Spurs needed Elson for anything more than an occasional spark once every couple weeks, they'd be in deep trouble.
All good points timvp...
Like you, I'm also very glad that Oberto has become a reliable compliment to Duncan in the frontcourt. I wish he had the ability to stay on the court for a good 30 minutes, because it would lessen the reliance on guys like Elson and Bonner, who are just one or two-trick ponies.
I also understand that the Center position is clearly the weakest in the NBA and that most teams don't have reliable starters, let alone backups. But I guess my point is that the Spurs shouldn't accept mediocrity just because it's the relative norm.
If there are other (cheaper) options already in the fold, I think the Spurs would be foolish to continue to hope for a 31yr old F/C, whose only speciality is running, to pan out.
The Spurs might as well see what they have in Mahinmi and Splitter sooner rather than later, and pocket the $3M+ that it would take to bring back this guy.
Do you agree?
Isn't this the spot where someone says, "bring back Malik?"
Splitter is going to be on the Spurs next year. That's almost literally 100% likely. If they don't bring him over, he's stick in buyout forever.
Mahinmi, unless he bombs big time in Austin, will also be back. Even if he bombs, they'll probably still give him another year.
Perhaps Splitter will replace Elson next year. Perhaps Splitter will just take the spot of a retired Horry.
Whatever the method, Splitter is going to jump the pond next summer. I expect him to do pretty well, pretty fast. Best case scenario might be Splitter comes in place of Elson and Horry sticks it out one more year. I just hope the Spurs don't end up doing something like wasting assets in an attempt to salary dump Bonner.
I figure Horry will call it quits after this year. That means the Spurs can add another frontcourt player, so let's assume it's Splitter.Splitter is going to be on the Spurs next year. That's almost literally 100% likely. If they don't bring him over, he's stick in buyout forever.
Mahinmi, unless he bombs big time in Austin, will also be back. Even if he bombs, they'll probably still give him another year.
Perhaps Splitter will replace Elson next year. Perhaps Splitter will just take the spot of a retired Horry.
Whatever the method, Splitter is going to jump the pond next summer. I expect him to do pretty well, pretty fast. Best case scenario might be Splitter comes in place of Elson and Horry sticks it out one more year. I just hope the Spurs don't end up doing something like wasting assets in an attempt to salary dump Bonner.
The Spurs could go with either of your scenarios, or....
The Spurs could choose not to retain Elson, give Horry's minutes to Bonner and have a training camp battle for Elson's 15-20 minutes between Mahinmi and Splitter.
There would still be a spot open for one more frontcourt player. That player could be veteran insurance or another young prospect.
I realize that's putting alot of faith in some young, relatively unknown quan ies...but IMO that's better than a known mediocre quan y in Elson.
BTW, I also hope that the Spurs don't give up on Bonner and use one of the prospects to pawn off his salary on another team. While he's no Robert Horry, I think he brings a couple things to the table that the Spurs FO values....outside shooting and strong work ethic.
Also keep in mind, the Spurs will be getting rid of Barry's $6M and Finley's $3M, and though they may re-sign either or both, it should be significantly discounted. Point being, the Spurs might not be so close to the lux tax threshold that they would feel pressure to get rid of a prospect along with Bonner's salary just to cut cost.
well, next year there's gonna be planty of room in the roster.
With Finley,Barry,Horry and probably J.V out,there's gonna be probably 4 spots availables.
I hope they can sign a couple of good F.As to add to the roster.
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