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great read, thanks!
Here's hoping I'll do better than Google Translator:
http://balanacesta.blogspot.com/2010...paciencia.htmlBALA NA CESTA: Today is your 1st game aired live to Brazil, are you excited to face Nene and Denver?
TIAGO SPLITTER: I think it'll be a nice game, last week I couldn't play against Nene because of my injury. If I have the opportunity it will be cool, I hope people watch it there in Brazil.
-- Speaking of opportunity, it's been a difficult beginning for you, right?
-- Yes, the keyword for me now is patience, even because there's no other way. the 1st word is patience, the 2nd too, the 3rd ditto, the 4th same thing. You can't get in here, in NBA, and "go crazy". I'm not used to stay out of the game so long, but its part of learning, I'm sure I'm on the right path.
-- Do you expected it to be so complicated?
-- Man, I'll be honest. When I came here, many people said: "Tiago, this first year will be though for you. Oberto came here and spent one season in the bench before playing an important role on Spurs le the next year". It's not that I didn't believe it, but it's because you want only good things happens to you, right. But this happened with Manu, Oberto, and now with me. You have to be patient, calm and persistent. I've felt already the difference of the game, mainly the referring. The 1 on 1 here doesn't allow as much contact as in Europe, and this makes things more difficult. The key here is positioning. And everyone knows how to play, everyone makes a difference, everyone finishes the play. It's impressive.
-- 1st year Manu said he did individual trainings more than anyone. Is the same with you?
-- Individual training is my daily routine. Here in San Antonio there's two coaches that work directly with me, teaching me rotations in defense and attack, and improving my technique. Besides, my shooting mechanic is changing a bit. I can't explain well, but my shoot will end up changing. I'm training as I never did, lots of attention from coaches, and Pop is seeing all this.
-- Speaking in Pop, many in Brazil are criticizing him for not giving you playing time.
-- No, that is not right. He has four NBA les, we have the best campaign in the league and I'm adapting here. He did this with Manu, with Oberto and others, and I think it's part of his way of working. You have to respect, understand and try to follow what they have prepared for me here. Pop is always worried with me, asking me everything, wants to know if I'm ok. I can't complain about anything.
-- Do you agree with the theory(me included) that even with little playing time you haven't played well?
-- I think it couldn't be too much different. At Baskonia all the plays went through me, and most of them I had to finish. Here I'm a on a secondary role, the roles aren't the same, nothing is the same. It's being complicated this transition, but I know in two, tree years I may have a big role in the team, with plays made for me, for example. Now that the team is winning I just think of getting in and keeping the same good results for the team.
-- Can you say Manu has been like an older brother for you? And has your previous tutor at Spain, Iñaki Iriarte, talked to you?
-- About Manu, I have no words to describe what he's been doing for me. He gives me good energy, advices, he shows me many things. It's a great friend and I respect him a lot. About Iñaki, we talked a lot, yes. He's experient, understands the game, knows what I'm going through and he reccomends me to have patience.
great read, thanks!
Great interview. It sounds like Splitter's head is in the right place and the coaches are working hard to help him with his NBA transition. Good to hear that they are reworking his shot too...as his FT attempts are not what one would call a thing of beauty.
The downside of this is that he is most definitely going to go the Oberto road and that means he will not be ready for the playoffs this year. This is worrisome as it means Bonner will once again play major front line minutes in the post season.
Well he certainly says all the right things. I have no doubts that he'll learn the rotations to perfection, as he's a smart player with high BBIQ, but he seems to not be prepared for the physicality and his confidence is low.
I'm sure he'll learn and become a good player for the Spurs, be it this season or from the next one on.
agree about his confidence being low. It's evident and not a good sign.
Splitter is ultracompe ive and a winner. He'll turn out to be a great contributor to this team by season's end and especially into next season. Its natural for people to complain, especially with the feeling that the Spurs' window is closing. But it'll all come together in time. I would definitely not recommend giving up on this guy.
Splitter rocks!
great job biskvito
Good to know Tiago is working hard everyday with the coaches. Sooner or later he'll have a chance and must be ready. Nice to know Manu is helping him
This.
The guy really sounds like he gets it and is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to play. Hopefully with the extra coaching, he will start increasing his minutes in the second half of the season. We will need that extra 7 footer.
Whats sad is Splitter has much more upside than Oberto and is a much better defensive player than Oberto ever was. At the same time he's better defensively than Blair and Bonner. Yet Splitter gets treated like he's Mengke ing Bateer.
In order for the Spurs to win the damn championship the defense must reach it's full potential. And in order for the defense to reach it's full potential, Splitter must play!! Especially over Bonner!!
Yeah kudos to me for that take. Watch out black and bold.
Last edited by EricD; 12-22-2010 at 11:31 AM.
Good good
TP was an exception !
BC Antonio Daniels was his only other option.
If Dice, Blair were not here Tiago would be playing.
Splitter has more upside but as of this moment Oberto was a much better rebounder than Splitter is. I'd like to see him beast on the boards, Fab always came up with clutch boards in the 07 run & I think it had a lot to do with his getting PT.
Good read! good thing he is accepting he isnt going to play much in his first season.
Great read. My only worry with Splitter's development is that by the time he's actually ready to contribute and be a major impact player for this team, Duncan may or not be in the NBA. If he still is, it's likely he'll have a much more diminished role than he has now.
LOL, you are the Erkel of Spurstalk.Whats sad is Splitter has much more upside than Oberto and is a much better defensive player than Oberto ever was. At the same time he's better defensively than Blair and Bonner. Yet Splitter gets treated like he's Mengke ing Bateer.
In order for the Spurs to win the damn championship the defense must reach it's full potential. And in order for the defense to reach it's full potential, Splitter must play!! Especially over Bonner!!
Yeah kudos to me for that take. Watch out black and bold.
Every year Pop underplays some rookie. You think he'd catch on by now. A few weeks ago it wasn't obvious but now it is. With the best record in the league playing against inferior compe ion, you would think this would be the PERFECT time to play Splitter more. But on the other hand, Pop did play Parker his first year so evidently is everything is perfect. Whew.
It's interesting that Pop can make good in-game decisions but can't always make good in-season decisions.
Whats sad is Splitter has much more upside than Oberto and is a much better defensive player than Oberto ever was. At the same time he's better defensively than Blair and Bonner. Yet Splitter gets treated like he's Mengke ing Bateer.
In order for the Spurs to win the damn championship the defense must reach it's full potential. And in order for the defense to reach it's full potential, Splitter must play!! Especially over Bonner!!
Yeah kudos to me for that take. Watch out black and bold.
He'll be in the rotation when Pop realizes they need him, which is when the Spurs are getting their asses beat by LA on the 28th.
Makes me feel better that Splitter understands what Pop is trying to accomplish.
His reaction time seems to be getting better. In the beginning of the season, he looked like he was in slow motion out there. I wish he wouldn't try to draw charges. He needs to use his length and challenge shots like TD. And on offense, could someone teach him how to dunk? He's missed some and one's because he wasn't aggressive enough finishing plays.
Time for the Spurs to play jazz. We don't have the luxury of doing things as we've always done them.
Other teams can integrate new players more quickly, why can't we?
Seems to me the ironclad "it takes a year to earn Pop's trust" rule is a self-limiting rationale that isn't in our best interests now.
Pop's system isn't the goal after all.
Splitter needs to make the transition to the NBA and he surely won't make it if he doesn't play. Pop is having a gigantic brainfart on this one.
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