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This is why Splitter's lack of development this year has been so disappointing...when everyone's healthy, LA has too much flexible length for the Spurs to match up favorably...I think Dallas matches up better against LA than the Spurs do...
Pop has to give serious thought about making Tiago a bigger part of the rotation, maybe even as as a starter, if the Spurs face LA in the playoffs.
Bynum and Gasol just have too much size for Blair to deal with. I still think Blair can be a useful part of the rotation against them as an energy guy off the bench running pick-and-rolls with Manu, but I think as far as the starters go we need to match size with size and that means Tiago.
IMHO, Pop's biggest priority over these last 19 games needs to be integrating Tiago into the rotation, so the Spurs can deal with potentially for big, physical teams in Memphis, OKC, LA and Boston in rounds 1-4.
One thing we don't have to worry about with Splitter is him hitting some rookie wall with fatigue, because he's hardly played due to injuries. But I think the Spurs drafted this kid and brought him over for a reason and that's you can't teach size. Besides, he seems to have pretty good defensive instincts. It's true he's kind of clutzy on offense and he doesn't play pick-and-pop shooters very well, but Bynum isn't a shooter, he's a banger, and Tiago has been good against guys like that.
This is why Splitter's lack of development this year has been so disappointing...when everyone's healthy, LA has too much flexible length for the Spurs to match up favorably...I think Dallas matches up better against LA than the Spurs do...
Either Gasol o Bynum will eat up alive Thiago.
Don't know what you're talking about. Blair was the Spurs' best big today. If anyone needs their minutes taken away, it's Bonner.
Splitter actually played decently against them.
Pop will never change his game plan. Don't you know Pop's MO by now?
We know Bonner can shoot against the Heat and the Celtics. But he's just not money against the Lakers. Gary Neal and Steve Novak don't look intimidated.
The Lakers are a better defensive team, as Popovich stated after the Staples Center game last month.
Lakers had more incentive, while the Spurs had used up many bullets against Miami.
You can only take so much from a regular season game.
It took a 17pt, 15 rebound game from Blair and a last second Dice tip-in to garner 2 wins against the Lakers this year.
Lakers made it look easy tonight.
Blair is too short if you haven't notice.
1. He cant compete for rebounds against the height of the Lakers, giving them numerous second chance points.
2. Gasol & Bynum will just simply shoot over him at will when needed.
We need more length and sadly Splitter is our only option, Pop needs to give the guy more minutes and bring Blair off the bench, who would shine against the others team bench bigs.
It's not Rocket science.
The Spurs got a reality check from the Lakers today. They will be a very dangerous team in the playoffs and until someone dethrones them they are still the defending NBA champs. I don't think the Spurs played very well in that 1st quarter and the Lakers wanted payback for the game the Spurs won in LA. As is always the case regular season games don't really mean all that much just for playoff seeding. Both teams will be a different beast if they meet in the playoffs, Spurs will have to prove they are the better team to the Lakers by actually beating them in a 7 game series and advancing.
It's too late for Splitter already. Hopefully Dallas can knock them off in the playoffs when they meet, having said that, I don't think the games will be that one sided should we meet LA in the playoffs.
LMAO at Bonner...
spurs were just tired while the lakers were well rested....spurs didn't have no engery at all....
They both had a day off in between games. In fact the Spurs had more rest b/c their starters sat out the 4th against Miami.
Try again, sweetheart
It's too late. Pop is a complete idiot for not developing the needed size that was fking obvious for years now. yes mad
Tiago is SOFT. So it doesn't matter though.
I have no clue why Duncan continues to guard Bynum and Blair continues to guard Gasol. They should switch. The Spurs don't have anyone who can physically match-up with Bynum anyway. The way they're doing it now, they're at a disadvantage in both match-ups. Plus, as good as Bynum is, I'd prefer them going to Bynum more than Gasol (which is what would probably happen if Blair were guarding Bynum). It's the lesser of two evils.
I take nothing away from this game. The Spurs had beaten the Lakers three straight games going back to last season and had won twenty-two straight at home. They were coming off of an insane offensive performance against an elite team. In other words, it was a law of averages game if there ever was one.
How's the view down there in the sand?
Sad thing about Pop with Splitter, is that Splitter isn't playing because he's ty or doesn't know what he's doing. When Splitter plays he knows what he is doing, he makes the defensive rotations and plays defense with his feet not his hands. Splitter is a quality player that would be in any other team's rotation in the league, and as a good coach pop needs to find a way to utilize him and Im sure on the bench and in garbage minutes in blowouts is not the best way.
Dallas is only 4 games back and won't seem to lose! I know thats not too close for comfort yet but with your schedule and the way they are playing it seems they could give us a run for that HC. I agree the games would not be that lopsided vs. LA in the playoffs, but they are a very tough out for anyone.
First game the Spurs made it look easy in that blowout, same thing happened today just the other way around. Blair had a great game that first game, but it is not like they barely won that one.
...and if anyone who watched today's game still thinks that the size disparity between the Spurs and Fakers isn't a big deal, I have some specially-designed swampland in Arizona to sell you.
I agree fully there too, I hope we hold onto that #1 seed and Dallas knocks them out first, if not LA and their size is a huge problem for the Spurs.
Agreed... can't use the tired excuse at all.
Nope, Tiago could stand them in D, box out and grab ing rebound. He can do this, I dont know why is still lost.
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