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Splitter's weakness is the guy that won't play him. Randolph and Gasol have a hard time hurting the Spurs when they're on the bench in foul trouble.
If Game 2 is called similar to game 1, I think it would be wise to not play Splitter. The man could help defensively sure, but the issue is his free throw shooting. If the Grizzlies are in fact using a foul first at ude defensively, I do not think that Splitter will be much of a help. He is atrocious at the free throw line and it would just end up being mostly empty possessions. I am not sure if his defensive presence would be enough to overcome this.
Thoughts???
Splitter's weakness is the guy that won't play him. Randolph and Gasol have a hard time hurting the Spurs when they're on the bench in foul trouble.
Solid point. Do you think that Splitter will be able to draw that many fouls considering he is a rookie, and going against physical bigs?
Splitter has drawn fouls at a flabbergasting rate all year long on both ends of the floor, not to mention the fact that he is actually capable of blocking a shot now and then and, unlike Blair, Dice or Bonner, has the length to discourage guys from just shooting over him from 15 feet out. How nice would it be not to have two guys chasing the basketball around the floor because there's one guy that doesn't require a constant double team?
Go look at the box score for the Grizzlies front line, check the shooting percentage and tell me how it's possible that Splitter could have been worse.
Mark and Randolf in foul trouble sounds good to me.
The Grizz are like a mini version of the Lakers. They have two very talented bigs but no all-star sg. However they do have a better pg,talented sg in Mayo and nice defensive role players.
We clearly will have the advantage pg,sg, and maybe even sf throughout the rest of the series. They seem to have a big advantage at the pf and center position even with the resurgence of Timmy. In my eyes it is absolutely essential that we play Splitter to negate some of there advantage. We have to be able to match the size of the opponent if we want any chance. NO was able to win to day because they were capable of matching the size of Bynum with Gray. Gray doesn't even look like a talented player but Bynum couldn't budge him on the offensive end and that is all that matters. Even though Blair might look a little more talented then Splitter he doesn't have the size to compete.
Size kills. We need to match them pound for pound and grind it out.
Double post.
Spitter just has not spent enough time on the floor. He has been open on pick and rolls and has failed to finish when his teammates actually trust him enough to pass the ball to him. I do not think the guards and Tim are all of the sudden going to think they can pass the ball to Tiago for any sort of advantage.
Bottom line he is a drag on an offensive minded team. I love his mobility on defense and his added length. But he is not ready. Pop or not. Its just this simple. He also is not a good rebounder in crowds, I thought his hands would be better. Time will tell.
Having stated all of the above I would still like to see us use some fouls with him. Early on maybe. I wish he would have pushed some people around when he got a chance, some hard fouls, but thats not in his nature it appears.
But Blair is just as limited offesnively...Blair may be better at boards,but Splitter has shown that he is clearly a better defender.
The problem for me is Splitter on the offensive side of the ball. He has shown that he can't convert on his free throws. Most likely he will be met with a hard foul. If he doesn't make the shot to begin with, then you might wind up without any points. Foul trouble is always a good thing to get the bigs of the Grizz out of the game. However that is a potential 14 fouls and 14 possessions that the Spurs could lose out on if he continues his free throw shooting woes.
I agree that it's frustrating to see empty points go to waste with Splitter's inexcusable free throw shooting (seriously, Tiago--what the ), but I agree completely with Obstructed View that if he could at least be utilized early in the game to start getting the Griz in foul trouble as well get some blocks and keep Tim fresh until the end that would be a huge advantage.
I know that Pop said at the beginning of the season that he wasn't planning on using Splitter until next year and I don't think anyone expects him to be the hero of the Playoffs but he could be a lot more useful spending at least some time on the floor instead of all of his time on the freaking bench where he can't help anyone but the opposing team.
19-25 combined fg for Gasol and Randolph is a much bigger problem than some missed ft's.
Opposing team's front court shooting 80% is a bigger problem than any 1-2 trips at the FT line for Splitter.
Quit being such a re .
Duncan's post-game quotes:
We need to pay a little bit more attention on defense, especially myself with Mark. I gave him a bit of an easy time there trying to keep half an eye on Zach instead of focusing on Mark. I need a little more focus in that respect. With Zach I thought we did a pretty decent job, he just made some great shots all over the floor. ”
Maybe if Splitter was guarding Zach, Spurs wouldn't have to send double teams at him, have players scrambling all over the court and Duncan wouldn't have to worry about helping out on Zach.
You're absolutely not seeing this clearly, so let me explain it:
If you shoot 50 percent from the free throw line, you're shooting terribly.
If you shoot 50 percent from the field, you're shooting great.
If they foul Splitter every time down and he shoots 50 percent, it's good offense PLUS it gets the other team's players in foul trouble while simultaneously putting the Spurs into the bonus more quickly. Even if the opposing team goes to hack-a-Splitter in the first quarter they're going to end up in the same situation, plus their bigs can't dominate on the other end.
Again, look at the goddamn box score and see what the biggest problem was. If the 55 percent shooting by the other team and the monster numbers by Gasol and Randolph don't immediately jump out at you then go have your head examined.
Duncan, Parker and Manu have been quietly pleading through the media for Pop to play Splitter all year long. Too bad he doesn't listen to anyone.
I only remember watching one game where Splitter guarded Gasol and despite Tiago doing everything right Marc looked pretty comfortable. There are players Splitter can affect a lot but Gasol didn't seem too bothered. It was only one game though, I'd like to see another...
I'll agree with OV and Aggie and add that when people assess Tiago's offensive skills, I think people are being too simplistic in their thinking. Tiago, I think, is actually more important on offense because he more than almost any other player on the team promotes ball movement by constantly setting picks and rolling to the basket. He does this almost more than anyone else in the league. When our offense gets stagnant, I think Tiago can be very helpful. And his physical presence on defense is even better.
To slow down Zach we have to use different approaches, and Splitter should be one of them. Having Zach have to chase Bonner around is also a strategy. I just think we should mix it up and therefore include Tiago in that overall scheme.
Pop trusts other rookies, but doesn't trust Splitter - it's beyond bizarre - just flat out stupid anyway you look at it.
We've got a serviceable 7-footer who plays pretty good D glued to the bench.
Depressing.
Last edited by Capt Bringdown; 04-17-2011 at 08:41 PM.
Gasol had 11 points and 8 rebounds in the game Splitter started, and 4 points and 3 rebounds in the other Memphis game where Splitter played 15 minutes.
Look, we don't know how Tiago will perform, but he has shown enough to warrant a look. If he sucks, you can pull him. But don't keep riding things that don't work.
splitter is no savior. he is just a convenient excuse for spur fans in denial about their team. "if only pop plays splitter, the spurs will be much better." they will not. this is the team spur fans are stuck with this year and that includes bonner.
next year though, i'm expecting more from splitter.
Aside from the fact that he's been the best defensive big this season every time he's stepped on the floor, and aside from the fact that he draws a boatload of fouls on both ends, and aside from his big production during the games he actually gets minutes, I guess we don't really have any idea how he will perform.
PS: yes, I know we're on the same side, but you aren't far enough away from the fence yet.
I was referring to playoffs, but yeah, that is why I said he has shown enough to warrant a look.
The story for Duncan all year- trying to worry about 2 guys because he can not trust whoever is guarding the other one.
I think we'd all at least like to see if Splitter on the floor could be a difference maker, rather than being forced to watch the continuous debacle that is the Bonner/Blair front line.
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