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Tiago should be what the Lakers should employ Pau Gasol: A starter but the bench unit's center.
Interesting fact: TP is the only player this season to average 18/3/7 while shooting 50+/40+/80+.
-Who would have ever thought the Spurs and Rockets would one day be the top two fastest paced teams in the NBA? It used to be that you could write down an 82-79 final score whenever these two teams met. Today, with the way these two teams run, it'd take a Herculean effort for one team to keep the other team under 100 points.
-It pains me to admit but I like that group over there in H-town. James Harden's just a monster. Not only is he a great scorer, he destroys you if you try to send help. His ability to find the open man when a double-team is coming is just amazing. Jeremy Lin is figuring out how to fit in and, just as importantly, the Rockets are figuring out how to use his talents. When you give him a screen and open space to operate with, he's really difficult to handle because he's deceptively big and deceptively athletic. Lin's passing is also improving, so sending help his way is tricky to do. Chandler Parsons is just flat out good. I'm not sure what his ceiling is (a better passing version of Cedric Ceballos?) but he's a perfect role player because he's above average in just about every aspect of the game. Omer Asik is a damn good defender (ignoring how TD bent him over), a great rebounder and an improving offensive player. He was a definite steal; great move by Morey there. Off their bench, Greg Smith is a big with a ton of potential and Toney Douglas, as long as he's shooting straight, is great depth as an ace defender with a good basketball IQ.
-Speaking Harden, thank all that is holy that he's not on the Thunder anymore. It sounds strange to say but I believe it's true: Harden is more difficult to gameplan for than either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook. With Durant, all you can do is get a hand up and hope he misses. His release-point is so high that if he catches the ball, you're basically at his mercy no matter what you do. With Westbrook, you have to limit his airspace in order to try to negate his otherworldly athleticism. But Harden is much more complex. As I mentioned above, you can't really double-team him because he'll instantly find the open man. He's great at running pick-and-rolls but just as deadly isolated. Harden also has a ton of tricks in his bag and is just extremely aware of the whole court at all times. I don't care if Kevin Martin is a 70% three-point shooter, I'll take two Kevin Martins on the Thunder rather than one Harden.
-As much as Harden is impressing me and as much as I like some of the players on the Rockets, they're not ready yet to compete for the Western Conference crown. That said, that is not a team you want to face in the first round ... especially for a team like the Spurs that doesn't have elite mobility. They can run with 'em but if Houston gets hot, their ability to stretch the court, create space and punish mismatches really is a combination the Spurs can hopefully avoid. The Lakers and maybe even the Grizzlies would also have a long series on their hands if they have to face a Rockets team that is clicking.
-Getting back to the Spurs... can a Nando De Colo and Manu Ginobili backcourt work? I don't like the early returns. De Colo is good as a creator but if you move him off the ball, he's pretty useless. Ginobili is always going to be the creator in that alignment so then De Colo turns into a spot-up shooter -- and that's not his game. One possibility to to move Ginobili into the starting lineup and then allow De Colo to run the second unit. However, I'm not sure how reasonable that is; to change something that major just to fit De Colo into the rotation is probably overdoing it. Patrick Mills next to Ginobili is a much more natural pairing. If Mills can bring the ball up the court (not always a given) and defend decently (also easier said than done), Mills next to Ginobili could work out very well. All that said, when Gary Neal returns, he'll get the first shot at backup PG .... and I don't really have a problem with that. He's earned a right to at least try to keep a spot in the rotation.
-That Tim Duncan guy ain't that bad. Putting up 30 points against arguably the best defensive center in the league who wasn't born in the Virgin Islands like it ain't no thang? Not bad at all.
-I like it that Tony Parker seems to have another gear this year. It's like a I'm-pissed-GTFO-of-my-way gear that allows him to increase his speed by 25%, his physicality in the paint by 40%, his ability to find three-point shooters by 20% and his jumper accuracy by 30%.
-I had to laugh at the Rockets thinking it was a good idea to go under screens when defending Manu Ginobili. You have one of the most compe ive players who has ever lived and you are going to disrespect him by daring him to shoot? Ha, okay, thanks.
-In the first half, at times I was wondering if Stephen Jackson was done. He just looked like he could no longer move. But, man, in the second half his D was pretty darn good. He's long and has quick hands so he should be able to compensate for being a step or two slower. It looked like he started to figure that out and was honestly the best Spurs defender against Harden in the final two quarters. Surprised the heck out of me, to be honest.
-The Tiago Splitter conundrum: Is he better utilized as the PJ Brown of the starting unit or the Hakeem Olajuwon of the bench unit? I don't know. I've thought about it but I haven't come to a conclusion. On one hand, it's great to have two real bigmen in the starting lineup for a change. Splitter helps out as part of the starting five and he makes that quintet better ... but he's never going to be more than the third option -- and even lower if Danny Green or Kawhi Leonard is feeling it. Off the bench, he's basically the first option. He's involved in every play and each play is designed with Splitter getting a layup as the optimal result. When Splitter plays in that environment, he can put up scary numbers. In fact, his per-minute numbers when in the bench environment are as good as just about any center in the NBA. But then again, bench production isn't as important (or as easy to come by) in the playoffs. It's a tough call.
Tiago should be what the Lakers should employ Pau Gasol: A starter but the bench unit's center.
Interesting fact: TP is the only player this season to average 18/3/7 while shooting 50+/40+/80+.
Great post, nothing to add except that Nando Manu doesn't work on defense either imo, they are both better fit to guard SGs.
If this is a random thought I can't wait to see a focused, coherent assessment.
Stephen Jackson, done? The fact that it's even a possibility is extremely worrying.
If this is right, I'd say groom Splitter to be a starter. We are playing to get ready for the playoffs, and that's when we know the bench depth won't matter nearly as much. With that said, if we face the Lakers or Memphis, we will fare better with a more experienced Splitter.
Yup, it's funny to me when thunder fans act like Martin for Harden won't change anything. Martin's a great scorer and has given us problems in the past but Harden is just a different animal.
lol at even considering them
they're turrible, tbh
Splitter starting alongside Duncan is also a sign that Spurs are damn confident about Tim's health. If Spurs goal was to limit Tim's regular season wear and tear, they wouldn't start alongside him the player that is his backup. By doing so, Pop makes it almost impossible by design to have Tim playing the 28mpg he played these past two seasons. Starting Splitter alongside Duncan also makes sense if Pop think that Tim will be able to play 36-38 mpg in the playoffs and that Splitter will then be paired a lot with Tim.
Splitter starting validates that Tim rebirth isn't some kind of fluke and that his knees are objectively in better shape. Spurs/Pop aren't worried that his knees gave up at some point of the season like it has happened in the past.
Remember the kerfuffle surrounding whether OKC made an error in picking Harden over Tyreke Evans?
Yeah, me neither.
Tim losing weight and being a very disciplined player in terms of conditioning helps too. If Shaq had the same discipline as Duncan or Abdul-Jabbar he'd have a better end to his career.
I think a 6'9" forward that is athletic enough to cover the pick and roll would help, just so it is a true 6'9". Not someone who is really 6' 7 1/2" crap. I was hoping that Rick jackson would be able to earn a 10 day call up soon from the Toros, but it doesn't look like it's in the cards.He's not making his free throws, and that makes him a problem. Someone like that might help solve some of the post questions?
Sounds like a Spur to me...
Keep splitter in the starting lineup, it's good experience for him. Who else would the spurs play in his place? Blair? Bonner? No, when the playoffs roll around, these two will be next to useless. And letting diaw start would just encourage his passiveness. Tiago starting also means an increase in minutes, which is long overdue.
So what would you do with Manu? If you start Manu, Tony seems to become less aggressive out there with him on the court. If you bring Manu from the bench, he doesn't seem to fit in with Nando. What's left to do with him? Oh well he'll probably be injured again at some point and there will be room again for Nando.can a Nando De Colo and Manu Ginobili backcourt work? I don't like the early returns. De Colo is good as a creator but if you move him off the ball, he's pretty useless. Ginobili is always going to be the creator in that alignment so then De Colo turns into a spot-up shooter -- and that's not his game. One possibility to to move Ginobili into the starting lineup and then allow De Colo to run the second unit. However, I'm not sure how reasonable that is; to change something that major just to fit De Colo into the rotation is probably overdoing it. Patrick Mills next to Ginobili is a much more natural pairing. If Mills can bring the ball up the court (not always a given) and defend decently (also easier said than done), Mills next to Ginobili could work out very well.
NDC and Manu can work...Worked against the Raptors.
Splitter isn't getting many touches, but is good for his confidence be in the starting lineup and get ready for the playoffs...
Manu played well again, he is in shape... Timmy still looking 5 years younger. Tony was great on O.
Green did what he is supposed to do, but still can't pass or make layups...
Manu and De Colo could work, but I doubt it would work as well as Manu and Patty. If you check Timvp's player pairing statistics, you'll see how much better Manu plays with Patty than he does with De Colo.
Regarding whether to start or bench Splitter, I think you have to go with the best long term solution that produces the highest ceiling come playoff time. To me, that's clearly having the twin towers playing as much together as possible.
All those years that Splitter was a spurs I hear that he needs to start! And now it seems like it's not that good idea. Well IMO with the way Pop plays him and Tim and Boris I see absolutely no problem with him starting. It all comes to rotation of bigs and then you can play them considering matchups and day performance.
I'd rather see also Bonner here and there in the rotation but whatever.
It's too early and the sample is not big enough IMO to say that Mills will be better then De Colo. It all depends on the duties. Pop needs to find the way how to use De Colo in most effective role. Not put him as a SG and running off screens side to side. He is better vertical then horizontal as I can observe.
Would be nice to see Tony Parker use the extra gear on transition D. Spurs got killed by the rockets on the fastbreak. As a team they have to improve on getting back and part of it will come from limiting their TO's.It will only get worse how-ever when the team leader who also happens to be one of the quickest guys on the court continously jogs back and at times is the last man back. Often i saw Tony expand more energy whining to the refs after forcing the action, while being content with watching his teammates running hard the other end. On an aging team that's a sure-fire way to tire them out and give the opposition easy points.I like it that Tony Parker seems to have another gear this year. It's like a I'm-pissed-GTFO-of-my-way gear that allows him to increase his speed by 25%, his physicality in the paint by 40%, his ability to find three-point shooters by 20% and his jumper accuracy by 30%.
Essentially , he replaced Blair's mins and gained more time on the court. He's improved the starting unit defensively and offensively he's fitting in so i think it's worth it. When Tiago comes back in, usually around the 3min mark of the quarter that's where he should see more touches. The who partners Manu in the back-court issue getting solved will help his situation because Nando/ Manu combo hasn't been working of late. As a result the bench unit seems to be lacking cohesion. Work in progress because i hope the Spurs allow Nando to learn from his mistakes and Neal getting back changes things.On one hand, it's great to have two real bigmen in the starting lineup for a change. Splitter helps out as part of the starting five and he makes that quintet better ... but he's never going to be more than the third option -- and even lower if Danny Green or Kawhi Leonard is feeling it. Off the bench, he's basically the first option. He's involved in every play and each play is designed with Splitter getting a layup as the optimal result. When Splitter plays in that environment, he can put up scary numbers
My vote is for the Hakeem Olajuwon of the bench unit. For a team with exactly two centers, it should be obvious that one starts and one comes off the bench. You don't start your two centers and then bring Diaw and Bonner off the bench. I advocate starting Duncan and Diaw.
This has got to be one of your better write ups.
I would start Tiago just for the sake of getting him better for the future seasons. Kawhi, Green and Tiago are obviously our future so they should be developed.
To me Splitter starting shows Pop is serious about getting better defensively. When you have rim protection the TP, DG, and KL can be more aggressive on the perimeter.
SJax's 2nd half felt like 2003 again, even better because he's smarter. His first half would have been better in the recording studio.
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