So...is it safe to assume Kawhi's recent improved play is due to Splitter being out?

[SpursFan86]

Since Splitter has gone out, Kawhi has been averaging basically 15/6.5/2.5/2/1 on noticeably more efficient scoring than his season average. Is he just on a little hot streak, or do you think Splitter's absence is leaving more room in the paint for Kawhi to operate where he's more comfortable? Or are these numbers just a result of him getting a few more minutes since Green is out now?

And before any smartass comes in to say this is proof Splitter needs to go...all it would mean is Splitter should come off the bench rather than get paired with Duncan and Kawhi. People have been critical of the Leonard/Duncan/Splitter trio (offensively) all year due to lack of spacing. I'm just curious as to whether y'all think this recent stretch is proof of that, or if it's just a coincidence.

[apalisoc_9]

It's part of it that's for sure. Spacing is horrid with Splitter and duncan in the same floor, that's not to say it's splitters fault though..I think Duncan is part to blame because he's been playing more of a C than a PF trying to fight for position down low than provide spacing..If two big guys are playing virtually the same way ( fighting for position down low), you get poor spacing.

Also, Splitter's chemistry with Leonard is piss poor. He's the only big guy that refuses to provide a screen for Kawhi..But that's also a problem our other big have save maybe for Duncan in the last 10 games or so who has been trying to get Leonard more involved in the game.

[Mikeanaro]

Might those two know each other? Good to see Kawhi can play if you make some room for him.

[cd98]

Probably not related. Probably just Pop asking Kawhi to take more shots and having his playmakers look for Kawhi on the perimeter. It's not like Splitter is taking a ton of shots. And his are mostly coming from the post, while Kawhi is mostly a spot up shooter with occassional drives and rebound and coast to coast layups on fast breaks.

[Raven]

i think it's more due to him being pissed about his role.

[superbigtime]

Assuming is never safe.

[apalisoc_9]

But him scoring more could just be a result of this.

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2014/...rdmov-3102710/

[BacktoBasics]

Might those two know each other? Good to see Kawhi can play if you make some room for him.

This has nothing to do with whether or not he can play but about his role and how it changes as the lineup changes. He's clearly not as effective off the pick using Splitter(not that it's even there to begin with) as he is when the floor is spaced by someone like Diaw. Whether or not that's a priority will most likely become more apparent post Duncan era.

[mookie2001]

Our center has many weaknesses but kawhi's ball handling and totally non-existent baseline game has nothing to do with him playing or not

[apalisoc_9]

Our center has many weaknesses but kawhi's ball handling and totally non-existent baseline game has nothing to do with him playing or not

Somebody needs to ban this ***** already.

[Mikeanaro]

This has nothing to do with whether or not he can play but about his role and how it changes as the lineup changes. He's clearly not as effective off the pick using Splitter(not that it's even there to begin with) as he is when the floor is spaced by someone like Diaw. Whether or not that's a priority will most likely become more apparent post Duncan era.

Yeah, thats my point, but in the post Duncan era we better get some big with at ude or we are dead, Tiago will always be a patch.

[hater]

So Kawhi was shooting 28% from 3 because of Tiago's big head blocking his view of the rim?

you can do better fellas

Kawhi's SLIGHT improvement in January is as related to Tiago's absence as it is to Super Typhoon Hyan

[look_at_g_shred]

So Kawhi was shooting 28% from 3 because of Tiago's big head blocking his view of the rim?

you can do better fellas

Kawhi's SLIGHT improvement in January is as related to Tiago's absence as it is to Super Typhoon Hyan

I agree with you here.

[cd021]

So Kawhi was shooting 28% from 3 because of Tiago's big head blocking his view of the rim?

you can do better fellas

Kawhi's SLIGHT improvement in January is as related to Tiago's absence as it is to Super Typhoon Hyan

truth

[apalisoc_9]

So Kawhi was shooting 28% from 3 because of Tiago's big head blocking his view of the rim?

you can do better fellas

Kawhi's SLIGHT improvement in January is as related to Tiago's absence as it is to Super Typhoon Hyan

yeah because Kawhi's sole offensive weapon is the 3 ball

[BacktoBasics]

Yeah, thats my point, but in the post Duncan era we better get some big with at ude or we are dead, Tiago will always be a patch.

Only it wasn't your point.

Dead? Overreact much? That's way too far down the road to be making matter of fact statements like that.

[superjames1992]

Somebody needs to ban this ***** already.

The truth hurts, eh?

[apalisoc_9]

The truth hurts, eh?

Also this dumbass *****
.

[superjames1992]

Also this dumbass *****.

Did I make you angry by speaking the truth?

[Bruno]

apalisoc_9 stop using that word.

[MR-Clutch]

I think kawhi's 3pt % earlier in the year had to do with his decision making. It was like he was always torn between letting it fly or throwing a fake and dribbling, which many of times lead to him pulling up his dribbling and passing it out. He seems to be just letting it fly more often now, although he still shows indecision. Yesterday was a good example, he had just scored 5 pts, and then hesitated on an open 3 in the first quarter, even jon barry called him out, and wouldn't let it go either. Just let it fly, kawhi.

[Mikeanaro]

Only it wasn't your point.

Dead? Overreact much? That's way too far down the road to be making matter of fact statements like that.

It was my point, everytime I write 2 words you write a book about what I said, making strange assumptions and overthinking too much.
Tiago is just a regular big that sometimes fits the system, if he is so ing good lots of teams could make big offers last season when he was on the market.

[cd021]

It was my point, everytime I write 2 words you write a book about what I said, making strange assumptions and overthinking too much.
Tiago is just a regular big that sometimes fits the system, if he is so ing good lots of teams could make big offers last season when he was on the market.

RFA isn't unrestricted free agency. There is a massive difference. Teams have a limited time to go after free agents and limited cap space. A team would have to make an offer that is both appealing to the player (so he will sign their offer sheet) and an offer that would make his current team hesitant of matching the offer.

Teams that did have cap space couldn't just wait 3 days for for another team to decide on whether to let a player walk.

Brandon Jennings had a similar situation. He didn't sign a deal ( an S&T) until July 30th. Thats 20 days after players could officially sign and 30 days after a team could negotiate terms of a deal.

Your logic that teams should be lining up to pay Splitter, as a measure of his value. Remember Roy Hibbert was officially signed a offer sheet with Portland before it being matched by Indiana. Minnesota was really the only team that "pursued" Batum before he resigned. Portland had reportedly planned on offering a similar deal.

Had they gotten him, they'd be better than 20th defensively, the mark the are now. Generally top 10 defensive teams are the ones who make it to the second round. Splitter is a great team defender and a solid offensive player as well.

[wildchild]

It isn't a coincidence. Increase spacing in Tiago absence facilitates Leonard post plays, and -maybe- get more touches because a combination of Danny/Tiago out. He finished in double-figures for the sixth consecutive game, but IMO it's just temporary without other two. Sad.

So Kawhi was shooting 28% from 3 because of Tiago's big head blocking his view of the rim?

You seem to be under the impression that it's right or good thing if Leonard is only a spot-up shooter in the team. Kawhi is different a lot of guys, he can pass, get physical, score in the low post...

Even if Leonard's 3-point shot returns to form, the problem will remain that he's just a spot-up shooter in this system, tbh..

[Prime Time]

Kind of off-topic, but during the 2013 NBA Finals Kawhi DID play much better when Manu was starting for Splitter. This goes back to the theory that Kawhi is made for small-ball. That's not really bad in today's game, which actually thrives off small-ball. , this might be good for us. If someone like Bertans ever develops into a decent player he'll fit right in with Kawhi.