can the spurs repeat without Splitter?

[apalisoc_9]

Will they still be favorites?

Dirk, LA and Gasol would all be a matchup nightmare without Tiago..

[spurraider21]

i wouldn't like our chances at all. he's going to be useful in basically any series except OKC at this point...

- Dallas (our best Dirk defender)
- Houston (we need all the help in the paint we can get, and his mobility will help against high pick and rolls between Dwight and Harden)
- GSW (his mobility is crucial. remember in the 2013 playoffs he would close games over Duncan because of his defensive mobility)
- Memphis (the presence of Duncan and Splitter together is what allows us to dominate Memphis when they try to go big)
- Blazers (best Aldridge defender)

i dont think he'd be AS important in series against the Clippers. as for potential finals opponents, his size and defense will be important against the Bulls assuming they're playing well.

[Robz4000]

If Baynes keeps it up I think they'll still be fine against Memphis/Dubs/Clips, but Portland and to a lesser extent Dallas become much more difficult match ups. Meth and Houston will be tough with or without him.

[100%duncan]

no

[PÒÓCH]

We don't need him we got Austin Daye, he's much more muscular and intimidating.

[ElNono]

I like Baynes, but we need Tiago. As long as he's back by the ASG, we should be ok.

[Mikeanaro]

Not sure Tiago was doing awesome/marvelous/fantabuloustic, at least I would like to know more about his status everything is being so top secret it bust my balls.

[hater]

Tiago was our MVP for the Blazer and Warrior series.

MVParker would have to go 2013 on that ass for us to have a chance in without Tiago.

[freetiago]

all the games Spurs have lost so far have been because the guy Tiago is usually guarding went off
Davis- gamewinner final seconds
Cousins- scored basically every basket in the 4th
Howard- Spurs sat out other guys but it was basically an open dunk practice for Howard without Splitter
Alex Len- best game of his career

[hater]

oh and forgot about the Mavs series. Tiago did pretty well.

I'd say tiago was our playoff overall MVP until the Finals came along.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

oh and forgot about the Mavs series. Tiago did pretty well.

I'd say tiago was our playoff overall MVP until the Finals came along.

Uhhhhh, no

Tim Duncan was clearly our best player through the first 3 series

[Malik Hairston]

The C and PG positions have been the Spurs' defensive weaknesses, from a statistical standpoint, so far..those are the two positions that are affected the most by Splitter's defensive presence, of course..

His value is evident by any advanced defensive metric you choose, and his work against Dirk and Aldridge was phenomenal in last year's playoffs..

Diaw is more useful in some series' and Baynes is shaping up into a nice 4th big, but the Spurs have absolutely no chance at winning a le without their best defensive big and best pick&roll defender..

[ElNono]

Uhhhhh, no

Tim Duncan was clearly our best player through the first 3 series

in what sense, tbh? he was pretty meh against Dalembert in the 1st round, except for Game 7. Tiago and Manu really carried us that series.

[ElNono]

The C and PG positions have been the Spurs' defensive weaknesses, from a statistical standpoint, so far..those are the two positions that are affected the most by Splitter's defensive presence, of course..

His value is evident by any advanced defensive metric you choose, and his work against Dirk and Aldridge was phenomenal in last year's playoffs..

Diaw is more useful in some series' and Baynes is shaping up into a nice 4th big, but the Spurs have absolutely no chance at winning a le without their best defensive big and best pick&roll defender..

Agree 100%. The Spurs needs their top 6-7 players healthy and playing well. We rely a lot on the team game and team defense. It's hard enough to win a championship as it is.

[spurraider21]

Tiago and Manu were the MVP's of round 1.

Tiago was also terrific in round 2, but that was so lopsided all around, with TP destroying Lllard and Kawhi having that coming out party in game 5

[Malik Hairston]

I could see the Spurs getting through if they had the same compe ion as last year(OKC and Miami), because Splitter matched up poorly against those teams, but if they get Golden State/Houston/Dallas/Memphis/Portland, Splitter needs to play..

[Baam]

We're still elite defensively so no we don't need him. Even when he's there he's only useful in half the series basically...

In 2013 with beat the Warriors with a sick Duncan that sat out the second half of the first game and an injured Tiago that came back for the final 2 games... Lol at the guy who said Tiago was super important in that 2013 Warrior series...

Pop said it best : he's mostly needed now to rest Duncan.

[spurraider21]

We're still elite defensively so no we don't need him. Even when he's there he's only useful in half the series basically...

In 2013 with beat the Warriors with a sick Duncan that sat out the second half of the first game and an injured Tiago that came back for the final 2 games... Lol at the guy who said Tiago was super important in that 2013 Warrior series...

Pop said it best : he's needed now to rest Duncan.

Tiago missed 2 games and the warriors offense went HAM in those games. we were fortunate not to be down 2-0 going back to oakland.

[Robz4000]

I could see the Spurs getting through if they had the same compe ion as last year(OKC and Miami), because Splitter matched up poorly against those teams, but if they get Golden State/Houston/Dallas/Memphis/Portland, Splitter needs to play..

Spurs beat the Dubs with Diaw playing a lot of minutes at the 5 tbh; don't think missing Splitter would be too huge. Helps that Baynes is used to playing against Bogut as well. Agree with the rest tho.

[spurraider21]

doubt we can trust Baynes against Memphis. he's already foul-prone when playing reserves, let alone offensive minded bigs like Gasol and ZBo. without Splitter our best bet would be to go small

[Robz4000]

doubt we can trust Baynes against Memphis. he's already foul-prone when playing reserves, let alone offensive minded bigs like Gasol and ZBo. without Splitter our best bet would be to go small

They tend to let bigs play a lot more physical when playing them (hence Grit n Grind). I think that would be Baynes' best postseason match up.

[Richie]

Maybe, but it would depend on matchups. Splitter gives us the versatility to be able to beat anyone, the same is true of Diaw.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

in what sense, tbh? he was pretty meh against Dalembert in the 1st round, except for Game 7. Tiago and Manu really carried us that series.

Tim was a solid defensive anchor for all 4 rounds and was the MVP of round 3, the most difficult series, not to mention he had the 2nd best Finals series.

[Malik Hairston]

^^Some serious revisionist history, tbh..

[Robz4000]

Didn't Duncan have the best overall stats last year? I remember mid posted them often up until recently to troll Laker fan.