Tip-In Points Isolation: Tiago Splitter
Tiago Splitter sounds like the name of one of the first warriors killed in Van Damme’s “Bloodsport.” That’s a good thing. Every great basketball player has a cool or unique name. Like ‘Nique Wilkins. Or Michael Jordan – dude was named after one of the hottest, most dangerous kingdoms on the planet. Magic Johnson eventually got an NBA expansion franchise named after him. His teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had three cool names, four if you think Lou spelled “Lew” is cool. How ’bout Karl Malone and Shaquille O’Neal? Two big, black guys with Irish names. Bird and Barkley? Just a couple of chill Muppets, bro. Pete Maravich didn’t really have a cool name so they removed Maravich, scooted Pete over and inserted “Pistol.” Then – BANG – cool. Kobe? Cool if you’re a white 8-year-old from Denver. Garnett? Who doesn’t love red gemstones? Pau? Dwyane (with the “y” first)? Rajon? Bosh? Tim Duncan? … okay, Tim Duncan’s pretty boring.
Unless you spell it “Dunkin.”
What I’m saying is, I don’t really need to run down Splitter’s splits in the Spanish league. You know he’s that league’s reigning MVP and his name is Tiago Splitter.
Okay, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to know that the guy San Antonio has been trying to bring over here for three years is here and will jump right into his rookie year in the NBA either playing alongside Duncan at center or backing him up with DeJuan Blair filling the four. People felt Blair was a nice late pick last year, but feared his knees wouldn’t hold up to a full NBA season (he played all 82 games). Splitter comes with more promise and fewer concerns than DeJuan. Considering Splitter’s polished game (aside from an overly physical tendency that might land him in foul trouble) and Duncan’s minutes steadily declining in each of his last five seasons, this guy is primed for a surprising season that should come out of nowhere for a lot of fantasy owners. Don’t be one of ‘em. Remember the name: Tiago Splitter. 25.3 mpg / .515 / .770 / 0.0 3ptm / 11.1 pts / 6.6 rbd/ 1.6 ast / 0.9 stl / 0.7 blk / 1.6 tov
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Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports via the AP
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