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Tiago Splitter News & Rumors

Spurs' choices much bigger with Splitter
May 7
San Antonio Express-News
 
"As a rookie last season, backup center Tiago Splitter spent much of the Spurs' first-round ouster against Memphis on the sidelines, a spectator to his own playoff initiation. For a painful and fearful 24 hours last week, Splitter worried his second trip through the postseason might be headed there, too. "I thought it was going to be the end of the season for me," Splitter said. Splitter thought he had broken his left wrist while bracing himself during an awkward fall in Game 1 of the Spurs' series with Utah. An MRI the next day revealed only a bone bruise. Splitter was back on the floor for Game 3 six days later, an integral part of the Spurs' playoff present as well as their future."
Spurs face sizable dilemma in Splitter
April 20
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs center Tiago Splitter wasn't fazed earlier this week when coach Gregg Popovich informed him he'd be making his first start of the season against the Lakers at the Staples Center. He was equally unfazed a night later in Sacramento, when he learned he was heading back to the bench, even though Tim Duncan was out. If Popovich one day told him he'd be starting at point guard, Splitter would make believe he saw that coming, too. "On this team," the second-year big man said, "you have to be ready for anything.""
Splitter's health key to Duncan getting rest
April 10
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The recent additions of point guard Patrick Mills, swingman Stephen Jackson and versatile big man Boris Diaw allowed Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to leave team captain Tim Duncan and All-Star guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili back home in San Antonio when the team jetted off to its Monday night game against the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. A fourth "addition" to this season's roster has been vital in keeping Duncan's playing time at a career-low 28.4 minutes per game. The solid campaign backup center Tiago Splitter has authored in his second season in silver and black has enabled long stretches of bench time for Duncan in most games, in addition to the four games Popovich has held him"
Ginobili, Splitter expected to miss about two weeks
February 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The latest medical report on injured Spurs Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter estimates both players will miss two weeks of action, the result of injuries suffered in Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Ginobili, the two-time All-Star shooting guard, was examined by Dr. David Schmidt, the team physician, after returning to San Antonio on Sunday. An MRI confirmed he suffered a left internal oblique strain. Splitter, having a breakout season as the team's backup center, was diagnosed with a right calf strain, suffered as he pump-faked Clippers All-Star Blake Griffin off his feet in the first half. "I felt something, and when I went to shoot the free throws, I"
Ginobili, Splitter injured as Spurs trip Clippers
February 19
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It took the luckiest play of the season for the Spurs to beat the Los Angeles Clippers and run their winning streak to 10 games Saturday at Staples Center. It took cruel news to put a lid on the euphoria that should have followed San Antonio's 103-100 overtime victory. Moments after Gary Neal turned a dumbfounding turnover by Clippers All-Star Chris Paul into a game-tying 3-pointer that sent the game to an OT session he capped with the game-winning shot, the Spurs' medical staff gave coach Gregg Popovich an injury report he hated. Just four games into his return from a broken left hand, All-Star guard Manu Ginobili suffered a rib injury that likely will sideline him for another extended"
Parker, Splitter speak same language
February 9
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
"He says the pronunciation of his name is closer to Che-ago, not Tee-ago. And he says something else. "Tony Parker is the only one who gets it right," Tiago Splitter said, smiling. The French in Parker has a sense of the Portuguese in Splitter, and it's telling of a global relationship that is enhanced near the rim. Manu Ginobili was always the one who made his teammates better, yet here is Parker, still scoring like the All-Star he should become today, connecting as he rarely has before."
Spurs notebook: Splitter's free-throw work paying off
January 15
San Antonio Express-News
 
"For Spurs center Tiago Splitter, shooting free throws was once an adventure. As a rookie last season, he made just 54.3 percent of them, converting at just better than the rate of "heads" in a coin flip. "I didn't have a great mechanic," Splitter said. "We tried to change it, and it wasn't easy. You're changing the way you shot your whole life." After a season working with shooting coach Chip Engelland, and a lockout-prolonged offseason spent honing his touch on his own, Splitter appears to be developing into a rarity among Spurs big men — a competent foul shooter. Splitter is hitting 69 percent of his freebies heading into tonight's game against Phoenix, having converted 20 of 29. Those"
Splitter just may have last laugh on everyone
December 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"First, Tiago Splitter faked one way. Then he faked the other. Out of position and out of options, the player guarding him — that would be 13-time All-Star Tim Duncan — did all he could do. He fouled, sending Splitter to the line. Moments later in the Spurs' intrasquad scrimmage/big-man duel Monday, Duncan unleashed his revenge, elevating over Splitter and dunking on his Brazilian head. It took another day, but Splitter was eventually able to get the last laugh. "I wanted to make him look younger," Splitter said jokingly after Tuesday's practice. "That's why I let him dunk on me.""
Tiago looking for continued growth in second season
December 12
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It would be understandable if Tiago Splitter had some lingering bad memories remaining his rookie season. Splitter played in 60 games, including 27 where he logged less than 10 minutes. He was benched during an eight-game stretch in February which set back his development. Those early struggles led Splitter to rededicate himself over the summer. He first trained in San Antonio before accepting a contract with the Spanish club Valencia Basket before the lockout was settled."
Splitter breaks out as Spurs keep rolling
November 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"They sat together on the plane ride home from Utah, two South American Spurs talking life and basketball. Manu Ginobili isn't sure who brought it up, but soon he and rookie center Tiago Splitter were talking about the elephant on the charter: Why Splitter, the ballyhooed Brazilian who was the team's marquee summertime addition, had not played for the second game in a row. "I told him a lot of players go through that here," Ginobili said. "Some games, you're not going to play. Sometimes, you're going to think you got screwed. You've got to stay patient, and the opportunity is going to come." Splitter's latest and biggest opportunity came in Saturday's 116-92 pasting of Cleveland, the Spurs'"
Splitter likely to miss start of season
October 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Three years in the making, the Tiago Splitter Watch rages on in San Antonio. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday he does not expect his rookie center, out with a calf strain since the third day of training camp, to be ready for the Oct. 27 season-opener against Indiana. "I'm not planning on Tiago for the opening night," Popovich said before Thursday's preseason finale against Houston. "If he's going to be ready, he'll have to change my mind." Originally drafted with the No. 28 overall pick in 2007, the 6-foot-11 Splitter remained in Spain for the three seasons since. The 25-year-old finally signed with the Spurs in July, the keynote acquisition of their offseason. He suffered a"
Popovich: Splitter injury not devastating
October 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The Spurs ended Friday's training camp practice with a spirited, full-court five-on-five scrimmage. Watching from a seat in the corner, unable to participate due to a strained plantaris muscle in his right calf, was Tiago Splitter. Splitter will miss at least a week to 10 days recovering from the injury, suffered during practice Thursday. Based on that timetable, he could miss next Thursday's preseason opener at Houston as well. If it were any other rookie, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich might be concerned with how Splitter's absence would affect his assimilation to the team. "If he was a 'rookie' rookie, I think it would be devastating to miss the first two weeks of camp," Popovich said. "I"
Splitter muscle strain means 7-10 days of rehab
October 1
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The first injury of Spurs training camp turned out to be significant. Rookie center Tiago Splitter, perhaps the one player for whom practice is most vital, suffered a strained right plantaris muscle during Thursday's session at the team's practice facility and faces seven to 10 days of injury rehabilitation. The plantaris is a thin muscle that begins at the lower end of the femur and stretches across the knee joint and attaches to the back of the heel, along with the Achilles' tendon. Splitter's status will be re-evaluated after the rehabilitation program. The 25-year-old NBA rookie reported to camp in excellent condition after playing for Brazil in the FIBA World Championship tournament"