NBA News 2010: Tiago Splitter and the Spurs: A Match Made in Heaven

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As a huge Spurs fan, I was very excited to find out that Tiago Splitter was finally making his way to San Antonio and it couldn't be at a better time. Watching Splitter represent Brazil, and doing so with the grace of a 6'10" gazelle, has made me even more excited.

Splitter comes to an experienced, championship team with an organization known for being one of the elite. With all the veterans resting up this off-season and not representing their home country in the World Championships this summer, everybody should be at one hundred percent. At least the big three.

The move will especially help "The Big Fundamental" Tim Duncan and his aging knees. Duncan is not a true center but he has been playing one since David Robinson retired in 2003. He can now play his natural position of power forward and will even get some more resting time with Splitter on the roster.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/469961-tiago-splitter-and-the-spurs-a-match-made-in-heaven

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NBA News 2010: Are the San Antonio Spurs Done?

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The Spurs did make one major addition this season in the form of the 7-foot Brazilian Tiago Splitter, who signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal with San Antonio this summer. Splitter should provide Tim Duncan some much needed relief, as Antonio McDyess and DeJuan Blair wouldn't be able to shoulder the full load without Duncan. 

If George Hill, Blair and Splitter end up being a much needed infusion of youth into San Antonio, those three and the Parker-Duncan-Ginobili trio give the Spurs a heck of a core of six players that could truly compete for a championship. But if the injury bug strikes the Spurs, the Duncan-Parker-Ginobili trio, with Parker's contract expiring after next season, could end up having its last go-around this year.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/441970-nba-2010-11-the-100-biggest-questions-facing-the-nba-this-season#page/22

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NBA News 2010: Brazilian Import: Introducing Tiago Splitter To the NBA

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In the not too distant past, there was an influx of talented, highly-skilled, foreign NBA ready big men arriving on American shores ready to prove themselves in the best league in the world. The likes of Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Nene, and Andrew Bogut have become proven commodities for their respective teams, if not the face of their franchise. The combination of a lack of NBA ready big men born within our own borders, and the tantalizing prospect of finding the next Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol, has seen NBA scouts scour foreign gymnasiums and playgrounds in search of the next international superstar.

Tiago is a prototypical Greg Popovich type of player, and will fit perfectly into San Antonio’s system. He adds much needed youth and depth to the Spurs frontline, and will make life much easier for Tim Duncan.

He has the ability on offense to hit the open jumper, finish inside with either hand, run the high-post offense with his remarkable pinpoint passing ability, set solid screens, and should excel in running the pick and roll with pick and roll extraordinaire Tony Parker.

On defense, Splitter will bump and grind until the final whistle, and fight for any and every rebound in his vicinity, much like his new teammate DeJuan Blair. While he is not a shot blocker, he is an excellent man to man defender, and his combination of speed and quickness will help on defensive rotations as well as defending the pick and roll. He seldom makes mistakes on this end of the court.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/449310-brazilian-import-introducing-tiago-splitter-to-the-nba

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NBA News 2010: Kevin Durant's 27 points help U.S. squeak past Leandro Barbosa, Brazil

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ISTANBUL -- The shot bounced off the back rim, then the front, then finally fell out.

With that, the United States walked off the court with a victory, and another warning: A world championship won't come easily for this young team -- if it comes at all.

The Americans survived their first tough test in Turkey, edging Brazil 70-68 on Monday when Leandro Barbosa's shot rattled out at the buzzer.

"This game right here was an eye opener," U.S. guard Derrick Rose said.

Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S. drought in this event.

After the Americans trailed most of the first 2½ quarters, Lamar Odom's dunk with 7:14 left put them ahead 64-62. But they couldn't build on the lead during a tense final few minutes, and Brazil had two chances to send the game to overtime.

Barbosa finished with 14 points after a strong start for Brazil (2-1). Marcus Vinicius scored 16, and Tiago Splitter had 13 points and 10 rebounds while battling foul trouble in the second half.

With NBA big men Nene, Anderson Varejao and Splitter, Brazil was considered one of the teams with enough size to topple the undersized Americans. Nene had to pull out with an injury and Varejao sat out again while continuing to rest a sprained right ankle, so the Brazilians turned to a speed game to lead for much of the game.

They just couldn't finish the upset, leaving the Americans needing only a victory over Iran or Tunisia, the bottom two teams in Group B, or another Brazil loss to earn the top seed from the group and three full days off before meeting the No. 4 seed from Group A on Sept. 6.

http://espn.go.com/extra/fiba/recap?id=300832917

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