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“It’s going to be amazing, big. The national team is going to be here, but I don’t know if I’m going to be on the list,” Nene said, while shrugging his shoulders. Now he knows. Brazil Coach Ruben Magnano announced on Thursday that Nene, Indiana Pacers guard Leandro Barbosa, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs would be on his 15-player list for the national team. Only 12 players will be in London. Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Nene had asked to be released from the team before the FIBA Americas championship last summer, citing “personal” and “contractual” reasons. Fans and other Brazilain players were critical of the decision, but Nene was a free agent and likely didn’t want to risk injury. He eventually signed a five-year, $65-million contract with the Denver Nuggets before getting traded to the Wizards for JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf at the deadline. Barbosa also backed out of the tournament, but Brazil advanced without either player. Magnano said in a news conference that he added both players with the hope of fielding the best team. “I decided to give them another chance after personally talking to them,” Magnano said. “I wouldn’t call up a player if I didn’t have any trust in him.” Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Tiago Splitter was not present for the second straight day during the team’s media session Tuesday morning and is questionable for Wednesday’s Game 2 against Utah. Splitter was wearing a cast on his sore left wrist during Monday’s practice, when he was seen only riding an exercise bicycle and not taking place in court activities. Splitter’s injury officially is listed as a bone bruise. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Injuries 

Now sporting a cast on his sore left wrist, Spurs center Tiago Splitter did not participate in the team’s Monday practice. Coach Gregg Popovich is not counting on the second-year center from Brazil to be available for Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz. Splitter’s injury officially is listed as a bone bruise. “They’ve got him in some sort of a cast right now,” Popovich said of Splitter. “It’s something we won’t be able to tell very honestly until Wednesday. I’d say he’d probably be doubtful.” Should Splitter be unavailable, DeJuan Blair would move into the backup position behind starting center Boris Diaw. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Injuries 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says reserve center Tiago Splitter (sprained left wrist) is wearing a cast and is doubtful for Game 2 against Utah on Wednesday night. Popovich plans to again start Boris Diaw at power forward, teaming him in the post with center Tim Duncan. Salt Lake Tribune

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Injuries 

Spurs reserve center Tiago Splitter will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the wrist sprain he suffered early in the Spurs’ 106-91 victory over Utah in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs. Splitter, who left the AT&T Center after Sunday’s game, said he injured the wrist while bracing his fall after tumbling early in the first quarter. He continued to play after the fall, scoring four points with one rebound in seven minutes of first-half action, but did not rejoin the team on the bench to start the second half. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Injuries 

Jerry Zgoda: NBA names Utah's Derrick Favors as injury replacement for Tiago Splitter in Friday's All-Star Rising Stars Challenge. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Tiago Splitter, Derrick Favors, All-Star 

Joe Alexander: The Spurs report that Manu Ginobili (oblique) and Tiago Splitter (calf) are both expected to miss two weeks each due to their injuries. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Tiago Splitter: Have a good recovery @Anderson Varejao !!! Soon he will be in the court again!!! He was having a great season!! Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Anderson Varejao 

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 numbers will never confuse him for Mark Price, but they do make him a more valuable weapon in the post. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter 

Spurs backup big man Tiago Splitter played against Rubio in Spain. Splitter is struck by how much more leeway Rubio has with the Wolves compared to his team in Barcelona. "I'm surprised in the way he's playing with freedom," Splitter said. "When he played [in Spain], it was a good team with a lot of pressure to win everything. The coach here is giving him the ball in the last quarter, and he's playing with such confidence. And that's hard to do in the first year." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Ricky Rubio 

Jeff McDonald: Tiago Splitter, on Tim Duncan's monster jam during Monday's scrimmage: "I wanted to make him look younger. That’s why I let him dunk on me.” Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Tim Duncan 

The Spurs also signed T.J. Ford to back up Parker and are hopeful that players such as forward James Anderson and center Tiago Splitter can have productive years. They are also excited about the potential of 20-year-old rookie forward Kawhi Leonard. ”We’ve always had a decent number of young guys (who played),” said Popovich, who couldn’t resist a joke. “It’s just that everybody concentrates on Tim, Tony and Manu and thinks of those three guys. When Robert (Horry) played for us I think he was 44 or 45. He used to do all the hamburger commercials. But we’ve always had a few young guys.” SheridanHoops

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Gregg Popovich, James Anderson, Kawhi Leonard 

Jeff McDonald: Luis Scola expects good yr from ex Baskonia teammate Tiago Splitter: "Everybody needs some time. I still think become a really big player." Twitter

Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Luis Scola 

Jeff McDonald: Scola says Spurs fans haven't seen everything in Splitter's tool box yet: "He’s got great post moves. He’s great around the basket.” Twitter

Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Luis Scola 

Fans in Vitoria that expected him to return and play for Caja Laboral have been left bitterly disappointed. "I am aware that people in Vitoria were not happy with this decision, but I am very fond of Baskonia, and its people," Splitter said. “At this moment of my career, I think the most suitable was this option," Splitter said. "I’m 100% convinced. "I had other options but this decision was made with my family." FIBA.com

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Caja Laboral, Lockout, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Splitter will earn 140,000 euros per month ($190,0000) playing with Valencia Basket, 840,000 ($1,135,000) if the NBA season is canceled and the team plays the first round of the ACB playoffs, 910,000 ($1,229,000) if the team plays the semi-finals and 980,000 (1,323,000) if they reach the Finals. lasprovincias.es

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Valencia Basket 

Tiago Splitter has reached an agreement with Valencia Basket and will play until the end of the lockout. Valencia Basket

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Tiago Splitter will join Valencia Basket for the duration of the lockout. Encestando

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Manolo Rubia, Sports director of Unicaja Malaga, said today that the Spanish team won't sign Tiago Splitter for the current season. The cost for the Brazilian big man is too high and there still is too uncertainty around the lockout (it is not clear if the lockout will end or the entire NBA season will be cancelled). Sportando

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Spain, Unicaja, Valencia Basket