Boris Diaw Expected to Play for Spurs in the Second Round

According to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, backup forward Boris Diaw’s back should be healthy enough for him to suit up against whoever the Spurs will face in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs. What’s unknown at this point, is when Tiago Splitter will play again. Per the Express-News: “(Diaw) did the whole practice,’ Popovich said after Tuesday’s practice. ‘He seems to have come through it pretty good. I would think he’ll be available. (Splitter) is going to take a little bit longer, I think.’ Diaw missed the final five games of the regular season and all of the Spurs’ 4-0 sweep of the Lakers in the first round after having surgery to remove a cyst from his spine earlier this month. He is averaging 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 22.8 points per game. ‘He’s like another point guard on the floor,’ Tony Parker said. ‘He gets shots for everybody. Very unselfish. Great defense, too.’ Splitter, averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in his first season as a regular starter, sprained his left ankle in the second half of Friday’s Game 3 victory. He is listed as indefinite, but the team’s medical staff provided an unofficial estimate of 7-10 days.”