McDonald: Say Hello To Salim

[duncan228]

Jeff McDonald: Say hello to Salim (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/10/jeff_mcdonald_s_17.html)

After a nearly three-week wait, the Salim Stoudamire era begins tonight for the Spurs.

Stoudamire, who has been out since injuring his groin on the first day of training camp, said after this morning's shootaround that he expects to play in tonight's game against Indiana at the AT&T Center.

Stoudamire was cleared after enduring the light one-hour workout unscathed. Coach Gregg Popovich called him into the office, asking the backup point guard to gauge his readiness with a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

"I gave him the thumbs up," Stoudamire said.

Stoudamire is in camp on a make-good contract, meaning he will have to make the team in order for it to become fully guaranteed. The Spurs took a flyer on him after his tumultuous three-year career in Atlanta came to and end, with hopes Stoudamire could fill the instant-offense-off-the-bench role Eddie House did for the NBA Champion Boston Celtics last year.

Sidelined with a strained groin, Stoudamire has so far had difficulty showing his stuff to Spurs coaches. The final 11 days of camp and three preseason games are pretty much make or break for him, and he knows it.

"It's do or die for me," Stoudamire said.

Not that Stoudamire is nervous about his chances.

"I'm not concerned once I get on the basketball court," he said.

For the first time tonight, it appears he will finally get his chance.

[Duncanoypi]

Hello Salim!

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Nice.

[tav1]

If Stoudamire and/or Watkins plays well over the final three games, this becomes a very intriguing camp.

I wonder if Buford is working the phones trying to find a European team for Hairston to play for this season? Maybe the recently hired Spainard is the Spurs' Johnny on the Spot for that task.

[benefactor]

I am still wondering how this is going to work out. Are we going to carry three PG's or is Vaughn going to be inactive? Stoudamire is way too small to play the two...unless we are toying with the idea of some super small ball.

[exstatic]

I am still wondering how this is going to work out. Are we going to carry three PG's or is Vaughn going to be inactive? Stoudamire is way too small to play the two...unless we are toying with the idea of some super small ball.

You pair Salim with a taller playmaker like Manu or Mason. They initiate the offense and guard the 2, he guns and guards the 1. You couldn't play him with Bowen and Finley on the floor together.

The Spurs carry 3 PGs most of the time. Why would that even be a mild surprise?

TP,NVE,Beno
TP,JV, Beno
TP,JV, Damon

[benefactor]

You pair Salim with a taller playmaker like Manu or Mason. They initiate the offense and guard the 2, he guns and guards the 1. You couldn't play him with Bowen and Finley on the floor together.
Hmm...didn't think of that. That could work out well during our offensive slumps. You could have Manu handling...Stoudamire, Bowen, Tolliver(assuming his shot comes around) and Duncan on the floor. That would give us a playmaker handling and Duncan down low surrounded by shooters. :tu

[benefactor]

Actually its 4 PG's...TP, Hill, Vaughn and Stoudamire.

[exstatic]

Actually its 4 PG's...TP, Hill, Vaughn and Stoudamire.

Ah, but Stoudy's not really a PG, is he?

You have TP, Hill, Vaughn at PG.

You have Manu and Mason as SGs who create for themselves and others.

You have Fin and Salim who pretty much just shoot/score.

It's just a matter of pairing a shooter with an appropriately sized creator. I don't even think of Salim as a hybrid. He's a SG who needs a bigger creator on the floor with him. I think that will always limit his minutes. Parker plays 33-34 and they really can't play anything but extremely limited minutes together, so his only chance to ever play more than 15 minutes is a blowout.

[ShoogarBear]

Stoudamire ain't a point guard.

[polandprzem]

http://www.punny.org/wp-content/images/200612/20061213mcdonalds.gif

[benefactor]

Ah, but Stoudy's not really a PG, is he?

You have TP, Hill, Vaughn at PG.

You have Manu and Mason as SGs who create for themselves and others.

You have Fin and Salim who pretty much just shoot/score.

It's just a matter of pairing a shooter with an appropriately sized creator. I don't even think of Salim as a hybrid. He's a SG who needs a bigger creator on the floor with him. I think that will always limit his minutes. Parker plays 33-34 and they really can't play anything but extremely limited minutes together, so his only chance to ever play more than 15 minutes is a blowout.
So that being said...is he really worth a roster spot? It is intriguing because if he shoots well he could be good offense with a creator like Manu, but would his size and lack of defensive play cancel that out? In dealing with teams like the Lakers, Rockets and Hornets, I would think keeping a big like Watkins would pay higher dividends than a player like Stoudamire.

[exstatic]

Salim's worth keeping if you can find minutes for him in a lineup with players who's skills and size allow him to play SG. Otherwise, no.

He'll fail like so many others if you try to convert him into a PG.

[benefactor]

It will be interesting to see how Pop uses him tonight and if he sticks to those types of lineups you mentioned when he is in. I wish the game was televised so we can get a real feel for him all around. With the time he has already missed he had better shoot lights out these last few preseason games or I will be pretty critical of his usefulness to this team.

[timvp]

Stoudamire doesn't have the ability to play point guard by can he pretend to play point guard? Players like Eddie House and Jannero Pargo also can't play point guard but they survive at the position because they can at least dribble the ball up the court and initiate an offense. If Stoudamire shows enough ballhandling ability to bring the ball up, that will likely be enough for the Spurs to consider him a "point guard".

[T Park]

In the Spurs offense, you don't really NEED a true point guard anyways.

[timvp]

In the Spurs offense, you don't really NEED a true point guard anyways.I'm not 100% sold on that yet. The Spurs have never relied on a point guard with as little point guard skill as Salim Stoudamire. We'll see if the offense is functional or whether Stoudamire has to play shooting guard.

[ducks]

Stoudamire ain't a point guard.

way to use your brain

[benefactor]

Stoudamire doesn't have the ability to play point guard by can he pretend to play point guard? Players like Eddie House and Jannero Pargo also can't play point guard but they survive at the position because they can at least dribble the ball up the court and initiate an offense. If Stoudamire shows enough ballhandling ability to bring the ball up, that will likely be enough for the Spurs to consider him a "point guard".
And again that raises the question...is it worth it? That's 4 pretty small players in our back court in a division where the primary competition all has solid front courts. It really is a waste of a roster spot IMO to keep a player like that when we could probably benefit more in keeping another big.

[tav1]

Stoudamire will play sparingly, but when he does play it will not be dish out assists. He'll allow Parker to play off the ball, or keep defenses honest when Manu penetrates or Duncan is on the low block. Between Parker, Hill, Mason, Ginobili and Finley, he won't see the court much so his ability to play point in really beside the point. He can dribble and shoot, that's enough.

[tav1]

And again that raises the question...is it worth it? That's 4 pretty small players in our back court in a division where the primary competition all has solid front courts. It really is a waste of a roster spot IMO to keep a player like that when we could probably benefit more in keeping another big.

He'd be more worth the spot if JV wasn't on the team, but he's a big upgrade over Damon Stoudamire.

I think Parker will register career highs in scoring this season. Ginobili's injury plus the glut of points the Spurs have brought in should put him in the 23 ppg range.

And it's pretty obvious from where I sit that few teams amass more 3 point attempts than San Antonio. Pop has already issued the green light.

[ducks]

And again that raises the question...is it worth it? That's 4 pretty small players in our back court in a division where the primary competition all has solid front courts. It really is a waste of a roster spot IMO to keep a player like that when we could probably benefit more in keeping another big.

who do you think would be better as a 13-15 man

[benefactor]

who do you think would be better as a 13-15 man
We already have 13 players under contract so its only 2 spots.

It's pretty obvious Pop and Timmy are sold on Tolliver so there is one. I think he would have to look beyond horrible in the next few games to be out. Its hard to say on the other one. None of the swingmen have been outstanding. I am worried that Watkins isn't really getting a fair shake. At this point I would take him over Stoudamire because I think he would be more useful to us against the teams we really need to be concerned about. The Ian injury has really screwed things up this preseason as far as our front line goes...because it difficult to gauge what Watkins true value for us is right now. I am trying to be open minded about Stoudamire until we see him in a few games, but I just don't feel great about using precious roster space on a player that is so incredibly one dimensional and can only play in certain lineups.

[tav1]

A 7th big is forever inactive. For that reason alone--not to mention an injured Manu and an over the hill Finley--I give Farmer, Hairston and Stoudamire the leg up on Watkins. The only way they sign Watkins is if they salary dump Matt Bonner for no one. Who is simply willing to absorb Bonner? And who can?

I want another shot blocker too, but I don't see it.

[yavozerb]

Bonner and a 2nd round pick to somebody is the only way to keep Watkins...Compared what the spurs picks have looked like lately, might not be a bad trade...

[tav1]

Bonner and a 2nd round pick to somebody is the only way to keep Watkins...Compared what the spurs picks have looked like lately, might not be a bad trade...

For nothing? Who has a 3 million dollar exception that would want to use it on Matt Bonner?

[benefactor]

A 7th big is forever inactive. For that reason alone--not to mention an injured Manu and an over the hill Finley--I give Farmer, Hairston and Stoudamire the leg up on Watkins. The only way they sign Watkins is if they salary dump Matt Bonner for no one. Who is simply willing to absorb Bonner? And who can?

I want another shot blocker too, but I don't see it.
Yeah I know. Two things are really screwing all of this up right now. The fact that we are probably going to sign Tolliver and he and Bonner are the same type of player and the Ian injury. We have no idea where Ian is as from a contribution standpoint and Bonner is basically useless. It is completely illogical for us to keep Bonner if Tolliver is signed. I have to believe that the FO has something in the works to get rid of him.

[tav1]

Yeah I know. Two things are really screwing all of this up right now. The fact that we are probably going to sign Tolliver and he and Bonner are the same type of player and the Ian injury. We have no idea where Ian is as from a contribution standpoint and Bonner is basically useless. It is completely illogical for us to keep Bonner if Tolliver is signed. I have to believe that the FO has something in the works to get rid of him.

But even then, Pop will not play Mahinmi and Watkins at the same time. One of them would be in Austin.

[benefactor]

But even then, Pop will not play Mahinmi and Watkins at the same time. One of them would be in Austin.
I could live with that.... :tu

[Mavs<Spurs]

He'd be more worth the spot if JV wasn't on the team, but he's a big upgrade over Damon Stoudamire.

I think Parker will register career highs in scoring this season. Ginobili's injury plus the glut of points the Spurs have brought in should put him in the 23 ppg range.

And it's pretty obvious from where I sit that few teams amass more 3 point attempts than San Antonio. Pop has already issued the green light.

Yeah, Tony needs to put points up on the board. Like 25 points a game or better. And I want Tony to start taking the 3. I think that he can make a high percentage if he takes a good amount of them, just make sure that they are good 3's in rhythm.


I also think we need Salim. I know he's not a point and he's small, but if he can score the ball, we need that.

You betcha. Durn right. Also.

[ShoogarBear]

way to use your brain

LeBron is a better point guard than 75% of the guys playing that position.

[mystargtr34]

I would love to keep Watkins around and develop him in Austin. You dont find many 6'11" guys with his body and timing on the defensive end, a guy like Diop has an enormous impact for Dallas, and he couldnt put up 5 points per game in the SL. The only way that happens is if Bonner is somehow moved, or the FO comes to their senses and realises Tolliver duplicates exactly what Bonner does.

Of the swingmen, Devin Green operates best with the ball in his hands and creating, not really what your looking for with an unproven NBA guy, especially on a team with Duncan and Parker. Im really torn over Farmer and Hairston so it will be interesting to see which the FO likes more, if they do indeed pick one.

Right now i see it like this.

Tolliver vs Watkins -- Bigs

Farmer vs Hairston vs Stoudamire -- Guards

If they cant move Bonner, i think they take one of each, with Tolliver obviously the clear favurite over Watkins. If they do do that, they really should move Bonner, and that will get them an option to take two of the guards or just one and pick up Watkins.

[angelbelow]

nice let him explode tonight.

[SenorSpur]

I would love to keep Watkins around and develop him in Austin. You dont find many 6'11" guys with his body and timing on the defensive end, a guy like Diop has an enormous impact for Dallas, and he couldnt put up 5 points per game in the SL. The only way that happens is if Bonner is somehow moved, or the FO comes to their senses and realises Tolliver duplicates exactly what Bonner does.

If they cant move Bonner, i think they take one of each, with Tolliver obviously the clear favurite over Watkins. If they do do that, they really should move Bonner, and that will get them an option to take two of the guards or just one and pick up Watkins.

Amen!

[mystargtr34]

Amen!

I think he just got cut today.

[Obstructed_View]

And as mentioned numerous times, Watkins won't be developed in Austin because someone else has his rights.

[Obstructed_View]

LeBron is a better point guard than 75% of the guys playing that position.

Easily.

[mystargtr34]

And as mentioned numerous times, Watkins won't be developed in Austin because someone else has his rights.

So if the Spurs own his rights, they cant send him to their own D-League team? Thats silly.

[tav1]

So if the Spurs own his rights, they cant send him to their own D-League team? Thats silly.

You're not following. If the Spurs signed him they could send him to Austin. The Spurs, however, do not have the roster space. The Toros couldn't sign him independent of the Spurs because Iowa has his NBDL rights.

[mystargtr34]

You're not following. If the Spurs signed him they could send him to Austin. The Spurs, however, do not have the roster space. The Toros couldn't sign him independent of the Spurs because Iowa has his NBDL rights.

Last time i checked we had two roster spots available, and Watkins is eligible, so if we signed him we could send him to Austin. I didnt say it was going to happen, as much as a long shot as he is he is part of the equation.

[ducks]

LeBron is a better point guard than 75% of the guys playing that position.

james has no business wearing a spurs jersey ever

[MI21]

james has no business wearing a spurs jersey ever

Yeah, who would want that to happen.

[ShoogarBear]

james has no business wearing a spurs jersey ever

Way to use your brain.

[mystargtr34]

It should be say goodbye to Salim in a week or so.

[Sissiborgo]

I like that guy allot...

[TDMVPDPOY]

we dont need salim, when gino/mason can either bring the ball up....have them paired up with finley/bowen/udoka on the wing, thats about it....

[#2!]

we dont need salim, when gino/mason can either bring the ball up....have them paired up with finley/bowen/udoka on the wing, thats about it....


you're right, we don't need him to bring the ball up, and that's not why we brought him in. He is a pure scorer, or in our case a drought ender. When brent barry was w/ us that's basically what he did, of course he could get the offense flowing through his ball handling, but as you said we have plenty of guys that can handle the ball. I say we take Salim and let him play 15-20mpg to knock down a couple of threes.

bowen and udoka are no where near good enough shooters, and finley is too inconsistent, to bring the spurs out of an offensive funk.

[holcs50]

we dont need salim, when gino/mason can either bring the ball up....have them paired up with finley/bowen/udoka on the wing, thats about it....

i LOL when i read that. We dont need a guy who can hit open 3's when give the opportunity? Seems to me the main reason the years we have lost are because our shooters couldn't hit the OPEN 3's resulting from doublin td or penetration. Look, salim is a great 3 point shooter and FT shooter-seems to me come playoff time those are things that the spurs are obviously lacking year in and year out.

[Tully365]

I have to go with Farmer over Salim at this point. His 3 pt percentages were great last year in the D League, he's an aggressive scorer, and he's got 4" on Salim.

[jayc23]

Salim is gonna get cut