goliath
02-25-2005, 01:35 AM
Buck Harvey: As Rose leaves, question remains
Web Posted: 02/25/2005 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
Add up the money. List their heights. Quantify the statistics.
The Spurs win on all counts.
But before announcing that Thursday was about anything more than salary clearing, wait to see if the newcomer has what Malik Rose had for eight seasons.
Heart.
That's not as easy to add, list or quantify.
In other cities Rose's name will get lost among those traded this week. In other cities names such as Chris Webber, Baron Davis and Gary Payton mean more.
But in this city? Rose wasn't just a backup. He embodied the Spurs' image. He was a smart, funny, cooperative, overachieving, tuba-playing, cheesesteak-selling personality.
The same child who paid his fee to a 76ers summer program by sweating in the camp kitchen is the same man who should have been too short and too raw to play in this league. Instead, he worked, developed a jumper and applied a mind capable of a dual college degree in computer sciences and education.
The result: Only six players have played in more NBA games as a Spur, and all six have had their jerseys retired or will.
Rose didn't mind an argument, and his annual rifts with coach Gregg Popovich didn't help his future here. Popovich had traded Rose a year ago, to these same Knicks, until Isiah Thomas backed out at the last moment.
Ultimately, though, Rose's best financial moment is what doomed him. Almost from the day Rose signed his contract, the franchise saw his money as a burden.
That, above all else, is why Nazr Mohammed makes sense. The Spurs need payroll relief — what with both Devin Brown and Luis Scola coming up — and Mohammed's shorter contract provides that.
Mohammed's potential also attracts. His numbers are better than Rasho Nesterovic's this season, and he fills the Spurs' lone flaw: lack of size. Mohammed is a 250-pound big man who can play with Nesterovic or with Tim Duncan.
There were times this season it appeared he could do more. The New York Times declared in December that Mohammed "has been a surprise at center," and Newsday went further in early January.
"Mohammed has a decent shot of backing up Shaquille O'Neal in the All-Star Game in February," the newspaper said. "He headed into last night's game against the Nets with 11 double-doubles, more than any center in the East not named Shaq."
Mohammed fell off from that, and he has excuses. A sore groin limited him recently, and then there are the Knicks. Who could look good with them?
Those in New York see him as a decent man, too, and the press has reason to be fond of him. When Mohammed enters games and splashes rosin dust on his hands, he makes sure to keep his hands below the press table and the computers.
The little things matter.
But there's something that merits concern. Teams have been quick to give up on the rarest commodity in the league, which is a true center. Even if Thomas has little credibility — actually, he has none — why did Philadelphia and Atlanta also let Mohammed go?
The word from New York: Mohammed's looks are deceiving. He's not unlike Charles Smith, another the Spurs once got from the Knicks in a midseason trade.
Mohammed has an NBA body, but he isn't a shot blocker. He can be mechanical and passive, and he doesn't have a jump shot.
Or, he's the opposite of Rose.
So, will Mohammed grind as Rose did in a tight playoff series with Seattle in 2002? With David Robinson hurt, Rose started three games and averaged 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds.
In NBA Finals pressure, will Mohammed dunk on the road, in Dikembe Mutombo's face, changing momentum, as Rose did in 2003? And will Mohammed have the same playful connection with teammates, the same hatred of losing, the same energy that helped win two championships?
Rose was a mistake player but also a special player. When he wasn't betting Danny Ferry (first one to dive for a loose ball got $20), he was the team spokesman at the retirement of Robinson's jersey.
The city of San Antonio will be worse without him. And that's why money, height and statistics mean something today.
But the heart is another matter.
Web Posted: 02/25/2005 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
Add up the money. List their heights. Quantify the statistics.
The Spurs win on all counts.
But before announcing that Thursday was about anything more than salary clearing, wait to see if the newcomer has what Malik Rose had for eight seasons.
Heart.
That's not as easy to add, list or quantify.
In other cities Rose's name will get lost among those traded this week. In other cities names such as Chris Webber, Baron Davis and Gary Payton mean more.
But in this city? Rose wasn't just a backup. He embodied the Spurs' image. He was a smart, funny, cooperative, overachieving, tuba-playing, cheesesteak-selling personality.
The same child who paid his fee to a 76ers summer program by sweating in the camp kitchen is the same man who should have been too short and too raw to play in this league. Instead, he worked, developed a jumper and applied a mind capable of a dual college degree in computer sciences and education.
The result: Only six players have played in more NBA games as a Spur, and all six have had their jerseys retired or will.
Rose didn't mind an argument, and his annual rifts with coach Gregg Popovich didn't help his future here. Popovich had traded Rose a year ago, to these same Knicks, until Isiah Thomas backed out at the last moment.
Ultimately, though, Rose's best financial moment is what doomed him. Almost from the day Rose signed his contract, the franchise saw his money as a burden.
That, above all else, is why Nazr Mohammed makes sense. The Spurs need payroll relief — what with both Devin Brown and Luis Scola coming up — and Mohammed's shorter contract provides that.
Mohammed's potential also attracts. His numbers are better than Rasho Nesterovic's this season, and he fills the Spurs' lone flaw: lack of size. Mohammed is a 250-pound big man who can play with Nesterovic or with Tim Duncan.
There were times this season it appeared he could do more. The New York Times declared in December that Mohammed "has been a surprise at center," and Newsday went further in early January.
"Mohammed has a decent shot of backing up Shaquille O'Neal in the All-Star Game in February," the newspaper said. "He headed into last night's game against the Nets with 11 double-doubles, more than any center in the East not named Shaq."
Mohammed fell off from that, and he has excuses. A sore groin limited him recently, and then there are the Knicks. Who could look good with them?
Those in New York see him as a decent man, too, and the press has reason to be fond of him. When Mohammed enters games and splashes rosin dust on his hands, he makes sure to keep his hands below the press table and the computers.
The little things matter.
But there's something that merits concern. Teams have been quick to give up on the rarest commodity in the league, which is a true center. Even if Thomas has little credibility — actually, he has none — why did Philadelphia and Atlanta also let Mohammed go?
The word from New York: Mohammed's looks are deceiving. He's not unlike Charles Smith, another the Spurs once got from the Knicks in a midseason trade.
Mohammed has an NBA body, but he isn't a shot blocker. He can be mechanical and passive, and he doesn't have a jump shot.
Or, he's the opposite of Rose.
So, will Mohammed grind as Rose did in a tight playoff series with Seattle in 2002? With David Robinson hurt, Rose started three games and averaged 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds.
In NBA Finals pressure, will Mohammed dunk on the road, in Dikembe Mutombo's face, changing momentum, as Rose did in 2003? And will Mohammed have the same playful connection with teammates, the same hatred of losing, the same energy that helped win two championships?
Rose was a mistake player but also a special player. When he wasn't betting Danny Ferry (first one to dive for a loose ball got $20), he was the team spokesman at the retirement of Robinson's jersey.
The city of San Antonio will be worse without him. And that's why money, height and statistics mean something today.
But the heart is another matter.