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Ghost Writer
05-14-2007, 01:52 PM
I didn't think much of him in his first stint with the Spurs, but I have followed the kid in his early career and think he's a fine player with the Suns.

He reminds me a lot of Bruce Bowen.

Bell is an excellent perimeter defender, is a team player who knows his role, gets fired up at times and can drill the 3.

Any idea why the Spurs did not retain him?

Would you like to get him back before Bowen retires?




Question.



:cooldevil
Kori Ellis
05-14-2007, 01:54 PM
He probably remind you of Bowen because they work out together in the summer in Miami :) They probably teach each other tricks.

The Spurs only released him that year before the season began because they didn't have a roster spot. Pop was extremely fond of him and encourage Larry Brown to pick him up in Philly.
Budkin
05-14-2007, 01:54 PM
I would love to have Bell on the Spurs. Pop loves him and he would fit perfectly into our system. Plus he's a classy guy off the court.
mabber
05-14-2007, 01:55 PM
I didn't think much of him in his first stint with the Spurs, but I have followed the kid in his early career and think he's a fine player with the Suns.

He reminds me a lot of Bruce Bowen.

Bell is an excellent perimeter defender, is a team player who knows his role, gets fired up at times and can drill the 3.

Any idea why the Spurs did not retain him?

Would you like to get him back before Bowen retires?


Question.



:cooldevil

I was unaware that he ever played with the Spurs. I know he played for the Mavericks. I always like him as a Mav and was sorry they let him go.
Big P
05-14-2007, 02:02 PM
He wouldn't be a bad pickup, he makes $4.75, $5 & $5.25 over the next 3 years, but I dont see how the Spurs could get him. I doubt Phoenix would trade him to us & I'm pretty sure they are happy paying a very good defensive specialist less than the MLE.
DarrinS
05-14-2007, 02:03 PM
He has a better offensive game than Bruce. He's the main reason the Suns were keeping up in the first half of game 3, despite Nash having an off night.

Besides Amare, there really isn't any player on the Suns that I dislike.
degenerate_gambler
05-14-2007, 02:04 PM
I was unaware that he ever played with the Spurs. I know he played for the Mavericks. I always like him as a Mav and was sorry they let him go.


I thought he got caught up in a numbers game and never made it out of training camp.
whottt
05-14-2007, 02:07 PM
Bell's a lot like Mario Elie...only a better athlete, defender, and probably meaner...the only thing he lacks is Elie's poise and knack for hitting daggers. But I have seen him hit at least one game winning 3 in the playoffs...


I'd love to have the guy on the Spurs...but since he isn't...f him, I hate his guts. I hate guys like him when they play for the opposing team. He's definitely a factor in this series.
Spurminator
05-14-2007, 02:13 PM
Unfortunately he's probably played himself out of our price range.
DarrinS
05-14-2007, 02:15 PM
If the Spurs have any hope of keeping this "dirty" team image, they're going to have to get some dirty players. Is Raja available?
kps0001
05-14-2007, 02:21 PM
He has a better offensive game than Bruce. He's the main reason the Suns were keeping up in the first half of game 3, despite Nash having an off night.


...true and then we stopped going to him in the 2nd half. :bang
Amarelooms
05-14-2007, 02:22 PM
Why is this guy making 50 diff posts?
Kori Ellis
05-14-2007, 02:23 PM
Why is this guy making 50 diff posts?

Why are you here?
CosmicCowboy
05-14-2007, 02:25 PM
Why is this guy making 50 diff posts?

:lmao

Ghost is one of the original signers of the Spurstalk Declaration of Independence.

Have a little respect, bitch...
:lol
MadDog73
05-14-2007, 02:25 PM
Why are you here?

Owned. :lol
Obstructed_View
05-14-2007, 02:26 PM
Bell certainly turned out to be a better shooter than I expected. I didn't think he'd do well with the volume of shots he would be given in Phoenix, and I figured his percentage would go in the toilet. He's been a good player in both directions. He's got a short little temper, though, and he can be taken out of his game when something starts to get to him. He's not any good at hiding it, either.
LavaLamp
05-14-2007, 02:28 PM
He (Raja) has a better offensive game than Bruce.


I dunno. Bowen's three's in Game 3 were pretty clutch.
kps0001
05-14-2007, 02:28 PM
Why is this guy making 50 diff posts?


... I like the insight and objectivity. Good stuff.
Scumbag
05-14-2007, 02:35 PM
Why is this guy making 50 diff posts?


How else do you think he got a mil posts. :pctoss
timvp
05-14-2007, 04:15 PM
I can't find the preseason stats for when Raja Bell was on the Spurs. But if I remember correctly, he shot something like 28% (or was it 18%?) the games he played.

I remember Pop being extremely high on him throughout training camp that season. It came down to Derrick Dial versus Raja Bell. RC Buford somehow overruled Pop and the Spurs kept Dial instead of Bell.
timvp
05-14-2007, 04:18 PM
Oh and the free agent camp where Pop found Bell was pretty interesting. After the Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs with shooting guard being their obvious weakness, Pop gathered up somewhere around 12 shooting guards and they had a one week workout, IIRC.

Other than Raja Bell (who Pop said was by far the best of anyone in the group) I remember Damon Jones also being in that camp. It'd be interesting to get a full list of the invitees to see if any of the others made it.
Ghost Writer
05-14-2007, 08:17 PM
It came down to Derrick Dial versus Raja Bell. RC Buford somehow overruled Pop and the Spurs kept Dial instead of Bell. - timvp


I went on my soapbox and told you that Dial was washed up before his career really got underway.

Bell is Bowen, but more athletic and he can hit some free throws and jumpers. His defense is a notch below Bowen's.

I like him a lot.
Marcus Bryant
05-14-2007, 08:19 PM
Wasn't Bell a casualty of Holt's reluctance to carry 14 players?
thekingrobert
05-14-2007, 10:14 PM
he's from Miami im from miami i likey, hehe
Ghost Writer
05-15-2007, 09:41 PM
Listen, I know he is the enemy, but Bell's big 3s and tenacity were daggers last night. He is Bowen-esque. I want this guy on our team again.
violentkitten
05-15-2007, 09:42 PM
so far the dirtiest player in the series has garnered only one tech. meanwhile horry is out for 2 games. but horry dared to touch the great white hype so it makes sense. i guess.
T Park
05-15-2007, 09:43 PM
Wasn't Bell a casualty of Holt's reluctance to carry 14 players?

nice try.

he tried out with the Spurs back in 2000

back before you could carry 15 players.
mikekim
05-16-2007, 12:31 AM
Yes! I agree with you! finally...i posted a thread about this that got largely ignored and/or blasted from spurs fans..

I really liked what I saw in him (for some odd reason) back then...but like I've always said with this, I kinda liked what I saw in Derrick Dial aka "The Spiderman" (his nickname for like 2 quarters in the playoffs I think...when they got killed by lakers? not sure...i'm sure he was called "the Spiderman" by spurs commentators though, haha)