Could Scola guard Dirk?

[whottt]

It might come down to that...

I know he did pretty good on Jermaine O'Neal and Brand in 02...but Dirk is different.

[WalterBenitez]

He could try as could Oberto ... be honest the blondie could be calm down, but has enough skills to be unguardable.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

My point of view:

4 minutes into the first quarter Scola would either:

-Foul Out
-Sent to the bench and receive the Serbian treatment from Pop.

I mean, only if Dirk tried to post him every time, he would stand a chance, but with Scola's current defence, he would get slaughtered in the pick and rolls, and pick and pops.

When Argentina played Germany, Scola was assigned to defend a giant center who had no offensive game at all.

[Twisted_Dawg]

Scola can guard him as long as he talks some trash to him and gets in his head like another former Spur did.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Argentina defended Dirk with Box and One and Triangle and Two. But Scola was never near Dirk,Wolkowisky was the main defender, with some help from Oberto, and Sconocchini (SF).

Also, the FIBA rules allow more flexible defense. And Dirk's teammates in the Mavs are millions times better than the German National Team.

[Bruno]

I've watched the first and last game of the spanish semifinal and I've found him quite slow (slower than before).
Scola has never been a great paint defender or post defender but I've found him bad when he was defending outside of the paint in these games. Maybe he was tired or injured but if he plays like that in nba, he won't be able to defend Dirk at all.

[timvp]

I'm not sure Scola could guard Austin Croshere, much less Dirk Nowitzki.

[TDMVPDPOY]

its not whether can scola gaurd dirk, the question is can dirk gaurd scola? :D

[coachtf]

Dirk would eat Scola for lunch. :hungry:

No Chance!

[spurscenter]

scola is a monster, so is Roberto Jarvathas (sp)

[wildbill2u]

NO!

Name anyone in the NBA who can shut him down? Scola would be horrible now that Dirk has learned to drive and go into the low post.

[Marcus Bryant]

Scola seems to me like instant offense, for his team and for the opponent. That being said, if he could find a spot in the rotation where the Spurs brought him in against the opponent's backup 4, that might work.

[ArgSpursFan]

The best way to guard Dirk is Zone D.Like Argentina Did Against Germany.I don{t know why pop hasnt done it that much,since He takes some Arg.National team offensive plays for the spurs.May be He didnt have the right personel in the spurs to Play Zone D.Who knows.

[dav4463]

Even I could guard Dirk at playoff time!

[Nathan Explosion]

NO!

Name anyone in the NBA who can shut him down?

Stephen Jackson anyone?

[K-State Spur]

The best way to guard Dirk is Zone D.Like Argentina Did Against Germany.I don{t know why pop hasnt done it that much,since He takes some Arg.National team offensive plays for the spurs.May be He didnt have the right personel in the spurs to Play Zone D.Who knows.

Well, a box and 1 is the best way to defend most players.

But: Harris'/Howard's ability to penetrate + Terry's/Stack's/Howard's ability to hit open shots + Dallas killing us on the boards in the past = zone defense as a bad idea for any prolonged stretch of time.

[Tippecanoe]

is this a serious question??

[ducks]

It might come down to that...

I know he did pretty good on Jermaine O'Neal and Brand in 02...but Dirk is different.
who needs to guard choking dirk
dirk has lost all playoff confidence

[LaMarcus Bryant]

Scola seems to me like instant offense, for his team and for the opponent. That being said, if he could find a spot in the rotation where the Spurs brought him in against the opponent's backup 4, that might work.



Thats a good point, I see him only working as a Manu-esque substitution... however, the only downside is we'd have

*insert subpar backup pg here*, Gino, Barry/Fin, Scola and Duncan on the floor for like 2 minutes,
then *insert subpar backup pg here*, Gino, Barry/Fin, Scola, and Elson for like 4 minutes.

That four minutes is all it takes for teams like Dallas and the Suns to sock it to us.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The best way to guard Dirk is Zone D.Like Argentina Did Against Germany.I don{t know why pop hasnt done it that much,since He takes some Arg.National team offensive plays for the spurs.May be He didnt have the right personel in the spurs to Play Zone D.Who knows.

You're nuts to play zone against Dirk, he'll light you up (him and the rest of his team).

You've gotta sick someone on him who can play him physical and get in his head (like Buckets).

Zone doesn't work in the NBA.

[LaMarcus Bryant]

You're nuts to play zone against Dirk, he'll light you up (him and the rest of his team).

You've gotta sick someone on him who can play him physical and get in his head (like Buckets).

Zone doesn't work in the NBA.


It works against the Spurs 45% of the time.

[Marcus Bryant]

Scola's selling point for the Spurs would be that he would give them a low post scorer off the bench. As for defense, he's by all accounts not that great, but neither is every member of the current rotation. Could he learn how to play team defense in the Spurs' system sufficient enough to maintain a spot in the rotation? Probably. 'Shut down Dirk' by himself? Nah.

[Brutalis]

Long Answer: No way.
Short Answer: No.

[spursfan4ever]

Dont get your hopes high on Scola coming to San Antonio. He still has that 3 mil buy out from his current team. He is in the same situtation as he was last summer. The only way Scola comes to San Antonio is if he pays out 3 mil to his current team to release him and the spurs give him what he was asking for last summer. He wanted 9-10 mil last summer and the spurs would not do it. The Spurs can only pay 500 k of that 3 mil buy out.

[Marcus Bryant]

If this summer shakes out as many have in the past, Scola for a good chunk of the MLE might be the best option.

[Nathan Explosion]

Spurs want Scola to earn his millions the way Gino did. Worked out well for Gino. He came through when it mattered, and so did the Spurs. Scola wants it up front. Plus, Oberto developed into a good (not great, but good enough) low post scorer to help hold the Spurs over while Duncan was on the bench.

Since he's the starter depending on the matchups, I don't see a spot opening up for Scola.

[Marcus Bryant]

Oberto was great on his cuts and flashes as well as ok on the offensive glass but he's not the kind of player you feed in the post more than once.

[itzsoweezee]

You're nuts to play zone against Dirk, he'll light you up (him and the rest of his team).

You've gotta sick someone on him who can play him physical and get in his head (like Buckets).

Zone doesn't work in the NBA.

well golden state did play zone against the mavs. it worked pretty well from what i remember.

[itzsoweezee]

NO!

Name anyone in the NBA who can shut him down? Scola would be horrible now that Dirk has learned to drive and go into the low post.


you're joking right? dirk, driving, and low post should never be uttered in the same sentence.

[Nathan Explosion]

Oberto was great on his cuts and flashes as well as ok on the offensive glass but he's not the kind of player you feed in the post more than once.

He's not a go to guy in the post, but he definitely eased my mind as the playoffs wore on. My problem with the Spurs in midseason was their lack of a low post scorer in the absence of Duncan when he was on the bench, and it was a legitimate gripe.

I wanted someone like Gasol who could hold the fort while Duncan was resting. Oberto is no Gasol, but he grew into the role, and eliminated the need for another big man who could score on the block because he showed some moves that I didn't think he had.

All in all, Oberto became dependable while in the game for Duncan, and that's all I was asking for at midseason.

[thousandth]

Scola didn't guard Garbajosa (Toronto) in the WorldChampionShip 2006. :rolleyes

Could Scola guard Dirk? :lol

C'mon. Scola isn't a defensive player, only his offensive is decent.

Dirk ht:7-0(2,13) Scola:6-9 (2,06)

[ArgSpursFan]

Scola didn't guard Garbajosa (Toronto) in the WorldChampionShip 2006. :rolleyes

Could Scola guard Dirk? :lol

C'mon. Scola isn't a defensive player, only his offensive is decent.

Dirk ht:7-0(2,13) Scola:6-9 (2,06)

who cares if Dirk is taller tham Scola,that´s not the point of discusion here.The thing with Dirk over Scola is that Dirk is faster tham Scola on the open court/perimeter,but if Dirk thinks He can post up against Scola He´ll be a dead man.believe it.
Scola is a Better player in the post tham on the perimeter.
Now,Nocioni could guard Dirk on the perimeter and on the paint.

[ArgSpursFan]

BTW,we all know that The spurs will play the mavs with 4 perimetrals +1 post player.
I just don´t see the spurs playing the Mavs with the regular 3 perimetrals + 2 post players classic lineup.

[Findog]

you're joking right? dirk, driving, and low post should never be uttered in the same sentence.

OMG, a Spurs fan says Dirk always settles for jumpers? You have a bad case of amnesia, perhaps? Maybe a Warriors fan has room to talk, but not Spurs fan:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/567468012_cf82e9bc6b.jpg

[MajorMike]

receive the Serbian treatment from Pop.

:elephant :elephant
This has been totally overlooked as one of the funnier quips lately.

[BigBeezie]

Dirk tends to have more problems with guys that get underneath him when he shoots. Bowen does a decent job covering Dirk...but Stephen Jackson did a really good job covering dirk. I guess Jackson's size and weight played a role.

[ATXSPUR]

Let there be 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter of a playoff game and I think he could.

[ATXSPUR]

OMG, a Spurs fan says Dirk always settles for jumpers? You have a bad case of amnesia, perhaps? Maybe a Warriors fan has room to talk, but not Spurs fan:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/567468012_cf82e9bc6b.jpg

Maybe a warriors fan has room to say they have been out of the first round in the last year...but not a mavs fan.

[Findog]

Maybe a warriors fan has room to say they have been out of the first round in the last year...but not a mavs fan.

Spurs fans of all people should respect the Mavs and Dirk. He played a crappy series (19, 10 and 3) by his standards against the Warriors, we lost. I haven't seen too many threads piling on Avery for getting worked like a punching bag by Nellie...or Terry unable to make a shot or keep B-Diddy in front of him...or Devin in constant foul trouble and unable to keep Davis in front of him. People are losing perspective.

[ATXSPUR]

Spurs fans of all people should respect the Mavs and Dirk. He played a crappy series (19, 10 and 3) by his standards against the Warriors, we lost. I haven't seen too many threads piling on Avery for getting worked like a punching bag by Nellie...or Terry unable to make a shot or keep B-Diddy in front of him...or Devin in constant foul trouble and unable to keep Davis in front of him. People are losing perspective.

You give respect when you get it. And I am not saying whether you individually have or have not. I am speaking in general terms.

[Findog]

You give respect when you get it. And I am not saying whether you individually have or have not. I am speaking in general terms.

I know that there are a lot of obnoxious Mavs bandwagoners, but I wouldn't insult Pop, TD or TP because some of your fellow Spurs fans can be obnoxious at times. I'd much rather take an insult than respond with something that is idiotic in basketball terms.

[Gros Membres!]

All I've heard on Scola is that he's an offensive talent and a defensive liability. I guess we heard the same thing about SJax when he was brought on here but SJax always had the athleticism of a long, pestering SG/SF. Looking back on the DAL/GS series, length, energy, and athleticism by SJAX seemed to be Dirk's biggest problem.

Scola is a poor man's Duncan, imho. Scola brings a low-post skill set with some shot blocking ability. The guy will fit into the system and add a few years onto Duncan's career if brought on. Dirk stopper? Methinks not.

[ArgSpursFan]

Dirk is the NBA MVP.No doubt.
He just need to show that he can win a championship,and that he is not a chocker.
how you play D on him?It takes team efford.otherwise He´ll kill you.
I say Nocioni could be the perfect defender for Dirk.He can stay in front of him all the time denying him the jump shot,+He is better post player tham Dirk.
Nocioni in Pop´s hands=All NBA 1st.defensive team every year.

[thousandth]

who cares if Dirk is taller tham Scola,that´s not the point of discusion here.The thing with Dirk over Scola is that Dirk is faster tham Scola on the open court/perimeter,but if Dirk thinks He can post up against Scola He´ll be a dead man.believe it.
Scola is a Better player in the post tham on the perimeter.
Now,Nocioni could guard Dirk on the perimeter and on the paint.

I agree. I like Nocioni on Dirk.

[thousandth]

Dirk is the NBA MVP.No doubt.
He just need to show that he can win a championship,and that he is not a chocker.
how you play D on him?It takes team efford.otherwise He´ll kill you.
I say Nocioni could be the perfect defender for Dirk.He can stay in front of him all the time denying him the jump shot,+He is better post player tham Dirk.
Nocioni in Pop´s hands=All NBA 1st.defensive team every year.

You're read my mind. :elephant

[itzsoweezee]

OMG, a Spurs fan says Dirk always settles for jumpers? You have a bad case of amnesia, perhaps? Maybe a Warriors fan has room to talk, but not Spurs fan:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/567468012_cf82e9bc6b.jpg

that's because popovich gave the mavericks a layup line. had nothing to do with dirk's skills.

[itzsoweezee]

First off nobody is going to stop Dirk, but players that have played well against are Jackson and Hasslem..Like people say you have to be real physical with him, and if he misses a couple of jumpers he becomes less hesitant to shoot. Body him up and keep him in front of you. Bowen did a good job until Dirk knew he could start backing Bowen down because of the weight difference…he couldn’t do that with Hasslem or Jackson because they are stronger. We need a strong player that has quick lateral movement.

the mavericks did a great job of STOPPING dirk. wtf are you talking about?

and i want to know where this myth of dirk being quick came from. dude is the opposite of quick.

[Solid D]

Scola would probably foul out but Matt Barnes can defend Dirk. Matt already proved that in May.

[nsrammstein]

and i want to know where this myth of dirk being quick came from. dude is the opposite of quick.

Dirk can outrun most PF, and C. If you put a PF over 6'10 on Dirk you will get torched. Dirk is the quickest PF in the NBA.